Progressive Christians to Speak Out Against HB2

    ASHEVILLE, NC, July 07, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Production Company, Bee Nest Films, in partnership with Evangelicals For Social Action, is orchestrating a "STAMP YOUR CASH" demonstration at the 2016 Wild Goose Festival in order to speak out in opposition to North Carolina's HB 2.

The progressive faith festival, described as "A gathering at the intersection of justice, spirituality, music & the arts" is celebrating its 6th year and has been held in the same location in Hot Springs, North Carolina since 2011, at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa.

Organizers of the Wild Goose Festival faced a dilemma after North Carolina lawmakers passed House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, which eliminated city and local anti-discrimination protections for gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people, and legislated that individuals may only use restrooms and changing facilities that correspond to the sex on their birth certificates in government buildings.

As shared on the Wild Goose Festival Website, "When North Carolina passed this legislation, we thought long and hard about whether to cancel the festival or move it in protest. But ultimately we've decided it's important to be here, to be visible, and to be a voice for God's radical love."

Kimberly Knight from Coming Out Christian explained in a blog post on Patheos.com why she felt it was important to still attend the festival as a member of the LGBTQ community despite calls to boycott North Carolina, "Precisely because some officials in NC don't want me there is all the more reason to show up and be visible. I don't want NC to have my money but I don't want to be kept from a sacred event that means a great deal to me. For me, it's akin to letting the terrorists win."

"Understanding how conflicted everyone was with wanting to attend a festival built on principles of inclusion, grace, and affirmation, but not wanting to bring money into a state whose lawmakers allowed ignorance and bigotry to take root in the form of institutionalized discrimination - I wanted to find a way to make some of that money speak out against HB2 and amplify the ideals of the festival", explains filmmaker and Bee Nest Films co founder, Shannon Beeby. "I immediately thought of the LGBT film festival in my hometown Pensacola, Florida where our short film RSVP premiered."

STAMPED: Pensacola LGBT Film Fest describes being - "...inspired by efforts of the LGBT community in the mid-1990s to highlight the impact of LGBT tourism. After some local officials and business owners spoke out against gay and lesbian visitors...many LGBT residents and visitors began to stamp the cash they spent with the words GAY MONEY and/or a pink triangle. [It was] estimated that gay and lesbian tourists spent $25 million annually in the area."

Ms. Beeby continues, "In a similar way, we want to make our presence known by stamping dollar bills with phrases like #WeAreNotThis and 'Christians Against NC's HB2'. Thanks to the help of Evangelical for Social Action, Bee Nest Films would like this 'Stamp Your Cash' demonstration to give voice to members of this diverse community of faithful people who very much disagree with HB2, and would like to see it repealed as soon as possible."

"Every little bit helps. I hope people see these stamped bills and Tweet @PatMcCroryNC to #RepealHB2, and add their names to the Human Rights Campaign's Petition for Repeal as well."

Inspired by studies linking narrative films with an ability to help shape a person's perspective and worldview, Bee Nest Film's 13 minute short, RSVP, seeks to build a bridge between the LGBTQ community and conservative Christian community.

# # #