The fair-minded Soulforce members and their allies who braved arrest to protest against the extremist Focus on the Family are true heroes,' said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign applauded the approximately 1,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their supporters who protested against the extremist Focus on the Family outside of their Colorado Springs, Colo., compound. The protest was put together by the interfaith group Soulforce, which promotes freedom from religious and political oppression for GLBT people.

"The fair-minded Soulforce members and their allies who braved arrest to protest against the extremist Focus on the Family are true heroes," said HRC president Joe Solmonese. "The efforts of Soulforce bring hope to the millions of people who want to worship peacefully and with love."

The protest on Sunday, May 1, was organized by Soulforce, a Lynchburg, Va., based organization started by former Jerry Falwell aid the Rev. Mel White. After coming out as a gay man, White founded Soulforce to counteract the messages of intolerance and hate disseminated by Falwell, Focus on the Family, and other groups that use religion to cloak intolerance.

"We were there to say to Jim Dobson and Focus on the Family: 'We love you enough to stop you from doing the damage you are doing to families across the nation,'" said White.