News Conference: Thursday, February 15, at 10:00 AM in front of the Booth Playhouse at the corner of Trade and Tryon

Contact: Kris Bennett, Coalition of Conscience, 704-782-3760

CHARLOTTE, Feb. 14 /Standard Newswire/ -- Three years ago, the Human Rights Campaign, the world's largest homosexual advocacy organization, moved its annual Carolina's dinner to Charlotte. While local gay activists have applauded the HRC's presence in Charlotte, not everyone is pleased with this development. Dr. Michael L. Brown, director of the Coalition of Conscience and a nationally known Christian leader and best-selling author, is convinced that now is the time to speak up.

"We have no desire to enter in a rhetorical battle with the HRC. We simply want to raise public awareness about who the HRC really is and what the HRC really stands for, demonstrating that they cannot legitimately be called the 'Human Rights' Campaign."

According to Brown, "The HRC has a clearly articulated agenda which does not stand for human rights for all, and as Christians, we take issue with that agenda."

In anticipation of the HRC dinner on February 24, Brown, will deliver a series of five lectures on "Homosexuality, the Church, and Society." The lectures will be held nightly from February 19-23 at the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The lectures are free and open to the public and will be followed by a time of Q & A, with dissenting opinions welcomed.

Sponsors of last year's HRC dinner included Duke Energy, the Charlotte Observer, Bank of America, Wachovia, Audi, Blue Cross Blue Shield, IBM, and Sir Speedy Press. Brown asks, "Would these companies be as quick to voice their support for the HRC if it was more accurately named the Homosexual Rights Campaign? Would they be so vocal if it were called the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Campaign? And does the general public know what the HRC really stands for?"

According to Brown, "The HRC is not fighting for equal rights for all people. Instead, it wants to impose its agenda on others, including how we define marriage, how we run our businesses, how we teach our children, and even how we interpret the Bible. We feel that now is the right time to air our differences with the HRC in a rational and respectful manner. I am hopeful that they will respond to us in the same spirit with which we exercise our human right to differ with them."

There will be a news conference on Thursday, February 15, at 10:00 AM in front of the Booth Playhouse at the corner of Trade and Tryon.

The Coalition of Conscience is a network of Christian leaders and concerned Christian citizens, based in the greater Charlotte area, who are working together for moral and cultural change through the gospel. Michael L. Brown, Ph.D., is the director of the Coalition and has appeared on TV shows such as Donahue, Prime Time Justice, Fox News, Hard Copy, and Inside Edition. His work has also been featured in newspapers such as the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun.