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Lesbian Vanessa Collier’s funeral cancelled because pastor Ray Chavez objected
Vanessa Collier, 33, died in December and her funeral service was scheduled at New Hope Ministries in Lakewood, Colo., on Jan. 10. But shortly before the service was set to begin, New Hope’s Pastor Ray Chavez discovered that the family’s memorial video contained photos of Collier kissing her wife.
The church’s actions have driven people to start a Facebook event page in support of the deceased woman titled, ‘Dignity in Death Rally for our friend Vanessa Collier’.
The founder of the page, Jose Silva wrote: “I am a child of a lesbian mother and if my mom was to die, I would want ‘Dignity in her Death’.
“As a Christian, I am against bigotry and stand with my friend Vanessa Collier’s family in seeking an apology and refund from Pastor Ray Chavez and New Hope Ministries. The acts that took place at her funeral were wrong and no family should ever have to go through that.
“We are all God’s children and who are we to judge, no person no matter their gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation should be treated with such disrespect at what is to be the celebration of their life.”
A demonstration was held outside the church on Tuesday (13 January) by Collier’s friends and family members demanding an “apology”, reported The Denver Post.
Jeanette Arguello, a family member of Collier, said: “A church turning away a funeral. Who has ever heard of anything like that happening?”
Placards seen at the demonstration read: “You will not find Jesus at New Hope but you will find hypocrisy. Indignity in death.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
