I think a good start for a dialogue between the two communities would be for Rick Warren to just have a talk within his church community, between Evangelicals and their fellow gay and lesbian church members. I actually think this option is more feasible and has more of a chance of being a civil dialogue. Talk about prejudice that occurs within the church by the members of the church who experience it. Talk to the members of the church who are friends and family members of gays and lesbians. Hearing from strangers outside their church will not have the same impact as listening to people that they know, who they see go to church every Sunday. What have been the experiences of gay and lesbian Christians within the Evangelical community? Are the community generally supportive of them, or are they shunned? What do they feel about attempts of certain Evangelicals to make homosexuals heterosexual? What are the experiences of friends and family members of gays and lesbians within the church? Are church members supportive or do they ask them to cut off those ties?

Discuss the issues of the institution of marriage, its traditions within the Evangelical tradition, explain both points of view. Evangelicals have a chance to talk directly to gays and lesbians about their positions on sin and marriage, and this gives gays and lesbian Christians a chance to respond back. Even in the most polite discussions, there will be instances of anger, instances of deep hurt, instances of defending yourself, and instances of regrets. But a talk within churches would be a start. And from there, maybe then dialogue between the church and nonreligious LGBT members would be next and the Christians would be better prepared and more understanding of the other side. And gay Christians could act as mediators to nonreligious LGBT members who do not understand the Evangelical culture.

Since a lot of prejudice against gays and lesbians comes from religion, I think it's only logical to try to change religion. But I don't think you can change religion by vandalizing church property or targeting individuals who supported Proposition 8. I think the key is having Christians who are gay and Christians who support gay rights to speak up in their churches. They know how to speak to their fellow Evangelicals, Catholics, and Mormons, and they understand the church culture. An outside LGBT group may have an interesting 2 hour discussion and be gone, but their fellow gay church goers will be sitting in the same pews every Sunday.

Since Rick Warren is in the middle of this controversy, he might be the evangelical to start off a conversation. He has as controversial among other Evangelicals for not being conservative enough, so he may actually be receptive to such a dialogue. I have to admit this is only a guess, since I really don't know Rick Warren too well. Instead of widening the chasm between the two communities, maybe a dialogue would be helpful to reaching out. Most people may come out with their opinions unchanged, but at least the dialogues might help two very different groups better understand each other and plant the seeds for change.