At a press conference in Houston today, Jay Bakker, star of the documentary series One Punk Under God, issued an open invitation to families from Lakewood Church-the largest church in the U.S.-to share a picnic with LGBT families in Houston's Levy Park on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

The press conference also featured, COLAGE Speak OUT member, Caitlin McIntyre who "would like to ask Lakewood and Joel Osteen to break down those doors and accepting the spectacular gifts and remarkable faith their LGBT members would love to offer- if only they were invited to the table."

Caitlin and Jay's invitation is part of The American Family Outing which aims to create dialogue between LGBT families and families at six American mega-churches. At present, Osteen and Lakeword church have not yet responded to personal letters and phone calls from AFO partners as well as Jay Bakker and noted evangelical speaker Peggy Campolo which were first sent in December 2007. After Wednesday's press conference, Bakker tried to deliver his letter in-person with AFO participants but Lakewood staff told him no one was available to accept the letter.

However, several prominent mega-churches, including The Potter's House in Dallas, Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, and Hope Christian Church in Maryland, have agreed to meet lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families through The American Family Outing. Therefore the American Family Outing is extending a warm invitation to any Lakewood members as well as the Houston LGBT Community to come to a Picnic in Levy Park.

When: Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 11am-2pm

Where: Levy Park, 3801 Eastside St., Houston, TX, 77098. (Just off of Richmond, between Buffalo Speedway and Kirby).

Learn more on the AFO Website. If you are a youth or adult with LGBTQ parents who would like to participate, please contact Meredith Fenton, COLAGE Program Director.

Jay Bakker is the son of Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, and the co-founder of Revolution Church. His non-traditional approach to ministry achieved national attention in the Sundance Channel documentary One Punk Under God, which documented his journey to become an LGBT-affirming Christian. Jay is dedicating the Mother's Day visit to Lakewood to the memory of his mother. Caitlin McIntyre is the daughter of gay dads and a lesbian mom. She is a student at Rice University and a member of the COLAGE Speak OUT Program.

The American Family Outing is a collaboration between Soulforce, COLAGE, National Black Justice Coalition, and the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.