Two new local coalitions of liberal people of faith are taking their messages public.

Faith Forward will hold its first public event tonight: a forum and dialogue to discuss what participants' faiths teach about issues such as homelessness and poverty, and what people can do about those issues.

The goal is to mobilize people "to get a vital, progressive voice of faith out in the public forum," said Rabbi Daniel Weiner of Temple De Hirsch Sinai. Weiner founded Faith Forward with the Very Rev. Robert Taylor of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral.

Weiner also hopes to bring together people who have been working on some of the same goals, but "in a disconnected way."

"We're seeking to concert our efforts for a progressive religious agenda," he said.

Another newly formed organization of faith leaders — Religious Coalition for Equality — will hold a rally at the state Capitol in Olympia on Feb. 14 to urge passage of a law banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in matters such as housing and employment. The state currently bans discrimination based on race, religion and other factors. Those in favor of adding sexual orientation to the list have been trying to pass such legislation for about 28 years.

Leaders of the Religious Coalition for Equality — a lobbying group supported by 200 mainly local Christian and Jewish religious figures — said they are encouraged by having a Democratic governor and Democrats in control of both chambers of the Legislature.

"Many Voices, One Vision" A forum billed as "A Progressive Response to Poverty, Peace and Planet Earth" Faith Forward will sponsor the event at 7 tonight at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave. The forum is free, but donations will be accepted.

Corsaro acknowledges that religious groups have long worked on social-justice issues, but she said there's a new emphasis on getting the message out to the public. Before, "our money and time have gone to helping people, doing the work instead of marketing the message," she said. "Now we realize we have a good message and we want to market it, with integrity."

The group also supports allowing gay marriage but is waiting to see what the state Supreme Court decides before taking any action. The court is expected to hear oral arguments March 8.

Conservative religious groups also are planning public events and lobbying efforts.

The lobbying group Washington Evangelicals for Responsible Government is planning a rally on the Capitol steps March 8 in support of keeping marriage limited to heterosexual couples.

The group also will urge legislators to pass a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between a man and a woman.

But in a Democrat-controlled Legislature, "we've definitely scaled back our prospects," said the Rev. Joseph Fuiten of Cedar Park Assembly of God Church, the group's president.

Other priorities this legislative session, Fuiten said, include pushing for a law requiring parents to be notified if their daughter decides to get an abortion and expanding the amount of tax-exempt land that churches may own.

Janet I. Tu: 206-464-2272