All in God’s Family: Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families Launched
WASHINGTON, May 11 – Leading organizations today released a curriculum designed to help faith communities support and embrace lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their families. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Institute for Welcoming Resources, COLAGE and Family Equality Council announced that this multimedia curriculum will go a long way in providing the necessary tools to make faith communities affirming of LGBT people and their families.
“While many churches have done very well welcoming individual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members into their midst, many have not done so well with LGBT families,” says the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, Institute for Welcoming Resources and faith work director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “But LGBT families deserve the same love and honor as all of God’s beloved families. This curriculum helps congregations extend God’s extravagant welcome to all of God’s families – especially LGBT families.”
All in God’s Family includes concrete tools to educate faith leaders, including a step-by-step guide to supporting LGBT families of faith and tools for facilitating group learning, community dialogue, Bible study and community action planning to highlight LGBT families in our communities. Additionally, the curriculum includes Families Like Mine, a book about adults with LGBT parents written by Abigail Garner, whose father is gay; the youth-produced documentary In My Shoes: Stories of Youth with LGBT Parents; and a CD containing the phototext exhibit “That’s So Gay: Portraits of Youth with LGBT Parents.”
“I know many LGBT parents who struggle with faith,” says Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of Family Equality Council. “It can be difficult to find a congregation that feels welcoming and supportive. Though they want raise their children in a community that shares their values and beliefs, LGBT parents also want their children to be embraced. That’s why we partnered to put together All in God’s Family: Creating Allies for our LGBT Families. We know there are thousands of congregations out there that want to embrace our families. We want to give them the tools to do so more fully.”
“For youth and adults with LGBTQ parents, finding a faith community where your family is respected and reflected can be a challenge,” says Meredith Fenton, COLAGE program director. “COLAGE is pleased to be a partner on All in God’s Family: Creating Allies for our LGBT Families and invites your faith community to use these tools to move beyond acceptance to full inclusion and celebration of LGBTQ families.”
All in God’s Family: Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families can be acquired for a suggested donation of $50.00. As a special promotion, the first 50 congregations to request the curriculum will receive it for free. All in God’s Family: Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families can be acquired at www.WelcomingResources.org.
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/all-in-gods-f…
Coalition urges swift passage of hate crimes bill
(Washington) The US House is expected to vote this week on legislation to add sexual orientation to the list of categories covered under federal hate crime law.
The bill was marked up last week by the House Judiciary Committee.
A wide coalition of national civil rights, human rights, and faith communities is calling …
Prop 8 in court today: Stop Ken Starr from divorcing loving couples!
This morning, before the California Supreme Court, Ken Starr will argue for the forcible divorce of 18,000 loving same-sex couples who married before Proposition 8 passed.
Starr has said the marriage ban should stand because of the state’s role in protecting the welfare of children.
The hypocrisy of “protecting” children by divorcing their parents is unconscionable. Yet this is just one in a parade of outrageous lies by right-wing extremists.
So HRC is launching a new campaign to expose this dishonest fear-mongering against equality – to counteract the lies with respectful dialogue and grassroots action.
Sign our first petition at EndtheLies.org – Tell Ken Starr to stop using lies about child “welfare” to divorce loving parents.
Since it’s no longer as acceptable to display open bigotry against LGBT people, the right-wing has resorted to lies and fear tactics. Take Ken Starr’s statement that same-sex marriage amounts to “seizing and hijacking the marriage relationship in order to achieve apartheid-type values.”
HRC’s EndtheLies.org campaign will help us combat these untruths in the media, in Congress, in our statehouses, schools, workplaces and faith communities. And that will be key during the brewing battle over hate crimes legislation – which the right-wing is already trying to drag into the gutter.
They say that hate crimes laws will criminalize pastors and “do away with our freedom of speech.”
They spent millions during the Prop. 8 campaign telling Californians that marriage equality was corrupting schoolchildren and eroding their “moral character.”
They’re running absurd ads that suggest transgender anti-discrimination measures will lead to men attacking women and girls in public restrooms.
We’ve exposed dozens more outrages at EndtheLies.org – check it out and sign our Ken Starr petition today.
Right-wing extremists will keep spreading these lies as long as no one holds them accountable. They will continue to raise money hand-over-fist and use lies to block hate crime and workplace protections, marriage equality, HIV/AIDS funding, and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
That’s why YOUR action is so critical. These lies aren’t just offensive – they stand in the way of basic fairness and equality.
EndtheLies – starting with Ken Starr’s!
Last night, HRC joined with other groups to sponsor Marriage Equality USA’s “Eve of Justice” vigils across California. Today, hundreds of protestors will gather outside the courthouse in San Francisco during the oral arguments. The court will issue a ruling within 90 days. This is one of those rare moments in our movement when we can shine a light and change hearts and minds – please spread the word to family and friends.
Warmly,
Joe Solmonese, HRC President
* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/prop-8-in-cou…
Stand in and march by candlelight to overturn Proposition 8
To find an event near you, visit www.eveofjustice.com or www.marriageequality.org.
Many of these events feature faith leaders and are organized by people of faith. Join CA Faith for Equality, Marriage Equality USA, Equality California and other statewide and local cosponsors to share your voice and shine your light.
Statewide, March 4th, Candlelight Events and Marches. For information about locations and times in your area, visit www.eveofjustice.com or www.marriageequality.org.
Statewide, March 5th, 9am-12:30pm, CA Supreme Court hears oral arguments about overturning Proposition 8. Many supporters are traveling to San Francisco, others are gathering for viewing parties. If you are traveling to San Francisco, visit the CA Supreme Court website to know your viewing options. The California Channel will provide a live TV broadcast and online webcast.
Fresno, March 7-8th, Camp Courage. Brought to you by the Courage Campaign, this training offers us the opportunity to learn and sharpen our organizing tools and methods. For more information, please contact Lilia at lilia@couragecampaign.org.
Orange County, March 5th, 4-6pm Marriage Equality Rally hosted by Church of the Foothills. Join the Church of the Foothills to rally for marriage equality in pro-Prop 8 Orange County. 19211 Dodge Ave., (at Newport Blvd.), Santa Ana, 92705. For more information, contact Kergan at proud2bdad@yahoo.com
Pasadena, March 7th and 14th, 10am-2:30pm, Vote for Equality Canvasses. Talk to our neighbors about marriage equality. Training provided. Neighborhood Church, 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., 91103. To RSVP or for more information, contact Laura Gardiner at 323-770-3188 or lgardiner@lagaycenter.org.
Los Angeles, March 11th, Jordan/Rustin Coalition Faith Committee Meeting. 7-8:30pm. Dinner from 6:30-7pm. At the first inaugural meeting of the faith committee, a joint project of the Jordan/Rustin Coalition and CA Faith for Equality, we will discuss and plan relationship building with African-American faith communities in the Los Angeles area. Contact Anne-Marie for more information: williams@jordanrustin.org.
Call for events!! If there are events in your area appropriate for folks interested in LGBT faith-rooted organizing, please email Kerry with details at kerry@cafaithforequality.org two weeks prior to the event. We will do our best to publicize them in our e-blasts.
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/stand-in-and-…
Pat Boone says: “Prop. 8 protesters the same as terrorists”
– Pat Boone, December 6, 2008
Boone and his buddies continue to stir up fear, even if they have to lie. It’s exactly how they passed the California marriage ban.
We need your help to stop the radical right from painting a movement about love and dignity as violent and radical. We need your support to stay strong, smart, and nimble, to combat these growing attacks with the simple truth: all we want is equality
We’ll even send Mr. Boone a note with your first name and gift amount to let him know you’ve donated in his name.
It’s time to say enough to the deception and false ads that defeated marriage equality in three states and banned gay couples from adopting in Arkansas; enough to the attempts to equate peaceful protest with “jihadist savagery”; enough to the lies used to block federal hate crimes laws and workplace protections.
In the face of lies like this, there’s only one thing to do: Demand the Truth – and that’s exactly what we will be doing in the coming year. HRC will:
Respond quickly and forcefully to the lies and intimidation with media outreach and grassroots mobilization, as part of an ongoing “Demand the Truth” campaign;
Organize hundreds of thousands of activists to pass the Matthew Shepard Act and combat the inevitable misleading campaign that will be waged against us;
Work with religious leaders to encourage LGBT people to come out in their faith communities and create venues for the voices of tolerance and love;
Continue the march for marriage equality and relationship recognition, especially in key states where new doors are opening right now, including New York, Vermont, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Iowa; and
Work with the Obama administration to undo years of White House anti-LGBT hostility.
To really go toe to toe with the mouthpieces of bigotry like Pat Boone, we’re going to need your support.
If, every time they tell another lie, run another deceptive ad or use more fear-mongering to try and win votes and recruit new members, we respond by strengthening our movement for equality, eventually they’ll realize they’re hurting themselves more than they’re hurting us.
But it only works if we all stand up.
Join us in demanding the truth, by making a gift in Pat Boone’s name today!
What’s perhaps most disturbing about Boone’s rhetoric – painting LGBT people as a threat to society – is that it leads to the very real hate violence directed against LGBT people every day.
We can’t stop the Pat Boones of our world from speaking their ugly lies, but together we can make sure that there’s a political cost associated with this kind of hateful speech.
HRC President
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/pat-boone-say…
Powerful New Allies Join Equality California and Equality California Institute Boards
New board members include UFW Co-founder Dolores Huerta, Actress Wanda Sykes and former Assembly member Lloyd Levine; leaders represent important allies from labor, faith communities, entertainment industry and electoral politics
San Francisco – Powerful new allies have joined the fight for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in California. United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, Actress Wanda Sykes and former Assemblymember Lloyd Levine are among the newest members of Equality California (EQCA) and the Equality California Institute (EQCAI) boards of directors.
“From grassroots activists to actors to stay-at-home moms, more people than ever before are joining the cause for equality in California. Our two boards have added important new leaders – including many straight allies – from organized labor, faith communities, the entertainment industry and electoral politics,” said Geoff Kors, executive director of both Equality California and the Equality California Institute.
Kors added, “With their voices, we’ll be able to build even greater support for equality and fairness.”
In addition to Huerta, another labor giant has joined the board. Sal Rosselli, president of SEIU United Healthcare Workers, the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the Western United States, was also elected to the Equality California board.
The Equality California board includes two new faith leaders: Rabbi Steven Jacobs of Los Angeles and the Rev. Abel Lopez of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. Former Assemblymember Lloyd Levine who represented the 40th Assembly District in Southern California from December 2002 to November 2008 has also joined the EQCA board as well as Kathy Spillar, the executive editor of Ms. Magazine and executive vice president of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
“We have many new straight allies on our board. They joined the board because they want to live in a state where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness. These are not people who sit on the sidelines. When they see inequality, they are moved to do something about it,” said Cary Davidson, the new president of the Equality California Board of Directors. Equality California is a 501(c)4 advocacy organization.
“We know that when we tell our stories that we are able to change hearts and minds and build broader support for equality and fairness. This new board – in all of its great diversity – will help us succeed in reaching more Californians to share the truth about the lives of LGBT people,” said Gary D. Soto, board president for EQCAI.
Deb Kinney (San Francisco), Vice President
Xavier Barrera (San Francisco), Secretary
Tim Hohmeier (Palm Springs), Treasurer
Brandon Brawner (Los Angeles)
Betsy Butler (Los Angeles)
Larry Colton (San Francisco)
Joe Guardarrama* (Los Angeles)
Susan Guinn (San Diego)
Jeff Haber (Los Angeles)
Mariah Hansen (Palm Springs)
Dolores Huerta* (Bakersfield)
Rabbi Steven Jacobs* (Los Angeles)
Roslyn Jones (Riverside)
Lloyd Levine* (Los Angeles)
Rev. Abel Lopez* (Los Angeles)
Tom Maddox (San Diego)
Jimmy Nguyen (Los Angeles)
Jeff Orr (San Francisco)
Thom Rollerson* (Santa Barbara)
Sal Rosselli* (San Francisco)
Rick Saputo (Palm Springs)
Linda Scaparotti (San Francisco)
Kathy Spillar (Los Angeles)
Alan Uphold (Los Angeles)
Cathy Schwamberger (Sacramento), Vice President
Michael Martinez (Sacramento), Secretary
Randy Clark (San Diego), Treasurer
Chris Carnes (San Francisco)
Jose Cisneros (San Francisco)
Jody Cole (Mendocino)
Troup Coronado (Los Angeles)
Ellen Evans* (Los Angeles)
Carrie Farrell (San Francisco)
Kelly Ferrero (Palm Springs)
Clarissa Filgioun* (Los Angeles)
Andrae Gonzalo* (Los Angeles)
Christopher Heritage* (Palm Springs)
Ben Patrick Johnson (Los Angeles)
Leslie Katz (San Francisco)
Martin Mendelson* (Orange County)
Shannon Minter (San Francisco)
Dennis Rasor (Orange County)
Stacy Smithers (Los Angeles)
Laura Spanjian (San Francisco)
Doug Spearman (Los Angeles)
Wanda Sykes* (Los Angeles)
Phil Ting (San Francisco)
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/powerful-new-…
