9/23/08

Petition Asking Bishop Robinson Not To Attend The Dallas Black Tie 2008

Petition Asking Bishop Robinson Not To Attend The Dallas Black Tie 2008

WE, a coalition of gender diverse people who identify as Transgender or Intersex
people (including people who are also known as transgender, transsexual, intersex, and several other terms used to classify people based on being born with a condition where the gender of their mind, psyche, or soul differs from their anatomical sex at birth, or, their anatomical sex at birth was ambiguous) hereby ask that you do not lend religious credence to HRC's discriminatory and violence enabling agenda by attending or accepting the Elizabeth Birch award at the Dallas Black Tie 2008.

Petition asking that The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire, not attend the Black Tie Dinner Dallas Texas on November 22, 2008.
It is he belief of the signers that the discriminatory policies of the main benefactor of the Dallas Black Tie, the HRC, propagates violence against all of Womankind, Intersexed and gender diverse to include but not inclusive of, Transgender Men, effeminate gay men, masculine presenting Woman, Natal Woman and Transgender Woman.

It has been documented that gender discrimination has placed the United States among the leaders of gender bigotry world wide. Sexual Violence is enabled by a conception of the perpetrator that the consequences of rape and murder committed against the gender diverse is minimal or non existent.

This perceived vulnerability in the United States recently was reinforce by HRC's inexplicable and morally reprehensible betrayal as the self proclaimed advocate of the of the gender diverse during the ENDA debacle of 2007.

HRC's position, which has not been amended constitutes a daily reinforcement of this horrific policy.

It begs a question in these days of failing church attendance and disconnect, what can people of faith do to help?

By your not attending you will signal loudly to HRC that policies which are beneficial solely because of monetary gains and political expediency at the expense of the most vulnerable, are not acceptable.

By your not attending you will elevate the Anglicans standing in the eyes of the GLBT community and the entire world.

By your not attending you will contribute to the fight against violence transmitted
AIDS/HIV and other STD.

By not attending the self esteem of the gender diverse will rise and the need to validate threw risky sex will decrease.

By you not attending, those who have been cast aside by their faith will be given a ray of hope.

By not attending you will signal lawmakers to take courage and follow their moral consciousness to enact laws to protect the entire Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, Bisexual, Asexual and Transgender community.

By your not attending the Dallas Black Tie the world's diverse community will recognize your commitment and sigh in relief and bask in the glow of an affirmative, welcoming and loving Anglican Church.

Bishop Robinson, The weight of social progress now rests on your shoulders.

9/22/08

Vote No On 8



lesbianmommy.blogspot.com

If you have never seen the sad and confused look of a child as you walk away for the last time, thank god. Do not allow your child, your next door neighbors, or a stranger who loves their children with all their might to be stripped of their love, future and hope.

California Vote NO on 8

Kelli Busey
planetransgender

Dallas Pride 2008






















9/21/08

No one Left Out at Debut of Minnesota Gender Advocates



Queer Today Reports that a new Gender Advocacy group has arisen to tender the question in Minnesota "Why are we removed from ENDA?".

Left Out Party - Sept, 13th 2008
No one Left Out at Debut of Minnesota Gender Advocates
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008

Close to a hundred people attended the Left Out Party organized by Minnesota Gender Advocates at Pi Bar, in Minneapolis to celebrate inclusiveness and community. The event was organized to show the Twin Cities support of a fully gender inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The ENDA passed in 2007, by the National House of Representatives, is legislation designed to protect workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Minnesota Gender Advocates, along with hundreds of other organizations across the country is working for an ENDA that also includes protections for gender identity and expression.


On this night, while the Human Rights Campaign held their annual dinner across town, attendees showed their support for a fully inclusive ENDA by signing over 75 letters to members of Minnesota's federal congressional delegation. One of the highlights of the evening was a visit by Representative Keith Ellison (5th Congressional District) who shared his support for a fully inclusive ENDA. Among community leaders attending, Raquel (Rocki) Simões from the GLBT Host Home Program, Avenues For Homeless Youth, attended to show her program's commitment to expanding protections to people of all gender identities.

Minnesota Gender Advocates is a new group working for visibility and equality for all Trans, Intersex, gender Queer and gender Questioning (TIQQ) Minnesotans. Our Mission is to raise awareness of issues affecting TIQQ communities, promote equality, and advocate for legal and policy changes that affect our civil rights.

A Christian Voice For Transgender People


The Rev. Dr. Jerry S. Maneker's Blog, "Christian GLBT Rights.blogspot.com" proclaims

"A Church that doesn't provoke any crisis, a gospel that doesn't unsettle, a word of God that doesn't get under anyone's skin, a word of God that doesn't touch the real sin of society in which it is being proclaimed, what gospel is that? Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980) "Never let other people define your reality or put you into bondage to their ways of thinking." Jerry Maneker.

A powerful message. Is it EQUALLY for GLB and Transgender people?

Among the pictures on ths blog are some very familiar ones,,,,,,


Rev. Mel White of Soulforce
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Bishop V. Gene Robinson
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Rev.Elder Troy Perry, Founder and Moderator of the UFMCC

By Kelli Busey
Sept. 21, 2008
planetransgender

9/20/08

Bishop Robinson: ‘God loves all God’s children’


By Kelli Busey
Sept. 20, 2008
planetransgender

Being a transgender woman of faith I have seen the results of exclusionary language being retained by our Churches on our gay and lesbian saints. It would be inconceivable to me to accept the proffered acceptance of churches towards transgender people and watch as our loved Lesbian and Gay family are left behind to suffer alone.
********
In a article by the Dallas Voice Sept. 18, 2008 John Write Staff Editor interviews Bishop Robinson who believes God loves all God’s children’

"V. Gene Robinson, who became the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church in 2003, will be at the Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner in November to accept the 2008 Elizabeth Birch Award. Robinson sat down with Dallas Voice recently to talk in a telephone interview about his upcoming visit and other issues."

{In this article Bishop Robinson talks about his situation as the only openly gay Bishop in the Anglican Communion and the response of the Anglican church.

Transgender Clergy were in evidence at at the recent Lambreth gathering for possibly the first time.

He also speaks about our vibrant faith community in Dallas and Fort Worth......}

The interview continues....

DV: Dallas has what is known as the largest gay church in the world. In the context of what you’re talking about, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

V.G.R.: I certainly would never hold it against someone for leaving a church that is inhospitable and unpastoral in order to find a church home that supports them in their faith journey. So I applaud MCC churches and other churches like the Cathedral of Hope. I applaud them for providing that kind of sanctuary. On the other hand, it makes me very, very sad that all of our churches, which ought to be safe places for all of God’s children, are not living up to what they’re called to be. And so I feel like my mission is to at least try to make the Episcopal Church that kind of safe place for LGBT people all over the church.


{Bishop Robinson it appears is in full contact with the LGBT Community and aware that all is not perfect in the LGBT community.......}

"DV: The chief beneficiary of Black Tie is the Human Rights Campaign, which has been criticized supporting a version of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act that didn’t include gender identity. And I understand there is a protest of the dinner planned this year by a transgender group. Can you sympathize with them, and did that play a role in your decision about whether to accept the invitation?

V.G.R.: Well, first of all, I only learned of this protest very recently. I am intending to write back to the transgender group and say that I do intend to receive the award and speak at the Black Tie Dinner, but that I would also be willing to appear, meet with, participate in an event, whatever, with the transgender community to show my support and to speak on their behalf as a fellow member of the community, the larger LGBT community. It goes back to what I said about half a loaf and a whole loaf. The Human Rights Campaign has an enormous influence in Washington, and they’ve got considerable political savvy, and the fact of the matter is that a full LGBT bill simply would not have passed. And I don’t think we always have to hold out for the full loaf before moving forward. You get what you can accomplish and then continue to work for the rest of it. If I believed that HRC was not supportive of transgender people, if I believed that they were not going to continue to work diligently to get transgender people covered under that bill, then that would be a whole different story, but I’m not of that opinion."

Dallas Voice article please Read on........

Transgender people of faith applaud Bishop Robinson's willingness to learn of and hold discussion about our connection with faith and the turmoil that has engulfed us by the actions of social organizations that affect us.


By Kelli Busey
planetransgender