Faith leaders applaud APA resolution

MEDIA CONTACT:


Pedro Julio Serrano
Communications Coordinator
(Office) 646.358.1479
(Cell) 787.602.5954
pserrano@theTaskForce.org


Faith leaders applaud APA resolution


WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 — The National Religious Leadership Roundtable, convened by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, responded to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) resolution, adopted at the organization’s annual convention, that states that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments.


Statement by the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel
National Religious Leadership Roundtable


“The American Psychological Association has clearly articulated that ‘reparative therapies’ don’t work, in fact they can be very harmful. This resolution is welcomed news for all who support the full humanity, morality and worth of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, especially those of us who do so because of our religious understandings.

“At the Task Force, we have worked with more than 3,400 congregations to create environments that are supportive and affirming of LGBT people. In addition to these, there are many, many supporters of LGBT people within many religious traditions, even those whose official policy is anti-LGBT. This is important because, while it may be the most psychologically healthy move for some to leave their religious denomination of birth, for others, faith, family, ethnicity, race and culture are inextricably linked and leaving is not an option. For these folks, finding those allies and supporters within their tradition is critical to spiritual and mental health.

“Additionally, the report makes some important statements about the relationship between science and religion. Being deeply religious does not necessarily mean being anti-LGBT. In fact, this report shows that religious practice and belief can and does translate into support for LGBT people. The truth is that religion and science do not have to be opposed to one another. In fact, science can be an enormously important tool for understanding the grandeur and wonder of God’s creation. In this case, science helps us understand more fully the gift of sexuality — one of God’s greatest gifts.”

Read the release from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

ENDA: Close, but more work needed August 10, 2009

ENDA: Close, but more work needed

We are coming into the second week of August, and support for ENDA among legislators is slowly inching up. Here's the status

.**HOUSE**In the House, where we need 218 yes votes, there are 171 confirmed yes, and another 36 who will probably vote yes, though they have not yet confirmed this, making a total of 207 likely yes votes. Not enough. 76 Representatives are unconfirmed either way, and these need to be persuaded by you. Yolu can see the spreadsheet with this info at http://www.facebook.com/l/;bit.ly/Q5YMJ

**SENATEIn the Senate, where we need 60 yes votes because of the likely Republic filibuster that requires 60 votes to stop, there are 46 confirmed yes votes, and another 11 likely yes votes, making a total of 57 likely yes votes. Not enough. 53 Senators are unconfirmed either way, and these need to be persuaded by you.

You can see the spreadsheet with this info at http://www.facebook.com/l/;bit.ly/14TDll

**WHAT YOU CAN DO**The key fight is going to be in the Senate. Please take whatever time you can to call the Senate swing votes, which you can find here: Senate - http://www.facebook.com/l/;bit.ly/45WGMc

Please post any information you have on our Wall so I can update the spreadsheet.

Thank you for your support of an inclusive ENDA.

Jillian

Co-Chair, Inclusive ENDA--------------------

Women’s and children’s groups debunk right wing's ’bathroom bill’ fallacy

Massachusetts. Local and national chapters of women's and children's advocacy groups and legal orginazations testified before the Massachusetts legislature on July 13th to repudiate the claims of extremist right wing religious groups that the passage of a transgender rights bill would give sexual predators access to women's bathrooms.

The following groups, among others, are on record presenting testimony that debunks the fallacies presented by the far right wing. The Massachusetts chapter of the National Organization for Women (Mass. NOW), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC), the City of Boston Women’s Commission, the City of Cambridge Women’s Commission, the League of Women Voters, the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Victim Rights Law Center, and the Women’s Bar Association.

Some extremist right wing groups that claim religious affiliation have been attacking proposed transgender inclusive legislation by attempting to falsely label them a 'bathroom bill". This is a fear mongering tactic which in reality attacks woman's civil rights with misogynistic bigotry. This video is the latest from the inappropriately named group the 'Massachusetts Family Institute'.



1. Groups that use religion as a weapon to debase humanity are doing grevious harm to Christianity.
2. These lies have been perpetrated by men who are afraid that woman's rights will erode there power and status.

dym-sum blog #209: “Bathroom Bill” Propaganda Goes Too Far in Massachusetts

Bay windows Women’s and children’s groups rebut ’bathroom bill’ rhetoric

Boycott Payless Shoe Source and Christian Siriano

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies
Press Release

Contact:

Kelli Anne Busey
kellibusey@yahoo.com
http://dallastaa.ning.com

Tell Christian Siriano and Payless Shoe Source that
'Hot Tranny Mess' = 'That's So Gay' = 'That is So Wrong'.

Tell Payless Shoe Source that you will not shop there until they discontinue selling the shoe line by Christian Siriano who's insistent repeating of defamatory language such as 'Hot Tranny Mess' and 'Fierce' have earned him monetary gain and a temporary spotlight at the expense of gender variant people.

Gay and lesbian people nationwide having had there fill of being ridiculed by hetero people repeating endlessly phrase's such as 'that's so gay' initiated an educational campaign that talked of the real dangers to school children. When impressionable youth are taught that gay and lesbian children are some how of less value, the gay and lesbian children become the targets of increasingly harmful taunts until it ends in events like the horrific murder of Lawrence King.

Now we are calling on gay, lesbian and allied people to show the same respect for transgender people. Allow us the same dignity that you demand. Stop using the hurtful defamatory phrase "hot tranny mess". IT HURTS. Not just transgender people but gender variant youth such as Lawrence King.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie say no wedding until everyone has the same right

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie say they will not be married until everyone has the same right and Brad gos on to say it wouldn’t bother him if one of his kids were gay.

Read on at Greg in Hollywood Brad Pitt defends not getting married and says it wouldn’t bother him if one of his kids were gay

I am proud to have Brad and Angelina as allies and wouldn't mind it at all when they finally are married their first born is a transgender woman:)

ENDA introduced into Senate

A gender expression and sexual orientation inclusive ENDA has been introduced into the Senate by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Visit Queers United for advocacy links.