2/17/09

Equality is Gainesville's Business "The Clock is Ticking"


Equality is Gainesville's Business has sent an urgent request for people power to help inform and educate voters on the harmful effects of the proposed amendment to Gainesville human rights.

A march and phone banking are planned.

From Equality is Gainesville's Business;

This Saturday we have more canvassing that must be done if we're going to beat Charter Amendment 1. We have to take a stand against legalized discrimination because it hurts people!

There are two canvass times to chose from:

10am-2pm -
facebook.com/event

12pm-4pm -
facebook.com/event

Help us educate the community about this harmful amendment and get out the vote.

Please pick a time and commit to bringing a friend to go canvassing this Saturday.

We can beat Amendment 1 - but only with your help!

Thank you!

~Robert Prather

P.S. - If you absolutely cannot canvass this weekend, maybe you can help out with these other volunteer opportunities:

Phonebanking:

Tuesday - 2/17 6-9pm -
facebook.com/event.

Wednesday - 2/18 6-9pm -
facebook.com/event.

Thursday - 2/19 6-9pm -
facebook.com/event.

UF's Campus:

Friday - 2/20/2009 1:30-3pm -
facebook.com/event.

Please Friend me my badge is to the right, kelli Busey
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2/16/09

Trial dates have been set for the murder of Angie Zapata.


Trial dates have been set for the murder of Angie Zapata. The eight day trial begins on April 14, 2008 and takes place in Courtroom 11 of the Weld County Courts at 901 9th Ave in Greeley. We would like to provide as much community support to her family and friends as possible by packing the courthouse during those days. If you are interested in coordinating rides to Greeley from the Denver-Metro area, please contact Kelly Costello at 303-839-5204 or kelly@coavp.org.

Colorado Anti-Violence Program Announces Discussion, Meditation & Dinner to Prepare for Upcoming Murder Trial

SAVE THE DATES: March 18th & April 7th

CAVP staff feels it is important for all of us involved in the trial to do so from an intentional and loving space. We recognize that we are all emotionally impacted when people target the LGBTQ community with violence. These incidents often lead us to feel a heightened sense of fear and vulnerability. We may feel anger and hatred towards those responsible for such violence.

In an effort to support our community members in maintaining a positive and healthy emotional and mental space around the trial of Allen Ray Andrade, CAVP will be hosting two evenings of discussion, meditation and dinner. Discussion will be facilitated by CAVP staff and meditation by Marti Engelmann.

We encourage you to participate in BOTH sessions if:

- You are even slightly considering attending any trial dates
- You would like to find other ways to support people going to the trial
- You have any interest in participating in creating this type of space regardless of your involvement with this case.

When:
March 18th from 6-8:30 pm and April 7th from 6-8:30 pm

Where:
CAVP Office

What:
Discussion and meditation 6:00- 7:30. Dinner provided afterwards.

How:
RSVP to Crystal Middlestadt at crystal@coavp.org or 303-839-5204.

Include any dietary restrictions. Feel free to call Crystal with any questions you may have about this process.

Please consider the following questions under "Individual Preparation" before the meditation.

Individual preparation
- Identify 3 reasons why you are going? What is your intention?
- What do you expect to get from your time there, both personally and professionally?
- What will be your self-care plan? (Self-care needs to happen every day during trial)
- How will you eat healthy?
- What are you expecting CAVP to provide for self-care?
- How will you use what you learned during this experience?
- You're encouraged to journal during their time preparing for, during and after trial.

After the verdict these are the next steps:
- ALL come back together for a debriefing and meditation guided by Marti Engelmann.
- One session just for staff with an outside facilitator
- What were our lessons learned?

o 3 personal
o 3 professional
o How will we apply what we learned from this process?


About Colorado Anti-Violence Program
Since 1986 the Colorado Anti-Violence Program has been dedicated to eliminating violence within and against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities in Colorado, and providing the highest quality services to survivors. CAVP provides direct client services including crisis intervention, information, and referrals for LGBT victims of violence 24 hours a day.

The CAVP also provides technical assistance, training, and education for community organizations, law enforcement, and mainstream service providers on violence issues affecting the LGBT community.

The most common types of violence we work with are hate crimes and partner abuse. We also have cases that involve random violence, sexual assault, and HIV-motivated violence

Remembering Angie Zapata Facebook Page

transgender News PR] [CO, USA] CAVP Announces Discussion, Meditation & Dinner


Does That Come With Green Stamps?

I was filling up at a Tetco Gas station in Las Colonis TX





Transgender Churches in Dallas Texas


Where are there transgender Churches in Dallas?

Last Updated 12/o7/2oo9

I have become aware that many people who visit planetransgender who are on a spiritual journey.

The inquiry, "Where are there transgender Churches in the Dallas Fort Worth Area (DFW)".

I will answer with questions and answers! First remember Gay Friendly Churches in Dallas Texas does not say "transgender friendly", since we are the change we want.

On the 23rd of August I become a member of Trinity Metropolitan Church, Arlington Texas. Words on this page can not do justice to the faith and fellowship that overflows our little church. I am living and growing in the grace of Trinity. I hope you may also find this abundance in your life.

If you need of a place of spiritual reparation as I am, some days I attend
Agape MCC in Fort Worth Texas. Agape offers communion with Christ in spirit and soul with open arms. The uniqueness of the strong southern Baptist flavour, country passion, Buddhist, Wicken, Pentecostal, Methodist, Evangelical, Episcopal (et) and a all Saints all ministers of the word communion leaves me with spiritual wellness. Remember Saints we are all ministers of the word of God. Go in peace.

MCC of Greater Dallas
has wonderful Pastoral leadership and attended by many of my transgender friends and family. You would need to attend every Sunday not to miss the diversity of worship.



Pathways, Southlake TX. I just happened to be there the Sunday that Transgender people were included in the Church's mission statement. Rev. Anthony Lorenzen (Rev. Tony) is one of the original faith leaders to join Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies (DTAA). As a matter of fact he brought his entire congregation. Awesome validation when we were very young.

Since I am an impassioned advocate of inclusion of all people in the word of God I wander weekly. Some Churches are Gay, some straight, but all are Churches in states of transition who are leaving or joining GLBT welcoming and affirming ministry.. In movement. In Change.

Northaven United Methodist Church proclaims it's self fully inclusive and welcoming. In my Sundays their I was among many GLB brothers and sisters who belong to the RMN but my experience is, bring your coat of transgender advocacy, you may very well need it that Sunday.
I am a huge believer in the Methodist faith. It is the third largest denomination in the country and has many past presidents in it's membership. Inside the Methodist people is one common drive, to do no harm. That belief allows within it's very Methodist structure a OPEN dialogue. So now I a lay person authors with the finest minds in theology on the Reconciling Ministries Blog. That's right. Me a lay radical transgender left wing nut. Welcome.

The Universalist Unitarian faith is a full on motor of change. We have the First Unitarian Church of Dallas which was the first UU Church to become a LGBT welcoming congregation in the UU federation. I found this out by meeting Rev. Dr. Daniel Chesney Kanter at the National Freedom to Marry Day Dallas Texas Feb. 12 where he officiated the wedding. I asked Pastor Kanter what was it that brought him there. He said a email, just a email. During the ceremony in which he pronounced the couple Woman and Woman he acknowledged that within this joining was an understanding of the meaning and value of marriage, something some cisgender couples of opposite sex's have demonstrated to be unknowlegable of.

I have currently worshiped once, unannounced, at the St. Vincents Fort Worth which serves as the Cathedral of the Episcopal diocese of Fort Worth. Having been baptized and raised Episcopalian I was extremely apprehensive as I am clearly a transgender woman in a very Orthodox Episcopalian service. I was immediately welcomed and throughout the services felt the holy spirit in my soul. After partaking in Communion I departed with a very warm invitation to return by The Rev. Canon John W. Jordan.
However with the departure of the Ft Worth Episcopal Dioceses from the American Episcopal Church, to the Southern Cone because of perceived irreconcilable differences over the installment of Bishop Robinson, a openly gay man, and " other differences", and if you are not inclined to be a loving advocate in a potentialy divisive religious institution I would suggest visiting St Thomas The Doubter of Dallas Tx.

Links to connect with The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (Episcopal Church USA).
Where all can you find the GLBT Friendly Episcopal Church in the Fort Worth Area?

Find The Episcopal Church on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/episcopalian .
On Facebook, check out the videos, join the discussions, and be a part of The Episcopal Church.

Follow The Episcopal Church on Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/l/;twitter.com/iamepiscopalian. On Twitter, keep up-to-date and current with The Episcopal Church.

Don’t overlook the great videos of The Episcopal Church on YouTube: http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.youtube.com/TECtube

Join the growing numbers who are telling their stories by uploading a personal video on IamEpiscopalian: http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.iamepiscopalian.org/

It is a stalwart of Episcopal inclusive theology. Some would argue that it is progressive. I am curious, If Jesus proclaimed himself radically inclusive, Jesus is also very progressive. In my humble opinion St. Thomas is a good transgender Sunday destination. Again remember you may be called as a transgender person to be especially loving here.

planetransgender religious links that will wow you! And may contain that one Church you connect with. I am always looking for more(just curious;).

The Institute for Welcoming Resources

Gay Friendly Churches in Dallas Texas

[1a]Reparation is a Roman Catholic theological concept that humans are creatures who have fallen from an original state of justice in which they were created, and that through the Incarnation, Passion, and Death of Jesus, they have been redeemed and restored again in a certain degree to the original ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparation_(Catholic_Church)

[1b]Reparation is an album by Reggae musician Eddy Grant
. The title of this album is a call for restitution for the transatlantic slave trade

[1c]A payment of time, effort or money to undue past transgression(s); The act of renewing, restoring, etc. ...
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reparation

by kelli Busey
February 16, 2009

planetransgender

Cathedral of hope in Dallas is the largest LGBT Church in the world, but it is also much, much more. Located in the 'gayborhood' transgender people may attend one and all in peace.




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2/14/09

Queers United: Support the Repeal of Discriminatory Regulations in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Queers United: Support the Repeal of Discriminatory Regulations in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Queers United because of their moral ambiguity, misdemeanors codes and other similar regulations are often used by the police in many parts of Latin America to persecute, abuse and arrest people whose sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression deviates from social norms.
Follow this link to take action.

2/13/09

Transgender pilgrimage to Trinidad the Marci Bowers Saga Continues


Marci Bowers life and it's positive impact on a small western Colorado town has softly influenced residents perception of transgender people. Found high above the plains, Trinidad's tight knit community might have been perceived by most people as inaccessible physically if not also socially.

Many local residents now would offer a different opinion.

At one time the town's hospital was in jeopardy of becoming insolvent. The only large medical facility within hundreds of mile it's presence is invaluable. When Doctor Bowers began conducting SRS or Sexual Reassignment Surgery, the town met the new development with mixed reactions. Some where indifferent and some not knowing how to respond, highly critical. Soon however the reality that Dr. Bowers is a surgeon of high regard who's practice is bringing much needed revenue became readily apparent and appreciated.

An Intimate Portrait Of A Transgender Doctor's Life a multi part series found on Discovery Health's Transgender M.D.

Doctor Bowers positive effect is much more than surgical. Austin Texas is grateful for her contributions as this Docudrama benefited one of the premier Texas advocacy groups, Austin "TRINIDAD" Screening to Benefit (TENT) Transgender Education Network of Texas offers a real life look into transgender people, in both successes and failure. Real Humans. Real Life.

What has been transpiring across this mighty nation became slowly apparent in Trinidad Colorado. People first afraid, influenced with preconceptions painted by ignorance fueled by misinformation by transphobic groups slowly is being replaced with pride. Pride to be a center of courage. Pride to be unafraid to be different. Proud of there nabiours and the their local transgender affiliation.

What better way than a pilgrimage to Trinidad? The Saga continues.

By kelli Busey
February 13 2009
planetransgender