Towards a Welcoming and Inclusive Church
IWR News
June 14, 2009
- 1) Besen: What is the point of the ex-gay industry?
- 2) March on Washington Called for Oct 11
- 3) Brown now fights Prop. 8 in federal court
- 4) Gay pride activists march in Rome, Warsaw, Zagreb
- 5) Radio show back today - with transgender advocates
- 6) No Welcome Wagon for Equality Riders
- 7) Civil rights belong to every citizen, gays included
- 8) Sources: Transgender man has second child
- 9) VT program helps students explore gender
- 10) Gay Israelis prepare for their big day
- 11) Links to more news from Welcoming Church Programs
1) Besen: What is the point of the ex-gay industry?
365Gay.com, June 10, 2009
If Focus on the Family's goal is to convert gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people into evangelical Christians, they are doing a lousy job. It seems convincing gay people to end their relationships is a far higher priority to this ministry than having gay people develop personal relationships with Jesus Christ.
2) March on Washington Called for Oct 11
Washington, D.C., Advocate, June 08, 2009
Gay rights activist Cleve Jones announced plans on Sunday for a march on Washington to demand full equality for the LGBT community, reports the Associated Press. The march, scheduled for October 11, will coincide with National Coming Out Day, which falls on a Sunday this year.
3) Why Brown now fights Prop. 8 in federal court
San Francisco, San Francisco Chronicle, June12, 2009
Attorney General Jerry Brown, who tried to persuade the state Supreme Court to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage, took the same position in federal court Friday, saying Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equality.
4) Gay pride activists march in Rome, Warsaw, Zagreb
Rome, Italy, San Francisco Chronicle, June 13, 2009
Tens of thousands of gay rights activists demanding rights for same-sex couples marched through the streets of Rome on Saturday in a gay pride parade. Smaller marches wound through the capitals of heavily Catholic Poland and in Croatia, where counterdemonstrators shouted anti-gay and nationalist slogans. . . . Activists dressed as fake clergy with colorful hats and signs reading "No Vatican" protested what they say is the church's excessive influence on Italy's policies.
5) Radio show back today - with transgender advocates
Sacramento, Calif., Sacramento Bee, June 11,
Radio hosts Arnie States and Rob Williams today will welcome two advocates for transgender people - a group the DJs labeled "freaks," "weirdos" and "drama queens" two weeks ago. Kim Pearson and Autumn Sandeen, one the mother of a transgender teen and the other a San Diego transgender activist, told The Bee they will try to put a human face on a misunderstood group.
6) No Welcome Wagon for Equality Riders
Reconciling Ministries Network, Flashnet, March 29, 2009
Sitting in a courtroom and facing possible jail time in Clinton, Miss. on March 22, a group of five activists in their early 20s discovered that they could pay a heavy price for their efforts to advocate for LGBT rights. The students are part of Soulforce's second Equality Ride, in which young activists trek across the country in buses, stopping at Christian colleges and universities with anti-gay policies and trying to start a dialogue with students and administrators about embracing LGBT people and ending their discriminatory policies.
7) Civil rights belong to every citizen, gays included
National Black Justice Coalition, June 9, 2009
I am an African-American who participated in the civil rights movement. I learned the basics directly from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I continue to fight for the basic civil rights of African-Americans. When my African ancestors were brought to these shores as slaves, many of those who purchased my ancestors pointed to the Bible and said, "Slaves, obey your master." Before too long, my people began to take in the whole Bible and heard a message of freedom and equality before God.
8) Sources: Transgender man has second child
Bend, Oregon, UPI, June 10, 2009
Oregon resident Thomas Beatie, a transgender man born a female, has given birth to his second child, sources told "20/20." The ABC-TV series reported exclusively that, according to unidentified sources close to Beatie and his wife Nancy, the transgender man had a healthy baby boy.
9) VT program helps students explore gender
Burlington, Vermont, 365Gay.com, June 8, 2009
The nine-week program, partially funded by the Burlington School District, was held at Vermont's Queer Youth Center and called "Gendertopia." Gay, lesbian and straight students discussed a wide range of topics, from the characters in the book and movie "Twilight," to taking photos around the city that show the different ways gender is portrayed in popular culture.
10) Gay Israelis prepare for their big day
Jerusalem, Israel, BBC News, June 10, 2009
There is an old joke around these parts. Question: Other than Jerusalem, what do ultra-religious Jews, Muslims and Christians love? Answer: They love to hate homosexuals. But travel the 60km (40 miles) from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, and you enter a world apart. Major streets are decked with the multi-coloured Gay Pride banner.
11) Links to more news from Welcoming Church Programs
- Associational - The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists
- Consensus - Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble
- Crossbeams - Open and Affirming Ministries of the Gay, Lesbian & Affirming Disciples (GLAD)
- FlashNet - Reconciling Ministeries Network
- LC/NA News and Events - Lutherans Concerned/North America
- More Light News - More Light Presbyterians
- Outspoken - Brethren-Mennonite Council for LGBT Concerns
- Room for All News and Events - Room for All
- Ripples - Open and Affirming Program of the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns (ONA)
- WCNnewsletter - Welcoming Community Network
Additional News
News Selections offers news from around the world related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexual, and ally efforts to make the world more accepting and welcoming to everyone of every sexual orientation and every gender identity. It is gathered by Sara Boesser, author of Silent Lives: How High a Price ~ For Personal Reflections and Group Discussions about Sexual Orientation, published by Hamilton Books, an imprint of University Press of America, Inc. Silent Lives provides a valuable resource for individuals, study groups, civic groups, congregations, spiritual groups, and other groups discussing issues of sexuality. It is helpful for personal journaling and sharing with relatives and friends, and is also very useful as a college text, therapy supplement, or a catalyst for group discussions. www.SilentLives.com
