Towards a Welcoming and Inclusive Church
IWR News
January 24, 2010
- 1) PROP 8 TRIAL, Day 7 summary: prof says religion 'chief obstacle' to gay progress
- 2) Focus on the Family's Super Bowl ad ignites uproar
- 3) Foster father braces: Ruling may overturn gay-adoption ban or take kids away
- 4) I.O.C. Panel [Olympics] Calls for Treatment in Sex Ambiguity Cases
- 5) Legalized Discrimination
- 6) Faith In America Media Campaign
- 7) SisterFriends Together
- 8) Transgendered Christians, Gays and Our Common Bond
- 9) GOP senators [NY] say they'd back 'civil unions'
- 10) Project Examines Black / LGBT Struggles
- 11) Links to more news from Welcoming Church Programs
1) PROP 8 TRIAL, Day 7 summary: prof says religion 'chief obstacle' to gay progress
San Francisco, Baptist Press January 21, 2010
A Stanford University professor Wednesday criticized the traditional beliefs on marriage by Southern Baptists and Catholics, saying during the California Prop 8 federal trial that "religion is the chief obstacle" to political progress by homosexuals.
2) Focus on the Family's Super Bowl ad ignites uproar
365Gay.com, January 22, 2010
Focus on the Family's planned Super Bowl ad featuring Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow is generating outcry from thousands of people - enough to give rise to a Facebook page with more 2,500 fans urging CBS to reject the anti-abortion spot. In addition, nearly 1,500 people have signed a change.org petition and contacted CBS about the decision to air the controversial 30-second commercial. Part of the outcry stems from CBS' decision in 2004 to reject an ad from The United Church of Christ that promoted the denomination's anti-discrimination stance.
3) Foster father braces: Ruling may overturn gay-adoption ban or take kids away
Miami, Florida, Orlando Sentinel, January 22, 2010
Sometimes Martin Gill forgets what day it is. And then he starts to feel stressed and anxious and realizes, Oh, this must be Wednesday. . . . Any Wednesday now, the Court of Appeals will release its ruling on whether Florida's ban on gay adoption is constitutional. Any Wednesday now, Gill will learn whether he gets to keep the two foster children he and his partner have been raising for the past five years, and want to adopt.
4) I.O.C. Panel [Olympics] Calls for Treatment in Sex Ambiguity Cases
Miami Beach, Florida, New York Times, January 20, 2010
A panel of medical experts convened by the International Olympic Committee recommended Wednesday that the issue of athletes whose sex seems ambiguous be treated as a medical concern and not one of fairness in competition. Athletes who identify themselves as female but have medical disorders that give them masculine characteristics should have their disorders diagnosed and treated, the group concluded after two days of meetings in Miami Beach. The experts also said that rules should be put in place for determining an athlete's eligibility to compete on a case-by-case basis - but they did not indicate what those rules should be. "We did not address fairness," said Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson of Florida International University. He is an expert on such disorders and participated in the meeting. "The entire concept was that these individuals should be allowed to compete."
5) Legalized Discrimination
Human Rights Campaign, January 17, 2010
Did you know that in 29 states, it's perfectly legal to fire someone for being gay? Or that in 38 states, it's legal to fire someone for being transgender?
It's hard enough to keep a job in today's economy, yet millions of Americans can be denied a job or fired not for poor performance, but for simply being themselves. I hope you'll join me in taking 2 minutes to write to Congress and help stop this injustice:
To take action on this issue, click here.
If the text above does not appear as a link or it wraps across multiple lines, then copy and paste it into the address area of your browser.
6) Faith In America Media Campaign
New York, Gay City News, January 6, 2010
In a broad swath across America - from Indianapolis, Indiana to Raleigh, N.C. - Faith In America has breached the wall of silence long associated with religion and equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. With its ad campaign that challenges the injustice of religion-based bigotry, Faith In America is opening up channels of dialogue with religious fundamentalists who judge and even condemn gay men and women as unworthy of their respect and unworthy of God's love. The campaign continues with future ads in communities - large and small - across America. It's been said that religion-based bigotry is the mortar that binds the wall that blocks the way to full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexuals and transgender Americans. A wall without mortar will not stand. Faith In America, Inc. has embarked on a mission to eliminate the injustice of religion-based bigotry against gay, lesbian, bisexuals and transgender (GLBT) Americans.
7) SisterFriends Together
SisterFriends Together
SisterFriends Together is an outreach ministry of Grace Unfolding Ministries, and we exist to provide a safe and welcoming online faith community for lesbian, bisexual, questioning and transgender women. It's a place where women can share fears and ask questions in their journey to reconcile and integrate their sexuality and faith. Having been anchored in the assurance of God's love, SisterFriends Together seeks out ways to encourage each woman's spiritual growth and the development of the gifts of ministry that reside within her through online faith conversations, bible studies and reflections, and providing a range of opportunities to minister to others through community life here and in the world.
8) Transgendered Christians, Gays and Our Common Bond
Whosoever
Fun?! Who said being a Christian was supposed to be fun?! That is-- if we define the essence of being a Christian as making Jesus Christ Lord. He accepts us-- but many others, including many Christians, don't. And resolving the differences is not fun. Being a transgendered Christian is in many ways similar to being a gay Christian. We face a number of the same issues, and some different issues as well. In some ways these issues aren't any different than many other humans have faced-- for instance, a Black American in 1900 attending a white church. "Why do they reject me?" "Why am I different?" "Why did God make me this way?" None of these questions are fun!
9) GOP senators [NY] say they'd back 'civil unions'
New York, Daily Freeman, January 23, 2010
Republican state Sens. John Bonacic and William Larkin say the same rights provided to male-female married couples in New York could be extended to same-sex couples - but only under terms that identify the relationships as "civil unions."
10) Project Project Examines Black / LGBT Struggles
Windy City Times, November 18, 2009
Marilyn Bennett and the Rev. Gil Caldwell see the dialogue between the LGBT and African-American Christian communities as a challenging one. Caldwell is a 75-year-old heterosexual African-American clergyman, and Bennett is a 47-year-old white lesbian. The two are collaborating in a multimedia endeavor they call "Truth in Progress," covering the history of the LGBT and Black civil-rights movements, particularly as they experienced them in working together for LGBT equality in the United Methodist Church ( UMC ) .
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
