DignityUSA
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Medford, MA
02155

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202.861.0017

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Highlights of DignityUSA’s History,
2000-present

2000

• Effective January 1, 2000, Chuck Provancher takes over the management and design of the DignityUSA Website.
• DignityUSA announces that past national president, Marianne Duddy, has been appointed executive director.
• DignityUSA launches a three-month advertising campaign in the Advocate national magazine.
• DignityUSA participates in the Millennium March on Washington.
• DignityUSA announces the addition of two new staff persons in our national office: R Ressa as database manager and Ron Karstetter as office manager.
• In our continuing efforts to provide the membership maximum access to Dignity news and information, DignityUSA launches a new Dignity News Service.
• In November, DignityUSA and Soulforce hold a peaceful demonstration in Washington, DC to oppose spiritual gay bashing.

2001

• On January 1, President Mary Louise Cervone and Executive Director Marianne Duddy go to Rome to represent DignityUSA in collaboration with Soulforce to bring attention to the Catholic hierarchy's demeaning attitude toward GLBT Catholics.
• DignityUSA is the subject of a study which appears in the most recent edition of the Social Psychology Quarterly, 2001 Volume 64 No. 4. Dr. James C. Cavendish and Dr. Donileen R. Loseke, assistant professor and professor of sociology at the University of South Florida, co-authored the study entitled "Producing Institutional Selves: Rhetorically Constructing the Dignity of Sexually Marginalized Catholics." Drs. Cavendish and Loseke explore how apparently contradictory identities can be reconciled rhetorically. The source materials for the study are DignityUSA Journals published between 1997 and 2000.
• The Council of Religious AIDS Networks, including DignityUSA, meets in February in Florida and calls upon the people and the US government to continue a comprehensive and inclusive response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• During the March Board of Directors Meeting in Chicago, a special reception is held to honor Jim Green and Bill Diederich "In Appreciation of Faithful and Generous Support." In addition to dedicating themselves over the years to the mission of Dignity, they gave to DignityUSA the largest single donation to date, $52,000. To thank them for their dedication and commitment as well as their generous financial support, Mary Louise Cervone presents Jim & Bill with a beautiful etched glass plaque declaring them "Perpetual Members of DignityUSA."
• On April 2-4,  DignityUSA co-sponsors a conference on "The Progressive, Faith-Based Agenda: A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr." in Washington, DC.
• DignityUSA is awarded $1,000 from the School Sisters of Notre Dame Fund for Gay and Lesbian Ministry. The funding is to support proactive outreach to facilitate participation in Solidarity Sunday™.

• The Gill Foundation, the preeminent GLBT philanthropic organization, announces a grant of $7,500 to DignityUSA for mobilizing pro-GLBT Catholic support in a state civil rights initiative, where Catholic input can make a difference in the outcome of the bill.
• At the request of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, DignityUSA signs onto an amicus brief to be presented to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office in an effort to prevent an anti-gay constitutional amendment from coming before the state's voters. The amendment, sponsored by the Massachusetts Citizens for Marriage, seeks to add language to the state constitution limiting marriage to one man/one woman, and denying the benefits of marriage to any other relationship.
• Following the attacks of September 11, DignityUSA issues a statement extending sympathy to all of those who have lost people they love, including the loved ones of Fr. Mychal Judge, NY Fire Department Chaplain, who was a longtime member of Dignity. DignityUSA also expresses outrage by the comments of Rev. Jerry Falwell and Rev. Pat Robertson, who blamed gay men and lesbians for helping to cause this terrorism.
• DignityUSA's Fr. Tom is named co-chair of the National Council of Religious AIDS Network.
• The December 25, 2001, issue of the Advocate (p. 16) quotes Executive Director Marianne Duddy on Pope John Paul II, Fr. Mychal Judge, gay priests and the gifts of our heroes.

2002

• On January 13, the board of directors meets by teleconference. Topics of discussion included our upcoming first national election, as well as reports from other board committees. Director Linda Rieder reports that a Parents and Friends Advisory Board is in the planning stages to encourage greater participation of potential non-gay supporters.
• On February 8, the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, hosts a public panel discussion of John McNeill's life and ministry in celebration of the John J. McNeill Gay and Lesbian Liberation Archives, which have recently been donated to CLGS. Sr. Jeannine Gramick is one of the participants in that panel discussion.  The Center hosts at the dean’s house (on Thursday, February 7) a smaller "by-invitation" fund-raising cocktail party with John to help raise money for cataloguing and publicizing the archive. Tom Kaun, former DignityUSA director, attends the Thursday reception in behalf of DignityUSA. Also in attendance are Rev. Jim Schexnayder, founder and resource director of NACDLGM, as well as several others who have had a connection with Dignity over the years. Several linear feet of John’s papers are donated, including his correspondence with the Vatican. His papers will be made available to the public in approximately six months online.
• Leaders of DignityUSA condemn statements by Vatican spokesman Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls in which he blames clergy sexual abuse on gay priests. Navarro-Valls is quoted in the March 3, 2002 New York Times as saying that "People with these inclinations just cannot be ordained," and likening their ordination to a marriage that could be annulled.
• DignityUSA Endorses New Ways Ministry Symposium, March 8-10, and has a strong presence at the symposium. Approximately 65 members of DignityUSA are among the 500 who gathered in Louisville, KY March 8-10, 2002 for New Ways Ministry's Fifth National Symposium on Gay and Lesbian Issues in the Church. Entitled "Out of Silence God Has Called Us: Lesbian/Gay Issues in the Vatican II Church," the Symposium commemorated the 25th anniversary of New Ways Ministry's founding in 1977.
• The board of directors of DignityUSA announces the chartering of Dignity/Silver Spring, located in Maryland.
• DignityUSA addresses the priest sex abuse scandal. On April 8, the Board of Directors of DignityUSA devotes much of its meeting to issues raised by the clergy sex abuse scandal unfolding in the Catholic Church.
• We Shall Not Be Silent: Conferences for GLBT Catholics, Our Families, Friends and Supporters, sponsored by DignityUSA, takes place on April 12-14 at the Crockett Hotel, San Antonio, TX, where the keynote speaker is Sister Jeannine Gramick, SL; and May 24-26, at the Hyatt Hotel, Buffalo, NY, where the keynote speaker is Edwina Gately.
• DignityUSA Joins Gay Days at Disney World in Orlando, FL, May 28–June 2.
• Patrick T. McArron is named president of DignityUSA.
• In response to the church sex abuse crisis, DignityUSA launches a campaign entitled "STOP BLAMING GAY PRIESTS" at the November US Catholic Bishops Conference.

2003

• In Lawrence v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court takes a stand for GLBT people in a 6-3 decision. DignityUSA filed an amicus brief in support of overturning its controversial 1986 Hardwick decision.
• DignityUSA denounces "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons," a Vatican document instructing Catholic politicians and the public on opposing legal protections for same-sex couples.
• On July 31, DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy appears on a PBS panel to discuss the same-gender marriange issue.

• On August 15, National Catholic Reporter interviews DignityUSA leaders in an article on the same-gender marriage debate.
• DignityUSA hires Matthew Gallagher as new executive director.
• Philippe LaChance, elected by your national Board of Directors as treasurer beginning October 1, resigns his position on the board as of December 1.
• On November 18, leaders of DignityUSA express their joy about a historic decision in Massachusetts' highest court ruling that same-sex couples are legally entitled to marry under the state constitution.
• Joseph Giordano is appointed new treasurer effective December 8.

2004

• On January 10, the DignityUSA Board of Directors holds a conference call to review the first quarter list of priorities from the DignityUSA strategic plan.
• After more than 25 years in a one room efficiency apartment, the National Board approves moving the national office into a larger suite in the same building.
• DignityUSA participates at National Religious Leadership Roundtable Event in Boston on March 9–10.
• DignityUSA launches secure online payment options for memberships and donations as of March 24.
• The Board of Directors of DignityUSA gathers in Washington, DC, April 16-18 for their quarterly meeting.
• Dignity/Sarasota (FL), is granted full charter chapter status by the DignityUSA Board of Directors.
• Joseph Giordano resigns from the DignityUSA Board of Directors and as Treasurer, as of the end of May. A volunteer is sought to take his place.
• DignityUSA Marketing Committee launches national ad campaign in June. The committee, headed by Tom Streeper, Lewis Tanner, Marty Grochala, Chuck Provancher and Matthew Gallagher, launches the campaign to create awareness and "Amplify the Voice of DignityUSA" across the country. The campaign is aimed at combating the violence GLBT people feel from the Vatican, supporting the marriage debate taking place across the country, and providing a picture of what a loving GLBT Catholic family looks like. The "DignityUSA Calls It Love" campaign, celebrating GLBT families, includes national advertising in the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) and The Advocate, local and regional ads, as well as Dignity chapter-sponsored advertising and Gay Pride event booths and displays.
• DignityUSA conducts the first of three membership meetings entitled “We Must Speak Our Truth” in Washington, DC, June 5–6, 2004, hosted by Dignity/Washington and Dignity/Northern Virginia. Guest speaker is Chrissy Gephardt, daughter of Congressman Richard Gephardt, of Missouri. She shares her coming-out story and talks about how we should speak our truth about who we are, which is the theme for the weekend. After her presentation, she takes questions from those present, then joins the group for lunch.
• The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) requests DignityUSA to participate in an important national consultation on men who have sex with men (MSM), to address the rising increase in numerous health issues, especially the elevated level of the spread of Syphilis and new HIV/AIDS cases among MSMs. The CDC invites DignityUSA to the gathering in Atlanta, GA on July 1 because it recognizes DignityUSA's expertise to speak for members of the GLBT community from a faith perspective, and the ability to reach a number of gay men throughout its membership. Fr. Tom, chairman, DignityUSA's National AIDS Project, represents DignityUSA.
• Four directors are elected to serve on DignityUSA's national Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning October 1: Rosemary Burdick (CN), Leo Tibesar (MN) and Dick Young (OH). Lewis Tanner (NY) re-elected.
• In lieu of a scheduled teleconference, the Board of Directors of DignityUSA gathers for their quarterly meeting in Washington, DC, July 16–18
• The s econd of three membership meetings is held Dayton, OH, July 31–August 1, hosted by Dignity/Dayton and Dignity/Columbus. Keynote speaker is Rev. Phil Hart, Executive Director of Sanctorum, and the first United Methodist Minister defrocked for coming out, on "Prophecy: the Call, the Cost, the Change."
• Peter Caprise volunteers to serve on DignityUSA Board of Directors as Treasurer. Peter is the Chief Financial Officer of a large non-profit organization. He brings a wealth of talent and experience to his new role on our national board.
• Ron Karstetter, DignityUSA's national office manager for the past five years, steps down. Karen Banks becomes the new office manager. Karen has a background of experience working with small, non-profit, community based organizations.
• Third of three membership meetings is held in Los Angeles, CA, October 16–17, hosted by Dignity/Los Angeles.
• DignityUSA launches new project, "Breath of the Spirit: Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments," electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for members and potential members.
• DignityUSA invites chapters to Washington DC for acts of prayer and visibility at the next U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) meetings, November 15-18.

2005

2007

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