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DignityUSA
PO Box 376
Medford, MA
02155
tel: 800.877.8797
202.861.0017
fax: 781.397.0584
email:
info@dignityusa.org
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RETURN TO > DATELINES > HOME
DignityUSA DATELINE
Volume 10, No. 9
September 2001
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS DignityUSA signs Massachusetts Amicus Brief Solidarity Sunday is next Month |
Call
to Action 2001
A Report on the LA Conference
DignityUSA was among the 27 vendors at the first of three CTA conferences to be held this year (Los Angeles, August 3-5).
The theme for the 3 conferences this year is "Rooted in Justice, Moved by the Spirit" — Celebrating 25 years of Call to Action. Any Dignity member attending the conference in LA could not help but notice the many similarities in theme and presentation with our own DignityUSA national convention held this past July in Chicago. The Opening Session began with a multi-media presentation on the historic moments in the life of CTA since it’s founding in 1976. And we are happy to report that DignityUSA was prominently recognized as a significant part of CTA’s history.
Attendance at the conference exceeded 500. DignityUSA hosted the Friday evening reception directly following the opening plenary session. We attracted over 100 at the reception and made lots of new friends while reconnecting with many who have supported us in the past.
Many thanks are due some of the members of our LA Chapter for their much appreciated assistance in staffing the Dignity information table. It is always refreshing to see Dignity members participating in the CTA Conferences. There is so much to be gained from the experience.
Such notables as Bernard Cooke, Nancy Sylvester, IHM, and Joan Chittister, OSB were present to inspire us and challenge us to continue the work of church renewal.
In addition to the numerous presentations made available throughout the weekend there were the high points of the Conference that will be remembered for some time to come. One of those high points was at the opening session with Sr. Nancy Sylvester & Dr. Bernard Cooke as they shared with us their thoughts of the past 25 years of the church renewal efforts. Another high point came Saturday evening with the CTA Leadership Award Presentation to the Los Angeles Catholic Worker. There was hardly a dry eye in the house as we listened to the testimony of some of the dedicated volunteers in the Catholic Worker movement. It is safe to say that Dorothy Day has left a legacy to be proud of in the Catholic Worker. And speaking of Dorothy Day, some of us took advantage of the SRO 2-hour one-woman performance of "Haunted by God: The Life of Dorothy Day." Lisa Wagner, professional actress, co-wrote this play and has performed the work over 500 times around the world.
Following the award ceremony Saturday evening was a musical presentation by the Los Angeles St. Odilia’s Choir and a huge reception for Sr. Joan Chittister.
The highest point of the conference came Sunday morning with the Keynote Address given by Sr. Joan. In addition to receiving standing ovations before and after her speech, applause burst forth numerous times throughout Joan’s speech. What she had to say was an inspiration to us all. Following her speech was a beautiful closing Celebration of the Eucharist.
Dignity encourages all of its members to participate to the fullest in the activities of CTA locally and nationally. If you missed the LA Conference you are encouraged to attend the conferences in Philadelphia (September 14-16) and Chicago (November 2-4)
— ptm
Gill Foundation Grant Work
Maryland Selected as Target
DignityUSA's recent grant from the Gill Foundation specified that we identify one state in which Catholic opinion could have an impact on a GLBT civil rights issue, and mobilize pro-GLBT Catholics there. After consulting with leaders of national GLBT organizations, and conversations with local allies, we have selected Maryland as the state for our work. Executive Director Marianne Duddy, who will be coordinating these efforts said, "We have nearly 300 Maryland residents in our database of members and supporters, and good contacts with a number of progressive Catholic organizations based in Maryland. We really start from a position of strength. Catholics in Maryland, like everywhere else, support our efforts to gain equality under the law."
DignityUSA's work in Maryland was scheduled to begin during a series of meetings with the leadership of Free State Justice, the Maryland GLBT civil rights organization, and Dignity members and friends during the week of August 13.
— mtd
DignityUSA signs Massachusetts Amicus Brief
Seeks to prevent anti-gay constitutional amendment
At the request of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, DignityUSA signed 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. The amendment is seen as having the potential of overturning rights same-sex couples already enjoy in Massachusetts, such as joint adoption and the ability to register as domestic partners in some cities and towns. — mtd
Did you know?...
- The National Officers & ED have conference calls on an average of every 3 weeks.
- The National Board of Directors communicates with one another frequently via email.
- The National Officers & ED travel to chapters around the country to join them in celebration of major events such as chapters’ 25th anniversaries.
- DignityUSA employs 3 people (2 part-time and one full- time) to take care of the day-day business of the organization.
- DignityUSA relies on the generosity of our members, friends and supporters for their time & energy as well as their financial donations to bring the message of Dignity to every corner of this country.
- DignityUSA maintains a national calendar of significant events in the life of Dignity and other church renewal organizations. Take advantage of this by sending us your event for consideration. Visit the DignityUSA website for the details.
- Mass is celebrated in Dignity faith communities throughout the United States and Canada every week of the year.
October 7, 2001
Visit the DignityUSA website for all of the details regarding our annual faith-based anti-violence initiative. Every Chapter is encouraged to take part and do something in their community no matter how small an effort. Every effort matters.
Dignity News Service
Keeping you informed
Some things are worth repeating. Subscribe to the Dignity News Service. This is the best way to stay informed about Dignity and it is free. Join the nearly 1000 other subscribers to this service.
National Religious Leadership Roundtable
Salt Lake City event to focus on Religion & GLBT Youth
Leaders in the religious and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT)
communities met July 31 through Aug. 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah in the
semi-annual National Religious Leadership Roundtable (NRLR) to discuss
issues of faith and sexual orientation and to amplify the voice of pro-GLBT
faith organizations in public discourse.
The roundtable meeting included a public event focusing on the needs of
GLBT youth within communities of faith. The event, entitled "Free
to Be: A Forum on Spiritual Discovery, not Sexual Recovery for GLBT Youth,"
featured a conversation with a Mormon family whose son tried to commit
suicide a year ago.
NRLR, which has met twice a year since 1998, is an interfaith network
of leaders of faith-based organizations, representing Muslim, Hindu, Catholic,
Jewish, Protestant, Mormon, Black Church and other religious and spiritual
traditions. Convened by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
(NGLTF) and founded with Equal Partners in Faith, NRLR promotes a progressive
agenda that contrasts the religious right's line on homosexuality, which
champions eternal punishment and repressive "reparative" therapy.
"This is a period of political instability for the GLBT community," said
NGLTF Executive Director Lorri L. Jean. "Our rights are under broad
attack, often with the declared purpose of representing one definitive
religious viewpoint. There are many accepting and affirming religious
groups whose perspectives are overlooked."
NRLR, which has previously met in Miami, Florida, Orange County, California
and Colorado Springs, Colorado, selected Salt Lake City for the meeting
to challenge anti-gay attitudes within the 70 percent-Mormon state.
Mormon doctrine states that traditional marriage is the only context for
sexuality with the purpose of procreation and that the unmarried will
not ascend to the highest level of heaven. The Mormon Church excommunicates
gay members, although no statistics are collected on the number of GLBT
Mormons forced to give up their religious practices.
The location also has particular relevance for GLBT youth advocates. Salt
Lake City was the battleground for a bitter debate on the legitimacy of
GLBT student groups in public schools. The school board, in a move eventually
fought down after years of legal battles, banned all clubs in order to
disallow Gay-Straight Alliances to meet on school property. The state,
which hosts many anti-gay "reparative therapy" programs for GLBT youth,
has also served as a backdrop for several high-profile GLBT youth suicides
and has highest suicide rates in the nation for young men.
Duane Jennings, representative to NRLR from Affirmation International,
an organization of GLBT Mormons, explained that support from the religious
community is of great importance to many people discovering their sexual
orientation, especially youth. "It's my experience that those who
are able to heal spiritually, are able to step away from the self-loathing
that people have been taught, into a place of personal power and wholeness,"
he said.
For more information on the National Religious Leadership Roundtable,
please visit www.ngltf.org/nrlr
Happy Anniversary to our Chapters in:
|
LOUISVILLE |
30 |
|
ROCHESTER |
26 |
|
WEST VIRGINIA |
6 |
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