DignityUSA

DignityUSA Calls It Love

DignityUSA launched a June 2004 national advertising campaign in conjunction with nationwide Gay Pride celebrations, as well as the one-year anniversary of the Vatican's release of Considerations Regarding Proposals to give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons.

The "DignityUSA Calls It Love" campaign, celebrating GLBT families, included 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.

The national ad features two Dignity members and their children in a family portrait with a caption that reads: "The Vatican calls this violence. DignityUSA calls it love."

The ad references the statement in the Vatican letter which said "Allowing children to be adopted by persons living in such [same-sex] unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development."

"DignityUSA has celebrated and supported gay and lesbian families in all their diversity for thirty-five years." said Matthew Gallagher, Executive Director of DignityUSA. "We want to publicly celebrate the great love that exists between GLBT parents and their children. When one considers how many children are at risk of abuse and neglect in every part of society, we believe affirming loving, responsible partnerships and families can provide safe and nurturing homes as the best place for children, and that includes GLBT parents."

At DignityUSA's 2003 Biennial Convention, members released a statement supporting same-gender marriage as a right not only as Catholics, but as American citizens.

"We are now seeing the effects of the Vatican's attempts to influence the discussion of civil marriage for GLBT people in the efforts by some bishops to deny communion to politicians and voters who support this issue," said Gallagher. "It is sad that our efforts to grow and support families are being met by such

angry and misguided opposition from our church leaders. At a time when GLBT families need the support of their faith communities – and have found support in many Catholic parishes – our bishops and the Vatican continue to work against us and perpetuate myths and lies about GLBT people."

"Our hope is that this campaign will put a real face on GLBT families for the many people who don't know that these families are in their very communities and neighborhoods," said Gallagher. "While some work hard to demonize our families, we are working just as hard to show that it is all about love."

For more information on the "DignityUSA Calls It Love" campaign, and Dignity's other work on behalf of GLBT Catholics, visit www.dignityusa.org/services/marketing.html.

DignityUSA Treasurer Sought

DignityUSA seeks a volunteer to serve a 14-month appointed term in the important role as Treasurer of Dignity, Inc. and member of the national board of directors participating in policy-setting and national advocacy work of DignityUSA. The appointee may be eligible to be re-nominated for a full two-year term beginning October 1, 2005.

Qualified volunteers will be members of DignityUSA and have experience in accounting, budgetary management and/or bookkeeping.

Treasurer responsibilities include:

Interested applicants are requested to send a letter of interest with qualifications.

To inquire further, or to apply, please contact Sam Sinnett, DignityUSA President, at president@DignityUSA.org or 8665 Barby Lane, St. Louis, MO 63124 or (314) 432-1744.

Happy Anniversary & Congratulations to:

First 2004 DignityUSA Regional Membership Meeting

The first of the three 2004 regional DignityUSA Membership Meetings was held Friday to Sunday, June 4-6 in Washington, DC. The program was coordinated and hosted by Dignity/Northern Virginia and Dignity/Washington (DC).

Saturdays's guest speaker was Chrissy Gephardt, daughter of Congressman Richard Gephardt, of Missouri. She shared her coming out story and talked about how we should speak our truth about who we are, which was the theme for the weekend. After her presentation, she took questions from those present, then joined the group for lunch.

The afternoon program was the DignityUSA Membership Meeting with presentations by Sam Sinnett, President, Peggy Burns, Vice-President, and Matthew Gallagher, Executive Director, on the current state of affairs of our organization. Following their presentations, they took questions from those present. Lewis Tanner, National Board Member, helped provide answers to some of the questions.

Later that day, the participants joined Dignity/Northern Virginia for liturgy and a special dinner to celebrate the chapter's 12th anniversary.

Sunday's program was a riveting presentation by Daniel Helminiak, acclaimed author of What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality. Daniel presented a paper he created on spirituality, which led to a very interesting discussion with those present.

DignityUSA leadership wants to thank the two host chapters for all of their work to make the weekend such a success, especially Laura Newport, President, Dignity/Northern Virginia and Doug McGuckin, President, Dignity/Washington (DC).

Workshop Leaders Needed!

The DignityUSA 2005 Biennial Convention will be held at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 7th – 10th. Over 500 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics, as well as our families and friends, are expected to attend.

The Convention Committee is now accepting applications for workshop leaders. The Committee invites you to share your experience, by submitting a workshop proposal application. We welcome all proposal submissions; however, priority will be given to workshops that directly support our mission and vision, and offer a unique perspective on our theme, Through Truth to Freedom.

DignityUSA is a volunteer organization. We ask our presenters to volunteer time and experience for the convention. We are able to offer one complimentary convention registration per workshop. Presenters are responsible for travel and accommodations.

If your proposal is accepted for presentation, you will be sent a registration packet with detailed information.

Please visit www.dignityusa.org/convention05 for an application. Complete the workshop proposal form and mail to DignityUSA Convention 2005, Education Committee, PO Box 956, Philadelphia PA 19105, no later than August 1, 2004. Notification of acceptance will be made by September 15, 2004.

We Must Speak Our Truth

Midwest Regional Conference

July 31 – August 1, 2004
Cox Arboretum, Dayton, OH

Co-Hosted by Dignity/Columbus & Dignity/Dayton

West Coast Regional Conference

October 16 – 17, 2004
Dignity Center, Los Angeles, CA

Hosted by Dignity/Los Angeles

More details at

www.dignityusa.org/2004conferences/index.html

Reminder

Please return ballots by July 1, 2004, for the DignityUSA Board of Directors elections.

Wishing You and Yours a Safe and Happy 4th of July

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