News Archive (2008)

Groups Say Vatican's Stance Amounts to Condoning Anti-Gay Violence

Boston, MA-Leaders of the Catholic groups DignityUSA, New Ways Ministry and Call To Action, spoke out today to condemn the Vatican's opposition to a proposed U.N. declaration that would lessen against the discrimination against of lesbian, gay and bisexual people worldwide.

The U.N. proposal, which is sponsored by France and backed by 27 European Union nations, seeks to end the practice of criminalizing and punishing people for their sexual orientation.

By Shari Miller, Vice-President, Dignity/Denver

Dignity/Denver held its Third Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance Liturgy on Sunday, November 16th, 2008. This moving event originally came about because one of our members knew someone on the list who was being memorialized. That person was a 24-year old Hispanic woman who was murdered with a shotgun inside her own apartment. She was a gentle soul murdered because she was gender-variant.

By Bart Coyle, Dignity/Sarasota

Moving to Florida eight years ago was supposed to be the beginning of the retirement phase of my partner’s and my life. That didn’t happen. Right from the “get go” my partner got involved with and became president of the GLBT Bowling League, the Chairman of Sarasota Pride Fest and a board member of the ALSO Out Youth program. I became a part-time volunteer at Bethesda House, a food bank for Persons Living with AIDS. I was one of the founders of Dignity/Sarasota and subsequently the President of the Board for the first four years. I later became Dignity’s representative to the Gulf Coast Affirming Interfaith Network (GAIN). GAIN conducts two interfaith services every year: World AIDS Day and a service that opens Sarasota’s Pride Fest season. I never understood retired people who say they have less time now than they did when they were working, I fully understand that now.

Last week's passage of Arizona's Proposition 102, Proposition 8 in California, and Proposition 2 in Florida amending these states' constitutions to prevent same-gender marriage was profoundly disappointing to all who believe in fairness and equality. However, I firmly believe that this represents a temporary setback in the ongoing work to ensure justice for all families, and want to point to some of the signs of hope which can serve as building blocks for future successes.