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Solidarity Sunday

History of Solidarity Sunday

Solidarity Sunday began in 1995 when the Board of Directors of DignityUSA recognized that 70–80% of American Catholics supported equal rights for gays and lesbians. It was decided to invite these people to join in solidarity with us and to work with us to end verbal and physical abuse.

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Is anti-gay violence still a problem?

Initiatives to deny or rescind basic civil rights have been on ballots in many states.

Hate crimes legislation: Only 15 states and the District of Columbia include sexual orientation in their hate crimes statutes.

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Does Solidarity Sunday™ make a difference?

Some comments we have received...

President Clinton: "Like DignityUSA, I remain dedicated to preserving the civil rights of every citizen.

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Solidarity Interfaith Prayer

Please substitute for the word "God" the most appropriate to your faith tradition.

God, You are the Creator and Lover of all.
You wish us to live in solidarity with each other
and to rejoice in our diversity.

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Solidarity Pledge

I pledge:

I will work for civil and human rights for all people, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgender. Civil rights are not special rights.

I will seek to stop jokes and unkind language about anyone, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgender when spoken in my presence. Words that hurt and bigotry are not funny.

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Solidarity Sunday

Wear a rainbow ribbon every day to show your support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons!

Solidarity Sunday is a faith-based anti-violence initiative. Because we understood that, contrary to popular belief, most Catholics are appalled by anti-gay attacks, DignityUSA initiated Solidarity Sunday in 1995 as a way of making our opposition to anti-gay violence visible.

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Solidarity Sunday 2002 Dedicated to Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse, Gay Priests

Submitted by dignityusa on Wed, 10/02/2002 - 23:00

October 3, 2002 — DignityUSA has announced that this year’s commemoration of Solidarity Sunday will be dedicated to all victims of sexua

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Gay Catholics Call for Remembrance During Time of National Unity

Submitted by dignityusa on Wed, 10/03/2001 - 23:00

 DignityUSA Sponsors Seventh Annual Solidarity Sunday Observance

 Washington, DC, October 4, 2001 —DignityUSA announced today that the Seventh Annual Solidarity Sunday is being celebrated nationwide on Sunday, October 7. The program is a faith-based initiative with the goal of ending violence of all types directed towards gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

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DignityUSA Mourns the Senseless Death of Matthew Shepard

Submitted by dignityusa on Mon, 10/12/1998 - 23:00

Washington, DC — October 13, 1998 — DignityUSA, along with all of our members and chapters, mourns the brutal and senseless death of Matthew Shepard. DignityUSA also wishes to extend its sympathy and condolences to his family and friends.

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Gay Catholics Work to Stop Hate Crimes

Submitted by dignityusa on Wed, 09/30/1998 - 23:00

"Solidarity Sunday is just what we need to help stop hate crimes against lesbians and gay men!"
— From an anonymous letter

Washington, DC — October 1, 1998 — DignityUSA, an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics and their friends, announces the fourth annual observance of Solidarity Sunday on October 4, 1998.

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