<p><em>As legislatures meet across the country and address the issue of civil rights protections for GLBT people and our relationships we want you to know that DignityUSA is involved supporting local efforts and adding the GLBT Catholic faith dimension to the equality argument. Following is a statement to members of the Wisconsin Legislature that was shared with the legislators as DignityUSA members other people of faith and other concerned GLBT citizens participated in a lobbying day sponsored by Christians for Equality in Wisconsin. We applaud their efforts and are honored to have participated. Keep the faith!</em></p> <p class=rteright><em>&mdash; Sam</em></p><hr /><p><span class=Apple-style-span style=font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >DignityUSA the foremost organization for gay lesbian bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Catholics along with our families friends straight &nbsp;allies and other supportive people of faith supports the efforts of Christians for Equality as they seek to educate Wisconsin's legislators on Tuesday 22 February 2005.&nbsp; We understand that the constitutional amendment passed by the Wisconsin legislature last year would if passed &nbsp;a second time and approved by the people of Wisconsin ban civil unions domestic partnerships and marriage for same-sex couples.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >In the midst of the international debate on same-sex marriage DignityUSA the nation's largest group of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender Catholics affirms our commitment to work for full inclusion of same sex couples in society and the end of unjust discrimination against our GLBT citizens.&nbsp;&nbsp; Same-gender marriage in no way is an attack on opposite-gender marriage.&nbsp;&nbsp; Society should affirm and support all loving families in the great diversity found in God&sbquo;s creation and particularly in the United States.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >In August of 2003 the board of directors of DignityUSA and our membership assembled for our biennial national convention adopted a &nbsp;resolution saying:</p><blockquote><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;As Americans we remind our fellow citizens of a foundational principle of our form of government: all are created equal. Consistent with the pursuit of liberty and justice for all same-sex couples should have full and equal access to the rights and responsibilities bestowed by &nbsp;civil marriage.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;As Catholics we remind our Church of a foundational conviction of our faith: God is love and all who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them. The love that brings and binds two people of the same or opposite sex together has a divine source. It is therefore sacramental &nbsp;in nature and should be celebrated as such by our Church.&quot;</p></blockquote><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >In celebration of the love and commitment of same-sex couples DignityUSA offered a special Blessing of Couples on the closing day of &nbsp;that 2003 biennial convention.&nbsp; Over 40 couples participated.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&quot;While we hope and work for the day when our unions will be recognized by society and blessed by our Church we choose to live out the message of love and inclusion that our faith teaches so we are celebrating the sanctity of our commitments now&quot; said Marianne Duddy then Executive Director of DignityUSA.</p></blockquote><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >DignityUSA is the only national Catholic organization that offers a multifaceted program of support for same-sex couples and blesses their &nbsp;commitments in chapters across the country. DignityUSA maintains a national couples registry to recognize and record these unions.</p><p align=right style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&mdash; Sam Sinnett President DignityUSA</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><em>DignityUSA is the foremost organization of gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered Catholics their families friends and supporters. Founded &nbsp;in 1969 it is an independent nonprofit organization with members and Chapters across the country.</em></p></span></p>