<p>As 2017 draws to a close DignityUSA is taking time to reflect on some on our accomplishments. With our members' and donors' support DignityUSA has:</p> <ul> <li>Condemned a letter&nbsp;directing parents of transgender children not to support their kids in living their true gender&nbsp;published on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) website. In a widely-circulated media statesment DignityUSA called the letter&nbsp;heinous and intensely damaging. DignityUSA also&nbsp;wrote a letter to the&nbsp;USCCB's General Secretary calling on him to remove the letter from the USCCB&nbsp;website and disavow its content.</li> <li>Responded to recent news&nbsp;of&nbsp;Cardinal Law's death and a WIsconsin's priest decision to come out as gay with statements covered by&nbsp;the mainstream media.</li> <li>Issued timely media statements that on Pope Francis's multiple comments denouncing gender theory and transgender identity the reaffirmation of the ban on gay men entering the priesthood LGBT-supportive ministries in San Diego and Cardinal Tobin's welcome of an LGBT group to the Newark Cathedral the firing of Matt Tedeschi a gay religion teacher in Chicago religious liberty issues lesbians banned from bringing female dates to Catholic school proms expulsion of a gay teen from CCD class and several other issues.</li> <li>Broke the story of Illinois Bishop Paprocki's ban on LGBTQI people receiving Eucharist or funerals which became an international news story. President Chris Pett joined a delegation that met with the Bishop to describe the damage bans like this cause.</li> <li>Multi-faceted local and national response to Wisconsin Bishop Morlino's guidelines on funerals for those in same-sex relationships. Integrity-Dignity/Madison gave local television radio and newspaper interviews and held a Solidarity Liturgy and Gathering for the community. DignityUSA issued a statement covered broadly nationally and internationally and launched a petition directed to the Diocese that has gathered 5000 signatures.</li> <li>Helped organize the very successful Rolling the Stone Away: Generations of Love and Justice conference celebrating and documenting over five decades of the LGBTQI Christian Justice movement.</li> <li>Sponsored one of the most impactful and energizing national conferences ever making A Place at the Table for international guests people of many races and faith backgrounds transgender leaders and Catholics from rural areas among many others.</li> <li>Sent a delegation of three leaders to the second meeting of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics helping to ensure a unified international voice for LGBTQI Catholics and allies.</li> <li>Our efforts at the 2015 World Meeting of Families contributed to Limerick Bishop Leahy's call for the 2018 gathering in Ireland to be welcoming of all families including same-sex couples. We have sent him suggestions for how to ensure that WMF 2018 be a safe and supportive experience for all families.</li> <li>Celebrated the 45^th anniversaries of our Boston Chicago New York and Washington DC Chaters and the 48^th anniversary of Dignity/Los Angeles.</li> <li>Launched a two-year Jubilee period of reflection discernment and celebration leading to our 50^th anniversary in 2019.</li> <li>Dignity members Caucuses and Chapters across the country have been active participants in human rights events such as the Women's Marches March for Science Immigrants' Rights/DACA marches Black Lives Matter marches the national LGBTQ and local Pride marches Peace rallies Health Care rallies and more.</li> <li>Outreach at 3 conferences for transgender/gender non-conforming individuals to make Dignity more visible within this community.</li> <li>Provided support and resources for four families with pre-teen transgender children dealing with Catholic schools and religious education programs.</li> <li>Assisted the President of an order of women religious in addressing the controversy that erupted when the director of one of their high schools refused permission for a GSA to be formed in conflict with the order's longstanding support of LGBTQI issues.</li> <li>Was one of 15 faith-based and civil rights groups to submit an Amicus Brief in the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case that will be heard by the Supreme Court this term.</li> </ul> <p>Here's to 2018 and to building a just inclusive Church and society for all God's people. Happy New Year DignityUSA!</p>