Dignity/Honolulu Commemorates Solidarity Sunday

October 31, 2012

by

DignityUSA

<p><img alt= src=/sites/default/files/logos/Honolulu_0.jpg style=float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; />Dignity/Honolulu was very busy during the month of October beginning with the annual commemoration of Solidarity Sunday the campaign instituted by DignityUSA in 1995 to combat violence (physical emotional and spiritual) committed against LGBT people.&nbsp;&nbsp;This was held on October 7 the Sunday preceding National Coming Out Day.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter members participated in a parish visitation in the morning attending the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. The rector Father John Berger acknowledged Dignity/Honolulu from the pulpit and stated that the group should visit the Cathedral more frequently.&nbsp;</p> <!--break--> <p>Later that evening we had our Solidarity Sunday Liturgy at St. Mark&rsquo;s Episcopal Church with Rev. Kyle Lovett pastor of Church of the Crossroads as homilist.&nbsp;&nbsp;In her homily she shared that &ldquo;coming out for LGBT Christians is a multi-stage process whereby you come out as LGBT to your family and church and also come out as Christian to the LGBT community.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;She also said that we should &ldquo;hold our heads high as LGBT Christians since God assures eternal life to all believers no matter what our sexual orientation or gender identity is.&rdquo;</p> <p>October 11&nbsp;was National Coming Out Day and Dignity/Honolulu had a display table at the University of Hawaii-Manoa Campus Center which we shared with First Christian Church an open and affirming congregation in Honolulu that hosts the monthly Dignity/Honolulu Movie Night. Dignity/Honolulu distributed DignityUSA brochures and information on our chapter events to UH students and staff.&nbsp;&nbsp;Governor Neil Abercrombie was present at the festivities proclaiming October 11&nbsp;as Coming Out Day in Hawaii.</p> <p>Later that evening chapter members attended an interfaith service hosted by Church of the Crossroads called WOW (Witness Our Welcome).&nbsp;&nbsp;This was the 2nd Annual WOW celebration of&nbsp;open and affirming congregations being held on National Coming Out Day. Showing support for their LGBT members were Christian Jewish and Buddhist groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;The chaplains of Dignity/Honolulu Bishop Jack Isbell and Father Nick Eyre led a responsive prayer and Tim Earhart Dignity/Honolulu President presented a prayer of Thanksgiving. &nbsp;</p>