<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; ><strong>Washington DC&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>The leadership of DignityUSA the foremost organization for gay lesbian bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Catholics and their families calls upon all members and supporters to join them at the meeting of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington DC. Members and supporters of DignityUSA will be standing vigil to pray for the Bishops.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >&ldquo;We call the Church to &lsquo;Conversation and Conversion&rsquo; around issues of its gay lesbian bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. As members of the Body of Christ we come to share our lives hopes dreams and sorrows with our Bishops so they and the entire Church might come to a conversion of the mind and heart&rdquo; stated Matthew Gallagher Executive Director of DignityUSA</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >In light of the recent actions by the Bishops to support the Republican Party during the presidential election; deny Holy Communion to those who do not share the Bishops&rsquo; political philosophy; and deny priesthood to those truly called by God no matter their gender or sexual orientation; the members and supporters of DignityUSA will stand a 28 hour vigil and fast outside the Hyatt Hotel in Washington DC from 11:30 am on Sunday November 14th until the Bishops&rsquo; Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Monday November 15.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >All those who cannot physically be present at this witness are asked to join together in fast and prayer that the Bishops will open their hearts to the Word of God and not continue to be a source of pain and violence against the GLBT people of God. The witness at the USCCB meeting is but a beginning. The leadership of DignityUSA encourages all people of faith to use the upcoming season of Advent as a time to communicate with their local bishops. Direct communication with the Bishops is the most powerful force for conversion of the mind and heart.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >When we speak they will hear. When they hear we cannot be invisible.</p><p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><em>DignityUSA is the nation's foremost organization of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender Catholics their families friends and supporters. Founded in 1969 it is an independent nonprofit organization with members and chapters across the country. DignityUSA works for full inclusion of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people in the life of the Church and Society.&nbsp;<a href=http://www.dignityusa.org/ style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; >www.dignityusa.org</a></em></p></span></p>