Gay Catholic Parent to Demonstrate During Pope's Visit

April 2, 2008

DignityUSA

<h3>Group Will Call on Pope to End Anti-Gay Campaign Celebrate Advances Made by Gay Catholics</h3> Boston MA—DignityUSA will sponsor a series of public events and witnesses during Pope Benedict XVI’s pastoral visit to the United States April 15-20. Events will be held in both Washington D.C. and New York City. Highlights of DignityUSA’s schedule include: an April 12 demonstration at the United Nations highlighting “The Global Impact of Pope Benedict’s Anti-Gay Campaign”; demonstrations along the Papal Motorcade route in Washington D.C.; a witness during the Pope’s prayer service and meeting with the U.S. Catholic Bishops; and supporting New Ways Ministry’s April 10 press conference “A Few Minutes with the Pope: Lesbian/Gay Catholics Speak about their Church.” Speakers during these events include: Richard Rodriguez Peabody-award winning contributor to PBS’ News Hour with Jim Lehrer; Gregory Maguire author of dozens of novels including Wicked; Lourdes Rodriguez-Nogues Cuban immigrant and editor of Out in the Workplace; and Irish-born filmmaker Brendan Fay who has been at the center of an international controversy due to an unauthorized use of images of his marriage by the president of Poland. “All of our events are planned to be peaceful prayerful and positive” said Marianne Duddy-Burke DignityUSA’s executive director. “At the same time we need to recognize the damage that this Pope’s attacks on our community have caused countless individuals and families. We witness on their behalf.” DignityUSA the nation’s oldest and most progressive organization of lesbian gay bisexual and transgender Catholics has 50 chapters and members in every state. For contact information in your region please contact Marianne Duddy-Burke at 617-669-7810 (cell). <hr /> The following is DignityUSA’s official schedule: <h3 align=left style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; color: rgb(153 51 153); >THURSDAY APRIL 10</h3> (9 a.m. press conference): “A Few Moments with the Pope: Lesbian/Gay Catholics Speak about their Church” (DignityUSA supports New Ways Ministry’s Press Conference) In attendance will be: <ul type=disc> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >Teresa DeCrescenzo executive director of Gay Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS)</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >Gregory Maguire author of more than a dozen novels most notably Wicked which was the basis for the Tony-award winning Broadway Musical.</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >Heather Mizeur delegate representing the 20th District in Maryland and a leader in the debate about legalizing gay and lesbian marriages.</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >Richard Rodriguez social and cultural commentator author and Peabody-award winning contributor to PBS’ News Hour with Jim Lehrer</li> </ul> LOCATION:  Murrow Room National Press Club (529 14th Street NW; 13th floor Washington D.C.) <hr /> <h3 style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; color: rgb(153 51 153); >SATURDAY APRIL 12:</h3> “The Global Impact of Pope Benedict’s Anti-Gay Campaign” (Demonstration at United Nations) (11:30 a.m. Press Conference) In attendance will be: <ul type=disc> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >Lourdes Rodríguez-Nogués Cuban immigrant lesbian Catholic activist editor of Out in the Workplace. <a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; href=http://www.dignityusa.org/news/2008/080412un-rodriguez.html>Read remarks…</a></li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >Brendan Fay Irish-born gay activist filmmaker and cofounder of New York’s inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Currently involved in an international controversy regarding the unauthorized use of images from his marriage to Dr. Thomas Moulton by Polish President Lech Kaczynski.</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >Jeff Stone Dignity/New York Steering Committee.</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >Marianne Duddy-Burke executive director of DignityUSA. <a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; href=http://www.dignityusa.org/news/2008/080412un-duddy-burke.html>Read remarks…</a></li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; ><a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; href=http://www.dignityusa.org/news/2008/080412un-litany.html>Read Litany…</a></li> </ul> (12 Noon Demonstration at United Nations) <a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; href=http://www.dignityusa.org/news/2008/080412ny-photos.html>View photos…</a> LOCATION: Ralph J. Bunche Park (43rd Street and 1st Avenue New York) <a name=motorcade></a> <hr /> <h3 style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; color: rgb(153 51 153); >WEDNESDAY APRIL 16:</h3> Papal Motorcade Demonstrations Demonstrations will be along the Pope’s motorcade route through Washington D.C. (11 a.m.) Dignity Washington members will be gathering at 23rd and P Street and then walking to Rock Creek Park and P where they will be stationed for the motorcade that begins at noon. (From 2 p.m. on) People will also be gathering in the Public Space on 4th Street south of Michigan Ave. Apparently there are some spaces in that stretch just for ticketholders and some for public gathering. Just look for the Dignity/Washington banners. Marianne Duddy-Burke expects to join them around 2:30 with the DignityUSA banner press packets etc. More information/updates can be obtained from the Dignity Center at 202-546-2235. (5:30 p.m.) Witness during Pope’s Prayer Service and Meeting with U.S. Bishops DignityUSA focuses on what constitutes appropriate pastoral care for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender Catholics and our families. LOCATION: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (400 Michigan Ave. NE Washington D.C.) <a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; href=http://www.dignityusa.org/news/2008/080416dc-photos.html>View photos…</a> 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 the full inclusion of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people in the life of the Church and society. <a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; href=http://www.dignityusa.org/>www.dignityusa.org</a>

Gay Catholic Parent to Demonstrate During Pope's Visit

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