<p>by&nbsp;Lourdes&nbsp;Rodriguez-Nogues&nbsp;President&nbsp;DignityUSA</p> <p><img alt= src=/sites/default/files/Marianne%20in%20Chicago.png style=float:right; height:253px; margin:5px; width:200px />In their latest issue <em>Boston Spirit</em> an LGBT magazine in Massachusetts published a list of the top 25 LGBT Power Players of New England. Publisher David Zimmerman and editor James Lopata presented the list with the question: &quot;Are there true &#39;leaders&#39; of the community these days? Have we come so far that we no longer need the bold outspoken aggressive leaders of the past?&rdquo; Mr. Lopata goes on to say &quot;Power does not reside in people or things rather it flows through them like water in riverbeds - pooling in places surging in others.&quot; Don&#39;t we know that!&nbsp;</p> <p>In introducing the list of power players comprised mostly of LGBT out politicians CEO&#39;s and philanthropists the editor explained: &quot;How did we choose them? Some names were no brainers&quot; - and he named a state representative the MA recently elected out lesbian state attorney a US Congressman from RI. He followed up stating: &quot;if we had an honorable mentions list there would be others like...<strong>Marianne Duddy-Burke Executive Director of DignityUSA</strong>. A very well deserved recognition for Marianne and the work that she does as the representative of our work in the progressive Catholic church movement. We all should be proud of Marianne&#39;s accomplishments on our behalf and thankful very thankful for her leadership commitment and hard work.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt= src=/sites/default/files/Marianne%20and%20the%20Bidens.png style=float:left; height:132px; margin:5px; width:200px />As part of their selection of their list of the 25 LGBT Power Players of New England the magazine also invited its readership to think and converse about the issue of power who has it how is it used and how does it affect people&#39;s lives. This is a conversation that we as Dignity have had for decades pointing to the misuse of power of the Church hierarchy and its sad impact on so many of the lives of GLBT Catholics. At some point we thought that our job was to destroy that power an impossible task. In our more recent history we have concluded wisely that our task is to use the power that we have by speaking with an authentic voice about our lives our faith and our love and in so doing changing minds and hearts and creating a new embodiment of church for the good of all. Mr. Lopata states: &#39;it can be easy to deflect the discussion of power outward and to assign the rights and responsibilities of it onto others. It can be too easy to eschew our own responsibilities in being instruments of power...&quot; Thinking that another has all the power and that there is nothing I/we can do &quot; can be a cowardly way to escape accountability for our own actions and inaction.&rdquo; Well said.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt= src=/sites/default/files/Marianne%20in%20New%20York.png style=float:right; height:126px; margin:5px; width:200px />The work that Marianne Duddy-Burke does as Executive Director of DignityUSA speaks for itself and it is gratifying to see her be recognized. Using <em>Boston Spirit</em>&#39;s metaphor her power flows through her like water in riverbeds and has reached many places many people many initiatives. All of us however cannot rest in Marianne&#39;s efforts as the only way to create change. We too individually and as community are accountable for our own actions and inactions. Let us take this moment of great pride and renew our commitment to our work. Let us examine how we use power in our own lives to effect change and improve the lives of others. Let our work continue surging more than ever.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>