DignityUSA's national treasurer, Linda Roberts, has written a letter to four Catholic bishops who co-signed a transphobic letter, posted on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB's) website. On December 19th, DignityUSA demanded that the letter--which directs parents not to support transgender children--be removed from the USSCB website.

In her letter to the bishops, Linda writes from her experience as a transgender woman and cradle Catholic "aware of and accepting of both my gender identity and my devotion to my Catholic faith."

Linda's letter is a powerful example of "speaking truth to power" in the spirit of love. Thank you for your couregous words and witness, Linda. We are so very proud and grateful to have you as part of our Dignity family.

On January 30th, The Irish Times broke news that photos of LGBTQI people published in early materials for 2018's World Meeting of Families in Dublin, Ireland, have been removed from the meeting's publications.

Writing about this decision in a DignityUSA press release, Dignity's executive director, Marianne Duddy-Burke explained “It was exciting to see images that reflected our families in the early materials. Having them deliberately deleted and replaced with photos deemed more ‘acceptable’ is really hurtful. It feels like the welcome mat has been rolled up and put away—at least for us. It’s hard to imagine Jesus being this unwelcoming.”

DignityUSA has advocated for the inclusion of LGBTQI families at past World Meeting of Families gatherings, including 2015's meeting in Philadephia.

The five images deleted from the WMF materials can be viewed on DignityUSA's Facebook page.

Each year, the Tiffany Club of New England presents a premier event for the trans* community — First Event.  2018’s conference, held January 31st-Febuary 3rd, marked Dignity/Boston’s 20th year of participation at First Event. Dignity’s outreach included information table staffed by DignityUSA’s treasurer, Linda Roberts; DignityUSA staff member, Peggy Burns; and Trans Support Caucus member, Marcia Garber.

The theme for this year’s First Event conference was “Making a Better World.”  Attendees participated in a variety of workshops, enjoyed a fashion show, and met up with friends, old and new. For more information about First Event, visit http://firstevent.org.

DignityUSA's next board meeting will be held in Orlando, Florida at the Courtyard Orlando Airport, February 23-25.

All DignityUSA members are welcome to attend. For info or a meeting agenda, contact secretary@dignityusa.org.

DignityUSA is seeking an experienced grant-writing consultant to assist in grant-writing to targeted funders for initiatives connected with and stretching beyond our 50th Anniversary, which will be marked during 2019. This is a short-term, part-time consultant position.

Interested or know someone who would be a good fit? View the job posting here.

As we prepare to celebrate Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day, DignityUSA is mindful of the resiliance and love so boldly embodied by our members--past and present.

DignityUSA acknowledges our call, as LGBTQI Catholics and allies, to remain rooted in humililty (knowing our coming and going from the earth), while--at the same time--rejecting authorities and teachings that call our LGBTQI identities and relationships sinful.

May we, DignityUSA members and friends, continue to live out our Easter story: rising from the ashes of injustice and discrimination, and resurrecting as co-creators of the just, inclusive Kindom of God.