October 19, 2018
 
DignityUSA, chapters celebrate Spirit Day, Solidarity Sunday

The past two weeks have been filled with opportunities to celebrate the strength, resilience, and beauty of the LGBTQI community: October 7th marked Solidarity Sunday, October 11th was National Coming Out Day, and yesterday--October 18th--was Spirit Day-- an occasion intended to bring awareness to the issue of LGBTQI bullying and harassment.

In this issue of Dateline we're highlighting a few of the ways Dignity members have been standing in LGBTQI  pride and solidarity:

On October 7th, Members of Integrity/Dignity Madison attended liturgy at Holy Wisdom Monastery, where a Solidarity Sunday homily delivered by the mother of a gay son. The homily was met with a standing ovation and acknowledged long-time DignityUSA members and donors, Jim Green and Bill Diederich. The homily also captured the history and power of Solidarity Sunday, explaining "on the first Solidarity Sunday, on October 8, 1995, and every year since, when we, the people, pin on our rainbow ribbons and join together to worship, we affirm that our LGBTQI sisters and brothers, friends, neighbors and strangers can express their sexuality physically, in a unitive manner that is loving, life-giving, life-affirming and consistent with Christ’s teaching."  Thank you for your witness, Holy Wisdom Monastery!

Dignity/Honolulu's Solidarity Sunday celebration was featured in this blog post by Dawn Morais. Writing of LGBTQI Catholics Dawn shares, "you have been constant. You have been true. You have been faithful. So must we ALL be if we are to make this truly the kingdom of God." We couldn't agree more. Thank you Dawn and Dignity/Honolulu!

In what has become a yearly tradition, DignityUSA's entire website was turned purple in recognition of Spirit Day.(Purple, on the rainbow pride flag, represents spirit.) DignityUSA is proud to stand with students, celebrities, and countless others who "go purple" each October as part of the largest, most visible anti-bullying campaign in the world. To learn more about Spirit Day, visit GLAAD's website by clicking here.
 
Change is in the air

After a year with DignityUSA, Communications, Development, Constituent Services Manager, Danielle Walsh, is moving on to other opportunities. DignityUSA has been a powerful, important part of Danielle's life, ever since Danielle stepped foot in a Dignity/Chicago liturgy almost 10 years ago. She is profoundly grateful for her experience with DignityUSA, both as member and on staff.

Stay tuned to Dateline for more information about plans to fill Danielle's position.
 
DignityUSA's executive director reflects on WMF experience

This time two months ago, Marianne Duddy-Burke and her family were in Ireland, preparing to participate in the World Meeting of Families (WMF).

The WMF is a major international event held every three years, and this year's celebration attracted Pope Francis. While you may have followed the Duddy-Burke's travels on Facebook or in Dateline, please consider taking a few moments to read a newly-published summary of the Duddy-Burke's experience.

Marianne's description of her family's experience, along with photos and links to WMF press coverage, provides powerful testimony: telling our stories and being our true selves can challenge and change the institutional church.
Read Marianne's WMF reflection here
 
Member spotlight: Sam Albano
 

A huge DignityUSA shout-out to former DignityUSA board member Sam Albano and his friends, Carli Stevenson, and DYAC member, Meli Barber, who participated in a rally in support of suspended school counselor, Shelly Fitzgerald, in Indianapolis this week. Sam's support of Shelly Fitzgerald-- who was suspended from her job in August, after school officials learned she was married to a woman--even made it into the Indianapolis Star!

Posting about his participation in the rally on Facebook, Sam wrote:

It was an honor to stand this evening with Shelly Fitzgerald, her students, and other caring and faith-filled Catholics in our city who know that the Archdiocese's teacher contract must change. Shelly was suspended from her job as a guidance counselor by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis because she is married to a woman. Our Church teaches that all of us reflect the image of God in our own ways. Our Church teaches that LGBT people should be treated with "respect, compassion, and sensitivity" and not subject to "unjust discrimination." What would it look like if we really believed those teachings? If we said them aloud? If we lived them with depth and vigor? How might our Church be transformed if we believed that LGBT people were created by God with a particular and important vocation in this world? We as the People of God have to do so much better. In a spirit of love and fellowship, we have to keep calling our bishops and clergy to do better. The sign that most touched my heart this evening was held by Shelly's father: "Please treat my daughter Shelly like she is a child of God." May it one day be so. And may our catholic Church hasten toward that day.

Way to speak truth to power, Sam!
 
Double your impact

DignityUSA loves our donors! You make Dignity's work of community- and justice-building possible. Thank you!

...but did you know?:

Many employers match or even triple their employees’ generosity. If your employer has a matching gift program, please let them know about your contributions to DignityUSA. You will need to tell them your gift goes to Dignity, Inc, DBA DignityUSA, a designated IRS 501(c)(3) organization, and give them our federal ID number: 52-1176940. 

Thank you for all you do, and making your generosity go even further!
 

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