May 31, 2019

Act TODAY! Important Conference Deadlines

Conference registration fees will rise after May 31. Register TODAY to get the best available pricing to attend the True to Ourselves, True to the Spirit Jubilee Conference.

Hotel rooms are also filling quickly. The deadline to guarantee the reduced conference room rate of $159 per night is May 31.

If you’d like some great conference swag like the t-shirt pictured, visit the online Conference Store. Place your order before June 5 to save the cost of shipping and pick up your items at the conference check-in table. If you’d rather have items sent directly to your home, order from the DignityUSA Store.

There's No Room for Hate Here

On May 25th, an Indiana chapter of the Ku Klux Klan planned a rally at Courthouse Square in Dayton, Ohio. Ultimately only a small group of Klan participants appeared. City leaders, law enforcement, and several community groups joined together to host organized discussions and counter-protests in the city through the weekend.

Rather than confronting the KKK group directly, members of the Living Beatitudes Community and Dignity/Dayton took part in the following activities to stand against hate:

Friday: "An Evening Discussion of Race Relations" at the Dayton Art Institute

Saturday: "An Afternoon of Love, Unity, Peace & Inclusion" at McIntosh Park

Sunday: "Love Overcomes Hate...Cleansing of the Square" at Courthouse Square

From Living Beatitudes’ statement: “The KKK has provided a vehicle for hate and acts of violence against people simply because of their race, nationality, religion or lifestyle. The Living Beatitudes Community condemns the KKK. Hate has no home in Dayton, or Ohio, or this country, and we condemn any attempt to divide our community.”

We thank the members of the Living Beatitudes Community and Dignity/Dayton for your consistent actions to stand against hatred and live in emulation of the spirit of the Beatitudes.

Financial Transparency

The first in a series of periodic reports to inform DignityUSA members of the financial position of the organization is now available on our website. This report covers the first seven months of the current fiscal year which ends on September 30.

The Board of Directors authorized this fund accounting for FY 2019 to increase overall financial accountability and transparency, to you the members. The full report is posted on our website.

The ongoing sustainability of our mission and work belongs to all of us. The Board of Directors is committed to open, thoughtful and responsible stewardship of our resources, and is grateful for your ongoing financial support. If you have any questions about the report please email treasurer@dignityusa.org.

Click to Read the Full Report

Support Equality - Sign the Petition

The Equality Act, a bill jointly introduced as HR 5 and S. 788 would amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The US House of Representatives voted in favor of passing the Equality Act on May 17, 2019. The bill now faces an uphill climb in the Senate, despite the support of hundreds of organizations and businesses nationwide.

Prior to the House vote, the US Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) distributed a letter to members of both houses of Congress stating the group’s opposition to the Equality Act. Much of the bishops’ criticism is counter to our understanding of the Catholic faith and is not aligned with polling among American Catholics. A January 2019 poll by the Pew Research Center found that 69% of Catholic Republicans and 84% of Catholic Democrats believe homosexuality should be accepted by society.

DignityUSA, our members, and allies represent the significant majority of Catholics who believe in equal protection for all vulnerable groups in society. Please sign the petition and raise your voice in support of the Equality Act, standing with the majority of US Catholics who believe in respect and justice for all people.

Sign our Petition

Board Election Continues

The 2019 Board of Directors elections are well underway. All DignityUSA members in good standing were sent either a paper ballot by postal mail or an electronic ballot through SurveyMonkey on or around May 1.

A reminder email was sent earlier this week to all who received an electronic ballot but had not completed the online ballot. If you believe you should have recieved either a paper or electronic ballot and have not, please email info@dignityusa.org.

Please take a few moments to review the documents that came with your ballot and cast your vote. All ballots must be received by June 24 to be counted.

Transitions

Michael Forgash, a member of Dignity/Northern Virgina passed away on Sunday, May 19. Mike attended mass with the NoVA community on a regular basis and participated in many chapter social events.

He will be missed by many and remembered for his love and devotion to his family and his faith, and for his faithful support of the Dignity/NoVA community.

A Blessed Pride Month to All!

Thank you for witnessing to God’s all-embracing love in commemorations across the country, especially as our community marks Stonewall’s 50th anniversary! May you have a very blessed Pride Month!