On Wednesday, a number of media outlets reported that during a documentary interview Pope Francis expressed support for civil union laws for same-sex couples to ensure that they are “legally covered.”

DignityUSA is cautiously optimistic about this development, while acknowledging that we are very early in the story. We are anxious to see the full film, the context in which Pope Francis made these comments, and whether the Vatican will make further comment on this story. Marianne Duddy-Burke, our Executive Director, along with other national and local Dignity leaders mobilized around responding to multiple media requests and spoke with reporters and journalists from regional, national, and global news outlets to ensure the voice of LGBTQI Catholics was heard in the international conversation.

DignityUSA’s Annual Meeting will be held Saturday, November 14, 2020, 3:00 – 5:00 PM Eastern/2:00 – 4:00 PM Central/1:00 – 3:00 PM Mountain/12:00 – 2:00 PM Pacific/10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Hawaii-Aleutian. The two-hour window gives participants time to join prior to the actual start of the meeting, as well as allows for extra time for Q & A, with the option of participants remaining on the meeting after its conclusion for additional conversation. We are targeting a 90 minute time frame for the actual meeting.

This will be a Zoom virtual meeting, accessible via video and phone. Details on agenda and how to submit questions or comments in advance will be forthcoming.

We're excited to welcome Families With Dignity into the DignityUSA community! In March of this year, the Archdiocese of Detroit sent a letter to them asking them to disband and forbidding it from meeting on any archdiocesan property, much like our own Dignity/Detroit chapter. In response, we've joined forces to celebrate LGBTQI people, support their families, and offer them a spritual home.

“After all this heartache and in the midst of this pandemic, we are eager to move forward with our ministry of support and advocacy,” said Linda Karle-Nelson, Families With Dignity co-founder.

As we approach November 3rd, we urge you to vote and to make your voice heard on the issues facing our nation. Voting is a hard-won and sacred duty, and these elections will have global implications. They are a significant chance to stem the tide of injustice and lay the groundwork for a new era of equality.

In partnership with Women-Church Convergence, we released a special open letter to Catholic voters. We're asking you to vote with your conscience, to vote for justice, and to pay special attention to those who voting rights are suppressed across the country.

On November 4th, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Fulton v. Philadelphia a case that could wide-ranging implications for LGBTQI people. The Court will rule on whether organizations that recieve public funding for government services can claim a religious exemption from non-discrimination laws and deny services to LGBTQI people and others.

We're co-sponsoring a Vitrual Town Hall on November 4th, where a panel of experts will break down the case, possible outcomes, and how we can mobilize.

Join us for a special training featuring Fr. Bryan Massingale and Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow on October 27th at 12pm Eastern. We'll discuss responding to harmful religious liberty legislation, preparing for the upcoming Fulton v. Philadelphia Supreme Court case, and becoming better advocates for LGBTQI Catholics. Register online today.

Apply today for the inaugural DignityUSA Leadership Academy! This is an exciting project that will begin in February, 2021 for 10 months and will foster skills for leadership in LGBTQI justice and inclusion.

Join us on one of the following Zoom presentations to find out more about the Leadership Academy! These one hour sessions will cover background on the Academy, what participants will learn, how to apply, and the chance to ask questions!

• Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 pm (ET); and
• Saturday, Nov. 14 time TBD: during the DignityUSA Annual Membership Meeting.
  

To join, register on the DignityUSA website. Questions? Please email: leadership@dignityusa.org.