HRC Coming Out Kits NOW AVAILABLE

National Coming Out Day 2007!

Get ready to "Talk About It" on October 11, NCOD!

The theme for National Coming Out Day 2007 will be Talk About It, continuing the slogan and branding that the national program has been building since 2005. National Coming Out Day is a time to celebrate openness and honesty – whether you came out 20 minutes ago, or 20 years ago – this is a time for all Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Straight supportive people to Talk About It with friends, family and coworkers. Coming Out Day Kits include: Resource Guides to Coming Out Straight Guides to GLBT Americans Transgender Coming Out Guides Poster, Balloons and HRC Stickers And everything else you'll need to celebrate living openly!

To order your kit, please visit:
www.hrc.org/comingoutkits

The Matthew Shepard Act

From the Human Rights Campaign:

Take action now.

To watch our own Susan Russell+ and other faith leaders comment on this and similar legislation, click here.

HRC | Religion & Faith News

May 22, 2007

Diversity Pride Celebrations

The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing along with the faith programs of GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Black Justice Coalition and the Institute for Welcoming Resources are pleased to issue a united call to congregations and clergy to conduct a worship service celebrating sexual and gender diversity as part of their community’s June pride month celebration.

On June 4, 2007, the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing will publish a new Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Sexual and Gender Diversity. This open letter calls on faith communities to affirm sexual and gender diversity as a blessed part of life and for “full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in our faith traditions and communities.”

Clergy and congregations who are planning pride worship services are encouraged to inform the Religious Institute of the service’s date, time and location and whether media would be welcome to attend by May 31. These clergy will be provided with an advance copy of the Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Sexual and Gender Diversity, which can be used in sermon preparation or as a responsive reading.

Clergy are also invited to submit sermons preached on the theme of “Celebrating Sexual and Gender Diversity” during pride month. There will be a $400 first-place Pride Sermon Award. The top sermons will also be posted on the websites of the sponsoring national organizations.

For more information, e-mail the Religious Institute.

Out In Scripture Enters Its Second Year

This April, the Human Rights Campaign’s preaching resource and devotional tool, Out In Scripture celebrated its successful first anniversary. During the past year, this online resource expanded the conversation across the country about the lives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; Scripture; and the life of faith. Out In Scripture offers theologically grounded commentaries that deepen conversations between preachers, congregations, seekers, families, friends, scholars, seminary students and people of faith. The Human Rights Campaign is delighted with the overwhelming response to this distinctive resource offered by the HRC Religion and Faith Program.

We are also excited to announce the coming year’s impressive theologically and culturally diverse editorial advisory board of scholars. The board consists both of those who helped create Out In Scripture during the past year and a fresh new gathering of scholars. Together they will offer spiritually moving and inspiring commentaries for the coming year. To learn more about Out In Scripture, the new editorial advisory board and our other writers, visit Out In Scripture at www.hrc.org/scripture.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the new editorial advisory board for 2007-2008:

Dr. Charles W. Allen, Grace Unlimited: Indianapolis Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis;

Dr. Deborah A. Appler, Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa.;

Dr. Randall Bailey, Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta;

Dr. Angela Bauer-Levesque, Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass.;

Dr.Valerie Bridgeman-Davis, Memphis Theological Seminary;

Dr. Michael Joseph Brown, the Candler School of Theology and the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University in Atlanta;

Dr. Greg Carey, Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pa.;

Dr. Warren Carter, Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo.;

Dr. Miguel de la Torre, Iliff School of Theology in Denver;

Dr. Marvin Ellison, Bangor Theological Seminary in Bangor, Maine;

Dr. Holly Hearon, Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis;

Dr. Ron Hopson, Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C.;

Dr. Norm Kansfield, Drew University in Madison, N.J.;

Dr. Tat-siong Benny Liew, Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif.;

Dr. Sandra H. Polaski, biblical scholar in Nashville, Tenn.;

Dr. Christine M. Smith, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Minn.;

Dr. Ken Stone, Chicago Theological Seminary;

Dr. Linda E. Thomas, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago;

Dr. Mona West, Church of Trinity Metropolitan Community Church in Sarasota, Fla.;

Dr. Judith Hoch Wray, biblical and preaching scholar in New York City.

Dr. Sidney D. Fowler of Washington, D.C., continues as editorial director for Out In Scripture.

Summer Reading

Jacqueline Taylor’s memoir, Waiting for the Call: From Preacher’s Daughter to Lesbian Mom, tells the story of her childhood brought up in a strict evangelical Christian family in the foothills of the Appalachians to her adult life raising children with her lesbian partner in Chicago

HRC | Take Action Now to Pass Hate Crimes Bill!

This Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a key hate crimes bill. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would extend the ability of law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute crimes motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

But in order for this bill to pass, your member of Congress needs to hear from you! Find your representative and call the Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121. Ask to be connected to your member of Congress and urge him or her to vote for the hate crimes bill.

Apparently legislators are being so heavily bombarded with calls and emails from the radical right that some are getting very nervous about voting for the bill. Knowing how close we are, that's not good.

EVEN IF YOU'VE ALREADY CALLED YOUR REPRESENTATIVE about this bill, and even if they've said they'll vote for it, we need you to pick up the phone RIGHT NOW and remind them of your support.

The radical right is doing everything in its power to stop this bill from passing. Watch our video response to these anti-gay extremists.

Clergy Call For Justice Press Conference

Watch Susan Russell and 7 faith leaders speak for equality at Tuesday's press conference on Capitol Hill. (Susan is one of the last speakers.)

CLERGY FROM ALL 50 STATES URGE CONGRESS TO PASS HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION, END WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION

Human Rights Campaign
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
'Clergy Call for Justice and Equality' Featured Prominent Faith Leaders Calling for Fairness for All God’s Children

WASHINGTON — In a historic showing of religious support for the passage of two major pieces of civil rights legislation, hundreds of clergy from a diverse reflection of America’s faith backgrounds gathered on Capitol Hill today to lobby their respective members of Congress to end workplace discrimination against their fellow brothers and sisters and pass the much-needed hate crimes bill this year.

"For too long, there has been a false perception in American politics that faith and religion stand diametrically opposed to equality for GLBT Americans,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "The hundreds of clergy joining us are here because they understand that we are all God’s children, and our differing sexual orientations and our differing gender identities are not shameful sins, but rather amazing gifts from God."

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, called the Matthew Shepard Act in the Senate, adds sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability to existing federal law conferring authority on the federal government to investigate and prosecute violent crimes. This authority already exists for crimes committed because of the victim’s race, color, religion and national origin and because they were attempting to exercise a federally protected right. The bill ensures a federal backstop to assist local law enforcement in those cases in which they request assistance or fail to adequately investigate or prosecute these serious crimes. The bill would also provide assistance to local law enforcement for investigating and prosecuting bias-motivated violent crimes.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee simply based on the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It would reinforce the principle that employment decisions should be based on a person’s qualifications and job performance.

snip

Said the Rev. Susan Russell, senior associate for parish life at All Saints Episcopal Church (Pasadena, Calif.):"My son Jaime is currently serving on active duty in Iraq. One of the core American values he was raised to embrace — and he understands himself to be defending — is our pledge to be a nation of ‘liberty and justice for all.’ I believe these important pieces of legislation will help move us as a nation toward that long-dreamed-of goal — that dream of liberty and justice my son and so many other brave Americans in harm’s way have sworn to preserve and protect."

Click here to read the rest.

Religious Leaders Speak Out for GLBT Rights

Susan Russell and several other clergy spoke on Capitol Hill today in support of two major pieces of civil rights legislation — a bill to prevent hate violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity and another to ban workplace discrimination against GLBT employees. Here are Susan's remarks...

I am the Reverend Susan Russell, a priest on staff at All Saints Church in Pasadena, California and President of Integrity, the voice of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Christians in the Episcopal Church USA. It is a privilege to stand here today in solidarity with other faith leaders and with a majority of Americans who believe the federal government should act to end workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers. It is an honor to represent the Episcopal Church which stands as one of the over 210 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations supporting the passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. And I thank you for this opportunity to witness to the core values I hold dearest as an Episcopal priest and as an American citizen.

My son Jamie is currently serving on active duty in Iraq. One of the core American values he was raised to embrace -- and he understands himself to be defending -- is our pledge to be a nation of "liberty and justice for all." I believe these important pieces of legislation will help move us AS a nation toward that long dreamed of goal – that dream of liberty and justice my son and so many other brave Americans in harm's way have sworn to preserve and protect.

We are not yet that nation when the liberty to walk safely on the streets of America protected from bias motivated violence is not yet available to ALL Americans: passing the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act will bring us one step closer to "liberty for all."

We are not yet that nation when in thirty-three states a hardworking American can be subject to the injustice of losing their job solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity; passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act will bring us another step closer to "justice for all."

One of the primary tenets of all religious faiths is to love your neighbor as yourself and as a Christian I follow a Lord who called us to minister unto the needs of "the least of these" as we live out our call to do justice and to love mercy in His Name. These are the Traditional Christian Values I claim as an advocate for these critical pieces of legislation today.

Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “Justice deferred is justice denied.” Extending hate crimes protection to include sexual orientation or gender identity is the right thing to do and now is the time to do it. Ending workplace discrimination is the right thing to do and now is the time to do it. Thank you.

Click here to read remarks by other clergy.

Clock in for Equality

Integrity is a participating organization in Lambda Legal's campaign, "Clock in for Equality." This May 15th, people across the country will participate and we hope you will to.

It is anticipated that by the time this day arrives that ENDA (Employment on-Discrimination Act) Legislation will be introduced on the House and Senate floors. HRC and Lambda Legal are working together to move the legislation and to promote it through "Clock in for Equality."

This is a great opportunity for local chapters and local leaders to join with parishes and other church leaders to promote ENDA. This legislation has been endorsed by The Episcopal Church and many other mainline denominations.

Here's what you can do:

• Contact other local leaders or arrange an event. Go to the Lambda Legal website for ideas.


• Tell your stories about why this legislation is important. You can do this at the Lambda Legal website.


• Connect with other local groups and individuals to make them aware or ask what they are doing.


• Go to the Lambda Legal website for free buttons and stickers. (Do this
  quickly so they will arrive in time--NO LATER THAN NEXT WEDNESDAY,
  APRIL 18)

Questions? Comments? Contact Neil Houghton, Northeast Regional VP <IntegrityNEVP@mac.com>, Integrity contact for Clock in for Equality.

HRC | Support the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act

A mesage from Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign:

Every morning, someone you know takes the long way to class. Someone you care about looks over his shoulder on the street. Someone you love fears for her safety.

All because people hate them for being who they are.

We're closer than ever to passing a federal hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. But right now, your lawmakers are being barraged with calls and emails from anti-gay groups. It's horrifying that they'd pick this of all issues to be against—but it's happening.

The House has already introduced its hate crimes bill. We're holding a press conference on THURSDAY, the day the Senate introduces its identical bill, to announce all the support behind us. We need your voice, even if you've already sent a message on this issue.

Click here to send your letter to Congress before Thursday's press conference.

Our country desperately needs a federal hate crimes law that protects all people from bias-motivated violence. Every day, dozens of people are targets of violent attacks simply because of who they are, while the federal government is powerless to help.

Over the coming weeks, we have a chance to change that.

We'll be sending tens of thousands of letters and calls to legislators, bringing clergy to Capitol Hill to meet with their Senators and Representatives, telling the stories of innocent people attacked or killed by hate violence, and putting a media spotlight on this issue. We're not going to miss this opportunity.

Time is tight. But, with a fair-minded majority in Congress, the time is right.

Tell your representative to vote for the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Together we can make sure this landmark legislation brings the change we've needed for years. Thanks for your help.