PRESS RELEASE: Integrity Executive Director to Attend Signing of President's Anti-Discrimination Executive Order

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY!

Integrity is pleased to announce that Executive Director, Vivian Taylor, will be among those present when President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order on Monday banning employment discrimination by Federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The directive will not include an exemption for faith-based groups beyond that already afforded by a previous Order, signed by President George W. Bush, which grants exceptions for those directly involved in ministry.  On July 8, Taylor joined prominent Episcopalians and progressive faith leaders in signing an open letter to the President which asked that a broader exemption, allowing further discrimination by faith-based employers on the basis of "religious freedom," not be included.

Other Episcopalians who signed the letter include:

• The Very Rev. Gary Hall - Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter & St. Paul (“the National Cathedral”) in Washington, D.C.
• The Right Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire (retired) and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
• The Rev. Canon Susan Russell - Associate Pastor, All Saints: Pasadena, past president of Integrity
• The Very Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale - President and Dean, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.
• The Rev. Ed Bacon - Rector, All Saints: Pasadena
• The Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge - Chaplain at Boston University, Lecturer at Harvard University, Co-Convener of TransEpiscopal

The National Equality March passing the White House
in March of 2009
PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Rush  (flickr.com/kylerush)
Used by Creative Commons License Some rights reserved

"I am deeply honored to represent Integrity at this historic event. Employment discrimination against our people is still a near-constant threat and burden," Taylor said.  

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reported in May that 18 states and the District of Columbia afford employment protections to LGBT people.  Three additional states offer protection on the basis of sexual orientation only.  The President’s order will affect nearly one-fifth of the nation’s workforce.

Integrity has been working with the Task Force and other faith-based advocates to combat discrimination in several states.  Integrity is working in Ohio to build support for the Equal Housing and Employment Act, an LGBT-inclusive piece of non-discrimination legislation. In May, an attempt to pass a "religious freedom" law intended to give businesses in Oregon the right to discriminate was defeated due in part to Integrity's efforts.

Taylor, who served in the United States Army in the Iraq war from 2009 to 2010, recently wrote about her personal experience with employment discrimination for the progressive faith blog Believe Out Loud.

Integrity is a member-supported nonprofit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT] Episcopalians and our straight friends. Since its founding by Dr. Louie Crew in 1974, Integrity has been the leading grassroots voice for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the
Episcopal Church and our equal access to its rites. Integrity activities include advocacy, worship, fellowship, education, communication, outreach, and service to the church. Through Integrity's evangelism, thousands of LGBT people, estranged from the Episcopal Church and other denominations, have returned to parish life.

Contact:

Melvin Soriano, Secretary & Director of Communications

mel@integrityusa.org

770 Mass Ave #390170

Cambridge MA 02139

United States of America

Ph: +1-626-600-2030

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PRESS RELEASE: Integrity Condemns New Anti-LGBT Law in Uganda

Integrity is shocked and saddened by the news that President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has signed into law the draconian anti-homosexuality law that introduces long prison sentences for gays and lesbians and makes it a crime to fail to report someone you believe to be gay. This will increase anti-gay hatred and set in place a renewed witch-hunt in which many people will be hurt.

We call upon the Church of Uganda to take seriously its commitment to Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10 in which Anglican Communion bishops committed themselves "to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and… to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptized, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ." Such a commitment in a time like this will surely include providing places of sanctuary for those whose lives are threatened.

Our hearts go out to our LGBTQ sisters and brothers who this morning are living in fear of betrayal by friends, family and neighbors and of long-term imprisonment.

It is unfortunate that Uganda should choose this way, according to a government spokesperson, "to demonstrate Uganda’s independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation." Uganda’s symbolic independence is being won on the backs of one class of citizens and this will provoke fear and confusion among the very people Museveni is elected to serve.

Integrity hopes that President Obama will follow up on his comment that this could complicate US relations with Uganda and will seriously consider the reduction of US aid until Uganda can show a better record of human rights.

PRESS RELEASE: INTEGRITY STANDS WITH UMC MINISTER FRANK SCHAEFER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

INTEGRITY STANDS WITH METHODIST MINISTER FRANK SCHAEFER

Boston, MA - December 19, 2013 -  Integrity stands with those supporting the Rev. Frank Schaefer in his courageous witness to LGBT inclusion. On Thursday, United Methodist Church officials defrocked the central Pennsylvania pastor who officiated his son's gay wedding and, after being suspended, defiantly refused to resign.

We extend our heartfelt prayers to Schaefer and his family, and to all faithful United Methodists around the world who have been injured by these events. Integrity decries the church action. Moreover, we are grateful for the sacrifices made by Schaefer and by all in our own denomination and beyond who have risked their hopes, dreams, and livelihood rather than betray their own LGBT sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters.

Integrity's Vice President of National Affairs, the Rev. Jon M. Richardson said, "I am humbled and inspired by the witness of Frank Schaefer. As a former United Methodist and the gay son of a United Methodist clergy person, I feel acutely the pain we share with our sisters and brothers in the UMC as they continue to wait for the day when they can live more fully into their Open hearts, open minds, open doors mantra. As the Episcopal Church continues to live more deeply into our calling to collaborative ministry with the United Methodist Church, I pray that we will continue to support those stepping forward to seize the opportunities for evangelism and to join the growing ecumenical movement that are a part of welcoming and celebrating all of God's people in the church."

We at Integrity recommit ourselves to work with our allies across denominations to “Believe Out Loud” that the full inclusion of LGBT people in our churches becomes not just a slogan but a welcoming reality.

Integrity Announces Executive Director: Vivian Taylor

Integrity USA is pleased to announce its new Executive Director, Sarah Vivian Gathright Taylor. Taylor will be the first openly transgender woman to lead a major mainline protestant denominational organization in the US.

 “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to serve both Integrity USA and the wider Church. Working together in the love of Jesus Christ, there is nothing that can prevent us from opening the full Love of God to all people regardless of their orientation or identity,” she said.

Vivan Taylor

Currently residing in Somerville, Massachusetts, Taylor is a North Carolina native who enlisted in the United States Army at age 18. She served as a Chaplain's Assistant in the U.S. Army National Guard from 2003 to 2010. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Religious Studies, she deployed with her unit, the 1/130th Aviation, to southern Iraq from 2009-2010. 

Taylor has also worked as a freelance writer since 2009, and her work has been featured in newspapers and other publications across the country including the Huffington Post, Charlotte Observer, Chapel Hill News,  and others. She writes about being a solider at war, veteran life, LGBTQ issues, trans and genderqueer life, body positivity, Christianity, and her adventures in the world.

Taylor has worked since 2004 to promote a greater understanding of gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, and queer people in the Episcopal Church, and has worked with both Integrity USA and TransEpiscopal to advance diversity and acceptance in the Church. She testified before the Episcopal General Convention in 2012 in favor of adding gender identity and expression to the Church's nondiscrimination clause and was a member of our communications team, helping to produce the daily news briefings we provided.

In September of 2012, Taylor was invited to the White House to meet with Vice President Joseph Biden and a number of other national leaders. She used the opportunity to advocate for full inclusion in the U.S. military of all transgender people willing to serve.

Taylor is also among the first trans women to enter the Episcopal ordination process. She is an avid Sung Compline promoter and participant, and is currently working to develop a new intentional community in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

Integrity's President, the Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall commented, “We are delighted to have Vivian taking up the helm of Integrity. Her appointment is in line with two of our strategic goals: to bring more young people into leadership, and to increase our diversity. She was an integral part of the Communications Team at the last General Convention and has the leadership skills and ability to think strategically which are vital as we move into a new organization in a very different, more inclusive church. The future is looking very bright.”

Integrity President Tours Northeast

Integrity President Tours Northeast

Following an April board meeting, Integrity's president, the Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall, will be staying in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states to visit Integrity chapters and supportive parishes.

Below is a listing of the events you might want to participate in.  For more information, .

• April 21 - Preaching at 10:30am service, then lunch event at Church of the Good Shepherd, 3820 The Oak Road, Philadelphia PA
• April 21 - 6pm Adult Education Forum at Philadelphia's Christ Church (20 North American Street), speaking about her book, A Thorn in the Flesh 
• April 22 - HRC event discussing Rev. Hall's book at 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW in Washington DC - 6pm 
• Apr 23 - Preaching at Noon Eucharist at Baltimore MD's Cathedral of the Incarnation, 4 East University Parkway 
• April 24 - Book discussion at Church of the Ascension, 633 Sligo Ave., Silver Springs, MD, 6:30pm 
• April 25 - Preaching at Taize service at Baltimore's Cathedral of the Incarnation (see above), followed by dinner and book discussion 
• April 27 - Integrity's Believe Out Loud workshop at St. James' church in Hackettstown NJ (11am to 4pm - register here) 
• April 28 - Preaching at 10am service at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, NY (20 Carroll St.) 
• April 30 - Integrity chapter event at St. Paul's in Chatham, NJ (200 Main St.), 7pm 
• May 1 - Book signing and discussion at BGSQD Bookstore in NYC, 7pm (27 Orchard St., between Canal and Hester) 
• May 2 - St. Luke in the Fields Adult Forum, Book Discussion (487 Hudson Street, NYC) 7pm 
• May 8 - Boston University Discussion Group (discussion Rev. Hall's book) 7pm - 40 Prescott Street, Brookline, MA (about 3 stops from the BU Central T stop) 
• May 9 - Book signing at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge MA, 2pm (check with Bookstore Emporium for exact location)

Our Prayers for Boston

The Board and Staff of IntegrityUSA extend our prayers for all those affected by the incidents unfolding in Boston.  As we write this, two people are known dead and at least 80 are being treated for injuries.

There is a good deal of confusion at the scenes of multiple explosions, with reports of additional devices being found and dismantled.  Local officials are urging people to stay indoors and not congregate in large groups in the street.  Google created a people finder if you are trying to get or share news about loved ones.  In an evening address to the nation U. S. President Barack Obama urged calm and pledged that the perpetrators would be found.

Episcopal News Service reports that seven runners from Trinity: Copley Square who were  participating in the marathon to raise funds for an anti-violence initiative were uninjured, and that the church -- which is very near the finish line and one of the explosion sites -- is undamaged.

The Right Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Massachusetts, will preside at a prayer service with Eucharist tomorrow April 16th at 12:15 p.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont St., assuming security conditions permit.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop, offered the following prayer:

"Gracious God, you walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We pray that the suffering and terrorized be surrounded by the incarnate presence of the crucified and risen one. May every human being be reminded of the precious gift of life you entered to share with us. May our hearts be pierced with compassion for those who suffer, and for those who have inflicted this violence, for your love is the only healing balm we know. May the dead be received into your enfolding arms, and may your friends show the grieving they are not alone as they walk this vale of tears. All this we pray in the name of the one who walked the road to Calvary."

The Episcopal Cafe offers the following prayer resources:

• Prayer for Victims of Terrorism

Loving God, Welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism. Comfort their families and all who grieve for them. Help us in our fear and uncertainty, And bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love. Strengthen all those who work for peace, And may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts. Amen.

• A Prayer for First Responders

Blessed are you, Lord, God of mercy, who through your Son gave us a marvelous example of charity and the great commandment of love for one another. Send down your blessings on these your servants, who so generously devote themselves to helping others. Grant them courage when they are afraid, wisdom when they must make quick decisions, strength when they are weary, and compassion in all their work. When the alarm sounds and they are called to aid both friend and stranger, let them faithfully serve you in their neighbor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

- adapted from the Book of Blessings, #587, by Diana Macalintal

• For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority

O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to your merciful care, that, being guided by your Providence, we may dwell secure in your peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of Massachusetts, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in your fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

• For Peace

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

• A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

• A Hymn

INTEGRITY LABELS MAINE VOTE A WAKE UP CALL TO COUNTRY: TAKING AWAY RIGHTS IS UNACCEPTABLE

INTEGRITY LABELS MAINE VOTE A WAKE UP CALL TO COUNTRY: TAKING AWAY RIGHTS IS UNACCEPTABLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 4, 2009
“Yesterday’s election results in Maine are a wake-up call to this country,” said the Rev. David Norgard, President of IntergityUSA. “It signals for the 31^st time in this country, that voters have rejected marriage equality. The Maine vote signals that a majority of voters can take away the rights of a minority group. We must wake up and speak out against this discrimination. It is an outrage and unacceptable to those of us who believe in equality and justice for all, not just a few."

“Integrity grieves with those same sex couples and families in Maine whose lives and relationships have been marginalized one more time by lies and deception. The politics of fear prevailed in the voting booth. A campaign of well-funded lies and deception blinded the moral compass of good Americans.

“As a person of deep faith and an Episcopal priest, I believe in respecting the dignity of every human being. And the Episcopal Church at its General Convention in 2006 passed a resolution in favor of equal civil marriage for all Americans. As the newly elected President of Integrity, I recommit our time and resources to working with our interfaith partners outside the Episcopal Church and our LGBT faithful within to change the hearts and minds of those who cannot understand or celebrate our lives or relationships.

“Same sex relationships in Maine and throughout the country are not a threat to traditional marriage. They are role models of love, commitment and fidelity, They are our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our parents, our brothers & sisters, our children.  Separate but equal is not an acceptable concept in this country.

“Integrity knows that marriage equality will come soon. We will work hard to change the idea that it is okay or acceptable for same sex couples, to have a separate status. The arc of history bends toward justice and while justice was denied in Maine yesterday, our work will not stop until liberty and justice for all, really means ALL.”

                                                           

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For further information contact:
Louise Brooks, Communication Director
Integrity USA -- 626.993.4605
lebrooks@earthlink.net

INTEGRITY MARKS HISTORIC HATE CRIME LEGISLATION WITH A CALL TO PRAYER

INTEGRITY MARKS HISTORIC HATE CRIME LEGISLATION WITH CALL TO PRAYER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 27, 2009

The White House announced President Obama will sign the Matthew Shepard/James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act on Wednesday, October 28th. To mark that historic act, Integrity calls members, friends and allies to join in a moment of virtual common prayer at 4:45 p.m. EDT--the time announced for the signing.

"For over thirty years, Integrity has been committed to both prayer and political action," said Integrity President David Norgard. "On Wednesday when President Obama signs the Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law, we will give thanks for a major milestone even as we remember those we have lost due to hate crime violence."

The Episcopal Church has been a long-time advocate for hate crime legislation, since at least 1988 when it passed resolution D055, entitled "Condemn All Hate Crimes." In 1998, then Integrity President Michael Hopkins attended the Wyoming funeral of hate crime victim Matthew Shepard. "At Matthew's funeral, we experienced hate first hand in the protestors led by the Fred Phelps family. I am gratified now to have this legislation.”

For details -- including this prayer suggested for use to mark the signing -- visit Integrity's blog, "Walking With Integrity" at http://walkingwithintegrity.blogspot.com


Loving God,
We pray for victims of hate crimes;
for those who have been targets of violence
just because of who they are;
for their families and all who grieve for them.


We give thanks for all those who have
labored, lobbied and prayed
for inclusive federal hate crimes legislation
and for the Hate Crime Prevention Act
signed into law today.


Bless us, we pray, with the knowledge
that we are secure in your love;
that we can make a difference;
that you call us always to seek and serve Christ in all persons
and to respect the dignity of every human being.
And may the peace the world cannot give
reign in our hearts always.
Amen


Some history on resolutions passed by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church on hate crimes:

Resolution Number: 1988-D055
Title: Condemn All Hate Crimes
http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1988-D055

Resolution Number: 1988-D100
Title: Decry Violence Against Homosexuals
http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1988-D100

Resolution Number: 2000-D009
Title: Condemn All Hate Crimes
http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2000-D009

Resolution Number: 2000-C029
Title: Urge Congress to Enact Hate Crimes Legislation
http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2000-C029


Also this 2002 report on Episcopal support for the legislation:
http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/ENS/ENSpress_release.pl?pr_number=2002-116

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For further information contact:
Louise Brooks, Communication Director
Integrity USA -- 626.993.4605
lebrooks@earthlink.net

INTEGRITY REJOICES AT PASSAGE OF HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION

October 22, 2009
For Immediate Release

LOS ANGELES, CA--Integrity applauds the passage today of the groundbreaking legislation making it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.

"Since 1988 the General Convention of the Episcopal Church as been on record supporting legislation protecting all Americans from hate motivated violence," said Integrity President David Norgard. "And so we rejoice today with all who have worked so long and so hard to move this legislation forward. Our prayers are particularly with Judy and Dennis Shepard and their family, who turned the tragedy of the death of their son Matthew into advocacy on behalf of all those vulnerable to hate crimes because of their sexual orientation or gender identity."

In her 2007 letter in support of the bill passed by the Senate today, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori included this quote from former Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold: "The fact that Matthew was an Episcopalian makes our grief no more sharp, but it does give us a particular responsibility to stand with gays and lesbians, to decry all forms of violence against them - from verbal to physical, and to encourage the dialogue that can, with God's help, lead to new appreciation for their presence in the life of our church, and the broader community."

Integrity is grateful for the work and witness of ALL those who have stood with the most vulnerable down through the years -- and is committed to continue that advocacy as we follow the Lord who called us always to remember that it is in service to "the least of these" that we live out our call to seek and serve Christ in all persons.

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CONTACT: Louise Brooks

Director of Communications

tvprod@earthlink.net

626-993-4605

Integrity President Comments On Joint Standing Committee Report

620 Park Avenue #311 Rochester, NY 14607-2943
800-462-9498 info@integrityusa.org http://www.integrityusa.org/

October 3, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Joint Standing Committee has pronounced the Response of our House of Bishops "sufficient unto the day" and now invites the Anglican Communion to move forward in faith in spite of our differences. Calling for a commitment to mutual listening and conversation, the report concludes, "It is only by living in communion what we live out our vocation to be a Communion."

"Our bishops told us their goal in New Orleans was to be 'clear' about where the church ‘is' in their response to the rest of the Communion," said Integrity President Susan Russell. "They said they were doing so in order to 'make room' for the conversations to continue and, based on today's report, they appear to have succeeded in that effort. It must be recognized, however, that this 'success' came at the cost of collateral damage to the lives and vocations of the LGBT baptized who continue to be cast as pawns in this game of global church politics."

"It is now time for our bishops to step up and put their miters where their mouths are and proactively advocate for the inclusion of LGBT voices in the 'mutual listening and conversation' the Communion has committed to continue," Russell continued. "Here's what we want to be 'clear' about: we're done being talked about and we're ready, willing and able to be talked 'to.'"

Integrity looks forward to being an integral part of that mutual listening and conversation and later this month in London will be working toward those goals with Anglican allies at planning meetings in advance of next year's Lambeth Conference.

PRESS CONTACTS

The Rev. Susan Russell, President
revsusanrussell@hotmail.com
714-356-5718 (mobile)

Mr. John Gibson, Director of Communications
jhngb@aol.com
917-518-1120 (mobile)