HRC Back Story

Bishop Gene Robinson made an appearance on the Today show Thursday morning to talk about the "great reward of being a Christian" and his plans to have a civil union ceremony with his partner of 20 years, Mark Andrew.  Bishop Robinson, who has just released a new book, In the Eye of the Storm, discusses the theological controversy around biblical condemnations of homosexuality and his decision to serve as an openly gay Episcopal bishop in the face of church opposition and death threats:

“When your life is at stake, you learn that there are things in life that are much worse than death,” Bishop Robinson told TODAY’s Matt Lauer Thursday in New York. “That’s the great reward of being a Christian. Not living your life — that’s worse than death. And if something were to happen to me, I would know that I am doing what I discern God is calling me to do.”[...]

Robinson feels that people who use the Bible to condemn homosexuals fail to understand Scripture. It is called an abomination for a man to lie with another man as with a woman, but, he writes, the Bible also says it is an abomination to eat pork or shellfish, to wear clothing made of two different fibers, or to sow two different types of seed in the same field.

“We’ve often misinterpreted Scripture,” Robinson told Lauer. “We’ve used Scripture to justify slavery; the subjugation of women. And now we’re realizing that what the Bible initially seems to say about same-sex relationships is not actually what we’re talking about today — faithful, monogamous, lifelong-intentioned relationships between people of the same sex.”

Watch Bishop Robinson's interview with Today show host Matt Lauer here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24520090#24520090

Pastor John Hagee just can't seem to resist the notion that Katrina was a divine disaster to wash the gays out. After he was called out on his wild statement that Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans because its "plan to have that homosexual rally [Southern Decadence] was sin,"  Hagee issued another statement saying, "ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise." Well, that ostensive spark of humility didn't last long: Hagee Reneges On Retraction Of His Katrina Comments: ‘God Always Punishes Unconfessed Sin’.

But in a conference call yesterday, Hagee appeared to renege on his retraction, reportedly saying “God controls hurricanes and ‘God always punishes unconfessed sin’”:

When a woman on the call asked why he seemed to have backed away from his Katrina comments in face of criticism, Hagee said he hadn’t. As for the Katrina, he said, God controls hurricanes and “God always punishes unconfessed sin.” You do the math.

hat tip: Think Progress.

HRC’s Religion and Faith Program hosted a book party on Monday night here at the HRC building to celebrate the publication of Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson’s new book, In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God.  For GLBT people of faith, Robinson is a modern-day prophet embodying compassionate, faithful and expansive love.  Through his new book he invites us to do the same. 

For more on Robinson’s talk, his book and its significance for a person of faith struggling with a different  denomination read Bill Gillis’s blog posting for the United Methodist affinity and advocacy group Reconciling Ministries Network. 

To order In the Eye of the Storm you can go directly to the HRC Store.

On Friday, the Human Rights Campaign responded to the United Methodist Church’s decision to reaffirm homophobic language that says homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching and its refusal to reverse a decision by the church’s Judicial Council to allow pastors to reject lesbian and gay people who seek membership in the church. 

The vote, which passed by a margin of only 84 votes out of more than 900 cast, was taken on Wednesday, April 30, at the United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Church leaders voted to reaffirm discriminatory language in the Discipline of the United Methodist Church and failed to counteract an earlier decision by the denominations judicial body. On the other had, the church also voted against anti-transgender legislation and voted to oppose "all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation."

Harry Knox, director of HRC's Religion and Faith program, responded to the Methodist Church's decisions at Reconciling Ministries Network's blog. His full statement is posted here:

Harry Knox, Director
Religion and Faith Program
Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Colleagues in Christ,

You have all been in my heart and in my prayers (and in the prayers of my staff colleagues at HRC) over the last several weeks. Thank you for the powerful witness you have made for the expansive, inclusive, unconditional, extravagant welcome of Jesus Christ. Your work - from handing out pamphlets to making major strategic dicisions - has been a continuous prayer of both petition and praise to our Creator.

I am heartbroken, as are my colleagues at HRC, by the spiritual violence done this week to lesbian and gay people by the United Methodist Church, the denomination in which I once pastored, my parents were married, my nieces and nephews baptized, and out of which my beloved grandmother was buried last June. Nevertheless, because of your hard work, the church has committed itself to working for civil rights protections for LGBT people and has explicitly rejected discrimination against transgender people. 

Therefore we expect and call on the Bishops of the United Methodist Church and local UMC pastors to speak out publicly in support of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes Protection Act and we will be offering them many opportunities to do so, especially at Clergy Call 2009.

We will work with you to call the church to live into its commitment in tangible ways and thus to continue your work to make justice a reality with which the policies of the denomination will someday be reconciled.

You all are heroes to me and to my colleagues Sharon Groves and Kyla Bollens-Lund of the HRC Religion and Faith Program. We pray for your personal peace and health in gratitude for your witness on all our behalf.

The Agenda with Joe Solmonese XM Satellite radio show kicks off its first show on its new home on Channel 155.  Joe and co-host Mary Breslauer will also open up the phone lines to talk with live callers  during tonight's show.

You can join in the conversation during the live show by calling 877-9-AGENDA (877-924-3632).

Here's a lineup of guests scheduled for tonight’s The Agenda with Joe Solmonese:

·        Rep. Mark Udall, running for U.S. Senate from Colorado
·       Juan Williams, NPR and Fox News Analyst
·        Ross Mathews, The Tonight Show’s “Ross the Intern”
·        Dan Gilgoff, BeliefNet Politics Editor
·        Craig Thompson & Reggie Davis, HIV/AIDS activists

Tune in live from 6 – 8 p.m. eastern every Monday on XM channel 155.  Download audio clips on Back Story and at www.hrc.org/TheAgenda every Tuesday.

****

UPDATE: Audio files of this show are here.

We'll let this headline speak for itself: Hagee Says Hurricane Katrina Struck New Orleans Because It Was ‘Planning A Sinful’ ‘Homosexual Rally’

Spring has definitely arrived! I hope you all are getting a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather. It’s such a thrill to see flowers bloom after a long winter.

Our “7 Days to a Better Financial You” educational campaign came to a successful close on Tax Day, April 15th, in Atlanta. HRC Religion and Faith Program Director Harry Knox organized more than a dozen faith leaders at the Atlanta Regional Postal Facility in Hapeville, Georgia to call attention to the impact of unfair tax laws on their GLBT parishioners and speak out against the immorality of the injustices that result from a lack of marriage equality. The unfair treatment of lesbian and gay couples in their congregations does real harm to those couples and their families. For these clergy, it is a pastoral issue—an issue that demands a pastoral response including speaking out in the public square for equality and dignity for those for whom they love and care.

Their powerful display of support for legal and financial equality for the GLBT community was covered by local Atlanta television news affiliates and the Southern Voice. You can read the remarks they delivered here. One of the participants, Rev. Dr. Kathi Martin, also appeared as a guest on “The Agenda,” HRC’s XM Radio show. Read about that here. 

One of the highlights of our “7 Days” campaign was a virtual town hall which discussed, among other topics, best practices for developing equitable transgender employee policies. There is so much work that must be done around the creation of hospitable work environments for transgender employees, particularly those who transition while on the job, and HRC is committed to doing that hard work.

Next week, the HRC Foundation will release a new resource that aims to provide executives, managers, and staff, including human resource professionals, with best practices for transgender workplace inclusion. “Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace” covers topics such as appropriate terminology with which to discuss gender identity and expression, the creation of policies that protect transgender workers from discrimination, and the expansion of diversity programs to include gender identity and expression.

The HRC Workplace Project team has worked tirelessly to develop “Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace,” and their efforts are evident in this comprehensive and easy to use guide. The new guide recommends steps that employers can take to facilitate safe and healthy gender transitions for employees. Among these are the adoption of inclusive non-discrimination policies, removal of discriminatory health insurance exclusions, development of dress codes that avoid gender stereotypes and can be enforced consistently, the protection of employee privacy, and the incorporation of gender identity and expression into diversity training programs.

Until we have a majority of fair-minded lawmakers and a president who will make a fully-inclusive ENDA the law of the land, there will be an urgent need for employers to use resources like “Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace.” And even after ENDA is enacted, we’ll need this resource to eradicate the ignorance and fear that make it so difficult for workers to transition in the workplace.

I am so proud to include this new resource as part of all HRC’s efforts of behalf of transgender equality. HRC continues to pursue work across the organization to educate policy leaders and the public on the need for gender identity protections. Examples of this work include:

• The addition of two new transgender voices to the HRC Business Council;
• Creating and growing the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness Coalition, made up of over 50 leading companies in Corporate America signing on in support of federal legislation for gender identity protections;
• Working with a coalition to develop hearings this spring in the U.S. House of Representatives around transgender discrimination in the workplace and the need for gender identity protections;
• A March Lobby Day during which over 200 HRC members gathered on Capitol Hill to meet with key Members of Congress urging support for a fully inclusive ENDA;
• Publishing “All Children All Families,” a guidebook to train adoption and foster parent agencies on placement of children with transgender parents and families, as well as gay, lesbian, and bisexual families;
• Developing a “Welcoming Schools” curriculum currently being implemented in three school districts across the country that helps educators understand the harms of gender stereotyping and ways to support gender variant students;
• Forthcoming Healthcare Equality Index which specifically rates hospitals on their sensitivity and training towards transgender patients and employees.
• Mobilizing communities of faith to do transgender education in the 40 targeted congressional districts.

This is but a sketch of all the work on transgender issues HRC has done and will continue to do. I will keep you all updated as we continue to roll out our groundbreaking efforts.

Have a great weekend!

HRC's Laurie Crelly has another great update on the 'for the BIBLE tells me so" screenings in Minnesota:

A near capacity crowd of two hundred filled St. John's Episcopal church on Sunday evening to view the movie "for the BIBLE tells me so". The crowd was diverse and friendly as they settled into their seats. A member of the sponsoring team said to me as the movie started, "Wow Laurie, looking at this crowd is like looking at the who's who of the St. Cloud. There are so many important and prominent people from the faith community here. Seeing this gives me hope that we can change St. Cloud and break the conservative stronghold here." 

St. Cloud is known in Minnesota for its deep conservative and religious roots. Two prominent Catholic colleges are here along with a large conservative Christian community who helped elect Representative Michelle Bachmann into federal office, known in Minnesota for her harsh anti-gay rhetoric and attempts to stop any GLBT-equality legislation both in state and federal government. For years the local GLBT community and allies were frustrated about being in such a conservative community, but tonight helped change that feeling to a feeling of hope and excitement.

During the screening the audience was especially animated with laughs, gasps and moans of empathy for the families appearing on the screen. Some, for the first time, really grasped the depth of emotional, spiritual and physical abuse the GLBT community has endured at the hands of religious people. One member of Peace UCC covered her eyes at the sight of beaten bodies, wiped tears away as Gene Robinson's mother expressed fear the Gene would be killed for coming out and gasped in profound astonishment that "good Christian" people would reject their own child as Mary Lou Wellner did in the film. Another man, well into his seventies, repeatedly said, "I can't believe it!" and "That is horrible!" as he heard time and again the numerous "un-Christian" actions of  others in the name of God. Watch the film trailer here:

As the film ended, Randi and Phil Reitan appeared at the front of the room and the audience enthusiastically stood and applauded their bold witness in the movie and in the community. Randi choked up at the sight of such support and affirmation. Even though they were weary from their cross-country travels, just in from San Diego, they stayed for a question and answer time following the movie.

Acknowledging that most in the crowd were probably allies in this struggle, Phil challenged them to speak to others about this issue and engage others in the struggle to love and accept all people as equals. One young gay man, asked, "How do you do that? How do you have a conversation with those who refuse to listen to your story and your beliefs?" Others around him nodded in agreement, expressing the common frustration that this community feels about the subject. The host minister, Father Michael Wyatt first answered, "It is most effective when you can have an ongoing relationship with them. You both have something invested in the relationship besides this issue, so keep close to them and know they are on a journey just as we all are. Don't start with the Bible,  you will only end in a fight about it. Start with what you have in common and help them to meet other gay people so they get to know you and others as people very much like them."

University Lutheran pastor Jayne Thompson also addressed this question, "Clergy sometimes find it just as difficult to discuss this as you do. So we reached out to our colleagues and invited them to a private showing of the film over a meal and discussed the message of the film in light of our ministry to the community. We had over twenty-five attend and saw many clergy deeply moved and shaken by it. Afterward many of them agreed that this dialogue needed to continue, we all wanted to stay around the table and seek ways of correcting this in our community, even some of the more conservative churches were present, which is a great sign of hope for us all."

The crowd agreed with the message we were sharing and purchased multiple copies of the DVD. Some going to community libraries others will be sent to friends and relatives who struggle with this issue. One woman came back twice to purchase more, a total of eight copies. Standing there she named off the friends and relatives she had in mind as if she was checking off her Christmas list. With a fresh coat of 12 inches of snow outside on a bright April day, this felt like Christmas to me and others in the GLBT community - a season of hope and a season of emboldened witness to the power of love over hate. Season's Greetings St. Cloud - a new season of hope is beginning to appear.

If you have not made it to a showing yet, time is not lost.

Join us Sunday, April 20, 2008 - 2:00pm
Pioneer Place On Fifth, 22 5th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
http://twincities.hrc.org/node/103/

or May 4, 2008 - 7:00 pm
Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship, Bloomington, MN

More showings are being booked around the state so watch for more updates!

We just received an update from HRC's Religion and Faith Director Harry Knox on the clergy protest at the Atlanta Regional Postal Facility in Hapeville, GA.  According to Harry, more than a dozen religious leaders showed up to decry the impact of unfair tax laws on their GLBT parishioners. Members of the local press, including the Atlanta CBS affiliate and Southern Voice, took note of the demonstration that featured opening remarks by Harry Knox and speeches by four GLBT and straight-supportive clergy members, including Rev. Jimmy Moor, Pastor, St. Mark United Methodist Church; Rev. Antonio Jones, pastor of Unity Fellowship of Atlanta; Rev. Dr. Kathi Martin, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ; and Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim.

We thought you would be interested in reading a sampling of the speakers' prepared remarks:

Harry Knox:

Statement by Harry Knox
Director, Religion and Faith Program
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Atlanta, GA - April 15, 2008

"Whatever is demanded by truth, by justice, by mercy, or by love must surely be taken to be willed by God." Thomas Merton

My name is Harry Knox. I am director of the Religion and Faith Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in Washington, DC. Thank you all for taking time out today to help us raise awareness of the very real effects of unfairness on the well-being of lesbian and gay couples and their families in this country.

Across the country, millions of same sex couples face significant financial burdens and legal hurdles in building a secure future for their families. As a result of the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars the federal government from recognizing legal same sex marriages, these couples are denied access to the more than 1,100 federal benefits and protections available to married couples, which means they can’t take time off to care for a loved one without risk of losing their job, they can’t provide Survivor Benefits to their partner or children despite paying into Social Security for a lifetime, they can’t get equal pay for equal contribution as a federal employee or veteran (people like those who work in the Post Office behind me), and they can’t include their spouse or children on their employer-based health plan without facing significant tax penalties. According to the Williams Institute, the average employee who receives partner benefits pays an additional $771 per year out of pocket in federal taxes based on the value of those benefits. At my house that means the equivalent of three months worth of gasoline we give to Uncle Sam that our non-gay brothers and sisters who are married don’t have to pay.

Despite the absence of federal marriage protections, each day the Human Rights Campaign fights for equality for these couples and their families so they can live financially secure, open and equal lives. In Congress, state houses, corporate board rooms, emergency rooms and communities across the country, HRC is knocking down the barriers to equality – one by one. As a result of HRC’s workplace project, over 50% of Fortune 500 companies offer benefits to same-sex partners, up from just a handful in 2000. Because of HRC’s on the ground organizing, ten states plus the District of Columbia have civil unions, domestic partnerships, or marriage, and more are considering relationship protections. HRC is gathering support for measures that would provide family and medical leave to same-sex couples, equal family benefits for federal employees, and an end to unfair taxation of health benefits.

And so over the last week the Human Rights Campaign has launched a national effort to provide same sex couples with the tools and resources to navigate tax laws and ensure good financial decision-making. In addition, HRC is joining with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress to unveil a new legislative agenda – called Family Matters – to pass laws that provide equal rights and responsibilities for same sex couples and their families. Such bills include the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act, the Domestic Partnership tax bill and the Domestic Partnership Benefit and Obligations Act or DPBO.

Why, some might ask, are these issues religious issues? Why are clergy representing local congregations standing here today speaking out for fairness for their lesbian and gay parishioners and members? It’s because they know that injustice is immoral. And they know the unfair treatment of lesbian and gay couples in their congregations does real harm to those couples and their families. For these clergy, it is a pastoral issue - an issue that demands a pastoral response that includes speaking out in the public square for equality and dignity for those they love and care for.

This morning we will hear briefly from four local members of the clergy from here in Atlanta. I will introduce them now and they will come to the podium in the order I call their name. First is Rev. Jimmy Moor, senior pastor of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Atlanta. He will be followed by Rev. Antonio Jones, pastor of Unity Fellowship of Atlanta. We will hear next from Rev. Dr. Kathi Martin is on the pastoral staffs of both First Metropolitan Community Church of Atlanta and Victory Temple in Stone Mountain. Then Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim will round us out and we will take questions. These loving faith leaders will tell us why we must end tax inequality for gay people now - because such is demanded by truth, justice, mercy and love.

Rev. Elder Antonio James:

Statement by Rev. Elder Antonio Jones
Pastor, Unity Fellowship of Atlanta
April 15, 2008

My name is Rev. Elder Antonio Jones and I am pastor of Unity Fellowship of Atlanta. A prophet of the Old Testament suggested that we are required to “act justly and love mercy”. Today, we like the prophet’s audience have failed to completely carry out this universal principal. As I witness the daily strain economic inequality puts on the financial, emotional and spiritual lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people our failure becomes much more obvious.

Where is the justice called for by the prophet? On this day millions of us are focused on our financial positions and our plans for our future and the future of our loved ones. Yet, out of every paycheck gay and lesbian individuals receive, they pay into Social Security taxes, some of which goes toward survivor’s insurance that their partners will never see.

Justice demands that we honor the lives of all Americans. While the question on the table seems to be “what will happen to Social Security when the baby boomers retire en masse?; Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans who are 65 ask, “How will my partner survive after my death?”

We are pastors and a rabbi who are concerned about personal, pastoral issues we face with our gay and lesbian members. Those pastoral concerns have, at least in part, a political solution. It is time for all Americans to work for and support the Family Matters legislative agenda

I am called - we are called - to advocate for justice - economic justice for all - including lesbian and gay Americans.

Rev. James Moor:

Statement by Rev. Jimmy Moor
Pastor, St. Mark United Methodist Church
Atlanta, Georgia - April 15, 2008

My name is Rev. Jimmy Moor and I am here to tell what is true about taxes and families headed by lesbian or gay couples. I serve as the Senior Pastor of the Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Midtown Atlanta. About 17 years ago Saint Mark made the decision to open its doors to the GLBT persons in its community and did so in a wonderfully affirming way. Today well over half of our worshipers come from the GLBT community. They have found in Saint Mark a welcoming community where they can be accepted for who they are, worship the God they love, and find meaningful avenues of service and discipleship. Many of our members are same gender couples who are in long-term, committed, loving relationships. As one of their pastors, I know of the serious impact the inequalities in our tax laws and other laws place on these couples and their families. I speak today out of pastoral concern for my members, and in the long tradition at Saint Mark of standing for justice.

The issues are real. Our same gender couples pay the same Social Security payroll taxes as other citizens, but they are excluded from spousal and survivor’s benefits. If I die, my wife can get my Social Security benefits. That right is denied to the partners of gay persons in our church. Benefits are also denied to the surviving children of a deceased GLBT worker. These are monies that could pay for the necessities of life, and they are monies my children would have gotten had I died while they were still minors. Whole families suffer from our tax policies.

Our GLBT couples worry about the fact that they have to pay estate taxes if one partner dies. My wife and I do not bear that burden. Our members worry about their inability to get and retain health insurance for their partners, another worry my wife and I do not have. The list can go on and on. Because of the inequalities of our laws, the same gender couples at Saint Mark are denied over 1100 benefits and protections that my wife and I take for granted. The denial of these benefits affects all same gender families, but the poor families suffer the most.

These are issues of justice. My faith is clear: we are called to do justice (Micah 6:8); we are called to treat others the way we would want to be treated (what the book of James calls the royal law); we recognize the sacred worth of every person, knowing all of us are made in the image of God. For the members of Saint Mark;, for same gender couples everywhere; for myself; for us all, I join other voices today urging justice for our GLBT families.

Rev. Dr. Kathi Martin:

Statement by Reverend Dr. Kathi Martin
April 15, 2008

Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you but to love justice, do mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

In an article in Southern Voice this week, Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, executive director of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, wrote, “When we aren't honest about the economic and legal burdens we place on LGBT families we are frankly getting in God's way. Jesus asked us to love and care for one another. When we remain ignorant or uncaring about how our LGBT families are harmed, we are not acting as Jesus would have us; we are not acting like the children of God that we all are.”

This is a call to justice, mercy, and humility which is foundational to the development of a harmonious, equitable society. However, when we ignore or discount the added burden LGBT families face by illness, unemployment, loss of health care benefits, and death we compromise our own humanity and we also violate God’s requirements of us all. That is why it is critical for people of faith to support the Family Matters Legislative Agenda to pass laws that provide equal rights and responsibilities for same sex couples and their families. When we support such bills as the Family Medical Leave Inclusion Act, the Domestic Partnership Tax Bill, and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act we actively love justice, do mercy, and work together as an equitable society under God.

Rabbi Joshua Lesser:

Statement by Rabbi Joshua Lesser
Congregation Bet Haverim
Decatur, Georgia - April 15, 2008

I am Rabbi Joshua Lesser and I proudly serve a synagogue where gay and straight members worship together. Our membership is nearly half gay and half straight. Inside our walls, there are no significant distinctions between our members. They generally want the same kinds of things: strong relationships and family connections, meaningful work, success raising their children, a roof over their heads, and ways to contribute back to the larger society. At Bet Haverim, though we have great diversity, we embrace the value rooted in the central message of Leviticus: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself. We remind ourselves each time we gather on Saturday Mornings for services that the intention of our prayer is to strive towards loving our neighbors. This is a cornerstone value for all people of faith.

But outside our synagogue walls, the differences between the straight couples and gay couples are immense, not because of who they are or how they live, (which are pretty similar) but because of how our country, the United States of America, treats them. This is abundantly evident on Tax Day when gay and lesbian people pay into the tax system like everyone else, but are denied the benefits that are given to others. The same-sex couples in my synagogue and across the country face significant monetary and legal barriers in building a secure future for their families. The Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents our U.S. government from recognizing legal same sex marriages, the gay and lesbian partnered couples in my synagogue and all over are deprived of more than 1,100 federal benefits and protections available to the straight married couples in my synagogue. This does not live up to the value of loving one's neighbor as one's self.

My faith community supports the building of strong secure families and cannot understand the arbitrary distinctions that our federal government makes. It means that gay couples cannot take time off to care for a loved one without risk losing their job. They can't provide Survivor Benefits to their partner or children despite paying into Social Security for a life time. They can't include their spouse or children on their employer-based health plan without incurring tax penalties. We are all neighbors—this does not makes sense. As people of faith, we must do the loving thing and pave the way for equality under our tax code. One of the ways Leviticus expounds on the this value of loving your neighbor is by calling for fair treatment of all workers.

As people of faith if we truly want strong families and a strong country then we must act on the foundation of our faith beliefs and that is to love our neighbors as our ourselves! In doing so, we strengthen the foundation of our country: our families. Loving your neighbor, requires to step into another's shoes momentarily and to notice what life is like from a different perspective. When doing so, you are able to see the inequities and call for a change. That is what we are called to do as people of faith. After all, we are your neighbors, your teachers, your grocers, your physicians, and even your rabbis.

Today is Tax Day.

As we celebrate the final day of HRC's "7 Days to a Better Financial You" campaign, in less than one hour, a group of GLBT ministers and faith leaders will converge on the Atlanta Regional Postal Facility in Hapeville, GA to raise awareness and call attention to the tax inequity faced by their gay parishioners.

Dr. Cindi Love (pictured below), an ordained minister in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) and the current executive director of MCC worldwide, will be among the clergy taking a stand against the unfair tax laws at the Hapeville post office this morning. She knows first-hand the legal and financial struggles her GLBT congregants continually face throughout their lives to lead productive lives (Southern Voice):

I have seen firsthand the struggles that marriage inequality causes. In my capacity as an ordained minister and executive director of Metropolitan Community Churches world-wide, I regularly witness the effects economic disparities have on the emotional and spiritual lives of LGBT people. These gaps are never more obvious than in those situations where we find ourselves with a loved one in the emergency room at the hospital, at the Red Cross shelter, on the phone when a lay-off occurs, when a chronic health condition dictates a move to assisted living, at the funeral home or when a break up in relationship occurs.

As a person of deep Christian faith, I am often frustrated by the unnecessary and unfair burdens we place on LGBT families, particularly in hospitals and courts when they are already forced to cope with traumatic life events. As difficult as these situations are, I find myself even more frustrated by the denial and ignorance of the economic plight LGBT families face. We have to stop perpetuating stereotypes that all LGBT people are wealthy latte drinkers living in affluent neighborhoods. We come from all different economic and racial brackets, with all different kinds of families. And, as with all injustice, when economic discrimination is allowed to stand, it is the LGBT families where members are earning minimum wages, don't have access to health insurance, and are supporting children who shoulder the largest burden.

On Tonight’s The Agenda with Joe Solmonese:

• Cyndi Lauper, renowned pop star who will soon kick off the True Colors Tour benefiting the Human Rights Campaign
• Scott Heim, author of We Disappear and Mysterious Skin
• Arizona State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, legislator fighting discriminatory marriage amendment in Arizona
• Bud Jackson, political and media consultant
• Rev. Kathi Martin, participant in a HRC tax day press conference tomorrow in Atlanta
• Frank DeBernardo, executive director of the GLBT Catholic group New Ways Ministries on the Pope’s U.S. visit

Tune in live from 6 – 8 p.m. eastern every Monday on XM channel 120.  Download clips at www.hrc.org/TheAgenda every Tuesday.

And for all you Facebook users, you can also become a “fan” of The Agenda on our Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6175562293

As we approach April 15th – “Tax Day” – HRC is launching a national effort this week to provide same-sex couples with the tools and resources they need to navigate today's complicated tax laws and put in place good financial decision-making. We're also joining with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders to unveil a new legislative agenda – called Family Matters – to pass laws that provide equal rights and responsibilities for same sex couples and their families.  Such bills include the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act, the domestic partnership tax bill and the Domestic Partnership Benefit and Obligations Act or DPBO.

Across the country, millions of same-sex couples face significant financial burdens and legal hurdles in building a secure future for their families. As a result of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents the federal government from recognizing legal same-sex marriages, these couples are denied access to the more than 1,100 federal benefits and protections available to married couples.

This means they can’t take time off to care for a loved one without risking job loss; they can’t provide survivor benefits to their partner or children despite a lifetime of payments into Social Security; they can’t get equal pay for equal contribution as a federal employee or veteran; and they can’t include their spouse or children on their employer-based health plan without facing significant tax penalties. 

According to the Williams Institute, the average employee who receives partner benefits pays an additional $771 per year out of pocket in federal taxes based on the value of those benefits.

Despite the absence of federal marriage protections, each day the Human Rights Campaign fights for equality for these couples and their families so they can live financially secure, open and equal lives.  In Congress, state houses, corporate board rooms, emergency rooms and communities across the country, HRC is knocking down the barriers to equality – one by one.   One of the things we're most proud of are the results of HRC’s Workplace Project, our in-house business outreach team that has helped over 50% of the Fortune 500 offer benefits to same-sex partners -- up from just a handful in 2000.  Because of HRC’s on the ground organizing and work with key coalition partners, ten states plus the District of Columbia have civil unions, domestic partnerships, or marriage, and more are considering relationship protections.  HRC is gathering support for measures that would provide family and medical leave to same-sex couples, equal family benefits for federal employees, and an end to unfair taxation of health benefits.

We'll have Joe Kapp, co-owner of a Washington, DC financial planning practice that caters largely to the GLBT community, and other experts on hand this week to answer questions.  Joe Kapp and his practice co-owner Nick Burkholder recently published a comprehensive article on financial planning for same-sex couples in the National Journal of Financial Planning (To view the printer-friendly version (.pdf), download the article here.)

We're calling our campaign “7 Days to a Better Financial You” and here's a preview of some of the things we have planned for the week:

Monday, April 7:

HRC to launch national action alert highlighting the significant financial burdens and legal hurdles for same-sex couples and how they can take part; HRC to host national media conference call with HRC President Joe Solmonese, Financial planner and columnist Joe Kapp, who recently published Journal of Financial Planning on challenges faced by same-sex couples, and HRC Legal Director Lara Schwartz, to discuss the basics to financial planning and the resources available;

Tuesday, April 8: 

Virtual Town Hall for Employers and GLBT Employees: Making Your Benefits Work for You

• This Virtual Town Hall will feature with Financial planners and columnists Joe Kapp and Nick Burkholder, HRC Workplace Director Daryl Herrschaft, and HRC Business Coalition board member Diego Sanchez;
• The Town Hall will also feature brand-new resources from the Workplace Project of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation to help gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees achieve greater financial security, including:

·         Teach workers and their employers how to take full advantage of new provisions in the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

·         Provide participants with a template proposal to “gross-up” wages to offset the tax burden of enrolling for domestic partner health insurance benefits.

·         Educate callers on the financial issues facing transgender people.

• The Virtual Town Hall will also feature an overview of financial planning issues for GLBT people and their families, as well as an overview of HRC’s federal legislative efforts to secure equal tax treatment of GLBT families.

Thursday, April 10:

National web chat to answer questions from people in the GLBT community;

• The web chat will feature: Joe Kapp, co-owner of a Washington, DC financial planning practice that caters largely to the GLBT community; Brenda Jackson-Cooper, an associate at the Washington, DC law firm Arnold & Porter in the tax and estates practice group; and HRC’s state legislative director Chris Edelson and legal director Lara Schwartz.

Tuesday, April 15:

Faith and religious leaders will gather to raise awareness and call attention to the tax inequity faced by their gay parishioners.

Back Story - Weekend:

On Wednesday morning, Charlie Mumford checked in with Rev. Laurie Crelly to get the latest on how the statewide screenings for the film "For the Bible Tells Me So" in Minnesota have been going, the attendance, the rate of folks are signing in, and the DVD sales.  Laurie has had great success with the most recent showing in Duluth as well as the kick-off screening last month in St. Peter. Charlie asked Laurie to write a post about the upcoming St. Cloud screenings starting April 9th in Minnesota -- and she definitely out-did herself with this entry.  Great pics to tie in with the story and radio show interview to boot :-)  Laurie is expecting more than 800 attendees at the St. Cloud screenings if every seat is filled--- we'll keep you posted!

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After four months of planning we are just days away from the first of four showings of the movie "For the BIBLE Tells Me So" in St. Cloud, MN.  When I first started meeting with the community leaders and clergy in January the group was apprehensive and shy about the possibility of bringing such an ambitious event to their deeply conservative Central Minnesota town of 66,000. But as we talked that first night over pizza at Green Mill, I tried to inspire them to step out in faith. I assured them that this event would be a galvanizing experience for the GLBT/Allied communities in the area and for all of central Minnesota.

Now, four months later, we have the movie showing at St. John's University (a Catholic University/Seminary), St. Cloud State University, at the Episcopal Church with 6 churches involved and at the local St. Cloud OUT Film Fest. Add to that Radio interviews, radio and newspaper ads and posters around town and we are feeling a real BUZZ that this will be a great success. On Friday, April 4, I was in St. Cloud (sixty miles north west of the Twin Cities) for an hour long radio interview which will be heard on local Talk Radio's  "Saturday Eye Opener" program (pictured above).

Daniel Anderson, a local leader who shared the air waves with me, said, "It means so much to me and the leadership here in St. Cloud to have HRC involved in our community in this way. Your leadership and guidance, Laurie, has made a huge difference in bringing this event together. We have never had this type of a community effort involving the faith community and I think it will continue after the movie. I am so glad the HRC has begun to reach out to greater Minnesota beyond the Twin Cities and we really appreciate the help you bring."

Earlier this week we offered a private preview screening to local clergy who were reluctant or could not list their church as a sponsoring congregation out of fear of divisions within the congregation. We had 25 clergy attend the private screening and discussion among colleagues. The initial reports I have received are that the clergy were greatly moved by the film. Many of them were enthusiastic about the way the documentary addresses the subject matter in such a compelling and moving manner. Almost all of them will be speaking about the movie in their Sunday services this weekend, encouraging members to attend a screening.

Most of them also asked "how can we get involved and continue to work together to advance this important discussion to our congregations and to the St. Cloud Area?" Rev. Thompson of University Lutheran of the Epiphany ELCA, the hosting pastor, said she was very proud of the results of this targeted outreach to area clergy and their positive response. "We are already beginning to plan a follow up meeting with the clergy and the GLBTA leadership community to discuss what is next for us." Daniel Anderson and the St Cloud OUT team are also looking to organize a big "Thank You" celebration to the organizers and this group of Religious leaders for taking bold steps forward for GLBTA people. "We need to reaffirm their courage and let them know that it means the world to the GLBT community to see religious leaders speak out on our behalf to end the discrimination we know exists in many of the faith communities around us." 

I am beside myself with anticipation of the upcoming showings and what impact it will have on the hearts of Central Minnesota people. If you live near the St. Cloud area, even if you have to drive an hour to come, I hope you plan to attend to a screening.

Watch the trailer here:

Please come and come early, because I expect it to be packed!!

Here are also the list of upcoming screenings and links for more information and to RSVP:

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - 7:00 pm
The College of St. Scholastica, Science Auditorium, 1200 Kenwood Avenue, Duluth, MN
http://twincities.hrc.org/node/98/

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - 7:00pm
St. Cloud State University, Atwood Little Theater, 720 4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
http://twincities.hrc.org/node/100/

Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 12:30pm
First United Methodist Church, Social Hall, 230 East Skyline Parkway, Duluth MN
http://twincities.hrc.org/node/99/

Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 7:00pm
St. John's Episcopal Church, 1111 Cooper Ave. South, Saint Cloud, MN 56301
http://twincities.hrc.org/node/101/

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 7:00pm
St. Johns University, Pellegrine Auditorium, Peter Engel Science Center, 31802 County Rd 159, Collegeville, MN 56321
http://twincities.hrc.org/node/102/

Sunday, April 20, 2008 - 2:00pm
Pioneer Place On Fifth, 22 5th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
http://twincities.hrc.org/node/103/

- Rev. Laurie Crelly

This just in from Sharon Groves, deputy director of HRC's religion and faith program:

Have you heard? It's true! On May 4 and May 5, 2009 HRC’s Religion and Faith Program will present our second Clergy Call for Justice and Equality. It's not too early to register to come!

As with our Clergy Call 2007, clergy and religious leaders from every state in the country will gather in Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress, take part in a major press conference, and worship together in an interfaith service.

With more time to plan and with a faith-based movement for GLBT equality growing exponentially, we have set our ambitions even higher this time to include a transgender educational campaign in key congressional districts and to encourage deeper work on all GLBT issues throughout the country.

The theme for this Clergy Call, "Moving from Acceptance to Advocacy," is designed to propel faith leaders to organize and advocate locally for GLBT equality. Our experience has shown us that engaged spirit-filled local faith work is the fuel that drives a national movement.

The conception and inspiration for this second Clergy Call came directly from those who came to Clergy Call 2007. These religious leaders returned from their time in Washington energized with a new sense of possibility for change at home and a deeper sense of how their local work could embolden a new dialogue about GLBT people and faith throughout the nation.

They didn’t just think lofty thoughts however; these leaders prayed with their feet!

They visited with their Congressional representatives in their districts; they formed letter-writing campaigns in support of hate crimes legislation and the Employment Non-discrimination Act in their congregations; they met with reporters, wrote editorials and opinion pieces for their local papers; they crafted sermons about their time in Washington; and, they used the model of the Clergy Call for faith-based organizing in their states.

In short, they became agents of change.

Their example taught us that Clergy Call 2007 was not the culmination of work; it was a beginning.

The months following the Clergy Call have born this out. Although we made historic gains in the House and Senate on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Protection Act, in the end neither the Mathew Sheppard Act nor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act made it to the President’s desk. In addition, we witnessed firsthand how much work we need to do to make transgender equality a reality.

We know that transgender people were hurt and angered by the long legislative battles we faced over ENDA in 2007; we have heard and felt much of that pain ourselves. But if this challenging period has taught us anything, it is how difficult it is to pass fully inclusive legislation when the educational groundwork has not been set in our local communities.

There has been a lag in transgender education in this country and the effects on transgender people have been devastating. Even if a fair-minded President and Congress is elected next year, without sustained local educational work that engages people of faith, we will not see the fruition of fully inclusive legislation for hate crimes protections and ENDA.

To address this clear educational need, we are asking clergy and their congregations to go deeper and do educational programming in their local congregations on transgender issues. We hope clergy will tell their members of Congress about this education work and the conversations it has inspired among people of faith back home in the district.

Congress needs to hear about what congregants learned together about who transgender people are and why they need the protections ENDA and the Matthew Shepard Bill would provide. As we do this work we also need to continue to educate Congress about the lives of gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

To assist in this work we are producing congregational resources, including an interfaith transgender curriculum from writings and interviews with transgender people of faith, families and congregations. To accompany this curriculum, we have received special financial support to provide transgender educators in targeted districts.

We are also creating a study guide to accompany the award-winning film For the Bible Tells Me So. Both our interfaith transgender curriculum and For the Bible Tells Me So guide, provide a hands on one-session training designed to engage people of faith in rich and faithful dialogue on transgender and LGBT issues.

We know this is often hard work and that to be successful people need readily available resources to deepen their understanding of the issues and to sharpen their faith positions. In addition to the curricula we are, therefore, featuring a collection of resources on our website, including a Biblical guide to gender identity.

As with all of our projects, our work is enhanced by the thoughtful contributions of our coalition partners. Please check out, among others, the faith-based resources that the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce’s Institute for Welcoming Resources and the Hebrew Union College Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation are creating. In particular, their transgender resources will be particularly useful for congregations that wish to host a series of consecutive conversations in their congregations.

In addition to our resources, we have developed an interactive story page on our website that will enable visitors to our site to share the work they are doing in their communities. We have also provided information on how to financially plan and raise money for your trip to Washington, D.C.

If you are inspired by Clergy Call 2009 or have questions, please don’t hesitate to write us at religion@hrc.org; we will be delighted to talk with you further. Please also visit our website often as we are regularly adding further information and new resources.

Finally, please pray for us! We cannot do this work without you!

Blessings,

Harry, Sharon, Kyla

• Harry Knox Director, HRC’s Religion and Faith Program
• Sharon Groves Deputy Director, HRC’s Religion and Faith Program
• Kyla Bollens-Lund Coordinator, HRC’s Religion and Faith Program

The Agenda with Joe Solmonese was back in DC this week after a great show in New York last Monday. Since there was so much to cover in the Big Apple and we couldn’t do it all, we had a decidedly New York flair to our show last night as well.  Here are audio clips of some segments of the program (mp3):

Ed Koch, former New York City Mayor:

Koch tells what he says when people ask him if he’s gay and dishes on presidential politics.  LISTEN HERE: PART 1 (10:36), PART 2 (8:26). 

Faye Wattleton, Center for the Advancement of Women President:

Wattleton shares her views on Sen. Hillary Clinton as a female candidate and more.  LISTEN HERE: PART 1 (9:01), PART 2 (6:58).

Ed Salvato, Out Traveler Editor:

Agenda regular Salvato talks about summer getaways and road trips from their latest issue.  LISTEN HERE (16:04).

Rev. Cyndi Love, Metropolitan Community Churches Executive Director:

Love talks about inclusion in the church and her new book, Would Jesus Discriminate?.  LISTEN HERE (17:03).

For more on last night’s show, go to The Agenda's blog.

Laurie Crelly, HRC's state field organizer in MN, and Charlie Mumford have been working together for the past month on planning and messaging to our HRC members in Minnesota for the line up of over ten screenings of "For the BIBLE Tells Me So."  Laurie gave a great update over the weekend about the Gustavus Adolphus screenings in St. Peter that would kickoff the screenings statewide, but it was over the weekend when Laurie and the GLBT groups in St. Peter unfortunately ran into some anti-GLBT harassment.  Laurie and the other local GLBT and allied groups that she had been working with came out on top-- and over 300 locals in St. Peter showed up at the "For the BIBLE Tells Me So" kickoff screening.  Here is Laurie's account:

Just days prior to the showing of the movie, "For the BIBLE tells Me So" at the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, local college and high school GLBT youth experienced two seperate incidents of vandalism and harrassment from unidentified young people in the community. The response by the local school authorities was swift and supportive of the GLBT youth.

The members of the High School Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) printed up shirts that read "Stop Hate Just Love" and organized a rally of over 300 students and staff to bring attention to the situation and counter the hatred. Tony Spain, president of the Queers and Allies group at Gustavus Adolphus used the showing of the film on campus as another opportunity to raise awareness about the destructive impact that homophobia has upon others.

The Friday showing of the film was well attended with 300+ people from the area present. The local GSA students were encouraged by the message of the movie and the words of Randi and Phil Reitan who addressed the audience following the movie.

Randi and Phil Reitan pictured with members of the St. Peter High School GSA

Gustavus Staff member, Kari Lipke was also able to share the inequities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church's stance on GLBT people who desire to be ordained. Much of the audience was Lutheran and know many of the GLBT youth impacted by the recent events in this small, closeknit college town. Congressman Tim Walz (D) and his wife Gwen, a Gustavus Adolphus alumn, were also in attendance and heard the recent struggles in the area.

Laurie Crelly with Congressman Tim Walz

The recent events of harassment energized and brought the community together in stronger support of the GLBT communities in the area. The existence of out and proud GLBT youth in St. Peter and Mankato is the result of one brave young man, Jacob Reitan. He started the first GSA ten years ago. Harassment may still happen occasionally but now we are no longer alone, thanks to the bravery of others who have stood up for equality. 

Student Andrew Nelson modeling the new queer friendly Gustavus Logo "Fabulous People, Fabulous Place"

More showings of the movie are being held around the state. Check out listings for St. Cloud and Duluth. We also just added a Minneapolis showing at All God's Children MCC, 3100 Park Ave. S. Minneapolis. Wednesday, March 26th at 7 p.m. 

- Rev. Laurie Crelly

Back Story - Weekend:

Here’s another great post written by Laurie Crelly, one of HRC's key organizers in Minnesota.  Laurie worked to bring three viewings of "For The Bible Tells Me So" to Mankato last month and they were highly successful. Laurie has been very busy lately setting up additional screenings of "For the Bible Tells Me So" in three main cities across the state: Duluth, St. Cloud and St. Peter.  Here is Laurie's (pictured below) account of what is in store for Minnesota for the next two months, with the kick off screening tonight during Adolphus Gustavus' diversity week:

In January HRC and local Mankato MN churches and GLBT organizations hosted three screenings of the critically acclaimed movie For The BIBLE Tells Me So to capacity crowds. Over 800 people were moved by the message of hope, faith and loving inclusion presented in this movie that features Minnesota's Reitan Family, Bishop Gene Robinson and others. We are continuing this statewide effort to move the hearts of Minnesotans by offering multiple screenings of the movie in St. Peter, St. Cloud and Duluth. Tonight and tomorrow, March 14th and 15th, I am proud to kick off our 10 screenings in St. Peter with the Gustavus Adolphus College Q and A group (Queers and Allies) to host the film during the school’s Diversity Week.

This event is open to the entire community and all are welcome. Phil and Randi Reitan will be at the theater tonight and at other screenings throughout the next two months to speak and answer questions. We will also have members of the Gustavus GLBT community present to answer questions following both showings in St. Peter.

HRC will also be giving away a few copies of the movie as a door prize as another way to get this important movie into the hands of caring people to share with others.