Steve Parelli To Receive Clergy Credentials
in Denomination of Metropolitan Community Churches
Parelli Is Executive Director of Other Sheep; May 31st Event
In New York City To Deepen Relationship Between
MCC, Other Sheep, Says MCC Moderator
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - Steve Parelli, executive director of Other Sheep, an international multicultural ministry to sexual minorities, will receive clergy credentials in Metropolitan Community Churches during events in New York City on Sunday, May 31, 2009.
Metropolitan Community Churches is the world's largest and oldest Christian denomination with a primary affirming ministry to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender persons, along with their families, friends, and allies. Known as "The Human Rights Church," MCC congregations are located in 27 countries around the world.
Parelli has served as executive director of Other Sheep since 2005. He has been a frequent speaker across Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and East Africa presenting seminars on the "ex-gay" movement and building a support network for gay clergy and gay Christians.
Before coming out in 1997, Parelli served as senior pastor of Baptist churches in Sinclairville, New York, and Sparta, New Jersey. He holds the Bachelor of Religious Education degree and the Bachelor of Theology degree from Baptist Bible College, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and the Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, Michigan.
According to Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, "Steve Parelli and Other Sheep are meeting a vital need in our world through their complimentary ministries that provide resources and networking to sexual minorities of faith around the globe. We are honored to welcome Steve Parelli as clergy within MCC."
Metropolitan Community Churches and Other Sheep have collaborated on ministry projects in Central America, South America and Africa, according to Rev. Wilson.
MCC clergy credentials will be conferred upon Steve Parelli during the 11 am worship service of Metropolitan Community Church of New York City [446 West 36th St., NYC 10018 - Tel. (212) 629-7440], where Rev. Pat Bumgardner is senior pastor.
The occasion will mark only the second time since 2005 that MCC has extended extraordinary clergy credentials, and the second during the tenure of Rev. Nancy L. Wilson as MCC moderator.
For additional information on the international ministry of Metropolitan Community Churches, visit www.MCCchurch.org.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thank you for your contribution to IN THE LIFE’s June Pride show, “40th Anniversary of Stonewall.”
This special hour-long episode commemorating that 1969 seminal event will begin airing to a national audience of over 74 million on June 1st.
I’m including descriptions of the various segments that will be in the show below, a brief narrative of the SoS series, and a link to the video-preview for the June show. If you would like to see a preview of the full episode, I can arrange to send you a link to its screener.
The State of the Movement — A Look at its Past, Present, Future
How do we measure our progress? IN THE LIFE speaks to activists young and old to explore where we have come from and how far we have left to go.
Youth Now — The Cost of “Coming Out” Young
Not many can say for certain who ignited the spark that led to the Stonewall Riots, but what is certain is that many of the instigators were young, some transgender, and a few homeless: youth, with nothing to lose and everything to fight for. 40 years later, there’s been tremendous growth in the number and diversity of LGBT youth services available in this country. Yet, as providers will tell you — at a time when the average age of “coming out” has dropped from early twenties to early teens — these are the best and the worst of times for our young people.
The Written Word — Queer Communication: From Flyers to HTML
Before the 1950s, men and women who identified themselves as gay or lesbian had little print media of their own. Comparing how we once communicated to how we connect today, it is clear that the Internet has radically altered our ability to reach each other and to publish our testimonies and opinions.
A Conversation With… activist, writer Larry Kramer (co-founder of ACT-UP, GMHC) and performer, DJ, and pop-icon Lady Bunny
These longtime partners-in-activism discuss the advancements and setbacks of the LGBT movement, and share their fears and hopes for the future of LGBT activism. Revealing some little-known details about sexual preferences of past U.S. presidents, they also discuss why gay history needs to be taught in schools.
The Gay Betsy Ross — The Rainbow Flag, Its history, and how it inspired the movement to adopt a new symbol
Gilbert Baker is the man behind the most visible and recognizable symbol of gay pride: the rainbow flag. An unsung hero and historian of the LGBT movement, Baker was asked by Harvey Milk in 1978 to create an emblem for the community. Replacing the pink triangle, the LGBT community adopted the rainbow flag — a symbol of its diversity and unity in the pursuit of equality for all.
IN THE LIFE’s July show will focus on the history of LGBT civil rights organizations, including A Conversation With... Kevin Cathcart of Lambda Legal and Katherine Acey of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. In August, Summer of Stonewall will focus on the growth of LGBT arts and culture, including A Conversation With… author Edmund White and playwright Doric Wilson.
IN THE LIFE’s 17-year heritage as a national not-for-profit organization has been to create programming that fosters a better understanding and acceptance of the LGBT communities. I will give you a call shortly to discuss the possibility of coverage of our summer series, and we will also alert you to our September plans as soon as we can.
Monday, May 18, 2009
send Rick Santorum your thoughts on this!
The right-wing National Organization for Marriage, which helped pass Proposition 8, is trying desperately to reverse our victories in Maine and elsewhere – pumping in resources, staff, and $1.5 million in anti-LGBT ads.
And guess who's helping raise all that money? Former Sen. Rick Santorum, who has compared LGBT Americans to people who have sex with dogs.
In a solicitation letter for the group, Santorum calls marriage equality a "radical assault by an out-of-control government." (Then he plugs his new book.)
Homeless Youth Pride Walk Article
Here is an awesome article on our walk from Youth Noise.com!
Check them out:
Homeless Youth Pride Walk, 2009
"Almost 40% of homeless youth in America identify as LGBTQ. This diverse group of Queer youth has a profound and powerful voice. We want to support them in their progress and give them a platform to stand on."
—Chloe Michelle Noble, founder of the Noble Echoes Foundation
Earlier today, three activists hit the road with backpacks. Their mission? A 6,000 mile journey through the United States to give voice to homeless LGBTQ youth, and raise awareness about the tragic prevalence of homelessness among Queer youth in America. Chloe Michelle Noble, Jill Hardman, and Nicole Tomlin will travel for 6 to 9 months, starting in Seattle and venturing through major US cities from coast to coast. The group of three will live out of their backpacks and document their trek through photos, video, and blog updates. Every major city they walk through will host a media event known as Operation Shine to increase public visibility around the issues facing homeless Queer youth.
Their project is called the Homeless Youth Pride Walk 2009.
http://www.youthnoise.com/
Nadler Response
Dear Mr. Michaels:
Thank you for informing me of your support of H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views.
I am pleased to inform you that I am original co-sponsor of H.R. 1913. With hate crime incidence increasingly prevalent nationwide, the bill would give the U.S. Department of Justice jurisdiction to assist states and localities in the investigation and prosecution of crimes of violence committed against individuals on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
As the Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, I played an integral role in ensuring the passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the House of Representatives. I have been an original cosponsor of the bill since its inception, have defended the legislation during debate in the Judiciary Committee, and spoke out in favor of this bill on the House floor.
I am pleased to inform you that the bill has passed the House and is currently waiting to be voted on in the Senate. Please be assured that I will continue to push for passage of this important legislation.
I appreciate the time that it takes for you to inform me of your concerns and I would like to keep you up to date on my work in Congress. I publish a periodic e-newsletter that highlights the most recent work that I’ve been doing on behalf of the people of the 8th Congressional District.
Sincerely,
JERROLD NADLER
Thank you for informing me of your support of H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views.
I am pleased to inform you that I am original co-sponsor of H.R. 1913. With hate crime incidence increasingly prevalent nationwide, the bill would give the U.S. Department of Justice jurisdiction to assist states and localities in the investigation and prosecution of crimes of violence committed against individuals on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
As the Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, I played an integral role in ensuring the passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the House of Representatives. I have been an original cosponsor of the bill since its inception, have defended the legislation during debate in the Judiciary Committee, and spoke out in favor of this bill on the House floor.
I am pleased to inform you that the bill has passed the House and is currently waiting to be voted on in the Senate. Please be assured that I will continue to push for passage of this important legislation.
I appreciate the time that it takes for you to inform me of your concerns and I would like to keep you up to date on my work in Congress. I publish a periodic e-newsletter that highlights the most recent work that I’ve been doing on behalf of the people of the 8th Congressional District.
Sincerely,
JERROLD NADLER
Childhood gender nonconformity and harassment as predictors of suicidality among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual Austrians.
Suicide Prevention Research Program, Institute for Public Health, Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. m.ploederl@salk.at
The role of childhood gender role nonconformity (CGNC) and childhood harassment (CH) in explaining suicidality (suicide ideation, aborted suicide attempts, and suicide attempts) was examined in a sample of 142 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults and 148 heterosexual adults in Austria. Current and previous suicidality, CGNC, and CH were significantly greater in LGB participants compared to heterosexual participants. After controlling for CGNC, the effect of sexual orientation on CH diminished. CGNC correlated significantly with current suicidality in the LGB but not in the heterosexual group, and only non-significant correlations were found for CGNC with previous suicidality. Controlling for CH and CGNC diminished the effect of sexual orientation on current suicidality. Bayesian multivariate analysis indicated that current suicidality, but not previous suicidality, depended directly on CGNC. CH and CGNC are likely implicated in the elevated levels of current suicidality among adult LGB participants. As for previous suicidality, the negative impact of CGNC on suicidality might be overshadowed by stress issues affecting sexual minorities around coming out. The association of CGNC with current suicidality suggests an enduring effect of CGNC on the mental health and suicide risk of LGB individuals.
Write and call your Senator to support the hate crimes legislation!
How Many More Children Must Die
This year alone, at least five middle school-aged students have committed suicide because of intense anti-gay bullying and teasing by classmates.
We must protect our youth and let them know that they can live full, productive lives as openly gay men or women. In the middle school years a child may or may not even know his sexual identity; nonetheless, bullying in these formative years takes its toll on nascent expressions of personality. This year in particular, Black youth have suffered or died, all because their peers questioned their sexual orientation or disliked their gender expression.
We need your help. We need you to join us in the fight to pass a Hate Crimes Protections Bill and for Anti-LGBT Bullying legislation.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Matthew Shepard Vote
Last week, when the House passed the Matthew Shepard Act in a bipartisan vote of 249 to 175, we moved one step closer to federal hate crimes protections.With the active support of President Obama and Attorney General Holder, we have our best chance ever to secure enactment of this important legislation.Rep. Jerrold Nadler voted "Yes", despite intense pressure from the radical right with their claims that the legislation is "pro-child molester" and makes "pedophiles a protected class." Voting "Yes" took courage. Please take 30 seconds to thank Rep. Nadler – this is just as important as the emails and calls you made before the vote!During debate over the legislation, Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) sunk to a new low when she claimed on the House floor that the brutal hate crime that took Matthew Shepard's life was a "hoax." And she said it in front of Matthew's mother. Matthew's mother Judy, a longtime champion of the legislation and an HRC board member, spoke out in the national media in response to Foxx's outrageous claim. Our lawmakers need to know that they have our full support when they stand up for equality, especially in the face of this kind of opposition. They need to know we're watching. Thank-you messages mean a lot to legislators: they show that constituents are engaged, and they make lawmakers that much more responsive when we need their help again. When you thank your representative you're not only helping us build momentum for the Matthew Shepard Act, you're laying the groundwork for the next fight. Please take 30 seconds to send your thank-you note today. Want to make even more of an impact? Make a quick call to Rep. Nadler's office at (202) 225-5635. Tell them you're calling to thank the representative for voting "Yes" on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Poll shows support for gay marriage
Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2009 6:50 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC's Harry EntenFor the first time in a nationwide survey, more Americans say they support gay marriage (49%) than oppose it (46%), according to the latest Washington Post/ABC poll.
That 49% supporting gay marriage, in fact, is a significant jump from 2004, when the Post/ABC poll found just 32% in favor.
This surge within the past month suggests that any backlash against the recent moves across the country to legalize gay marriage has yet to emerge.
Also in the new survey, a majority of Americans (53%) believe that their state should recognize gay marriages from other states.
Other recent polls have shown a similar increase in support for gay unions nationwide. The New York Times/CBS News poll released this week showed 42% of Americans supporting gay marriage -- the highest number ever recorded in that poll. This week's Quinnipiac poll, which found a majority (55%) against gay marriage, also showed 57% of Americans support civil unions.
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