Mycroft Masada is a nonbinary trans and queer Jewish leader with 30 years of experience who moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland (Montgomery County near Washington DC) from their lifelong home of Boston in 2014. A TransEpiscopal Steering Committee member and former Congregation Am Tikva board member, Mycroft is particularly called to pursue LGBTQ+ and fat justice, and is an advocate, organizer, consultant, educator, trainer, writer and artist. They are married to Julia McCrossin, the mas(s)culine fatshion blogger, and with her they co-parent a dogter. Their central online home is MasadArts.blogspot.com.


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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Guardian (United Kingdom) article re: transgender clergy & more, in US and UK

Today the Guardian (United Kingdom -- England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) newspaper published Becky Garrison's article "Trans clergy are finally gaining greater acceptance (As we approach Transgender Faith Action Week, progress can be seen in attitudes to trans people within the church)".

(The Manchester Guardian is one of England's national newspapers, first published in 1821. The Guardian is affiliated and shares offices and a website with the Observer, another English newspaper, first published in 1791 -- the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world.)

ICTE and lots of other Massachusetts awesomeness is included -- including Rev.s Cameron Partridge and Christopher Fike, the MA diocesan bishop, the local history of Transgender Day of Remembrance, and Transgender Faith Action Week!

Warning -- alas, many of the comments are NSFS (not safe for sanity).


Trans clergy are finally gaining greater acceptance

As we approach Transgender Faith Action Week, progress can be seen in attitudes to trans people within the church


Last week, the Rev Dr Christina Beardsley, vice-chair of Changing Attitude, a network of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual members of the Church of England, was one of the voicesfeatured on 4Thought.tv's week of short films featuring trans people and faith.

While the US Episcopal church developed a maverick reputation within the Anglican communion for blessing same sex marriages and ordaining gay and lesbian clergy, the House of Bishops of the General Synod of the Church of England's report Some Issues in Human Sexuality, issued in 2003, contained a chapter titled "Transsexualism". Currently, one can find about a half dozen trans clergy in the UK and US. These numbers are imprecise, as some clergy do not wish to go public beyond the scope of their individual parish or diocese – a concern that's understandable given that the trans community seldom receives even the legal protections afforded gays and lesbians .

Beardsley, who was ordained for 23 years prior to her transition in 2001, observes that "some within the Church of England feel the issue of trans clergy has been settled" by citing such cases as the Rev Carol Stoneand the Rev Sarah Jones. However, she says: "Not all trans clergy have been supported by their bishop, as these two priests were, and some have been excluded from full-time ministry because of Church of England opt-outs from UK equality legislation."

During the 2008 Lambeth conference, a decennial gathering of Anglican bishops, Beardsley organised a panel titled "Listening to Trans People". While only four bishops attended this gathering, it represented the highest number of bishops to participate in an Inclusive Network to date. Also, this panel helped consolidate Changing Attitude's networking with Sibyls, a UK-based Christian spirituality group for trans people, and the US-based online community TransEpsicopal.

The Rev Dr Cameron Partridge, interim Episcopal chaplain and lecturer at Harvard University, served on this panel as the sole US representative. He transitioned in 2002 during his ordination process and has been an instrumental player in guiding the passage of four resolutions supporting trans rights during the US Episcopal church's2009 general convention.

The Rev Vicki Gray, a Vietnam vet before her transition, and currently a deacon with an emphasis on ministry to the homeless, noted that their goals at general convention were to assert that we exist as flesh-and-blood human beings, to demonstrate that we are here in the church as decent and devout followers of Jesus Christ, and to begin the process of education and dialogue that will lead to full inclusion in the life of the church, not only of the transgendered but of other sexual minorities such as the inter-sexed (known to some as hermaphrodites).

Following the murder of trans rocker Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts, in 1998, a vigil held in her honour became the impetus behind the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual event held on 20 November. Even though this day to reflect and remember those who have been killed by anti-transgender hatred or prejudice is not a religious service, in 2010 memorial services were held for the first time at Episcopal cathedrals in Boston and Sacramento.

The Rev Christopher Fike, vicar of Christ Episcopal Church in Sommerville, Massachusetts, who transitioned in 2003 after having served in a fairly high-profile position as a female cleric, believes that moving this memorial to the cathedral signifies that the church views this as a justice issue. He says: "The more we normalise people who are outside the typical in their gender expression, the more room there is for that range of expression. We no longer have to hide our real identity from the church."

The Rt Rev M Thomas Shaw, SSJE, Bishop of Massachusetts, admits that ordaining and providing pastoral oversight to trans clergy proved to be a life-changing experience for him. Initially, he struggled with the idea and the reality of having trans clergy until he saw they were doing the same ministry as everyone else.

From 3-10 April, Transgender Faith Action Week will be held in the Boston area in the hope of bringing forth faith leaders from different traditions to increase awareness of the trans community in religious circles. Partridge, one of the organisers, says: "We call upon the church to consider carefully its vision of theological anthropology, its theological vision of the human person. How does gender factor into our conception of the human?" After all, in Genesis 1:26, God created ha-adam, a nonsexual term that means "human being". Then, after he created humanity, she declared that it all was "very good".

ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) reintroduced

ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) was reintroduced today. Here's MTPC statement (http://www.masstpc.org/?p=1325):

March 30, 2011

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Applauds Representative Barney Frank for introducing a transgender inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

Boston, MA [03.30.11]— The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) applauds Massachusetts’ own Representative Barney Frank for introducing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) at a Capitol Hill news conference.

This ENDA is the same bill as introduced in 2009. The language is fully inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. In the past, the bill has received support from the public (90% of Americans are in favor of equal employment rights for LGBT individuals) and President Obama.

“This bill is absolutely necessary for the transgender community,” said MTPC Executive Director Gunner Scott. “It affects transgender youth, adults, and their families. No one should feel they have to hide who they are for fear of being fired from their place of employment. When people are not treated fairly and equally, we all suffer.”

The National Transgender Discrimination Survey, conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, shows rampant employment discrimination for transgender individuals, with 76% of survey respondents reporting that they experienced harassment or mistreatment on the job. In addition, MTPC frequently intakes calls from community members who have either experienced discrimination, or are fearful that they may lose their job if they come out to their employer.

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About MTPC: The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. MTPC works for a world where persons of all genders are treated with respect and fully participate in all areas of society, free from fear of prohibition, harassment or violence based on their gender identity and/or expression. Its members educate the public, advocate with state, local, and federal government, engage in political activism, and encourage empowerment of community members through collective action.

Trangender Faith Action Week - MEDIA ADVISORY

MTPC and ICTE released this media advisory today:

Contact: Mycroft Holmes
617.778.0519
InterfaithCoalition@gmail.com

MEDIA ADVISORY
FAITH LEADERS TO SPEAK OUT FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY
Boston, MA
March 30, 2011

The Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE) is holding a press conference on Monday, April 4th, 2011. The press conference will take place at the Massachusetts Statehouse at 11:00 a.m. in Hearing Room B2.

The press conference will be led by the Reverend Dr. Cameron Partridge, an openly transgender man and Episcopal priest who received his doctorate from Harvard Divinity School and is currently serving at Harvard as Interim Episcopal Chaplain, Denominational Counselor for Episcopal students at the Divinity School, and a Lecturer at the Divinity School and in the Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality. Rev. Partridge has served in urban parish, young adult internship, divinity school and college chaplaincy settings; focusing on poverty, sexuality and gender.

Featured speakers include:

The Rt. Reverend M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, Bishop Diocesan. Bishop Shaw was consecrated the 15th bishop of Massachusetts in 1995 and is well known for his advocacy for equality, peace and justice, as well as his leadership and involvement with Evangelism programs for young adults.

Rabbi Joseph Berman, the spiritual leader of Temple B’nai Israel in Revere. Originally from Kansas, Rabbi Berman received his BA from Wesleyan University and rabbinical ordination from Hebrew College (Newton, MA). He has worked in Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist synagogues, on college campuses, and with Interfaith Community Boston; and has been an educator, community organizer, and farmer.

Sean Delmore, an openly transgender man, is the Assistant Minister at College Avenue United Methodist Church (Somerville) and a member of Cambridge Welcoming Ministries (United Methodist), and is pursuing ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. A graduate of Bates College and Boston University’s School of Theology (MTS, Sociology of Religion), Sean is a member of BU’s School of Theology Alumni Board, as well as a member of the New England chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action and Program Coordinator MIT’s Rainbow Lounge (offering support for GLBT students).

Faith leaders are standing up and speaking out in support of the passage of An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights, which amends Massachusetts’ non-discrimination laws and hate crime statues to protect transgender youth, adults, and families from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

Thirteen states and more than 132 cities and counties nationwide have already passed similar non-discrimination laws and have implemented them successfully.

The Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality is also organizing Transgender Faith Action Week during April 3rd – 10th to demonstrate that the Massachusetts faith community largely supports transgender equal rights, and wants to see this vital legislation passed this session.

For more information please visit http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com or contact Mycroft Holmes at 617.778.0519 or InterfaithCoalition@gmail.com.

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Founded in 2007, the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality is a gathering of clergy and lay leaders that organizes the Massachusetts faith community in support of transgender social justice. As the interfaith partner of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), ICTE focuses on faith-based work in support of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill.