Clergy press conference for MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill - MEDIA COVERAGE

The clergy press conference for the MA Transgender Equal Rights Bill was today at 11:00 a.m. at the Statehouse. This was the first ever faith-themed press conference for the bill! It was organized by ICTE with our partners MTPC, Keshet and MassEquality. It's part of Transgender Faith Action Week, which began yesterday and continues through Sunday.

(For more information about the press conference and the faith campaign for the bill, visit the media advisory we released last Wednesday:

http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/03/trangender-faith-action-week-media.html)

This blog post will collect all media coverage as it becomes available.

WWLP 22 -- NBC affiliate in Western Massachusetts

Christine Lee, Statehouse Correspondent

"Clergy supports transgender rights bill"

VIDEO (1 minute 38 seconds) & 5 PHOTOS & TEXT (transcript of video)

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/massachusetts/Clergy-supports-transgender-rights-bill

Boston Globe

Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff

"Religious leaders revive bid to pass transgender bill"

PHOTO (David L. Ryan, Globe Staff) & TEXT

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/05/religious_leaders

_revive_bid_to_pass_transgender_bill/

Change.org

Michael Jones

"Religious Leaders Push for Massachusetts Transgender Equal Rights Bill"

http://news.change.org/stories/religious-leaders-push-for-massachusetts-transgender-equal-rights-bill

Keshet filmed the press conference --

Rabbi Joseph Berman's piece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLKFU62zdvA

A Question of Faith: Queer Perspectives on the Straight & Narrow -- panel event at Boston University TONIGHT

There's a very tempting queer faith panel event at Boston University tonight! All three panelists are colleagues of mine -- Rev. Partridge and I serve together in ICTE, Rev. Monroe and Dr. Pillard and I worked together in the local GLBTQ youth movement when I was a youth.

A Question of Faith: Queer Perspectives on the Straight & Narrow

TONIGHT - Monday, April 4th, 2011

7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Sargent College -- Room (SAR) 102

Boston University

Contact: Liz Douglass, Chapel Associate for LGBTQ Students -- Lmd@bu.edu | 617.435.8792

"Can one be a spiritual person without believing in God? What does it mean to be human? What exactly is the "straight and narrow?" These questions and much more will be discussed from three unique individuals with varying beliefs. Our speakers are Rev. Irene Monroe, Dr. Pillard of BU, and Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge of Harvard University. The discussion will offer a variety of insights from the Episcopal faith, the African American experience, LGBT perspectives, transgender issues, and Atheism. It’s certainly going to be an interesting and lively discussion."

Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204097999607870

Boston University page:

http://www.bu.edu/phpbin/calendar/event.php?id=110619&cid=17&template=none