Good morning!
Thank you for your support of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill’s hearing last Wednesday, June 8th! Though shorter and sweeter than the bill's previous hearings, it was still a very challenging 8 ½ hours (1:00 – 9:30 p.m.!); but our community did an excellent job before, during and after hearing day -- especially in presenting a dozen or so themed panels of speakers.
As ICTE, we particularly want to appreciate the panel of clergy we helped organize – Rabbi Joseph Berman, Rev. Stephanie Spellers (Episcopal Church), and Rev. Sue Phillips (Unitarian Universalist Association). The faith community was also significantly represented in the 150 letters of supportive written testimony submitted to the Judiciary Committee, including Bishop M. Thomas Shaw (the diocesan bishop of the Episcopal Church). ICTE's Declaration of Religious and Faith-Based Support for the bill, with its hundreds of signatures, was also presented.
Here's MTPC’s post-hearing debrief – http://www.masstpc.org/?p=1390
And here’s the Statehouse’s video of the hearing (in two parts):
http://www.malegislature.gov/Events/EventDetail?eventId=779&eventDataSource=VideoService&videoSource=jnt
http://www.malegislature.gov/Events/EventDetail?eventId=780&eventDataSource=VideoService&videoSource=jnt
The next step is the bill’s lobby day – a week from yesterday!
As ICTE, we particularly want to appreciate the panel of clergy we helped organize – Rabbi Joseph Berman, Rev. Stephanie Spellers (Episcopal Church), and Rev. Sue Phillips (Unitarian Universalist Association). The faith community was also significantly represented in the 150 letters of supportive written testimony submitted to the Judiciary Committee, including Bishop M. Thomas Shaw (the diocesan bishop of the Episcopal Church). ICTE's Declaration of Religious and Faith-Based Support for the bill, with its hundreds of signatures, was also presented.
Here's MTPC’s post-hearing debrief – http://www.masstpc.org/?p=
And here’s the Statehouse’s video of the hearing (in two parts):
http://www.malegislature.gov/
http://www.malegislature.gov/
The next step is the bill’s lobby day – a week from yesterday!
Transgender Equal Rights Lobby Day
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
MA Statehouse ~ Grand Staircase
MTPC page:
http://www.masstpc.org/?page_
Facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.
RSVP to Rachel@masstpc.org or 617.
Please attend and invite others! We need the Statehouse to see as many supporters as possible. We particularly need visible clergy, lay leaders and other people of faith – please come vested and/or otherwise “faith flared”. If you can’t RSVP, or meet with a legislator, your presence is still very helpful and much appreciated.
If you can’t attend, MassEquality has a summary of how you can help:
http://eepurl.com/eiHWA
Best wishes for your Summer,
Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE)
http://www.
ICTE FB group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.
Faith campaign FB event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.
