Interfaith transgender panel - Harvard University Hillel - THIS WEDNESDAY!

There's going to be an interfaith transgender panel at Harvard University's Hillel this Wednesday (April 27th)! I will be one of the panelists, along with my colleagues Rev. Cameron Partridge, Laurie Wolfe, and Jamez Terry. All are welcome!!! (You don't need to be a Harvard affiliate.) Please join us!

Mycroft Masada Holmes is a transgender leader specializing in faith, religion and spirituality. Mycroft is Chair of the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE) and Chair of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition’s (MTPC) Training Committee, as well as Emeritus Founding Chair of Keshet’s Transgender Working Group (TWiG) and a board member of Congregation Am Tikva. Mycroft was a member of an Episcopal church which closed, and has been “church shopping”. Mycroft is also committed to working for fat / size acceptance.

Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge is the Interim Episcopal Chaplain and a Lecturer who has taught courses in WGS and at the Divinity School. Cameron is a transgender man who transitioned at Harvard as a doctoral student in 2002 and was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in 2005. He has for several years contributed to ongoing conversations on LGBT issues in The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. As a founding member of the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality, he is also working to bring transgender and trans-supportive people of faith into public conversations, particularly on pending local and national transgender nondiscrimination legislation.

Laurie Wolfe is an activist, educator and speaker on gender and trans issues. She volunteers with Keshet, a Boston-based organization that works for full inclusion of LGBTQ people in Jewish life, and co-chairs their Greater Boston Steering Committee and Trans Working Group (TWiG). She also volunteers with MTPC, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and SpeakOut Boston, the lgbt speakers bureau. Laurie worked most recently as a fundraiser for non-profit organizations. Her spiritual path has led her from Hatha and Bhakti Yoga to Hindu practices and Shamanic teachings. She is in the process of learning more about what being Jewish is about thanks to her Keshet family. Her current spiritual practice combines prayer, meditation, writing and chanting.

Jamez Terry is an MDiv candidate in the Unitarian Universalist tradition at Harvard Divinity School. He is also the founder and organizer of the Tranny Roadshow and has spent the past 6 years bringing trans performance art to communities throughout North America. He is very interested in the intersections of gender identity and religious identity and in bringing trans communities into conversation with communities of faith. He works at the First Parish in Milton and lives in Somerville with his wife and son.

*******

How did you realize you're transgender?

What does transphobia look like?

Trans people can be in the clergy?

How does your religion affect your identity?

What does it feel like to grow up trans?

What does "transgender" really mean, anyway?

Transforming Faith: Experiencing Religion and Gender Identity

Wondering about gender identity and faith? Come hear transgender speakers of various religions discuss these questions and others. Speakers will talk about their personal experiences being trans people of faith and reflect upon the influences their religions and gender identities have had on their lives. There will be time for an open Q&A, so bring any questions you have!

When: Wednesday, April 27th, 6-7 pm
Where: Smith Hall, Harvard Hillel
52 Mt. Auburn St.

RSVP on facebook

Co-sponsored by the Progressive Jewish Alliance, BAGELS, Interfaith Council, Harvard College QSA, Trans Task Force, Harvard Secular Society, Harvard Buddhist Community, and other campus religious groups TBA.

"Transgender Health and Human Rights" event at Harvard School of Public Health TOMORROW

Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122679107810171

The members of the Queer Student Alliance and Women, Gender and Health from Harvard School of Public Health (with the support of The Office of Diversity, HMS Kinsey 2-6ers, and Center for Population Research in LGBT Health at The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health) would like to invite you to the major event in our Spring Speaker Series for 2011!

What: Transgender Health and Human Rights: An evening of thought

provoking speakers, panel discussion, and food

When: Wednesday, April 20th

Time: 5:30pm - 8:00pm - (a hot dinner will be served from 5:15pm)

Where: Kresge Building (G3) - Harvard School of Public Health, 677

Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA (map attached)

After: Social event to be arranged in the Longwood area following the event

Our speakers:

• Pauline Park, PhD – New York based transgender rights activist

• Kerith Conron, ScD, MPH – health disparities researcher from

the Institute on Urban Health Research, Northeastern University

A dynamic panel features:

• Norman Spack, MD from the Gender Management Service from

Boston Children’s Hospital

• Ruben Hopwood, MDiv, PhD candidate, Coordinator of the

Transgender Health Program at Fenway Health

• Gunner Scott, Executive Director, Massachusetts Transgender

Political Coalition (MTPC)

Popular & American Culture Associations conference begins today

My partner Julia McCrossin and her colleague Lesleigh Owen co-chair the Fat Studies area of the Popular & American Culture Associations, and have done so for the last few years. They're attending the annual national PCA / ACA conference, which begins today and continues through Saturday; this year it's in San Antonio, Texas. Nesia tova (bon voyage), mazel tov and thank you, Julia and Lesleigh! May you have a wonderful week.

Fat Studies area CFP (call for papers):

http://masadarts.blogspot.com/2010/10/popular-american-culture-associations.html

Conference website:

http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/national.php

Fat Studies presentations:

9127 Fat Identities and Embodiment: RC-Salon K, 3 PM, 4/20/2011

9128 Fatness in Politics and the Academy: RC-Salon K, 4:45 PM, 4/20/2011

9129 Representations of Fat in Popular Culture: RC-Salon K, 11:30 AM, 4/21/2011

9130 “Fat” Gets Defined and Reworked in the Public Sphere: RC-Salon K, 8 AM,

4/22/2011

9131 Bodies Writ Large: Size Politics in Media: RC-Salon K, 1:15 PM, 4/20/2011

9132 Marking Bodies: Fatness and Race/Ethnicity: RC-Salon K, 8 AM, 4/21/2011

9133 Roundtable: How Do We Start Talking and Teaching about Fat Studies in the Academic World?: Sharing Anti-Fat Ignorance and Bigotry Strategies in the

Classroom: RC-Salon K, 8:15 PM, 4/21/2011

9134 Documentary: The Fat Body (In)visible: RC-Salon G, 8:15 PM, 4/20/2011

9135 One Size Does NOT Fit All: Size Acceptance using an Expressive Arts

Therapeutic Approach: RC-Salon K, 9:45 AM, 4/21/2011

9127 -- Fat Identities and Embodiment

Session Chair: Lesleigh Owen, Chaffey College

Fat Orientations: Size, Space, and Sexuality

Jackie Wykes, University of Melbourne

Fat Beauty and the Studio Nude

Leah Sweet

Fighting Fat: Phat Politics and Feminist Identity

Portia Barker, University of Maryland, College Park

Living the Fat Body: Embodiment through Poetry

Lesleigh Owen, Chaffey College

9128 -- Fatness in Politics and the Academy

Session Chair: Hannele Harjunen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Fatness and the Construction of Neoliberal Bodies

Hannele Harjunen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Health at Every Size and the Body Image / Eating Relationship: Policy

Implications

Laura Jennings, University of South Carolina Upstate

Using Storytelling Pedagogies to Combat Weight Bias in Adult Learners

Heather Brown, Northern Illinois University/Lake Forest College

9129 -- Representations of Fat in Popular Culture

Session Chair: Julia McCrossin, George Washington University

‘Bitchcraft’ – The Art of Manipulating Public Opinion through Numerous

Complaints against Marginalized Groups and How it is Now Being Used to Blame

the Fatties

Mary Stein, University of Akron

Never Trust a Skinny Chef: The Proof is in the Fat Body

Benjamin Morton, University of Iowa

Representations of Bodily and Sexual Excess in Huge and Mike & Molly

Kaitlin Clinnin, Virginia Tech

Starvation is Jewish History, Fat is a Jewish Issue

Susan Koppelman, Independent scholar

9130 -- Fat Gets Defined and Reworked in the Public Sphere

Session Chair: Jay Solomon, More of Me to Love

Challenging Sizeism-Based Marginalization: Reactive and Proactive Resistance

Strategies and How to Build a Bridge between Them

Anna Puhakka, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Obesing: The Creation of an Unhealthy Behavior

Jay Solomon, More of Me to Love

The FATSO Model: A Conceptualization of Weight Bias and Fat Acceptance

Peter Jaberg, Forest Institute

Jenny Copeland, Forest Institute

Toward an Articulation of Fat Culture in America

Margitte Kristjansson, University of California at San Diego

9131 -- Bodies Writ Large: Size Politics in Media

Session Chair: Lesleigh Owen, Chaffey College

Beyond Blubber and Fat Camps: Fat Characters as Heroes, Heroines, Romantic

Leads, and Winners in Contemporary Young Adult Fiction

Angie Manfredi, Head of Youth Services, Los Alamos County Library System

Reshaping the (M)other: Feederism in Fiction

Jocelyn Eighan

Big Fat Zero: Performing Absence Online

Kristina Gordon, University of Iowa

The Out of Body Experience of Thinness: Size-ism in Drop Dead Diva

Elka Stevens, Howard University

9132 -- Marking Bodies: Fatness and Race/Ethnicity

Session Chair: Susan Koppelman, Independent scholar

Kelligrl, the Myth, the Legend

Julia McCrossin, George Washington University

Are You Calling Me Fat?: Fatness Through a Disability Studies Lens

Ashley Fullbrook, University of Toronto

Critical Fat Studies and Black Studies at the Crossroads: Race, Respectability, and the (Intra)Politics of "Obesity”

Amanda Gilliam, Columbia University

Latino Masculinities and Fatness

Miguel Juarez, University of Texas at El Paso

9133 -- How Do We Start Talking and Teaching about Fat Studies in the Academic World?: Sharing Anti-Fat Ignorance and Bigotry Strategies in the Classroom

Session Chair: Susan Koppelman, Independent scholar

Miguel Juarez, University of Texas at El Paso

Susan Koppelman, Independent scholar

Heather Brown, Northern Illinois University/Lake Forest College

Virginia Bemis, Ashland University

Jacqueline Johnson, George Washington University

9134 -- Documentary: The Fat Body (In)visible

Session Chair: Margitte Kristjansson, University of California at San Diego

The Fat Body (In)visible

Margitte Kristjansson, University of California at San Diego

9135 -- One Size Does NOT Fit All: Size Acceptance using an Expressive Arts Therapeutic Approach

Session Chair: Deah Schwartz, Co-Founder, Education Through Therapeutic Arts (ETTA)

BAGLY's 31st Anniversary Celebration is TONIGHT

BAGLY's 31st Anniversary Celebration is TONIGHT, and I wish I was there instead of home sick again (it's just a cold, though). I usually attend this event, and donate my artwork to its silent auction. I was a youth member and leader from 1993 to 1999 (ages 17 to 23), and have been a board member and a staff member (Office Manager). The Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLY) is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs, policies and services for the GLBT youth community. BAGLY also provides weekly and monthly social activities and special events for youth ages 22 and under. These activities provide an opportunity for young people to socialize, have fun and develop a sense of personal and community identity. Now celebrating its 31st anniversary year, BAGLY is the oldest and largest organization specifically for LGBT youth in Massachusetts, and has served over 30,000 youth since its founding. Event sites (BAGLY's website, bagly.org, is being renovated): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105641726183200 https://sites.google.com/a/bagly.org/31st/home/reserve-tickets-now Last email invite: BAGLY's 31st Anniversary Celebration! BAGLY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. RECEIVE NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM BAGLY Join Our Mailing List! CONNECT WITH BAGLY Just 8 days left until BAGLY's 31st Anniversary Celebration and Auction! In just 8 short days, BAGLY will be throwing it's 31st Anniversary Celebration! Please join us as we celebrate over three decades of queer youth movement at one of Boston's most anticipated cocktail party fundraisers. Enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and an open wine/beer bar as you browse our silent auction, honor the amazing work of Beth Leventhal and The Network/La Red with our Distinguished Leadership Award and simply have fun at one of Boston's premier party venues, the Artists for Humanity Epicenter. This event is about celebrating BAGLY's amazing work, the youth that we support and generally having fun in a wonderful celebratory setting. Reserve or buy tickets today. You simply can't miss Boston's BEST party of the spring! WHEN: Thursday, April 14th, 2011, 6-8 pm. WHERE: Artists For Humanity Epicenter 100 West Second Street, South Boston, MA. TICKETS: $100 per person. Call (617) 227-4313 to reserve or reserve and buy tickets online here. If you are unable to attend but still want to support BAGLY, or want to help support BAGLY alum attend the event, pleaseclick here. Please note this event is 21+ Click here to check out the Facebook Event Page and see which of your friends are attending. --------------------- This year we are honoring Beth Leventhal, Exectutive Director and The Network/La Red with our Michael Pumphret Distinguished Leadership Award. Read more about their wonderful work below. The Network/La Red The Network/La Red was founded in 1990, and is a survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, BDSM, polyamorous, and queer communities. Rooted in anti-oppression principles, our work aims to create a world where all people are free from oppression. We strengthen our communities through organizing, education, and the provision of support services including hotline, safe home, support group, and advocacy. The Network La Red understands oppression to be an imbalance of power intrinsically linked to the privileges bestowed on some at the expense of others, based on but not limited to: race, ethnicity, gender expression and identity, class, ability, sexuality, religion, citizenship status, age, language capacity and history of incarceration and court involvement. Partner abuse exists to achieve and maintain control, and reflects and perpetuates the larger violent culture, which condones and rewards interpersonal, institutional and imperialist abuse of power in order to control and/or exploit groups of people. The Network/La Red links domestic violence to all other forms of violence, oppression and abuse, because the values and tactics behind each are identical. The Network/La Red defines anti-oppression as the beliefs, actions, and policies that aim to eliminate the imbalance of power within our society. Please take a moment to forward this information to friends, family and colleagues who may support BAGLY's programming for GLBT youth. Thank you! ABOUT BAGLY Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLY) is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs, policies and services for the GLBT youth community. BAGLY also provides weekly and monthly social activities and special events for youth ages 22 and under. These activities provide an opportunity for young people to socialize, have fun and develop a sense of personal and community identity. Now celebrating its 31st anniversary year, BAGLY is the oldest and largest organization specifically for LGBT youth in Massachusetts, and has served over 30,000 youth since its founding. QUEER. YOUTH. MOVEMENT

The Network / La Red's "Paint The Town (La) Red" event is TONIGHT

The Network / La Red's "Paint The Town (La) Red" event is TONIGHT, and I oh so wish I were there instead of home sick (it's just a cold, though); especially if my Julia could be my date. I've been a supporter and client of The Network for several years; it's a wonderful and all too small and rare organization. Founded in 1989, The Network works to end abuse in lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, SM and polyamorous communities. Especially partner abuse, including what's most commonly called "domestic violence". Another way to support them is by donating your old cell phones: http://www.thenetworklared.org/cellphone.htm.

Event websites:

http://thenetworklared.org/paint2011.htm

http://www.cluboberon.com/events/paint-town-la-red-celebration-survival

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126526064083277

First email invite:

P.O. Box 6011 | Boston, MA 02114 US

MTPC's "I AM : Trans People Speak" -- 3 new video stories, all Jewish

MTPC has added three new video stories to their "I AM : Trans People Speak" public education campaign (http://www.transpeoplespeak.org/). And because this week is Transgender Faith Action Week, all three stories are faith themed -- all three people are Jewish.

Here is MTPC's press release --

Contact Gunner Scott

617-778-0519

gscott@masstpc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Videos Highlight Transgender People and Allies Speaking About the Role of Faith in Their Lives

Boston, MA [04.08.11]— The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is excited to announce the release of three new videos as part of their ground-breaking multi-media public education campaign entitled I AM: Trans People Speak.

In conjunction with the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality’s (ICTE) Faith Action Week (beginning Sunday April 3, 2011), all three new videos share the common theme of spirituality and religion.

One newly premiered video features Stephanie, an undergraduate student who identifies as a writer, poet, and spoken word artist. Stephanie, in her search for a new spirituality, found Judaism and is currently in the process of conversion. She speaks about working with her rabbi on her conversion and the strong sense of community she has found in Reform Judaism. Stephanie talks about her temple community being loving, accepting, and welcoming people who help inform and strengthen who she is.

Another video being premiered is that of Stacey, a parent and software engineer. Having been raised in a religious Jewish household, Stacey says she feels that she shouldn’t have to give up who she is just because of her transition. Although Stacey had a good experience coming out and transitioning at her job, she found that not everyone at her synagogue was accepting. Stacey speaks about how difficult, and often scary, it can be when people do not respect your identity.

The last new video to premier on the I AM: Trans People Speak website is of David, an ally to the transgender community. David speaks about how is own identity as a gay male intertwines with his Jewish identity—as well as how the two communities intersect. David speaks about being aware of the privilege he has and how he uses that privilege to be a better ally to the trans community. He shares with us his five tips for being a better ally, and details how he, along with Keshet (a national organization that works for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Jews in Jewish life) work to welcome back people who feel like they can’t go back to their religious home.

The stories of these three individuals serve to remind that transgender people, like all people, are more than just their gender identity and expression. Transgender people, like all people, belong to a wide variety of individuals and intersecting communities.

I AM is a collection of recorded stories that aims to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions of transgender individuals by highlighting the realities of their lived experience. These voices span across a diversity of communities and intersecting identities. I AM fosters support and raises awareness for trans communities by providing a forum where these unique stories can be shared and given significance.

All three new videos were filmed and edited by Jesse Begenyi, a Boston filmmaker. Begenyi and MTPC plan to continue filming and uploading new videos to the website periodically.

For more information please visit www.transpeoplespeak.org or direct questions to info@transpeoplespeak.org.

For more information about ICTE’s Faith Action Week, please visit www.interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com.

###

About MTPC: Founded in 2001, 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.

A Night To Remember Stephanie Edwards is TOMORROW

Stephanie Lynne Edwards passed away on Saturday December 18th.

She was a member of Tiffany Club of New England, the Massachusetts Imperial Court, Congregation Am Tikva, and Keshet. She served on TCNE’s board of directors, MTPC’s Steering Committee, and the Randolph Town Meeting (there’s a Patriot Ledger

article about that from 2007); she was also part of the Randolph Country Club

community. If you know her other name, you can find her obituary. She was also

memorialized at Tiffany Club’s annual First Event conference in January.

I knew her through the Jewish and transgender communities, primarily at CAT, Keshet

and MTPC. May her memory be a blessing (as we say in Judaism).

Daphne Prideaux and Genesis of Randolph Country Club have organized a tribute event for Stephanie tomorrow, which is also a benefit for MTPC. I will be attending with two fellow MTPC Steering Committee members, and we’ll be giving a brief speech.

All are welcome – but all guests must be 21+.

A Night to Remember Stephanie Edwards

TOMORROW, Saturday, April 9th, 2011

10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. (Sunday)

Recommended arrival – 9:00 p.m.

Randolph Country Club

44 Mazzeo Drive

Randolph, MA 02368

All guests must be 21+.

$5 donation at door and raffle tickets for donated prizes all benefit the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)! There will also be giveaways, and performers from RCC and the Imperial Courts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Tiffany Club website page:

http://tcne.org/?p=4114

Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134589683278754

The Crossing's & Transcriptions' Open Mic Night is also TOMORROW!

The Crossing and Transcriptions are co-hosting another open mic night – and it’s also TOMORROW! This is part of Transgender Faith Action Week, the centerpiece of the faith campaign for the Transgender Equal Rights Bill. ICTE and its partners MTPC, Keshet and MassEquality thank The Crossing and Transcriptions for co-organizing this special event, and wish all involved an enjoyable and meaningful evening.

The Crossing is a faith community at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul (Episcopal; http://www.thecrossingboston.org/). Transcriptions is Boston’s trans and queer open mic (http://transcriptionsboston.com/).

The Crossing's & Transcriptions' Open Mic Night

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

7:30 - 10:00 p.m.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Paul

138 Tremont Street ~ Boston, MA

MBTA – Park Street station (Red & Green Lines; Orange Line by underground concourse from Downtown Crossing station)

Parking – on-street or Common Garage

Accessibility -- down a set of stairs, no elevator

Sliding-scale admission $5-10 -- benefits The Crossing's Queer & Allied Youth

Retreat (May) Bake sale -- benefits Transcriptions

MC -- Erika Musicmaker

Featured performer -- Kevin Vetiac, personal narrative in word and song; accompaniment -- Issac Everett and Penny Larson

Contact -- Transcriptions.Boston@gmail.com

The Crossing's Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174821072567949

Transcriptions' Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158318110894675

Come and perform, all performers are welcome! Slam a poem, sing a song, read a journal entry, dance, drum, express yourself in any way, whether about trans/queer issues or not. Non-performers are warmly welcomed: just come, support several a good causes, and enjoy the entertainment! This is a safe space for queer, trans, and allied folks of any faith, or of no faith.

MTPC's Lawyers For Transgender Rights event is TOMORROW!

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition's 2nd annual Lawyers For Transgender Rights event is TOMORROW!

Everyone 21+ is welcome -- you don't need to be a lawyer, law student, etc.

I'll be there and am very much looking forward to it, especially as I wasn't able to attend last year. I've donated a piece of my artwork to the silent auction.

Lawyers For Transgender Rights

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

5:30 - 11:00 p.m.

Club Cafe

209 Columbus Avenue ~ Boston

All guests must be 21+

Keynote Speaker ~ Attorney General Martha Coakley

Live Music ~ Urban Myth

Join us for a cocktail party and support a worthy cause at the same time. Lawyers for Transgender Rights will bring together lawyers, law students, law firms, legal organizations, bar associations, and law schools to network and to support MTPC's important work on behalf of the transgender community.

Ticket prices:

Admission -- $65*

Non-profit/gov't/small firm -- $35*

Student -- $15

*Includes a complimentary drink ticket; additional drink tickets can be purchased at the event.

New monthly sustainers who commit to supporting MTPC's work with a monthly financial contribution for 1 year will receive 1 ticket to LTR.

MTPC website page:

http://www.masstpc.org/events/ltr/

Facebook event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148731425178323

Questions? Liz Monnin-Browder -- Liz@MassTPC.org

Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Day is TOMORROW

Are you a UU? As in Unitarian Universalist? Then I hope u and urs can participate in the 5th annual UU Advocacy Day -- TOMORROW! Organized by UU Mass Action Network and UU Urban Ministry, it's part of the Standing On The Side Of Love campaign, and this year's theme is "Protecting Services For The Most Vulnerable". The Transgender Equal Rights Bill is one of the four bills being advocated for!

Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Day -- 5th annual

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

9:30 a.m. -- coffee at Unitarian Universalist Association headquarters

10:00 a.m. -- training starts at UUA

1:00 p.m. (after lunch) -- advocacy at Massachusetts State House

2:00 p.m. -- end of Day

RSVP / more info -- Sue at SueMassAction@gmail.com | 978.910.0190

Sign up for a $10 lunch --

https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/specialwebapp.vps?

appid=40a27221f816144b21e9f2e0d81891b8a68820b814b79fc6caf83c6a4fcf06b22f288aa4a34fa4

42a76b20a4eb1041b05bf1d315f7e8c6b1ae5283f1a64916ef

UU Mass Action Network site (where you can get the flyer, blurb and petition):

http://uumassaction.org/node/118

Flyer:

http://uumassaction.org/files/ADflyer.pdf

UU Mass Action Facebook Group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=588816254

Confirmed Speakers: Senator Jehlen (D) SECOND MIDDLESEX, Rev. Lara Hoke, Rev. Catherine Senghas, Rev Fred Small, Urban Ministry Youth, Nancy Banks, Sean Caron (Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association).

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

New England Anglican Studies Conference (Harvard Divinity School)

Where I wish I had been today (though it was good to finally have a day off) -- the Inaugural (first ever) New England Anglican Studies Conference (or as I like to call it, AngliCon ; - )), hosted by the Episcopal/Anglican Fellowship, at Harvard Divinity School.

My colleague Rev. Cameron Partridge worked very hard organizing it, and presented at it.

"The topic for the conference is “The Open Body: Anglicans Dwelling In, With, and Outside Tradition.” Highlights include a keynote address by Harvard’s R.R. Niebuhr Professor of Divinity Mark Jordan, breakout sessions on Retrieving Mystical Theology, Re-imagining Self and Other, Revising Communion, and Re-embodying Church, and a panel discussion on religion and politics with Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, President and Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School Katherine Ragsdale, and EDS Professor Susanna Snyder. A closing eucharist will be presided over by Massachusetts Bishop M. Thomas Shaw.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!"

http://hdsepisc.org/2011/03/05/inaugural-new-england-anglican-studies-conference/

Schedule:

http://hdsepisc.org/conference-schedule/

Program:

http://www.diomass.org/webfm_send/1733

Wonderful flyer:

http://www.diomass.org/webfm_send/1732