LDS Church turning away from Gay congregants

A Plea for Reconciliation

Although I am not a member og the LDS I would like to sign the petition for reconciliation. I was deeply affected by the incredible outcry of LDS members who visited my blog in disbelief after prop 8 was passed.

Parents caring for infants from the inner sanctum of the LDS walls, became fear stricken. Bewildered they visited planetransgender in the thousands with hopes of understanding WHY was I publishing Church addresses? WHY were there mobs of angry people just outside their church doors?

In their church sponsored ignorance they cradled their babies fearful of the future and suddenly the walls seemed to tremble. Tragically soon some will hold there children again and cry out in anguish WHY? WHY did my church spurn my child, my life, my hope? My child full of love now lays lifeless and we are destitute without his love.

These losses I mourn from far away and yet today the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints walk further distant, turning their backs, cold and silent as the mountain peaks.

All I can offer today is this tiny voice asking for reconciliation. I ask the LDS to please, step back towards your children, your hope. Today.

RECONCILIATION PETITION REQUEST TO THE FIRST PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Salt Lake Tribune Is LDS Church taking a step back on gay issues

STATISTICS COMPARING UTAH WITH THE U.S. GENERAL POPULATION report says Utah students attempt suicide less than their peers nationally-- 7 percent versus 8 percent.

Now the bad news: The actual rate of suicide in Utah is much higher than the national average.

Of the 15 to 24 year olds who died in 1997, 20 percent killed themselves. That makes suicide the state's second-leading single cause of death behind car accidents.

Brittany Novotny Challanging Sally Kerns in Oklahoma District 84 Race

Transgender woman Brittany Novotny, a lawyer from Oklahoma says its time for legislative action on issues not addressed by incumbent Sally Kerns in her past three terms. Ms. Novotny does not wish that her transgender identity be the focus of the election but recognizes that Kern's hate inspiring diatribes are a contributing factor in her decision to run.

KSBI-TV "Rep. Sally Kern thinks Brittany Novotny has chosen to run against her because Kern is known for her anti-gay comments. And Novotny says she's right."

"The way that plays into it, I feel like she's been in the legislature focusing on issues like that that aren't really facing Oklahoma voters right now," said Brittany Novotny, District 84 Candidate."



Brittany Novotny facebook
Follow on Twitter brittanyokc

Brittany Novotny official web site http://brittany4hd84.com/

Freedom to marry under attack in Maine.

An important message sent on behalf of No on 1 - Protect Maine Equality Campaign

Freedom to marry under attack in Maine.
The freedom to marry is under attack in Maine. We need your help!In less than six weeks, Maine voters will decide on a statewide referendum that could deny same-sex couples the freedom to marry. As usual, anti-gay extremists are doing everything they can to strip LGBT people of this fundamental right. Despite their efforts, polls show the election is very close.But with so much at stake, the No On 1 campaign in Maine needs every one of us to pitch in and make sure that voters in Maine hear from us. It's time to hit the phones!Sign up here to be part of the September 27th Maine Day of Action.

On Sunday, September 27, join thousands of volunteers from across the country who are calling Maine voters.
All you need is a phone and a computer with an internet connection. No long distance fees, no dialing – the web-based software does it all. But it can't sign you up! So do it – sign up here and dial for freedom.
For the past five years, the Task Force has been working side-by-side with our partners in Maine to prepare for this moment. Learn more about our work in Maine.

Relgious broadcaster (NRB) Only opposing voice to ENDA HR 3017

House Labor and Education Committee testimony establishes systemic State and Local governmental discrimination against LGBT people and disproves claims that religious right wing would be unfairly targeted.

Mr Parshell who represents NRB "Christian broadcasters" testified that HR 3017 would would unfairly subject the profit and not for profit religious radio stations his organization represents to additional litigation. Mr. Parshell stated he represents a wide diversity of faith communities presumably hoping to present religion as a whole as being opposed to ENDA.

ENDA uses the time proven tittle 7 scope to protect religious organizations. In 1998 the FCC ruled to cover religious broadcasters be they non profit or for profit.

Rabbi David Saperstein testified that ENDA enjoys a wide support of religious organizations.

MR. Miller, Chairman of the Labor and Education Committee, after hearing Vandy Beth Glenn recounting how she was summarily dismissed from her Georgia State job for being transgender breathed hard and said "We need this law."

Professor William Eskridge testified passionately that his dismissal at the University of Virginia was due to his sexual orientation. The irony of Professor Eskride testimony was that while being summarily dismissed at the University of Virgina the belief at that time in Congress was that LGBT people were degenerates, sexual predatory and prone to be disruptive of civil proceeding! That belief was substantiated by testimony in committee much like the current testimony debunking those same beliefs.

Federal Communications Commission 1998 News Release
FCC MODIFIES EEO ENFORCEMENT FOR RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS
The FCC said that religious broadcasters may establish religious belief or affiliation as a job qualification for all station employees.

NRB Press Release September 23, 2009NRB SAYS GAY RIGHTS BILL WILL "CRIPPLE" FAITH BASED GROUPS

Rabbi David SapersteinNewsweek’s 2009 list as the most influential rabbi in the country



Witnesses:

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

Hon. Stuart J. Ishimaru
Acting Chairman
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

William Eskridge
John A. Garver Professor of Jurisprudence
Yale Law School

Vandy Beth Glenn
fired from her Georgia state legislative job when she told her supervisor she was transitioning from male to female

Camille Olson
Partner
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Craig Parshall
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
National Religious Broadcasters Association

Rabbi David Saperstein
Director
The Religious Action Center

Brad Sears
Executive Director
Williams Institute
UCLA School of Law

by kelli Anne Busey September 23, 2009

H.R. 3017 ENDA, LIVE Committee Web Cast Sept 23

Watch live [CLICK HERE] via web cast today's hearing on ENDA in the Committee on Education and Labor. You can watch it live beginning at 10am on the committee's website by clicking on the link above and then selecting "Live Webcast" on the page. NCTE's staff is at the Capitol right now to attend the hearing.

Behind the wittiness's you may see Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies member Reverend Allyson Robinson and behind her is Mara Keisling of the NCTE.

One of the witnesses, Vandy Beth Glenn, was fired from her job for being transgender. We can all support her by making sure that congressional offices are hearing from others, like Vandy Beth, who are standing up for justice and equality.

We need to involve as many people as possible to make sure members of Congress hear us loud and clear about the urgency of passing ENDA.

Thanks to
National Center for Transgender Equality

Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) Fundraiser

The TTPC will hold it's fifth annual fundraiser on Saturday, October 17, 2008, 7 pm at the Holy Trinity Community Church. The keynote speaker will be Jeanne Richardson
State Representative (pictured right). Representative Richardson is a proponent of LGBT equality and has recently sponsored the House Hate Crimes (HB335) and Birth Certificate (HB334) Bills.

Details and a RSVP may be found at the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition web page.