Christian Affirmation Declaration Refutes Infamous Manhattan declaration

The Affirmation Declaration is a statement that expresses the convictions of Christians all over the world. It was written in response to the now famous Manhattan Declaration, to correct egregious errors contained in the document, errors that have been preached in the pulpits of many local churches for far too long.
With the growing notoriety and support for the Manhattan Declaration, our Affirmation Declaration reflects an urgent need to respond to the portion of the Manhattan Declaration dealing with issues related to sexual orientation—specifically, homosexuality and same-sex marriage. We strongly disagree with the contention that same-sex attractions and the oft-resulting romantic activities are immoral.
Because of the large number of people affected by this serious issue one way or the other, we felt it expedient to respond formally, both by submitting our Declaration to the drafters of the Manhattan Declaration, as well as by releasing our Declaration to the public, allowing Christians to show their support for love and affirmation, just as so many have shown their support for the propagation of false doctrines of oppression and inequality against the GLBTI (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Intersex) community.
We also desire to let the world know that not all Christians are locked in what we believe to be an ancient worldview regarding homosexuality. We want to give people hope—hope to know that God loves them just as they are; hope to know that their gay loved ones are not destined for Hell; hope to know that although some Christian churches will never accept them or their same-sex unions, a great many will.
May the signatures we garner serve as a fire that will never burn out, lighting the way through the darkness of bad theology, and setting Christ's Church back on the right track as it relates to matters of sexual and gender orientation, and gender identity.

Sign The Declaration • Spread The Fire
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
John 13:34-35

McDonald's tells applicant Zikerria Bellamy: "We do not hire faggots."

TLDEF press relese

New York, New York — Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund today filed a Complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations against an Orlando McDonald's restaurant for refusing to hire 17-year-old Zikerria Bellamy because she is transgender.

On July 10, 2009, Ms. Bellamy applied online for a job at a McDonald’s restaurant in Orlando, Florida. On July 28, after managers at McDonald’s learned that Zikerria is transgender, she received a voicemail message from one of the managers telling her, "You will not get hired. We do not hire faggots." She was never allowed to interview for a job. Read the press release at transgenderlegal.org

Belize: Protect Student Jose Garcia from Discrimination and Expulsion

Join the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) in calling on the Ministry of Education of Belize and other authorities to take legal action to ensure that Jose Garcia is not prevented from attending school because of his sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression and to protect him from harassment and discrimination.
Expelled!
On October 1 and 5, 2009, Jose Garcia, a 19-year-old student at Baptist School of Adult and Continuing Education in Belmopan, Belize, received letters from the school threatening to dismiss him is because "he acts like a girl," "dresses effeminately," "uses the female bathroom," and "carries a purse as his school bag." On October 20, Jose received a letter from the school principal, Norman Willacey, asking that Jose withdraw from the school and seek counseling. Later, he told Jose, "You have me so embarrassed. I don't want to see you here in the compound. If you [don't] leave right now I will call the police!"
Authorities seem to be unwilling to act to protect Jose Garcia's right to education. The Public Information Officer of Belmopan, Arlette Gomez, has stated that it is their aim to ensure that Mr. Garcia's constitutional rights are not being infringed upon and that the guidelines of the Education Act and Rules are being followed. The Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, has also stated that the school is "bound to follow the constitution, otherwise anybody can take them to court." Nonetheless, the Minister has offered no concrete protection for Jose Garcia, stating that "it is a Baptist High School, there is not much the Ministry can do."
"I am not hurting anybody because of the way I dress."- José García
Discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in education systems is a serious problem all over the world that has not been addressed at all. Harassment, mistreatment, violence, and other human rights violations threaten students' physical or emotional well-being, influence how well students do in school, make it difficult for students to achieve their career goals, and excludes thousands of students all over the world entirely from education systems.
All people have the right to education under international human rights law without discrimination based on, and taking into account sexual orientation and gender identity (Yogyakarta Principle 16). Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention against Discrimination in Education, all of which Belize is party to, ensure the right to education of all. Additionally, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention Against Torture (CAT), and the ICESCR are explicitly interpreted to include protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity (Human Rights Committee: Toonen v. Australia; Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights General Comment 20; Committee Against Torture General Comment 2).
Furthermore, the right to education without discrimination exists in Belize law as well. The preamble to the Belize Constitution states that "a just system should be ensured to provide for education and health on the basis of equality," and the Education Act dictates that "[s]chools shall be free of gender, racial and other biases (Art. 25 (2))." Jose Garcia's rights to education and non-discrimination under international and Belize law are being violated by his expulsion, threatening all other rights underpinned by equal access to education, including his right to work, to housing, and to health.

Send a message »
Please send your letters to:
Sr. Patrick Faber
Minister of Educationemail: http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=moeducation.moes@gmail.com
Sr. Wilfred Elrington
Attorney Generalemail: http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=agministrybze@yahoo.com
Sr. Elvin Pender
Minister of Youth, Sports, Information and Broadcastingemail: http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info@pressoffice.gov.bz
Sr. Simeon Lopez
Mayor of Belmopanemail: http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bmpcitco@btl.net
Sra. Arlette Gomez
Public Information Officer of Belmopanemail: http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Arlette.gomez@moe.gov.bz
Please send a copy to:
Caleb Orozco
UNIBAMemail: http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=orozco.caleb@gmail.com
Fernando D'Elio
IGLHRCemail: http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=fdelio@iglhrc.orgemail: http://us.mc456.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=communications+action.alert@iglhrc.org
Sample Letter
Mr. Patrick FaberMinister of Education of Belize
Minister Faber:
I am writing to express my deep concern over the expulsion of Jose Garcia, a 19-year-old student, from Baptist School of Adult and Continuing Education in Belmopan on October 30, 2009 because of his perceived gender identity and sexual orientation. I call on you to protect his and all students' right to education without bias or discrimination.
All people have the right to education, under international human rights law, without discrimination based on, and taking into account sexual orientation and gender identity (Yogyakarta Principle 16). Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention against Discrimination in Education (CDE), all of to which Belize is a party, ensure the right to education to all. Additionally, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention Against Torture (CAT), and the ICESCR are explicitly interpreted to include protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity (Human Rights Committee: Toonen v. Australia; Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights General Comment 20; Committee Against Torture, General Comment 2).
The right to education without discrimination exists in Belize law as well. The preamble to the Belize Constitution states that "a just system should be ensured to provide for education and health on the basis of equality" and the Education Act dictates that "[s]chools shall be free of gender, racial and other biases (Art. 25 (2))." Jose Garcia was threatened and expelled by his school simply because he was perceived to be too "feminine" with no remedy or protection. A bias-free educational system cannot support such discrimination.
Discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in educational systems is a serious problem that needs to be addressed at all levels. Harassment, mistreatment, violence, and other human rights violations threaten students' physical or emotional well-being, influence how well students do in school, make it difficult for students to achieve their career goals, and excludes thousands of students all over the world entirely from education systems.
We respectfully request that:
The state ensure that Jose Garcia can return to his school or any other where he feels safe and protected from harassment and discrimination to complete his education.
The state lead and conduct programs and campaigns to sensitize principals, teachers, students, and others involved into the education system on the issues of sexual orientation and gender identity as well as discrimination based on those grounds, to allow all young people to learn a tolerant, non-discriminatory environment.
We trust you will treat this request with the attention it deserves.
Sincerely,
Name:Organization:Country:E-mail address:
Send this letter »

DC Passes on Catholic Threats and OK's Gay Marriage

Ohio Celebrates 3 Transgender Victories! Cleveland, Akron and Summit County Pass Non-Discrimination Ordinances

Last night, Cleveland City Council voted 21 - 0 to protect against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on gender identity and expression. Akron voted 10 - 2 to do the same based on both sexual orientation and gender identity and Summit County voted 11 - 1 to pass a countywide ordinance protecting against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Thanks to all the advocates and coalitions who have worked long and hard to see these much needed protections finally included in municipal law!

We encourage Cleveland, Akron and Summit County citizens to thank their councilpersons. You can find Cleveland councilpersons' contact information at www.clevelandcitycouncil.org. Akron councilpersons' contact information at http://www.akroncitycouncil.org/Find_your_Councilperson/ and Summit County councilpersons' contact information at http://www.co.summit.oh.us/council/index.htm

Sylvia's Place NYC LGBT Youth Shelter Annual Holiday Benefit Drive

PLEASE SAVE THESE DATES!

I hope this finds us all having survived the Thanksgiving holiday
relatively unscathed, but it is time to get down to some serious
issues...... and serious parties!.

Tuesday December 15 @ The Phoenix
Thursday December 17 @ Nowhere Bar

These are the dates for our annual food and clothing drives and
holiday parties for the benefit of Sylvia's Place, the emergency
shelter for homeless transgender, gay and lesbian youth in New York
City.

I think anyone who reads my posts and blogs is aware of the homeless
TLGB youth crisis in New York. Sylvia's Place has been doing the best
it can for many years now, but they are in seriously bad shape this
year with the city having pulled the major portion of their funding.
Sylvia's now operates only with the help of people like you.

THESE HOMELESS TLGB KIDS ARE HANGING BY A THREAD AND NEED YOUR HELP!

Desperately and urgently needed this year:

Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Personal hygiene products
Warm socks
Cold and Flu medicines-generics and store brands are fine
Basic first aid supplies
Canned and boxed food goods
Coats,jackets, and gloves-used and clean is fine
Hats and caps-used and clean is fine
Scarfs-used and clean is fine
Blankets-used and clean is fine

You can help our TLGB family, our kids, by donating any of the above
AND enjoy some great parties at the same time! Bring your items to:

Tuesday Dec. 15 @ The Phoenix
W. 13th Street btw. 1st Ave and Ave A
9 PM

Thursday Dec. 17 @ Nowhere Bar
322 E. 14th Street btw.1st and 2nd Aves
9 PM

We will make sure your donations get delivered to Sylvia's Place
promptly AND you can enjoy all the great Holiday spirit, great people,
and John's famous party food! (he's an awesome chef!) These parties
are NOT to be missed!

Can't make the parties? Not in the NYC area? That's a major bummer
and you'll certainly be missed, but you can still contribute and
donate to Sylvia's Place. You can send a small check or money order
to Sylvia's OR ship your donations there!

All donations are tax deductible and can be shipped directly to:

Homeless Youth Services

Checks and money orders should be made payable to
M.C.C.N.Y.Y. S

Sylvia's also accepts Pay Pal.
http://www.homeless youthservices. org/Generalpaypa l.html

AND DON'T FORGET THE BEST HOLIDAY GET TOGETHER OF ALL!
Christmas Night, Dec. 25, John Williams of the Nowhere Bar (and now
Phoenix as well--congrats John!) and I will be cooking dinner again
for the kids at Sylvia's and YOU'RE INVITED!

Last year was a very special time, not only for the kids at Sylvia's,
but for all the sisters and friends who dropped by to spend a few
moments with our TLGB family. Ina, Hedda Lettuce, many of the members
of Crossdressers International and representatives and friends from
the NYPD all came by. it was a great night for us all, and I hope you
can all manage to come by for a visit and bite to eat. More details on
will follow.

Questions? Write me. Or phone: 914.457.5925

Let's ALL make this a wonderful Holiday Season for all of us, but
especially our younger brothers and sisters.

Mona Rae Mason

Trans Events USA. org
monaraemason.com

Metropolitian Community Church, New York, NY.

NY Times Giving Shelter: Portraits of Young Lives in Limbo