Gene Robinson's Prayer Kicks off Inaugural Events

From Christianity Today magazine - Gene Robinson gives the invocation at the "We Are One" concert, which kicked off inaugural ceremonies.

President Obama, Bishop Robinson and Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies (DTAA)

HRC email received 01-17-09

"Dear kelli,

Tomorrow, in one of the most humbling honors of my life, I will deliver an invocation at the first event of inauguration week.
Though many of us were deeply upset when President-elect Obama chose Proposition 8 supporter Rev. Rick Warren to speak at his inauguration, the fact that he also invited me – a proud gay man – is a hopeful sign of our president's commitment to reach out to all Americans.
Now it's up to all of us to capitalize on this moment and ensure that President-elect Obama works for equality.
Join me in asking Obama to take the next step by supporting HRC's Blueprint for Positive Change – a roadmap for LGBT equality."~Bishop V Gene Robinson

I support HRC's roadmap to equality because it is in the best interest of the entire GLBT community.

What brought bishop Robinson into this picture above with the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies(DTAA) is the gulf of misunderstandings and ignorance of the established church about transgender and Queer issues and sensibilities. The Dallas Black Tie inc. which was hosting Bishop Robinson and presenting him with the Elizabeth Birch Award later that evening was ironically named for a former president of HRC who is credited with saying she would "include transgender people in ENDA over her dead body" .

The Dallas Black Tie Inc. presents HRC with roughly $400,000 dollars annually from this event alone. I protest HRC for inexplicably blindsiding Queer and transgender people in a backroom deal, removing us from ENDA (HR)2015 and assenting to Congressman Frank in dividing our communities human rights movement in 2007. The words Bishop Robinson and I spoke during or conversation were often foreign and left unresolved misunderstandings. In my heart of hearts
I still beleive and have personaly witnessed in our own church's how transgender people because of our highly visible hacking, beating and shooting deaths are being used by HRC as sympathy garners and a method of raising money to party at "Gala Events".

A despicable and unchristian practice.

Yes Joe Solomese and Bishop Robinson, others have also noticed.

HRC will have to prove to me by being a loyal and trustworthy advocate over time you are a worthy ally. This is a demand, not a request and is nonnegotiable.

The fact Bishop Robinson attended the Dallas Transgender event speaks volumes of the progressive nature of our Episcopal Diosese of New Hampshire and we should give accolades to Bishop Robinson for this great achievement, however we cannot assume Queer and Transgender concerns are being voiced at the table with the same passion and equity as Gay and Lesbians are by Bishop Robinson.

I personally feel that the Transgender Community has an opportunity and an obligation to step up and let ourselves be heard NOW. We can not rely on ANY central group to secure our place in history. It is up to you and me everyday in small and large ways to be the change.

Kelli Busey
Jan. 17, 2009
planetransgender

planetransgender
Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies(DTAA)

Dallas Voice : Trans community meets with Bishop Robinson

Ben Briscoe Staff Writer Dallas Voice

"Majority of those who attended ‘Conversations’ prior to Black Tie also participated in protest."

"Depending on whom you talk to, “Transgender Conversations” with openly gay Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson Saturday, Nov. 22 either provided little closure for transgender activists upset with Robinson’s previous statements or it reassured them that he is a strong trans ally."

Read more at the Dallas Voice....

Rear view mirror saying adios Dallas

The questions at the "Dallas Transgender Advocates Conversation With Bishp Robinson" were unrestricted and free flowing. Bishop Robinson with disarming candor explored many topics in depth.
The reactions I saw in our diverse transgender panel was amazing and maybe one of the most gratifying payoffs of the entire experience. Some of our panel members advocacy has artificially split our community over it's response to our removal from ENDA and sadly lengthened the span of time between contacts. It was an amazing sight as once cordial yet distant advocates were rejoined in this room by Bishop Robinson's desire for communication.

After all other questions had been asked only one remained......

What of the "Half Loaf of Bread". Sticking in everyones craw, what is the moral and spiritual justification for leaving us behind, humans who were previously fully committed allies, unprotected in home and workplace in the sights of rapist, murderers and the predatory blood thirsty jackals focus on the family and Westboro baptist church?

All panel members present had previous agonized over Bishop Robinson's response to the Dallas Voice's earlier inquiries which resulted in the half loaf response and soul searched for a way to understand Bishop Robinson's answer.

None accomplished this. Not one of us desired to be anything but beneficial to Bishop Robinson, but when our very survival is being jeopardized by rich party goers the Transgender T once again stands up, proud and brave, a tribute to Rita, Angie and countless other gender diverse dead.

Vanessa, our political expert would ask, and ask she did. Followed up by Lisa Scheps. How do we accept being left behind. How can we be docile to the gay and lesbian community as we are mowed down in the streets?

Our conversation ended without closure as we watched the taillight's of the mercedes and BMW's fade ......

....as one hotel worker I had talked to said "oh ya, you're the street people".




By Kelli Busey
Proud Transgender Woman
November 24, 2008
planetransgender

Rambling to a Far Lef T/ Invitation to Step Up

Bishop Robinson Stepping UP/an Invitation

Letters and petitions were sent to the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop, New Hampshire the only openly gay Bishop in the Anglican communion, asking him to consider how his attendance at certain social organizations fund raiser might affect transgender people. It is the belief of many transgender people that the exclusion from the national human rights movement was inhumane and his attendance would validate a sense that Transgender people were somehow less than Gays and Lesbians.

Our petitions and protests are without constraint from political and religious influence.

The response we received from Bishop Robinson took us completely off guard. Bishop Robinson asked to meet us, anywhere anytime! Well, how dare he? A religious leader of the Anglican communion willingly stepping up and taking this risk to meet? I was astounded and had to rethink how could we best respond to such a offer.

I went back to my roots at the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), and what I have learned of philosophy and faith. I considered what could be the most important out come of such a meeting?

In response to Bishops Robinson's invitation we formed the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies from previously friendly but separate people.

We all realized our need to be cohesive yet diverse and to respect each other for our common goal of lifting up the Transgender, Queer, Intersexed, Asexual and Questioning people from the sense of despair, frustration and anger we have found ourselves in since our exclusion from the national Gay and Lesbian human rights movement.

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies are now extending our hand in friendship and welcome to all. We are everything, from radical to conservative and there are no guarantees. It is a leap of faith.

Come and be part of the Conversation with Bishop Robinson on November 22 in Dallas Texas.

We are so different yet so much the same. This realization of our humanity is due to Bishop Robinson "Stepping UP!"

By Kelli Busey
Nov. 3,2008
planetransgender

Rambling to a far lef T/Stepping UP/an Invitation

Bishop Robinson Stepping UP/an Invitation

Letters and petitions were sent to the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop, New Hampshire the only openly gay Bishop in the Anglican communion, asking him to consider how his attendance at certain social organizations fund raiser might affect transgender people. It is the belief of many transgender people that the exclusion from the national human rights movement was inhumane and his attendance would validate a sense that Transgender people were somehow less than Gays and Lesbians.

Our petitions and protests are without constraint from political and religious influence.

The response we received from Bishop Robinson took us completely off guard. Bishop Robinson asked to meet us, anywhere anytime! Well, how dare he? A religious leader of the Anglican communion willingly stepping up and taking this risk to meet? I was astounded and had to rethink how could we best respond to such a offer.

I went back to my roots at the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), and what I have learned of philosophy and faith. I considered what could be the most important out come of such a meeting?

In response to Bishops Robinson's invitation we formed the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies from previously friendly but separate people.

We all realized our need to be cohesive yet diverse and to respect each other for our common goal of lifting up the Transgender, Queer, Intersexed, Asexual and Questioning people from the sense of despair, frustration and anger we have found ourselves in since our exclusion from the national Gay and Lesbian human rights movement.

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies are now extending our hand in friendship and welcome to all. We are everything, from radical to conservative and there are no guarantees. It is a leap of faith.

Come and be part of the Conversation with Bishop Robinson on November 22 in Dallas Texas.

We are so different yet so much the same. This realization of our humanity is due to Bishop Robinson "Stepping UP!"

Bishop Robinson: ‘God loves all God’s children’

By Kelli Busey
Sept. 20, 2008
planetransgender

Being a transgender woman of faith I have seen the results of exclusionary language being retained by our Churches on our gay and lesbian saints. It would be inconceivable to me to accept the proffered acceptance of churches towards transgender people and watch as our loved Lesbian and Gay family are left behind to suffer alone.
********
In a article by the Dallas Voice Sept. 18, 2008 John Write Staff Editor interviews Bishop Robinson who believes God loves all God’s children’

"V. Gene Robinson, who became the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church in 2003, will be at the Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner in November to accept the 2008 Elizabeth Birch Award. Robinson sat down with Dallas Voice recently to talk in a telephone interview about his upcoming visit and other issues."

{In this article Bishop Robinson talks about his situation as the only openly gay Bishop in the Anglican Communion and the response of the Anglican church.

Transgender Clergy were in evidence at at the recent Lambreth gathering for possibly the first time.

He also speaks about our vibrant faith community in Dallas and Fort Worth......}

The interview continues....

DV: Dallas has what is known as the largest gay church in the world. In the context of what you’re talking about, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

V.G.R.: I certainly would never hold it against someone for leaving a church that is inhospitable and unpastoral in order to find a church home that supports them in their faith journey. So I applaud MCC churches and other churches like the Cathedral of Hope. I applaud them for providing that kind of sanctuary. On the other hand, it makes me very, very sad that all of our churches, which ought to be safe places for all of God’s children, are not living up to what they’re called to be. And so I feel like my mission is to at least try to make the Episcopal Church that kind of safe place for LGBT people all over the church.


{Bishop Robinson it appears is in full contact with the LGBT Community and aware that all is not perfect in the LGBT community.......}

"DV: The chief beneficiary of Black Tie is the Human Rights Campaign, which has been criticized supporting a version of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act that didn’t include gender identity. And I understand there is a protest of the dinner planned this year by a transgender group. Can you sympathize with them, and did that play a role in your decision about whether to accept the invitation?

V.G.R.: Well, first of all, I only learned of this protest very recently. I am intending to write back to the transgender group and say that I do intend to receive the award and speak at the Black Tie Dinner, but that I would also be willing to appear, meet with, participate in an event, whatever, with the transgender community to show my support and to speak on their behalf as a fellow member of the community, the larger LGBT community. It goes back to what I said about half a loaf and a whole loaf. The Human Rights Campaign has an enormous influence in Washington, and they’ve got considerable political savvy, and the fact of the matter is that a full LGBT bill simply would not have passed. And I don’t think we always have to hold out for the full loaf before moving forward. You get what you can accomplish and then continue to work for the rest of it. If I believed that HRC was not supportive of transgender people, if I believed that they were not going to continue to work diligently to get transgender people covered under that bill, then that would be a whole different story, but I’m not of that opinion."

Dallas Voice article please Read on........

Transgender people of faith applaud Bishop Robinson's willingness to learn of and hold discussion about our connection with faith and the turmoil that has engulfed us by the actions of social organizations that affect us.


By Kelli Busey
planetransgender

Petition Asking Bishop Robinson Not to Attend Dallas Black Tie.

WE, a coalition of gender diverse people who identify as Transgender or Intersex people (including people who are also known as transgender, transsexual, intersex, and several other terms used to classify people based on being born with a condition where the gender of their mind, psyche, or soul differs from their anatomical sex at birth, or, their anatomical sex at birth was ambiguous) hereby ask that you do not lend religious credence to HRC's discriminatory and violence enabling agenda by attending or accepting the Elizabeth Birch award at the Dallas Black Tie 2008.

Petition asking that The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire, not attend the Black Tie Dinner Dallas Texas on November 22, 2008.
It is he belief of the signers that the discriminatory policies of the main benefactor of the Dallas Black Tie, the HRC, propagates violence against all of Womankind, Intersexed and gender diverse to include but not inclusive of, Transgender Men, effeminate gay men, masculine presenting Woman, Natal Woman and Transgender Woman.

It has been documented that gender discrimination has placed the United States among the leaders of gender bigotry world wide. Sexual Violence is enabled by a conception of the perpetrator that the consequences of rape and murder committed against the gender diverse is minimal or non existent.

This perceived vulnerability in the United States recently was reinforce by HRC's inexplicable and morally reprehensible betrayal as the self proclaimed advocate of the of the gender diverse during the ENDA debacle of 2007.

HRC's position, which has not been amended constitutes a daily reinforcement of this horrific policy.

It begs a question in these days of failing church attendance and disconnect, what can people of faith do to help?

By your not attending you will signal loudly to HRC that policies which are beneficial solely because of monetary gains and political expediency at the expense of the most vulnerable, are not acceptable.

By your not attending you will elevate the Anglicans standing in the eyes of the GLBT community and the entire world.

By your not attending you will contribute to the fight against violence transmitted
AIDS/HIV and other STD.

By not attending the self esteem of the gender diverse will rise and the need to validate threw risky sex will decrease.

By you not attending, those who have been cast aside by their faith will be given a ray of hope.

By not attending you will signal lawmakers to take courage and follow their moral consciousness to enact laws to protect the entire Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, Bisexual, Asexual and Transgender community.

By your not attending the Dallas Black Tie the world's diverse community will recognize your commitment and sigh in relief and bask in the glow of an affirmative, welcoming and loving Anglican Church.

Bishop Robinson, The weight of social progress now rests on your shoulders.

TO SIGN CLICK THE POST TITLE