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.

AFL-CIO Calls On California Supreme Court to Invalidate Proposition 8

For Immediate Release
March 5, 2009
Pride at Work, AFL-CIO

Miami, Florida – As the AFL-CIO Executive Council gathers in Miami this week, hearing addresses from Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis dealing with the economic crisis and its impact on workers across the country, the Executive Council has spoken up again for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers by passing a resolution, in unanimity, calling on the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8.

The resolution strengthens a previous resolution, passed in 2005 that called for the full inclusion and equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the workplace. The most recent resolution, passed yesterday, on the eve of the day that the California Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case, states that Prop 8, “ended the right to marry enjoyed by gay and lesbian couples in California and cast a cloud over the legal status of thousands of California marriages...depriving one class of citizens of rights enjoyed by all others.”

The National AFL-CIO follows the lead of the California labor movement, which has vociferously opposed the passage of Proposition 8. In July 2008, the California Federation of Labor, in a resolution introduced by Pride At Work Co-President T Santora, mandated that unions include information opposing Proposition 8 on union slate cards and other election materials. In 2006, the California Federation Labor called for an end to marriage discrimination and for marriage equality for LGBT workers. California labor unions donated millions of dollars to the campaign to defeat Proposition 8. Most recently, over 50 unions in California signed an amicus brief, calling on the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8.

“I applaud the AFL-CIO on their continuing support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers within, and outside, the Federation,” said Nancy Wohlforth, Pride At Work Co-President and AFL-CIO Executive Council Member. “Denying LGBT couples the right to marry has tremendous impact on the ability of LGBT workers to access full parity in the workplace. Many benefits that heterosexual workers take for granted, such as FMLA, sick and bereavement leave, healthcare benefits, and pension benefits are routinely denied to LGBT couples because they cannot legally marry. Invalidating Proposition 8 is the only way to bring LGBT workers in California full equality in the workplace and beyond.”

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions. The AFL-CIO union movement represents 11 million members, including 2.5 million members in Working America, its new community affiliate. Pride At Work advances the issues of importance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers within all labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, Change To Win Federation, and independent unions.

Calif. Supreme Court Hears Arguments to Overturn Prop 8

An emotional accounting of the arguments to invalidate Prop 8

by kelli Busey
March 4, 2009

Today the California Supreme Court heard arguments that the changes made to the California Constitution by a popular vote should be removed.
As thousands of opponents waited outside and hundreds of thousands nationwide watched the justice's put the opponents on the defensive as to why the changes to the constitution represented a revision as opposed to being an amendment.

What the judges were reluctant and some even refused to consider was the constitutionality of removing an 'inalienable right' that is guaranteed by the constitution from a minority by the majority. Each time this argument was brought up the judges stated that their interpretation of the law restricted by the briefs filed by the opponents, placed this argument outside consideration in this case.

This would beg the question. Is the court the proper place to revise or amend the constitution, or should it be done in full consideration by the legislature?

One Justice asked basically whats the harm if thy upheld the removal of rights from a minority? Wouldn't the minority be allowed to protest?

The ruling should be forthcoming within 90 days.

Also found are factual accounts of the prop 8 arguments on March 5, 2009

About Get Busy, Get Equal ACLU

The National Center for Lesbian Rights

AP Press Calif justices hear arguments in gay marriage case

Web Cast viewing of California Supreme Court Arguments March 5 2009

There will only be 20 seats available for the general public at the Supreme Court so where are the rest of us 20 million going to be?

Some of us will try to watch it online, but as we have experienced, the server will probably be overwhelmed and the signal lost, so here are some options.

On your computer Web Cast from Cal Channel.com starting at 9:00am PT and ending about noon PT.

West Hollywood Auditorium

Watch on the Jumbotron at the United Nations Plaza in San Francisco outside San Francisco City Hall

In California local channels

West Hollywood at L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Locations RSVP needed

MARCH 4th Californians Rally on the Eve of Justice

March forth on the eve of Justice!

There are numerous gatherings, vigils and marches scheduled for March 4 2009 which is the day before the California Supreme Court begins hearing arguments to invalidate Prop 8

There are planned events statewide. For locations, times and details visit these sites;
San Francisco Pride
SF Pride Facebook
EVE OF JUSTICE
Marriage Equality.org

To read the parties' filings and the dozens of amicus 'friend of the court' briefs filed on behalf of Civil Rights Organizations, Bar Associations, Academics, Women's Groups, Faith and Religious Groups, and many others go to www.courtinfo.ca.gov

Equality should not be put up for a popular vote.

• Prop 8 is a radical and unprecedented change to the California Constitution that puts all Californians at risk.
• Prop 8 defeats the very purpose of our constitution, which is to protect minorities and to make sure the law treats everyone equally.
• This is the first time the initiative process has successfully been used to change the California Constitution to take away a fundamental freedom from a particular group and to mandate government discrimination against a minority.
• If prop 8 is upheld, the courts will no longer have a meaningful role in protecting minority groups or women, since any decision prohibiting discrimination could be reversed by a simple majority.

By kelli Busey
March 03, 2009
planetransgender

Prop. 8 sponsors seek to nullify 18 Thousand marriages

Not satisfied with striping Americans of their constitutional rights the Prop. 8 sponsors seek to nullify 18 thousand gay marriages.
The passage of Prop 8 has ignited outrage that if allowd to stand, a popular vote nullifies a California Supreme Court ruling allowing that the State's Constitutional rights apply to all citizens. This has been expressed locally and nationwide and may further be inflamed by this recent filing.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown who has long been an opponent of Prop 8 will be filing an opposing brief on Friday.

By Kelli Busey kellibusey@yahoo.com
Dec. 20, 2008
planetransgender

California Supreme Court to Consider Lawsuits opposing Same Sex Marriage Ban

By Kelli Busey
Nov 19, 2008
planetransgender

LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer reports that the California Supreme Court has agreed to consider three lawsuits arguing that the voter approved amendment banning same sex marriage should be held as unconstitutional.
The Court also wishes to consider what effect the the amendment would have, if upheld, on the 18,000 same sex couples that wed in California prior to the November vote.
The Ca.gov site has the PDF press release and a copy of the court order.

From the Lambda Legal : The California Supreme Court has agreed to review the validity of Proposition 8 in response to a lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal,The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). The groups argue that Prop 8 is invalid because it improperly attempts to undo the constitution's core commitment to equality and deprives the courts of their essential role of protecting the rights of minorities. According to the California Constitution, such a radical change in the way the courts and state government work cannot be decided by a simple ballot measure. The legal groups filed the writ petition on behalf of Equality California and six same-sex couples.

Lez get Real in California Defending our Freedom

How can I express my admiration and pride in our family.

Defend Equality Los Angeles 11.15.08 from p.Johanna on Vimeo.

Found on our sisters blog Lez Get Real is an account by p.Johanna of the time she withstood unimageable verbal assault after volunteering to stand duty to form a human barrier between human rights activists and a line of haters,

"Those of us that had volunteered to stand in front of them immediately got into place. I want you guys to imagine standing in the sun and listening to these idiots talking and screaming through a bull horn: "GOD HATES YOU!" "READ THE BIBLE"! "JESUS IS COMING!" "YOU LOST, GET OVER IT!" "THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!" "WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU ARE LOSERS!" and more crap that was vulgar and despicable."

Equality Warriors Stand Tall in the face of hate and bigotry. Not only GLBT people are outraged Straights Against Hate find this situation intolerable.

This Unfair Unjust afront to human dignity will NOT stand.

It is being taken to task by Lambda Legal and the ACLU's combined efforts.

Task Force : Turn Anger Into Action

Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

I know that right now, many of you are still shocked, saddened, and extremely angry about the passage of Proposition 8 in California — and let me tell you, so are we.

Losses on similar constitutional amendments in Arizona and Florida, and an adoption ban in Arkansas, are equally devastating. But we're picking ourselves back up here at the Task Force, and we're continuing the fight. And today I want to ask you to turn the anger you may feel at this moment into positive action.

Start by signing your name to our Anger into Action Declaration right now. This declaration is about showing wide public support for the fundamental rights of LGBT people. The latest marriage amendments and adoption ban passed by our fellow citizens are built on lies and deception, and we can't stand for it.

After you sign the declaration, think about what you can be doing in your own life to keep the visibility high and voice your support for full equality. Here are a few examples of what people all around the country are doing to keep up the fight.

Cathy and Ellen, married in California after the May 2008 Supreme Court ruling, are attending a rally and march tonight, protesting discrimination being written into our state constitutions.

Madeline in New York is keeping her "No on 8" button up on her Facebook profile, in solidarity with her Californian friends and family.

A straight ally wrote us a moving e-mail, letting us know he and his wife just donated $100 in honor of their six-month-old son — in hopes that, regardless of his sexual orientation, their child would grow up with the opportunity to share his life with the partner of his choice.

Brian is writing a letter to the editor of his local newspaper in Florida, sharing his views on how discrimination persists, even in light of the progress his state saw in the presidential election.
There is no action too small, and every action — symbolic or more tangible — makes a difference.

I am so proud, despite our losses, of our efforts this election season and continue to be moved by the outpouring of support from our community and our allies. We've called on you, our most loyal supporters, time and time again — to give, to knock on doors, to make phone calls, and to do everything you could to make sure that LGBT people are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

(Authors note; The Task Force has been a Bastion of Solidarity for Queer and Transgender folks. A call for rational thought when emotions are high may be the last thing we want, but in the long run the results of will be admired by the very ones we currently are at odds with~:)k

ANTI-PROP 8 PROTEST at DALLAS TOWN HALL 11-15-08

ANTI-PROP 8 PROTEST SET FOR DALLAS 11-15-08

posted by Kelli Busey
planetransgender

On election day of this year while the LGBT community was celebrating the end of Bush politics our inequality was being written into the California, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas constitutions. In California where LGBT people had enjoyed marriage equality since June our rights were ripped away from us over night.

Since the elections tens of thousands of people have been pouring into the streets throughout California in disgust over the passing of Prop 8. This Saturday, November 15 at 12:30 PM, we in Dallas will stand in front of City Hall with those in California in expressing our abhorrence of the passing of this hateful measure.

Dallas’ Protest is part of a nationwide day of action against Prop 8. This effort coordinated through the website www.jointheimpact.com will take place at exactly the same time this coming Saturday in front of City Halls throughout the country.

Although last Tuesday’s vote in California prompted officials in that state to cease issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, it’s an open question whether the Supreme Court in that state will confirm the ballot referendum or throw it out. Officially, their decision will probably hinge on a legal technicality, whether or not the referendum language broke a vaguely worded provision of the state constitution that says that referenda cannot be overly-broad in the matters they cover.

However, the real reason for the court’s decision will probably have much more to do with the amount of protest heat that LGBT people and our allies can generate outside of the courtrooms. While courts are always loath to admit that public protest influences their decisions, some of the most important progressive decisions have in fact been the direct results of such public protest. A large women’s movement in the streets of America made the Nixon-packed, anti-abortion US Supreme Court give us the Roe v. Wade pro-choice decision in the 1970s to name one example.

Saturday’s nationwide protests are aimed at pressuring the California Supreme Court to reaffirm its earlier pro-gay decision and restore the state’s reputation as a beacon for progressives elsewhere. Also on the agenda is repealing the Texas state constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage and advancing LGBT equality here in our home state, this is not an impossible task that our elected leaders often present it as being.

For more information about Saturday’s demonstration please contact the following individuals:

Blake Wilkinson
214-679-6321
fromabilitiestoneeds@hotmail.com

Etta Zamboni
469-323-3060
stoptheh8@ymail.com

Dallas Voice Instant Tea

Ten Questions for California United Methodists who voted on Proposition 8

Ten Questions for California United Methodists who voted on Proposition 8
By Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell

cross posted directly from the Reconciling Ministries Network Blog (RMN)

Full Disclosure: I am a 75 year old, African American United Methodist clergyman who was first ordained in 1956. I am straight and have been in a heterosexual marriage for almost 51 years. If I had been a resident of California, I would have voted No on Proposition 8 that defined marriage as being limited to one man and one woman.

1)Was your vote determined by your understanding of Scripture and/or legislation in the United Methodist Book of Discipline?

2)If Proposition 8 had read: "Marriage should be limited to one man and one woman of the same race/ethnicity", would your vote have been the same?

3)Do you believe that in our democracy, numerical majorities have the right to vote to limit the civil rights of numerical minorities?

4)Do you realize that while the U.S. Supreme Court declared in 1954 that the practice of racial "separate but equal" public schools was invalid, the United Methodist Church did not eliminate its "separate but equal" racial Central Jurisdiction until 1968? Does this not suggest that there is a history of the state proclaiming equality before the church? Why did a majority of the voters of California support the "same old, same old"?

5)How are heterosexual marriages in California enriched and enhanced because of the majority vote to deny same gender marriage?

6)Do United Methodists of Color and others who voted to support Proposition 8 realize that the Biblical and Church rationale that some of its initiators professed, was the same rationale that once restricted the rights of people of color? If they now develop a Proposition to limit the civil rights of persons of color, would you support it?

7)Some persons who are against same gender marriage did not vote for Barack Obama because his father was black and his mother was white and "The Bible forbids interracial marriage". Was a vote to support Proposition 8 on Biblical grounds a vote to support those who "use" the Bible to justify their resistance to interracial marriage?

8)I am disappointed as are others because many people of color who were strong supporters of Barack Obama were also supporters of Proposition 8. But, my disappointment is made more moderate because of the history of white majority decisions that limited the rights of people of color. Is it helpful for us as United Methodists to acknowledge the linkages between all of the actions to restrict the civil rights of persons whether because of race/ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation?

9)Do you agree that it would be un-democratic, un-civil, unreasonable and unfaithful to allow the majority vote to support Proposition 8 to make invalid the thousands of same gender marriages that were performed when they were legal? If ever a "grandfather clause" was in order, it is now in order in California

10)The tears of joy that many of us shed in response to the election of Barack Obama were a response to our acknowledgment of the utter foolishness of the attitudes and actions that once made impossible the election of an African American President. When same gender marriage becomes legal in California and the rest of the nation, we will again shed tears as we remember the foolishness of the vote to support Proposition 8. Regardless of how you voted, do you now dare admit how tragic it was to even consider a Proposition 8 in the 21st century?