[Tsa] Faith campaign for Transgender Equal Rights Bill

[Emily Rimmer]

On Fri, 3/25/11, Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality
<interfaithcoalition at gmail.com>  wrote:


    From: Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality
<interfaithcoalition at gmail.com>
    Subject: Faith campaign for Transgender Equal Rights Bill - UPDATE
    To: interfaithcoalition at gmail.com
    Date: Friday, March 25, 2011, 10:59 PM

    Happy Spring, ICTE supporters!

    Transgender Faith Action Week starts a week from this Sunday – Sunday,
    April 3rd through Sunday, April 10th!  We and our partners – Keshet,
    MTPC and MassEquality – are looking forward to a successful Week and a
    powerful faith campaign for the Transgender Equal Rights Bill (An Act
    Relative to Transgender Equal Rights, House Bill 502 / Senate Bill
    764).

    We published a press release today – it’s here:
   
http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/03/transgender-faith-action-week-press.html
    and below our signature.

    If your faith community is participating in the Week -- thank you so
    much!  Participating communities as of press time will be recognized
    in an ad in next week's issue of Bay Windows newspaper (next Thursday,
    March 31st ).  All participating communities will be recognized in our
    other materials.

    If you know a faith community that might like to participate --
    there’s still time to do so and be publically recognized.  Here is
    what we are asking of communities:

    1) RSVP, invite others, and promote the Week’s Facebook event:
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188135257891766

    2) Choose one or more of the following:

    a) Have a postcard party (we provide pre-printed postcards and deliver
    them to your legislators)
    b) Have a gathering that raises up the issue of transgender equal
    rights (you can adjust an existing service, coffee hour, oneg etc.; or
    request a live or video presentation or training)
    c) Phone bank with MassEquality
    d) Attend Transgender Equal Rights Lobby Day at the Statehouse – Lobby
    Day is being rescheduled from Thursday April 14th – stay tuned for the
    new date
   
http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/03/phone-banking-and-lobby-day.html
    e)  Support MTPC’s event Lawyers For Transgender Rights on Thursday,
April 7th
    http://www.masstpc.org/events/ltr/
    f) Ask your members to do all of the above as individuals and groups
    (through your community’s announcements, bulletin, newsletter, etc.)
    g)  Have another idea?  Let us know!

    3) Decide whether your community can be publicly listed as a
    participant.  If not, you are still welcome to participate.

    4) Email InterfaithCoalition at gmail.com to talk about what you can do
    and how we can help.

    Thank you again for your support!  Whatever your role in the Week and
    the rest of the campaign, we are deeply grateful to you for helping us
    send this powerful message to the legislature – the Massachusetts
    faith community wants to see this vital legislation passed this
    session.

    Best wishes for your April observances, and Shabbat shalom,
    Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality (ICTE)
    http://www.interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com

    *******
    Contact: Mycroft Holmes
    InterfaithCoalition at gmail.com
    617-778-0519

    THE INTERFAITH COALITION FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY TO HOLD TRANSGENDER
    FAITH ACTION WEEK
    APRIL 3rd – 10th

    [Massachusetts - 3/25/11] The Interfaith Coalition for Transgender
    Equality (ICTE) is announcing the upcoming Transgender Faith Action
    Week, to begin on Sunday, April 3rd and end on Sunday, April 10th.

    Founded in 2007, the Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality is
    a gathering of clergy and lay leaders that organizes the Massachusetts
    faith community in support of transgender social justice. As the
    interfaith partner of the Massachusetts Transgender Political
    Coalition (MTPC), ICTE focuses on faith-based work in support of the
    Transgender Equal Rights Bill.

    The Interfaith Coalition for Transgender Equality is organizing
    Transgender Faith Action Week to demonstrate that the Massachusetts
    faith community largely supports transgender equal rights, and that
    many transgender people and allies are people of faith and members of
    faith communities.

    Transgender Faith Action Week comes as a continuation of the campaign
    “An Act of Faith: Massachusetts Communities of Faith Speak Out for
    Transgender Equality”, which has included participation in lobby days,
    public hearings and press conferences in the Statehouse, and faith
    voices in MTPC’s I AM: Trans People Speak multi-media public education
    campaign.

    Events planned for Transgender Faith Action Week include postcard and
    letter writing parties, phone banking, educational presentations, and
    a press conference at the State House on Monday, April 4th, featuring
    key faith leaders. Over twenty congregations have already signed on to
    participate in Transgender Faith Action Week, including the Cathedral
    Church of Saint Paul, the seat of the Episcopal diocese of
    Massachusetts, Temple Israel, the largest Reform congregation in New
    England; and Dignity Boston, the Roman Catholic community.

    Mycroft Masada Holmes, Chair of the Interfaith Coalition for
    Transgender Equality, said, “The Interfaith Coalition for Transgender
    Equality and its partners are very proud to announce this historic
    week of action. We’re grateful to the many faith communities across
    the state who are voicing their support for the Transgender Equal
    Rights Bill. This sends a powerful message to the legislature—the
    faith community wants to see this vital legislation passed this session.”

    Gunner Scott, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender
    Political Coalition, said, “Faith and spirituality are integral parts
    in the lives of many transgender individuals. I’m pleased to see faith
    communities standing up for transgender youth, adults, and families in
    Massachusetts and supporting our community and this legislation.”

    For more information on Transgender Faith Action Week and how to get
    involved please visit http://interfaithcoalition.blogspot.com/.

Emily Rimmer
Director for Women's and Queer Services
Hampshire College
413-559-5320