Religious Institute celebrates overturning of Prop 8!
On August 4, 2010, Judge Vaughn Walker, chief judge of the U.S.District Court of the Northern District of California, found Proposition 8 unconstitutional. The decision in part read, "Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis for singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage letter" More than 2,200 religious leaders have endorsed the "Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Marriage Equality", providing the religious foundations for securing the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. For more details about the court decision, visit our colleagues at www.freedomtomarry.org.
Laws Affecting Reproductive Health and Rights: State Trends at Midyear, 2010
The Guttmacher Institute has released its midyear analysis of reproductive health and rights legislation in America. At midyear, a total of 49 measures on reproductive health-related issues had been enacted in 20 states; 34 of these were related to abortion. Guttmacher Institute’s State Center allows individuals to track policy by state and is updated monthly.
Help pass ENDA
Visit United ENDA's website to find the latest information on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), as well as how to take action to help it get passed. They provide advocacy toolkits as well as compile the stories of individuals to advocate on behalf of the larger population.
"United ENDA is a coalition of state, local and national LGBT organizations and allies committed to the passage of comprehensive federal legislation that protects individuals from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
United ENDA is a coalition effort of nearly 400 organizations, where the power of the coalition comes from all of the work done by all of the organizations in the coalition."
Urge the ratification of CEDAW today -- advocate for women and girls
Jamie Kossen, Director of Public Policy for Advocates for Youth, writes:
"The State Department has promised time and again that the Obama administration is "committed" to U.S. ratification of the CEDAW Treaty (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women).
It is time, finally, for President Obama to turn these words into action. It is shameful that the United States continues to be one of only seven countries in the world that has not ratified this treaty. President Obama must begin to forcefully and publicly urge the Senate to ratify CEDAW immediately.
Take Action: Tell President Obama you want the U.S. to ratify CEDAW now!
CEDAW is a landmark international agreement that affirms fundamental human rights and equality for women and girls. It was the first international agreement to address these rights comprehensively — politically, culturally, economically, socially and within the family. Around the world, CEDAW can be used to ensure primary education for girls; improve reproductive, maternal, and child health; pass laws against domestic violence and discrimination; promote the participation of women in the political system; and allow women to own and inherit property.
We are within striking distance of CEDAW ratification, but the window of opportunity is closing, and fast!
We know that CEDAW works: Australia, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, Uganda, and others have incorporated provisions of CEDAW into their constitutions and domestic legal codes. And Egypt, Jordan, Nicaragua, and Pakistan have all seen significant increases in literacy rates after improving access to education for girls and women.
Since youth comprise nearly half of the world's population, protecting and promoting the fundamental human rights of young people will affect the health, well being, and stability of this planet for generations to come.
Thank you for your support!"
UN releases practical toolkit on how to deter sexual violence in war
"From peacekeepers in Darfur escorting women and girls to prevent “firewood rapes” to blue helmets in Kosovo setting up an emergency hotline for at-risk communities and lone women, the United Nations launched today its first compilation of the best practices of its staff to prevent, deter and respond to the use of rape as a war tactic.
'This is practical information to move from words to deeds,' the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallström, told the UN News Centre on the sidelines of the launch of the booklet, Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence-An Analytical Inventory of Peacekeeping Practice."
Read the press release here.
Read and download the full report here.
Study reveals majority support for LGBT equality among diverse people of faith
A new study from Third Way and Public Religion Research reports that strong majorities of four major religious groups in the U.S. -- African American Protestants, Roman Catholics, white evangelicals and white mainline Protestants -- favor laws protecting lesbians and gay men from job discrimination, and favor allowing lesbians and gay men to serve openly in the military. Majorities of mainline Protestants and Catholics also support some form of legal relationship recognition (either same-sex marriage or civil unions), as do white evangelicals under the age of 35.
The study -- Beyond the God Gap: A New Roadmap for Reaching Religious Americans on Public Policy Issues -- analyzes the beliefs and values underlying the attitudes of people of faith toward a range of cultural issues and domestic policy concerns, including abortion, immigration and LGBT civil rights. The four religious groups addressed account for approximately three-quarters of the U.S. population.
Read the press release here.
Read and download the full report here.
Faith-based HIV testing campaign
Join Balm in Gilead in their National Faith-Based HIV Testing Campaign, Our Church Lights the Way
What is Our Church Lights the Way?
- A national campaign designed to mobilize Christian Communities, especially those serving African Americans, to speak loudly from their pulpits to educate and encourage every person in their congregation and communitiy to get tested for HIV.
- A movement of faith communities to stop the stigma and shame about HIV/AIDS; educate everyone about the disease and encourage and support HIV testing services.
- Serves as a mechanism to support faith leaders and congregations who are ready to move beyond phase one of creating AIDS community awareness to phase two: AIDS Action -- Getinng people tested for HIV!
Have you read our June Newsletter?
Read Rev. Debra Haffner's editorial on LGBT Pride as well as the latest news, events, and resources occuring at the intersection of religion and sexuality.
Sign the Uganda Declaration for LGBT human rights
The Uganda Declaration has been created by a coalition of organizations in support of LGBT human rights.
The Declaration reads:
"As faith leaders from many traditions, we, the undersigned, commit ourselves to:
- Pray for God's peace between all nations, peoples, traditions and cultures and all the diversity of God's creation;
- Teach the simple spiritual truth that loving, not hating or harming our neighbors, is the will of God in all things, including for people living with HIV/AIDS and people who are sexual minorities;
- Apply existing statements on human rights in our own faith traditions to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in policies and programs, in congregations, national and global agencies and partner groups;
- Advocate for the elimination of all laws which criminalize people based on sexual orientation or gender identity;
- Push for prosecution of crimes committed because of perceived sexual orientation or gender identity."
I am signing the “Uganda Declaration” because 80 countries criminalize people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity—and 7 of those countries include the death penalty. As a person of faith, I believe it is time to apply human rights to everyone and work to eliminate imprisonment, execution and persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people.
Repeal DADT
No doubt you have heard the exciting news: Congress may be ready to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) this week. This is an excellent opportunity to raise a faithful voice for equality!
Our U.S. senators and representatives must hear from us today.
1. Email your elected leaders in Washington right away. The Human Rights Campaign has created a form that will relay a message automatically to the representative from your district. You can even customize the message to let your representative know that, as a person of faith, you support repeal.
2. Call your representative and senators. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. Give the operator your zip code and ask to be connected to your representative. Tell them to include DADT repeal as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, that you are a constituent and a person of faith, and that you vote.
Religious Declaration
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