Transgender Resources

Dana Hoy just got this from the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy, and wanted to share it:

Dear Dana,

Some of you may have been following the battle over trans inclusion in the Employment Non Discrimination act (ENDA). Despite attempts by politicians and other groups to pass a non discrimination bill protecting bisexual, gay, lesbian people but not transgender, the UUA has remained firm amongst a coalition of many that we must include trans people in the work or not support it at all. To do so would go against not only our resolutions but our values.

What was more disheartening is that Barney Frank and others seemed to know the bill would not make it out of the Senate or be signed into legislation by the president. They felt they had to do so to get a victory.

We, at the UUA believe, victory comes from solidarity and doing the right thing. Despite efforts to get us to sign on, we have remained firm in our support for a trans inclusive ENDA. Some of the folks from HRC are asking us to not be divisive amongst ourselves to see the political necessity.

We must remember that while they are politicians, we are people of faith. People of faith who support full inclusion, justice, equity, and compassion. People who believe in an inherent worth and dignity of all people.

It is interesting that this fight comes at a time when we have created a web resource for the National Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is November 20th. There is basic information, a reading and roll call honoring those who have died, plus links to the National Transgender Day of Remembrance site, information about ENDA, and our new up to date more inclusive and more informative basic information on trans issues (which will replace Transgender 102 that has been on our website for a while).

The link to the page is below.

< http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/56991.shtml >

We encourage you in your congregations to continue to educate and advocate for justice for all people.

In faith,
Rev. Keith Kron, Director OBGLTC
Simona Munson, Admjnistrator, IDBM and OBGLTC
Grace Garner, Legislative Assistant for Women's Issues UUWF Clara Barton Intern, Washington Office