Yo! UU LGBT Inspire Me

Surprised that no, zip, zero Unitarian Universalist ministers were profiled in the recent Huffington Post Inspiring LGBT Religious Leaders article??  I remember when Rev. Meg Riley and youth leaders were leading dialogues among UU youth in the late 80′s and early 90′s that were oh so difficult, challenging, and transforming for me and many others.

A decade later when I was at Harvard Divinity School and helping organize an international network of UU Seminarians of Color, we noted that over 40% of our members identified as LGBTQ.  Rev. Meg Riley is still preaching the good word as Senior Minister of the Church of the Larger Fellowship, an amazing international congregation based in Boston with a worldwide ministry.  Here she is speaking out about against the marriage ban in Minnesota, At the Dentist: Fighting the Marriage Ban.

(hat tip to the UU movement building network Standing on the Side of Love)

Great Blogs of Color and Politics

My regular favories:

• Blue Oregon run in part by an old high school amigo Kari Chisolm has fun, interesting up-to-date information about progressive democratic issues and candidates.  I particularly appreciated their reporting and analysis of the selection processes to replace State Representatives and State Senators by Precinct Committee Persons (as I am for 2086).
• Colors of Influence written and edited by Maileen Hamto who I’ve had the privilege of meeting through APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon).  I pledge some of my hard earned non-profit wages to through a donation subscription.  Maileen has interviewed a great cross section of movers and shakers within communities of color in Oregon, and her website is an excellent resource to any community organizer like me.
• Race Wire is a project of the Applied Research Center (Hi Rinku Sen and Gary Delgado) and does an excellent job of breaking down the issues and analyzing from the perspective of those most impacted by social injustice and disparities.  I also appreciate the growing use of short video PSA’s, and always love to hear my fellow activists putting some sense out there to the broader world.
• Western States Center, which is of course where my loving partner works, but is also developing some original content and essays on their “Blog and Discussion” page that I find very interesting.  Immigration and GLBT issues?  People of Color and Feminism?  Their work is often at the intersections of identity and social justice issues.

Morman Fairness

Media outlets are abuzz over the announcement that the Morman Church supports anti-discrimination measures inclusive of gay, lesbian communities.

“It’s the most progressive and inclusive statement that the church has made on these issues,” said Will Carlson, the manager of public policy at Equality Utah, the state’s largest gay rights group. “What they’ve said here is huge, in protecting residents in other municipalities, and statewide.”

NY Times November 11, 2009

I grew up in a primarily Morman neighborhood in Portland OR.  The other Morman children were very friendly, loved pie, and I enjoyed the boy scouts and other dances the local “ward” hosted.  They were often some of the nicest people I met.  By high school it was evident however that “Mormans First” was their mantra, prejudiced against inter-racial, even inter-religious dating from my personal experience.

Alternative Olympic Opening Night (Portland)

Thought I would send along an announcement about an event Aug. 8th – the opening night of the Olympics – to celebrate Tibetan culture.

Please join The Crag Law Center and The Tara Cafe Project on August 8 as we celebrate Tibetan culture with the Portland premiere of /The Unwinking Gaze/. The 2008 documentary by Joshua Dugdale provides behind the scenes insight to the Dalai Lama’s struggle to lead his people to a peaceful resolution with China. Following the film, The Tara Cafe Project will give an inspiring performance of traditional Tibetan music. The Tara Cafe Project works to preserve traditional Tibetan culture and promote cultural continuity of Tibetan music.

• Date: Friday, August 8.
• Location: Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton Street in Portland.
• Tickets: $20. Space is limited and advance purchase is recommended. Call 503-525-2724 or e-mail megan@crag.org <mailto:megan@crag.org> for more information.
• Time: Doors at 6:00, Film at 7:00.

Proceeds benefit The Tara Cafe Project (visit www.taracafeproject.ca<http://www.taracafeproject.ca/> for more information) and The Crag Law Center (Crag provides legal services to local communities working to protect alpine ecosystems, including Mt. Hood. Visit www.crag.org <http://www.crag.org/> for more information).

Thanks to our sponsors:
- Kline Law Offices, P.C.
- Field and Jerger, LLP
- Kristin Winter at Realty Trust Group

Tyson “Homosexual” Wins 100!

The conservative American Family Association’s policy of replacing “Gay” with “Homosexual” took a hilarious hit this week when it replaced American Sprinter Tyson Gay’s last name.

Tyson Homosexual was a blur in blue, sprinting 100 meters faster than anyone ever has…”It means a lot to me,” the 25-year-old Homosexual said.  “I’m glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me.

Not only is this totally rude, but isn’t there an ethical rule against changing the content of copyright stories?  Says Fred Jackson, news director of OneNewsNow which manages the “Gay-Homosexual Filter”, “The G word he said, has been “co-opted by a particular group of people.”  I say “How extremist!”

Hawai’i Siege?

A tourist destination, the former political and cultural seat of native hawai’i, has been taken over by 60 activists.  News is just coming out.  Another occupation, in the mold of the 1960′s?

Congregational Vote on Gay Pride

My home congregation, West Hills UU Fellowship, which has a history of difficult decision-making around social justice issues, voted last month to formally participate in the upcoming Gay Pride Portland.  I’m really excited!  I’ve marched for a decade with various groups, sometimes UU’s, but never in my memory with an official banner from my home church. 

Hella Diverse Seder

We attended a Jewish Seder for the second year in a row with a progressive Jewish friend here in Portland.  He made his own Haggadah, as many do.  We were a dozen, from a dozen different racial backgrounds.  It was a long and beautiful Seder, with some amazing passages pulled together for the ritual.  Wine as a part of the experience was clearly affected the mood. 

One of the culturally Jewish guys there, who grew up practicing a Conservative Seder, commented on how engaged everyone was.  How it wasn’t about waiting to be done.  He mentioned how he has a classic photo of his father, at a Seder, looking at his watch.

We left full, of both vegetarian and chicken matza ball soup.  We left enriched by the connecting, and reflection on liberation.  I don’t have a copy of the Haggadah to share (yet), but there is another wonderful Haggadah called "Love and Justice" in times of war by Dara Silverman and Micah Bazant.  Dara has been a keynote speaker at UU Young Adult conferences in the past, and is connected with a fellow radical Jewish UU who served the Continental UU Young Adult network for many years.

Top Justice Priorities of Young UU’s

Reading the recent reports about the Record High Number of Americans in Prison, reminded me of the intense and meaningful efforts by the youth to understand and act for prison justice issues.  From my experience at the UUA, here were the top justice priorities of young UU’s (youth and young adults):

I’m Still Excited About Obama

Obamapalooza.  Obamamania. 

Even though I’ve heard from friends in political circles that Hilary Clinton’s campaign is using negative racial attacks – for example emphasizing his middle name Hussein at the Nevada Caucus’s to blatantly stating he is a "dirty muslim", Barack Obama continues to amaze.

Years ago when he was running for US Senate in Illinois, I never heard of him.  He won in part thanks to a lot of scandals on the Republican side (sex scandal involved 7 of 9 from Star Trek!), and a lot of grassroots organizer support.