Why June is LGBT Pride Month?
On June 28, 1969, a routine raid upon a gay bar called The Stonewall Inn took a decidedly unexpected turn. What sparked an uprising between gay patrons against the New York police remains unknown. What is certain, however, is the five night, often violent, rebellion ushered in the modern gay rights movement. The anger over police oppression ignited and changed the way LGBT people viewed themselves and, eventually, the way society started to view the LGBT community. LGBT persons and allies began staging Pride Parades on the first anniversary of the riots. What began as "Gay Pride Day" on June 28 eventually became Pride Month for the entire month of June.
Don't forget that Dallas' Pride Celebration is September 18, 2011. To learn why Dallas celebrates Pride in a different month, please click here to read my previous newsletter.
For detailed information about Stonewall, click here to visit the New York Times site.
Additionally, click here for a great documentary about Stonewall.
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Featured Story: Religion and the LGBT Community
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"This I Know" Study of the Bible and the LGBT Community
Among the LGBT community, it's hard not to be discouraged by how the Bible has long been used as a weapon. In recent years, though, a growing number of initiatives across the country have been working to counter the hate-filled messages, and Northaven United Methodist Church in Dallas is joining this wave by publishing a new Bible study, entitled "This I Know."
The non-denominational study -- for individuals or small groups -- is actually a companion to "For the Bible Tells Me So," the award-winning documentary that illustrates the human cost of Christian intolerance. The six-lesson curriculum of "This I Know" has been written by a roster of nationally recognized Christian authorities, including evangelical leader Brian McLaren and renowned Jesus scholar Marcus Borg.
The study has been designed to meet people where they are in their grasp of the issue, then it uses personal stories and scholarship to plot a path to a fuller understanding of Christ-centered love. Although the study was created primarily for mainline Christianity, it also is intended for those in the LGBT community who have felt rejected by their churches.
To learn more about "This I Know" and how you can purchase it, visit www.thisiknowstudy.org.
If you're interested in bringing the study to your Dallas-area congregation, contact Patty Harvey from Northaven at pharvey3723@sbcglobal.net.
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Lorie L. Burch
972.385.0558
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Presidential Proclamation
For the third year in a row, Pres. Obama has officially recognized June as Pride Month. While President Bill Clinton became the first President to recognize this month as "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month," Obama has adopted the more inclusive "LGBT Pride".In his proclamation, Obama recognized the LGBT community for continuing "the task of making our county a more perfect Union," cited legislative repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and his opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act. He also applauded the "It Gets Better" campaign. For full text of the Proclamation, click here.
Texas' New
Anti-Bullying Law
The Texas House of Representatives recently passed HB 1386 by a vote of 111-32. This Bill relates to the prevention of youth suicide in Texas schools and was authored by Rep. Garnet Coleman. The new law will provide school districts, the Texas Department of State Health Services, and parents/guardians with guidelines, options, and assistance in battling youth suicide, particularly as a response to bullying. Details about the bill may be found by clicking here.
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