Global Justice On Sunday, July 1, 2007, the day before the Metropolitan Community Churches General Conference, the denomination will hold a Global Justice Day in Scottsdale, AZ. The all day event is a “Liturgy for Justice.” The Rev. Pat Bumgardner (at right), Senior Pastor of MCCNY and chair of MCC’s Global Justice Team, Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo, MCCNY, John Fisher, MCCNY’s Director of Music and Intern Nessette Falu, MCCNY will be among those facilitating workshops. MCCNY Choir member Carolyn Eufrasio will participate as a soloist. Rev. Pat will give the opening address and John Fisher will serve as Director of Music for the liturgy. United for Equality MCCNY and CBST to March Together The workshops will serve as the First and the Second Lessons for the liturgy. Each lesson will consist When Heritage of Pride’s annual steps off on Sunday, June 24th 2007, amid the glitter and the gold, the sequins of 7 concurrent workshops. Nessette will facilitate “Health Care, Black Theology and Human Suffering.” and the stilettos, the leather and the lace, the Rev. Elder Troy Perry, founder and moderator emeritus of the worldwide movement John will facilitate “Music and Global Justice.” Rev. Pat will co-facilitate “Immigration and Poverty from of Metropolitan Community Churches, and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, will be a Global Perspective.” Rev. Boon will facilitate “Ministry in Malaysia.” Other topics include equality, hate crimes, the religious right and ministries in Eastern Europe, Jamaica, Nigeria, South Africa leading the tens of thousands of LGBTQ marchers down New York City’s Fifth Avenue as co-grand marshals of the parade. and Latin America as they relate to global justice. Participants will come away with actions they can The theme of this year’s celebration of all things queer is “United for Equality.” In a historic show of unity, the congregations then implement in their own communities of faith. of MCCNY and CBST will come together and march as one behind Rev. Perry and Rabbi Kleinbaum. One choir. One float. One The liturgy will end with the Celebration and Sharing of Holy Communion. people united to celebrate the good news of God’s inclusive love. It is going to be a powerful and empowering day. (photo by Casey Easterling)

CBST is the world’s largest synagogue for the , Gay, Bisexual, and Queer community. Founded in 1973 by Jacob Gubbay and under the leadership of PRIDE at MCCNY Rabbi Kleinbaum since 1992, CBST is committed to the fact that God’s Jewish LGBTQ Sunday, June 17: children are “wholly legitimate members of the Jewish people.” On the CBST website, Stonewall Sunday www.cbst.org, Rabbi Kleinbaum (at right), who was featured in Newsweek as one of 9 am • 11 am • 7pm Celebrate with MCCNY at 446 W. 36th St. America’s top 50 rabbis, writes “We are a unique congregation committed to building a kehilla kedosha, a sacred community, built on a love of the Jewish people, a passion Sunday, June 24: Pride Sunday for social justice, prayer and study. We are a caring community, a home in which to 9:00 am Celebrate with MCCNY at 446 W. 36th St. celebrate life’s simchas, joys, as well as to grieve and mourn loss.” (Remember: For Pride Sunday ONLY, the 9am and 11am communities will worship together, to enable marchers to step off with Rev. Perry at the front of the march!) Metropolitan Community Churches, a global movement of faith that will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2008, preaches a three-pronged Gospel of social justice, 10:30 am Line up at the march site — look for Rev. Perry!!! community and salvation. Founded by (52nd and 5th Avenue) Rev. Elder Perry (at left) in October 1968, 11:00 am Communion in the Streets — all are welcome! when he held his first worship service in his home for a congregation of 12, 12:00 pm MCCNY and CBST step off together! Metropolitan Community Churches is the (photo by Richard Howe) 7:00 pm Praise and Worship Service at MCCNY largest LGBTQ organization in the world with a membership of 43,000 and churches in 22 nations around the globe. Call me Troy, a documentary of Rev. Elder Perry’s life and the founding of Metropolitan Community Churches, is to be released soon from Tragoidia Moving Pictures.

Join us as we make history on Sunday, June 24th as MCCNY and CBST “unite for equality.” Please note, on Pride Sunday, MCCNY will worship at 9 a.m. and at 7 p.m. There will be no service at 11 a.m. on that Sunday.

(photo by Danny Gonzalez) New York, NY 10018 NY York, New

446 West 36th Street 36th West 446 The Query Quarterly/Summer 2007

Church of New York New of Church 446 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018 Phone: (212) 629-7440 [email protected] www.mccny.org Metropolitan Community Community Metropolitan MCCNY is a member of Metropolitan Community Churches, a global movement of faith with congregations in 22 nations. The Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator A Pride Message from Rev. Pat Bumgardner: MCCNY Celebrates the Life of Bob Hollinger by Susan Chilvers June 2007 legislation. Six hundred and fifty people came together for the funeral On Saturday May 5th we had a The following poem is my tribute to Bob, which I read at the service. of Sean William Kennedy, murdered a few weeks ago in South Carolina, wonderful celebration of Bob Hollinger’s Without Bob ... life at MCCNY. The celebration was for no other reason than his sexual orientation. If six hundred and fifty Without Bob we all have a feeling of something special missing in our lives. Dear friends: attended by about 150 people including people had been willing to stand together before the South Carolina Without Bob the sun still rises and birds still joyously greet the dawn but there is no one to This year, for the first time in our histories as communities of faith legislature demanding that LGBTQ people have equal protection under Bob’s sister, brother-in-law and stand on my front steps in a checked flannel nightie with outstretched arms and say, “What dedicated to serving LGBTQA peoples, Metropolitan Community Church the law, maybe the next big gathering would have been Sean's birthday, cousins. Beautiful flowers and colorful a beautiful morning!” of New York and Congregation Beth Simchat Torah will step off together not his funeral. balloons decorated the sanctuary. The Without Bob we will still greet one another in church but there will be no Bob to laugh and in the Pride March, embodying the Heritage of Pride theme, UNITED FOR celebration included Dan Gorgoleone hug us as we say, “Oh no, it’s Hollinger!” As our trans brother, Shumail, so clearly put it a few weeks ago in EQUALITY. Led by co-Grand Marshalls, The Rev. Troy Perry (Founder of who played a wonderful rendition of Without Bob the choir will still sing joyously but there will be no tie-dye in the front row at Pakistan when he and his bride were arrested and jailed separately for Metropolitan Community Churches, a global movement to bring Queer Over the Rainbow on the piano, Cynthia church to wink at me as we sing. the crime of dishonoring the faith with their marriage — ‘All we are people home to the love of God) and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum (Senior Marcus who played from Vivaldi’s Four Without Bob we will probably still take our school bus to Sandy Hook with MCC’ers, but there asking now is that the international community stand with us.’ will be no Bob to jostle Noah or Gerald into the water. Rabbi at CBST, the world’s largest Queer synagogue), we will also be Seasons on the violin and the MCCNY choir who sang Seek Ye First. Without Bob there may well be no more evenings of entertainment and if there are it will be sharing the position of “opening prayer”, as opposed to fulfilling our It’s what our brothers and sisters are asking from Moscow to Moldova. (photo by Danny Gonzalez) without one “gum on your shoe” MC who reads his jokes! usual role and offering the “benediction.” It’s the one promise Jesus made to his disciples — to be with them... In honor of Bob’s love of anything tie-dyed or sequined, David Zwiers Without Bob there will be no more raucous MCC pool parties at 60 North Kain Street.

always...maybe because he believed, as I do, that where two or three made bright and beautiful stoles for Rev. Pat, Rev. Edgard and the Without Bob there will be a lot of wonderful furniture left by the curbside and no one to say, Whether at the beginning or the end of the march, however, the critical are gathered, standing together, the presence of God is in their midst. deacons for the occasion. The stoles will be worn during June for Gay “What a waste!” element in our position is that we are standing together — standing And when God is present all things are possible — including the vision Pride in honor of Bob. Without Bob my family will still say grace at meals but with no one to chant it as only Bob together for of a world united in equality. would do. At the end of the service everyone joined in singing The Impossible Without Bob there’s just a whole lot less glitter in our world. ~ the right of Queer people to assemble publicly and privately My prayer today is that all Queer and allied folks of good will, whatever Dream, Bob’s favorite song, from Man of LaMancha. Talking of that, Bob Without Bob there is one less gentle, loving spirit in the world. in places like Iraq and Nigeria, where today threatened and our religious or spiritual persuasions, will join MCCNY and CBST on was quite a Don Quixote, tilting at windmills such as the government, Without Bob our world seems pastel instead of iridescent, fluorescent, rainbow ... imposed sanctions are ruining, if not claiming, many lives Sunday, June 24th in a massive demonstration of what our world could the public school system (in his lawsuit for the right to be himself), and be like with the simple choice to stand together. the many laws that discriminate against the GLBT community. We will Without Bob, without Bob, without Bob we can all complete this sentence with a Bob-gap ~ for the right of Queer people in Lagos State as well as of our own. surely miss him but each time we go into the Bob Hollinger Memorial New York State to celebrate our lives and our love in any way They say—what you never have you never miss. May God hear our prayer. Library that Rev. Pat blessed and dedicated in his honor, and see his we choose, including marriage, with both civil and religious BUT, maybe in missing Bob so much we will realize what we had and still have in our souls. ceremonies gentle face smiling from the photo collage that John McGee created With love, we remember what a dear friend he was whose spirit is still with us. Susan Chilvers/May 5, 2007 ~ for the right to equal treatment in housing, in health care and (These are excerpts from the poem. The entire text may be found on our website: www.mccny.org) in employment

We are standing together calling for the passage of hate crimes Rev. Pat Remembering Laraine Watson A celebration of Laraine Watson’s life was held on Tuesday, April 24, Her loving spirit, boundless faith and 2007 at Ortiz Funeral Home in the Bronx. The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, unending generosity (it is her wish Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of New York that all of her clothes be donated organizations, MCCNY and CBST, will march together, United for Letter from the Editor: officiated. to Sylvia’s Place Homeless Youth Equality. Dear Family and Friends, At the request of Myrleen Knight, Laraine’s partner of 21 years, those Shelter) will live on in our hearts. I could go on and on. Be proud. Be proud of who you are, one of God’s in attendance from MCCNY wore the MCCNY pins that had been As I’m writing this, it is Memorial Day Weekend. That means June is just Laraine and Myrleen each sent the beloved. created as part of the church’s 35th Anniversary in honor of Laraine’s around the corner and we all know what June means. PRIDE! following card to each other on the Happy Pride! Enjoy the issue. love for MCCNY. As I’m thinking of Pride, we can be proud of the work that MCCNY does same day (9/28/01), much to both’s for the hungry and the homeless through the Sylvia Rivera Food Pantry Laraine’s daughter, Michelle, read the poem I’m Free. surprise: and Sylvia’s Place Homeless Youth Shelter. We can be proud of the work John Fisher, MCCNY’s Director of Music, and choir member Carolyn To My Soul Mate Laraine Watson (right) and Myrleen Knight. Mel Bryant, Editor that MCCNY does for the transgender community through GenderPeople, Eufrasio provided the music. Carolyn sang a beautiful and moving I am so glad that you are a part of my life. It Bread of Life, and Rev. Pat’s Finishing School. We can be proud of the arrangement of His Eye is on the Sparrow and John led the is a privilege – to know you, to share myself with you, and to walk together on the path support and love we shared as we grieved Bob Hollinger and Larraine congregation in singing Amazing Grace and I’ll Fly Away. that takes us in so many beautiful directions. Watson. We can be proud of Sebastien, Andre and Jerome’s new son, The QUERY I had heard of “Soul Mates” before, but I never knew such a person could exist – until After giving the eulogy, Rev. Pat invited those gathered to share their and of Dash and Ephraim, Mark and Rob’s twins. We can be proud that I met you. Somehow, out of all the twists and turns our lives could have taken, and out Editor ...... Mel Bryant memories of Laraine. Family and friends, congregants and co-workers of all the chances we might have missed, it almost seems like we were given a meant- we marched for Marriage Equality. We can be proud of Les and Noah Graphic Design and Layout Editor ...... Les LaRue all shared memories of Laraine’s generous spirit, her willingness to to-be moment – to meet, to get to know one other, and to set the stage for a special for being out and proud at work. We can be proud of Rev. Gale Jones, Editorial Assistant ...... Casey Easterling talk with anybody who needed someone to listen, her conviction to togetherness. Dr. Marjorie Hill, Andy Humm and Sebastian Maquire who were honored Staff Photographer ...... Montel Cherry always be true to who she was, her love for her family and the joy she When I am with you, I know that I am in the presence of someone who makes my life at our Annual Easter Banquet. We can be proud of William, publicly received from her new grandson, how she and Myrleen would be the more complete than I ever dreamed it could be. I turn to you for trust, and you give it proposing marriage to his beloved Rev. Edgard one Sunday morning in Contributors ...... Kate Barnhart, Susan Chilvers, Mark Damiani, openly. I look to you for inspiration, for answers, and for encouragement, and – not only Casey Easterling, Myrleen Knight, John Miskell, first to stand during an inspirational selection from MCCNY’s choir and May. We can be proud of Boon who, by the time you read this, will have do you never let me down – you lift my spirits up and take my thoughts to places where Chris Stadmeyer, Maribelle Vasquez how she stood up for the LGBTQ community. my troubles seem much further away and my joys feel like they’re going to stay in my been ordained. Metropolitan Community Church of New York life forever. It is a testament to Laraine’s conviction and solid faith that she fought And we can certainly be proud that our spiritual leaders, Rev. Elder 446 W. 36th St., New York, NY 10018 • Phone: (212) 629-7440 • www.mccny.org I hope you’ll stay forever, too. I feel like you’re my soul mate. And I want you to know Sunday Worship Services at 9 a.m. (traditional),11 a.m. (celebration), and 7 p.m. (praise & worship) what can only be described as a courageous fight, and only in her final Troy Perry and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, are being honored at that my world is reassured by you, my tomorrows need to have you near, so many of my On TV in Manhattan: Sundays 1:30 p.m.,Time Warner channel 57, RCN channel 85 days did she ask her church family to change their prayers for her from smiles depend on you, and my heart is so thankful that you’re here. 2 this year’s parade as co-grand marshals and that their respective prayers for healing to prayers for peaceful transition. 7 Volunteer Appreciation Week at MCCNY by Chris Stadmeyer by Casey Easterling MCCNY Marches for Marriage Equality MCCNY celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Week with a luncheon on Friday, April 20th, 2007 for the Church’s What do we want? MARRIAGE EQUALITY! Following the rally, the crowd assembled to march over the many dedicated volunteers. The ministries of MCCNY would not be able to accomplish their meaningful When do we want it? NOW! Brooklyn Bridge. MENY distributed pride-colored umbrellas work without the hundreds of volunteer hours put in each The third-annual Wedding March, sponsored by Marriage Equality New York (MENY), to each participant and groups lined up according to the year by members of our community. As a token of MCCNY’s Wearne) Tim (photo by took place on Saturday, May 19, 2007. MENY highlights the importance of Marriage colors of the rainbow, creating an impressive rainbow for appreciation, volunteers were presented with backpacks Equality by stating, “Marriage is the bridge to more than 700 rights in New York onlookers on the bridge. featuring the MCCNY Volunteer logo. Among the guests were State. Anything less relegates second-class citizenship.” Tim Wearne, who co-curates our popular Gallery Nights, MCCNY’ers (pictured below, left to right) Mel Bryant, Bradley and his students from the Young Adults Institute (YAI) at the The overcast skies and periods of rain seemed to keep the crowd down from the Curry, Mike Easterling, the Rev. Pat Bumgardner, James National Institute for People with Disabilities. The Institute thousands that were expected to turn out for the event in support of the April 27 Attarian and Jay Smith and (not pictured) Casey Easterling has locations on 13th and 34th Streets which send teams The staff of the Sylvia Rivera Food Pantry marched under the last color, purple. Bradley and Mel (from left): Marcus Warren; Chris Stadmeyer,

Marriage Equality bill introduced by New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer. Despite William Moran-Berberena) (photo by of 5-10 students and an instructor 4 days each week. The were chosen as marshals and wore light pink armbands. Americorps Vista Intern; and William Moran- the weather, a crowd of 200 supporters gathered at Foley Square in downtown Students from YAI at MCCNY’s Volunteer students help pack lunches and bag groceries that provide Berberena, Director. Manhattan. Many were sporting pink buttons stating, “Support Marriage Equality – I The MCCNY “God Made Us Queer” banner received many Appreciation Luncheon. meals for thousands of hungry New Yorkers each month. do!” and wearing t-shirts that read, “It Starts with You – Say ‘I do!’” affirming nods from pedestrians and cyclists and delighted many photographers. The event kicked off with a rally at 11am. The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Senior Pastor A Public Proposal by Maribelle Vasquez The March ended in Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza with a festival of MCCNY, gave the opening address speaking on the importance of equality not On Sunday, May 6th, 2007 William Moran-Berberena, the Director of the Sylvia Rivera Food Pantry publicly hosted by The Gender Offenders. only for the Queer community, but for all of humanity. She said, “March for the truth proposed to his beloved, the Rev. Edgard Danielson-Morales, our Associate Pastor for Congregational Life, that we are all the beloved and cherished children of God—that all our lives and all at the 11 a.m. Celebration. He asked me to translate for the congregation so he could propose in Spanish. our ways of loving and being in relationship are William began with how they have traveled together on the journey of life, through the ups and the downs, good and holy.” Congressman Anthony Weiner for the last ten plus years but through it all their love has kept them together. Now he wanted to propose and Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell both to make it “official.” He was very serious. As I was translating, I wondered if Rev. Edgard had a clue about expressed their support of Spitzer’s marriage bill. what was coming. The question “Will you marry me?” brought the congregation to its feet as they filled the Speaker of the Council and out lesbian Christine sanctuary with cheers and applause for William and his fiancé.

Quinn issued a proclamation supporting the (photo by Charles Bumgardner) Wedding March and acknowledging Marriage Equality New York for their work. The Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo In a powerful ceremony that moved many to tears, the Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo was ordained into the Mel Bryant and Bradley Curry march for ministry by Rev. Pat Bumgardner and Rev. Edgard Danielson-Morales on Pentecost Sunday, May 27, marriage equality.

(photos by Casey Easterling) 2007, at the 11 am Celebration Liturgy. Rev. Boon’s partner, Angel Ayala (at left in photo), participated in the ordination. Rev. Boon is the first gay man to publicly come out in his native Malaysia where he and Angel will travel this summer to continue building a ministry there. As it has been reported in MCCNY’ers March in Washington for Peace previous issues of The Query, Rev. Boon plans on opening the first Metropolitan Community Church in by John Miskell & Mark Damiani Malaysia by 2010. Continuing his ministry here, Rev. Boon will hold worship services the first Sunday of each month at 2 pm. The services will be in Mandarin, adding a new congregation to MCCNY’s The anti-war march organized by the Answer Coalition (answer.pephost. are important to tax payers, such existing congregations of the Traditional Liturgy at 9 am, the Celebration Liturgy at 11 am, the Praise org) in Washington D.C. on March 17 was an inspiration and a wake-up as housing, healthcare, hunger, and Worship at 7 pm, Binghamton and our television ministry. call. This march was compared to the march on the Pentagon to protest unemployment and education. (photo by Montel Cherry) the Vietnam War. Another was the need to move the

anti-war movement from one of Coming Out at Work by Les LaRue A Shelter Success Story The diversity of the demonstrators and speakers was beautiful. Speakers protest to one of active resistance. by Kate Barnhart/Director of MCCNY's Homeless Youth Services representing Mexico, Haiti, Nicaragua and the Philippines spoke of I have been undergoing a transgender process (FTM) for several years at The Vietnam War was ended by the negative impact of U.S. military and/or economic policies on their the same workplace. My colleagues there, introduced to me as “she” at my Thanks to the generosity of multiple donors, and the efforts of shelter protestors committing acts of civil countries. They called for the people of the world to stop killing each hiring, have observed my transition with varying degrees of awareness and staff, a resident of Sylvia’s Place, Robin Allen, is now on her way to disobedience, college students other for government and corporate interests and to work together for understanding. This year I decided to formally request that the company Babson College in , MA. She was also accepted by Hampshire, shutting down their campuses refer to me as “he.” After a discussion with my Human Resource Director, a Clarkson, and Connecticut colleges. I first met Robin before coming to the good of all people. The protesters contributed their energy, creativity (photo by Mark Damiani) and military personnel moving to company-wide e-mail was sent to our offices in New York, Las Vegas, San and disdain for abusive authority by chanting “Give Iraq their nation, end MCCNY’er John Miskell at the Anti- Sylvia’s Place, when I was a case manager at The Neutral Zone. Newly Canada or refusing to serve. the occupation!”, “The real terrorists of the world today…the Pentagon War March on Washington. Antonio and Washington D.C. announcing that I was a transgendered male homeless, Robin had just arrived from Texas, where she had been in a & the CIA!” and “No justice, no peace, fight the system, kill the beast!” Many speakers examined U.S. history and the current political climate, and should be addressed as “he.” In the aftermath of this announcement, foster home after her mother’s death from AIDS. Even at that early stage,

concluding that the politicians will do nothing to stop the invasion of Iraq I experienced a joyful sense of self, as well as unexpected support from Robin had her heart set on continuing her education – her dream was The attention grabbing signs, buttons and t-shirts provided important as they obey corporate and military interests as opposed to obeying the co-workers. I received a message (from a male) that welcomed me to to become a doctor specializing in transgender health. An avid reader, statistics on money spent or lives lost and attempted to focus people will of the people that was clearly mandated in the 2006 elections. the club, (by which I assumed he meant the club of men), as well as two Robin was already so knowledgeable about hormone therapy and on important actions or next steps. There were calls to impeach Bush Therefore we need huge numbers of people to protest and to resist. In congratulatory notes from women in San Antonio. I was cc-ed on other other gender transition procedures that I often had her speak to other and Cheney. Congress was called to task for what amounts to lots of this vein, Chuck Kaufman from the Nicaragua Network said, “We need e-mails whose sole purpose seemed to be the use of as many male young people. Over the last four years, I have watched Robin struggle posturing as it continues to fund the invasion. My favorite religious to pour sugar in the gears of the war machine.” pronouns as possible in reference to me. I have begun to understand that through various obstacles and pursue a range of interests including slogans were “Who would Jesus bomb?” and “The Rapture is not an most people are eager to experience their own openness and capacity for community organizing with FIERCE and teaching herself Yoruba, an exit strategy!” It’s always invigorating to be surrounded by activists doing their part to love, and that I have given them a particular chance to do so. I believe that African language. I am delighted that we were able to support her

speak truth to power and showing the people of the world the power the message of MCCNY in urging all of us to “come out” is one of providing through the college application process, so that she can pursue a A key message for us was the need to force our politicians to that is theirs to claim. the world this opportunity, and I am grateful to be a witness to it. degree in her new area of interest – entrepreneurship. 6 redirect some of the military/defense funding towards areas that 3 New Arrivals Easter 2007 (photos by Montel Cherry) Mark Gilrain and Rob Lennon welcomed their sons, Ephraim Daniel Gilrain-Lennon and Dash Ronald Gilrain-Lennon into the world on March 16, 2007 (pictured at left). Rev. Pat Bumgardner baptized the twins on Saturday, June 2, 2007 in the James Chapel at Union Theological Seminary.

Andre Moreira and Jerome Dumaine welcomed their new son, Sebastien Moreira-Dumaine (at right) into the world on May 16, 2007. Sebastien joins his older brother, Alexandre Moreira-Dumaine. Alexandre, 4, is an active member of MCCNY’s Sunday School.

Shimmerplanet Congratulations to Shimmerplanet (at left) for winning the TIMMY Award for "Best Band 2006" at the Tenth Annual Talent in Motion Magazine Awards. (Photo by Valerie King) Tom’s Garden Tom’s Garden, named in memory of Mary Jane Gibney’s brother, is lovingly and beautifully maintained by Jean Schwartz, a horticulturist for the City of New York. (Photo by William Moran-Berberena) Finishing School at MCCNY After their dinner on the last Thursday of every month, members of The Finishing School held its final session the Trans community move from Metropolitan Community Church in May and will hold its graduation on of New York’s first floor dining area to its third floor Gallery. There, Stonewall Sunday, June 17, 2007 at the Clergy Call to Action amidst paintings and photographs, stained glass and hand-made 11 a.m. Celebration. The valedictorian will On Monday, April 16th, 2007 the Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator of have the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, greeting cards, participants from the Bread of Life Dinner share receive a new business suit purchased and Metropolitan Community Churches and the Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Senior including the right to be gainfully employed without fear of losing our secrets and tips on everything from tucking to tailoring. They fitted specifically for her. Pastor of MCCNY and chair of Metropolitan Community Church’s Global jobs because of our sexual orientation or gender identity. Today, 90% of are part of what is affectionately known as “Rev. Pat’s Finishing Plans are underway for next fall’s class. All Justice Team, gathered with clergy from all 50 states in Washington D.C. Americans agree with us, we have come a long way. Job discrimination School for Tranny Girls.” agree, from participants to facilitators, the to call for the passage of the Matthew Shepard Act and the Employment is costly and unnecessary. Now is the time to end it once and for all. Each session, the girls cover a topic designed to address an area Finishing School is one of the most rewarding Non-Discrimination Act. There is still so much ignorance and irrationality when it comes to these that will help prepare them for the work world in New York City’s things they are part of in their lives. According to 365Gay.com, an LGBTQ news website, the Matthew issues, much of which is fed by religious biases. We are here today to competitive market. Shepard Act “…would allow the Department of Justice to assist local say that there are millions of us, straight, gay and otherwise who feel Professionals from design, hair and make-up, as well as volunteers skilled in crafting resumes and authorities in investigating and prosecuting cases in which violence very differently. We see in our religious roots and teachings a call to negotiating interviews, are all part of the “staff.” Ellen Lawlor from Redken, Flora Kay from MAC occurs and add gays and to the categories protected under justice, mercy and kindness, a call to a civil society of mutual respect, and Daniel Schnorbus and Kyle Kennedy from G.H. Bass are among those who have generously the legislation. justice and dignity for all. contributed their time and talent. Daniel, who attends MCCNY regularly, has been part of 3 “The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would address discrimination We also come today to say that Hate Crimes legislation is not about sessions and plans to continue with cycle 2 in September. in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to limiting free speech, or about theoretical crimes; but it is about real “The goal,” said Deacon Mel (pictured at right) “is to prepare the girls physically, emotionally and promote an employee simply based on the person’s sexual orientation acts that terrorize, maim and kill real people in our communities. spiritually for the challenge of getting a job in New York City.” — “It’s the most amazing thing I or gender identity. It would reinforce the principle that employment There are still people in our country who believe they are doing God have ever been part of,” added Board Member Nina , who dazzled the girls with decisions should be based on a person’s qualifications and job (pictured above) a favor when they intimidate, harm, bully or kill LGBT people. In the her story about giving Jackie O. a facial in 1975. “Everyone contributes and everyone benefits.” performance.” name of God, we rise up today, for Susan and Ryan, and so many “I know it is a blessing to the girls, because they say so,” says Rev. Pat, “but what really astounds Excerpts from Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson’s remarks are below: others whose names are forgotten, whose stories may never be told or me are the responses of the presenters and professionals. I think they've learned as much about “There was a time when gay, lesbian and bisexual people in America remembered. It is time for people of faith to repudiate religious-based what happens to us when we open our hearts and lives to one another, as the girls have learned. did not believe we deserved to be free from employment discrimination. hatred. It is hate that is Un-American. And now is the time for America The eagerness, the honesty and the courage of all the participants has created a very Fortunately, those days are over, and a younger generation now believes to be America for LGBT people.” 4 sacred space on that third floor.” (Photos by William Moran-Berberena) passionately that as hard-working, tax-paying, contributing citizens, we 5