April 20, 2010, City & Commonwealth (63), Equality (12), In the News (Richmond) (74)
Posted by Wallace+
I hope everyone saw Sunday's front-page RTD article, "How do LGBT people fare in the area?" Our own Cathy Vaughn and Katie Fessler were both part of a discussion hosted by the RTD. Bravo, Cathy and Katie. Thank you both for your witness and leadership. (You can listen to some of Katie's insights in the below video clip.)
In the section "Education for allies," Katie shares the following wisdom/story:
Fessler: Language is so important. There was a corporate executive someplace where I used to work, and
we were chit-chatting. And he asked me if I'm married. And I said, "I
have a partner. Her name's Cathy." And instead of freaking out or
blanching or diving under the table, he did a really great thing. He
said, "Let me ask you a question." I said, "Absolutely."
And he said, "Are we not supposed to ask people anymore if they're
married? Have we gotten to a place where, in the workplace, we're not
supposed to be curious?" And I said, "Some people might assert that. I
actually think the opposite is true, that people do their best work when
they're whole people. What we can do is make really conscious choices
about our use of language."
And he said, "Help me understand. What should I say?" And I just love
this guy for being so curious and real and open and not afraid. And I
said, "You could choose to ask, 'Do you have a spouse or a partner?'
You'll invite the person a step closer to you instead of throwing up one
of these automatic barriers, never meaning to do so."
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June 18, 2009, City & Commonwealth (63), Equality (12), Faith & Politics (33), In the News (Richmond) (74)
Posted by Wallace+
Yesterday, Governor Tim Kaine's Latino Liaison distributed an article about a disturbing rise in hate crimes against Latinos and individuals who are gay or lesbian:
Hate crimes targeting Hispanic Americans rose 40 percent from 2003 to
2007, the most recent year for which FBI statistics are available, from
426 to 595 incidents, marking the fourth consecutive year of increases.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund issued a report
that faulted anti-immigrant rhetoric in the media and mobilization of
extremist groups on the Internet. The conference said that some groups
advocating for tighter immigration laws have invoked "the dehumanizing,
racist stereotypes and bigotry of hate groups."
... The FBI reported in October that the number of hate crimes dropped
in 2007 by about 1 percent, to 7,624. But violence against Latinos and
gay people bucked the trend. The number of hate crimes directed at gay
men and lesbians increased about 6 percent, the FBI reported.
This article saddens me for so many reasons. Yet, here at St. Paul's I see so many
instances of compassion and understanding that give me hope. For our
"Such Great Heights" movement, a number of you wrote that you'd like to
see even more of an open welcome to people who are gay or lesbian.
Also, this Saturday, we will host a "Concert for Caring" with the
Sonorous Brass Quartet, directed by Bartolo Vargas of Puerto Rico. We
have extended an enthusiastic and open invitation to all communities to
attend this event, including the Hispanic community, with the
announcement even being translated into Spanish and appearing the
publication Nuevas Raices.
All this got me to thinking.... In the face of the sad rise in hateful
speech and hate crimes in this country, I can't think of a better
response than our own rising tide of welcome, friendship, and, yes, love to all communities. Here at St. Paul's, we strive to set an example as Christians that, regardless of
our differences of opinion, on immigration or politics or any other
matter, we can agree that there is no place for the dehumanization of
God's children; no place for hatred in God's church on Grace Street, no
place nowhere.
Let us pray that, in the face of hate, we all would embody God's
love; in the face of fear, God's compassion; and, in the face of
ugliness, God's exquisite and unyielding grace.
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