Transgender Youth - In The News

Following is a link to the front page article of the Ottawa Citizen on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, “NEEDS OF TRANS YOUTH”.  In the article, Dr. Margaret Lawson, an endocrinologist at CHEO, draws attention to the need for timely mental health support for transgender youth.  She has been working at CHEO with trans youths for 16 years and notes that with greater support for trans youth they may have improved mental health as adults. 

Trans youth need more timely health care, says Ottawa ...https://ottawacitizen.com › news › local-news › trans-yo…

On October 20th the front page article reported on a B.C. man traveling across Canada to protest hormone therapy for trans youth.  Ottawa Carleton District School Board advised the man would be demonstating at Broadview Public School.  Many parents, students and supporters for trans people turned out to reassure trans youth that they are loved.  Here is a link to the full article and a youtube interview with some of those in attendance.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/trans-friendly-counter-protesters-drown-out-protester-at-westboro-school

Pensions and Same Sex Spouses - CN

 On Monday, CBC reported a story about a man who had been denied a survivor's pension from CN because when his same sex partner had retired from CN in 1991, the pension plan did not recognize same sex relationships.

You can read the story here:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ken-haire-cn-rail-harbour-grace-same-sex-marriage-1.6008873

 

Today, CN revised their position.

Read about it here:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cn-updates-pension-same-sex-partners-1.6014784 

 

Sometimes, just shining a light on an inequity can cause change.

 

Declaring the Sanctity of Life & Dignity of All

On December 16th, 2020 a groundbreaking event was held in London, England to declare the sanctity and dignity of LGBT+ lives. It was attended in person and virtually by religious leaders from around the world.  A Declaration was initiated at the meetiing seeking to end worldwide discrimination against LGBT+ including practices such as conversion therapy and crimiinalization of LGBT+ lives.
 
Over 370 religious leaders from numerous religions in 35 countries have signed the Declaration. The signatories include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and eight other archbishops, the Catholic former president of Ireland Mary McAleese, more than 60 rabbis, and senior Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists.


At the same meeting, a Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives was established. The purposes of the Commission include providing the authoritative voices of religious leaders seeking an end to discrimination against LGBT+ people worldwide.

The following link will take you to a short video showing some of these leaders speaking the words of the Declaration. The video is on the Commission website. Signatures of religious leaders continue to be gathered there.
https://globalinterfaith.lgbt
 
It should be noted that the Commission and the Declaration were celebrated at Westminster Abbey. This event was led by the Deans of Westminster and St. Paul's Cathedral and backed by the Government of the U.K. The worldwide Anglican Communion continues to be split over whether to acknowledge LGBT+ rights and full participation in Anglican life. Furthermore many religions worldwide do not acknowledge LGBT+ rights at all. The Declaration signatories are working to change this tragic situation.

We remain in hope that the new year will bring new acceptance for LGBTQ+ people worldwide and look forward to when we can meet with KUC members to determine KUC's commitment to becoming an Affirming Congregation within the United Church of Canada'.  

Further pertinent articles may be found at:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/16/senior-faith-leaders-call-for-global-decriminalisation-of-lgbt-people?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/religious-leaders-call-for-global-ban-on-gay-conversion-therapies/ar-BB1bYPvd?fbclid=IwAR3tcRZtaZWvlqvOU-AEgVatsmhgREAE_V3cS14PrV3NQiIB--tcasmjq8g
 

Prize Winning Starbucks Ad

Annual reports,  a presentation for the annual meeting, and making sure we are ready for the Special Congregation Meeting has taken a back seat to the blog lately. We will try to get back to once a week postings.

As an uplifting first post of the new year, here is a commercial that won Starbucks a diversity award in Great Britain.

https://youtu.be/pcSP1r9eCWw

Starbucks comment on the commercial was this:

At Starbucks, writing your name on a cup and calling it out is a symbol of our warm welcome. It’s a small gesture, but it's symbolic of what we believe in: Recognition and acceptance, whoever you are, or want to be. We welcome everyone. 

Conversion Therapy - Why is this in the news?

The Prime Minister recently announced that the federal government would be looking into changes in the criminal code to stop groups from offering "conversion therapy".
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conversion-therapy-criminal-code-1.5204919

Conversion therapy seeks to change a person's sexual orientation and "convert" gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons into hetrosexuals. This practice has been shown not to work and to cause harm.
At present, it is banned in Ontario, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia.

More information can be found here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/conversion-therapy-what-you-need-to-know-1.5209598

In the past, the federal government had said that the banning of conversion therapy was a provincial and territorial responsibility.  Here are some of the legal challenges that may hamper banning this practice.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conversion-therapy-ban-federal-government-1.5205696

Conversion therapy was the subject of the book "Boy Erased" by Garrard Conley. A movie by the same name, based on the book was released in 2018. The book is available from the church library. The movie is available from several streaming services and as a DVD from the Ottawa Public Library.

In Support of Ladner United Church

I was visiting British Columbia, last week, and saw this on the TV in the breakfast room of our hotel.

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/it-s-very-hurtful-pride-flag-defaced-outside-ladner-church-again-1.4469037

I was thinking how sad this was and thinking I needed to pass this on to the other members of the Affirm Team.

Then I heard the man at the next table say to his dining companion “Why in hell would a church have a flag like THAT.”

My first response was to throw my coffee at him, but thought better of it. After all we needed a place to stay for a few more nights. Instead, I sat and steamed.

Now that I have had time to think about this, I would like to tell that gentleman why a church would have a flag like that. It is because we are called to love our neighbours. It is an open sign of loving support for the LGBTQ2+ community and a sign to all that this is a safe place.

I will be writing a letter of support to Ladner United Church. I will have it at church on Sunday, if anyone else would like to sign the letter. If you won't be there on sunday, send us an email and I will add your name to the letter. affirm@kuc.ca

As we seek to become an affirming church, may we have the courage to show the community what we believe.