Some Good News Stories in Bleak Times: Successful Lawsuits for LGBTQIA2S+ People, and Governors Who Don't Support Hate

Technically, I'm on vacation of sorts. Yet that doesn't mean I don't read the newspapers on-line, or surf various websites for stories about us in the LGBTQIA2S+ community who are people of faith.

Amid the stories of Ukraine's tragedy, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's hearings, along with with "Don't Say Gay" bills in FL, popping up now in states like Georgia, and anti-transgender affirming care bills in TX and other states, along with LGBTQIA2S+ books being banned in libraries, with Governors signing anti-transgender athlete bills, there were two stories that showed that there are lights of good sense and hope also being lit across the land. 

One good news story came from Washington state, next door to me in Oregon. The story was about Matthew Woods, a bisexual lawyer who lives with his same sex partner, who was denied a job as a lawyer, working with Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. Why? "'He was told before he applied that his application would be rejected because the organization’s “code of conduct excludes homosexual activity.' Woods sued, arguing that the organization violated state law by discriminating against him on the basis of his sexual orientation," said the Associated Press story. Even though he had worked as a volunteer with the organization for three years, he was denied the opportunity to even apply for the position because of his sexual orientation.

But, behold: The State of Washington has a strong anti-discrimination law that protects the hiring and employment of LGBTQIA2S+ people. And the Washington Supreme Court overruled a lower court which ruled in favor of the Union Gospel Mission, and ruled in favor of Matthew Woods. And the Supreme Court of the US chose not to consider or rule over the Washington Supreme Court, and let the ruling "be," as it were. 

Good News!

Here's the link to this story: https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2022/03/supreme-court-says-bisexual-lawyer-can-pursue-discrimination-suit-against-seattle-religious-group.html

And in the states of Utah and Indiana, the Governors both vetoed bills that were discriminatory against transgender athletes, specifically MTF transgender women playing in high school sports. Citing the rising rate of suicide among transgender people. These Governors are also seeing the legal bill that is high in states in which Governors passed such bills in Arkansas and W. Virginia, and didn't want the same financial burden.

Here's the link to this story: https://19thnews.org/2022/03/indiana-utah-governors-veto-anti-transgender-sports-bills/

We once had a President (the first President Bush), who liked to talk about the "thousand points of light," lights of hope and good will. These stories are part of the constellation of lights that are happening in our world today for and with and by and to LGBTQIA2s+ people.

May it be so.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reflections on the Day The United Methodist Church Came Into the 21st Century

Welcome, members of The United Methodist Church (UMC), who, this day, May 1st, 2024, joined the 21st century, affirming the presence and welcoming those of us who are LGBTQIA2S+ people to be ordained, to serve churches, to marry, and to officiate at other weddings of same sex couples. Heck, you can now even use funds from within the UMC to pursue funding programs that assist people who are LGBTQIA2S+ in being and becoming more of the body of Christ through the practices of Methodism. Imagine: You can now focus on other issues that are facing Christendom! Hunger. Poverty. Peace-making programs. Gun control. Global climate. Houselessness. You name it. Praise God. Here’s a link to the news:  https://religionnews.com/2024/05/01/united-methodists-strike-down-ban-on-ordination-of-gay-clergy/  This day was, indeed, a long way in coming. 1972 is when that horrible language was published as part of your Constitution. Richard Nixon was President. HIV/AIDS was not yet an issue.  I’v...
Read more

The Threat of Stoning a Black Gay Man in Oregon! Time to Rise Up!

 As reported by Rachel Shatto in the Advocate.com website on Aug. 5, 2021 (that is 2021), Eric Osterberg, who is assistant to the city manager of Klamath Falls and staff-lead for the city's equity task force, was about to deliver a report on equity in the city before the city council when a man stood up with a stone the size of his hand and said to Eric: "Oh, so you think we are all racists? You think you are the second coming of Christ?" The man then accused Eric of spreading HIV and AIDS, saying he was blasphemous for being a Black gay man. The man continued: "You are a sinner and you need to be stoned. That is why I brought this stone."  The man with the stone was simply escorted out of the building by Klamath Falls police chief Robert Dentinger and simply released and sent home rather than being arrested, though Dentinger said he may have to talk with the man with the stone more in the future. You think? "The incident left Osterberg shaken. 'I felt ...
Read more

Discriminating in the Name of God at Calvin University

I read this article on advocate.com, by Trudy Ring, about an assistant professor on the faculty of Calvin University, who was fired from his position at Calvin because he officiated at a wedding of a same sex couple. The by-line? " Joseph Kuilema lost his job with Calvin University after officiating a queer couple's wedding. He's disgusted that the school discriminates in the name of God. ” That about says it all. Yes, the University is discriminating against LGBTQIA2S+ people and allies. I don’t get it. There are a lot of  smart, creative, insightful people at Calvin University. They don’t have to “buy” into the conservative politics of the Christian Reformed Church, of which they are connected. They are an institution of higher education. Surely, they can see discrimination when it is around them in the Grand Rapids area.  But apparently they are all right with openly practicing discrimination among themselves, especially when it comes to LGBTQIA2S+ people.  F...
Read more