The November focus for the Welcoming Congregation Re-certification process is the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), November 20. This is a time for individuals and communities to remember the loss by murder of transgender people, gender-variant individuals and those perceived to be transgender.

Please join us in the Fellowship Hall at 7:30 pm Tuesday, November 15 for a movie and discussion on transgender issues. Good congregation participation is vital for the re-certification to be successful. A Welcoming Congregation certification confirms the congregation’s openness toward LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer and asexual) individuals and communities. Re-certification efforts involve a monthly movie with a discussion group, a monthly newsletter article, and a review of the congregation’s efforts over the past five years for inclusive language. The process will be completed in time for the congregation to vote on renewing our Welcoming Congregation certification at the annual meeting on May 21.

The lives of transgender individuals are often difficult. They face disproportionate rates of unemployment, poverty, harassment, homelessness, assault, and various forms of discrimination and mistreatment. Each year, many are murdered because of anti-transgender hatred and prejudice. The TDOR site lists all of the souls memorialized on this day in 2016.