Previous Community and Advocacy Events
On October 10th, 2021 we rallied for Trans Rights!
Bainbridge Community UCC, LGBTQ+ Allies of Lake County, and Equality Ohio partnered with Community Church of Chesterland and Social Justice Advocacy Ministry of Federated Church Chagrin Falls, and Geauga SOGI to hold a rally for Transgender Rights. Between 105 and 110 people were supported, showed support, learned more and did more for the affirmation and equal treatment of transgender people. Speakers gave perspectives on what it means to parent a transgender child and be a transgender person in a time when forces of exclusion are seeking to stigmatize and marginalize the trans community. Equality Ohio also gave an update on events and actions in Ohio and attendees were invited to write public officials then and there.
Why?
The Ohio legislature is considering legislation to stigmatize transfemale athletes. Ohio High School Athletic Association spokesman Tim Stried said that goes against the regulating agency’s mission. “All student athletes should have the opportunity to participate in jr. high and high school sports, and that includes transgender student athletes.” He said OHSAA currently screens transgender girls to make sure they don’t present an unfair advantage. “The policy is set-up to include medical science and a doctor and there are certainly steps that need to be taken to get approval,” said Stried.[i] No transfemale owns a state wide record, so there is no epidemic of transfemale athletes preventing other females from winning. Additionally, the Attorney General of Ohio has joined a lawsuit trying to stop federal agencies from enforcing equality in schools, colleges, and the workplace. Those who believe in equality and fairness must stand up and speak against such things.
Be the Change
Before these terrible things come to pass we must work to ensure all people are given an equal and fair shot to enjoy all life as to offer. As Americans we hold that all people are created equal and endowed by their creator with the rights to life, liberty and dignity. As Christians, we believe God's Utopic Vision for all Humanity includes building a society centered on love, inclusivity, and justice for people. This rally presented the opportunities for: the trans community to gather safely in an affirming place and speak their truth, parents found a place to share their love for their children publicly and fight for the best possible future for them.
HB322, 327, 454, and 616 work together to make Ohio less welcoming, less educated, and less likely to succeed. Ohio needs to be attracting top talent and younger residents. Younger Americans are more diverse, expect things like racism, sexism, homophobia and the like to be discouraged in school, and for children to get the healthcare they need. Passing these bills weakens Ohio, and hurts too many Ohioans. Come to 17751 Chillicothe Rd, Bainbridge on Saturday, September 24th at 11am and learn more so you can do more.
Why These Bills Must Be Stopped
These bills would erase the experiences and acknowledgement of minority communities in Ohio. These bills issue a gag order on the discussion of racism and other “divisive topics” in our schools, force teachers to remove ethical or critical education from historical and contemporary controversies, and empower an unnamed panel to decide later what other ideas are too “dangerous” for teachers to teach students. 616 also bans any discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation from K-3 education. Kids with same-sex parents would be banned from discussing their families. It is written so sloppily even teaching the concept of “boys and girls” could expose schools to lawsuits. HB 454 bans gender-affirming care for children, inserting politicians into a decision best left to doctors and parents.
Hiding America’s Diversity Won’t Stop It
America has been through this kind of diversity hysteria before. We saw it with Italian immigrants at the turn of the 19th Century, the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights Movements of the 20th, and now the Trans Rights Movement of the 21st. Opponents of people who are different from them always panic and run around talking of “Traditional Americans” being under attack. Nonsense. America has always been shaping and reshaping itself, but always at it’s core is the idea of liberty: to be able to live ones life free of persecution and harassment. Stopping these bills is critical if we want Ohio to be a place of liberty, honesty, and justice. Please join:
Bainbridge Community UCC
Community Church of Chesterland
Federated Church’s Social Justice Advocacy Ministry
East Shore United Universalist Church
Honesty for Ohio Education
And others as we gather to learn how we can do more to stop these bills from allowing a small group to decide who gets to be American and who doesn’t.
Anyone who would like to help organize or staff the rally please email info@bainbridgecommunityucc.org with the subject “Rally”
A gathering for parents whose kids had come out
You and your child are not alone
This event was for parents of kids who have come out as LGBTQ and were looking for help in navigating how to support and affirm their child. Parents who had been through this process told their stories, suggested resources and answered questions. This event was open to any parent of an LGBTQ child who needs a safe place to ask questions and seek support in how to be the best possible parent they can be to their beloved child of God.
In Partnership with
This group was a partnership between Bainbridge Community UCC, Hiram College, LGBT Center in Cleveland, and the LGBTQ+ Allies of Lake County.