Four minutes and 51 seconds of inspiration for a Labor Day Weekend!

from Susan Russell, LGBT Program Group Chair

I get these all the time ... the email or Facebook post that says "Must See" with a link to a You Tube clip. Sometimes I have time to check it out. And sometimes I don't. And when I do, sometimes I think "Whatever." And other times I think "Wow!"

And this was a "Wow." So thanks to the creator of "Testify to Love in the face of Prop 8" ... Enjoy!

Bishop Glasspool at work in the (Bakersfield) Fields of the Lord

Hat tip to Episcopal Cafe for this You Tube look at our Bishop Glasspool in Bakersfield (yes, the Bakersfield in the Diocese of San Joaquin!) on Sunday. Looks like a great time was had by all!

OC Pride: The Episcopal Church Welcomes YOU!

A great time was had by all at OCPride 2010 ... here are a some of the photos (thanks to Jim White and Rocky Covill!) of Bishops Diane & Mary and some of the Diocese of L.A/St. A&H "Episcopal Church Welcomes You" crew:


More photos ... and some video to come!

OC Pride TODAY!

Orange County PRIDE -- SATURDAY -- August 14 -- NOON-10 p.m.

HIDDEN VALLEY, IRVINE (Right next to Verizon Amphitheatre)
8808 Irvine Center Dr. Irvine, CA 92618

Check out the OCPride website for more information ... and do note that Bishop Mary Glasspool will be speaking from the main stage at 1:25 p.m. Come show your support, visit the St. A&H booth, witness to God's inclusive love for absolutely everybody ... and watch this blog for "film at eleven!"

BREAKING NEWS: Bishop Bruno on Landmark Marriage Equality Ruling

Bishop Bruno issues statement on Prop. 8 decision

Bishop J. Jon Bruno of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has issued the following statement on federal Judge Vaughn R. Walker's Aug. 4 decision on Proposition 8.

"Justice is advancing thanks to today's ruling affirming Californians' constitutional right to marriage in faithful, same-gender relationships.

"Although the appeal process will now challenge U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's decision on Proposition 8, my continuing prayer will be -- as the prophet Amos said -- for justice 'to roll down' and to prevail.

"To reiterate my statement of November 5, 2008: 'Proposition 8 is a lamentable expression of fear-based discrimination that attempts to deny the constitutional rights of some Californians on the basis of sexual orientation. It is only a matter of time before its narrow constraints are ultimately nullified by the courts and our citizens' own increasing knowledge about the diversity of God's creation.' "

Contact: Robert Williams, Canon for Community Relations
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
213 308 0222
rwilliams@ladiocese.org

DECISION DAY PRAYER RALLY: Tomorrow night downtown at Olvera Street

Prop. 8 Court Decision Response:
Over 15 LGBT and Ally Community Groups will gather at Los Angeles’ Center
in a Union of Communities Working Together for Social Justice

What: Los Angeles Rally and Community Response to Prop. 8 Ruling
Members of Latino, Asian/Pacific-Islander, African-American, Middle-Eastern, LGBT and other communities gather to show their solidarity for social justice after the District Court announces its decision on Proposition 8, the California legislation that bans marriage between same-sex couples.

When: August 4, 2010, 8 pm – 10 pm

Where: Olvera Street, across the street from Union Station. Take the Metro to Union Station,
Media van parking off Los Angeles Street from Alameda.

Who: People of Color Community leaders
Music by: Metropolitan Community Church LA Voices
Moral Compass to Justice, Latino Equality Alliance, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles, Love = Love, The Latino Democrats of LA County, The Wall Las Memorias, Love Honor and Cherish, CA Faith for Equality, Jordan/Rustin Coalition, Proyecto Orgullo of BIENESTAR, Equality California, HRC Los Angeles, Christopher Street West, El Centro Del Pueblo, Gay Straight Alliance

Why: Proposition 8 has the unique quality in that it denies Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender individuals, that come from every neighborhood in Los Angeles and from across the world, from marriage. Individuals of any religion, race, ethnicity, or gender, can agree that excluding any group of people from participating in society is wrong. The event will be held on Olvera Street as a tribute to the deep roots of diversity in Los Angeles.

“Community groups continue the hard work in our people of color communities to increase acceptance for LGBT people and issues. In spite of the court’s decision in our favor or not, this trial is not a "Mission Accomplished," explained Ari Gutierrez, Co-Chair of the Latino Equality Alliance. “Community groups gather on the day of the decision at Olvera Street to recommit to the necessary public education work and invite other social issue advocates to join in a shared prayer for social justice,” she added.

###

The Latino Equality Alliance is a coalition of Latino and other organizations dedicated to reaching out to the Latino community. The mission of the Latino Equality Alliance is to promote liberty, equality and justice for the Latino LGBT community.

La Alianza Latina para la Igualdad es una coalición de grupos Latinos y otras organizaciones dedicadas a hacer alcance a la comunidad Latina. La mission de la Alianza Latina para la Igualdad es promover la libertad, justicia y la igualdad para la comunidad Lésbica, Gay, Bisexual y Transgénero.

Diocese of Los Angeles Adopts Adoption Agency

Thanks to Episcopal Cafe for picking up this well-worth-re-telling story of Holy Family Adoption Agency and its good work here in Los Angeles:

The Huffington Post reports on the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and Bishop Jon Bruno helping an adoption agency when the Roman Catholic Church withdrew funding when the agency allowed same sex couples to adopt:

Community-based nonprofit organizations are struggling for their organizational lives these days. ... Maintaining one's donor base is supremely critical for any struggling nonprofit group.

Which is exactly why the recent story of a tiny organization named Holy Family Adoption Services in Los Angeles is pretty courageous.

Holy Family Adoption Services provides adoption, foster care, and family support services for infants and toddlers who are often born into very high-risk situations and require placement into a loving home. Since 1949, they have been helping these children whose mothers have been victimized themselves by family violence, or who suffer from addiction, or who are just ill-prepared for motherhood.
...
In 2007, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles made it clear that Holy Family would have to stop placing children with same-sex couples. Instead of giving in, the Holy Family Adoption Services board of directors ultimately decided that nothing was more important than providing loving and supportive homes for at-risk infants and children and that no otherwise qualified home should be closed to these children simply because of the gender and sexual orientation of the family members within it.

Enter Bishop Jon Bruno of the Episcopal Diocese. When Bishop Bruno learned of Holy Family's courage and fate, he invited the organization to be housed under the auspices of his church. This kept the organization alive.

Read the rest here ... and visit the Holy Family Services website to find out more about their great work and how you can support it!

====

*headline credit goes to Tom Smarek, Jr. via his comment over at Episcopal Cafe! (Thanks, Tom!)