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1.
TogetherMinnesota! Campaign Update...
December 8th, 6:30 - 8:30pm Community Update Meeting.
2. "Something to be Thankful
for..." a story of thanks from an OutFront
Minnesota volunteer.
3. Community Action Trainings...
4. People of Faith Meet at Shir Tikvah Synagogue...
5. Grant Announcements... OutFront
Minnesota Community Services receives grants from the John
Larsen Foundation and the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation.
6. OutFront Minnesota Legal Program
offering educational series...
7. OutFront Minnesota Launches
New Search Feature...
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Campaign Update:
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TogetherMinnesota!
It’s About More than Marriage
December 8, 6:30 - 8:30pm Campaign Update
Meeting
National HRC, Task Force, and National Center for
Transgender Equality To Speak.
The second Community Meeting has been set:
Dr. Martin Luther King Center
270 Kent Street, St. Paul
651-224-4601
What is the status of same-sex marriage in other
states? What pitfalls can we avoid in our campaign
that have been learned in other states? This and
more about our progress will be discussed in the
second TogetherMinnesota! update meeting on December
8th.
Our guests, Bo Shuff (national HRC staff - Washington,
D.C), Mara Keisling, (Executive Director of the
National Center for Transgender Equality), and Dave
Noble (Political Director of the Task Force - Washington
D.C.), will join us to share their insights on the
upcoming legislative battle, as well as other important
information about what’s happening nationally regarding
GLBT rights.
In addition, we will also give an overview of the
Pastor’s Summit Protest Rally in Eden Prairie and
the importance people of faith have in this campaign.
Whether you intend on getting actively involved
or want to know more information about what is happening,
this is the time to attend and show your support!
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"Something to be Thankful for..."
A story
of thanks from an OutFront Minnesota volunteer.
It’s
that time of year when Americans reflect and give thanks.
An OutFront Minnesota volunteer recently shared his story
of thanks:
“[When I volunteered at Pride] I met one young man who was
17 and living at home. He was deathly afraid of being found
out by his conservative family. But he was thrilled to discover
OutFront and even signed a postcard to his legislator, risking
the chance that he’d get return mail at his parents’ home.
It was a courageous act on his part. It reminded me how
important it is for each one of us to do what we can to
advance the cause, and how thankful we need to be for those
who take risks every day in doing so.”
What are you thankful for? If you’re thankful to have a
community organization that works year-round to build a
Minnesota where GLBT and allied people have the freedom,
power, and confidence to make the best decisions for their
own lives, make a contribution today to express your thanks.
Your
tax-deductible gift to OutFront Minnesota Community
Services will go a long way toward building a fair and welcoming
Minnesota.
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Community Action Trainings
On
December 15, 2005, TogetherMinnesota!, an affiliate of OutFront
Minnesota, will be kicking off Community Action Trainings
(CATs). These trainings will provide a space for GLBTA people
to meet throughout Minnesota to discuss how their local
grassroots organizing can continue to flourish during the
legislative session and beyond. Trained local and community
leaders will discuss concrete action plans, effective tools,
and a forum for exploring new ideas to expand our ally base.
Register now to be a part of the 1,000+ people who will
go through a CAT by the start of the legislative session.
Dates Currently Scheduled:
December 15, 2005
6:30 - 9:00pm
Eagan Community Center,
1501 Central Parkway, Eagan
Click here to register for a Community Action Training.
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People of Faith Meet at Shir Tikvah Synagogue
This
week, people of all faiths met at the Shir Tikvah Synagogue
to hear Rabbi Stacy Offner and the Jewish faith perspective
on same-sex marriage. Rabbi Offner gave an inspiring talk
that covered the key GLBT issues facing all religions today.
As
the first woman and openly lesbian rabbi in Minnesota, Rabbi
Offner gave a straight and candid response to those who
would claim their own religious beliefs to be the same for
all people of faith.
Regarding the amendment: “This amendment is absurd.
What we have to remember is there are some real people who
just don’t see the way we see. We need to engage in dialogue.
There is a staking of claim of property that people of faith
see things one certain way. Well, WE ARE PEOPLE OF FAITH
AND WE DON’T SEE THINGS THE SAME WAY. But, need to help
them see through a religious vocabulary/dialogue and challenge
the issues of those who claim to have the corner on the
religious market.”
Regarding the definition of marriage: “The purpose
of marriage in Jewish life and law is to create a partnership
with God in repairing the world. It is not to have children.”
In
addition, a 10-minute video was also shown to the group
from the Pastor’s Summit Protest Rally held in Eden Prairie.
Copies of the video are available at OutFront Minnesota
and can be purchased for $10. Contact
Lou Vlahos, Communications
Director, to place your order. Be sure to include all your
contact information.
The
next meeting is scheduled for January 9th and will be a
“people of faith” training on the amendment. Don’t
miss this event!
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Grant Announcements
OutFront
Minnesota Community Services receives grants from the John
Larsen Foundation and the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation.
Last
week, the John Larsen Foundation awarded OutFront Minnesota
Community Services a $20,000 grant to support our general
operations. The grant provides funding for the community
building, education, and direct service programs of OutFront.
This is the third grant that OFMCS has received from the
John Larsen Foundation.
The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation also awarded
a grant to OutFront Minnesota Community Services last week.
The $50,000 grant will support the next phase of OutFront
Minnesota’s justFair Campaign, our effort to create
systemic change in our state by developing grassroots support
for human rights and moving the needle of public opinion
from negative to positive on GLBT issues. The Jay and Rose
Phillips Family Foundation has been a staunch supporter
of OutFront Minnesota Community Services for several years.
OutFront Minnesota Community Services wishes to thank the
John Larsen Foundation and the Jay and Rose Phillips Family
Foundation for their generous support. These foundations
join the Bush Foundation, the Gill Foundation, the Headwaters
Foundation for Justice, the Minneapolis Foundation, the
Minnesota State Bar Foundation, and the Saint Paul Travelers
Foundation in proudly supporting the work of OutFront Minnesota
Community Services.
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OutFront Minnesota Legal Program
offering educational series
Every
week, the OutFront Minnesota Legal Program receives inquiries
from members of the GLBT community with questions about
a wide range of legal issues. Now, community members have
the opportunity to attend free and informal presentations
by local attorneys to learn more about their rights under
the law -- or challenges the laws present. The sessions
are scheduled to take place in Minneapolis on Jan. 3rd,
Feb. 7th, and March 7th, 2006. Visit us
online for more information and to register (space IS
limited!)
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OutFront Minnesota Launches New
Search Feature
As
is often the case with rapidly growing web sites, the more
information you make available to visitors—sometimes the
harder it can become to find a particular piece of information
quickly. With the OutFront Minnesota web site now approaching
400 pages of resources, organizational directories, voting
records, news stories, action alerts, and other useful items,
we decided it was time to add a full-featured search engine.
We always try to keep our online resources organized, but
a quick
search can be helpful on occasion!
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Looking
for something to do?
Events
of interest to the GLBT and allied community.
OutFront
Minnesota's web-based community calendar is THE place to
check for events and happenings this summer. Are you
planning an event that you want the GLBT and allied community
to know about? It's easy to
submit your event! OutFront Minnesota is proud
to offer community organizations this opportunity to reach
others.
Check it out each week for more current events!
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