The First Congregational Church of Stoughton, United Church of Christ (UCC), is an Open and Affirming (ONA) church, extending a public and definitive welcome to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people into the full life and ministry of the church.
Since 1999, the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns has set aside November 20 to remember transgender people who have been killed because of their gender identity or expression. The majority of these crimes have never been solved.
Despite many advances in gay rights, the transgender community still faces hurdles in the struggle for equality, protection, and basic civil rights; for instance, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" does not secure the right of transgender citizens to serve openly in the armed forces. Yesterday, after six years of lobbying on Beacon Hill, Massachusetts' transgender community won civil rights protections that have long been extended to other minority groups when Beacon Hill approved a bill which would forbid discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, and credit, as well as add gender identification to the Massachusetts hate crimes law. However, across the country, many civil-rights ordinances protect lesbian and gay citizens from discrimination but not our transgender neighbors. And the rate of suicide and attempted suicide in the transgender community is the highest for any group in the country: a staggering 41 percent.
I will be incorporating into Sunday’s Pastoral Prayer the following words of Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, UCC Executive for Health and Wholeness Advocacy, and invite you to use this prayer in your private devotions as you remember those who have been killed because of their gender identity or expression, and those who continue to struggle for equality, protection, and basic civil rights.
A Prayer for Transgender Day of Remembrance
God of creation, Source of life, we behold your newness with each new day.
We watch how the seasons transition from winter to spring to summer to fall and then the cycle is renewed.
Your creative process of life is ever before us in all its diversity and human life is no exception.
As we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance, we pray with thanksgiving for those whose lives have been cut short by fear, hatred, and violence because they were perceived to be different,
because they had the courage to live their lives with integrity and openness,
because they did not conform to someone else’s view of how they should live.
We remember and give thanks
for the seasons of their lives,
for the love and friendships they shared
and the ways in which their living
has been a gift to us all.
Be present to those of us who are grieving,
may your peace rest on us.
Be present to those of us who are angry,
may the power of your love inspire and embolden us
to use our anger to dismantle hate,
the fear of difference and all that incites violence.
And send us out into the world
with the wisdom and guidance of your Spirit
and with evangelical courage
that we may work in solidarity with one another
to build your community of welcome, justice and peace.
We pray in the name of the Christ, who transforms the world. Amen.
God of creation, Source of life, we behold your newness with each new day.
We watch how the seasons transition from winter to spring to summer to fall and then the cycle is renewed.
Your creative process of life is ever before us in all its diversity and human life is no exception.
As we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance, we pray with thanksgiving for those whose lives have been cut short by fear, hatred, and violence because they were perceived to be different,
because they had the courage to live their lives with integrity and openness,
because they did not conform to someone else’s view of how they should live.
We remember and give thanks
for the seasons of their lives,
for the love and friendships they shared
and the ways in which their living
has been a gift to us all.
Be present to those of us who are grieving,
may your peace rest on us.
Be present to those of us who are angry,
may the power of your love inspire and embolden us
to use our anger to dismantle hate,
the fear of difference and all that incites violence.
And send us out into the world
with the wisdom and guidance of your Spirit
and with evangelical courage
that we may work in solidarity with one another
to build your community of welcome, justice and peace.
We pray in the name of the Christ, who transforms the world. Amen.
