LGBTQ+ and Reproductive Justice

Vote Yes on 4 Rally fills Lake Eola seats

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The following was selected from an article written by Jessica Corbett of Common Dreams:

The court’s early-April decision to let Floridians weigh in on abortion rights “underscores the crucial role of Florida’s ballot initiative process, which provides voters an important opportunity to take the reins when politicians aren’t representing our interests,” Yes on 4 campaign director Lauren Brenzel said earlier this month. She also said,” Polls have consistently shown well over 60% of Florida voters support limiting government intrusion in the personal healthcare decision of accessing abortion care,” she pointed out. Notably, the measure needs that percent of support to pass.“

Dr. Marian Sampson, an OB-GYN with Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, told the Sentinel, “Trust me when I say there is no medical reason for abortion bans and there is no medical reason for the government to be forcing their way into our exam rooms and standing between me and my patients. Link to photos here.

THE PLEDGE Central Florida at 1U and Beyond

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Commit at 1U and online at the website below.

“Hate cannot drive out hate,
only love can do that.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Right here in Central Florida, many in our community are living in fear — fear for their own safety, fear for the well-being of their children, and fear of practicing their religion and identifying with their culture.

This IS who we are

We are committed to the promise that Central Florida is a safe community for all who live here and for all future generations. We pledge to protect and value each of our neighbors, especially those who are being threatened or feel unsafe. 

We are committed to the promise that Central Florida is a safe community for all who live here and for all future generations. We pledge to protect and value each of our neighbors, especially those who are being threatened or feel unsafe. 

I WILL lead by example, treating all people, especially those with whom I disagree, with kindness and respect.

I WILL refrain from inflammatory words and actions, and actively support those being attacked.

I WILL report threatening incidents of hate and violence to 800-423 TIPS (8477)

I WILL educate myself about antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and all other forms of discrimination, and help others in my circle of influence to do the same. I WILL lead by example, treating all. See website and learn more.

YES ON 4 – Saturday, April 13 Lake Eola at Noon

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Starting at Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park at 195 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801

Parking:Downtown Orlando hosts ample paid street parking and paid public parking garages. Costs and availability will vary. It is recommended that attendees arrive early with enough time to find parking. There are a few nearby paid parking lots/garages that are within 2 blocks walking distance to the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park.

Signs and Posters:

From the Promoters of the Amendment:

We welcome and encourage our supporters to bring their signs. We will have a limited number of printed signs to offer to folks who are unable to make their own signs. It is extremely important that any homemade signs remain on message and absolutely no partisan messaging or coat hanger imagery will be permitted at our rally. These are losing messages and we have a responsibility to 84k patients to WIN. If you bring an off message sign, our staff will ask you to put your sign in your car and will give you a printed placard to use. Please keep the following messaging points in mind as you craft your signs.

Key Sign Making Tips

Labels do not work. Don’t use “pro-choice” or “pro-life” Lead with empathy- we don’t know a person’s situation.

Stress that the government should not interfere with medical decisions between patients and doctors

Don’t focus on partisan politics, focus on removing governmental interference with abortion

Do’s

Vote Yes on 4

Limit Government Interference With Abortion

Stop Political Interference Doctors Not Politicians

Don’ts

Don’t say Anything about EITHER political party or candidates. Example: NO signs for or against Trump, DeSantis, Biden, Debbie Mucarsel Powell, etc. or anything about candidates running for any level of public office.

No coat hanger/ violent imagery

Keep the Government out of our healthcare.

No handmaids tale costumes

No antiquated labels like “pro-life” or “pro-choice”

Agenda:We will be beginning our rally promptly at 12 PM. We will gather at the amphitheater where we will hear directly from patients, providers, and partners that have been negatively impacted by Florida’s Abortion Bans. After our speaker rally we will grab our signs and march and chant around the park to show our strength in numbers. We anticipate our rally to end around 2 PM. Absolutely no elected officials or partisan leaders will be invited to speak at our rally as we believe ALL politicians should be removed from interfering with abortion.

Safety & Security:By attending this rally, you are agreeing to abide by Yes on 4’s non engagement policy. This means that regardless of what sort of presence we might have at our rally by anti’s, you will not engage visually, verbally, or physically.If you choose to engage with any opposition, you will be removed from our event.

We will have safety marshals, private security, and uniformed police officers present at our rally to ensure everyone’s safety. We ask for all of our attendees to remain alert and if you see something, say something to our team which will be identifiable by their bright yellow safety vests.

Help us get word out! Help us grow our rally, utilize resources from our partner toolkit to invite your networks to join us as we rally to end the 6 week abortion ban.

Gmail – How to prepare: Rally to End the 6-week Abortion Ban

If you have any questions, please reach out to volunteer@ floridiansprotectingfreedom.com

International Transgender Day of Visibility

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Each year on March 31, the Human Rights Coalition (HRC) honors International Transgender Day of Visibility! The following is taken from the HRC website:

We celebrate the joy and resilience of trans and non-binary people everywhere by elevating voices and experiences from these communities.

There are over 1.6 million trans, non-binary and gender-expansive youth (age 13+) and adults across the United States. We are parents and family members. We are your coworkers, your neighbors and your friends. We are a diverse community, representing all racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as all faith traditions.

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Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20

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From History.com at https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-transgender-day-of-remembrance

November 20, 1999 marks the first Transgender Day of Remembrance, honoring the victims of transphobic violence. Now an annual observance, the first TDoR is a vigil commemorating Rita Hester, a 34-year-old African American trans woman murdered in Boston the previous year.

Hester had been openly trans for nearly her whole life and was well-known in the Boston neighborhood of Allston. She and her friends were all too familiar with violence against trans people—just a few months before her death, Hester had responded to a Boston paper’s question about the murder of another Black transgender woman, Chanelle Pickett, saying “I’m afraid of what will happen if [the perpetrator] gets off lightly.”

See here for events at UUA and in Orlando. Link here to add events you know about.

Continue reading →

Transgender Awareness Week Nov 13-19

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From the GLAAD WEBSITE https://glaad.org/

Each year between November 13 – 19, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help increase understanding about transgender people and the issues members of the community face.

Trans Awareness Week takes place the week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20. Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence that year.

Read more about Transgender Awareness Week (Semana de Concientización Transgénero en espagnol).

What is Transgender Awareness Week?

Transgender Awareness Week is a week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the trans community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community.

For more about how GLAAD has observed Transgender Awareness Week this year and through the years, check out: https://glaad.org/tag/trans-awareness-week

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Pride Parade was alive with joy and pride

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Rev. Margalie, 1U minister, and Judith, 1U CRE director, and 1U Board President, Paul, guided our truck and trailer while Rev. Tracie of University UU Fellowship led the combined UU Orlando contingent holding the Side with Love Banner along the Parade route. All along the route as well as at the booth, fans that proclaimed, “We Want to Marry You” and “We Say Gay” were given out. Our parade vehicle proudly communicated UU values with signs, banners, and colors. See SmugMug for more photos here for more photos. Thank you Joan, former Board president of 1U and University UU volunteers for sharing their UU values and support for LGBTQUIA+ with hundreds of walkers along Lake Eola.

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Pride Week Song at First United Methodist Church

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The music at the Pride Event on Thursday night at the First United Methodist Church in Orlando was joyous but their joy could not totally soften the sad and angry messages of the advocacy groups sharing the stage with them. LGBTQ+ people are feeling attacked and they wanted to be sure the audience understood the situation in their worlds due to the Florida legislation.

Also, I learned that all UMC churches now admit LGBTQ+ people as members on the same basis as everyone else. Thus, their churches permit same sex weddings in the church and accept ministers regardless of sexual preference. And, with this recent change, all the churches opposing gay rights have left the denomination. Photos of the Orlando Gay Chorus taken by Gaye Reese, a member of the 1U choir who reported on this event.

PRIDE PARADE ON OCTOBER 21

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Sign up using the above QR code and see all 1U Parade info.

1U is excited to be participating once again in Orlando’s Pride Parade on October 21, 2023. 

We will have a booth during the festival and will also participate in the parade and will have limited rider spots. 

Volunteer for: Booth duty will consist of 3 shifts during the day under a tent in the shade.  

You can also Sign up here for the parade and booth time.

We will be meeting at the parade staging area 2 hours before the parade starts at announced 4:00pm.  We will load up the decorating supplies before then and will have them with us.  Please bring any additional flags or banners you would like to share for the decorating of the trailer and truck.

We expect to stage just off North Orange Avenue (cross street to be sent as soon as provided).

The parade route is approximately 1 mile long and we anticipate lots of standing and waiting so wear your walking shoes, bring sunscreen, your water bottle, and a hat.  We will have handouts to give away along the route and to be passed out at our booth. At the end of the parade expect to be turned onto East Robinson Street to return to de-decorate the float.

Parade Schedule:

2:00pm –  Show up to decorate and prep at the staging area-sign up so we can tell you where the truck and trailer are waiting for you. Sign up so we know to send you location.

3:30pm –  Show up to walk and ride with 1U– Meet at North Orange Avenue and (cross street to be sent as soon as provided)

4:00pm – Parade starts

5:30pm – Expect to be back at 1U

Should you have any questions, please email pknight@orlandouu.org or you can call Paul at 407-614-7285.

And, be sure to include in Sunday’s schedule, The WE BELIEVE IN SHOWING UP at 1:pm at NE Lake Eola  to proclaim that LOVE > HATE

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