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November 7, 2008 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 7

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Franklin Circle Church becomes 'Open and Affirming'

by Rev. Allen V. Harris

Cleveland-On Sunday, October 12, one day after National Coming Out Day, Franklin Circle Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) voted without dissent to become an Open and Affirming, Anti-Racism/ProReconciling and Accessible to All Congregation.

A revised mission statement now explicitly elucidates the church's calling to welcome and affirm all persons in the life of the church, regardless of gender, race, age, culture, ethnic background, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, or difference in ability. In this way it is living into the church's motto, "Widening the Circle for All God's Children."

Feeling as if the church had been living

out the call of Christ to serve "the least of these" for many years, the elders of the congregation began a conversation in January of this year about putting into words the deeds they were already living.

Franklin Circle Christian Church

Sharon Thomas, chair of the board of elders and a 20-year survivor of AIDS, led the process. After much prayerful consideration and research into other congregations

many different denominations which have also affirmed the worth, dignity, and full participation of God's diverse people, the elders adapted the existing mission state-

ment and sent it to the board for consideration.

On September 21, with minor changes, the board approved the mission statement and forwarded it to the congregation.

"Many churches say they 'welcome all' but really don't," said Thomas.

The specific language in the statement is so that "people can be honest about their circumstances while we help to nurture the joy of Jesus Christ in their lives," she added.

Franklin Circle Christian Church be-

comes the 81st congregation or church in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada to become Open and Affirming, and the first Disciples of Christ congregation in Ohio to do so.

For more information, go to www.FranklinCircleChurch.org or call the Rev. Allen V. Harris at 216-272-0622.

The church is located at 1688 Fulton Rd. at Franklin Ave. in Cleveland.

Rev. Allen V. Harris is the pastor of Franklin Circle Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Vigil to honor transgender victims of hate crime

by Gloria McCauley

Columbus-The tenth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance will be marked with a November 19 vigil at King Avenue United Methodist Church.

The Day of Remembrance is held in November each year to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Although not every person

BRAVO

represented during the gathering self-identified as transgender, each was a victim of violence based on bias or prejudice against transgender people. The list of deaths available at www.rememberingourdead.org only contains those deaths known to the transgender community or that have been reported to the media.

The Day of Remembrance is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester's murder-like most anti-transgender murder cases-has yet to be solved.

The day is intended to raise public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn't perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of transgender people who might otherwise be forgotten.

Through the vigil, we express love and respect in the face of national indifference and hatred. The day gives transgender people and their allies a chance to step forward and stand in vigil, memorializing those who have died by anti-transgender violence.

Sponsors of this year's event are the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization, the Ohio State Univerisity Multi-Cultural Center, TransOhio, Equality Ohio, P-FLAG Columbus, the Gender Dysphoria Program of Central Ohio, Stonewall Columbus, the Crystal Club, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, SpeakOut, King Avenue United Methodist Church, Human Rights Campaign, the OSU GLBT Alumni Association, and the Delaware Gay-Straight Christian Alliance.

King Avenue United Methodist Church is at 299 King Ave. The church is handicap accessible and the vigil will be sign language interpreted. For more information, call BRAVO at 614-294-7867.

Cleveland vigil is in Tremont park

The Cleveland observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, November 23 at 4:30 pm with a walking vigil in Tremont from Lincoln Park

Cleveland Women's Network

Holiday Party

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Holiday Inn Cleveland Mayfield/Alfredo's at the Inn 780 Beta Drive, Mayfield Village 44143 The evening will include a DJ and dancing

6:30-7:30pm --Arrival and Welcome 7:30pm Guests seated for Meal Dinner will be served at 7:30pm

This is a pre-paid event. All reservations must be received by the Network no later then Wednesday, November 26, 2008 No walk-ins. For more information, www.clevelandwomensnetwork.org

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Friday bowling standings

Cleveland-These are the standings of the North Coast Bowling Association's Friday night bowling league at the end of play October 31.

The Friday night league is a fun social league with plenty of openings. No experience is necessary. Bowling begins at 7 pm Fridays at Ambassador Superior Lanes, 1500 Superior Ave. in downtown Cleveland, and finishes by 9:30 pm.

For more information, contact the league at 216-228-6966 or 216-481-4417, or see www.ncbafriday.org.

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