The Transgender Year!


Last year TIME Magazine sat down with Laverne Cox, the American transgender woman who stars in the Netflix drama Orange Is the New Black, and they called the article “The Transgender Tipping Point.”  If 2014 was tipping towards trans visibility, 2015 showed America that visibility of transgender folks was now on an upswing.

In January, President Obama condemned the persecution of “people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender,” becoming the first president to utter the word in a State of the Union address. “Transparent,” about an aging father who begins living as a woman, won two top awards at the Golden Globes. The May issue of Vogue has a photo spread with transgender model Andreja Pejic. Transgender activist and YouTube star Jazz Jennings debut her TLC show this summer. And, of course, this is the year when Bruce Jenner announced his transition into Caitlyn.

“We are at a social inflection point on transgender issues,” says Riki Wilchins, a former transgender activist and author of three books on queer theory, who believes all the attention could have a positive impact. “Civil rights for minorities come in fits and starts. We’re on an upswing now.”

Trans activists agree there’s still a long way to go before transgender people stop facing discrimination…or worse. They also realize that the majority of Americans know very little about the transgender people, their lives, and their stories.

Consider these two courses from Metropolitan Community Churches about the transgender community and begin your own journey of understanding:

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Trans 101

 

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Trans 102

New Online Courses/Webinars Added (Sept 30, 2015)


We’ve added new online course and online webinars to our SSOL Catalog!   Check out these great offerings and click on any title to learn more!

Advent Reflection Series (Metropolitan Community Churches)
Ancient Israel by Daniel Fleming (New York University)
Basics for Christian Educators (United Church of Christ)
Biblical Interpretation: An Ancient Text for Today’s World (Pacific School of Religion)
Cancer Care Ministry: Compassion and Companionship (United Church of Christ)
Human Rights: The Right to Freedom of Expression (Amnesty International)
Human Sexuality: Histories, Theologies and Politics of the Flesh (Pacific School of Religion)
Read more…

Our Faith, Our Vote: An Exploration of Faith and Elections


 

The Republican debates have begun, Trump is making a stir in the media, and Hillary is hitting the scene. America is bracing themselves for a packed election year next year and people of faith are wondering how they can be involved in the political process.

Consider this free on-demand webinar from the United Church of Christ that explores why it’s important for people of faith to be involved in electoral politics and how they can be a part of the process.

Learn more out Our Faith, Our Vote