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The recent murders of two transgender women in New Orleans, Louisiana, sheds light on the troubled relationship between the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) the LGBTQ community. First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans will host a town hall on transgender violence, organized by Transitions Louisiana and including representatives from the NOPD and city leadership, to look for solutions to the violence in their communities. ( The Times Picayune– 3.4.17)
More coverage:
Murders of two transgender women prompt questions, complaints about NOPD treatment ( The Times Picayune– 3.9.17)
Town hall on transgender violence follows recent murders in Louisiana ( Gambit– 3.3.17)
More congregations consider offering sanctuary
Although the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, would like to offer its building as protection for local undocumented immigrants, it wouldn’t meet the needs required for long term stays. Instead their support of sanctuary has taken many forms, from help accessing legal advice to direct services of food and other goods. ( AL.com– 3.5.17)
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, California, is among a number of churches in that state considering offering sanctuary to an undocumented immigrant should the need arise. The decision making process involves a lot of legal research, but also a deep consideration of how much is at risk. The Rev. Tom Kutzmark of the Fresno church asks, for example, “Would leadership be willing to subject themselves to arrest?” ( The Fresno Bee– 3.5.17)
The Rev. Tony Larsen, of Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church in Racine, Wisconsin, said his congregation is currently undergoing a process to become a sanctuary church. They also joined hundreds of people gathered in an interfaith rally to support immigrants’ rights recently at the Kenosha County Detention Center. ( Kenosha News– 3.9.17)