Szymon Niemiec Live

Wedding of my mother

2010-03-07T13:28:00Z

After 20 years they finally decided to marry. It was beautiful day

If you ask me...

2010-03-04T23:02:00Z

My personal statement about faith and Church

If you ask me about my life...

Many timesin past 32 years somebody has asked me who I am. Most of the time such questionswas connected to my social work. And many times I was pushed to give answerlike “I am Polish, men, Christian, left side liberal, gay”. Such answers aregood if you try to put yourself in social accepted shapes. But also answerslike this closing you into boxes. I prefer simple, opening answers. One of thebest gave me as example Rev. Peter C. Gomes [1] from Harvard University. When heattended on Gay Christian Network Conference[2] in Anaheim CA he said: “If you askme who I am, don't expect me to say that I am black, American, well educated,single, pastor and gay. Because it will be good, but not good enough answer. Ifyou ask me who I am, you will receive one answer. I am child of God, like you.It is enough and good answer for all describing you questions.” After thisconference I took this words into myself and “I am child of God, like you”becomes my answer for “Who You are?” questions.

Mostinformation about my life and social believes you can find in book “RainbowHumming Bird on the Butt” - autobiography written for the request of L.A.G.C.and published by LGBT Press in 2007 (ISBN: 978-8392419105)[3]. This book contains mostlyinformation about my life as gay activist and politician. It is enough to saythat in Poland I was one of the first public known gay people. From 1998 to2005 I played one of the major roles in Polish LGBT movement. It's stops in2005 after critical health problem, when almost one year I spent in hospitaland recovery from Hepatitis Virus type B. From that moment I resigned fromactive role in LGBT movement and concentrated in spiritual patch of life.

If you ask me about my faith...

The mostimportant question of believes is where your faith is coming from. For most ofthe people I know believes are based on family roots and social traditions. Forexample in Poland, where about 98% of population declares themselves as RomanCatholics, only 40% declares attendance on Sunday's Service in regular basis.It is not the worst thing. Much more bad is if you ask them about core valuesof their faith. Only 35% of Polish Catholics know really what their religion isabout. Such things like Trinity, transubstantiation or even Resurrection formany of them are abstracts! For me the most painful point was when I was childand serve in RCC as altar boy. That time pushed me for long time outsidechurch. What for crucial for me as a child? That I saw how my church isworshiping gold not Christ! Money and gifts was more important for clergy thenpeople and congregation. For young altar boy who felt the calling from God itwas disaster. The last nail to the cross comes when I was 16 and found myselfas gay. Hate speech, condemnation, blackmail from catholic clergy pushed meaway from my mother's congregation. Until 2000 I declared myself as agnostic.But God has enormous sense of humor, and for Him nothing is impossible. This isprobably reason why in 2000 I met Rev. Ernest Ivanovs from Latvia. Gay like me,ex – Catholic like me, and called by God like me. It took him long time to pushme into point when I was ready to say again: “I am Christian”. In 2003, whenRev. Ernest decided to come to Poland for a mission of Free Reformed Church Iwas ready to attend rite of Confirmation. In front of God, with people aswitness I declared my faith in God. Again, by words of Apostolic Creed Iconfirmed my believes. But, opposite to former declarations made in Catholic Church,this one comes not only from “Because my priest told me so...” but from“Because I found it deeply in the Scripture and myself”. Few years later Iwrote sermon “Three pillars of the Temple”[4] where I describe what I understandunder Apostolic Creed. Core of this sermon was idea that Christians candescribe themselves by three pillars: One Dogma, One Promise and OneCommandment.

Dogma comesfrom Gospel and says that Jesus from Nazareth was Son of God (John 5:17-19),who comes to earth as a men without a sin (Matthew 1:18- 25), was crucifiedunder Roman's law and died on the cross (John 11:30), and after 3 days rosefrom the grave winning over the sin and death (John 20: 1-18).

Promisesays that everybody who believes in Christ will be saved by the grace of God(Romans 3:19-31)

Commandmentwas given us by Jesus Christ, who said: “And one ofthe scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving thathe had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel;The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thyheart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:this [is] the first commandment. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thoushalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greaterthan these.” (Mark12:28-31)[5]

Whobelieves in these three pillars will find his life as Christian. And this iswhat I believe in.

If you ask me how I describe Church ofChrist...

It isalways good to look deep into Scripture when we try to find what church is orshould be. One of the best examples about scriptural definition of the church Ireceived from Rev. Evelyn Schave[6] on the same GCN Conference in 2009. She said that we should deeply lookinto story about people of Isaac mentioned in Genesis[7]. In that story we can find threesigns: water, wells and people. Let’s put this into our times. Water is symbolof Jesus Christ – according to His words “the waterthat I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlastinglife” (John 4:14).Wells are symbol of churches and congregations, because there we are “drinkingChrist”, by His Gospel, bread and wine. People mentioned in this story aredivided for the owners of wells and Isaac's followers. We are followers of theChrist and we are looking for His water. But not every well's owner welcomes uswith joy. Some of them condemn us by who we are, some demand us to change. Theysay “This is our water and our rules”. But they forget that water doesn’t belongto them. It's God's gift to all of us. So what we can do? We can fight againstwell's owners. But it will not be Christian way. We can go away and staythirsty. But it will not be Christian way either. Rev. Schave said to me: “Goand find your well, where you will be welcomed. If you will not find any, digyour own. Become well-digger.”

I waslooking for a church in Poland who will welcome not only me, but everyone whois “different” but I didn't found any. This is why with all my people I becomewell-digger for a Christ's water.

But notonly book of Genesis gives us description of church we are looking.

When weread New Testament we can find many passages describing us role ofcongregation. Like John 3:17-18 or 1 Corinth 12:28. For me the most importantone is Mathew 18:20: “For where two or three are gatheredtogether in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” In this passage our Lord gave us the most important lesson what weshould understand as a church. For Him church is congregation of those who aregathering together in His name. He did not say: “I will be with those who arewhite, heterosexual, male, sinless etc.” He did not use any valuation terms. Byreading Gospel of Mathew we can be sure that everyone is welcomed to beChristian. Talking about being sinless, there is many papers describing nonjudging role of our religion. In Romans 4 we can find passages proving that wecan be saved by our faith not by rules of Old Testament. And we all rememberstory about Jesus and harlot from John 8. A few others are similar to that.

NewTestament is good example for everybody who is looking for explanation howchurch should looks like. For me church is not a building but congregationdisciples of the Christ. Because this is how I understand our role in Christianlife – to be disciple of our Lord.

If you ask me how I understand Sacraments...

WhenI come to understanding sacraments in Christian Church I see two of themcreated by Jesus Christ.

Firstis Baptism, as a visual sign of our salvation and declaration of belongs toChrist.

Secondis Eucharist, as a visual memorial of Last Supper. By celebrating Eucharist weare sharing Body and Blood of Christ proving that we are His disciples.Eucharist for me is not only this, but also sign that we are congregation. Weare parts of Christ's Body.

Thirdsacrament is Ordination. From the beginning for me it was church rite based oncongregational tradition. But later I understood what Sacrament in deeptheological meaning is. Sacramental in church is what we as congregationdescribing as important, sacral and sanctioned by Scripture. In that meaning,basing on passages in Apostolic 2 ordination for a clergy person is sacramentalbecause it fulfills all points mentioned above.

If you ask me how I understand church order…

In myopinion church order should be based on two core principles. When we talk aboutmodern church we should look at from perspective of Scripture and local law.Most of the countries have their own regulations about congregations of faithand sometimes one order will not fit to other culture or legal system. Thankfully if we go back to the basis – to the Scripture – all core values of building andmanaging congregation of believers will fit to almost every legal systems. This is why for me base is Apostle’s letters. There I found almost everything I need tomanage my congregation.

If you ask me why I am interested in Christian United Church…

It maylooks strange that person from Poland, with Catholic’s roots, who areprogressive Calvinist’s minister are willing to start process of affiliationand membership with Free Methodist’s denomination. It may looks strange, butnot for me. Every year in Warsaw we have ecumenical week of services andmeetings. And at every day the same song is presented. This song is known as“We were one”. We sing in this song: “We were one, let’s take our hands. Wewere one with one heart. Let it happen. Let it come. Mystery of Salvation andUnity in Christ” Every time I hear this song I look at faces of singing people.Some of them believe that we are one Church of Christ. But for most of them weare “one but divided”. When I readDoctrines of Christian United Church I realized that in fact there is nothingwhat I cannot agree with. More than that, I didn’t found anything what will benot included in our Doctrine. So I’ve asked myself: “If we are so similar, whywe are not one?”

I thinkthat the biggest problem for all Christians is not truly theologicaldifferences but deeply hidden human scares. But I am sure that we are all Children of God and His Disciples. Andbasing on that I look at CUC as church where I want belongs to.

All aboveis not all what I can say about my faith. It is excerpt from paper I want writein following year. I understand that we need more witness of God’sunconditional Love to all of us. I hope I am one of them.

Amen

Rev. SzymonNiemiec

ElderPastor of Free Reformed Church of Poland

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_J._Gomes

[2]http://www.gaychristian.net

[3]http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Humming-Bird-Butt-1/dp/8392419103/

[4]https://sites.google.com/a/wolnykosciol.pl/site/czytelnia/trzyfilaryswiatyni

[5]Everywhere when it is mentionedquotas from Scripture comes from „King's James” version. In our congregation weare using „Warsaw's Bible” as Polish translation

[6]http://www.communitygospel.org/churchstaff/evelynschave.html

[7]Genesis 26:1-35

New Pastor in our community

2010-01-31T23:28:00Z

I am really tired after whole day. Anyway this not common for everyday to celebrate ordination service. Even we was preparing that for long time, but you can simple describe that stress are working well. If you ever participated in such kind of service you know that everytime something is going wrong. Thankfuly this time only candle doesn't work well, in fact three of them what we put on the service table but forgot to light up We mentioned that AFTER service.

Well, only God is perfect (and has great sense of humor).

Regardless of that from today I have new brother in service in Free Reformed Church of Poland.

If you are belivers please pray for father Christopher Tloczek who from today is second pastor in our congregation.

PS. Jacek Adler from Gaylife.pl was at the service, so when he will publish article about that with video and photos I will post it too. We had no time for making our own photos

Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-31T18:33:00Z

New year is comming to us.

I hope that the last year of first decade of XXI century will be grateful for all of You.

What I wish you?

First, the health. As I always says in my wishes, when you are in good health, everything else can be managed.

May this upcoming year will be better for all of you.

Please accept my best wishes and lots of God's blessings for this time.

May the Lord will be near all of You.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2009-12-24T00:21:00Z

Please sign this petition

2009-12-08T21:12:00Z

I've already signed that. Please join me in spread word of Love.

Click to sign

Preamble

Since the gospel of Jesus Christ reached the gates of Antioch almost 2,000 years ago, we, the disciples of Jesus, have been called Christians. It is not so much that we are followers of Christ, but that we set as our purpose the high goal of being like Christ. Although it has and will always be a gradual process of personal transformation from who we are into that great and perfect image, we continue to desire growth and change. That is what it means to be Christian—to desire to be like Christ, and to pursue that aim in sincerity of heart.

But "Christian" only describes our state of being. It is powerless to describe the quality of that state. It doesnt describe the journey itselfthe passion with which we individually pursue our goal. It defines what we are, but it doesnt show us how we are what we are. For that, we must examine the person of Jesus Christ. We must consider who He is, who we are, and how committed we are both individually and collectively to pressing toward that mark.

To describe Christ with as much brevity as possible, there is, no doubt, only one word that is able to illuminate the quality of His personlove. We know that our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is love. Since its inception, the Christian faith has been self-described as the faith of love. Our God is love. Our Christ is love. Love has been held high as the pillar and standard of Christian belief and conduct. It is, indeed, our entire faith wrapped up in a word.

We can, then, only talk about the quality of our being Christian in terms of how fervently we love. As the definition of Christs person, love is the standard by which we must judge ourselves. We are only truly Christiantruly like Christto the extent that we truly love.

But, what does it mean to truly love, and how does this true love manifest?

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

John 13:35

According to Scripture, people should be able to observe us and discern whether or not we really belong to Christ. How? —By virtue of how well we love one another. But, its not just a matter of having love contained within the bowels of our person. The love that brings quality to our Christianity is the love that is in motionlove that can be seen, heard, and experienced. It is the love that we have not for one another, but to another.

If we examine the past 2000 years of Church history, it is amazing what we will discover. Historically, Christians have held people captive to tradition on one hand, and have been the proponents and champions of social change on the other. Although many Christians, motivated by love, fought the scourge of slavery, many also fought to preserve it, using Holy Scripture to justify their bigotry. We have been the cruel oppressors of religious freedom (vis-ŕ-vis the Inquisition), and have also championed the right of all people to worship as their conscience dictates. We have both supported and opposed the right of women to be considered and treated as the social equals of men.

These various contradictions speak not to a social evolution over time within the Church, but to the great dichotomy of man—the human will. It speaks to our all-too-natural ability to twist and contort Scripture to validate whatever beliefs we subscribe to at the time. Rather than beginning an investigation with "Thus saith the Lord," we begin it with a belief. It, then, becomes easy to see in Scripture all of the interpretations that uphold that belief.

We do not contend that we have been, in such cases, motivated by evil or otherwise devious intentions. We only seek to acknowledge our human frailty, an acknowledgement that magnifies our need to filter every perspective and worldviewevery interpretation of Scripture and every response to that interpretationthrough the filter of love. We must see the world through Gods eyesdenying ourselves tradition on one hand, and social evolution on the other, and seeking instead to have our hearts washed by the water of Gods word (Ephesians 5:26), so that His action-based love can usurp our fallible and mutable theology and reign supreme in our hearts.

We speak of this motive love at this particular moment in time because many of our Christian brethren have subscribed to a recently drafted documentThe Manhattan Declarationthe purpose of which is to call attention to specific social issues that are seen to oppose proper Christian moralities. While it is not our purpose here to comment on every issue addressed in the Manhattan Declaration, we feel compelled to call attention to the traditional Christian view of homosexuality, and to the resulting opposition of many Christians to same-sex marriage. We seek to challenge those beliefs by the standard of proactive love.

Declaration

Although the purpose of the Affirmation Declaration is not to deal with the question of whether or not homosexuality is morally benign or repugnant in Gods eyessuch a question is worthy of a detailed examination, rather than a simple pronouncementwe do first and foremost emphatically state that God does affirm homosexuality as a natural state, and homosexuals as His beloved.

We reject the theological abuse of antigay doctrine, which has resulted in the spiritual and physical harm of countless people. Human beings, made in the image and likeness of God, have been made to feel lower than low because of the fear of diversity within our human family, and because of theology founded not upon rightly interpreted Scripture, but upon traditionalism with no substantial basis in sound hermeneutics.

Historically, humans have always had an aversion to diversity. That which is not like the norm has always frightened or offended, and we acknowledge with great regret that the Christian body is not innocent of this charge. But, we also readily acknowledge that God is calling us in this generation to be restorers of the breachto identify and correct the errors that so many Christians have accepted as foregone conclusions, and to reconcile those who have been ostracized and rejected back to the loving arms of their holy God.

Jesus was well acquainted with the great harm that "spiritual leaders" so easily dispense in the name of God. Our own Holy Scriptures tell us that He was "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." He knew what it was to be around people who claimed to love God, but couldnt stand to look upon people who were created in Gods image. He knew what it was like to be held in low esteem just because He did not toe the line that the religious leaders demanded.

We take heart in the knowledge that Christ has been where so many in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (GLBTI) community are. He has gone through the pain of rejectionparticularly, the pain of being rejected by the very ones who should have been a wellspring of living water. We are thankful that the God of all comfort has been a keeping power to countless GLBTI Christians, who could, at many times, turn to no one but Him for love, affirmation, and support. We proclaim that He has been enough; but we also unwaveringly declare that He has more in mind for His children than spiritual and emotional isolationthat He desires all of His body of believers to be in fellowship one with the other.

We assert that the pain brought upon our GLBTI brethren in the name of God is not an expression of love. It is not love to bring shame and self-loathing upon people. It is not love to tell parents not to accept their gay children because their affirmation will supposedly make their children not want to change. It certainly is not love to teach the damnable heresy that GLBTI people cannot be saved or go to Heaven until they have been delivered from their natural orientation.

We also call attention to the horrible spiritual effect that antigay theology has had on the secular world. We are deeply troubled by the number of people who have been made to despise Christianity because of the oppressive and tyrannical acts of our Christian brethren. However well intentioned they may believe themselves to be, they continue to short-circuit the gospel of Jesus Christ by imposing their religious beliefs upon the general population. Whether homosexuality is sinful or not, opposing same-sex marriage is not only counterproductive to evangelistic ministry, but it is diametrically opposed to the concept of religious freedomsomething that the proponents of the Manhattan Declaration claim to cherish. It appears that what they, instead, champion is their freedom to impose their religious beliefs on others. We reject this hypocritical opposition to same-sex marriage, and stand for true religious liberty in the United States of America and the world.

These ever present sins against the GLBTI community are not faithful expressions of Gods love, as is so often claimed. The attestation to the contrary expressed in the Manhattan Declaration only demonstrates the blind religious fervor that so many of our brethren are lost in. Like the Pharisees of old, they continue to believe that such cruelties actually serve the God who is love. But, this is not the type of love that Scripture defines for us.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

1Corinthians 13:4-7 [emphases ours]

Although opponents to affirming theology would likely point to verse 6 as justification for their treatment of GLBTI people, we stress that love necessarily requires hesitancy before accusing someone based upon face value readings of texts that were never meant to be interpreted in such a haphazard way. 2Timothy 2:15 commands us to diligently approach Scripture in order to "rightly divide the word of truth". Face value and diligence are not faithful friends; and we rejoice in this fact, lest we be contented to force women to adhere to a strict dress code (1Timothy 2:9-10) and keep their mouths shut in church (1Corinthians 14:34-35; 1Timothy 2:11-12), or men to keep their hair a certain length (1Corinthians 11:14).

Times change, and with them biblical pronouncements about acts that were, themselves, perceived through a culturally subjective lens. This fact does not make Scripture wrong; but it does make certain passages obsolete, and their application to modern Christians inappropriate and unfaithful to the intent of the text. It is time for the Church to stop acknowledging this only when it suits a given purpose (as in the case with womens rights or what makes for a "manly" appearance). Love requires an honest examination of this principles application to the issue of homosexuality. Such an examination has led many people, both gay and straight, to affirm the GLBTI community.

Finally, we assert that no godly end is served by the cruel treatment of GLBTI people. While we are certain that some among our opponents are bigots and cannot be changed or reasoned with, we humbly challenge those who sincerely disagree with homosexuality for theological reasons to reexamine this most serious issue. For the love of Christ, and the GLBTI population that He so dearly loves, give this issue the due diligence that it is deserving of. Expose yourselves to the other point of view and see, if perchance, Scripture actually does not say what you always believed it to say. If you engage in such an effort sincerely, and emerge with your existing beliefs affirmed, we will bid you Godspeed and pray that Christian fellowship can be maintained while we agree to disagree.

In closing, we humbly beseech God for the strength to stand against the theological oppression of those who wish to keep His Church in the past, as they, aforetime, did to women, to Blacks, andlooking back into the early history of the Churcheven to Gentiles. It took the experience of Spirit-baptism to convince many Jewish Christians that the way of salvation was, indeed, open to the Gentiles. That God has granted our generation so great a cloud of witnesses of GLBTI people who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, it stands as a strong rebuke that we find ourselves still doubting the place of redeemed people in the body of Christ.

As Christians stood against other Christians in appealing to the conscience of man in the liberation of slaves, of women, and of other groups throughout the history of the Church, we who now affix our signatures to this emphatic declaration of affirmation stand against those Christians who refuse to love without precondition. We oppose not with hearts of hatred or ill will, but with the very love that we demand of those who continue to sin against us. We commit ourselves to the virtues of humility and forgiveness, and anxiously await the time when one of the last prayers of our Lord and Christ may be fulfilled at last.

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; [21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me [26] And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."

John 17:20-26

Find more

When you are old...

2009-12-04T23:54:00Z

My boss had two cats, one was Mona - mum of Phantom, second is her sister Lisa.

Lisa become sick, so Rafal and I took her to veterinary.

Today she had major surgery, and for next couple of weeks we will keep her in our home for recovery.

This is her photo from today. Thanks to God she is quite fine after surgery, as 14 y.o. cat lady.

I am sick by ~technites on deviant ART

Phantom vs Catnip Balls

2009-12-03T16:22:00Z

My camera

2009-11-12T17:53:00Z

I love photography. I work with digital camera for years. Until now I had Olympus C7070. It is quite good, but few weeks ago I realized, that it's not enough for all what I need. So I've start looking for a new one. I found some propositions and decided to buy Canon EOS 450D.

When I check my account I saw that I have more then half what I need. Its good news.

The bad one is that I need 300$ more to buy my camera.

So, can I ask you for help?

If you want to help me please click on button bellow and donate as much as you want.

I will really be very thankful.

1st Anniversary of my ordination

2009-11-09T16:31:00Z

9th November 2008 my congregation of Free Reformed Church of Poland held their First Special Synod, where we decided to become independent church.

At Synod we decided about our bylaws, and elected officials. My brothers and sisters gave me great honor by electing me for Elder Pastor of the Church. From this day I become full ordained minister of God.

Today, one year later I am looking at the past and into future. I know how much work I have in front of me. And I am happy for all of people who found their patch to God after my guidance.

I am praying that future years will be also full of love and God's passion.

My two beloved ones

2009-10-29T18:58:00Z

Wyświetl wszystkie

Uzyskaj własny

I support that

2009-10-14T17:13:00Z

Please share this YouTube channel with everybody. It's really worthed!

New way to order my book

2009-10-13T18:56:00Z

If you didn't order my book already, you can do this now by Amazon.com.

"Rainbow Humming Bird on the butt" is available by Amazon Print on Demand system.

Have fun!

32 years ago

2009-10-05T13:56:00Z

I was born 32 years ago. Yesterday with my friends I had a little party in Fantom Club.

Here are photos from that day:

Wyświetl wszystkie

Uzyskaj własny

Full Equality Now

2009-10-02T19:52:00Z

Full Equality Now

Next week, LGBT people from across the United States will be joined by family and friends in a historic journey to Washington DC to take part in the National Equality March.

In 1979, they marched on Washington to tell America we would not go away. In 1987, they marched to fight for our lives. In 1993, they marched to prove we would survive. In 2000, they marched to claim our place in the new millennium.

On Sunday, October 11, they will once again march on Washington with the ultimate demand:

Full Equality Now.

They go to Washington to address the nation as a whole. They believe America is ready to accept LGBT people as full citizens, deserving of all rights afforded any other citizen.

In their words:

We make this demand in the tradition of all those in America’s past who were told their gender, race, or ethnicity defined them as less than equal to other Americans. Each, in their own time, came to Washington to speak to the nation and its leaders, and to fight for full equal rights. We gratefully recognize that without the example of their leadership and sacrifice, it is unlikely we would be on our way to Washington at all.
Now it’s our turn.
Like those before us, we recognize the truth of Thomas Jefferson’s declaration that “No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him.” To paraphrase, our equality must be legally protected from those who oppose it.
We march because Congress has ignored Jefferson’s wisdom and has been negligent in its responsibility to enact laws that would end discrimination against LGBT people. We march because courts have been slow to overrule anti-LGBT bias. We march because our nation remains littered with laws that institutionalize discrimination on the basis of gender attraction or identity. We assert that America’s leaders have a 14th Amendment obligation to end these blatant inequalities without further delay.
That includes the President of the United States. We want him to turn his supportive words into action. We will follow Franklin Roosevelt’s advice to petitioners: “I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.” We must show President Obama that the time for him to fulfill his promise to be a fierce advocate for equality is now.
Some have suggested that the timing of this March is flawed, and that we should place all our resources into local battles. Yet if one looks at the history of other civil rights movements, many of the greatest gains were the result of organizing on a national level. We know our community is more than capable of working in local and national arenas at the same time. Full equality is our common goal.
Our strategy goes beyond the march itself. Proposition 8 generated a tidal wave of grassroots energy and a new generation of highly motivated LGBT activists. If that energy is not encouraged and developed, it will dissipate. We will not let that happen. The very act of organizing the National Equality March has jump-started grassroots activity in communities all across the country. We intend to maintain that network, build on it, and deliver the kind of political pressure the President and other LGBT Congressional allies will require in order to make Jefferson’s words a reality. We are convinced this new level of grassroots organizing will not only advance our national strategy, but will also generate additional support for local battles.
Join us in Washington if you can.
Never let them forget: it’s our Constitution, too!
Click to return to the main National Equality March main page.

Living On The Margins

2009-10-01T19:17:00Z

40 years after the Stonewall uprising, the LGBT movement is more visible than ever. But many queer people who do not conform to the image of gender, race and class most pervasive in the media, remain largely invisible—even to the movement. This month, we look at how LGBT people living on the economic margins of our society are organizing themselves to find housing, improve their professional skills, and obtain employment and health care.

The Unseen Gays: Struggling on the Margins

At a time when nearly every corner of the country is suffering from market downturns and high unemployment rates, many in the LGBT community are especially hard hit. In our lead segment, we look at how racial, economic and gender-based discrimination result in disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment and homelessness among the most marginalized members of our community.

A CONVERSATION WITH… Stonewall Community Foundation Director Thai Pham, and FIERCE Executive Director Rickke Mananzala discuss the renewed commitment to philanthropy many LGBT people are making, economic activism and the synergy of their organizations.

Habitat’s First LGBT Unity Build

For many LGBT people, the recent economic crisis reinvigorated the spirit of volunteerism. At Habitat for Humanity’s first LGBT Unity Build Day, we speak with the community members who came out in support of affordable housing while raising visibility for the movement.

“Living On The Margins” will begin airing October 1^st and be available for free video streaming and downloadable podcasts from the IN THE LIFE website on October 2nd. To find out when it will air in your local area, to stream or download it, go to www.inthelifetv.org.

My birthday is comming

2009-10-01T11:37:00Z

I was born at 5th October 1977, so next Monday I will celebrate my 32 birthday.
I've decided to celebrate it day before on Sunday, with my friends. After service in my congregation we will go to the club Fantom.
I hope it will be great day.

Welcome on Szymon Niemiec's blog

2009-09-30T14:05:00Z

Welcome on my new blog.

My old domain www.szymonniemiec.pl expires and now I cannot renew it. But thankfuly I can work on this domain as well.

Please feel free to post your comments and contact with me.