From Your Lead Minister
Hello Everyone,
As I referenced in the service this past Sunday, and as I'm sure most of you are aware, Taunton experienced a hate incident at the public library on Saturday, 1/14/23, when a group of neo-Nazi's disrupted and harassed and traumatized families, children, and Monica Moore during the Drag Queen Story Hour that day. Here is some news coverage if you were not aware:
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2023/01/18/taunton-drag-queen-story-hour-neo-nazi-protest/
https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/protesters-interrupt-drag-queen-story-hour-in-taunton/
Here also is information about drag story hours generally:
https://www.dragstoryhour.org/
After hearing of this incident, I was in touch with my direct contacts from the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network who organized the first ever Taunton Transgender Day of Remembrance we hosted at FPC on Dec. 20th. I was put into a message group with others organizing their response to this incident, which included the drag queen impacted, Monica Moore. On Tuesday night, 1/17/23, I responded to the call for people to come give public testimony at the Taunton City Council meeting regarding this incident. (That statement is attached to minutes from the last FPC board meeting, though if you would like a copy, I can provide it to you.) Since this time, I have maintained a close level of communication with leadership from the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network - the primary organizing and advocacy body for the LGBTQ+ community across New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton areas. They have a major community center opening in New Bedford, and here is a link to their website: https://www.sclgbtqnetwork.org/ as well as their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SCLGBTQNETWORK for more information.
As I said on Sunday, I have invited the President of the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network, Andy Pollock, to come speak at our church on Sunday, 2/19/23 during our service and to be available afterwards for questions too. Unfortunately, there is a lot of neo-Nazi activity that is happening across New England that is threatening to many marginalized and oppressed groups, particularly the LGBTQI+ community. The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network is very specific regarding their asks of those of us seeking to be allies at this point in time; here are their three specific asks of us:
1. Call our legislators on the local, state, and national levels and find out what specifically they are doing to protect LGBTQI+ rights, particularly in light of the rise of hate incidents/speech/crimes across the country;
2. Watch our politicians, particularly on the local levels, to see how they are 'walking their talk' and showing up as allies to the LGBTQI+ communities - regarding this, there is an opportunity to come to Bobby's Place in Taunton on Wednesday, Feb. 15th, at 7PM and speak to Taunton City Councilor John McCaul and possibly others about their responses; and here is the Facebook event page for this: https://www.facebook.com/events/417917557178609/?ref=newsfeed)
3. Sign up with the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network to create a local volunteer brigade from our congregation and get training in the best ways to be an ally and to support PRIDE in June (this can include FPC sponsorship of PRIDE this year and/or helping them to find vendors for PRIDE).
I have offered our church grounds under the leadership of the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network in partnership with other organizations when something is experienced as appropriate, and I will continue to keep the board and congregation informed as needs present themselves under their guidance. Right now, the Network is focused on education and major political organizing, which can be more time consuming and lengthy than one-off events but is ally-ship with long term impact. The Network does recognize FCP as an ally to them in this, and they remain appreciative of our work to host the first Taunton Transgender Day of Remembrance. Thank you to those who came out on that particularly freezing night in support; showing up makes a difference before we have hate incidents in evidence.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any further questions, and my hope is that many of you will become interested in volunteering with the Network and/or donating to support them.
peace and blessings,
Rev. Michelle
michelle@revmichellewalsh.com
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