Immigration

On the immigration situation in Arizona:


The actual bill

"Don't Call Me Racist, and Other Arizona Lies" by Daisy Hernández

"Desert Derangement Syndrome" by Timothy Egan

Standing on the Side of Love

Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is coming on May 9th! With the list below, you can honor your mother with something fabulous and make the world a better place all at the same time!


Global Gifts
Global Gifts is a non-profit right here in Indianapolis that sells fair-trade items.

Kiva Loans
Kiva's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending. Gift certificates are available!

10,000 Villages
Ten Thousand Villages is an exceptional source for unique handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor, art and sculpture. textiles, serveware and personal accessories representing the diverse cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. One of the world's largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries.

TDOR (Transgender Day of Remembrance)

Presented by INTRAA (Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance), this event is held to raise awareness of the consequences of intolerance and fear directed toward people who may live outside "traditional" gender stereotypes.

This year's program will include a live performance of "TransActions" as seen at the Indy Fringe Festival in 2007 (performance followed by a moderated discussion with audience); a memorial vigil; and other program items followed by light refreshments and an opportunity for fellowship.

UUI Fellowship Hall, Saturday, November 14, 6:00 pm

Sponsored by the UUI Social Justice Committee. Contact tdor@intraa.org to volunteer or find out more.

Thank you, Fred Phelps!

Thanks to Mr. Phelps & Co. for generating donations during the Phelps-A-Thon at Indianapolis' North Central High School in the amount of $7,700!

Funds raised will be divided between NCHS Gay/Straight Alliance and Indiana Youth Group. The lovely people at Phelps-a-Thon will be sending the Phelps family a card letting them know how much money they raised to promote LGBT equality.

Be sure and check out Indiana Youth Group and consider volunteering.

More on the Fred Phelps protestors

The principal of North Central is urging everyone to ignore the protestors, but two great avenues of standing against the hate are available--go see the play and pledge to the Phelps-a-Thon (details below).

The play is at North Central High School (1801 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis) at 7:00 p.m. this Thursday, Friday and Saturday (September 24, 25 and 26). The play is about Matthew Sheppard, a gay college student who was brutally beaten and left for dead in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. Admission is $7.00.

Urgent Action Item!

Fred Phelps is coming to North Central High School in Indianapolis! The "God Hates Fags" Westboro Baptist Church is planning to picket the school’s production of The Laramie Project, a play about Matthew Shepard, the young man who was killed in an anti-gay hate-crime.

However, when the Phelps group comes to North Central High School to protest, they will actually be raising money for GLBT equality.

The people at http://phelps-a-thon.com are hosting a Phelps-A-Thon to counter Fred Phelps’ hateful message. From an email about this event:

"For every minute the “God Hates Fags” clan is protesting, we will be collecting donations that will be split between the North Central High School Gay/Straight Alliance and Indiana Youth Group (IYG). IYG provides a safe place, a confidential environment, youth development programs and support services which foster personal strength and wellness among self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. IYG advocates on their behalf in schools, on the streets, and in the community.

The Phelps clan will be protesting at the high school from 2:55 PM to 3:30 PM on September 24th. You can pledge any amount you choose, whether it be $0.25, $0.50, $1, or even $2 for every minute they protest. You can even pledge a flat rate for the entire time the group will be demonstrating. The point of this Phelps-A-Thon is two fold. First, we are using Phelps’ own hateful message to raise funds for a good cause, one that will help counter the lies that are being spread about LGBT people. Second, after the event, we will send Phelps a thank you card, telling him how much money he raised for LGBT equality. This will certainly upset the group and it is possible that they will stop protesting in order to stop our fundraising."

Pledge Online!

Draft Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking Meeting

What: Meeting to Vote on the Draft Statement of Conscience (SOC) on Peacemaking
Sponsored by: The UUI Social Justice Committee
When: January 29, at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO UUI?
Not only is peacemaking an important issue, but our participation helps us meet our interim goal of strengthing ties with UUA and also because called minister candidates pay attention to whether a congregation is engaged in UUA activities.

Why is this important to us as Unitarians?
For an SOC to appear on the 2009 General Assembly Final Agenda, our UUA bylaws require a minimum of 25% of certified congregations to participate in the ballot vote on whether the Draft SOC should be placed on the Final Agenda.

If you have questions, please contact Susanne Hinson-Rieger at susannehinson@gmail.com or 418-1679.