WATER and Women of Dignity’s Quarterly Meeting. Holding the Line, Expanding the Circle
Follow-up to WATER and Women of Dignity’s Program
“Holding the Line, Expanding the Circle: Women’s and LGBTQIA+ Person’s Rights in a Time of Repression” with Ellen Kahn
February 9, 2025
Thank you to all who participated in the recent program, “Holding the Line, Expanding the Circle: Women’s and LGBTQIA+ Person’s Rights in a Time of Repression,” sponsored by WATER and Women of Dignity. It was a much-needed time to hear solid information and consider our own next steps.
The video of the event can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEun52hTJZg&ab_channel=WATERwomensalliance
Both organizations extend our deepest thanks to Ellen Kahn for offering data and wisdom on the current political situation.
The following notes provide a sample of Ellen’s rich and detailed presentation. It was especially helpful as a model of sharing well-grounded information and using storytelling, concrete examples especially of people most affected, to invigorate conversation. Please watch the video for the full version.
From Mary E. Hunt’s Introduction:
“There is no way to overstate the gravity of the situation we are experiencing. And there is no way to minimize the toll it is taking, especially on people far less privileged than most of us, as well as on us but in different ways. The need to support one another and build solidarity is right in front of us. It is not extraordinary work we are called to do, but the ordinary work of justice seeking that is our common task. Still, there is no mistaking the stress and pressure of the moment—the feelings we have as we watch our constitutional democracy fray, our neighbors lose their jobs, and those who are in need be marginalized more than ever.”
Introduction to Ellen Kahn:
Ellen Kahn is a trans-affirming lesbian feminist social worker with decades of experience. She is currently Vice President of Education and Systems of Care at the Human Rights Campaign where she works effectively to deal with queer issues. She is a longtime friend and neighbor of Mary E. Hunt and Diann Neu, someone we have come to respect and trust over the decades. She is a very helpful guide on the many and sinister recent government actions that threaten the well-being of LGBTQIA+ people as we seek ways to resist them.
Indeed Ellen was helpful. She highlighted a number of issues that are immediately relevant for women and LGBTQIA+ people in the current deluge of Executive Orders and related pronouncements. She clarified however, the Executive Orders do not replace laws. They represent the aspirations of the Executive Branch in a three-branch government. How Congress and the courts posture is also part of the equation.
- Trans people are in particular danger. Waves of early compliance by groups like the NCAA, before these issues are adjudicated, are distressing. First person accounts make clear that trans people are afraid with reason. The inability to change gender on Social Security cards, passports, and drivers’ licenses can result in serious problems in the work place, getting loans, and the like.
- Efforts to ban trans people from the military are in progress. This is not only immoral, but foolish in that many of the people involved are in high positions for which they have been trained at great expense by the government. Losing them is a serious blow to the military.
- The re-imposition of the Global Gag Rule means that organizations receiving US financial assistance for health care can not include any information on, referrals to, or services for legal abortion services in their own countries even with moneys other than the US aid. This has immediate and harmful repercussions for women worldwide. The Rule also involves eliminating HIV education putting many lives at risk.
- Bans on gender affirming care, especially as supported by Medicare and Medicaid, are ruinous on many fronts. Cutting funding for research and treatment, for example at places like Boston Children’s Hospital, not only hurts patients but puts providers at risk.
- Policies in schools that ban Critical Race Theory are efforts to police what people learn, read, and say about racism, sexism, and the like. This connects to the complete erasure of DEI strategies in workplaces, and effectively prevents future generations from knowing their own history.
- A major concern is how data about LGBTQIA+ people has been gathered, for example CDC data on young people at risk that has been so useful in shaping public support programs. Collection is now banned. Going forward, such data will not be updated to keep pace with the changing needs of at-risk populations.
These and many other issues, examples, and insights were Ellen’s excellent contribution.
From the Chat and Conversation:
–trans and non-binary students benefit from storytelling and need support
–a success story of one family getting its trans person’s passport changed before the policy changed
–local hospitals not providing gender affirming care; Catholic hospitals of course do not
–State of New Mexico’s meeting where people affirmed the importance of human community
Discussion of Some Practical Strategies Included:
- Dignity is filing Amicus Briefs with other organizations to stem the tide.
- Groups can create safe spaces for young trans people and their adults to discuss their lives and needs.
- Individuals can call government officials; Ellen suggests leaving the script aside to convey the urgency of the situation in one’s own words and stories.
- Some groups are distributing Red Cards to apprise people of their rights in various languages. Here is a link to this project: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas#:~:text=Purpose%20of%20Red%20Cards,agents%20go%20to%20a%20home.
- Stay in close touch with friends, colleagues, family at this difficult time so as to have the emotional support to do the work.
- Take an intersectional approach to issues; LGBTQIA+ people and women are in all immigrant groups, all groups of people of color, and others, so working on one front needs to be seen in the larger picture.
- Charitable giving is down 14-18% so consider a gift to a non-profit.
- Pink Haven Coalition is a project to support trans people– https://www.uusc.org/pink-haven-coalition-working-for-trans-liberation-pt1/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA5Ka9BhB5EiwA1ZVtvJM6KH_BXKGnUOE4KG8Z_y7MR_O6MgWBC_YeLLFCivYoO3EBCSlNlhoCzcgQAvD_BwE
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Here is a link to the prayer and song that closed our event:
Holding the Line: Expanding the Circle ~ Women’s and LGBTQIA+ Person’s Rights in a Time of Repression
WATER and Women of Dignity USA
Sunday Morning Prayer 2/9/2025
Let us pray as we hold the line and expand the circle far and wide for Women’s and LGBTQIA+ Person’s Rights in a Time of Repression.
To LGBTQIA+ and non-binary friends who share joys and sorrows,
the circle of friendship to you.
To people living in war-torn countries,
the circle of peace to you.
To people with cancer, and those who are sick,
the circle of healing to you.
To families divided by differences,
the circle of reconciliation to you.
To children of every race, family, and country,
the circle of love and protection to you.
To people in despair,
the circle of hope to you.
To those who are without homes,
the circle of shelter to you.
To those who are hungry,
the circle of food to you.
To those who have no job,
the circle of remunerative work to you.
To those who are dying,
the circle of a peaceful death to you.
To children being born this day,
the circle of life, health, and safety to you.
To those who experience discrimination in any form,
the circle of justice to you.
To LGBTQIA+ people who experience violence from war, rape, and religion,
the circle of safety and restitution to you.
To the elected leaders of every country,
the circle of vision, truth, and mercy for the global community to you.
To young children growing up today,
the circle of equality to you.
Who else needs our prayers?
Song: We Shall Be Known – Ma Muse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX11MEtbkXI&ab_channel=mamuse
We shall be known by the company we keep,
By the ones who circle round to tend these fires.
We shall be known by the ones who sow and reap,
The seeds of change, alive from deep within the earth.
It is time now; it is time now that we thrive.
It is time we lead ourselves into the well.
It is time now, and what a time to be alive.
In this Great Turning we shall learn to lead in love.
In this Great Turning we shall learn to lead in love.
2025 by Diann Neu dneu@hers.com adapted from
Stirring Waters: Feminist Liturgies for Justice by Diann L. Neu (Liturgical Press, 2020).
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WATER and Dignity are grateful for our continued collaboration. We thank Ellen Kahn and her colleagues at the Human Rights Campaign for their work.
The next event in this WATER-Women of Dignity series will be held on Sunday, May 11 2025, 11:30 AM EDT.
