Bishop Gene Robinson to meet with Dallas transgender group

[Natasha]

Bishop Gene Robinson to meet with Dallas transgender group

http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/11/bishop-gene-robinson-to-meet-w.html
Sam Hodges
11/21/2008

Because he's openly gay, Bishop Gene Robinson has been a figure of considerable controversy in the Episcopal Church. He'll be in Dallas tomorrow night to be honored at the Black Tie Dinner, a popular annual fundraiser for groups supportive of the LGBT community. And tomorrow afternoon he'll meet with a local transgender advocacy group.

[Kaweah]

His appearance in Dallas is all the more interesting since the Fort Worth diocese just voted to secede from The Episcopal Church, in part because of his elevation to bishop.  (They also don't like women priests.)

Bishop Robinson is very kind to take time to meet with the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies.  From their website, it looks as if they will be joined by some additional organizations, including the Transgender Network of Texas (TENT) , The Dallas Peace Center and the Reconciling Ministries Network.

[Kaweah]

Ah, I see.....

Bishop Robinson is meeting with the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies because they were going to be protesting the HRC dinner that night - a dinner during which the Bishop will accept the Elizabeth Birch award.

"Well, first of all, I only learned of this protest very recently. I am intending to write back to the transgender group and say that I do intend to receive the award and speak at the Black Tie Dinner, but that I would also be willing to appear, meet with, participate in an event, whatever, with the transgender community to show my support and to speak on their behalf as a fellow member of the community, the larger LGBT community," Robinson told the Voice.

http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_10104.php