Lawrence King Vigil

Join us in remembrance of Lawrence King
Feb 29, 2008

Dallas, Texas – March 3, 2008 – Lawrence King, a 15-year-old Oxnard, California student who was murdered at school on February 12 for being gay, will be memorialized on Sunday, March 9 by the Dallas lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and allied (LGBTQA) community. A vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Hope, 5910 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, Texas 75235. The event is free and open to all.

In an effort to educate the community about school violence and the need for safe school policies that serve all youth, 35 Dallas/Fort Worth community organizations have joined the effort to show support for schools that are free from violence and harassment. Several members of Youth First Texas, the only non-profit organization in Dallas exclusively committed to providing social services, education opportunities, and recreational activities to LGBTQ Youth through age 22, will sing and speak about their personal experiences with harassment and discrimination in schools.

Participants also are invited to join Cathedral of Hope for a Sunday evening Vespers service at 6 p.m. Vespers is a time of reflection and contemplation as we prepare for the coming week.

Vigils in memory of Lawrence King, calling or an end to violence and harassment directed at LGBTQ people in schools are being organized in communities across the country. For more information regarding these vigils please visit www.rememberinglawrence.org. For a complete list of participating organizations in Dallas/Fort Worth, please see attached.

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Partnering Organizations in alphabetical order

The purpose of AIDS Arms, Inc. is to assist individuals in accessing the healthcare, resources and support necessary to successfully manage the challenges of living with HIV/AIDS. Contact: Brandon Dowdy, Development Associate \t bdowdy@aidsarms.org Website: www.aidsarms.org

AIDS Interfaith Network provides direct care services to meet practical, emotional and spiritual needs of persons with HIV/AIDS, and prevention programs for individuals, groups and communities. Contact: Blake Peery, Development Manager bpeery@aidsinterfaithnetwork.org Website: www.aidsinterfaithnetwork.org

Cathedral of Hope strives to reclaim Christianity as a faith of extravagant grace, radical inclusion and relentless compassion by proclaiming God’s inclusive love, removing barriers to faith, and empowering all people to grow in grace toward wholeness. Contact: Beau Heyen, Minister for Youth\t \t beau@cathedralofhope.com Website: www.cathedralofhope.com

Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance was created to advocate equal civil rights, achieve full participation in society and promote dignity and respect for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals by providing education, political awareness and social interaction. Contact: Morris Garcia, President\t\t directors@ccgla.org Website: www.ccgla.org

The Dallas Bears is a social and Non-profit organization inclusive of all individuals whose affinity is with the Bear Community. Contact: J. Larry Finch, President Website: www.dallasbears.org

The Mission of the Dallas Peace Center is based on a vision of reconciliation: to promote Education, Dialogue and Action for Peace and Justice. Contact: Daniel Williams, Operations Manager \t office@dallaspeacecenter.org Website: www.dallaspeacecenter.org

The Dallas Tavern Guild is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those in the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender community. Contact: Michael Doughman, Executive Director \t michaeldoughman@sbcglobal.net Website: www.dallastavernguild.org Equality Texas Foundation serves to educate the public as to how policies regarding sexual orientation and gender identity and expression affect the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans. Contact: Paul Scott, Executive Director\t \t Paul@equalitytexas.org Website: www.equalitytexas.org

Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) – Dallas Chapter envisions a future in which every child learns to respect all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Contact: Beau Heyen, Co-Chair \t\t dallas@chapters.glsen.org\t \t\t\t Website: www.glsen.org/dallas

Gender Education, Advocacy and Resources (GEAR), A Program of The Resource Center of Dallas, supports the transgender community, families and allies who wish to promote an understanding of gender identity and expression. Contact: Maeve O’Connor, \t gear@rcdallas.org Website: www.resourcecenterdallas.org

Hope for Peace & Justice, based in Dallas, Texas is equipping progressive people of faith to be champions for peace and justice by creating progressive faith-based activists; a cultural orientation/bias toward peace and justice through the arts and artists; and faith-based practitioners of peace. Contact: David Plunkett, Media Relations \t david.plunkett@h4pj.org Website: www.h4pj.org

The Human Rights Campaign is a bipartisan organization that works to advance equality based on sexual orientation and gender expression and identity, to ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

The mission of the Dallas/Fort Worth Federal Club is to financially support these critical works of the HRC. Contact: Alfred Martinez, Community Relations Website: www.dfwfederalclub.org

DFW Human Rights Campaign Religion and Faith Program’s mission is to change the conversation about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and faith. Contact: Kathy Collier & Mike McKay, Co-Chairs \t mmckay@rcdallas.org Website: www.hrc.org/issues/religion/5906.htm

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work. Contact: Ben Leal, Community Educator bleal@lambdalegal.org\t\t Website: www.lambdalegal.org

Lambda Weekly and KNON 83.9 AM blends political talk, news that affects the gay and lesbian community and interviews, with fun segments like 'Those Darn Heterosexuals!' and America's favorite game show, 'Who Wants To Be A Lesbian.' Contact: Lambdaweekly@aol.com Website: www.knon.org/index.php?id=254

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 4871, The Dallas Rainbow Council, has a mission to create dialogue between the Hispanic and LGBT community, which have a common goal: full equality. Contact: Patricia Mancha, President\t LULAC4871@aol.com Website: www.lulac4871.org

Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Dallas is on a bold mission to transform hearts, lives, and history. We are a movement that faithfully proclaims God’s inclusive love for all people and proudly bears witness to the holy integration of spirituality and sexuality. Contact: Rev. Colleen Darraugh \t \t\t\t pastor@mccgd.org Website: www.mccgd.org

National Safe Schools Roundtable is an up-and-coming group of leaders from across the country advocating for safe schools. Contact: Bob Miskinis \t cowboybob68@yahoo.com

National Education Association – Dallas (NEA-Dallas): Our mission is to unify education professionals, students, parents and the community to insure a great public school for every child. Contact: Dale D. Kaiser, President \t neadprez@aol.com Website: www.neadallas.org

North Texas Gender Friends (NTGF) is primarily social with the hope of building community in the gender free world. Contact: Renee Baker, Ph.D., Group Moderator \t renee@genderpower.com Website: www.ntgf.org

Out & Equal™ Workplace Advocates champions safe and equitable workplaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. We advocate building and strengthening successful organizations that value all employees, customers and communities by providing a variety of services to companies, human resource professionals, employee resource groups (ERGs) and individuals. Contact: Ron Ausemus, Regional Council Chair \t dfw@outandequal.org Website: www.outandequal.org

The mission of OUT TAKES Dallas is to enlighten, educate, enrich and entertain diverse communities about gays and lesbians through the medium of film and video and to contribute funds to organizations seeking to foster similar goals. Contact: D'wayne Teague, Board Secretary secretary@outtakesdallas.org Website: www.outtakesdallas.org

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Contact: Kathy Collier & Kathy Connell, Co-Presidents info@pflagdallas.org Website: www.pflagdallas.org

Serving homeless, runaway and at-risk teens, Promise House is dedicated to providing the strength, stability and hope they need to fulfill their promise for a healthy, productive and self-sufficient tomorrow. Contact: Joshua D. Collier, Communications Manager \t communicationsmanager@promisehouse.org Website: www.promisehouse.org

The mission of the Resource Center of Dallas is to serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and North Texas communities by providing: support to GLBT individuals and organizations; health, HIV and social services; and education and advocacy. Contact: Henry Ramirez III, Center Programs Manager \t HRamirez@rcdallas.org Website: www.rcdallas.org

SPECTRUM, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Straight Organization, strives to foster a place where all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, can speak openly about their concerns and help play a part in the fight for equality for the GLB commnuity. Contact: Maria Walker, Program Advisor \t mariaw@mail.smu.edu Website: http://people.smu.edu/spectrum/index.html

Stonewall Democrats of Dallas registers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voters and ensures LGBT turnout in elections to support LGBT-friendly Democrats. Contact: Jesse Garcia, President jesse.garcia@stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org Website: www.stonewalldemocratsofdallas.org

Texas Gay-Straight Alliance Network connects school-based Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources, we are empowering youth activist to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools. Contact: Monica Arrambide, Director of Programming monica@outyouth.org Website: www.texasgsa.org

The Trevor Project operates the nations only 24/7 crisis & suicide prevention helpline for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Helpline: 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) Contact: General Information info@thetrevorproject.org Website: www.thetrevorproject.org

The mission of the Turtle Creek Chorale is to entertain, educate, unite and uplift our audiences and members through music that is distinguished for its innovation, diversity and artistic excellence. Contact: Jonathan Palant, Artistic Director \t jpalant@turtlecreek.org Website: www.turtlecreek.org

Valiente: To mobilize the Dallas/Fort Worth Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning community to foster pride, promote community building and involvement and increase advocacy. Contact: Fernie Sanchez, President \t contact@valiente.org Website: www.valiente.org

The Women's Center of Southern Methodist University empowers women and men on campus through educational programming and leadership opportunities designed to increase awareness of gender equity issues. Contact: Maria Walker \t mariaw@mail.smu.edu Website: http://www.smu.edu/womenscenter/

The Women’s Chorus of Dallas promotes the strength, diversity and joy of women by performing high quality music to entertain, inspire and serve the community. Contact: Katy Graham, Executive Director \t katy@twcd.org Website: www.twcd.org

Youth First Texas - "Empowering Youth, Embracing Diversity, and Developing Tomorrow's Leaders" Contact: Judith Dumont, Director of Administration judithd@youthfirsttexas.org Website: www.youthfirsttexas.com

There has been a memorial fund set up for Larry at the following bank: Lawrence King Memorial Fund C/O Rabobank 155 South A St. Oxnard, CA 93030