STATE COLLEGE — On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Centre LGBT+ held a vigil in honor of Transgender Remembrance Day. The week before, 20 clergy members from State College met and put together a letter to discuss how they could better help the transgender community in the area.
Transgender Remembrance Day started in 1999 to honor Rita Hester. Hester was a trans woman who was murdered in Massachusetts. Transgender Remembrance Day now honors Hester and all those who have suffered from anti-transgender violence.
During the vigil held by Centre LGBT+, Michel Lee Garrett, a board member of the organization spoke and urged the audience to remember that the community needed to be strong and use this day to remember to be resilient. Mayor Ezra Nanes also spoke at the vigil.
In the letter, created by over 20 faith leaders of State College, the community was urged to remember that they are welcome in each perspective place of worship.
“By welcoming those who are often marginalized, we can evidence the love that God created in us. And we can be blessed by the presence and contributions of those whom we welcome,” the letter said.
The faith leaders also address that they were aware that many congregations may stand against them, but welcomed those people into a conversation to “explore the shared values of our faith, so that we can more fully live out our spiritual convictions of kindness, love and care.”
The letter was signed by Rev. Dr. Tracy Sprowls, minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County; Rev. Ben Wideman, University Mennonite Church, State College; Kate Heinzel, pastor, University Mennonite Church, State College; Rev. Dr. Tom Blair, St. John’s UCC, Boalsburg; pastor S. Leigh Pick, St. John’s UCC, Boalsburg; Rev. Scott Schul and Rev. Carolyn Hetrick, Grace Lutheran Church, State College; Rev. Dr. Sarah Q. Malone, member, University Baptist & Brethren Church, State College; Rev. Jes Kast, pastor, Faith United Church of Christ; Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt, St Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation (Abba Java Coffeehouse); Rev. Greg Milinovich, St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation; Rabbi David Ostrich, Congregation Brit Shalom; Bonnie Kline Smeltzer, pastor Emerita, University Baptist & Brethren Church, State College; Rev. Scott Hoffman, senior pastor, State College Presbyterian Church; Rev. Thomas A. Beers, interim pastor, University Baptist & Brethren Church, State College; Rev. Rebecca L. Horn, pastor, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Centre Hall; Deacon Alicia Anderson, Campus Minister, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State; Rev. Evelyn Wald, pastor, St. Stephen Lutheran Church, McAlevy’s Fort; Reverend W. Ted Williams, Pastor, Ferguson Township Lutheran Ministries (Gatesburg and Pine Hall); Sue Ellen Spotts, Director of Evangelical Mission, Allegheny Synod ELCA; Rabbi Rob Gleisser, Penn State Hillel; and Kerry Wiessmann, State College Friends Meeting.
“We encourage all to join us in this work; to welcome and protect out LGBTQ+ siblings, friends and neighbors; and to raise your voice in the defense of love, dignity and human liberty,” the letter noted.
