Posted: Aug. 29, 2022
Sioux Falls, SD, Bishop Donald DeGrood has just implemented a hateful new policy that, among other measures, cruelly bans trans students and staff in diocesan schools from using their preferred pronouns, clothing, and bathrooms.
According to the Catholic LGBTQ organization New Ways Ministry, the Sioux Falls policy "is notably more restrictive than policies elsewhere," going so far as to dissuade trans and non-binary people from taking Communion and even requiring that Catholic priests dead name trans people at their own funerals.
This kind of bigotry and discrimination isn't just hateful: It's dangerous. As John Wilka, a Catholic Sioux Falls resident and father of a 15-year-old trans boy told a local news station, "These policies in that letter are very frightening and very dangerous. It is my fear that it will cause more harm to children. That there will be suicide attempts. That there will be actual suicide occurrences."
In fact, according to research from the Trevor Project, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year -- including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth.
It doesn't have to be this way. Add your name now to oppose Bishop DeGrood's hateful education policy, reminding him that Pope Francis wants Catholic bishops to be pastoral and non-judgmental -- and that Jesus is in the midst of the marginalized and exploited LGBTQ community.
Sign the petition:
Love thy neighbor.