WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today released two new resources for transgender education and advocacy for people of faith by the HRC Religion and Faith Program. The first, a new curriculum titled Gender Identity and Our Faith Communities: A Congregational Guide for Transgender Advocacy, edited by Rev. Chris Glaser, is based on the contributions of twelve transgender people, their families and clergy. The second resource titled Out In Season: A Transgender Encounter with the Church Year, offers biblical commentary for preachers and devotional readers from eleven transgender theologians and clergy. To read both resources visit: www.hrc.org/religion.

"The transgender community needs passionate, informed allies to help us advance our work toward fully inclusive hate crimes and employment non-discrimination legislation," said Allyson Robinson, HRC's Associate Director of Diversity and a contributing writer for both resources. "These resources are just what we need to mobilize the culture-changing power of communities of faith around transgender advocacy at this crucial moment in our community's history."

Drawing on a wide array of personal experiences, religious and cultural analysis, and diverse faith journeys, Gender Identity and Our Faith Communities curriculum will empower people of faith with the knowledge and skills necessary to transform their communities and congregations into welcoming environments and will turn participants into advocates for transgender rights.

"We are living at a time when a 15-year-old boy was shot to death for wearing eye shadow and high heels to school. It is high time for congregations to study gender issues, to wake up to the importance of noticing and embracing their transgender members and to reach out in ministry with the transgender community as a whole," said Dr. Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, renown theologian, author of Omnigender, and contributor to Gender Identity and Our Faith Community.

Out In Season: A Transgender Encounter with the Church Year, explores the journey with our transgender sisters and brothers. Year after year, Christians journey from the longings of Advent, the joy of Christmas and the depths of Lent to the good news of Easter hope. A video with Rev. Dr. Sidney D. Fowler, editor for Out In Season and Rev. Dr. Erin Swenson, a writer for Out in Season, is available online: http://www.hrc.org/scripture/seasonhome.asp.

"These two resources' use of rich firsthand accounts of the lives of transgender people of faith will lead you to want to be an ally and advocate on behalf of transgender people not just out of a sense of righting a injustice but because your own life and your own sense of gender identity will be deepened by the experience," said Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop for the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church.

To learn more about HRC's transgender resources visit: www.hrc.org/transgender.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.