The Global Justice Institute

06/01/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2026

GLOBAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE — As the calendar turns to June, society is presented with a vital opportunity to reflect on three deeply interconnected observances: Pride Month, PTSD Awareness Month, and Immigrant Heritage Month. While distinct in their origins, these observances collectively underscore the necessity of visibility, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for equity.

PRIDE MONTH: Honoring Identity and Courage
Pride Month serves as a poignant reminder of the journey toward LGBTQ+ equality. Acknowledging this month remains essential to celebrating the progress made while confronting the persistent challenges of discrimination and legislative hostility. It is a time to honor the courage of those who fought for the right to exist openly and to reaffirm our commitment to a world where identity is never a barrier to safety or success.

PTSD AWARENESS MONTH: Destigmatizing Mental Health
Simultaneously, PTSD Awareness Month sheds light on the invisible wounds carried by millions. Trauma does not discriminate, yet the stigma surrounding mental health often prevents individuals from seeking necessary care. By bringing PTSD out of the shadows, we foster environments of empathy and understanding, ensuring that survivors—whether veterans, survivors of violence, or those impacted by systemic stressors—have the support they need to heal.

IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH: Celebrating the Fabric of Nationhood
Finally, Immigrant Heritage Month highlights the invaluable contributions that immigrants bring to our communities. By honoring the diverse stories, cultures, and labor that have shaped our history, we combat xenophobia and foster a more inclusive future. Recognizing these stories is vital to understanding that our strength lies in our plurality.

A SHARED CALL TO ACTION:
The alignment of these observances in June is not merely coincidental; it is a call to recognize the intersectionality of human experience. When we elevate Pride, advocate for trauma-informed care, and celebrate immigrant heritage, we are collectively championing the dignity of all people. This June, let us move beyond simple acknowledgment and commit to active participation in creating a more compassionate, informed, and equitable society.

In the Name of Christ the Liberator,

Global Justice Institute’s Council of Bishops
+The Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner
+The Rev. Dr. Jim Merritt
+The Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins
+The Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin

05/23/2026

Tell the Holdouts in the Senate: Listen to the People! End the War on Iran.

Every time we pressure our members of Congress, we’re showing up for our values.

05/15/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17 May 2026
Global Justice Institute Supports IDAHOBIT 2026

On May 17, organizations and advocates worldwide will observe the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). This date marks the historic anniversary of the World Health Organization’s 1990 decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder—a pivotal moment in the journey toward global equality. 17 years earlier, the American Psychiatric Association made the same decision (1973). 5 years before the APA, Metropolitan Community Church affirmed the LGBTQIA+ children of God (1968).

This year’s IDAHOBIT theme focuses on solidarity and resilience, highlighting the urgent need to protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals in an era of shifting legal landscapes. While significant progress has been made, millions still live in jurisdictions where their identity is criminalized or where systemic discrimination limits access to healthcare, housing, and safety. Even in areas where progress has been made, that progress is not infrequently challenged and even threatened.

Why IDAHOBIT Matters
• Awareness: Shining a light on the violence and discrimination faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Advocacy: Calling on policymakers to implement inclusive protections and repeal discriminatory laws.
• Action: Encouraging allies to move beyond passive support toward active inclusion in workplaces and schools.

"IDAHOBIT is more than a commemoration; it is a call to action," says Bishop Pat Bumgardner, Presiding Bishop of the Global Justice Institute and Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church - New York. "We envision a world where every person can live authentically without fear. Today, we reaffirm that human dignity is divinely given, is universal, and must be protected no matter one’s sexual orientation or gender identity."

We invite all people of faith and community leaders to join the conversation online using and to participate in local events dedicated to fostering a more inclusive society.

Faithfully,

The Global Justice Institute Council of Bishops
Reverends Pat Bumgardner, Jim Merritt, Robert Griffin, and Durrell Watkins

05/04/2026

The Trump Administration is attacking housing protections for LGBTQ+ people: We need YOUR help to fight back!

This week, the Trump Administration has proposed the repeal of the Equal Access Rule, which guarantees equal access to government-funded housing programs--including homeless and domestic violence shelters--regardless of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

These protections are desperately needed by the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender people who face high rates of homelessness and violence. Denying housing protections and access based on gender identity would only cause greater suffering.

But the Administration wants to dismantle this important civil rights rule and take away critically needed protections that will have a tremendous impact on the Trans community. This action would effectively block access to homeless shelters for transgender individuals, and target providers committed to serving the LGBTQ+ community.

On April 28, the Trump administration announced a proposal to rescind the Equal Access Rule (EAR), which guarantees equal access to programs and services funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. We're ...

05/04/2026

Only 51 Rice’s whales remain on Earth. And Trump just issued them a death sentence.

These whales live only in the Gulf of Mexico: diving deep for squid, living in tight communities, and raising their calves in waters they never leave.

Only 51 Rice’s whales remain on Earth. And Trump just issued them a death sentence. These whales live only in the Gulf of Mexico: diving deep for squid, living in tight communities, and raising their

05/04/2026

ACTION ALERT: Urge Your Representative to Pass the Momnibus Act to Protect Maternal Health

With most maternal deaths preventable and Black women facing disproportionate risk, passing the Momnibus Act is essential to advancing health equity and saving lives.

04/30/2026

GLOBAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE
April 30, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The decriminalization of homosexuality in Botswana represents a significant shift in African law, marking a transition from colonial-era morality laws toward a system rooted in equitable human rights, securing the legal status of consensual same-sex relationships. The codes criminalizing homosexuality were ruled unconstitutional in 2019 and that ruling was upheld in 2021, and now, the language of homosexual criminalization has been removed from the penal code entirely.

The judiciary’s reasoning for decriminalizing homosexuality was centered on the principles of dignity, liberty, and privacy. It ruled that it is not the state’s business to regulate the private, consensual activities of adults, noting that public prejudice, no matter how widespread, cannot justify the deprivation of fundamental rights.

Decriminalization reduces the stigma that often prevents LGBTQ+ individuals from accessing HIV/AIDS prevention and healthcare services.

This positive change may also have regional implications. As one of Africa’s most stable democracies, Botswana’s ruling sets a powerful precedent for other nations grappling with similar colonial legacies. And, most obviously and importantly, the decision will provide protection to Q***r people.

By emphasizing that "a nation that does not take care of its minorities is a failed nation," the Botswana courts have redefined the country’s democratic character as one defined by pluralism and a commitment to equity.

The Global Justice Institute applauds the wisdom, compassion, and fairness of the Botswana ruling and we pray that the spirit of justice-love will spread across the African continent, and that it will change hearts and minds in the U.S. as well. The resurgence of LGBTQ discrimination in the U.S. is disturbing. Wherever fear of otherness and hatred of difference is promoted by religion, culture, or appeals to tradition, the divine power of love must be invoked and it’s healing properties applied to unjust systems.

Botswana is a bright light to LGBTQ+ people all over the world right now and we ask the Source of all Light to bless all whose dignity is ignored or denied.


With joyful hearts,

The Global Justice Institute Council of Bishops
Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Founding Presiding Bishop
Auxiliary Bishops: Reverends Jim Merritt, Robert Griffin, and Durrell Watkins

04/23/2026

Protect Endangered Species

Office of Government Relations Home Advocacy Resources Action Alerts Posts from the Hill Migration, Refugees, and Immigration Human Rights & Peacebuilding Ending Poverty Racial Reconciliation Ongoing Work Creation Care Contact:The Office of Government [email protected] About Us: Epis...

04/10/2026

CONGRESS: SAVE THE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

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04/10/2026

STOP PRESIDENT TRUMP'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL ATTACKS ON OUR ELECTIONS
We, the people, reject this unconstitutional abuse of power and demand that you, President Trump, respect the Constitution and our freedom to vote.

Sign our petition now and join us in rejecting President Trump’s new executive order attacking mail-in voting.