It’s Time Dallas, a two-day no-hate occasion
featuring Margaret Marshall, former Chief Justice of Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court and the NOH8 Campaign.
October 15 & 16, 2011
On October 15, Margaret Marshall, former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court spoke about her landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in Massachusetts and her experiences growing up in South Africa during Apartheid that influenced her commitment to non-discrimination. As Chief Justice, Margaret Marshall wrote that the Massachusetts constitution “affirms the dignity and equality of all individuals” and “forbids the creation of second-class citizens”. The decision in this case, Goodridge, made Massachusetts the first state in the nation to allow same-sex couples to marry.
On October 16, the NOH8 Campaign set up their studio featuring celebrity photographer and NOH8 Co-Founder Adam Bouska. The NOH8 Campaign is a photographic silent protest featuring subjects with duct tape over their mouths symbolizing their voices being silenced by Prop 8 and similar legislation around the world, with “NOH8″ painted on one cheek in protest. Funds raised by the NOH8 Campaign are used to promote and raise awareness for Marriage Equality and anti-discrimination on a global level through an educational and interactive media campaign.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
by Martin McDonagh
April 1-3, 2011
This Tony Award winning thriller was a co-production of the Vision Forum and the Fig Theatre Company. The story is set in the early 1990s in the Irish village of Leenane. The play centers on the life of Maureen Folan, a 40-year-old spinster who takes care of her selfish and manipulative 70-year-old mother Mag. Her two sisters have escaped into marriage and family life, but Maureen, with a history of mental illness, is trapped in a small, bleak cottage and in an overly dependent, seriously dysfunctional relationship with her mother.
Performance featured Lauren Embrey as Maureen, Nancy Lamb as her aging mother Mag, Tim O’Bryen as Pato and Keith Dishman as Ray.
Tested – How Twelve Wrongly Imprisoned Men Held Onto Hope (view event photos)
January 18, 2011
Peyton and Episcopal Church Deacon Dorothy Budd, mother and daughter, co-authored the book Tested which looks at the cases of 12 wrongly imprisoned men. Four of the exonerees: Johnnie Lindsay, James Giles, Richard Miles and Billy Smith were there to share their stories of hope, faith and redemption.
Jon Meacham (view event photos)
November 16, 2010
Jon Meacham, former editor of Newsweek and Pulitzer Prize winning author, gave a speech titled: “Whose God Is It Anyway”. The theme was taken from his book his book, “American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation” and included his thoughts on current events.
Holocaust Survivors
May 6, 2010
A Discussion with Holocaust Survivors: Stories of Resiliency, Forgiveness, and Survivorship. An inspiring evening in the presence of Holocaust survivors who shared their stories. Dr. Harriet Cohen, Associate Professor in Social Work at TCU, also discussed her research project on this subject.
Doubt
March 19-21, 2010
The Vision Forum, in cooperation with the Fig Theatre Company, presented the play Doubt. “There is no evidence. There are no witnesses. But for one, there is no doubt.” Set in 1964 in Bronx, NY, the plot centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing an African American student. He denies the charges, and much of the play’s quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality and authority.
A panel discussion, Speaking to Power: Would you Dare? followed the Sunday matinee performance. Panelists included Sylvia Demarest, attorney for the plaintiffs in the Rudy Kos case, Randal Mathis, attorney for the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, and Stephen Sprinkle, TCU Brite School of Divinity associate professor of practical theology, discussing religion, morality, and authority, enacted in Doubt.
Louis Gossett, Jr. (view event photos)
October 16, 2009
Photos by: www.Bonedoc1.com
Louis Gossett, Jr., Oscar winning actor and anti-racism activist, was the inaugural speaker for the Vision Forum, on the topic of “Eradicating Racism in America”. “I am dedicating the last quadrant of my life to an all-out conscientious offensive against racism,” says Mr. Gossett.
In 2006, he developed the Eracism Foundation a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eradicate the systematic impacts of all forms of racism by providing programs that foster cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education, and antiviolence initiatives. The organization is grounded in its vision to contribute to the betterment of our society by addressing the negative impacts of racism therein.
Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu (view event photos)
September 13, 2006
Bishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize and international activist for democracy, human rights and religious tolerance, spoke at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in celebration of their 50th Anniversary.
“The members of Transfiguration strive to live Jesus’ example of openness, acceptance and love for each and every child of God,” said Father J.D. Godwin, rector of Transfiguration. “We believe Bishop Tutu’s message is one that our members and the people of Dallas need to hear. We are honored that he has agreed to visit our parish.”