Homophobia at Thanksgiving Square, and missing information.
The issue of homophobia isn't taken seriously by the social justice subculture in Dallas. Lots of burbling, gurgling of happy thoughts, but homophobia is given a free pass.
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Will be doing a review of Faith Forward and the Interfaith Council as seprate posts and then have links to them from this post. It is going to take multiple posts to cover Thanks-giving Foundation and their accomodation of homophobia.
Where ever possible, links are saved at the Internet Archive.
Before you start whining that I am reporting on them consider this.
I know that Thanksgiving Square is a local favorite and it is the place where a great many people like to have happy thoughts and issue sentimental syrupy statements.
I ask the whiners to consider this:
What would you think if they were working with a Christian Identity church?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Identity
The fact is that a church which is anti-Semitic and racist wouldn’t be accepted. That is because the humanity of peoples regardless of race and ethnicity is valued and because the humanity of Jewish persons is valued.
The humanity of the LGBT isn’t taken seriously, regardless of what sentimentalities they might state, what syrups might pour from their mouth, what pieties they might exclaim.
The LGBT takes some blame for this, since often they tolerate not being respected, and not expecting that their humanity to be fully valued.
We need to realize that the problem with homophobia in Dallas isn’t just with outspoken homophobic groups like 1st Baptist Dallas, but with other organizations, supposedly having some type of social consciousness, which trivialize the humanity of the LGBT and as supposed social justice oriented groups their trivialization of our humanity is accepted uncritically.
We need to take our self-worth and humanity seriously.
Introduction
The President and CEO, of Thanksgiving Square is Kyle Ogden.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/
The following link lists him as the president and CEO of Thanks-Giving Foundation which runs Thanksgiving Square. There is personal information given, but his religious affiliation isn’t mentioned which is odd for a religious organization whose purpose is to bring religious groups together.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/kyleogden/
Even with a very thourough search of the Internet it can’t be determined what religious affiliation if any, or if there is none that Kyle Ogden has.
This is a puff piece on Kyle Ogden. No religious information is given. Rather odd for an organization about religion.
https://voyagedallas.com/interview/meet-kyle-ogden-thanks-giving-foundation-downtown-dallas/
This page has the board of directors.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/
The Chairman of the Board of Directors is Christopher Trowbridge.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/christophertrowbridge/
As for the rest of the board of directors, I might find out what their religious involvements might be with sluething on the Internet, but xxxx
For all we know the President of the Thanks-giving Foundation and many of the members of the board of directors might be members of homophobic organizations. Further, having a position at Thank-giving Foundation, as board members they give prestige to their religious organization, and trivialize the humanity of the LGBT.
Given the willingness of the Thanks-giving Foundation to work with homophobic religous groups, it does suggest that the board members religious affiliations don’t have any or little objection to homophobia.
Online and background on the Thanksgiving Square.
https://www.facebook.com/thanksgivingsquare/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thanks-giving-square/
https://thanksgiving.org/annual-reports/
https://www.instagram.com/thanksgivingsq
Annual reports stop in 2022.
https://thanksgiving.org/annual-reports/
Working with homophobic religious groups.
Some articles from the North Texas Mormons
This an article titled, “Sharing Sacred Spaces: How Dallas is Promoting Peace Through Religious Diversity.” It is a Mormon publication. A better title might be sharing with homophobes. I put a link with detailed documentation of their homophobia after the “about” link below. Evidently the Sharing Sacred Spaces doesn’t care if they are sharing homophobic Spaces.
In discussing this projects and those who will be engaged in it, the LDS publication informs us that they will have a representative involved.
Mary Ann Taylor, a representative from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been appointed Convener for the Interfaith Council of Thanks-Giving Square. She expresses, “It’s an honor to work in interfaith at any level, and I’m excited about the potential to revitalize this group.” In her opening message, she highlighted that her experience has taught her many languages—not the foreign ones learned by Naliya—but those of love, grief, joy, disappointment, fear, cancer, conversion, and gratitude, in all circumstances.
This is the about page for the above publication.
https://churchofjesuschristinnorthtexas.org/about/
At this meeting which worries about “political polarization” isn’t worried about polarization against the LGBT. It is an article about the Fifth Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.
It is at the St. Rita Catholic Church, Roman Catholic. It is the denomination which believes homosexuality is a sin and whose head, Pope Francis, when he thought what he said wasn’t going to be publically known, twice used a vicious homophobic slur. I provide some links after the link to this article.
From the article:
Joshua Boyd, organist, St. Rita Catholic Community
Rev. Holly Bandel, Executive Associate Minister, First United Methodist Church, Dallas
Dr. Alfred Calabrese, Director of Music Ministry & Parish Liturgy
Bishop Keith M Earl, Dallas Texas Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Kyle Ogden, President & Chief Executive Officer, Thanks-Giving Foundation
Judy Rorrie, Executive Director, North Dallas Shared Ministries
Rev. Joe Stobaugh, Senior Minister, University Park United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Andy Stoker, Vice President, Chief Engagement Officer, Thanks-Giving Foundation
Imam Azhar Subedar, Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Center of Collin County
Rabbi Ari Sunshine, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Shearith Israel
Rev. Joshua Whitfield, Pastoral Administrator, St. Rita Catholic Community [Boldface added.]
The North Dallas Shared Ministries involves many homophobic denominations. The University Park United Methodist Church has declared that despit recent changes, it won’t be performing Gay marriages. The St. Rita Chatolic Church is of course of a homophobic denomination.
https://www.shearith.org/blog/fifth-annual-interfaith-thanksgiving-service
I did not boldface the University Park Methodist Church, since the local churches are a mess regarding homophobia, but not like the Roman Catholics or the Mormons.
At a glance you can see homophobic denominations in the North Dallas Shared Ministries.
https://ndsm.org/covenant-congregations/
This is a news report on a “Week of Faith and Kindness Schedule.” Besides the Mormons, Romand Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox involved, I would be interested to know about the various Muslim groups involved. The basic thing is that homophobia is not a real concern for Thanksgiving Square.
This is a roster of who are currently the board of directors of Thanks-giving Square and obviously haven’t taken the humanity of the LGBT seriously.
Warning: The list on the organization page is different than what is listed under the individual profiles. Seems to be a confused website.
The fact that for the profiles given, NINE (9) out of 22 profiles have no content is sort of astounding and makes me wonder how accurate the listing is.
Jon Altschuler has no information.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/jonaltschuler/
Liz Cedillo-Pereira has no information.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/lizcedillopereira/
John Cuellar is the president of the Friends of the Latino Cultural chair, and has other positions.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/johncuellar/
Craig Davis has no information.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/craigdavis/
Mark Denesuk tells he is “passionate,” but it would be better if he was passionately against homophobia. Has offices in a lot of groups.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/markdenesuk/
Steven Durham has no information.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/stevendurham/
Ron Gafford He is involved with “private investments and board membership in public, private, and non-profit boards.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/rongafford/
Jamal Gharbieh has no information.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/jamalgharbieh/
Kendall Hill profile links to Almas Muscatwalla’s provide. No information.
Dr. Michael Hinojosa No information.
There is no link at all to any profile. He is a superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District.
Amy Lewis Hofland. According to her page she is working to “establish Dallas as a City of Compassion.” Maybe that doesn’t include the LGBT.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/amylewishofland/
Noah Jeppson
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/noahjeppson/
Robert Kent
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/robertkent/
Nolan Knight has no information.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/nolanknight/
Stan Levenson
This is a statement by him on his page. Note what is missing.
I was drawn to The Thanks-Giving Foundation because it was a leading advocate for encouraging gratitude and respect among all people, regardless of their religion, race or ethnicity. The Foundation provides Dallas residents and visitors with a destination — Thanks-Giving Square — to further experience life’s enrichment.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/stanlevenson/
Jack Lowe has no information.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/jacklowe/
Jud Pankey
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/judpankey/
Carol Seay
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/carolseay/
Joanna Singlton
From her page.
I’ve been a long-time supporter of civic projects that help advance the quality of life in Dallas, such as Klyde Warren Park.
Warren’s father purchased the Robert E. Lee statue from what is now Turtle Creek Park.
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/joannasingleton/
Chris Slaughter
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/markshank/
David Stewart
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/davidstewart/
The following links showed up in lists of directors found elsewhere on their website under the individual bios, but whether or not they are currently directors or not, is not clear.
Almas Muscatwalla
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/almasmuscatwalla/
Mark Shank
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/markshank/
Jennifer Altabef, Chair of North Texas Public Broadcasting Corp. (KERA, KXT)
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/jenniferaltabef/
Dan Jeakins link goes to a page about Craig Davis. So as a consequence, no information.
Aasem Khalil has no information
https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingfoundation/organization/aasemkhalil/
These are persons who are listed as being in an advisory council.
erry Arnold
Carl Bell
Trammell Crow
Greg Davis
Ruben Esquivel
Don Glendenning
Harriet Miers
Cathy Moore
Sybil Novinski
Lysa Rohan
Chris Slaughter
Rose Marie Stromberg
Dr. Phillip Williams, Jr.
Dr. Linus Wright
