Social Justice Advocacy

In addition to research, education, and publication, the Unfinished Lives project assists various community initiatives to address harmful social stigma, gender and sexual discrimination, and hate crime violence across America.

In fulfillment of this mission, the Unfinished Lives project assists local, state, and national lobbying efforts; lends support to community organizers and projects; moderates and contributes to public panel discussions; provides analysis and information for television and print media; and participates in public remembrances of the victims of anti-LGBT violence.

The Unfinished Lives project has been involved with these community projects and advocacy events:

Human Rights Campaign 2007 Lobby Day for the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act– Washington, D.C.

Human Rights Campaign Clergy Call for Justice and Equality 2009 for the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act – Washington, D.C.
Public remembrance of Lawrence “Larry” King – Dallas, Texas

Human Rights Campaign Faith and Fairness Town Hall Meeting – Dallas, Texas

Erase Hate Campaign at TCU – Fort Worth, Texas

Equality Texas State of the State Conference – Austin, Texas

“Hope, Not Hate” Candlelight Vigil for James Byrd and Matthew Shepard – Austin, Texas

Transgender Day of Remembrance – Fort Worth, Texas

MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks — Austin, Texas North Carolina State University GLBT Center — Raleigh, NC awab_logo-small AWAB/Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists And many others….

Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle is also an occasional contributor to The Dallas Voice

“‘How I spent my summer vacation’: Finding love in stories of hate,” by Stephen V. Sprinkle

And these are just a few newspaper and journal articles about the Unfinished Lives project:

“Lecture series aims to address gays’ role in church,” by Katie Martinez

“Byrd, Shepard killings recalled in Austin,” by Patrick George

“Honoring forgotten victims,” by John Wright

“Hundreds Gather in Dallas to Remember Slain California Gay Teenager,” by John Wright

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About

If you are a first-time visitor to the Unfinished Lives Project website, we invite you to read A Welcome Message introducing you to our project. We are truly grateful for your visit.

The Unfinished Lives Project website is a place of public discourse which remembers and honors LGBTQ hate crime victims, while also revealing the reality of unseen violence perpetrated against people whose only “offense” is their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender presentation. LGBTQ people in the United States are suffering a slow-rolling decimation of terror and murder all across the country. Every locale and demographic of society are affected: First Nations, Anglo, Black, Latino and Latina, South and Southeast Asian, Transgender, Bisexuals, Gay men, Lesbians, disabled, young, and mature. Homophobia has a long, crooked arm, and it is reaching out to snatch the life away from women and men whose tragic stories are under-reported to begin with, and whose memories are swiftly forgotten.

The horror of these killings transcends the shock and bereavement of loved ones and friends. These are not typical homicides; they are not killings for money or drugs, incidents of domestic strife, or crimes of passion. The vicious nature of hate crimes against LGBTQ persons is extremely brutal, grotesquely violent, and egregiously hateful.

Each murder serves the LGBTQ population as a sobering warning about the actual level of danger in our communities. The message these killings send is that freedom and open life for LGBTQ people is a cruel dream. Every time we remember one of these victims, however, the intentions of their killers are frustrated. To remember these women and men is to begin the process of changing the culture that killed them.

Our Project Director

Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle (Keith Tew photo).

Stephen V. Sprinkle is Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry, and Professor of Practical Theology at Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth, Texas, a post he has held since 1994. An ordained Baptist minister, he is the first open and out Gay scholar in the history of the Divinity School, and the first open and out LGBTQ person to be tenured there. Read More…

Recent Social Justice Advocacy Activity By Dr. Sprinkle

Sprinkle @ Tarrant County Courthouse Protest Summer 2009 – Dr. Sprinkle responded to the Fort Worth Police Department and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Raid on the Rainbow Lounge, Fort Worth’s newest gay bar, on June 28, 2009, the exact 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. Dr. Sprinkle was invited to speak at three protest events sponsored by Queer LiberAction of Dallas. Here, he is keynoting the Rainbow Lounge Protest at the Tarrant County Courthouse on July 12, 2009. Read More…

Contact Us

Communicate with the Unfinished Lives project team:

info@unfinishedlivesblog.com

Schedule a Presentation

Dr. Sprinkle will gladly present his acclaimed presentation to your organization. To arrange an Unfinished Lives presentation for your organization or group, please contact us.
Dr. Sprinkle has given his Unfinished Lives presentation to these and other community groups and organizations. Read More…

Unfinished Lives

Remembering LGBT Hate Crime Victims