Wednesday, December 10, 2008

"Day Without a Gay" may prompt some workers to take the day off


Cris Jones plans to take a personal day off from work today but not because he's feeling sick. The transportation planner with the city of Boulder is going to "call in gay."
He's joining others in a "Day Without a Gay," a nationwide boycott of work prompted by Californians' recent passage of a proposition banning gay marriage.
The Colorado Queer Straight Alliance organized a volunteer day today at the African Community Center in east Denver. The group was expecting at least eight volunteers, coordinator Jules Graves said. Some critics have questioned the wisdom of holding the boycott as the deepening economic recession has many already fearing for their jobs.
"In general, people are nervous about the economic situation, so they're less likely to take the risk and participate," Graves said.
Several Denver-area professionals with ties to the gay/lesbian community said they won't skip work but will observe the day in other ways. Greg Griffin, The Denver Post

Monday, December 8, 2008

Power Hungry Politics

New York Times Magazine writer Matt Bai and author of a must-read book for Democrats, "The Argument: Billionaires, Bloggers, and the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics," recently provided an apt description of American politics for the last sixteen years. Democrats would be wise to remember "The real trend line in our politics - from Ross Perot and Bill Clinton in 1992 to Obama this year - speaks not to any change in governing philosophy but to a growing frustration with incumbency and dogma, a sense that both parties are more concerned with perpetuating their own power than they are with adapting government to a fast-changing world. Voters aren't really identifying more closely with one party or another when they periodically revolt; they are simply defining themselves against whoever happens to be in charge at the moment."

As someone who believes, wholeheartedly, in the importance of voting and the power of the little guy to effect change, the above statement really rang true for me. I am not interested, as a voter or a citizen, in furthering the power of one group over another. My loyalty, ultimately, is to my country, not one party over another. I am excited to see what we can achieve in the next four years. And I really have hope that we will see change, as a proactive response to the world in which we operate, rather than a reactive response to what "the other guy" has been doing.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Prop 8: The Musical

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Monday, December 1, 2008

World Aids Day


Today is a day to mourn the losses we have faced as a community and a day to celebrate the gains we have made. Close to 30 years ago, AIDS was killing us. Admitting you were ill meant censure, job loss, and isolation. There are still challenges to this disease. There is still social stigma. But there is also federal funding, despite the last few years of abstinence only blockades, there is more hope than there was. In some ways our hope has been a stumbling block. The new generation doesn't respect the depth of consequences that AIDS can have for them because they haven't watched their friends dying. 

Join Boulder County AIDS Project tonight for their World AIDS Day Concert, Boulder Dinner Theatre. Contact Kate Hibberd for details kate@bcap.org.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Openly Transgender Mayor!


This election marked the first African-American President. The first time in 40 years an Oregon Senate candidate beat an incumbent Senator. And in tiny Silverton, Oregon, residents have elected the man who's believed to be the first ever openly transgender mayor in the United States. KGW report on transgender mayor
Stu Rasmussen served two terms as the Mayor of Silverton in the 1990s. But he hadn't admitted to being transgender. He's not the same man now that he was then. Today he wears a skirt and high heels. He has breast implants, and long red hair. He looks like a woman - but he's not.
"I identify mostly as a heterosexual male," Rasmussen said. "But I just like to look like a female."
Rasmussen is a man. He even has a girlfriend. He says he's always been transgender, but he only "came out" a few years ago.
"Some guys' mid-life crisis is motorcycles or sports cars or climbing mountains or trophy wives or whatever." Rasmussen said his mid-life crisis was quite different. "I always wanted cleavage, so I went out and acquired some."
With the way he looks, he wasn't sure how his run for Mayor would go.
"The first 30 seconds they think, am I in a freak show? Is there a camera behind me? What's going on here?" Rasmussen told NewsChannel 8. "And then we get down to discussing whatever the issue is - city business or business or whatever - and they figure out this guy's different, but he knows what he's talking about."
It's Rasmussen's knowledge of the issues, and of the town, that won over so many voters. As one voter said, "Stu's very devoted to this town."
Rasmussen won by a hefty margin - 13 points. It really wasn't close.
"He wants to maintain the integrity of Silverton," voter Gail Frassenei said. And she said she isn't sure Rasmussen would be elected anywhere else. "I think it's amazing a small town like this can be so open-minded, to elect someone that's made a life change."
"I'm prejudiced, but I think this is just about the coolest town on Earth," Rasmussen said, just before he broke down, a tear gently running through his eyeliner, and onto his cheek. He can't wait to take office in January. He said he's finally confident enough to be himself, as he runs his hometown, wearing his signature heels.


Thursday, November 20, 2008

Rabble Rousing.

I'll be honest. I am done with people being brushed aside because they are different. I was so excited that Detre and the Bias Incident Hotline put together a rally tonight to protest the recent rash of hate crimes here in Boulder. I spoke on behalf of Boulder Pride. Because to be queer is to come from all communities. Queer people are poor and wealthy. Queer people come from every race and religion. Queer people come from every geography. I spoke because I believe in the importance of unity.

There is a poem I am sure you have all heard, but I want to share it tonight.

When first they came for the criminals I did not speak
Then they began to take the Jews
When they fetched the people who were members of trade unions
I did not speak
When they took the bible students
Rounded up the homosexuals
Then they gathered up the immigrants and Gypsies
I did not speak
Eventually they came for me
And there was no one left to speak

I believe there is a power structure in America that fears the oppressed. I believe there are people who use our differences to divide us from one another, with the knowledge that if we stand together, we are unstoppable. I believe the recent hate crimes against minorites and women are expressions of that fear. And I believe that if we stand together and speak out, but also more importantly, act out, that we are unstoppable.

Tonight we marched and learned. But it cannot stop here. It cannot stop tonight. One night is not enough. You must do more than you think you are able. You must reach higher than you believe you can.  One step at a time, we will change the world we live in. Because together we are unstoppable. 

A Moment of Silence to Honor the Dead


We started as a movement when the leather and trans community decided they were done with being kicked around. Our community loses its history because of our unique nature. We aren't born into gay families with gay traditions. We are born into straight families, for the most part, with straight traditions, and then we swim upstream for at least some of our life, looking for our place of origin. Until we realize that our origin is distant and strange. We must balance within ourselves the dichotomy of our familial traditions and our cultural identity. Rarely do they overlap.

So our history began, when and where? We are unsure. But consistently we find a way to fit into the cultural norms and we distance ourselves from those who do not. Today is the transgender day of remembrance. A day to honor the struggles and pain of one part of our community, as it reflects the pain and struggles of our movement as a whole. 

There are gatherings in Fort Collins and Denver specifically meant to honor our trans community. In response to local hate crimes, the Bias Incident Hotline has organized a Journey into Justice and will honor the transgender community as part of their rally and protest. 


Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Why did I care about Prop 8?

After all, I don't live in California and as a queer woman currently dating a man, I could get legally hitched tomorrow if I wanted to do so. I can tell you I wept on Nov 5 when the news came in. I poured over CNN's breakdown of the counties and determined that there just weren't enough potential votes out there for hope. Elated that Obama had won, I was dazed at how thoroughly our community had been kicked in the teeth, across the country.

Less than a week later, I received the national call to action in response to Prop 8 for November 15. I knew I had to be part of it. I had to claim that anger and energy and turn it into action. And help other people do the same.

Not because marriage will give health care to gays, because it won't. There are plenty of straight people who don't have health care. Not because marriage will make things fair and right and equal, because it won't. We will still be dealing with inequalities rooted in class and race in our community. Not because marriage is more important than the violence experienced by our transgender community members, because it isn't.

But marriage is a symbol. It is something tangible to straight people. Equality is a big word and it encompasses a variety of meanings. Either your marriage is recognized by the government, or it is not. Either you are being treated equally by your civil representatives, or you are not.

We all draw strength from our families. Sometimes, it's from their poor treatment. Sometimes it's from them being a haven in our time need. Sometimes we have to create them. Sometimes we are born to them. But regardless of orientation, people can relate to the idea that we want a fair shot at trying.

I don't what will happen with our country, with our movement. But I believe something exciting was born last weekend. Perhaps the sleeping giant finally woke. Whatever it was, I was proud of my community for coming together. Proud to be a small part of the million voices that stood and said, No More.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Boulder to be part of National Protests

Gays, Lesbians, Transgender, Their Families and Supporters Unite
Large Scale National Protest Planned For November 15th

Come to the Boulder County Courthouse Lawn (1325 Pearl Street), November 15, 11:30am, to be part of the largest LGBTQ protest and demonstration to ever occur. Inspired by the passage of Prop 8 in California, this is an opportunity to take our anger and turn it into action. It is a time for us to stand together with our allies and other oppressed groups in Boulder County and beyond. Boulder Pride has joined with a large coalition of local partners, including PFLAG, OASOS, Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Resource Center University of Colorado at Boulder, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Naropa, Safehouse Alliance for Progressive Nonviolence, Boulder Community United, and the list continues to grow to speak out against the legislation of discrimination in our community and communities across the country. If you live in or near Boulder, join us at the Courthouse. If you live somewhere else, go to that courthouse. Find other Colorado events at http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Colorado. There are rallies across the country and we hope you will pass this on to everyone you know.

Over the last several days, tens of thousands of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and their Supporters have taken to the streets of California to show their outrage with the passage of CA Proposition 8. Prop 8 provides for a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage rights. Similar amendments and propositions have been passed in AZ and FL.

The passage of these propositions has angered the gay community and their supporters. Many feel as if they are now second-class citizens in a country that has seen that change can happen
with this historic election. They do not feel that a majority should be able to vote on minorities' rights or vote to take anyone's rights away.

On Saturday, November 15, 2008 this community will again take to the streets in what could be the largest organized Protest / Movement since the Civil Rights Movement. To date, more than 250,000 individuals have pledged to take part in the nationwide event, in which they will descend upon the City Halls, State Capitols and the Nation's Capitol to make their voice heard. Signs, posters and numerous websites have already been created and the word is spreading quickly throughout the nation. Jointheimpact.com lists protest locations in all 50 States and the District of Columbia.

The message is simple, yet loud; Equal Rights for All. Signs seen at the many protests that have already taken place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago and Salt Lake City read: "No More Mr. Nice Gay – Equal rights for all people", "Fight the H8", "Teach Acceptance – Not Hate", "I am now a 2nd class citizen", "I am a victim of H8" to name a few. The organizers of this nationwide event have stressed that it, like the protests that have taken place over the last week; will also be peaceful demonstrations. "The time has come here in America for all people to be afforded equal rights, and we will not stop until everyone receives Equal Rights."

The Protest / Movement is scheduled to take place across the nation at the same time: 1:30 PM Eastern, 12:30 PM Central, 11:30 AM Mountain and 10:30 AM Pacific on Saturday, November 15th, 2008. Those interested in attending this historical event may find their local protest location by visiting: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Olbermann Special Comment: Proposition 8

If you haven't seen this, it is worth viewing!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Veteran's Day.


Typically this is a celebration of those who have lain down their lives to defend our rights of freedom, equality, and democracy. Strategically placed after an election, it is a good reminder that whatever party with which we claim affiliation, our loyalty is to America as a country. Both candidates stressed that in their concession and acceptance speeches. Obama even went so far as to say the word "gay" in his first speech as president-elect. And I will confess, I have a cautious optimism that change is truly coming.

My father and grandfather both served in the military. They sacrificed time with their families to serve our country and risk their lives for the ideals of our nation. As straight men, they could openly acknowledge their families without fear. LGBT service members must deny and hide the people they value, support, and take comfort with. Or they will lose their right to serve. LGBT military veteran's are hidden behind policies of fear and prejudice, making it difficult to publically honor their sacrifices and service.

Groups like Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) are working to change this. But until they do, I am going to honor the people in our community who have made incredible sacrifices, sometimes even their lives, by the simple and powerful act of being out. The transgender and leather men and women who started the Stonewall riots. The young transgender woman who was murdered in Greely just this summer. They are our fallen. They are our heroes. Until we can openly and honestly be part of the larger community, my flags will fly for those who stand on our front lines. 

Please let me know who you honor as a hero of the LGBT movement. Let us honor and celebrate those who have gone before, as we work to create a better world for our children -- literal and figurative. 


Thursday, November 6, 2008

California says YES to Discrimination

 

Tuesday night was full of raucous celebration tinged with disappointment for the LGBTIQ community, in California and across the country. Despite our best efforts, we did not succeed in halting the tide of anti-gay initiatives in the states seeking to pass them.

 

It is clear that while our country is ready to make strides in many areas, granting equal rights to its LGBTIQ citizens is still being used as a flash point to create division and fear.  I have hope that will change. I know the power we have discovered in our unity will continue to grow. Marriage equality is only one part of our fight, one battle on the road. The true goal is equal treatment under the law. Boulder Pride is part of a statewide network of LGBT Centers working to create that possibility together.

 

We want you to walk with us on that road. VolunteerDonate.  We need your support as we work to create the world we want to live in. We have come so far in our struggle for equality, Colorado especially has much to celebrate, with your support we will go farther.

 

And today, we will celebrate how far we’ve come, knowing that it’s not as far as we will go.  


 


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The more things change ...

The mix of conflicting emotions I felt last night was overwhelming. I was overjoyed that Obama won both the presidency and Colorado; that the stain of Musgrave was removed from the Colorado landscape; that Polis became the first openly gay non-incumbent to win a Congressional seat. I believe that Colorado is ready for a change and the Colorado LGBT movement is ready to be pro-active about achieving equality. I believe we can. I believe we will.

But watching Prop 8 in California move toward victory, caused equal amounts of grief, anger, and profound disappointment. What on earth!?! Why does it matter who I want to make my life commitments with? I went to bed early, hoping that there would be a turn around while I slept. I hestitantly opened my computer at 6am and waited for the results to load, hope and dread equally competing.

It seems so counter intuitive to me that we could, as a nation, choose a progressive leader like Obama and yet, state by state, enact 3 marriage bans, 1 adoption ban, and 2 anti-affirmative action initiatives.

Prop 8 Still Considered Too Close to Call

We celebrated, with much of America, the achievements made yesterday
as America rejected the top down politics of the past 8 years and put
a different face in the highest office in the land; Colorado voted out
the Senator that introduced a federal amendment to ban equal marriage;
and Boulder County saw the election of the first, non-encumbent gay
man to win a congressional seat. We celebrated because these are
victories that show change is coming and we are excited to be a part
of making history.

We also grieved over the marriage bans passed in Arizona and Florida,
the anti-gay adoption legislation in Arkansas, the end of affirmative
action in Nebraska, and the English only legislation in Missouri.

And we wait, with California, hoping that tomorrow will bring us
positive news concerning Prop 8. I include below a statement from
their website. When a final decision is reached, we will let you know.

Whatever the outcome, we fought the good fight. We stood together and
we made a difference in so many ways. I know I won't be alone in
grieving if this truly does pass. But I also know we won't be alone as
work to make changes, in California, in Colorado, in America.

We can. We did. We will.


Statement by No on Prop 8 Campaign on Election Status
Roughly 400,000 votes separate yes from no on Prop 8 – out of 10
million votes tallied.

Based on turnout estimates reported yesterday, we expect that there
are more than 3 million and possibly as many as 4 million absentee and
provisional ballots yet to be counted.

Given that fundamental rights are at stake, we must wait to hear from
the Secretary of State tomorrow how many votes are yet to be counted
as well as where they are from.

It is clearly a very close election and we monitored the results all
evening and this morning.

As of this point, the election is too close to call.

Because Prop 8 involves the sensitive matter of individual rights, we
believe it is important to wait until we receive further information
about the outcome.

Geoff Kors
Executive Committee NO on Prop 8

Kate KendellExecutive Committee
NO on Prop 8

Monday, November 3, 2008

Vote.


I've said it before, I'll say it again.

Vote.

It's the little things that count.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Mormons for Marriage

A part of me will always be mormon, and the part of me that is, is proud of the courageous members of the LDS church who have stood up to oppose Prop 8 in California.

From their website:

For all its failings in particular cases, and for all the stress it has borne lately, marriage is the great civilizing institution. No other institution has the power to turn narcissism into partnership, lust into devotion, strangers into kin. What other force can bond across clans and countries and continents and even cultures? In Romeo and Juliet, it was not the youths’ love which their warring and insular clans feared; it was their marriage. (Jonathan Rauch, Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights and Good for America)

I know we have a long way to go as a community, but when people step forward as our allies and choose to risk the wrath of their church, they inspire me to believe we have come farther than we realize.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Why Women Should Vote


(This came across my desk as one of those email forwards but it was still moving.)

It was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive.

Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.' They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cell mate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women. Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right
to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

Movies like Iron Jawed Angels can really bring this to life. It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy. The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know. We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

History is being made.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

We made the Vice Presidential Debate!

I was shocked to hear Joe Biden say the words "gay and lesbian" on national television. While I am not in mind to agree the glass ceiling in politics has been broken or cracked, things are definitely changing. Our country is engaging in a national debate about what we value in our communities. Of course, what's taking center stage is the economy and the current corporate welfare program we are choosing to fund. Why is it that hungry children and single moms are considered irresponsible if they need government assistance but hungry banks clearly need to be fed, for the betterment of our country, when they start to fail? I'm not a fan of capitalism's encouragement of greedy behavior. And listening to executives defend themselves "no, I didn't get paid $500 million dollars over the last three years, I only got $310 million" is mind boggling to me. Who actually NEEDS $300 million to survive? At that point, it was just a way of keeping score. So why didn't they keep score by using a notepad?

And the truth is, greed doesn't pay over the long term. Look at Costco, a company that shows strong, consistent profits. The CEO of Costco makes only double what a store manager makes, about 1/10 the salary of most CEOs of larger companies. Most Costco employees receive health insurance and make enough money to live comfortably. And they continue to outsell companies like Walmart that over compensate their Execs and underpay their employees.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

SNL Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

Is it funny because it's true?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Obedience?

It is easy to ignore responsibility when one is only an intermediate link in a chain of actions.--The Perils of Obedience

There is a fervor this election cycle that I haven't seen in my lifetime. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but it seems like America is really engaged in the political process at a new level and it is very exciting. We have history before us, no matter who is elected, gender or racial barriers will be broken. We have difficult decisions to make, as a country, about what our values are. Will we continue to borrow against the future of our children and gamble with our economy or will we start to practice a little prudence? Will we end our immoral invasion of other countries for profit or will we continue to value our comfort and convenience over foreign lives? Will we find ways to value the foreign nationals who come and toil in our agricultural and industrial jobs as participants in our economic and cultural landscape or will we continue to scapegoat them? Will we find common ground in the cultural wars or continue to propogate a vicious and polarized approach to our national conversations?


In freshman english, back in my college days, we had a series of required readings, among them The Perils of Obedience by Stanley Milgram. In it he tells the story of an experiment he did to determine the power of obedience to overcome our moral compass in the face of another's pain and suffering. It was a shocking and compelling summary. Socially we require a certain level of "obedience" or compliance in order to keep things functioning smoothly and safely, the consequences of folks driving willy nilly would be quite devastating on several levels. But obedience to authority without consideration of the consequences is quite a different matter. As a queer community, we understand this on a personal level. Living a straight life when we are not a straight people has an immense cost. For those of us who were raised in a socially or religiously conservative lifestyle, the difficulty of coming out and claiming our personal expression is life altering.


I encourage you to get involved this season. Volunteer for a candidate you believe in, work on an intiative campaign (such as No on 48 or the local 2E campaign ), donate to causes that inspire you, or come join us at the Pridehouse, we have several local programs that volunteers and donations play a crucial role in keeping going. Find your passion and follow it and we will make the change happen that we all want to see!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Block Party has consumed us!

Boulder Pride's Block Party Pridefest is this Saturday, Sept 13th! The universe is conspiring to make the event fabulous, with a predicted sunny, mid 70s forecast. We have a great lineup of performers and an incredible children's area put together.

All this, of course, requires a ton of time and effort on the part of the Boulder Pride staff and our many volunteers. So, if you have some time, we can help you find great ways to fill it.

In the midst of this, murphy spoke up and made sure we had lots to do with a web failure that caused us to lose much information on our server and be unable to update the web on a consistent basis, or send out the elert. Tech problems having been solved, we are now pulling together the final threads to make Saturday a truly fabulous event!

And Sunday, the 14th, is BCAP's Local Legends Ball-- get online and buy your ticket now to support this great organization.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Homelessness in Boulder.

Boulder is a lovely city with a lot of good things to offer its people and the rest of the country. Boulder is also not immune from the same problems that affect the rest of the country, including homelessness. The Carriage House is one of the organizations that works to address this problem locally and does a fabulous job.



The queer community has added opportunities for homelessness. It is estimated that over 60% of homeless teens are queer, having been kicked out after they came out (or were forced out) to their families. Transgender people often lose their jobs, families, and social support when they come out about their true gender. And there are still plenty of places in even Colorado where being Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual will lose you employment.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Bi now, Gay later?

I identify as queer. I was married to a man for five years, to a woman for 9, and have dated people for whom gender is not a very linear concept. My partner grew up in the bay area, coming out at 17, and performing drag in San Francisco clubs, before running away from himself and a broken heart to marry a woman in Washington state. Over the years he has had male, female and trans partners. While he no longer performs drag, he still loves the gender bending and looks marvelous in asian style dresses.

I know that for some people "bisexual" is a comfortable stepping stone to "gay or lesbian". They aren't quite able to let go of their inner heterosexual and they cling to the idea of it to preserve a feeling of safety while they explore their same-sex feelings. And because about 30% of bisexuals also identify as polyamorous, the concept that bisexuals want it all is also understandable. I acknowledge that.

BUT there are plenty of people who are actually and truly bisexual. When my partner and I go to queer events and get strange looks, it disappoints me. Our heteronormative looking relationship could be:

A. we are straight allies
B. one or the other of us is transgender
C. one or the other or both of us is bisexual

And while my partner and I do feel the benefit of heterosexual privilege, we are also very open about who we are. And when people identify with us because of our heterosexuality, we make sure they know it's transitory. I don't think we are alone. And I think the queer movement is going to be stronger and more successful if we work with our allies. The 19th Amendment was voted for only by men. Women would never have gotten the vote if they didn't have male allies.

Learn more about the history of the bisexual movement. If you would like to be part of creating the next phase of the movement, please contact me. Everyone is talking about how it is time for a change. I'm ready to make it happen.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Stop having them ...

I was delighted to experience the fun and frolicking that was sponsored by the Task Force Sunday evening at Lannie's Clocktower . A short presentation of the film, For My Wife, a documentary about the tragic death of Charlene Strong's partner, Kate Fleming, was shown to remind us that while we have come far, we have far to go.

Sometimes I sit in these rooms, full of queer activists, and I really wonder why it's all necessary. Why does our love for our partners and spouses frighten people into such strongly emotional and (often) dangerous reactions? The only reason our relationships become a hardship is because other people work to make it so. And it is a learned behavior. People learn to move from curiosity to fear and resistance as they age.

When Lannie began her show, she was hilarious. And in the midst of the comedy, there was as usual, some pointed truth. "I don't understand all this fuss about gays getting married. I think if the straight people don't like gay people .... they should stop having them. I mean they are the ones creating the problem, maybe that's who shouldn't be allowed to get married!"

A few years ago, Washington state activists began a campaign to require married heterosexuals to have children within three years, or have their marriage declared invalid by the state. It makes sense to me, if marriage is about procreation, then you ought to get to it!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Marriage in the News

Predictably, the recent California decision has people talking about marriage all over the place. We've all witnessed the absolute lack of apocalyptic consequences experienced in Massachusetts since they began to legally recognize same-sex marriages in their state. California has been teasing us for awhile, with the state legislature legalizing marriage recognition and then being vetoed by the governor. I hope the people of California let it stand this time. It's going to be a long road and having a few positive steps is a nice change!

I like the Canadian video campaign, launched in 2006 to promote marriage equality:



When I first came out, a family member said they could possibly understand but they would never support gay marriage. Why, I asked. Because then everyone would do it. Really, would you, I responded. This, of course, ended the conversation. That's not a question people want to answer, which is wise, either way they answer proves them wrong or closeted!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Vote.


Today is the primaries and your vote counts. For more about voting in Boulder County, visit www.VoteBoulder.org or call (303) 413-7740.

Monday, August 4, 2008

It.


I never really knew how cold and dimension-less the word "it" was until I read the press release on Angie Zapata's murderer being charged. Usually I am full of words, and the normal ones do float to the surface like "shocking" and "horrible" and "nauseating". But beyond the words are feelings that simply can't be captured.

There isn't a lot of room in our language for people who are different. Utah Philips tells the story of his daughter complaining that he wasn't normal and his friend correcting her, "He is normal, what you mean is average." Mainstream living is often the lowest common denominator. A safe way for people to move through life. The sign posts are up, the path is marked, the goal is clear.

Angie's desire to walk differently should never have resulted in so tragic a situation. There is no possibility of justice, whatever punishment is meted out, Angie will be dead. Our community will have lost one more member. All we can do is mourn and work to prevent this from happening again, to someone else.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Stand up and be counted? Not by the census.

So the US Census is on the horizon and, once again, they are going to find a way to keep out the married same-sex couples.

"The Census Bureau will be operating under the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, which 'instructs all federal agencies only to recognize opposite-sex marriages for the purposes of enacting any agency programs.'"

The Census Bureau will alter the entries of same-sex, married couples, to reflect the version of reality the government would prefer to see. Why should this matter to me, you might ask? Because the US Census is the standard used for much of the data collection performed by states, counties, and cities. And that standard is going to systematically work to exclude accurate information on same sex couples and families. Because without accurate information about our community, we cannot begin to properly serve the needs of our people. And because, once again, we are being ignored, changed, isolated, and made invisible, by the very organizations ostensibly working to reveal the landscape of our country.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Something to talk about.

I'm having trouble thinking of something to talk about today. I don't often deal with writer's block, but here it is today. So I'm going to talk about my family, my reason for being here and doing the work I do. When my son was in first grade, his class did a project to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr day. The children in the class were asked what they would say if they were Martin Luther King, Jr and working towards civil rights. My son's answer, "I would tell people we should remember we all have the same color heart."

When my son started Kindergarten, he talked about living with two moms. His classmates were very curious (where did the baby come from, without a dad?!?) but not condemning. When my daughter was in first grade, she was hit in the face by a fifth grade student for admitting that her moms were lesbians. (Don't worry, the school underwent extensive work to educate faculty and staff on how to support children of GLBT families and even identified two transgender children in the school and was able to provide them with a strong and positive environment.)

Children don't start out with a fear of the different but rather a curiousity. How does your life work when it doesn't look like mine? Every day, every thing I do, I think about the world my children started out believing in. A world where our heart is more important than our skin, or the gender of our parents, or their physical abilities. And I want to be part of creating that world for them.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

glbTq

So I've been mulling over the transgender connection in Boulder since I started at Boulder Pride, but an email that came through yesterday really got me thinking about the transgender community and my own evolution. My gender is conveniently consistent with my body, which I talked about a few weeks ago, so my experiences have been more about learning how to build community support and challenge my own perceptions of gender. Just as the sexual orientation movement challenged culturally accepted models of relationship and gender roles, the gender queer movement is challenging those same ideas on a deeper level. Sexual orientation focused us on who we were with and how that defined us. Gender expression focuses on who we are and how that shapes our world. It is more internal, more profound, and more volatile.

It's hard when even the queer community can't figure out how to be more connective and welcoming to the T in glbTq. The Denver Wrangler has bravely posted its ignorance for all the world to see, showing once again that no matter how powerless we are, we can always find someone to pick on.

Monday, July 7, 2008

What does it mean to Win?

For me competition is about achieving personal excellence. I love sports and games, pitting my wits or skill against another person's abilities and really seeing what I can achieve. If I enjoy myself, if I push myself to a new level of skill, I usually have little interest in who actually "wins" the game. Which is why this video was truly inspiring to me.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Queer and White

I once had a man apologize to me for being brown. Sitting in my car in the Borders parking lot, waiting for my wife to exit so we could continue on our day, he approached my car and said, "I'm sorry I'm brown, but I wanted to know where you got your bumper sticker, because it's so funny." I told him where I bought it and then sat there in shock that anyone would ever feel the need to apologize for something so inherently a part of them. And so unharmful to anyone else. In that moment, I realized that I would never actually understand what it means to be a person of color in america.

When Rene Marie decided to sing the national anthem in a way that included both the traditional tune and words that expressed an experience more consistent with her life in america, she gave the folks in attendance a beautiful gift. I am impressed with the strength of character and bravery she showed in voicing her dual patriotism to both her country and her heritage. Often times the things we recite in honor of our country and our patriotism are words that speak to a select few. At the city address, those who are often the ones spoken to had a chance to understand what it means to hear patriotism from another perspective, a perspective not theirs. I am sorry that instead of appreciating her artistic expression and her inclusive approach, the response has been one of fear and anger.

Read more about Rene at her website and listen to her amazing voice. Send her an email of support. Send a letter to the city council expressing your support of her patriotism.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Patriotic Me.

"Loyalty to the country always,
loyalty to the government when it deserves it."
Utah Philips

My co-worker was planning to work this Friday because she forgot it was the 4th of July. "That's me, so patriotic!" she joked, after I pointed out her error. Patriotism is one of those big words with an ambiguous meaning that moves according to your perspective. Queer people have a hard time really embracing what patriotism means to us. Much like "family values", "christianity", and "morality", patriotism has been coopted in a very political fashion to mean looking and believing according to one ideology, an ideology that doesn't include us.

Time magazine did an article on patriotism this week and Burning Man has set the American Dream as its art theme for 2008. Like 20-something college students, America is struggling to find its identity, its loyalty, and its motivation for self-esteem. Queer folks often put their energy into their community. We call one another family and we have pride celebrations. But I don't think it's enough.

The beauty of the queer community is that we encompass all aspects of american life. There is no socio-economic level, no political or religious ideology, no racial expression, no physical attribute or ability level that doesn't have someone queer living it. We are uniquely positioned to embrace diversity because while we may not have anything else in common, we have our experience of being queer in a straight world to bond us together.

I am ashamed of my government on occasion. But I do love my country. I believe we can build a better world for our children. And I believe we can honor the efforts and sacrifices made by those before us. So while the flag I wave is rainbow striped, rather than red, white, and blue, my heart has room for both.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Who doesn't cheer for PFLAG?


I didn't get to see much at Pridefest this weekend, I was pretty work focused. But after we set up our tent, we were able to wander over and watch part of the parade. I've been at Pride, often two or three, every year since 2002. But usually working, rarely able to watch the parade or wander about. I think this may have been the first time I saw PFLAG marching by. It's certainly the first time I remember seeing it. The crowd began to clap and cheer and holler with massive enthusiasm. All I could do was stand there and try not to cry. I think it was the "I love my gay son." sign. Or maybe it was "Keeping families together." Probably it was all of it together. But it was beautiful to see so many families standing up to say they love their children. Period. Just the way they are. I know my parents love me, but the queer part of me is not something they can accept. They have each tried, in their own way. My dad and I can joke about it now, a clear sign we are in a better place, 10 years later. My mom came to my wedding when my now ex-wife and I tied the knot. But it's not comfortable and it scares them.

I know I'm not alone. Many of us wish our families could look beyond the gender of our partner, or our own fluidity. Things are changing, albeit slowly, and they will continue to improve. 50 years from now we will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about. But, just for now, when PFLAG walks by, I'm going to cheer.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Everyone needs a vagina couch.



A woman on the internet is asking $600 for her homemade vagina couch. I had to share.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Happy Second Parent's Day?


Sunday was Father's Day, which can be a problematic celebration for the queer community. Many of us are alienated from our families, or have been, the pain of coming out to ourselves and our loved ones often forcing us to be reborn into our identity, where we choose our families by how they treat us. So days like Father's Day can have a bitter sweet touch of nostalgia.

And then when we raise our families, who we honor as the father can be equally tricky. While studies have consistently shown the gender of the second parent is inconsequential to our children, we are constantly asked how our same gender lifestyle will provide the appropriate other gendered experiences. As if we lived in a vacuum of gender experiences that excluded men or women from our children's daily life! The model of a two parent, heterosexual "nuclear" family is about as prevalent as unicorns in modern society. My own children have somewhere between 2 and 4 mothers, two fathers, and a few more adult mentors. My best friend has called me her children's "extra mom" since they were born. And that's just extra parents. There are a variety of family styles and experiences that make up the world our children grow up in, and the only thing that makes them difficult for our children is the messages they receive that they are alone or their families are somehow less because they don't measure up to someone rhetorical fantasies. (I suggest the video, That's a Family, for anyone with kids. My kids really loved it and it definitely addressed their concerns about their differences in a reassuring fashion.) This doesn't even begin to touch on the experiences of transgender individuals who have come out after having children, or those few who choose to have biological children in addition to their transitioning experience.

So I hope Sunday was a good day for you, second parents, fathers, and extra adults that you might be. Our kids don't need us to have the right label, just the right attitude, and I imagine if you've chosen your family in other ways, you are most likely going to be equally loyal to the children you have chosen into your heart.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Bias motivated vandalism.

It's in the news, there is possibly an anti-lesbian vandal out there, defacing cars with lewd and vulgar pictures. This particular incident is still being investigated, so it is uncertain whether it is a pattern of behavior that would indicate a potentially bias motivated crime. But it brings attention to the fact that as much as we would like to think differently, Boulder County isn't quite as accepting as it could be.

It's popular these days to question hate crime legislation, starting with the rationale that all crimes are motivated by hate. My opinion is that bias motivated crimes are important to understand because they can be encouraged by social conditioning. Often times bias is towards groups that are in the minority and disenfranchised in some way. The person committing the crime is targeting that person or group because they believe their behavior will be condoned or ignored. There was a time when police would support this, being less motivated to investigate crimes that were committed against outsiders, or even holding the victim accountable for their situation. And in some places and situations, that can still be the case.

It's a complicated question, but with no simple answers. Bias motivated incidents occur every day, in a variety of levels. Regardless of the community targeted, regardless of the level of the incident, we need to speak out against the ignorance that inspires them. If we want things to change, we need to work together to make them change. Consider volunteering for an organization, like Boulder Pride, Safehouse Alliance, Colorado Anti-Violence Program, or another organization working to create a better community for all.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

BiseXual

I claim the B in LGBT, but the truth is I often identify as queer, simply because I think it more clearly encompasses the mix of alternative lifestyles which make up my world. Sometimes I jokingly refer to myself as greedy, because often the assumption is that as a B, I want it all. And in some ways, I absolutely do. Really, the problem comes from the fact that Americans tend to define themselves, and one another, by their relationships. Two women are lesbians. Two men are gay. I am a mother, partner, and daughter. But my identity as a person is less defined, less easily expressed. How do we stay out of the closet when our couple-centric society demands that we "pick a side" even if only for as long as the relationship lasts? And why do we as a queer community embrace these limited defnitions of being that continue to tie us to other people's expectations?

The truly interesting piece of this puzzle, for me, is that we are increasingly a selfish society. Baby boomers are choosing to spend their money, instead of save it for their children, traveling to exotic places and purchasing luxury items for their own use. I don't judge this, but I think it is indicative of a culture that is more interested in serving the now than serving the future. More concerned with the needs of the one than the needs of the many. Perhaps there is some connection between this incessant selfishness and this absolute stifling of our personal identity. Perhaps the more we deny our need to be whole, individual beings, the less we are able to reach out and truly care for one another?

Monday, June 9, 2008

The dangers of dihydrogen oxide.


One of the reasons we work to raise awareness of queer issues in the straight community is because of the massive amount of disinformation presented about us, regularly, in mainstream america. This disinformation is a combination of fear tactics and truth twisting that can have disastrous results for our community and beyond. One example is the Ohio state anti-marriage act which was so limiting in its definition of marriage that for over two years there was a court case that questioned whether it had limited domestic violence statutes to only legally married couples. While that was eventually determined not to be the case, the ban has created a legal limbo for same-sex couples, unmarried heterosexual couples, and children. The fear of same sex couples was so great that basic protections were put in jeopardy to limit their ability to build a life together.

It reminds me of the on again, off again fervor over dihydrogen oxide, a dangerous chemical found in almost everything we use and ingest. This story was first introduced in the early 90s and then re-introduced by a junior high student, who surveyed 50 people in his town. He managed to convince the majority of them to sign a ban against the use of dihydrogen oxide, based on a compelling list of its dangerous qualities. For instance: it can cause death if inhaled in small quantities; in its gaseous form it can cause severe burns; and in its frozen form it can cause tissue damage. I might consider banning it myself, if I didn't know dihydrogen oxide is simply water.

The real danger isn't dihydrogen oxide. It's the fear people spread when they are ignorant of the facts. It's the fear people spread when they don't take the time to really understand that us being queer isn't about them, it's about us. We don't want to interfere with their lives, we just want to live ours. With plenty of dihydrogen oxide for all.

Friday, June 6, 2008

There's something wrong when Coke inspires me.

I've seen this commercial twice and it honestly moves me!


I can convince myself it's good for me.



Knit Purl Cafe is my new favorite place in Boulder. To start, they serve organic, fair trade, gluten free ice cream which is delicious. Add to that tea, coffee, cute little tables, and you might think they are set. But no, you would be wrong. They also have a nice selection of specialty yarns and regular knitting circles (or more colorfully "stitch and bitch" circles). Add to that, the owner, Kim, is friendly and fun to chat with. Heading into the summer months knowing the best places for good ice cream is high on my list of musts, and this definitely qualifies. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

You can't give me what I have.

"It may seem like a subtle shift, but asking someone to give you what you already have, only gives them the power to withhold it." Sven Davisson.

Thank you to California for choosing to recognize the truth, that same sex couples already have the right to get married. Churches solemnize it, families support it, Pier One lets you register, but our government seems to stubbornly stick to the idea that somehow they can prevent our relationships. They can make them financially more challenging. They can disallow us to care for one another in a legal sense, when it comes to social security or disability. They can separate us when our love crosses international boundaries. They can punish our children by leaving them in legal limbo if we separate or divorce. But they can't actually prevent us from making commitments, from loving one another, from building our lives, from creating our homes.

Civil unions are a great first step and I applaud the states that implemented even these small measures, but, as the Massachusetts SJC stated "The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom, if ever, equal." I am glad we are engaging in a national conversation about what marriage really means and the fact that in this area, we are still allowing religious officials to manage secular, legal arrangements. I don't when it will happen, but I believe strongly that we will achieve recognition of our rights to commit and build with one another. And I am excited to be a part of it.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Creating High Impact Non Profits, Pt 2

High impact non-profits combine service with advocacy. This means they work to alleviate the immediate problem in their area with direct action while also participating in initiative and lobby efforts to change regulations or industry standards to end the problem all together. Their work in the field, dealing daily with the realities of the problem they are working to solve, can inform the larger legislative work or informational campaigns created across the spectrum.


They do this because the problems that need to be dealt with are huge and often devasting to those who are facing them. Emergency services and support are critical to relieving the basic problems people face. But they won't fix the long term problem. That requires a larger view of the situation, creative collaboration, and an ability to step back and really see what needs to be done to solve the problem.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

If women ruled the world and the collaborative model.

I recently finished readind If Women Ruled the World. The point of the book was to get people thinking about power, what it means to them, and why women don't hold a lot of power in our current political structure. I think part of why women don't hold conventional power is that our cultural model for power is not intuitive for women. Some of this is certainly nurture, just read Odd Girl Out to get a frightening picture of the ways in which we are taught that being female means being nice. And being nice means NEVER saying what you mean or anything confrontational. But I also think some of it is hardwired into our pysche. We live with a biological reality that fosters a desire to collaborate and build community. We know there will be times we are vulnerable or in need and we work to build support structures to manage that effectively.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

I am not a democrat.

I am not a republican. I am an American. As Utah Phillips says, "Loyalty to the country always, loyalty to the government when it deserves it." My government has made choices that do not represent my values. I dislike the concept of pre-emptive war, torture of any kind, holding people without due process, and politics in the name of religion. But I love the variety of the american people. I love the chemistry of a good debate between passionate believers. I believe that our differences make us stronger, our diversity is a challenge that forces us out of our comfort zone and into bigger worlds and better places.


There is a lot of rhetoric around the upcoming election. Rhetoric that tries to draw unswerving lines between liberal and conservative, republican and democrat. This rhetoric is often about fear, their fear of losing power, and less often about what we actually need, which is leadership that will look beyond the limits of dogma and remember that when the election is over, we are all americans.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Practices of highly effective Non Profits

The Stanford Social Innovation Review published an article in 2007 about how non-profits make can really make a difference by reviewing 12 high-impact organizations to really understand why they were so successful. What was really surprising was how much conventional wisdom did NOT play a part in their ability to achieve their mission in unbelievably effective ways. While I highly recommend that you read the entire article here, I'll cover some of it for you, because it's definitely worthwhile.

The first point that I really got out of the article was success comes from knowing you are and what you want to accomplish. This may sound like a simple concept, but if you are working to feed the hungry then getting caught up in how to make your internal structures perfect, you need to be looking at creative partnerships to get food to hungry people, to discover why people are hungry, and how to change that. A lot of times we get really focused on the minutia of our organizations functionality when what we really need to do is start cooking.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Bathrooms, smashrooms.

Sometimes I use the men's room, at least when they are single user bathrooms. It's my own silent protest against gendering these single user bathrooms. I mean, really, what's the point? Does anyone honestly care if the person who used the bathroom before you was male or female or some variation on the spectrum? My mom wasn't really an activist, but she was a pragmatist. And whenever we would go out somewhere, she'd use whatever room was available, and encourage me to do the same. Even with that upbringing, I still hesitate when I walk up to the men's room door. I have no boi in me, so I feel somehow like I am intruding on someone else's space. Space they aren't using, admittedly, but still, if I have a choice, I feel mildly obligated to use the women's room. I know I don't really belong in the men's room. I doubt anyone notices besides me, but it reminds me of the privileges I have. The rooms I can enter because I was born in the body that fits my identity. The ways in which the world has already shaped itself to my needs. And the ways in which I can work to help reshape this world to fit more people than it does.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Why marriage?

This afternoon the news that the California Supreme court declared leaving same-sex couples out of marriage was illegal and flat out wrong came across my computer. Unlike Massachusetts, they have already shown a strong support, being the first state in the country to have marriage pass in the legislature in 2005. So now it goes to the voters in the fall to decide whether or not fairness has a place in their state.

Sometimes people ask why we queers care about marriage, really? The divorce rate in our country is over 65%, it's a patriarchal institution with a history of devaluing women, and it doesn't actually help level the playing field for many LGBT folks for whom marriage would not automatically open the door to benefits like health care. So what does it matter?

My ex-wife and I were together for 9 years. In the first years of our relationship her (mormon) parents preferred to refer to me as her roommate. Despite the fact that we owned a home together, raised children together, and had been together for significant period of time. We held a commitment ceremony to which none of our mormon parents came (I have a couple of them myself) and it made no difference. Then, in September of 2003, we went to Canada and got married. On the phone with her mother, she mentioned this, expecting the normal negative reaction. Instead her mother said, "You can do that?" Yep. "What's Aicila's birthday?", she then asked, and proceeded to enter me into the family genealogy. What 7 years, children, a house, and mutual caretaking could not accomplish, this slip of paper from Canada made possible. Suddenly, our relationship was acceptable.

So while marriage in many ways will not change the work we need to do towards equal access to health care or fair treatment by employers, I believe it will make a difference in how we are able to build our lives together. It will help end some of the isolation we face from our families and within society. It will help us be more connected to the larger community in which we live.

Read more at: this website

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Why Smokefree?

Boulder Pride has invested itself into the Smokefree movement vigorously. We all know smoking is bad for us. Smokers don't need us to teach them that, anymore than I need someone to teach me that my not-so-minor chocolate addiction is unhealthy. I know I shouldn't, but I still do it. So while our smokefree activism is partially inspired by a desire to help individuals in our community achieve better health, it is not the main inspiration for our passion.

Let's start out with some basic facts. Queer folks are twice as likely to be uninsured as straights. And people who are uninsured are less likely to go to the doctor and therefore less likely to catch life threatening illnesses when they are in the early stages and more easily treated. Queer people are also more likely to smoke at high rates and drink to excess. Smokefree GLBT has a laundry list of some fairly frightening facts. One study done by the Praxis Project indicated that bisexual women are three times more likely to drink to get drunk than straight or lesbian women. So encouraging an active, healthy lifestyle for our community is an important role we can play.

But even more so, smoking is a social justice issue. It's a social justice issue because people who smoke are typically low income and oppressed. Because tobacco companies market to the queer community as consumers but do not respect them as people. Because when we buy tobacco products, we are indirectly funding campaigns and candidates that do not have our best interests at heart.

I attended an anti-smoking conference a few years ago where a native american group presented on the issues of tobacco and it really hit me for the first time what the tobacco companies have done to our country. For many native american groups, tobacco was a sacred herb, used to treat certain ailments in animals and smoked as a community building experience. Big Tobacco took that sacred and personal experience and poured various chemical additives into it to make it more addictive and more profitable. The queer community is just one of the many groups that have been targeted and used by the tobacco industry in their quest for money.

Things to watch for:
June 20 is the Smokefree Cruiser Ride 4 Pride Join with other queers and allies in a bike ride across town, ending at the Saloon and Steakhouse where participants will be taking turns on the mechanical bull!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Working together for change.

My last for-profit job was 10 years ago, as the business manager for a local comedy troupe. It was fun work and it honestly prepared me to work for a small non-profit in terms of skills acquired. But it didn't prepare me for the non-profit mentality. In the for-profit world, if someone does what you do, they are a competitor. You need to find a way to convince your target market that you can provide what they are looking for at a better value.

In the non-profit world, it is exactly the opposite. If someone else does what you do, they are your partner. As someone with an interest in serving the same population, you can assume certain things in common and find ways to limit overlap and increase effectiveness, thereby getting even more done for the people you are working to serve. The for-profit world is ultimately concerned with its bottom line, but the non-profit world is ultimately concerned with its values. In some ways I think teaching this mentality by living it, is one of the things that non-profit sector can really do to make this world a better place in all the ways that we desire it to be so.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Greetings Boulder!

I've been thinking it would be nice to start a blog to keep you all a little more connected to the inner workings of Boulder Pride. The challenge is that we are so active, I haven't been sure where to start. My first month has flown by- between programs, drop-ins, and getting to know the community as best I can there hasn't been a lot of time to stop to breathe. I still have a lot of people to meet and things to learn about Boulder, so feel free to drop me an email (alewis @ boulderpride.org) or stop by.

Things to watch for:
May 15th is the PFLAG potluck, good food and good company, so really what's not to love? May 17th is our Garden Party, hosted by David Ensign, board member extraordinaire.