Activism

Join me in Greensburg on Saturday?

A really wonderful and remarkable thing is happening in Greensburg this Saturday: their annual holiday parade! If that doesn’t really sound so remarkable, consider this. For the first time ever, the Greensburg PFLAG, Community Safe Zone project, and the Westmoreland LGBTQ Interfaith Network will be marching in the parade officially! I believe this is an awesome effort for the visibility for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and allied supporters in Western PA, and I want[Read More…]

November 16, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Laws alone do not end anti-gay efforts.

The linked story is both scary to read and alarming given the general impressions about what the end of DADT would accomplish. The story is worth your time and reading on its own merits, but I also want to use it as an illustration of another point. Laws alone do not end anti-gay efforts. The legacy of DADT is an ingrained hostility to gays and a lifestyle that for years was either illegal in the[Read More…]

November 16, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Can QUILTBAG fix Pittsburgh’s fractured LGBTQ community?

This is a far more complex issue to navigate, but I believe the solution is always to add more voices to the whole. Those more voices must come from active engagement too! It won’t happen by passively waiting to see who shows up.

November 13, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Keystone Progress Releases Voter’s Guide for Coming Election.

Keystone Progress is pleased to announce the release of the 2011 General Election Edition of the Pennsylvania Progressive Voters Guide. The Voters Guide is a compilation of the endorsements and recommendations of progressive organizations across the state. We have included 29 groups, who have made endorsements statewide and in 18 counties. Please note that Keystone Progress does not endorse. This Voters Guide is only a report of the endorsements of PA’s leading progressive groups.

November 2, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Can Christians “get” gay? (And does it matter?)

Not sure where I found this link- probably on Facebook, but is has been open on my computer for a few days as I have read the post, and thougght about it, and what I might want to say. If you are one of those gay folks who bristles at the very mention of Christianity, then skip following the links below and try and focus on what I have to say here. but if Christian[Read More…]

October 23, 2011 — 7 comments — Activism, general

SW PA Action Plan for Social Justice

This came from the QUILTBAG newsletter: The final session of the conference was designated for discussion of the “Action Plan for Building Social Justice in Southwestern PA”. The structure was similar to our first QUILTBAG meeting. Facilitators engaged participants in sharing (1) their visions for the world in 5 years, (2) the burning issues that need to be addressed if this world is to manifest, (3) how social justice movements can better work together to[Read More…]

October 18, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Reply from my father.

He would probably say that he has always loved me and has always been ready to do whatever it took to care for me, and to love me (and I don’t doubt that). It is true however, that we haven’t always been able to talk about things like this. Change has happened over time to get us where we are now, and that change has been on both sides of things- his and mine.

October 18, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Open letter to my father.

It may be that we have every right to demand full and unconditional acceptance and love from our parents. It may be also true that our parents don’t know that they have this to give us. The task may seem impossible to them. Activism isn’t only about giving voice to our demands, but it is also about giving individuals enough information to help them rise about their own ideas of the status quo.

October 18, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Can Coming Out Save Lives?

Telling our youth that it gets better, may help some who are feeling alone, recognize that they can hold on, but in reality, it doesn’t itself, make everything better. In fact, if we are too busy focused talking about how it gets better, all we really do, is be in denial of just how really bad it is for far too many queer youth each and everyday.

October 17, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

Service Members United: How to build a grass roots movement.

This is a wonderful video clip well worth watching. I appreciate how they lay out a case for building a strong grass roots movement based on a single, clear and concise message. At times, I think the LGBTQ movement seeks inclusivity over clarity. I’m not sure that is all bad, but I do wonder if we had more groups, each working for a clear purpose, and cross supporting each other, if we would get further[Read More…]

October 17, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Activism, general

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