Exciting news!!

I'm very excited to announce that Wyoming Equality is partnering with Zach Wahls (watch his video here) and his new program "Out to Dinner."

I just got the email from Zach stating we are okay to start talking about the event; so here is the introduction and much much more to follow;

Out to Dinner Statement

            This week marks the soft launch of the Out to Dinner project, an initiative aiming to bridge the gap between LGBT Americans and those still on the fence when it comes to matters of LGBT rights by bringing them together to share a meal.

            “There’s a lot of misunderstanding about what it means to be a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person or to have an LGBT parent or parents,” said Zach Wahls, the twenty-year-old son of an Iowa lesbian couple and founder of the project. “By bringing people together to just break bread and get to know each other, I think we can dispel some misconceptions.”

            Out to Dinner asks straight ally couples all across the country to host a dinner on the evening of Friday, June 22 to which the ally/host couple will invite a same-sex couple and some folks who are still conflicted when it comes to LGBT rights. In a break with previous “house party” initiatives, though, Out to Dinner does not ask participants to have “the talk,” so to speak, instead encouraging guests to simply get to know each other and avoiding the topics of politics or religion altogether.

            Further, organizers hope by taking a focus on couples and families, LGBT people will be able to highlight the similarities that their families share with “straight” families.

            “The Family Equality Council is proud to support the Out to Dinner initiative because it speaks to our core mission of creating a world where all families feel valued for their commitment to each other,” said Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of the Family Equality Council, a family-focused LGBT advocacy group.

“As an organization that supports and represents the 1 million LGBT families in this country, this initiative represents a unique opportunity for us to demonstrate that we want the same things for our children that all parents do - respect, protection and a bright future,” said Chrisler.  

            "We know that nothing is more important in helping non-gay people get to a place of understanding, and ultimately support, for the freedom to marry than building relationships and having honest conversations about our families and our lives. Through that experience, gay and non-gay people alike come to recognize that their similarities are much greater than their differences,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry. “Freedom to Marry is very pleased to be partnering in this effort.”

            A coalition of state and national groups has coalesced around the project, which counts Freedom to Marry, the Family Equality Council, the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal GLAAD, the Equality Federation, Marriage Equality USA and among its major partners, in addition to numerous groups at the state level.

            “We know that nothing is a more powerful influence on opinion of equality issues than familiarity with LGBT people,” said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “This night is an opportunity for us as a movement to all work together and foster more of these positive relationships.” The Human Rights Campaign is the largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization in the United States.

             A more formal announcement is expected in early May. Wahls says that plans are in the works to involve celebrity chefs, high-profile ally couples and even more national, state and local groups ahead of the project’s June date. 

This is very exciting!!

Jeran

Mental Growing Pains

I have to admit when I was in high school, "Growing Pains" was one of my favorite TV shows. Namely because of Kirk Cameron. I had quite the crush on him!

It's funny how the minute some people open their mouths they become extremely unattractive and undesirable. This is what has happened to Kirk Cameron for me.

Check out the comments this wonderful, loving, caring Christian has made on the Piers Morgan Show. Did you catch the part where he called us homosexuals "unnatural, detrimental, and destructive?"  Again, probably something you would hear Jesus saying had he been sitting in the same seat as Cameron. Right??

Who do you think you are to tell the rest of civilization what's "natural?"  For me being with another man feels natural, healthy, and right. I've been in a heterosexual marriage and for me it felt extremely unnatural, unhealthy, and was painfully uncomfortable. I can't summarize it in any other way!

So you don't believe in gay marriage.. THEN DON'T GET ONE!  But you need to accept the fact that my brain and DNA are wired completely differently than yours! It's called diversity and it makes this planet unique! I'm grateful to live in a place where not everyone has to believe and act in one particular way.

I'm extremely happy! I have a wonderful relationship with a man that makes me smile every time I think about him. So don't you dare tell me that this relationship is not natural! I'm flourishing, my daughter is flourishing, and I can't speak for my boyfriend, but he seems quite happy as well! None of my friends would consider our relationship destructive or detrimental to anyone or anything.

Mr. Cameron your rhetoric is detrimental and destructive to those of us who know better, and especially to those who have not yet found their courage or voice to live a life that feels healthy and natural!

So many headlines!

So much to talk about; I really am going to make a solid effort to blog a bit more! I've missed my ranting and raving in this forum. Let's get to it!

I saw this on CNN this morning and I think I'm in Love!  "Gay Texas judge refuses to wed straight couples"  What a great idea for an activist!

Also saw that the Tyler Clementi bullying trial begins today. This, of course, has become one of the most publicized bullying/suicide incidents in recent years. I really look forward to the day sexual orientation for teens, and everyone for that matter, is not a reason for being bullied or ridiculed. I don't suppose I will see that day in my lifetime; however there is some wonderful news on the marriage equality front....

Maryland has (or is about to) become the eight state that allows for full marriage equality. Yay!! So far this year we've seen marriage equality arrive in Washington State, now Maryland, and of course we could have seen this in New Jersey as well, but a self righteous, bigoted governor has stood in the way! Like I always say, he might have won the battle, but we will win the war!

I put up this last picture in memory of Tyler and everyone else that has been bullied, teased, tormented, and ridiculed for living a life that feels natural, healthy, comfortable, and right. I hope today we will all reach out to our LGTB friends and let them know that they are loved and appreciated.

Jeran

Wyoming Residents Legislative Action Alert!

I'm sharing an action alert from Wyoming Equality's Joe Corrigan. Please contact your legislators today! A huge thank you to my friends Will and Patrick who first turned us on to this error, and everyone who contributed talking points.

Find your Representative here, and find your Senator here. For a complete list of all Senators and Representatives visit the LSO Website.

"Dear Friends,

Yesterday we learned of a mistake in the Wyoming Health Department Budget regarding funding for HIV/AIDS Treatment.  The error cuts treatment funds by $400,000.00.  If not corrected it could cost the state matching funds from the Ryan White Care Act Part B.  I am asking you to please take the time today to email your Senator and Representative and ask them to restore these funds.  Please prepare your own original email.  You can send your email to as many Senators and Representatives as you like.  Please be as polite as possible.   Your letter may make all the difference in the world for the 135 currently people being helped by this program as well as future recipients.  Talking points are listed below.  Shorter letters are appreciated by our elected officials.

Talking Points:

100% of the money in this program goes to treatment and over 90% of that goes to very expensive antiretroviral medication.  While the average cost to treat a person with HIV medication therapy is over $25,000.00 annually, the cost of hospitalization due to untreated AIDS can be at least 30 times that.

The Wyoming HIV Services Program serves over 150 adults and children living with HIV.  135 are eligible for assistance.  Wyoming residents who do not qualify for any other insurance coverage are eligible for the WY RWCA A/B and the guidelines are income restricted.  Funding is not available to Wyomingites with gross income above $35,955. If you do the math; and subtracting $25,000 for medical treatment leaves less than $11,000 per year for other living expenses.

The counties with the highest rate of HIV/AIDS are Laramie and Natrona Counties.  However, as of 2007 the Wyoming Department of Health HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program has reported incidence of HIV/AIDS in every county.

This supplemental funding was added to the WDH Budget in 2003 when it was discovered Wyoming was the only state that did not contribute to the care of its HIV/AIDS patients thus rendering the state ineligible for any federal funding matches.  AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) funding comes from federal funding.  State matching funds are required.  The legislation was sponsored by former Representative Jerry Ickel, (R. Sheridan CO.) and former Senator Mike Massey (D. Albany Co.)

The $400,000 cut may be replaced by rebate funds from Pharmaceutical Companies.  However, these rebates occur after a prescription is filled.  If money is not available for the purchase, the rebate would not be available.  These Pharmaceutical rebate funds are not a guaranteed funding source.

At one time last year the waiting list nationwide for Ryan White Part B Funds included approx. 9,000 people.  Relying on Pharmaceutical Rebate Funds to make up a budget cut would be very risky as almost every state will be using the same plan.  Rebate funds could easily be exhausted.

Most Wyoming Agency Budgets were cut by 8 to 12%.  If we don’t restore this $400,000.00 error it would result in a 54% cut for HIV/AIDS Treatment Funds.

If funding is not restored it could also mean funds will be exhausted and no treatment dollars will remain to purchase medications for the last four months of the year.

If lack of funding results in a discontinuance of treatment for persons with HIV/AIDS, the resumption of treatment is often a failure.

We need to keep our current Maintenance of Effort Service Levels to prevent the risk of losing our current funding level of Ryan White Care Act Funding in future years.  (Maintenance of Effort requires that all Ryan White Part B grantees contribute at least the same amount of state fund for HIV-related activities as the previous fiscal year.)

This cut, $400,000, is not a large portion of the Wyoming Budget.  For purposes of comparison only, it is less than the cost of maintaining the household staff at the Governor’s Mansion.

Increasing drug costs, more infections, and less people with insurance have put steady upward pressure on HIV treatment costs, and Wyoming is no exception.

Help ensure that Wyoming residents will continue to have access to medications for HIV/AIDS treatment that they otherwise would not be able to afford.

Senators and Representatives are listed below with their email address for your convenience.  Thank you for your help.

 Joe Corrigan"

Major thanks to Joe for putting this together! Remember this is urgent and our lawmakers need to hear from us this morning!

Jeran

you can come, just don't bring your boyfriend!

A conversation that took place between two of my gay friends a few days back;


Hi Mom!


Hi Sweetie, how's it going?


Good, so I think _______ (my bf)  and I are going to come over for Christmas...


Oh honey, you can come, but my husband, Ignorant Dumbass, doesn't know your gay, and might get offended if you bring ______ (your bf)..


What????


Sorry, We just can't do that!


Yeah, well I have to call a bullshit! Things are not going to change until people start standing up to their loved ones about who they are, and share the fact that they love their gay family members unconditionally. If you have a son, who happens to be so gay that he shits glitter, and don't think your husband knows about it... well then I'm sorry, you are the ignorant one!

I view this as an opportunity to educate and build tolerance, yet this woman has chosen to maintain the status quo, pass up an opportunity for growth, and drive a wedge deeper into a family situation that should be healing instead of fracturing.

Yes... I'm very pissed!

Jeran

Cry baby Santorum says he's being bullied????

Presidential candidate Rick Santorum is saying that his campaign has been victimized by bullying after "Saturday Night Live" ran a parody of a GOP Presidential debate. His quote, "We've been hammered by the left for my standing up for the the traditional family and I will continue to do so. The left, unfortunately, participates in bullying more than the right does. They say that they're tolerant, and they're anything but tolerant of people who disagree with them and support traditional values."

You can watch the skit here.

What has Rick Santorum said about the gay community?? Well, I'm so glad you asked... In 2003 he compared homosexuality to incest, bigamy, adultery, and polygamy. In a recent interview with Chris Wallace he said gays couldn't compare the equality movement with the civil rights movement because "blacks can't help the color of their skin," thus implying gays could choose their sexual orientation. He's also said the repeal of DADT was nothing more than "social experimentation."

Here's a lovely video of Santorum debating a school girl about children who grow up with same sex parents;

I'm sure he feels "bullied" by this student; and in my opinion he should!! This is about as good of a verbal "ass whooping" as I've ever seen a student give a U.S. Senator.

When you have some time you should search youtube for all the other things he's said, and continues to say, about gay's and marriage equality. Upon a little search history it becomes quite clear who the actual bully is!

Santorum's comments about gay's are mean spirited, hurtful, and flat out untrue. In fact if he were an organization Southern Poverty Law Center would list him as a hate group. Those kinds of comments are what get most organizations officially listed as a hate group.

Bottom line, save your sniveling for someone who actually gives a crap! I would like to know how many children or adults are staying in the closet or contemplating suicide because of the comments you've made about gay people??

You sir, are a bully and a jackass!!!

Jeran

Am I going to lose everything?

Tuesday was National Coming Out Day. Wyoming Equality held a dessert reception at a local church and invited people to come and share their coming out stories. I was moved and humbled at the life experiences told by these remarkable folks.

The evening was very relaxed and informal. We all sat around a big table while enjoying decadent desserts, sipping on rainbow punch, stepping out of our comfort zones, and talking about the day our lives changed forever.

I want you to imagine how scary it would be to tell the people that you love your gay, especially when you grew up listening to anti gay rants from family members every time something gay was on TV or the local gay couple was seen around town.

What are my mom and dad going to think? What will my brothers and sisters say? Will I lose my job? What about my friends? Are my children still going to want a relationship with me and how will this affect them? What are my ultra religious grandparents going to think?

These are questions that I agonized over for months and months before I came out. I had nightmares about every scenario and was preparing to lose everything. I'm a very strong willed independent person, however I have a huge loving family, and I made myself physically sick thinking about them never speaking to me again.

Luckily, for me, none of that happened. For the most part my family was extremely supportive and excited for me to start living my life and being true to myself. Many at the reception were not that fortunate.

I heard stories of parents not speaking to their kids for months on end, brothers who'd go out of their way to avoid running into a gay sibling, living a total closeted life because if you were outed you would lose your job immediately; and so many more stories were shared over the course of the evening that were both heartbreaking and inspirational.

The good news..... Many of these relationships have healed. Attitudes have changed and softened. Family members have realized that they want and need relationships with their loved ones, regardless of their sexual orientation. Employers have taken steps to ensure LGTB people are protected at work. Schools are implementing anti bullying campaigns. As the saying goes, "It is getting better!!!"

Overall, the evening was dominated with laughter and smiles. One couple in attendance is actually getting married this weekend in Iowa. I'm so happy for them!! I was also thrilled to have a handful of straight allies in attendance throwing their support behind this event.

I hope this will inspire you to reach out to your LGTB friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, and let them know that you love and support them.

Jeran