Articles From Our March, 2004 Newsletter
Have you ever thought you would never have grandchildren because your
child is gay or lesbian? Have you ever thought you would never have children
because you are gay or lesbian? THINK AGAIN! It’s happening all over the
country. Lesbian and Gay couples are having and raising families.
Two documentaries have aired on PBS stations describing in detail this
experience. We tried to get both videos, but the one describing the lesbian
families was not available. So our March 14 meeting will feature an all male
story this time and we will keep trying to find the other one to show at a
later time.
This documentary, “Daddy & Papa”, explores the growing phenomenon of gay
fatherhood. Through the stories of four different families, including the
film maker’s own, this video delves into the particular challenges facing
gay men who decide to become dads. We get an inside view of gay parenting by
hearing these fathers talk about their experiences from deciding to become
fathers, to surrogacy, to interracial adoption, from foster parents to the
legal battle for full legal status as adoptive parents. We even see one
couple deal with the complexities of gay divorce. “Daddy & Papa” takes us
into the extended families of these men as they find their lives changing
yet once again.
“Daddy & Papa” brings honesty, humor, and humanity to the examination of gay
fatherhood....a touching first hand account of the rewards and challenges of
this experience.” - David Rooney, Variety.
Join us at 3pm, Sunday, Mar. 14, for our regular monthly meeting at Village
Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd., room #307. At about 4:30pm we will
dim the lights and celebrate this brave, new world.
Now is the winter of MY discontent!
According to Webster’s’ definition, discontent means: 1. Absence of
contentment; dissatisfaction 2. A sense of resentment and grievance.
My dad would simply have said, “I have a bone to pick with you.” Of course
you can get away with that when you’re 6’5”, look like Gregory Peck and
speak with a soft southern drawl.
I have been working closely with the National Conference for Community and
Justice for weeks now to plan a town hall meeting in Liberty. The topic?
“Are gay youth safe in Liberty?” It’s really a simple question, but it has
raised some serious hackles.
I resent that a simple question of safety has become a religious issue for
many.
I am not satisfied that the kids who have volunteered their time to hang
flyers are being harassed.
I am not content that the voices of hatred and bigotry seem to be drowning
out the voices of love and acceptance.
At this point the event has not yet taken place but I have seen and heard
enough to know that ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance can breed loathing,
contempt and hatred.
Yet even in the darkest moments there are always those who shine. I am awed
by the students who have come forward to help--dumbfounded to hear that
there are those in this community who welcome, wholeheartedly, this
discussion--elated to hear of school resource officers, administration
personnel, teachers and counselors who are planning to attend.
Someone once asked my husband, Richard, a very interesting question. How can
we turn up the light when the darkness is overwhelming? He gave her an
analogy from his days as a commercial pilot: The runway lights burn with the
same intensity BUT they appear to shine brighter as darkness falls. So, I
guess it’s not a question of trying to shine brighter--the answer is to burn
with the same intensity.
So, one person, one event or one vote at a time…shine steady!!
Jamie
Heartland Men’s Chorus presents
(drum roll please)…
Jerry’s Boys!
It’s a wild and wacky gender bending extravaganza featuring the music of
showbiz great Jerry Herman!
Only Kansas City’s very own Heartland Men’s Chorus has the voices, the looks
and the fabulous ensembles to pull off this zany production of Broadway’s
most popular songs and dances on the Folly Theater stage.
Songs from La Cage Aux Folles, Hello Dolly, Mack and Mabel, and the
magnificent Mame will be performed by the best looking group of tuxedo-clad
guys to fill a Kansas City stage.
But wait! There’s more!
Gorgeous dancers will mesmerize and mystify the audience as they tease up
their hair, kick up their heels, and swirl their skirts to the best show
tunes ever written for the Broadway stage.
But wait! There’s still more!
Nancy Nail is the diva deluxe for this grand parade, singing out in her
sparkling voice as she adds another dimension to this wondrous romp.
This show that will keep the audience humming and singing long after it’s
over. The concerts are 8 p.m. Saturday, April 3 and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 4
at the historic Folly Theater, 12th and Central, in downtown Kansas City,
Mo.
Tickets for this Broadway surprise are available now. Contact the Heartland
Men’s Chorus at 816-931-3338 or on the web at
www.hmckc.org.
For more information, contact executive director Rick Fisher
Below is a copy of the PFLAG letter sent to President Bush,
Vice President Cheney, and the Democratic Presidential Candidates:
I am David Tseng, executive director of Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). PFLAG is America's largest grassroots family
organization in support of GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender)
civil rights, comprised of 250,000 families in over 500 chapters and in each
of the fifty states. At this crucial time, when our GLBT loved ones will
either win the rights of every other American citizen or continue to be
consigned to an existence without government protection, PFLAG families MUST
know where you stand. By joining PFLAG now you will assure and reaffirm to
our families and loved ones that you are ready and willing to fight for
their freedom.
PFLAG represents a broad array of American voters: moms, dads, brothers,
sisters, friends, supporters, educators, military veterans, police officers,
business owners, construction workers, doctors and more, from diverse
backgrounds, faiths, ethnicities, and political parties. What they have in
common - and what I trust you share with them - is an unfailing dedication
to equality for all. In the coming election, PFLAG can only support a
candidate who will work for a society that provides civil rights for all as
enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. By joining PFLAG you will
send a clear message to fair-minded citizens across the nation that you
stand for what others merely claim: that America truly is devoted to liberty
and justice for all.
Sincerely,
David Tseng, Executive Director
PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES