I am going to be out of town for a few days. I am being forced to fly to San Francisco for some trianing. I know it's tough be someone has to do it so I'll sacrifice. Seriously, I'm looking forward to a few days in gay mecca.
I've posted some thank you's and information about the First Annual Black Hills Aids Walk on that site. It was a great success. It is still not too late to donate to the Walk. It can be done by credit card at the site or by sending a check to The Center West at 3601 Canyon Lake Dr. Suite 4, Rapid City, SD 57702. Also a reminder to those who have pledged but not sent your money in, could you please do so so we can close the books on this year's Walk.
Plans are well under way for next years Pride Festival. It is looking like an event that no one will want to miss. Schedule your vacations early for the 11th, 12th and 13th of July, 2008.
See you all when I get back. I will try to post from California if I get the time!!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
New 12 Step Groups Forming
A new LGBT NA (Narcotics Anonymous) group has been organized and will start having meetings begining next Monday September 24th at 7:30 pm. The meetings will be held at the Center West, 3601 Canyon Lake Dr. Suite 4, Rapid City. Anyone interested can attend. for more information call The Center West; 348-3244.
As I posted earlier, a general 12 step group is also organizing and is planning on meeting on Thursday evenings at The Center West starting at a future date. For more information e-mail: 12steps@isp.com.
The Center West is available to the LGBT community for meetings and events and provides information, resources, support and referral services to the communty. info@thecenterwest.org
As I posted earlier, a general 12 step group is also organizing and is planning on meeting on Thursday evenings at The Center West starting at a future date. For more information e-mail: 12steps@isp.com.
The Center West is available to the LGBT community for meetings and events and provides information, resources, support and referral services to the communty. info@thecenterwest.org
BHSU doing Lucky Ducky
I just received an e-mail from Bill Russell informing me that Black Hills State University will be performing his play "Lucky Ducky" which will be opening on October 18th. Bill will be flying out from New York to be guest consultant on the play. Mark your calendars! Don't want to miss this one.
Also Bill has informed me that he very much wants to participate in our Pride Festival next year and our homecoming party for all current and former LGBT South Dakotans.
Also Bill has informed me that he very much wants to participate in our Pride Festival next year and our homecoming party for all current and former LGBT South Dakotans.
Friday, September 21, 2007
The Laramie Project at Central HS
I just received a phone call from a reporter friend who was looking for comment on a story she is writing. It seems that Rapid City Central High School has decided to do The Laramie Project in the Spring as one of their student productions.
Naturally, my comment was that I thought it was fantastic. And, I hoped that it could generate a discussion about diversity and equality here in the community. We can be sure that it will generate discussion. I just hope that it can be done intelligently and without all the hate mongering. But, given the state of affairs with the right wing fundamentalists these days I think we all know what is coming.
I just think that we need to be ready to respond intelligently and rationally. Let the fundies rant and roll and show the world the hateful mentality they advocate. I've contacted some friends of the Shepard family that live in Rapid City and they in turn have already called Judy. She has some great suggestions for the event which we will be discussing at a later time.
The timing is perfect as we have already booked Judy Shepard for the Pride Festival next summer. We are working with the staff at Mt. Rushmore at this time about permits and scheduling for our program there.
We are working to make Pride Fest 2008 a major national event. Schedule vacations now for the weekend of the 11th, 12th and 13th of July 2008. We are in negotiations with a national venue to hold it there. It looks good. LGBT former and current South Dakotans its time to come home for the party! If you look close, the Hills aren't black. They're lavender.
Naturally, my comment was that I thought it was fantastic. And, I hoped that it could generate a discussion about diversity and equality here in the community. We can be sure that it will generate discussion. I just hope that it can be done intelligently and without all the hate mongering. But, given the state of affairs with the right wing fundamentalists these days I think we all know what is coming.
I just think that we need to be ready to respond intelligently and rationally. Let the fundies rant and roll and show the world the hateful mentality they advocate. I've contacted some friends of the Shepard family that live in Rapid City and they in turn have already called Judy. She has some great suggestions for the event which we will be discussing at a later time.
The timing is perfect as we have already booked Judy Shepard for the Pride Festival next summer. We are working with the staff at Mt. Rushmore at this time about permits and scheduling for our program there.
We are working to make Pride Fest 2008 a major national event. Schedule vacations now for the weekend of the 11th, 12th and 13th of July 2008. We are in negotiations with a national venue to hold it there. It looks good. LGBT former and current South Dakotans its time to come home for the party! If you look close, the Hills aren't black. They're lavender.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Jon Hoadley Moves up!
I just recieved word that Jon Hoadley has been named the new Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats. The anouncement was made this morning. I recieved an e-mail from Jon and he is looking forward to helping South Dakota and the Democratic party move forward.
This is great news for those of us in South Dakota and a great opportunity for Jon. What a great opportunity for South Dakota.
This is great news for those of us in South Dakota and a great opportunity for Jon. What a great opportunity for South Dakota.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Letter to the Journal sent
Health Department statistics indicate over 350 people live with AIDS in South Dakota with 35 new cases last year. While several programs help AIDS patients with medical expenses and other necessities, there are still unmet needs. Health issues related to AIDS affects the ability to work and to provide for oneself.
The Center West and The Center in Sioux Falls maintain a fund to assist with emergency expenses. To raise money for that fund The Center West is sponsoring the First Annual Black Hills Aids Walk September 29th starting at the Memorial Park Band Shell. Registration begins at 12 noon with music and snacks. A short program follows at 1:15. The Walk starts at 1:30. More information can be found at: http://aidswalkbh.blogspot.com/
Individuals and businesses can get involved by becoming walkers, sponsors, contributors and/or volunteers. They can sign up at the above web site.
The Center West is committed to HIV and Aids prevention by providing education, prevention and testing services to groups, events and institutions and providing support services to those living with AIDS.
We’re asking all compassionate people in the Black Hills to get involved and help us prevent and alleviate the pain and suffering of this disease.
The Center West and The Center in Sioux Falls maintain a fund to assist with emergency expenses. To raise money for that fund The Center West is sponsoring the First Annual Black Hills Aids Walk September 29th starting at the Memorial Park Band Shell. Registration begins at 12 noon with music and snacks. A short program follows at 1:15. The Walk starts at 1:30. More information can be found at: http://aidswalkbh.blogspot.com/
Individuals and businesses can get involved by becoming walkers, sponsors, contributors and/or volunteers. They can sign up at the above web site.
The Center West is committed to HIV and Aids prevention by providing education, prevention and testing services to groups, events and institutions and providing support services to those living with AIDS.
We’re asking all compassionate people in the Black Hills to get involved and help us prevent and alleviate the pain and suffering of this disease.
NEW 12 STEP GROUP
Dear Michael,
Would you post a question to the LGBT & Friends community for me?
I'm interested in finding out if there would be any questions or comments on starting up a new 12 Step and Spirituality Discussion Group in Rapid City at the Center West. The group will be for anyone who is Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgender and their Friends & Family. You do not need to be in a twelve-step program to participate. Everyone is welcome.
The intent of the meeting is to create a safe space where our community can discuss our issues. There would not be a lot of reading. If available, special speakers would be welcome. Respectful discussion, with an opportunity for everyone to take part is the plan. Any person who uses name calling, intimidation or threats will be ejected from the meeting.
Meeting times have not yet been finalized. The tentative plan is for the group to meet on Thursday evenings at around 7pm for 60- to 90-minutes starting in October. If the group desires, coffee or dinner before or after the meeting can be arranged.
If interested in commenting or finding out more, please contact me at 12steps@isp.com.
Thanks Michael,
Jim
Would you post a question to the LGBT & Friends community for me?
I'm interested in finding out if there would be any questions or comments on starting up a new 12 Step and Spirituality Discussion Group in Rapid City at the Center West. The group will be for anyone who is Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgender and their Friends & Family. You do not need to be in a twelve-step program to participate. Everyone is welcome.
The intent of the meeting is to create a safe space where our community can discuss our issues. There would not be a lot of reading. If available, special speakers would be welcome. Respectful discussion, with an opportunity for everyone to take part is the plan. Any person who uses name calling, intimidation or threats will be ejected from the meeting.
Meeting times have not yet been finalized. The tentative plan is for the group to meet on Thursday evenings at around 7pm for 60- to 90-minutes starting in October. If the group desires, coffee or dinner before or after the meeting can be arranged.
If interested in commenting or finding out more, please contact me at 12steps@isp.com.
Thanks Michael,
Jim
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
IT DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT TO ME
I know that this is off topic but I really need to have my say on this topic because I have seen this happen too many times in too many places and it almost always ends up not benefiting anyone but the poor mega rich business that needs the incentive to do business.
How is paying Cabelas to set up a store here going to benefit the community? Generate new business? While it may attract some new business to town, most of its income will be taken from money that would have been spent at businesses already in town who didn't get all of the incentives that Cabelas will get. Seems like an unfair advantage to me. Where are all the free market advocates on this one? How many of those businesses will have to close?
New jobs? First of all other businesses will be laying off employees because Cabelas is siphoning off money that would have been spent in their stores. And those are all low paying retail jobs which will be at or below the poverty level. So the social costs of poverty will be picked up by the community. Once again subsidizing Cabelas.
Increased sales tax income. If they are simply taking business away from already existing businesses, there will be no increase in income to the city.
Property tax income? If we give them tifs to develope the land, that means that we are dedicating the property taxes to pay for the infrastructure that Cabelas should have paid for in the first place. Plus we loaned them the money in the first place. Wouldn't we be better off selling the land at market value, investing the proceeds and using the income to develope infrastructure and build a really solid future for the community.
Instead of Cabelas making an investment in our community, they think that we should be making an investment in them. Doesn't bode well for the well being or our community. They are telling us up front that they don't give a damn about Rapid City.
No they don't give a damn about anything but profit. They will suck profit out our community and send it off to another part of the country where it will probably be taxed, benefitting their home community, because we don't have a corporate tax here in South Dakota.
If they were coming into Rapid City and actually investing by building their facilities and setting up shop to compete on a level playing field, it would be different. But they are not. They've got us singing their tune. And when the song is done, we will all have laryngitis and they will be singing all the way to the bank.
The only people who stand to make out on this deal are the developers and the contractors who will actually do the work. Unless of course Cabelas brings in their own people from elswhere. The interesting part of all this is that the people who build it and make the money, won't be getting it from Cabelas. Because Cabelas has figured out a way to get us to foot the bill for it.
Cabelas and other big box stores don't create wealth. They suck it out of the communites in which they operate.
The part that I find incredible is that this is a staunchly Republican state. I thought Republicans were supposed to be all for the free market.
How is paying Cabelas to set up a store here going to benefit the community? Generate new business? While it may attract some new business to town, most of its income will be taken from money that would have been spent at businesses already in town who didn't get all of the incentives that Cabelas will get. Seems like an unfair advantage to me. Where are all the free market advocates on this one? How many of those businesses will have to close?
New jobs? First of all other businesses will be laying off employees because Cabelas is siphoning off money that would have been spent in their stores. And those are all low paying retail jobs which will be at or below the poverty level. So the social costs of poverty will be picked up by the community. Once again subsidizing Cabelas.
Increased sales tax income. If they are simply taking business away from already existing businesses, there will be no increase in income to the city.
Property tax income? If we give them tifs to develope the land, that means that we are dedicating the property taxes to pay for the infrastructure that Cabelas should have paid for in the first place. Plus we loaned them the money in the first place. Wouldn't we be better off selling the land at market value, investing the proceeds and using the income to develope infrastructure and build a really solid future for the community.
Instead of Cabelas making an investment in our community, they think that we should be making an investment in them. Doesn't bode well for the well being or our community. They are telling us up front that they don't give a damn about Rapid City.
No they don't give a damn about anything but profit. They will suck profit out our community and send it off to another part of the country where it will probably be taxed, benefitting their home community, because we don't have a corporate tax here in South Dakota.
If they were coming into Rapid City and actually investing by building their facilities and setting up shop to compete on a level playing field, it would be different. But they are not. They've got us singing their tune. And when the song is done, we will all have laryngitis and they will be singing all the way to the bank.
The only people who stand to make out on this deal are the developers and the contractors who will actually do the work. Unless of course Cabelas brings in their own people from elswhere. The interesting part of all this is that the people who build it and make the money, won't be getting it from Cabelas. Because Cabelas has figured out a way to get us to foot the bill for it.
Cabelas and other big box stores don't create wealth. They suck it out of the communites in which they operate.
The part that I find incredible is that this is a staunchly Republican state. I thought Republicans were supposed to be all for the free market.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
REMEMBERING THE FIGHT AND THE NEED FOR AN AIDS WALK
| In light of the upcoming Aids Walk here in the Black Hills I have been doing some reflecting on my own life and the changes I’ve seen in the past 35 years since I came out. I remember back in the late seventies and early eighties when “coming out” meant joining the party. Life was a big party. Individual and Sexual freedom was what life was all about. Discovering one’s self also meant pushing the limits and the boundaries of the physical as well as the intellectual, spiritual and emotional. We all had such great hopes for the future back then. And we attacked life with wild abandon. What did we have to worry about? No one was going to get pregnant. The occasional STD was cured with a shot of penicillin. Except for the occasional crazy person and the religious fanatics things were good. Unfortunately when you constantly push the limits, eventually you are going to find them. That is just what happened in the great gay community in which we found ourselves. We started hearing about this new disease that was killing gay men. There were all kinds of rumors. “It was a secret plot. It was introduced by the government to wipe us out.” No rumor was too wild not to advance. What proved to be shockingly true was that because it was affecting primarily gay men it wasn’t taken seriously and too many members of our community were getting horribly sick and dieing. It was allowed to get more out of control than it should have because of societies disdain for us and the political realities of the time. It was the gay community that began the push to get the word out about aids. I was involved in those early days in organizing on college campuses and struggling to find out about “the disease.” The beginning of the aids crisis was a great catalyst for the gay community. It forced us into organizing on a scale we didn’t think possible. And it forced us into reevaluating our lives and our communities. All the while we were watching our friends get sick and die. Too many of them were dieing lost and alone having been disowned and rejected by families and the rest of society. It forced the rest of us into realizing we had to take care of our own because no one else was going to do it. I was one of the lucky ones. I didn’t get aids. Why I was spared, I don’t know. What I do know is that I now have an obligation to first of all to get the word out about HIV and AIDS prevention to prevent another holocaust like the one I, and those of my generation, experienced. The most vulnerable at this point are young gay people who aren’t getting any information in the schools or at home. They are very much at risk for another epidemic. Secondly with the advancement of medication and treatment for aids many people are living with it for years. There are members of our HIV Positive group that have been living with aids for 20 years. This has its own difficulties for the victims. Many are living quiet lives of desperation and loneliness because the rejection and discrimination are still there. Most are also living in poverty because of the high cost of treatment and medication as well as the inability for most to work. The above reasons are why it is so important for us to support the Aids Walk here in the Black Hills especially those of us in the gay community. First of all and most importantly it raises funds to help those living with aids with emergency expenses. And it lets them know that there are those of us who still care. Secondly it raises awareness and understanding about hiv and aids and ways to increase prevention. The biggest thing I realized through all of this is how lucky I am; that I have a responsibility to help those who weren’t as lucky as I; and that “there but for the grace of God go I.” It is very important for everyone to pitch in and help with this cause. Please don't let it devastate another generation. |
Thursday, September 6, 2007
A NEW TWIST ON THE JFK STORY
I'm posting a review of a new book which describes the relationship between JFK and his life long gay friend, Lem Billings. The review includes an interview with the author and researcher David Pitts. For those of us who grew up in the Camelot era this gives a whole new perspective on JFK and the hope that he gave the nation. WE WERE INCLUDED IN HIS DREAM FOR AMERICA.
Monday, September 3, 2007
My Turn: The Love That Will Finally Speak Its Name
| A beautiful story of coming out, coming to terms and love. |
Saturday, September 1, 2007
RANDOM STUFF
I haven't posted much until today. I've been very busy with lots of things going on. I sit on the State Planning Group for HIV and AIDS prevention for the South Dakota Dept. of Health. We had meetings in Sioux Falls to set priorities and look to the future.
Also had to go to Pierre for a grant writing workshop. Plus we've been very busy getting things ready for the AIDS Walk coming up on September 29th. We could sure use some help to get things set up and to get businesses and individuals to donate and to support the event.
We will have a meeting to help plan on September 9th at 4pm here at The Center West.
We also have some great news about next year's Pride Festival. We have booked Judy Shepard to be part of our festival. It will be held on the second weekend in July 2008. We are putting together the committee to finish the preparations for next year's Pride. Anyone wanting to help with this or any other of our projects can call 348-3244.
Also had to go to Pierre for a grant writing workshop. Plus we've been very busy getting things ready for the AIDS Walk coming up on September 29th. We could sure use some help to get things set up and to get businesses and individuals to donate and to support the event.
We will have a meeting to help plan on September 9th at 4pm here at The Center West.
We also have some great news about next year's Pride Festival. We have booked Judy Shepard to be part of our festival. It will be held on the second weekend in July 2008. We are putting together the committee to finish the preparations for next year's Pride. Anyone wanting to help with this or any other of our projects can call 348-3244.
SOME THOUGHTS ON SENATOR CRAIG
I have been reluctant to comment on the situation with Senator Craig because I have a lot of mixed emotions about it. On the one hand he was a closeted hypocrite who caused a lot of harm to the lgbt community and his downfall is well deserved.
On the other hand he was obviously a victim of entrapment. What was the police officer doing to attract his attention? Also he never actually engaged in anything. It was a situation where the authorities knew that most people would plead guilty rather than fight it and risk the negative backlash. It's about outing and humiliating not about preventing anything. If they really wanted to prevent this kind of behavior, they would have a uniformed police officer walk through on a regular basis. That would be a deterent not entrapment.
Do I approve of propositioning people in public bathrooms? Absolutely not! I remember many years ago I was traveling cross country and stopped at a rest stop in Indiana. While standing at the urinal I heard a voice from the stall behind me asking if he could help me. This was at a time when a lot of us were trying very hard to get the movement started and trying to dispel a lot of the negative stereotypes that were being used to condemn us.
Suddenly here I was being confronted with the real negative image. That man in a few words was unraveling much of the positive gains we had made. I was disgusted.
But I did understand where he was coming from. When you deny a people a place in the sun, it isn't right to then condemn their attempts to survive in the shadows. But, times have changed.
Senator Criag and other right wing hypocrites who have been literaly caught with their pants down are the logical result of the very policies that the reigious fundamentalists are promoting. Deny who you are. Keep sexual orientation hidden. Fill people full of guilt and self-hatred over how they are created and who they are. Then condemn them for acting like guilt ridden self hating hypocrites. The real hypocrites are the religous fanatics who are promoting these ridiculous and hateful notions of sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Adding to the hypocrisey is the fact that they are doing it for political and financial gain. Then they have the nerve to call themselves Christian. The fundamentalists and the Right wing branch that controls the Republican Party are reaping what they have sown. They created Larry Craig, Ted Haggard, Mark Foley, etc, etc, etc. Now they want to throw them under the bus.
On the other hand he was obviously a victim of entrapment. What was the police officer doing to attract his attention? Also he never actually engaged in anything. It was a situation where the authorities knew that most people would plead guilty rather than fight it and risk the negative backlash. It's about outing and humiliating not about preventing anything. If they really wanted to prevent this kind of behavior, they would have a uniformed police officer walk through on a regular basis. That would be a deterent not entrapment.
Do I approve of propositioning people in public bathrooms? Absolutely not! I remember many years ago I was traveling cross country and stopped at a rest stop in Indiana. While standing at the urinal I heard a voice from the stall behind me asking if he could help me. This was at a time when a lot of us were trying very hard to get the movement started and trying to dispel a lot of the negative stereotypes that were being used to condemn us.
Suddenly here I was being confronted with the real negative image. That man in a few words was unraveling much of the positive gains we had made. I was disgusted.
But I did understand where he was coming from. When you deny a people a place in the sun, it isn't right to then condemn their attempts to survive in the shadows. But, times have changed.
Senator Criag and other right wing hypocrites who have been literaly caught with their pants down are the logical result of the very policies that the reigious fundamentalists are promoting. Deny who you are. Keep sexual orientation hidden. Fill people full of guilt and self-hatred over how they are created and who they are. Then condemn them for acting like guilt ridden self hating hypocrites. The real hypocrites are the religous fanatics who are promoting these ridiculous and hateful notions of sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Adding to the hypocrisey is the fact that they are doing it for political and financial gain. Then they have the nerve to call themselves Christian. The fundamentalists and the Right wing branch that controls the Republican Party are reaping what they have sown. They created Larry Craig, Ted Haggard, Mark Foley, etc, etc, etc. Now they want to throw them under the bus.
"CONCERNED CITIZEN" PROMOTES BOYCOTT
I was made aware of a letter that has been sent to businesses that supported us during our Pride Festival condemning them for supporting the LGBT community and suggesting they will boycott those businesses. A copy of the letter is posted on Mt. Blogmore as well as a lot of great commentary.
While we don't take this letter seriously, we do think it would be a great idea if people wrote letters thanking those businesses for supporting us. It would be good to make a point of supporting those businesses as well. Why not deliver the letters in person when you patronize them. We did send thank you notes to all of them immediately after the Festival. A complete list of those businesses is at the Pride site.
When you think about it, this may be a good thing. If the Right wingers do boycott those businesses, the businesses will become bigot free zones and much more pleasant for all of us to patronize.
While we don't take this letter seriously, we do think it would be a great idea if people wrote letters thanking those businesses for supporting us. It would be good to make a point of supporting those businesses as well. Why not deliver the letters in person when you patronize them. We did send thank you notes to all of them immediately after the Festival. A complete list of those businesses is at the Pride site.
When you think about it, this may be a good thing. If the Right wingers do boycott those businesses, the businesses will become bigot free zones and much more pleasant for all of us to patronize.
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