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GLBT issues and activities in Green Valley and Area

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years ago

 

To the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Green Valley and the Welcoming Diversity Committee:3/11/08

Since my last message to you about the Welcoming Committee's attendance at Sahuarita City Council on March 25,   I have talked with the assistant City Manager who said that the City Manager would be making contact with the school system re: our  request.   I have heard nothing further from him,  Mr. Stahle.

So I sent on  February 28 the following  description of our committee and goals, hoping it would further the communication process.

 I also  call your attention to the wonderful film we are presenting at the Library on   March 29 at 1:00 - a special documentary provided to us free by Public Broadcasting Company.  Eloise and Calvin Eland and I saw it yesterday at Fellowship House.  It is truly excellent.  In its presentation of many families considered very conservative, such as Mormons,  Catholics,  Japanese American, and other ethnic groups it is so moving that viewing it is a very intense process.  Their description of their feelings on hearing that their child is gay or lesbian are so heartrending,  as are the descriptions of the child who "came out" to them leave one often in tears.   They are all very likable and decent people struggling with the necessity of viewing their child in a new way,  and in mourning the loss of the dreams they had had for their child.  and the loss of the child they thought they knew.  They all expressed their feelings in such a way as to make one live through it with them.  I urge you to come to view the film for yourself in this public showing on the 29th of March. 

The next meeting of the Welcoming Diversity Committee is March 30,  the Sunday after Easter, at 2:00 at Fellowship House.  You are all invited to come.

June Wortman,  Chair of the Welcoming Diversity Committee.

-----------------------------

Letter to  the community leaders of Sahuarita:2/28/08

In case you would like to know about  "What is the Welcoming Diversity Committee:"

Three years ago, the Unitarian Universalists did a year of congregational study on Homosexuality Issues both to become informed and to decide whether we wished to become a "Welcoming Congregation".  We did vote to become a "Welcoming Congregation"  and formed the Welcoming Diversity Committee to carry out the pledge for action both within our congregation and the wider community to become more informed and comfortable with our LGBT neighbors.

Currently the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ is going through a similar  year of study to vote on becoming a "Welcoming Congregation."   They send representatives to our committee now.  Other members of of the UU Welcoming Diversity Committee are members of other churches but do not  claim to represent their home church.  So while the UU's started this committee,  it is interfaith in that its members come from a variety of faiths.

During the last year and a half the Welcoming Diversity  Committee has accomplished the following:

 1)  We have resurrected the PFLAG group  (Parents and friends of lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual persons)  to meet monthly on the second Sunday, at 2:00pm at 17616 South La Canada, Sahuarita,  the Fellowship House of the UU Congregation.  This is a confidential support group,  not an action group, as is the Tucson PFLAG group.  It is free and open to all.  Meetings are listed in the monthly calendars in the local papers and posted in the GV Library   The March meeting is on Sunday, March 9.  All are welcome.

2)The Welcoming Committee is the action group, that plans and carries out strategy.  It meets monthly usually on the fourth Sunday, at 2:00pm at the UU Fellowship House,  17616 S. La Canada,  Sahuarita.  All in the surrounding  communities, both Green Valley, Sahuarita and beyond are welcome to attend.  There is no charge.  We have no budget.

3)  The Welcoming Diversity Committee has begun a series of monthly public information meetings at the Green Valley Library,  usually on the last Saturday of the month, and at whatever times the Library can accommodate.  After some experimenting in what to call this series, we have settled on the title GETTING ACQUAINTED  WITH OUR NEIGHBORS - GAY/ STRAIGHT.  We have had a panel of seven  presenting different kinds of families in a program "What is a Family?"   We have shown a movie on transgender persons called  "TransAmerica"  an award winning film.  

March 29 - Saturday - at 1:00 the Welcoming Diversity Committee holds its monthly public education meeting - GETTING ACQUAINTED - GAYS AND STRAIGHTS..   A wonderful DVD from Public Television called Anyone and Everyone will be shown. It  is a documentary by filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz. The film is a moving account of several different American families who are connected by having a son or daughter who is gay. The story interviews families from different religious and ethnic backgrounds including Japanese, Bolivian, Cherokee, Mormon, Jew, Catholic and Hindu. Through their interviews, parents describe intimate accounts of how their children revealed to them that they were gay and also talk about struggling with the pain their sons and daughters have dealt with, such as not being accepted by relatives and friends and being ostracized by their religious congregations.

4) The Welcoming  Diversity Committee has been concerned for the young people,  who often suffer from bullying and harassment in their schools,  often with the tacit support of the teaching staff.  We are concerned about the high rate of suicide among LGBT teens.  We understand that about 10% of any population is LGBT including in the schools.   We are concerned about the high rate of homelessness among LGBT youth who are banished by their un-accepting families.  We want to offer support to the young people and their families to live with greater comfort with each other and the world.   To these ends we would be glad to work with the schools on obtaining teacher training in dealing with LGBT youth and their families.   We recognize that all of us, including school personnel, have  mixed feelings about homosexuality and need help to deal with it in a professional and sensitive manner.  We on the committee came to recognize the strength of feelings in the course of our year's study as a congregation.    Among other things, we were surprised to learn how early in life children recognize that they are different, and that the need for understanding and support for them and their families  is present in the middle schools and elementary schools as well as in the high schools.

5)  We have learned that there is a large population of LGBT persons and couples in the Green Valley area,  most of whom are carefully closeted.   There is also strong feeling in the community against them.  We have had a attorney speak on the many ways in which LGBT persons are discriminated against, both socially,  legally,  in housing,  employment and in the armed services.  We are well aware that the task is huge, but we are making a start at community outreach of all kinds to encourage information and understanding.

So - that is our committee.  We welcome anyone who is interested in working with us, both officially and unofficially, in the task we have undertaken.    We hope this has provided you with some helpful information in dealing both with our up-start committee and with the problems faced by both individuals and the community in working through our misunderstandings and conflicted feelings about our neighbors and friends and relatives, a surprising number of whom are homosexual.

June C. Wortman,  Chair of the Welcoming Diversity Committee

81 E. Santa Chalice Drive, Green Valley, AZ  85614          520-648-5877

 

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To all UUs,  and the Welcoming Diversity Committee,   3/11

The Welcoming Diversity Committee wishes to thank the 15 people from our congregation and friends who were present with us last night,  2/25 at Sahuarita City Council meeting when we read our letter, to which we had received no response in two months.  Jean Spinka, Joe Moody  and Winston Mani also spoke in reference to our main concern being for the welfare of the children and their need to be educated in a safe and comfortable environment.

Others who attended with us include Libby Byrer,  Bruce and Nancy Chandler,  David and Marilyn Kern,  Edith Buckley,  Anne Cowan,  Shirley Cameron,  Rich Wortman, and friends  Carol Cotter,  Sigrid Kanniainen and Mary Thomas.  I hope I did not omit anyone. 

We are grateful that two councilmen, John Sullivan and  Roger Minor ,kept the issue alive by asking for further communication between the city and the school system.  Assistant Town Manager,  Lawrence S. Dobrosky,  also gave me his card and said I could call him for an update.  His email is  ldobrosky@ci.sahuarita.az.usldobrosky@ci.sahuarita.az.us and his  his phone is 520-822-8816

Sahuarita City Government,  found on internet,  lists pictures of the Council members but ho phone numbers or email addresses.  If you wish to talk to any of them, I would assume you could call City Hall  at (520) 822-8800 and ask how to reach them

An added bonanza was the presence of seven or more high school students who were there for their government class to see how government works.  I gave them copies of our letter and invited them, and their parents to contact us if they wished to work with our committee. 

Yours in hope and greatly  encouraged,   and  really buoyed up by our supporters,

June Wortman, Chair of the Welcoming Diversity Committee.

PS.  Our next Welcoming Diversity Committee meeting will be on Sunday,  March 30,  (the usual  fourth Sunday is Easter.)  at 2:00 at Fellowship House We would love to have some of you attend and help us think about next steps.  We also have some very interesting DVDs for our monthly educational programs at the Library to tell you about.

 ---------------------------------------

Report from the Welcoming Diversity Committee. (for some of you this will be a duplication, but I wanted to be sure both the Committee and the whole congregation received this.)   2/11/08

On January 7 we mailed by snail mail the letter you will see at the end of this report  to the Mayor, Town Council members, City Manager, and Director of Recreation of Sahuarita. .  Since that time we have not had the courtesy of a reply from any of them.  A member of our committee suggested that we attend City Council meetings which are on the second and fourth Mondays at about 6:00pm.  During a public participation period  a person is allowed 5 minutes to address the Council.  The press will be there, so the letter will become public record.

The plan is for me, the committee, and supporters of the committee  to attend Sahuarita City Council on Monday, February 25.  The Council meets at 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way

Sahuarita, AZ 85629(520) 822-8800)    That is the same address listed for the Sahuarita Municipal Court where some of us have gone.    I recommend that you do a trial run to find the place in broad daylight so you will be sure to find it.  I suggest that we meet there at 5:46pm.

I will not go alone to present this letter.  Doing social action alone does not work. You are treated as a nut,  discounted,  and often treated badly.  I plan to read the letter aloud, including a list of those it was sent to.  Then I will state that we have not received the courtesy of a reply.  I will also question whether the question of homosexuality in the community, and in our children, is something the community does not want to think about, and prefers to say it does not exist.  It does exist, and is a tragedy for the children, and parents who receive no support, but also for the community that closes its mind to avoid facing and dealing with the problem.  That is it.  But I must have  a group to back me up, or I will not do it.  I have received word from several that they plan to attend.  I hope any residents of Sahuarita will attend.  I hope that those who were willing to sign the letter can attend also.

You also can request time to speak if you so wish. 

It is possible that this event will galvanize more members of our Congregation to take part in the work of the Welcoming Diversity  Committee which attempts to carry out the task assumed when we voted to become a Welcoming Congregation.  That task involves attempts to bring about a community  better informed and more friendly to our LGBT neighbors of all ages.  People from other congregations are working with us, but very few from the UU Congregation.  We can not continue with this effort without help and support members of  the Congregation.

The next public meeting sponsored by the Welcoming  Diversity Committee is at the GV Library on Saturday, February 23 from 12:00-2:00. We are hoping to show the movie TRANSAMERICA, which won a prize at the Cannes Festival.

The next working committee meeting of the Welcoming Diversity Committee will be on Sunday, March 23 at Fellowship House,  17616 S. La Canada Blvd., Sahuarita at 2:00pm.  You are all welcome. Look for the Rainbow windsock flying from the mailbox at the driveway entrance.

The next Sunday Forum presentation by the Welcoming Diversity Committee will be on Sunday, April 20 when we have invited Deb and Sal,  who were so wonderful at our "What is a Family?" program at the Library that we thought you should hear them.

The letter is printed below. 

Yours in hope,  June Wortman, Chair of the Welcoming Diversity Committee

------------------

Mayor Lynne Skelton

P.O. Box 879

Sahaurita, AZ 85629

cc.

City Manager, James Stahle

Phil Conklin, Vice-Mayor

Scott Downs, Councilman

Marty Moreno, Councilwoman

Roger Minor, Councilman

Charles Oldman, Councilman

John Sullivan, Councilman

Barbara Dolan, Communications Manager

Deborah Summers, Director, Parks and Recreation

Dear Mayor and Leaders of the City of Sahuarita,

We are the Welcoming Diversity Committee of the Sahuarita/Green Valley area, an inter-faith group attempting to help our communities learn more about the lives of our gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual neighbors. This includes our children. Statistically it is known that 10% of the population is gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual.

We would like to consult with you and your Youth Advisory Council to learn how teens in Sahuarita view their fellow students in the Sahuarita School System who are LGBT and also how the LGBT students view their own lives in the school and recreation settings.

Do they see any signs of bullying or harassment directed toward LGBT students?

If so, does it concern them?

Does it concern you as community leaders?

Do they know of any requests by students for a Gay/Straight Alliance in the school or

in the Recreation Department of the city?

If so, what has been the response to the request?

Would you be willing to present these questions to the Youth Advisory Council?

We understand that, according to the No Child Left Behind Law, schools are required to

    1. Provide a safe learning environment for all students and

    2. Provide, for any group of students who request one in forming a club or group,. a meeting room (not necessarily funding) and a way of communicating

      about their meetings to all students.

We hope to gain facts about the lives of our neighbors, straight, gay, lesbian, transgender

or bisexual. Only then will we know if there are problems that can be addressed, and with which we might help

We would be delighted to meet with any of you for further discussion.

The Welcoming Diversity Committee:

Judy Cooper- Rancho Resort

Beth Dingman- Green Valley

Jan Johnson – Green Valley

Sigrid Kanniainen – Green Valley

Jack & Karen Kressley – Quail Creek

Claudia McKay – Green Valley

Joe Moody- Green Valley

Mary Simmie - Sahaurita

Mardi Teale – Green Valley

Richard A. Wortman, Ph.D.- Green Valley

June Wortman – Green Valley, Chair of the Welcoming Diversity Committee

520-648-5877

mailed January 7, 2008

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THE GAY MARRIAGE CASE IN CALIFORNIA - sent by a reader.

hi folks,
 
as i mentioned when we talked on the phone, this morning the california supreme court held oral arguments in the gay marriage case. this was the case that began in 2004 when mayor gavin newsom decided to allow gay marriages in the city of san francisco. ultimately the courts stopped those marriages, and this litigation followed.
 
normally the supreme court schedules 30 minutes to hear a case, or possibly 60 minutes if more time is required for a complex case. for this case, they reserved 3 hours! believe it or not, i actually watched the entire hearing, which you can see - at your convenience, and as little as you care to do (including fast forwarding) - by clicking on the following lick. just click on "watch" where you see California Supreme Court: Same Sex Marriage. if you don't already have Windows Media Player on your computer, you will get a prompt to download it. go ahead and do that, since it's free and easy.
 
 
it was interesting to watch the hearing, especially because i know therese stewart, who was the lead counsel for the petitioners, and represented the city of san francisco arguing in favor of gay marriage. she's quite an eloquent advocate for our case, and in my albeit unbiased opinion, was probably the best of the 8 lawyers who spoke (4 in favor, 4 against).
 
as a litigator, and occasional appellate lawyer, i always try to predict which way the court will go, based on their questions and comments during the hearing. i have to say that i'm not particularly optimistic about the outcome. there were at least 2, and possibly 3, of the seven justices who seemed to come down against gay marriage, or, as our governor is fond of saying, of "leaving it to the people to decide". if i had to predict, as much as it pains me, i would guess that the result will be either a 4-3 or a 5-2 decision against gay marriage in california. but maybe they'll surprise me and do the right thing.
 
a decision is expected in about 90 days (early june). stay tuned.
 
wayne

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In Green Valley the Unitarian Universalist Congregation,  after a year of study, voted to become a Welcoming Congregation.  We established a working committee: the Welcoming Diversity Committee to try and influence the wider community to become more informed, accepting and welcoming to all GLBT people.  We work together with the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, and with Wingspan,  and hope to involve more faith communities and unaffiliated people to work with us.

 

 

 

We have accomplished the following:

 

 

Our Welcoming Diversity Committee meets monthly on the third Sunday, at 2:00pm at the UU Fellowship House,  17616 S. La Canada, in Sahuarita.  All interested are welcome.

 

We have revived PFLAG  (Parents, friends and allies of Lesbian, Gay, Transgendere and Bysexual persons)  PFLAG is a confidential support group that meets monthly on the second Sunday, at 2:00pm at the UU Fellowship House,  17616 S. La Canada,  Sahuarity.  All are welcome. 

 

 

We have started a monthly series of educational programs at the Green Valley Public Library,  601 N. La Canada,  on Saturday usually  toward the end of the month. The first in September presented a DVD called Voices of LGBT youth.  The second, in October, presented   WHAT IS A FAMILY? with a panel of seven who described all kinds of families.  We tried to show a film for the October meeting, SOUTHERN COMFORT, a documentary about Transgendered people, but the DVD was cracked and could not be used.  So we will take a rest during the November and December holiday season, and start again with a program in January.   They are programs that the Welcoming Diversity Committee organizes.

 

 

Our long range goal is to bring about a change in the public schools in Sahuarita so that a Gay/Straight Alliance  can be organized,  both in the High School and Middle School.   We have learned from the ACLU that more legal suites have been filed by parents of LGBT  youth.  We would like to help the school system avoid both the public embarrassment and the legal costs of a potential legal action.   We need the help of parents in Sahuarita in forming a constituency to accomplish this.

If you are interested in working with our committee please contact me at Junesrag@cox.net or phone me at 520-648-5877. 

 

 

A progress report of our up-coming programs, progress, and articles and commentary will be posted here from time to time.   If your letters are posted here, as the one above,  names are never identified.  You will know that you are being thanked and that your privacy is protected.

 

 

Thanks for your attention

Yours in Hope,

June Wortman, chair of Welcoming Diversity Committee

 

 

 

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From a reader:

 

I am the mother of a gay son (he came out to me 20 years ago), so I have an interest in what you have been doing.  One of these days I will be able to make one of your meetings and meet you in person.

 

 

Below is information about a new book that was just released (both me and my son have a story in the book).  You sound like a woman who might be interested in this book.....

 

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We have been asked why the book is not available in bookstores or on Amazon.com.

 

As a publishing company, it is customary to give retailers a 40% discount to carry your book, yet the consumer will always pay full price for a product no matter where it is sold. It is important to us that both the stories and money earned by this book support the LGBTQ community. So we have decided to give the 40% discount as a donation to LGBTQ organizations instead of giving it to retailers, and those LGBTQ organizations are chosen by YOU the purchaser.  By clicking on the link below you can choose to:

 

Support the LGBTQ Organizations that make a difference in your life!

 

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Dragonfly Stories Takes Flight

 

Dragonfly Stories Volume One is available for purchase on

www.rainbowlegends.com

 

Dragonfly Stories, Volume One is a collection of heartfelt stories from the LGBTQ community. For centuries people have used storytelling to communicate, commemorate, and celebrate,and everyone has a story to tell. By sharing our stories, we give hope and encouragement, inspiration and joy. Stories have the unique ability to teach, uplift, move, and connect people from all walks of life.

 

From stories of love to coming out, transgender and cross gender, building courage and seeking faith, raising families and dating, hate crimes and living with HIV, building a community and accepting oneself, each story is sure to touch the hearts of all who read them. Whether part of the LGBTQ community or not, this collection is certain to bring laughter and tears, reflection and empathy, camaraderie and insight.

 

Our Mission

To celebrate the LGBTQ Community by sharing true life stories that transcend the beliefs held by others about us, and the beliefs we (the LGBTQ Community) hold about ourselves. It is the mission of Rainbow Legends to tell stories about individuals who by their very queer existence make the world a better place for everyone.

 

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SUPPORT OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY!

We are the dragonflies!

 

With Love,  Amanda & Joyce Cascio

 

Rainbow Legends | 105 S. Jefferson Street Suite C-3 #272 | Kearney | MO | 64060

---------------------------------------------------

 

OPEN LETTER FROM A LESBIAN COUPLE

 

When June began casting about, looking for homosexual individuals who would be willing to share their experiences with this audience, I initially dismissed it because I knew I wouldn’t be in Arizona before the end of October. The more I thought about it though, the more I felt an obligation to offer my help through this letter. June jumped on it! Frankly I’m glad for an opportunity to put some of my experience and ideas out there in the interest of promoting tolerance. So here we go.

 

Where do I begin... to tell the story of two old gay, happy ladies... or two old happy, gay ladies, if you will... Begin at the beginning? Probably not the best idea. Beginning in the present and working back through time I think will be more instructive.

 

Rachel and I are in our 60’s and have spent half of our lives together in a loving, committed, faithful relationship. We have occasional spats, but no, we’re not married, although in some states now we could be. We have no legal, or even social, standing or contract that binds us together. Just an emotional one which we believe is far stronger. It certainly withstands the test of time - we’re about to celebrate our 30th anniversary! We’ve even raised a little family together, albeit cats and dogs!

 

So what’s the difference between us and a traditional heterosexual married couple? Just one: no one knows about our real relationship. No one celebrated our union or sends us anniversary cards. That’s right. While your average hetero couple lives in the house next door, enjoys social intercourse as a couple, and all kinds of legal rights and privileges, we go on living together as two single women - for all intents and purposes, just friends - or perhaps crazy old maids!. It’s much easier for family and friends to view us in that light than to have their perception of us jarred into reality and be asked to somehow adjust to the idea that we’re more than just friends. Why, lord knows Ruth and Rachel are the two straightest arrows you’ll ever meet! Just ask anyone who “knows” us.

 

Aside: when a same-sex couple has lived together for thirty years, wouldn’t you think some one of our friends or family would at least start to wonder about the exact nature of our relationship?

TALK ABOUT DENIAL!!!

 

My immediate family is all gone, so for me it’s not a big issue. But for Rachel, whose mother and sister are devout Methodists and whose other sister and brother are Catholic, it would risk being ejected from a family that she loves deeply. How do we reconcile the fact that they love her as deeply as she loves them, but only if she is heterosexual? The question in my mind regarding her family has always been “how does one give love contingent on sexual orientation?” Well, it would just be so terrible for her to have to bear their rejection. It seems easier for us to just remain “in the closet” and spare everyone the discomfort. Everyone but us. We have to go on living the lie. For this reason, I’m not using our actual names here.

 

Going back a bit further to my working years, I was forced to live a very closeted life because I was a teacher. Everyone knows what happens to a teacher who is found to be gay. “We can’t have gays in contact with our children! “ But instead, under the cloak of my title, (I used Mrs. instead of Miss as I had once been married and chose expeditiously to retain my married title to discourage any speculation about my sexuality), I managed to protect my true identity and complete a rather illustrious teaching career of 30 years and retire - safely. It would have ended much differently, and MUCH SOONER, I’m sure, if I had been outed. Rachel, as a Director of Nursing, had to do basically the same thing, although since her contact was mainly with adults, keeping her identity under wraps was slightly less critical; she would probably only be passed over for promotions whereas I would be fired and lose my license. Instead, wha’d’ya know - we retired with unblemished (and even distinguished, in Rachel’s case) records of service. I don’t know how the homophobics would explain that, but I’m sure they would have some ludicrous answer!!

 

Consider for a moment a “what if”: what if we had been outed and thrown out of our jobs. Countless folks would have been deprived of the benefit of our collective expertise? And how just would that be for them?

 

Back in time further still, I was married for nearly 10 years. No, it wasn’t that I didn’t know I was gay. It’s simply that I knew it was completely unacceptable at the time (the1960’s), and that I would never be able to have the life I really wanted, so I would just have to “knuckle under” and get married first chance I got. And so I did. Rachel was stronger and truer to herself and held her ground, biding her time 'til “Ms. Right” came along.

 

We have a story that we use to this day to explain our intertwined lives to the curious. As teenagers, we both worked as nurses’ aides in the same hospital and since then have been best of friends.That is usually plausible enough to account satisfactorily for the length of time we’ve spent together. We weren’t in love back then... neither of us had developed our identities to any great degree, at least not to the point that we were ready to fly in the face of convention and test the waters of “the lifestyle”. No, we both wanted higher education and careers, and so it was necessary to follow traditional paths for a while and accomplish a few milestones to put us on more terra firma.

 

OK. Now let’s go all the way back to childhood. The “hard wire” controversy that accompanies all gay/straight discussion seems a moot point to me. Although I didn’t have any idea what it was all about then, I distinctly remember having feelings for girls even as a young child, and definitely no feelings for boys! I’ll tell you, I had to put on Oscar-winning performances for all those developmental years when we were approaching puberty, maturing sexually, talking about boys, dating, pledging a sorority and all that, right through college. It was so important to fit in and you just didn’t if you didn’t walk the hetero walk. So I did. I had ‘em all fooled. I even worked my way up from President of my sorority all the way up to Chairman of Grand Lodge. But try to tell me that the brain is not hard-wired and that you can be transformed from gay to straight, and I’ll tell you in no uncertain terms you’re off your nut.

 

Well, that takes us all the way back to my childhood. Now let’s leapfrog forward to the present. In our mature years, we both have a very well-developed, many layered sense of self. We know exactly who we are and have grown completely comfortable with it. At times we miss society-at-large’s approbation, but are pleased to observe the great gains that are being made with GLBT issues. With our finances intertwined, we have been able to gain some legal rights as “domestic partners.” The term “significant other” is now part of the vernacular, referring as often to same-sex couples as unmarried ones.

 

Recently we found a minister who, being gay herself, made it possible for us to speak openly as lesbians and discuss matters that we would heretofore dare discuss only with one another. We felt such a release and never-before-felt sense of freedom to be able to relate to another human being on an equal footing. Heretofore a sense of second-class citizenry had sublimated all my interactions with people, thanks to society’s predominant attitude toward gays even though intellectually I’ve always known that I’m no less worthy than the next guy. You never would have detected it, but it was always there, thank you, John Q. Public. Now that I’m able to speak a little more freely, that all-pervading sense of inadequacy is gradually subsiding... just now... at my ripe old age! It’s a real burden that many lesbians share.

 

Such is the life story in brief of a mature lesbian couple spanning many decades. Quite a ride, one we wouldn’t trade for anything!

 

In closing, I’d like to thank all of you for listening openly to our story, and especially June, for the tireless effort she has poured into this Welcoming Committee project. With apologies if appropriate, I must say I’m not surprised that she had some difficulty finding a lesbian couple in Green Valley. I’m not positively certain, but I would guess that we’re in a relatively small minority. This forum is an important step towards bringing Green Valley into the 21st century as a more diverse and tolerant community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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