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Sissy Riffin
03-06-2007, 10:01 AM
Hello,

This morning I received a notice that Soulforce is having a rally here in Waco Texas on March 19. I am hoping to be there, if not, I will participate in the dinner at the Velma and Eddy Dwyer Community Center and any other way I can. This is the first time I have heard of Soulforce.

Soulforce is an exciting addition to my interests. My husband and I are GLBT advocates/activists. Our son, Daniel Riffin died of AIDS on Valentine's Day, 1995 in San Francisco. He and his partner, Michael McVey (Michael died, May 1991) were our business partners in VR Products San Francisco and managed Sausalito Stationers our retail business. Daniel was on the steering committee/Charter Member of Marin AIDS Interfaith Network, appeared on CNN, AIDS and Nutrition, five days after he died it was aired, and was the Grand Marshall of the Gay Lesbian Freedom Parade in Marin, 1993, the last parade Marin had. Daniel was an HIV/AIDS advocate, political and social, teacher (Boards of Education, Colleges, Universities. He spoke on tour with Leanza Cornett, Miss America, Tracy California 1993.)

The week before Daniel left his Earthly mission, he handed me his torch. My husband and family were the team behind the scenes...now Daniel was asking me to take his position, fulfill his current itinerary. It took real persuasion before I agreed not to "line up others" and be a sort of, manager. Ever since that day I have been public.

Speaking every year with Mothers Organizing Mothers (lobbying/lecturing) shortly after his death. I was part of the panel speaking at S. F. Mayor Willie Brown's annual memorial. We had Daniel's panel displayed the last time I spoke. Five years ago we moved to Waco. Our wonderful son Alan moved with us and lives with us. My husband and I adopted Alan formally this year. Alan was diesnfranchised from his biological family, church and community and became OUR family in late 1992.

We are all members of the Royal Sovereign and Imperial Court of Central Texas. Alan is the Reigning Emperor, Reign XIII. Victor my husband, is King Father and I am Queen Mother of Reign XII. We have been members for almost five years. We are on the board of McLennan County HIV/AIDS Resource and Education (McCares) and until we lost the funding, I was an active member of Central Texas HIV/AIDS Planning Council.

Thank you for all you do.

Sissy Riffin

keltic63
03-06-2007, 10:06 AM
What an incredible story, Sissy. thanks for all YOU do!

Welcome to soulforce. please jump in on the discussions. In particular, you might enjoy a thread "Hopes for a cure" an AIDs discussion. I'm sure there's much you can add.

Daniel
03-06-2007, 10:17 AM
Sissy- you are so welcome here. Your introduction- how can I put it- is very moving. You embody all that Soulforce is about. There is something about the witness of parents supporting their gay kids that chokes me up. And your intro did just that.

Thank you for all that you do.

Peace and love to you.

Sissy Riffin
03-06-2007, 10:52 AM
Being clumsy maneuvering through the maze of options offered I am not the least bit embarrassed to admit it! After all, my son Alan, the computer scientist, dragged me kicking and screaming awar from my IBM Selectric on my way to the computer! So if Soulforce will bear with me...I am sure I will eventually become the mouse in the maze that finds the food for thought I am seeking!

So...I went to the "forum" list and could not find the AIDS discussion.

Daniel, thank you so much for your very speical warm welcome!

Eventually I hope to get my picture on this site. But I will have to wait for Alan to get home from work to do that.

I think I will love you all! Sissy

keltic63
03-06-2007, 10:57 AM
Being clumsy maneuvering through the maze of options offered I am not the least bit embarrassed to admit it! After all, my son Alan, the computer scientist, dragged me kicking and screaming awar from my IBM Selectric on my way to the computer! So if Soulforce will bear with me...I am sure I will eventually become the mouse in the maze that finds the food for thought I am seeking!

So...I went to the "forum" list and could not find the AIDS discussion.

Daniel, thank you so much for your very speical warm welcome!

Eventually I hope to get my picture on this site. But I will have to wait for Alan to get home from work to do that.

I think I will love you all! Sissy

here you go: http://www.soulforce.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2195 it will most likely open in a new window.

scott snedeker
03-06-2007, 11:15 AM
You have great courage to make this world a kinder place!

BruceChris
03-06-2007, 01:39 PM
We always appreciate straight allies. We appreciate ANY allies. Make yourself at home, and post wherever you like. I was going to offer you the URL of the AIDS discussion, but Keltic beat me to it.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

Zerbie
03-07-2007, 07:51 PM
Hello.

Wonderful to have you here! What a heartbreaking yet uplifting story!

Glad to see you join us.

Mind if I ask, what's the Imperial Court thing?

andrewlittle
03-08-2007, 07:30 AM
Sissy,

I, too, have been called that frequently, but I never thought I's be proud of it especially. Now, I'll just think of you when it happens, and beam.

I look forward to hearing what you have to share with us.

Zerbie: try this http://www.centraltexasempire.org/
It sounds quite camp, somewhat bizarre (not a judgment - I like things off the wall), very committed, and extremely effective. Fun with a point. Gotta love it.

nmwolfboy
03-08-2007, 11:09 PM
Welcome Sissy! :wave: Wow, your story is amazing. i look forward to reading more from you here at Soulforce.

Zerbie: Here's another Imperial Court link (http://www.impcourt.org/)

and also the Wikipedia entry for the Court System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Court_System)

-scott