Hello, my name is...

[DennisP]

DennisP. I am new to the Soul Force community. Having been a followers of Gandhi, Jesus and Dr. King's philosophy, I find this the perfect place to be. I have much history (gay) in this life and have positive plans for the future.
My intention is to start a non-profit organization for gays incarcerated, to act a liaison between the health, social, legal and religious/spiritual issues incurred while incarcerated and the individuals/organizations on the 'outs' whose declared mission is to help prisoners.

Having been incarcerated, at first-hand I am aware of the issues that I hope to be able to facility resolution. Rape is very real. Human rights violations are very real. Lack of health care is very real. And the predominance of fundamental Christianity and Islam and their institutionalized prejudices are very real.

I am posting this new thread in an effort to network with those who have thoughts and ideas re: this situation - whether they are 'negative' and positive. I find similar prejudices in the gay community as strong as the straight community. I find prejudices within the 'Christian' community as well. Those who declaire compassion expose their limits of caring very quickly. I know I have a difficult task ahead of me but have known nothing else but in this life. This God-given assignment is not of the Absolut Vodka/cruise to the Bahamas nature. I believe that if we can't take care of our own, all of our own, the mission of our community will have failed.

Please respond. I will get back as soon as I can. I look forward to a lively discussion and perhaps future support. Thank you for reading

[Zerbie]

I find similar prejudices in the gay community as strong as the straight community. I find prejudices within the 'Christian' community as well. .

reading

Wow!! That sounds like a huge undertaking! I would guess it's also pretty necessary.

Um, what kind of prejudices are you talking about?

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

[DennisP]

Hello Zerbie,

Prejudice within the gay community, straight as well, against prisoners, in particular upon their release. They are now marked as a con, somehow subhuman to the rest of the community. The judicial system is set up that once a person is judged guilty by a group of their peers and have done their time, they should be considered on an even keel with the rest of the community. That doesn't happen. Within the gay community, there seems to be a prejudice towards anything that isn't 'light and gay'. If it's not a good time, no one is interested. To bring up gays incarcerated in a group situation brings conversation to a sudden halt and the silver is put behind lock and key. This may be a huge undertaking, but it will be done one prisoner at a time. It will raise consciousness by the mere fact of the groups existence. Currently in America there are 2.2 million incarcerated which is the highest per captia ratio in the history of the civilized world.
As well, my heart is into it. I know first-hand the struggle of a gay incarcerated and am willing, as a Wounded Healer, to turn around and lend a helping hand to those who still suffer.

[Zerbie]

Again, wow. I have no familiarity with the subject but can imagine it must be huge. Kudos to you for wanting to reach out and help - best wishes with your idea!

As for bringing up a serious subject, yeah, sometimes people like to gloss over the heavy stuff. I recently worked on a campaign to defeat an anti-gay ballot initiative, and in the early months, at gay pride events, many people waved me off and some were downright rude to me about it. I was like - what? I'm here for my health??:confused: So I can imagine you must get frustrated at times.

Keep trying, things may get much better with work. I hope so. Good luck. :pray:

[Jennifer5]

HI.... Welcome.. Glad you found us... :wave:

[DennisP]

Jennifer, Thank you for your welcome and a quote of inspiration.

DennisP

[Diane Vera]

As for bringing up a serious subject, yeah, sometimes people like to gloss over the heavy stuff. I recently worked on a campaign to defeat an anti-gay ballot initiative, and in the early months, at gay pride events, many people waved me off and some were downright rude to me about it. I was like - what? I'm here for my health??:confused:

I wonder if the use of sufficiently humorous slogans, plus something visually amusing (such as perhaps cartoons poking fun at major religious right wing leaders?), might get more people interested?

At least the above might work for something like opposing an anti-gay ballot initiative. Not sure how to attract people's attention to issues like gays in prison, which a lot of gays probably see as not affecting themselves. To support work on the latter issue, I suspect that it might be easier to apply for foundation grants than to attract support from the general gay public.

[Zerbie]

I wonder if the use of sufficiently humorous slogans, plus something visually amusing (such as perhaps cartoons poking fun at major religious right wing leaders?), might get more people interested?

A.

sigh. Yes. I'm a very "girly" female, and it worked to have me dress all cute, and WEAR our literature as wreaths and necklaces so that it mimicked jewelry. That made people want it. I had to just hope that when party boys got home, they would discover the website address plastered all over their new "tiara" and check us out, register to vote, etc. It didn't exactly do wonders for my confidence in our community that I had to put "Vote NO" stickers on guys' nipples in order for them to be interested in something that could potentially have a devastating effect on their lives. Aghhhhh!!!!! I guess I'm just too serious, 'cuz after that I talked like Larry Kramer for dayyyyys. :rolleyes:

In our defense tho - that was never true of ALL our community. And when crisis time came, our community was magnificent. At the same event the following year I got a very different reception - EVERYone smiled at me and assured me they knew to vote NO. The word was out. At last. And in time. :rainbow: