And in the area of personal activism, I NEED YOUR HELP.

[mjules]

I am putting together a project. The meat of the project will start in January, but I have some volunteer positions I need to fill now. If you don't feel like it's something you'd be interested in, I'd still appreciate if you'd pass the word along to someone who WOULD be interested.

I've attached a link to download the flyer in PDF form (complete with graphics made specifically for the project) so you can download it and email it or print it out.

Starting in January, there will be updated versions of the flyer without the call for proofreaders and editors, and hopefully that one will be able to fit on one page (since this one ekes over onto two pages).

IF you'd be interested in volunteering, PLEASE do email the address given (lovewideopen@gmail.com) since I'm keeping everything organized there by use of labels and folders and such. It just makes my life easier.

Here you go:

Download Link: Love Wide Open PDF File

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Love, Wide Open

Home is the one place you know you’re always welcome – except when it’s not. Every year teenagers are turned out of their homes with no resources and nowhere to go. Survival rates for teen throwaways are dismal, as most are physically and sexually abused, and the life expectancy rate averages thirty-five years. It can be even worse for the estimated 40-60% of throwaways who have been turned out because of their sexual orientation. Even if there is a shelter that will take them in off the street, many teen homeless shelters are run by organizations that take an unfriendly view of homosexuality and this attitude shows in their treatment of GLBT teens. This isn’t even counting the number of adults who are cut off emotionally when they come out to their families. Many of them are excluded from holidays, weddings, births, and other family events.

We know it can be difficult when a family member, especially a son or a daughter, comes out. A lot of what society has to say about the GLBT community is unflattering and sometimes downright hostile. It’s also usually untrue, and thousands of people are suffering because of the misinformation that feeds anti-gay attitudes.

You now have the chance to contribute to an artistic collaboration that hopes to help people, especially parents, realize that being gay isn’t the end of the world for their loved one. In fact, with their help, it can be just another healthy part of what makes that person unique and beautiful. Love, Wide Open is a not-for-profit artistic anthology that seeks to help the parents of GLBT teens cope with their child coming out to them. All proceeds will be directed to PFLAG (http://www.pflag.org) to help them continue the work they are already doing in this field.

From now through the end of December, Love, Wide Open is looking for people who will be willing to screen word-based and visual submissions to see if they meet the criteria; people who will proofread submissions for technical errors; and editors for content. Author and poet M. Jules Aedin (“Midnight Blood,” “Fragments of a Fiery Sun”) is the creative co-chair for the project, and journalist Mark Viola is the organizational co-chair. We are also looking for people who will be willing to initiate fund raising and publicity events once the project is underway. Please do not begin these events until asked to do so by the staff of Love, Wide Open. We only want your contact information for now.

We hope to begin taking submissions in January. We will be accepting poetry, short fiction, non-fiction, essays, art, and photography. All word-based submissions should be 8,000 words or less, and visual artists should be aware that their work will be scaled to fit the page. Copyright for all works will remain with the creator. All submissions should focus on helping people, especially parents, accept the orientation and sexual identity of their gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning children. Extreme negativity is discouraged. Degradation of any group of people, whether defined by religion, sexuality, age, ethnicity, etc., will not be tolerated. Disagreement with the beliefs and creeds of any religion or ideology must be addressed respectfully.

For inquiries or to volunteer your services, please contact the staff of Love, Wide Open at lovewideopen@gmail.com. Please do not send your submissions or financial donations at this time as we are not yet equipped to accept them.