I just went to PFLAG

[Zerbie]

Just went to my first ever PFLAG meeting.

I've talked with PFLAGers and marched with them, but never went to a meeting b/c I wasn't really interested in coming out support groups. I had a very nice time today.

The reason I went was to let people in the community know that I'm around and really interested in advocacy, so I made it a point, as someone here suggested, to check out *every*thing until I find a niche. It turns out the co-president of our chapter has been thinking a lot of the same things as I have regarding a big local issue, so it was a relief to know I'm not the only one. They had just recently started an advocacy group which stopped after one or two meetings because its leader got involved in another project. I told him I'm interested in starting up the advocacy group again, and it sounds like he's going to give it another try.

I hope hope hope this turns into something. Please hope with me! We have an anti-gay, anti-family ballot initiative coming up in November, so we could use every advocacy group we can get to hop on board and take action.

[Lydia]

Praying. It sounds like something you'd enjoy.

[BruceChris]

No, he's not going to give it a try, YOU are.

P&L, bc

[Rick336]

Zerbie. I know you'll find your niche. Your enthusiasm will lead you to it. Good luck with the ballot initiatives this fall. Keep us posted on what's happening.

Rick

[Vanessa White]

I would not have thought of PFLAG as a vehicle for you to get involved, but it sounds like it might be promising to put you in the right direction. Trust yourself in what feels like the right path to take with advocacy/activism and it will come to you. Sometimes our answers in the least likely places. Good luck and keep us posted! Vanessa

[Zerbie]

Yes Rick, I'll definitely keep ya'll posted on how the initiative thing goes.

Vanessa - I didn't think PFLAG was a route to activism either, which is why in the decade-plus I've been trying to get involved, I had never gone to a meeting. But there are a few members in the valley who want to get involved in advocacy. I'm hoping we can round each other up and get to work.

I have an idea I want to try out.

[NonLemming]

The most important thing is that you talked last week about getting involved, but today you DID something and WENT to find out. Even if it's not the right niche, you'll find it if you keep looking. Way to go!

[Emproph]

{Satirical yet sincere ramblings goin' on. }

I wanted to post something yesterday just for support, but as an over-the-top perfectionist I had to go with the first song that popped into my head: ‘Hopin’ and Prayin’ and..,’ whatever the name of that song is and whoever sings it..

Anyway, I ended up on You Tube (Video Napster) trying to find ‘the’ or ‘a’ video or even a recording of it, nada. So I started thinking of other inspirational songs that might help to exemplify my support without having to type an essay and I pulled up George Michael’s “Freedom.” I watched it three times (it’s a very liberating song) before I realized that the music didn’t sync up with the video, so that was out too.

But then I got into the whole gay thing about him and how it’s impossible for our beloved theocratic nut bags to separate gay people from their own lives. What if you’re a bigot but you LOVE the song?! I pretty much went through the entire George Michael anthology after that, plus a few other goodies.

But I wanted something more apropos to your dire circumstance, something to help perfect your predicament, but it just didn’t happen.. In fact ‘boo hoo’ is me.

I wanted to be “hoping” and “praying” for the very best and that whether it be this opportunity, or whether this opportunity leads to a better opportunity, or whether the vibes from all this talk go out and create a completely different opportunity that it ends up being the best opportunity and exactly what you want and need most for the highest Good of all. . .

But alas, I wasn’t able to do any of it. All that effort for naught. Hours spent looking for some expression of inspiration to show how I “hope hope hope” with you too, and also pray pray pray behind your back, and nothing to show for it.

The only good news is that when, I mean if, absolutely EVERYthing goes wrong for you it will be completely my fault. So I take some consolation in that.

Anyway, just to spite my failure I am including the last thing I found on You Tube that has absolutely nothing to do with any of this.

Julie Brown “Cause I’m a blonde.” I know, yuck it up, but you won't be laughin' when you click on it. It's the perfect example of the power we have over the "other" side. The power to make fun of them in a way that resonates.

They can't make fun of us because they can't-make-fun... Think about it..

[Zerbie]

Emproph!!!!!!!!!



I haven't clicked that link yet, I'm respondin' cuz ya had me rollin', dude, rollin' on da floah. (Last time I typed that as an acronym it came out RolfMao, and Daniel thought it was a statement about Mao Tse Tung (spell?) receiving a massage, which completely baffled him (Daniel I mean, not mao) so I shy away from the acronym for a while.)

Okay so ya crack me up. Man! I hope this PFLAG thing works.

You're the top, E.

Off ta check out the blonde.

[Vanessa White]

Julie Brown is always good for a laugh, Zerbie, but I don't think I get exactly why you picked it, Emproph. I am a little slow on the analogies sometimes. Could you assist? Loved the silliness of the video, tho.

[tdogg]

Zerbie,

Good luck with the PFLAG actitivites, I've been thinking (just thinking right now) about joining in something like that myself. I believe my 'calling' is in our GLBT community at some level. Please keep us updated on your doings and how it goes for you. You just might have found the perfect venue - I'm keeping my fingers crossed and good thoughts for ya!

You would/will be great at that! Go Z!!!

[Zerbie]

Yayyyyy, us!

Heheh, thanks Tdogg! DO IT!!!

I was fairly sure PFLAG was not an entrée to activism, but I may have been wrong. Maybe very wrong. The organizations I've been slamming my head against are run by professional advocates. I'd love to get involved, but my sense is they want to remain a closed loop and just call "volunteers" for the occasional job of handing out fliers. Which is not gonna cut it for me. But PFLAG is TOTALLY grassroots volunteer oriented. Everyone is a parent or a gay person or an ally, all volunteers. (as far as I can tell so far, I could be wrong.) That means they need their volunteers to do the real work (whether that's writing the newsletter, maintaining the website, moderating support groups, or whatever.) So, maybe it IS the way to get more hands-on.

So I did some follow-up research today and what I found leads me to believe that the leader of the new advocacy group (the person who got involved with another project) is an acquaintance. I left a message for her today and once we speak I will have a better idea what we're dealing with, PFLAG advocacy-wise.

Meanwhile, I'm off to do some phone-banking tonight for another organization.

I love feeling like I'm contributing, however small a task it is. I really LOVE the feeling whenever there's an opportunity to do a little something, and strongly strongly recommend that you look into community groups in your area that have a need, too, Tdogg. Then we can come here and cheer for each other: Yaaaayyyyy, T!!!!

[Emproph]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

I haven't clicked that link yet, I'm respondin' cuz ya had me rollin', dude, rollin' on da floah. (Last time I typed that as an acronym it came out RolfMao, and Daniel thought it was a statement about Mao Tse Tung (spell?) receiving a massage, which completely baffled him (Daniel I mean, not mao) so I shy away from the acronym for a while.)

That’s pretty funny I think I remember that. I always have to say it out loud as I’m typing it, Rolling-On-the-Floor-Laughing-My-Ass-Off. (<Thank Goodness for the new icons )

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

Julie Brown is always good for a laugh, Zerbie, but I don't think I get exactly why you picked it, Emproph. I am a little slow on the analogies sometimes. Could you assist? Loved the silliness of the video, tho.

She’s a riot! One of my all time favorites, I think that’s some of her best work.

It wasn’t supposed to apply, but by the time I gave up looking for something inspiring to flavor what I was going to post to show Zerbie I was hoping with her (I was only going to write a few lines), I figured I may as well just be zany and use the story of coming up empty handed to show my support.

It was just my way of goofily saying: I refuse to let this searching for an inspiring video to be in vain, you’re going to get a video whether it has anything to do with the subject matter or not!

-There was no reason, that was the reason. It was just meant to cap off the inanity of the post.

[tdogg]

Originally Posted by Zerbie

Yayyyyy, us
Yaaaayyyyy, T!!!!

Yaaaayyyyy Z!!!

So, you have to keep us posted on what you find out. Likewise here. We have an MCC church but not sure what activities there are. I'm also planning on checking out the Pride Day activities next year. The marches here are fairly mild and although I hear it is somewhat commercial, that's okay with me, I'll just be glad to be a part. The thing is, if people get active then they may end up with a say in how the whole thing is managed!