Comments on: Alabama Day of Equality: staying in touch with Red State gay America http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/ Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:41:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: CReed http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450951 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:21:37 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450951 Hey Ya'll, It's great to read about progress in Bama! I left after college in B'ham to see what was outside the South, and I was back earlier this year. I saw progress in many ways, which can be hard to see when you're in the midst of it! So, keep the faith (and the hard work)...! Those of you who are activists in Alabama (and everybody else), please keep your eyes open for the documentary "Preacher's Sons", coming in '08. It's about a gay minister (!), his partner of 25+ years, and the 5 children they adopted from the California foster system. We think it'll open some eyes (and hearts) around the country. In the meantime, check out the website or the YouTube trailers! Hey Ya’ll,

It’s great to read about progress in Bama! I left after college in B’ham to see what was outside the South, and I was back earlier this year. I saw progress in many ways, which can be hard to see when you’re in the midst of it! So, keep the faith (and the hard work)…!

Those of you who are activists in Alabama (and everybody else), please keep your eyes open for the documentary “Preacher’s Sons”, coming in ‘08. It’s about a gay minister (!), his partner of 25+ years, and the 5 children they adopted from the California foster system. We think it’ll open some eyes (and hearts) around the country.

In the meantime, check out the website or the YouTube trailers!

]]> by: Louise, Bringer of Party Platters and Heinekens http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450807 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:55:48 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450807 http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=154375&zoneid=500 Let me apologize for my naive stupidity in earlier comment... this is a problem EVERYWHERE. Off to splutter... http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=154375&zoneid=500

Let me apologize for my naive stupidity in earlier comment… this is a problem EVERYWHERE. Off to splutter…

]]> by: Indy http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450692 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:08:33 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450692 as someone who lives about 15 min. from Alabama, hell yeah. as someone who lives about 15 min. from Alabama, hell yeah.

]]> by: CBrachyrhynchos http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450578 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:32:27 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450578 The "write off" idea really pisses me off. I lost one friend to the drug trade and nearly lost another to suicide. When people say that we should write-off small-city and rural queer activism, they are saying that queers who live in the wrong zip code are expendible. And for that matter, I reject the entire blue/red frame because it dooms quite a bit of activism as pointless before starting to engage in it. The “write off” idea really pisses me off. I lost one friend to the drug trade and nearly lost another to suicide. When people say that we should write-off small-city and rural queer activism, they are saying that queers who live in the wrong zip code are expendible. And for that matter, I reject the entire blue/red frame because it dooms quite a bit of activism as pointless before starting to engage in it.

]]> by: CBrachyrhynchos http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450572 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:19:32 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450572 The "write off" idea really pisses me off. I lost one friend to the drug trade and nearly lost another to suicide. When people say that we should write-off small-city and rural queer activism, they are saying that queers who live in the wrong zip code are expendible. And for that matter, I reject the entire blue/red frame because it dooms quite a bit of activism as pointless before starting to engage in it. The “write off” idea really pisses me off. I lost one friend to the drug trade and nearly lost another to suicide. When people say that we should write-off small-city and rural queer activism, they are saying that queers who live in the wrong zip code are expendible. And for that matter, I reject the entire blue/red frame because it dooms quite a bit of activism as pointless before starting to engage in it.

]]> by: Dana http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450566 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:01:10 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450566 And here I thought you lived in <i>South</i> Carolina; now I find out you share the same state with <a href="http://sistertoldjah.com" rel="nofollow">Sister Toldjah.</a> I'm surprised that y'all haven't asked her over for dinner. And here I thought you lived in South Carolina; now I find out you share the same state with Sister Toldjah. I’m surprised that y’all haven’t asked her over for dinner.

]]> by: ACG http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450556 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:32:19 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450556 <blockquote>We need more things like this in Alabama to open people’s eyes to what is going on in the world.</blockquote> I think there are actually more Alabamians than you think whose eyes are open to what's going on in the world. One of the most important side effects of events like this one, in my mind, is showing the eyes-open people how many other people around are like them. There are a lot of stickers around Birmingham proclaiming that we're a "blue dot in a very red state," and while it's great to be proud of that, it's also easy to get narcissitic, concentrate all the progressive efforts in one area and write off the rest of the state as lost. Events like Equality Alabama are an important reminder that there are actually people all over the state who support real equality and that those people deserve our attention and assistance. Similarly, as Pam and Kathy mentioned, it's a reminder to the party as a whole that the entire state isn't a write-off and that we deserve attention and assistance.

We need more things like this in Alabama to open people’s eyes to what is going on in the world.

I think there are actually more Alabamians than you think whose eyes are open to what’s going on in the world. One of the most important side effects of events like this one, in my mind, is showing the eyes-open people how many other people around are like them. There are a lot of stickers around Birmingham proclaiming that we’re a “blue dot in a very red state,” and while it’s great to be proud of that, it’s also easy to get narcissitic, concentrate all the progressive efforts in one area and write off the rest of the state as lost. Events like Equality Alabama are an important reminder that there are actually people all over the state who support real equality and that those people deserve our attention and assistance. Similarly, as Pam and Kathy mentioned, it’s a reminder to the party as a whole that the entire state isn’t a write-off and that we deserve attention and assistance.

]]> by: Intheoceanstate http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450547 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:48:24 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450547 As an Alabamian, thank you. I recently graduated from the University and four years down there really opens your eyes. There was a constant push by students and faculty alike to add sexual orientation to the discrimination policy but there hasn't been any movement towards that. We need more things like this in Alabama to open people's eyes to what is going on in the world. I am proud that people are taking steps towards equality and acceptance, moreover, they are celebrating difference. As an Alabamian, thank you. I recently graduated from the University and four years down there really opens your eyes. There was a constant push by students and faculty alike to add sexual orientation to the discrimination policy but there hasn’t been any movement towards that.

We need more things like this in Alabama to open people’s eyes to what is going on in the world. I am proud that people are taking steps towards equality and acceptance, moreover, they are celebrating difference.

]]> by: CBrachyrhynchos http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450538 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:15:30 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450538 Great post! Great post!

]]> by: Louise, Bringer of Party Platters and Heinekens http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450531 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:56:39 +0100 http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/09/16/alabama-day-of-equality-staying-in-touch-with-red-state-gay-america/#comment-450531 I agree wholeheartedly with Velvet Elvis' comments (GREAT nickname, BTW!!)- living up here near the Canadian border isolates me from alot of ugly every day reality within America. These ARE important stories. From Pam: ..."the problem isn’t just about fighting fundamentalists, it’s about battling inertia and ignorance among allies — as well as the same within our community — about the state of affairs in the struggle for equal rights." 100% agreement!!! About all I can do personally is continue to show my support openly, educate my children and myself, and work for the campaigns/vote for candidates who reflect my views. Because while these are not my personal battles, they ARE my battles because of my friendships and alliances. How can anyone think they have equal rights until ALL share that thought? Until ALL are equal, NONE are. Thank you, Pam and Kate!! I agree wholeheartedly with Velvet Elvis’ comments (GREAT nickname, BTW!!)- living up here near the Canadian border isolates me from alot of ugly every day reality within America. These ARE important stories.

From Pam: …”the problem isn’t just about fighting fundamentalists, it’s about battling inertia and ignorance among allies — as well as the same within our community — about the state of affairs in the struggle for equal rights.”

100% agreement!!! About all I can do personally is continue to show my support openly, educate my children and myself, and work for the campaigns/vote for candidates who reflect my views. Because while these are not my personal battles, they ARE my battles because of my friendships and alliances. How can anyone think they have equal rights until ALL share that thought?

Until ALL are equal, NONE are. Thank you, Pam and Kate!!

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