Some things I would like to talk to you about in this
month’s column is the need for volunteers for this organization. We have a core
group of a few people who show up at just about every meeting, event and social
activity and I am very grateful for them. I understand that many of us are
attending college and holding down full time jobs as well as raising children.
I do not want much, I do not ask for a lot. However, if you could find it in
your schedule even one hour a week, or even a month to volunteer for something
with The Alliance it would make such a huge difference in our efforts for this
area.
We are working on so many things right now and sometimes
having the same people working on everything can burn people out. We lose
people this way, not their desires or their membership, but definitely their
participation because they’re burnt out. This makes me very sad and I am not
sure how to fix things. I encourage everyone who is considering donating time
to this organization to look at your life very carefully. Look into your
activities, your personal and professional life and make sure you have the
energy to give before you sign up for too many things.
Right now we have over 170 “members” on the facebook page
and 58 members on the meetup page, yet we have maybe about 15 people who are
always there, or giving some time to the cause.
We are in a fight for our equality. We are fighting for the
rights of same gender couples to get married. We are fighting to keep Amendment
One out of the constitution. We are fighting for equal housing and employment,
adoption and the right to hold our partners hands in public if we want without
being hassled. We are fighting for the right to be protected regardless of our
sexual orientation or our gender identity.
I met a woman on facebook today who wrote a very interesting
piece. She gave me permission to publish it in the newsletter. When I read it,
I was ashamed of myself. I am the President of The Alliance a GLB and T
organization partnering with our straight allies for equality. Yet, how many
things have I done for my transgender brothers and sisters? Nothing, even
though I have plans to, I have yet to do them. Well this piece made me wake up.
I hope my column wakes people up as well.
In order for us to stand and fight we must stand together.
Not in small groups around town. Not in clichés in the gay men’s community. Not
in femme or butch groups of the lesbian community. Not in “oh well they are
BI-sexual” communities. Not in transgender communities. We are The Alliance. We
must stand all together and fight for all of our rights. This is the land of
the free and the brave!?
I am brave, now give me Freedom!
