On Sunday, the Razorback football team lost an amazing player, Garret Uekman.  Within hours people had posted pictures, quotes, and ribbons memorializing this outstanding athlete.  People from across the State of Arkansas and even from outside of the state were quickly establishing a memorial.  Monday night there was a vigil held for him that was attended by hundreds of people from the University of Arkansas campus.  It included students, staff, faculty, and administrators. While his family and close friends mourn the loss of such a young life it made me ask, “Where was the ribbon for Cassidy Vickers?”  Hardly anyone from the Community could answer that because almost all of them didn’t have a clue who she was.  Now before I go into this article it is not about sports nor is it about the loss of an athlete who sportscasters said could have made it to the NFL.  This is about a Community, our gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender Community and the absence of our collective mourning.

On Monday night, hundreds of people gathered together for the loss Garret.  On Sunday, 21 people from around NWA gathered together at the NWA Center for Equality to mourn the loss of 23 people who were murdered this year.  These 23 innocent human beings were transgendered.  One of these victims was Marcal Tye, of Forrest City, who was shot and then dragged behind a car.  This happened March 8th of this year.  I remember the loss of this life.  I remember seeing the news stories.  What is another horrifying aspect about this past weekend?  Three days before Transgender Day of Remembrance, which was yesterday, the 20th, in Hollywood, Cassidy Vickers was shot and killed.   Not one post did I see from anyone of the Community speak out against the loss of this life.  Her memory was memorialized at the Transgender Remembrance for which we lit a candle in honor of her.  To one individual who stated to me, “Why mourn those who dress like that to piss people off?”  I was speechless.  Yet, this is somewhat close, not really though, of what I’m trying to address.

It is also the wider Community that seems to not acknowledge the atrocities that befall our brothers and sisters.  A recent example is the unbelievable act of pure hatred that lead 3 men to nearly kill Burke Burnett in Texas.  It was a miracle that he survived.  Luckily his friends jumped in to stop the gay bashing and rushed him to the hospital.  Even though he did not die, he came close.  It was not because he was being obscene.  It was not because of him mouthing off to anyone.  It was not because he wanted to fight.  It *was* because he was one of us, gay.   People read the details of the attack and might have posted it on their Facebook wall or Tweeted it but that was it.

When I got home from work Monday afternoon I was browsing the latest Community news.  I was relieved to finally see that Lawrence King‘s killer has finally been handed a sentence of 21 years in prison.  Though I was happy to see this news, I was saddened that I came across it from CNN.  Where are those people whom I know that speak of equality, that seek to be able to live their lives with the full rights as citizens of this Nation, that “talk” about how they love who they are; be it gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer yet fall silent when darkness falls upon us?

Almost all of my “friends” on Facebook do not speak out against the hatred that is captured by the news that talks about the violence which is done to our Community.  Hardly anyone demands that we speak out against such ignorant violence that befalls us.  We are great to rejoice the amazing strides that are being done for full equality.  We fail when we ignore the tragic loss of life from our Community.

What mentality is it that allows some people to not take an interest, or better yet take a stand, when such horrendous acts of extremism are done to the Community?  Does the Community think, “That happened in that city, not ours” or “This could never happen to me” or finally, “Bad things happen and there’s no point in speaking out against it.”  Now let me tell you, these are not things that I assume people conjure up when such atrocities happen, these are quotes from people I’ve heard say.  These are individuals from the Community right here in Northwest Arkansas.

In a recent book I just finished reading,  Night, by Elie Wiesel, he talks about his experience before first being sent into the ghetto and then into concentration camps.  He talks about the rumors that people were circulating about what really happened at the concentration  death camps and how the community he lived in didn’t believe them.  They were so “out there” that no one could believe such inhumane acts could be done to an entire group of people.  It wasn’t until they saw what was happening that the “unbelievable” became a reality.  Today, there is Yad Vashem, “A place and a name,” in Israel where the memories of the lives taken will be remembered forever.

Is that what it will take for the Community to wake up and realize what is happening around us?  Is that what it will take for the Community to finally rally together and say, “No more! We will remember!”  But who knows.  All I know is that a  hundred of my friends, gay and ally, dedicated their Facebooks and Tweets to one individual but not one dedicated a picture, a quote, or a ribbon to Cassidy Vickers.

“Those who kept silent yesterday will remain silent tomorrow.” — Elie Wiesel

With Pride & Equality,

-Jason Rogers

The opinions expressed by the Contributor and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributor.

For so long since I’ve been “out” I have always known about HIV/AIDS. Of course, there’s a huge difference of “knowing” about HIV/AIDS to actually “understanding” what HIV/AIDS is.  Perhaps it was due to that I thought HIV is something I never have to deal with.  I didn’t really know of anyone who was actually Positive so it seemed as something I didn’t have to worry about.

It wasn’t until a close friend of mine was tested positive.  Here was the first time that someone I knew, who is like a brother to me, has HIV.  At that point I knew that I had to understand.I started reading up on HIV information.  I checked out HIV websites learning about medication, the history of the virus, statistics, and people’s personal stories.  It was a turning point for me.  Of course, this wouldn’t be the last person so far in my life who has helped me understand what it is like living with HIV.

About a year ago I met someone who has deeply impacted my life, and understanding, of what it is like living with HIV.  His name is Chris Dresing.  What he helped me understand is that when you know someone and love them, you won’t see the virus.  You will only see the person.  He has, and continues to be, an inspiration as someone living with HIV and makes his life worth something and doesn’t make his life only about the virus but what he aspires to be.  This is his story.

I post a lot of various articles and stories about the importance of HIV testing and treatment..  The fact that catching it early on can not only prevent you from inadvertently passing it to someone else but can also save your life..  Why do I feel so passionate about this? What makes me think so importantly of education regarding this matter?  Well, here’s my story..

Having had 2 relatives pass away from HIV related complications, the subject has always been important to me..  It’s always been a known risk to any sexual situation, whether it’s risky or not, whether you’re straight or gay (or somewhere in between), black/white or somewhere else in the spectrum, male or female..  It can affect ANYONE and it doesn’t discriminate..

In February of 2009, my life came to a brief pause when I went to get one of my regular HIV test done.. Lucky for me, my friend Brad was someone who performed HIV tests with his job so there was always a safe place for me to go get this done..  When I walked in, it was just like the many other times I had done this test before..  There wasn’t much of a concern (I had just gotten out of a relationship a few months prior) but it was still what I always did on a regular basis..  This was the last HIV I will have ever taken because that test came back Positive..

As with anyone who gets a positive test result, your mind isn’t quite sure what it should be thinking, you’re not really sure what it is that you should be doing..  All you can think about is “I’m HIV Positive..”  Again, luckily for me, Brad was there to guide me through this process and be the one to think clearly for me and what I need to be doing..  He gave me the necessary information and helped me along..

Regardless of how familiar you are with HIV and its effects, it’s still a whole new ball game when it hits home and affects you personally..  Crazy questions run through your mind.. Am I going to die soon?  What will my life be like?  Will anyone ever love me because I have this disease?  What will other people think of me because of this? Will people shun me away now?

A quick HIV lesson for those of you out there unfamiliar with the situation..  Two things you get tested for once you test positive and continually test during your life is your T-Cell (CD4) levels, which is an indication of the strength of your immune system, and your Viral Load (the amount of virus found in your blood)..  The first levels test I had done was a CD4 count of 511 and a viral load of about 38,000..  When I heard that number of 38,000, I panicked..  I began scouring the internet for information on viral loads and the like..  I soon realized that that number wasn’t extremely high like it sounds..  The doctors didn’t suggest medicating right away, that topic is still up for debate in the medical community..  We decided that it’d be best to just keep testing every 4 months and take it in stride and we can make that decision later..

A few months later, I finally had the awful pain in my back diagnosed..  It was Ankylosing Spondylitis..  Great, I have a diagnosis.. Now, how do we treat it and make my chronic spinal pain go away?!  Well, that’s the tricky part..  The medications that are used to treat this condition are immunosuppressant..  Yup, in order for the pain to go away, I’m going to take medication that reduces my immune system..  GREAT!!  After several doctor visits and conversations, we had decided that I’d move forward with treatment for my back condition as long as I started to medicate for the HIV..  It was a bit of a tricky decision since all the information the drug companies had to offer was simply “No.. Don’t take this medication if you’re HIV Positive..” But I needed my quality of life..  So I bit the bullet and started taking HIV meds to make sure they would work before I could start taking my injections for my back..

Luckily, the first medication I was prescribed to treat the HIV was a success..  My CD4 count rose to nearly 1,000 and my viral load went undetectable in my blood..  YAY!!  Now, it was time to cross our fingers and start taking my injections..  After months of taking both medications, my CD4 count still stayed very high (high 800’s last test about a month ago) and Viral Load still stayed undetectable..  The immunosuppressant aspect of my injections seemed to have no affect on the HIV progression and my health is amazing right now (at least physical! LoL).. Without knowing that I was HIV Positive, it would never be obvious..  I’m rarely sick and my immune system is doing amazing..

What was the point in telling you all of this medical back-story?  The point is this..  With early detection of the contraction of HIV, you can keep yourself monitored and healthy..  The faster you learn of your infection, the quicker you can take medications to reduce the progression..  Someone in their 20’s who is diagnosed HIV positive and starts take the medication for it in early stages has an average life expectancy of about 40+ additional years..  That’s quite a way we’ve come since the 80’s and 90’s when people died after just a few years..

If you’ve read this far, you can see why I’m such a huge advocate for testing and treatment..  As I like to say at the end of the postings I make on this nature, Get your ass tested!!  Not only to save your life, but that of others..  Today’s medical advances have downgraded HIV infection from a death sentence to that of a chronic condition..  If you take care of yourself in every day life and monitor/treat the condition, you can live a VERY long life ahead of you..  Yes, it may be scary in the beginning and you may think your life will never be the same..  Well, in a way, you’re correct..  Mine hasn’t been the same since..  I’ve learned that you can’t take things for granted, there’s a good side to every situation..  It makes you learn to appreciate things in a whole different way and be thankful that the medical advances have been made.. And hopefully, you can be there for others like I am, to help guide them along and educate others to reduce the chances of them contracting HIV.. And if they have already contacted HIV, be there to make sure they realize they can be strong and get through it..  It’s not the end of the world..

Here in NWA we are lucky to have a place where there is free confidential testing, NWA H.O.P.E., which is a program run by the NWA Center for Equality.  Getting tested is the only way of knowing if you are negative or positive.  You can’t guess or assume it.  As Chris points out in his story that HIV is no longer a death sentence.  The medical community has come so far in providing amazing treatment that people live normal lives.

The more people talk about their experience, their lives, and their triumphs overcoming this disease the less we will come to see HIV as something to be feared.

Here are some great websites about HIV/AIDS: POZ , The Body , Avert , CDC

“I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope that I could live my life openly as who I am.”

Dustin Lance Black is a screenwriter, director and producer. In 2009, he received an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for “Milk,” about openly gay San Francisco politician Harvey Milk. 

Black grew up in a devout Mormon household in San Antonio, Texas. After his mother remarried, he moved to Salinas, California. As a young boy, Black knew he was gay. He believed he would be “hurt and brought down” because of it and that he was going to hell. He says his “acute awareness” of his sexual orientation made him gloomy and sometimes suicidal.

In high school he fostered a love of the dramatic arts and began working on theatrical productions. He enrolled at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and graduated with honors. In 2000, he wrote and directed two gay-themed films, “The Journey of Jared Price” and “Something Close to Heaven.” Black was the only Mormon writer for the HBO series about polygamy, “Big Love,” for which he received two Writers Guild of America Awards.

Captivated by the story of Harvey Milk, Black researched Milk’s life for three years, culminating in a screenplay. Academy Award-nominated director Gus Van Sant signed on with the project. In 2009, “Milk” received eight Academy Award nominations and won two. Black received an Oscar for his screenplay and Sean Penn won for best actor.

Black’s recent works include the screenplay for “Pedro,” profiling AIDS activist and MTV personality Pedro Zamora. He is the screenwriter for “J. Edgar,” a film about FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

In 2009, Black topped The Advocate’s list of the “Forty under 40” most influential openly gay people. He is an outspoken LGBT activist, serving on the boards of The Trevor Project and the American Foundation for Equal Rights. Black frequently speaks about gay rights to college students across the country.

He resides in Los Angeles

On Saturday June 4th, Center members met to review the past year and to elect 3 Center members to join the Board of Directors. Congratulations to re-elected Chris Guin and to newly elected Jason Rogers and Jeremy Whisenhunt.

At the June Board meeting, the new Board organized themselves and selected Board members to serve as officers. The entire Board slate is listed.

Kyle Smith, President
James K Rector, Vice-President
Chris Guinn, Secretary
Jeremy Whisenhunt, Treasurer
VACANT, Board Member for Communications & Public Relations
Jordan Garcia, Board Member for Development
Jason Rogers, Board Member for Advocacy & Awareness
Art Beeghly, Board Member for Principle Events
VACANT, Board Member for Youth Services
Jeff Patrick, Board Member for Health & Outreach Services
VACANT, Board Member for Community Programs & Services
(Contact information on the Center’s website) 

The Center would like to thank the following people for their help with our Annual Meeting and Election:
The NWACC GSA, for helping us secure and organize the space for our meeting.
Toby Jenkins, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Equality, for bringing his wisdom and funny stories of the development of a world-class LGBT center in Tulsa, OK.
Eventures Party Rentals, for donated supplies.

Thanks again to all members who served on the Board during the past year.  Those finishing their terms next summer and those who have graduated to other community opportunities are much appreciated for their passion, dedication, and hard work.

The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.

Last night, November 20th, the LGBTQ and allied community of Northwest Arkansas recognized  the 12th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance with an event at the NWA Center for Equality.  Thank you to the 20 people who attended the vigil and potluck to memorialize the 30 people (at minimum) who had been murdered in the past year due to their gender identify or presentation. The Center looks to a day when every person can be free to be themselves without fear of harassment or discrimination…and certainly without fear of violence or death.

Bringing awareness to the mistreatment that is occurring is one way we can awaken people to the injustice in the world. By being aware and educated  people will open their hearts to all of humanity without judgement.  Center President Raymond Sweet put it  like this: “To me love and honesty should always reign supreme.”  Transgender Day of Remembrance has been recognized globally for the past 11 years.  We hope next year the list of those murdered due to gender expression and identity is much shorter.

A list of 30 of our dead from across the globe.

Here are just a few of them:

Ashley Santiago Ocasio
Location: Corozal, Puerto Rico
Cause of Death: Stabbed to death
Date of Death: April 19, 2010
Ashley was 31 years old.
Source:http://www.edgeftlauderdale.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=104728

Victoria Carmen White
Location Maplewood, New Jersey

Cause of Death shot
Date of Death September 12, 2010
Victoria was 28 years old.
Source:http://www.baristanet.com/2010/09/maplewood-murder-victim-transgender-female/
http://www.news12.com/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=261210&position=1&news_type=news

Stacey Lee aka Stacey Blahnik
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cause of Death unreported by police
Date of Death October 11, 2010
Stacey was 31 years old
Source:http://m.philly.com/phillycom/db_41090/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=rsn84XoX&src=cat

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20101013_Body_of_transsexual_found_in_Point_Breeze.html

The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.

Recently CenterLink (a national association of LGTBQ centers) published their 2010 LGBT Community Center Survey Report.  This was the first year that the NWA Center for Equality has participated in the survey and we are glad to share the results.  The entire document is available for download (5.3 MB) and their press release is also online.  There is a wealth of data on what community centers across the nation are doing.

The report helps us look at how we compare to other centers, especially ones close to our own size.  The study separated out “large” centers from “small” centers that have budgets of less than $100,000.  NWA Center for Equality is very much a “small” center by that definition.  In fact, 30% of ALL the centers that reported had budgets of less than $50,000.  That is where the Center fits in as well.

Two-thirds (69%) of small centers don’t have ANY staff which shouldn’t come as surprise.  Even among small centers, NWA Center for Equality ranks very low on the size of our space.  The average size for a  small center was 2,281 square feet, far passing what we have at our 179 N. Church Ave location.  Just these few statistics show us something that many of already know: the Center, along with many small centers across the nation, are working on shoestrings budgets with highly dedicated volunteers to serve the LGBTQ community and achieve equality.

Like we have said before, we are small, but MIGHTY!

“In some communities, a center might be the only place where an LGBT person feels safe and accepted – or where that person can find essential legal or health care services.  This report reminds us that, in the current economic environment, these centers need our support more than ever.”

 

About CenterLink:

CenterLink exists to support the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and to build a unified center movement. For more information, visit www.lgbtcenters.org

About MAP:

Founded in 2006, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent intellectual resource for the LGBT movement that provides research, insight, and strategic analysis to help speed equality for LGBT people. For more information, visitwww.lgbtmap.org.

 

The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.

The Center’s First Ever Bachelor/ Bachelorette Auction
At the Equality Ball on September 18th, 7-10pm, Starr Theater at WAC, Fayetteville
Tickets available online or at the door ($50/$70)

Win an Ice Cream date with one of the eligible candidates!

Gayathiri Pathmanapan recently sat down with our Bachelor and Bachelorettes to interview them and shed some light on the deep thoughts of our candidates for auction.

And now for the Bachelor and Bachelorettes…

Kyle Smith

My interview with the esteemed Kyle Smith:

Describe yourself (as described by Gayathiri, as he was too shy and refused to answer.)
Kyle is super smart, super funny, a handy man that also happens to be hot. In other words a school teacher by day and hottie by night!

What is your favorite cartoon?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

If you could have one super power what would it be?
Telekinesis

If you were stranded on an Island who are the 3 famous people (Dead or Alive) you would want with you?
Galileo (to enjoy the stars at night), Jake Gyllenhaal (a star to enjoy during the day), and Bob Denver (to make sure I never have to leave)

If you were taking over the world what Singer and what Action character would you want with you?
Lance Bass (an out boy-bander from my teens) & Neo (a savior who can bend the Matrix to his will)

Turn Ons?
The right amount of unabashed nerdiness, Good sense of humor, and a great ass!

Turn Offs?
Smoking, Bad teeth, and Lack of Intergalactic Knowledge

What is your Zodiac sign?
Leo

Laura Cotton

My interview with the outgoing Laura Cotton:

Describe yourself
I’m a dry humored, kickball playing, librarian wannnabe masquerading as a marketing project manager. Lurking somewhere deep inside is a 1950’s housewife

If you were stranded on an Island who are the 3 famous people (Dead or Alive) you would want with you?
Terry Jones. Great conversation, plus he’ll make me pee my pants laughing.
Erlend Oye – music is essential on an island
Hillary Clinton – I would be a horrible island ruler

If you could have one super power what would it be?
Levitation. Buh-bye commutes

Your favorite childhood cartoon?
Rocko’s Modern Life – how that was green lighted for a children’s show is beyond me

If you were taking over the world what Singer and what Action character would you want with you?
In my quest for global domination, Serge Gainsbourg and Zula would be essential to my success. Serge would bring the unlikely sex appeal, and Zula would bring the muscle

Turn Ons
Wit, humor, androgyny

Turn Offs
Smoking, flakiness, extreme views (too liberal/too conservative)

Your Zodiac sign
Scorpio

James Rector

My Interview with the Multi- talented James Rector

Describe yourself

I am an Oklahoma Native whose love for the Razorbacks has turned me into an Arkansan at heart. I can be best described as a free thinker, event planner, dreamer, music lover, cocktail connoisseur, great friend, and so much more!

If you were stranded on an Island who are the 3 famous people (Dead or Alive) you would want with you?
Jamie Cullum (so he could sing me to sleep) Kathy Griffin (so I would be entertained) and Macgyver (so I could get the hell off the island!)

If you could have one super power what would it be?
The ability to make people GO TO SLEEP when they annoy me.

Your favorite cartoon?
Scooby Doo

If you were taking over the world what Singer and what Action character would you want with you?
Does Oprah count as an Action character?…no…oh…then Betty White.

Turn Ons?
The ability to make me laugh, Confidence, A great smile with a nice Ass to go with it!! 
Turn Offs?
Know-it-all cockiness, Body Oder, Stupidity

What is your Zodiac sign?
Aries

Chris Hanner

My interview with the Adonis Chris Hanner:

Describe yourself
Tall, with a real job and dances like the rhythmless white boy I am. I love kids, travelling and I still have most of my own teeth.

If you were stranded on an Island who are the 3 famous people (Dead or Alive) you would want with you?
Paula Deen to cook for me, Jay Brannan to sing me to sleep at night, and Richard Simmons so I can make a nest out of his hair

If you could have one super power what would it be?
Jedi mind tricks

Your favorite childhood cartoon?
Transformers, He-Man and Rainbow Bright

If you were taking over the world what Singer and what Action character would you want with you?
Justin Beiber who else?! Oh and my action character would be Steven Segal…something tells me he needs something to do these days.

Turn Ons
Nice Smile, great sense of humor and a cute butt!

Turn Offs
Flakes, fakes and pineapple upside down cakes!

Your Zodiac sign
Capricorn

The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.

BUY YOUR TICKET

Date: Saturday, September 18^th 2010
Location: Walton Arts Center Starr Theater
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Dress Trendy

Join the NWA Center for Equality for an evening of Heavy hors d’eouvres, Wine, Beer, Non-Alcoholic Beverages,and Music by a special guest DJ, a Silent Auction, and our First Ever Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction, with Guest Speaker Representative Kathy Webb (the first out lawmaker in Arkansas!), and Presentation of Community Awards. All proceeds will help benefit programming for the coming year! Enjoy this evening with friends for an all inclusive ticket price of $50.

New for 2010 purchase a Red Carnation Corsage for $20 to help kick off the Center’s HIV testing. Each Carnation will help supply the Center with a valuable HIV Test Kit to help prevent the spread of HIV in NWA!

All Inclusive Ticket Price $50

All Inclusive Ticket plus Red Carnation to Support HIV Testing $70

The Center has received numerous requests for the text of the speech given by Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan at the recent NWA Pride Parade rally.  We called the city to get a copy of it.  The speech is actually the text of the proclamation secured by NWA Pride to commemorate “Pride Week.”  The Center also secured a proclamation declaring June “LGBT Pride Month” to coincide with our All OUT June celebrations.

Of particular note is Mayor Jordan’s adept use of symbolic language in his proclamation. He referenced the generally acknowledged beginning of the LGBT rights movement by saying “Today we break down the stone walls of discrimination that are barriers to our ability to secure a fully-cohesive community.” His speech not only referenced the culturally significant Stonewall Riots, but it also clearly described how equality is the birthright of all Americans.

Thanks Mayor Jordan!

WHEREAS:  We march today, and we take a stand today to stand up, to stand proud and to stand together; and

WHEREAS: Pride Week celebration contribute much toward reducing misunderstandings, discrimination, isolation and barriers faced by individuals in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community; and

WHEREAS: The city of Fayetteville supports efforts to ensure that everyone has the right to live in conditions of dignity, respect and peace; and

WHEREAS: We all are created equal and it has been long- proclaimed that we are equal as Americans and that everyone deserves the same rights; privileges and opportunities- that is our birthright and that was the promise that demands fulfillment, and

WHEREAS: There is a necessity for individuals to no longer be referred to merely as an act, as a category, or as a secondary citizen instead of being referred to and treated as an equal person deserving of equal rights, and

WHEREAS: Today we break down the stone walls of discrimination that are barriers to our ability to secure a fully- cohesive community; and

WHEREAS: The use of the social weapon of ostracism wielded merely because someone is exercising legal rights of freedom, liberty, and equality is no longer an accepted option; and

WHEREAS: Presidents, legislative representatives, justices and judges, Mayors, Governors, and the people have long praised the American value of equality, and with that affirmation, we should assure that we do not desire to limit the equality of some- where there is unequal treatment there is no equality; and

NOW THEREFORE, I Lioneld Jordan Mayor of the city of Fayetteville, Arkansas do hereby proclaim June 21-27, 2010 as   “PRIDE WEEK”

In Fayetteville, Arkansas and all citizens to join me

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas to be affixed on the 26^th day of June 2010.

Attest:               ____________________________________ Mayor

__________________________  City Clerk

June 27th, 2009, was a great day for the LGBTQ population of Fayetteville. We had our parade, we had our picnic; we had had a great week of pride events. And then we had an official proclamation from the Mayor’s office that June 27th, 2009, was LGBT Pride Day in the city of Fayetteville. I recapped that moment in a blog post on the Fayetteville Flyer:

Don Marr, our city’s openly-gay chief of staff, issued an official proclamation of behalf of the Mayor (I saw the certificate; the signature was real) declaring Saturday, June 27th, as LGBT Pride day for the city of Fayetteville. I whooped, I hollered, I cried a bit. I was elated.

After the proclamation, Anthony Clark, the President of the NWA Center for Equality, introduced me to one of the leaders of Oklahomans for Equality, as I had a small part in securing the proclamation. The man, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, told me how incredible it was that we were able to get an official proclamation from a sitting mayor in this part of the country. He said that they have been trying in Oklahoma for twelve years, that they have had no breakthrough in Tulsa, and that the Mayor of Oklahoma City refuses to even acknowledge their organization’s request.

That hit home for me in a way that the proclamation didn’t. I knew that we were a bit different here in Fayetteville. I didn’t realize just how lucky we were, though.

It was a pretty great moment for me; when Act 1 passed in 2008 I felt shunned by my homeland. But when that proclamation was issued, it was like the city that raised me said “don’t listen to them—we want you here.”

I’m proud to announce that we have not only repeated that success; we have multiplied it. In conjunction with President Obama’s declaration of a Nationwide month of Pride, Mayor Jordan has declared an equal, city-wide, month of Pride.

Go out and celebrate. It’s your month.

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