Site Map | Links | About Us | Contact Us
|
|
Site Map | Links | About Us | Contact Us |
|
|
 |
|
 |
||
|
|
|
OutFront Minnesota E-news Friday, February 4th, 2005 Contents 1. Legislative Update… facing an uphill battle.2. TPT Takes a Principled Stand… station will air "Postcards from Buster."3. Federhart to Leave OutFront Minnesota… OFM says goodbye to one of its finest.4. February Member Event… the latest installment of our justFair Forums.5. Join OutFront Minnesota at The Wild Party… join us at this Jazz Age tale of low life and high society!6. What we’re up against… an overview of the 2005 legislative session for you to download.7. Inside OutFront… students “outed” by teachers?Legislative Update:Uphill Battle at the LegislatureAccording to OutFront Minnesota’s lobbyist, C. Scott Cooper, stopping the anti-marriage amendment “is an uphill battle this year and potentially next year as well. We have a much tougher fight than we did last year. Many of our allies at the Capitol are telling us that the anti-marriage bill will pass and appear on the ballots in November of 2006.” When asked what the fair-minded people of Minnesota can do to stop the efforts to write discrimination into our state’s Constitution, he said, “People who support GLBT equality are going to have to be very active, but the one tangible thing they can do today is plan to take the day off to attend this year’s lobby day. Last year, legislators were moved by the thousands of people at the rally and by the stories told to them in their meetings with constituents. This year we need an even bigger showing. We need to keep our momentum going. We need to keep the proposed constitutional amendment from passing and work positively toward passing some truly pro-family legislation.” Participating in justFair Lobby Day may be the most important thing you can do this year to speak out on behalf of fairness for GLBT people. As of today, there are only 100 people pre-registered for justFair Lobby Day. Plan to take the day off now and sign up to take a stand for fairness. We need your help in making this day truly successful. View talking points to assist you in asking your friends and family to join you at justFair Lobby Day. Register today and help OFM’s Public Policy Director sleep at night.TPT Takes a Principled Stand - Postcards from Buster UpdateBy now – most of you have heard about the controversy revved up by the new Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings about the children’s television show "Postcards from Buster." In the episode “Sugartime,” Buster (an animated rabbit) visits a farm in rural Vermont with some real life kids to see how maple syrup is made and how cows are milked, among other things. The children he tags along with have same-sex (lesbian) parents. The Secretary of Education thought this was an inappropriate episode because it depicts a “lesbian lifestyle.” She suggested that PBS pull the plug on the episode or risk losing federal funding. PBS pulled the episode. Just this week we learned that our own PBS affiliate – TPT – has decided to air the episode. In their statement released on Tuesday they said, “After reviewing the episode, Twin Cities Public Television believes it is consistent with our mission and appropriate to broadcast.” Click here to read the full statement. TPT will be barraged by letters from extremists who are angry that this episode is airing. Please contact TPT at viewerservices@tpt.org to let them know how much you appreciate their decision and how this decision affects you and your family. We ought to be proud of our folks at TPT for taking a principled stand.Federhart to Leave OutFront Minnesota
After more than twelve years at OutFront Minnesota, Doug Federhart has announced his plans to leave the organization in mid-February.
Doug was originally brought in as Program Manager for the Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council (now OutFront Minnesota), in August of 1992. His position continued to evolve over the years, and he has most recently been one of the Senior Directors, along with colleagues Scott Fearing and Monica Meyer.
“The decision to leave has been brewing for a while,” says Federhart, who is moving on to honor the call to a ministry in spiritual development. He holds a master of divinity degree from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, and is associated with the United Church of Christ.
“It has been a privilege to work all these years with an organization that is of such vital service to the GLBT and allied communities. I don’t know anywhere else I could have worked that would allow me to bring my passion for working for justice, and my own very out, queer identity, together in the way I’ve been able to do it here. I thank both OutFront Minnesota, and the community, for this opportunity.”
“Doug has been my most trusted colleague for over 12 years now. I will miss him very much,” said Ann DeGroot, Executive Director. “Doug has given a great deal to OutFront Minnesota in his time here. He understands and embodies our vision and mission. He has brought to OutFront Minnesota a commitment to be of hospitable service to the community, an ability to bring diverse groups into the work of OutFront Minnesota and the willingness to work across communities for the betterment of all. In true Doug form, he has given much more than he has received.”
A farewell party is being planned for later this winter. Federhart will remain in the Twin Cities.
As a benefit of membership, OutFront Minnesota members are invited to attend various member events for free or at a discounted rate. Our records indicate that you are not currently a member of OutFront, but please join us as a special guest for the first member event of 2005, the first of a series of justFair Forums.
Same-Sex Marriage and Male/Female Stereotypes: Unpacking Biblical and Ancient Greek Roots of DiscriminationWednesday, February 23, 20057:00-9:00 PMKlas Center Ballroom, Hamline UniversityRegistration: Free, but please RSVP.Many opponents to same-sex marriage rely on Christian scripture. During this justFair Forum, Dr. David Fredrickson, Professor of the New Testament at the Luther Seminary, will examine biblical roots that lead some Christians to conclude that gay marriage is a theological impossibility.Want to become a member of OutFront Minnesota? Join today!Join OutFront Minnesota at The Wild Party! Based on the classic poem by Joseph March, The Wild Party is a thrilling Jazz Age tale brought to life. A daring peek into an all-night soiree, it is filled with low life and high society, dazzling entertainers, shady gangsters, and beautiful playboys. Please join us on March 13 for a special performance to benefit OutFront Minnesota. Don't miss out-order your tickets now! Love the theater, and want to help OutFront? Become a row captain and help sell tickets. Email lmccarty@outfront.org for more information.
In our most recent mailing, we included a 2005 Legislative Session overview, outlining what we’re up against, what we’ll do, and what we believe. Didn’t get the mailing? You can still check out the piece. Both the 2005 Legislative Session overview and the Anti-Marriage Amendment Talking Points are available as a downloadable PDF on our website. While you’re there, make a donation to OutFront Minnesota. Your support is crucial to the success of the movement! Didn't receive the mailing? Make sure we have your correct address! Email your info to inquiries@outfront.org.inside OutFront…an insider’s view of the day-to-day work of OutFront Minnesota… OutFront Minnesota’s Legal Program exists to help individuals find legal assistance in their communities, provide education to community members and attorneys serving the community, support our Public Policy and other programs, and to identify opportunities to strengthen Minnesota human rights laws. Recently, the Legal Program was contacted on behalf of a young student in a suburban school district, who had apparently “come out” in the context of a written school assignment. When the student’s teacher and counselor learned of this, and concluded that the student’s parents did not know about the youth’s presumed sexual orientation, the student reported being advised by the counselor that the student would have to come out to their parents or the school staff would do it themselves. Relying on federal caselaw in an analogous case, Legal Program staff swiftly intervened, contacting the school’s principal and explaining the nature of the situation and the potential legal issues involved. The principal agreed that there was a problem, and addressed it directly with the staff members. As a result, the student reported that the perceived threat of being “outed” was withdrawn, and that students were discussing forming a “Gay-Straight Alliance” group in their school.
Looking for Something to Do? Check it out each week for more events! If you received this edition of OutFront
Minnesota E-News as a forwarded message and would like to be added to
our e-mail list,
sign-up
here! Support the work of Minnesota's
largest GLBT political advocacy and direct service organization.
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2007 OutFront Minnesota. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Fair Use. |