Become supportive

The Bryan/College Station Chapter of PFLAG — Parents, Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays — of which I am honored to be co-chair, promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through support, education and advocacy.

I feel a certain sense of pride for our members when they listen to visitors with open minds — no matter their own political leanings. More than a year ago, we approached both Bryan and College Station school boards to offer assistance in the education of teachers, counselors and staff on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. Board members listened with respect, but gave the impression that “gay issues” were not relevant.

This is despite stories we hear on a regular basis in our meetings. Let us look at a few facts from the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby’s Coalition to End Discrimination in Education packet at www.lgrl.org:

• 97 percent of students in public high schools report regularly hearing homophobic remarks from peers.


• The typical high school student hears anti-gay slurs 25.5 times a day. Teachers who hear these slurs fail to respond 97 percent of the time.


• In a 14-city study of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth, 80 percent reported verbal abuse, 44 percent reported threats of attack, 33 percent reported having objects thrown at them and 30 percent reported being chased or followed.

On Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Friends Congregational Church, the Bryan/College Station Chapter of PFLAG, BV QueSt, and The GLBT Professional Network will co-sponsor a coalition building workshop for all people in our community who would like to see an end to discrimination in Brazos Valley education.

For more information, contact katydstewart@hotmail.com or 979-571-6190.

Katy Stewart,
Bryan

Lessons on Living

MSN recently called 2003 “The Year of the Gay” due to recent advances in equal rights. In retrospect, I would like to address some issues.

There is no “homosexual agenda.”

Those who happen to love members of the same sex do not advocate for any “special privileges” — just the same rights that all citizens in this country are guaranteed.

What was it? Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness or something like that?

How should you react when you find out when someone is gay? Here are a few tips:

• It is not a disease, so don’t worry, you cannot catch it. Continue your same social behaviors: shake hands, hug, etc.

Do what is normal for you and that person.

• If a friend comes out to you, recognize that this process takes great inner strength and enormous amounts of courage. Embrace the opportunity that your friend is sharing.

Most important, listen to your friend.

• If you are flirted with, it does not mean you are gay or that someone thinks you are gay.



• Sometimes comments like “you have such beautiful eyes” really are just compliments.



• Consider why you might be flirted with.
  
  
  Obviously, this person finds you attractive in some way to be bold enough to try such a technique.
  
  
  How would you feel if someone of the opposite sex or one of your straight friends had made the same remark? This is no different.

Life is short. You have to make what friends you can. So, why not greet everyone warmly and take care of whatever issues you have in yourself?

Leave another’s issues of whom they love with to themselves.

Katy Dawn Stewart,
Bryan

Only Guilty of Love

Back in July, President Bush commented to news reporters, “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and I think we ought to codify that one way or another.” What has ensued from those comments is a federal amendment being proposed to deny rights given some but not others.

"Gay marriage” is being fought in the political and civil arenas to provide the same protections, rights and, yes, obligations to couples who happen to be of the same sex as exist for couples of the opposite sex. It has been argued that these same rights can be obtained through court document. This is true, but the costs and time involved are high. However, for $30, any straight couple can walk into a Texas courthouse and “get hitched” a few days later — benefiting immediately from more than 1,000 perks through one document.

What is being asked for is the basic decency to be treated fairly. We are calling for civil marriage, the legal binding of two persons into a contract, not sacramented marriage in the eyes of the church. I respect, even defend, the right to believe in one’s own beliefs in regard to religious, sanctified marriage. If a discussion on the “sanctity of marriage” were what is desired at this time though, then we as a society would have to seriously look at some issues such as domestic violence, education, minimum wage laws, health care and the protection of the “family unit” in many ways.

It has been found that according to Census bureau statistics 99.6 percent of the counties in the United States have same-sex households. We are a people guilty of one thing: love. We are a people who can vote together in ways that will change the face of this nation.

Katy Dawn Stewart,
Bryan