Cambrige Who's Who Acknowledges Us

We are pleased to announce the inclusion of our name in Cambridge Who's Who. We have included the link for the press release: http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/hjordy-wagner-showcases-professional-brand-through-cambridge-whos-who-140786.php.

Thoughts about the Interview on 720 AM

I have taken a few days to reflect on the interview Paul and I had on Monday of this week with Heidi Harris. Heidi covered the traditional questions of why we wrote the book, did you know your son was gay before he told you, how did he tell you, etc. The end of our time together was spent on Tolerance vs Acceptance. We talked about the continuum from intolerant to advocate and how we hoped people could move along in their thinking by studying this issue like a debater studies both sides of an issue before a debate. It is through education that we become clearer on why we believe what we do instead of just accepting certain things just because our parents, church, or others tell us that is the way it is. Heidi defended her position of being "tolerant of gays" because that is what she believes. The other guest, who was gay, said he thinks tolerant is an okay word for the gays and doesn't mind it. Paul and I hope Heidi and others will move ahead a bit in their thinking and become the "debater". Here is why we have hope. We met a man at Book Expo America last May who said he used to be homophobic and now is an advocate. I asked him how he made such a huge turnaround. His response was that he looked in the mirror and asked himself if this is how he wanted to be defined (homophobic). His strategy was to befriend a gay man and learn about him and his life. He said that over time all the things he believed about gays melted away. What a wonderful testament. We wish others could have that look in the mirror and ask themselves that same question. We wouldn't have anything to talk about in this blog if that were the case.

Lesbian Couple Denied Admission to Catholic School

Here is another recent news article that bears discussion. We have the quoted article from the following webpage (http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/refusal_of_lesbian_couples_child_at_catholic_school_brings_out_dissenters/)

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Denver, Colo., Mar 8, 2010 / 06:36 pm (CNA).- After local media reported that the child of a lesbian couple was refused enrollment at an elementary school in Boulder, the Archdiocese of Denver told CNA that opposition to its decision comes from those “who disagree with the Church’s position on homosexuality in general” and want an “excuse” to voice their opinion.

Local channel 9NEWS reported on Friday that the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Boulder, Colorado recently held a meeting to discuss the situation of a pre-school student whose parents are lesbians. School staff members were told early last week that the child would not be allowed to re-enroll. According to the station, certain anonymous staff members reacted negatively and were “disgusted” by the archdiocese's decision.

In response to this claim, Jeanette DeMelo, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Denver, told CNA that “So far any school staff feedback hasn’t been expressed to the Catholic schools office. We have heard from some Catholic school parents from SHJ but the number is not high.”

“We are hearing mostly from people who disagree with the Church’s position on homosexuality in general and this decision is an excuse to voice that opposition to Church teaching,” she added.

In a statement on Friday, the archdiocese explained its decision by saying that the “principal reason parents place their children in Archdiocese of Denver Schools is to reinforce the Catholic beliefs and values that the family seeks to live at home.”

“Parents living in open discord with Catholic teaching in areas of faith and morals unfortunately choose by their actions to disqualify their children from enrollment,” the Friday statement said.
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So what do you say to this? It is a private school so they have the right to state their admission policies. I don't think the family has any recourse on this.

Coming up - KDWN AM 720 Radio Interview with Heidi Harris

We were listening to AM 720 on Friday, March 12, when we heard a discussion about Constance McMillen's request to invite her girlfriend and wear a tux to the high school prom. Here is the AP story from cbs.com. We also have the link to the CBS interview with Constance: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/03/12/Constance_McMillen_Speaks_with_CBS_News/
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(AP) A school in Mississippi has called off the annual senior dance after a lesbian student demanded she be allowed to bring her girlfriend.

The American Civil Liberties Union had demanded that the Itawamba County school district allow 18-year-old Constance McMillen to attend the prom with her date.

A school board statement Wednesday announced the district wouldn't host the April 2 prom at Itawamba County Agricultural High School.

McMillen wanted to escort her girlfriend, who is also a student. McMillen also was denied permission to wear a tuxedo.

A school district policy requires that dates be of the opposite sex.

The district's statement never mentioned McMillen's request. But officials said the change was made due to recent distractions. District officials say they hope private citizens will host a prom.
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We were upset by the discussion on the radio station regarding this issue so we waited on the phone for 30 minutes to talk to the radio announcer, Heidi Harris. When their time expired for the show, we wrote an email with our thoughts on the issue. Within 7 minutes we received a call from the producer. He asked if we could come to their studio Monday morning for an on-air interview. Of course we said yes.

Heidi Harris is very radio host. She is interesting and freely shares her opinion on a variety of issues. Here is how she is described on her website. "In 2004, 2005 and 2006, Heidi was honored by Talker’s Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Talk Hosts in America. She left KXNT in October 2006 and returned to KDWN, where she’s heard weekdays 5:00-9am. She appears as a commentator frequently on MSNBC and the Fox News Channel, and is a columnist for Liberty Watch Magazine."

We look forward to our time with her and the radio listeners of Las Vegas. Tune in to Las Vegas KDWN AM 720 on Monday morning from 8:00 - 9:00 am.