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.

PFLAG National Supports Us on Blog and Booklist

We received great news this month from PFLAG National. They are going to write a blog on our SKYPE Packages for families, schools, book groups, churches, and businesses. In addition, they are including our book on their recommended book list for schools. We are thrilled that they are helping us to get the word out about our desire to help wherever we can no matter where they live or who they are. A BIG thank you to PFLAG National!

Plainview Supplies Ready or Not at Jon Hassler Theater

Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview MN is the new home to several copies of our book. We were asked to supply our book for interested readers of the region as well as theater goers. We are proud to have our story brought to Hjordy’s hometown. Of course Hjordy’s mom, brother, and sister-in-law have had a megaphone telling everyone they know about our book. We appreciate their vocal advocacy for GLBTs. We also appreciate the support of the Jon Hassler Theater. Check them out at http://www.jonhasslertheater.org.

Sioux Falls SD is on the Move!

We met a Sioux Falls PFLAG Board Member at the PRIDE Festival in Minneapolis in June of this year. We connected with her again in November with the positive result of having a gathering in Sioux Falls. There were over 50 people in attendance and we talked with them for about 3 hours. Two of the members hosted an overnight stay for us in their home. We had the additional treat of a ride through their beautifully decorated Falls Park followed by a great Italian dinner with four movers and shakers. At dinner we discovered we were really the lightweights in the group. These ladies wear many hats in their community and all of them are trying to make a difference for GLBTs in their city as well as the state of South Dakota. As of yet, SD doesn’t have a Safe School Policy and yes, they can be fired for being GLBT. Our hats off to these good people of Sioux Falls – they are making a difference.

Fair Wisconsin Sponsors a Ready or Not Talk!

We are always happy to present in the town our sons were raised – Eau Claire, WI. Jane Schley, who works with Fair Wisconsin, arranged for us to speak to interested community members at the LGBT Community Center on December 1st. It was an intimate discussion which we enjoyed immensely. Even though we have been a member of the community for many years, most of the faces were new to us. We always seem to learn from others every place we go. This was no exception. We also met some wonderful and supportive people. We are proud to be a partner in the work of the LGBT Community Center and Fair Wisconsin.

Visit to the University of River Falls

Professor Todd Savage invited us to discuss our book with his students who are aspiring school social workers. They had all read our book so they had a lot of information coming into the discussion. One of the best questions asked of us was what they can do to make things better in a school setting. Of course we had a list of things that can and should be done but three factors identified by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) were found to have the greatest impact: Gay/Straight Alliance, Supportive Staff, and Safe School Policy. All three of these factors show positive results in attendance, attitude, less harassment/bullying, higher grade point, higher aspirations, and a greater sense of belonging. What a difference it would make if we could be successful in those three areas in all of our schools!

Joel Osteen says our sons are not God's best

I simply cannot let this one pass without comment. Yesterday (Nov 4) Joel Osteen was on The View. Whoopi asked how he feels about folks who are gay. His response was that he believes what scripture says....that (meaning homosexuals) isn't God's best. WHAT? He is telling parents of two gay sons that their sons can never be God's best? Shock and disappointment were but a few of our feelings. He is in the same camp as Rev. Robert Schuller who said on Larry King that he believes in "excellence" in all they do. He went on to describe "excellence" as men and women married with children. We have now been told by two infamous religious leaders that our sons can never be excellent or God's best. Ouch. We wrote a very long letter to Rev Schuller regarding his statements on Larry King. Today we wrote to Joel Osteen about his comments. We encourage anyone else who is motivated to do the same. I can understand why GLBTs turn their back on organized religion when they hear things such as this. Paul and I subscribe to Desmond Tutu's statement - "God knew you before you were born; no one is a mistake." Nothing will alter our thinking on this because the God we know and love and who loves us unconditionally would never turn his back on his own creation. It doesn't make sense.

What do you think? Respond to our blog about your feelings on this.

Ready or Not at Northwest Education Association Conference

It was a great two days at the Northwest Education Association (NWEA) conference in Eau Claire. We presented three times and had a booth in the vendor area. We hope our presence had an impact with the school personnel represented at the conference. We had a great time and had meaningful discussions with many educators in the area.

Now, here are the questions for you. Has your workplace or school provided training for you on GLBT issues in the workplace? If not, should they? Should it be mandatory for all? Are you in compliance with the Safe School Law? If you are a business, have you ever discriminated on the basis of gender orientation or identity? Let's have a discussion - join our blog!!

A visit with University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Staff and Students

David Gardner, LGBTQ Program Coordinator from the Women's and Gender Equity Center at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, did a fantastic job advertising our presentation at the Davies Center on the evening of October 7. We exceeded 100 people in the audience who asked great questions at the end of our presentation. One group in attendance was a material selection class. We shared with them the importance of having GLBT material in schools and public libraries and our fear that librarians/media specialists may use self-censorship because of the controversial nature of GLBT books in general. Remember our blog on the West Bend Public Library controversy? You never know when the challenge will hit your community. Although our book is a recommended title for middle and high school, some media specialists may feel it is just easier not to order it for their library even though our book has only received positive reviews. Or perhaps it won't be used in an educator book club even though we were educators for over 30 years and offer suggestions for schools on how to protect GLBT students and staff.

What is your opinion? Do you think schools will include our title in their library bookshelves or will it just be easier not to order it? Do you have a reasonable amount of books on GLBTs in your media center? Will they use our book or another GLBT title as a staff development tool for educators or continue to ignore the issues of harassment and bullying of our GLBT sons and daughters? We want to hear from you on this.

Wagners visit River Falls United Methodist Church

Sunday was a wonderful day in River Falls, WI. We (Paul, Brad & Hjordy) started our day at the United Methodist Church where our former pastor, Janet Ellinger, inspired us with her prayers and words of wisdom. This was followed by a luncheon and our story in the context of a welcoming church. We estimate the crowd at around 50 or more. Paul and I hope we were able to inspire new thinking. We learn from our audience every time we give a presentation. Yesterday was no exception. One of the ideas shared was when and how to be a vocal advocate. For example, is it the right place to say something to someone when you overhear an inappropriate remark about a minority in a restaurant setting? We had some great suggestions on that topic alone. What do you think?

Church members at River Falls showed courage in opening their hearts and minds to the topic of GLBTs in the church setting. We hold a special place in our hearts for Rev. Ellinger and now we know how special her congregation members are.

Shine-A-Light Nomination

Business Name: PH Wagner LLC

Business City: Eau Clarie

Business State: WI

Business Website: http://www.readyornotstories.com

Type of Business: Other

On my commute to work this morning, I noticed a banner which read, “Be careful who you hate…it could be someone you love.” The phrase is often used by the PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) organization. The phrase runs deep, challenging its reader to engage in self-reflection. In an effort to help my own family members come to terms with my recent announcement of telling them I am gay, I set out looking for a book to share with them. That was no easy task! It had to be something lenient yet straightforward, educational yet not too preachy, and most importantly, it had to convey empathy. By happenstance, I stumbled upon the collaborative work of Hjordy and Paul Wagner expressed in their book entitled: Ready or Not; They’re Gay: Stories from a Midwestern Family. The book was completely mesmerizing and surpassed all my expectations. It is very well-written. The reader is instantly drawn into this family of four in which you learn that both of the Wagner’s sons, Brad and Andrew, are gay. The pages progress thoughtfully from the family background to the coming out of their sons, through the process of initial shock to complete acceptance with helpful hints and education interspersed throughout. An unexpected surprise for me was that I was able to identify with Brad and Andrew on so many levels which validated many of my own experiences as normal. As stated in the book’s Preface, Hjordy and Paul’s mission is to better equip parents, relatives, and friends of GLBT persons to cope when they find out someone they care about is gay – a mission of love they hope will improve the relationships and lives of families and friends. This mission is reflected in and shared by their boys, and goes far beyond the book itself. Education is paramount and is a natural extension of their careers in public education held before their respective retirements in the field. In addition to a busy schedule traveling to various cities and making appearances in different venues sharing their inspiring story, the Wagner’s have made a concerted effort to connect on a personal level. They utilize Skype for their virtual book tour and live presentations to facilitate meaningful dialogue wherever they are needed, whether it is in someone’s home, a church, a school or university, or business setting. Plans are underway for a follow-up book consisting of contributed stories from the GLBT community and their families about their coming-out experiences. Moreover, Paul and Hjordy are constantly looking for new and different ways to connect and share their story in an effort to be most effective and helpful to others. I am one of many who have been inspired by the selflessness, empathy, and genuine care and concern displayed by the entire Wagner family. So that many others may share in this inspiration, and that their mission may be expanded and enhanced, I respectfully nominate PH Wagner LLC for the SHINEALIGHT award. Meet the Wagner’s: www.ReadyOrNotStories.com.

Nominated by: jjcrist