In This Section - Sample Meetings Sunday, November 09, 2008 1:16 PM

This section is all about meetings. You will find helpful information on how to hold a meeting, and how to be comfortable speaking in front of a crowd. You will also find plenty of ideas for meeting topics and meeting types.

The best feature of this section is in the end - the actual sample meetings. I have chosen four topics, researched material, and created whole meetings for you. These sample meetings should guide you, show you how much, and what kind of material you should be preparing for each meeting.

How To Hold Meetings Sunday, October 26, 2008 8:46 PM

Public Speaking Sunday, October 26, 2008 10:03 PM

Ideas for Meetings Friday, November 07, 2008 10:17 AM

While GSAs are created to offer "" for LGBT students, it is important to remember that you are still a student organization, and your club, and therefore your meetings, should have a purpose. Meetings can provide fun time for the members to hang out, but there should be a goal for each meeting. It could be: o What are we going to learn today? o What project are we going to work on? o What event needs planning? o What issues are we struggling with (as a group, or as a school) that needs fixing, and what are we going to do today to fix it?

These goals can be easily kept in mind by preparing an agenda beforehand, and sticking to it during the meeting. The leader of the group should always have a clear idea of what is going to be discussed at the particular day's meeting, and should keep the group on track until their goal has been accomplished.

Some leaders may focus more on the social aspects of the club, and may be afraid that students won't attend if they are going to have to have serious conversations. What needs to be remembered is that a GSA is contained in an educational setting, and while they provide support, GSAs also need to give back to the LGBT community, and help others. The members should be able to identify with this idea, and should support helping the community in your area. Your members are lucky that they have a safe place to go, to be themselves, and it needs to be remembered that not all communities have GSAs. If you are afraid that your members will stop attending, use what I like to call the "split meeting model". Spend the first half of your meeting discussing the important topic. Don't limit yourself on time, if your members are working hard to accomplish the goal, don't stop them until you have finished. Then, spend the second half of the meeting as social time, bring out the snacks, and hang out. I would not suggest having social time first, for two reasons: 1. It is easier for students to go from focused to rowdy, not the other way around 2. People have time constraints, and you don't want people leaving during the important part of the meeting because they have to get home for dinner, their ride is there, etc.

As the leader of the club, you need to make sure that the content of the meeting is set into place. I suggest buying a folder, and keeping week-to-week materials inside, so that you can easily access information on what you think needs to be covered. Creating an agenda, and possibly having meeting topics mapped out for the whole year, will help you avoid talking about the same things over and over. Try to pick topics that you yourself don't know very much about, do ample research, and learn along with your members as you discuss them.

The topics you could choose from are plentiful, and include: a. : nature/nurture? b. and the c. Issues d. LGBT people and Religion e. f. LGBT Authors g. LGBT Musicians h. Ex-gays, Exodus Ministries, etc i. AIDS j. Civil Rights and Marriage k. Activism l. LGBT Victims of the Holocaust m. Hate Crimes n. Important LGBT People in History i. Glbthistorymonth.com o. Gays on television and in media i. .com ii. afterelton.com p. Animals q. Stereotypes of LGBT People r. What is ""? s. Cross-cultural Examinations of Homosexuality t. Showcase LGBT Organizations in your community u. Goals for your school and your GSA this year

Other meeting ideas include: a. Celebrating LGBT events b. Having guest speakers from local LGBT Organizations

This may seem like a lot of work, but remember, the more you do as a serious organization for the LGBT community, the more respect you will get in return, not only from the community, but from your school administration, and possibly members of your student body. Being able to cite specific things that the group accomplished under your leadership will also help when it comes time to ask for school-board approval, or apply for scholarships. To help get you started, I have researched 4 topics, and provided you with ideas for the meetings to accompany them.

Top 10 Meetings Friday, October 31, 2008 12:37 PM

Gay/Straight Alliances: A Student Guide Top Ten GSA Meeting Ideas Running good meetings is an essential part of making your group successful. It's not so easy to choose topics or activities that make people feel welcome and encourage them to keep coming back. This Top Ten list was compiled after surveying groups from all across the Commonwealth. The following are some of the best suggestions: 1) "Things I've always wanted to know but was afraid to ask..." Newton South has a Question and Answer Day. Students anonymously write down questions on any subject they want and then spend the rest of the meeting discussing the questions and coming up with answers. 2) Bring-a-Friend Day. Concord-Carlisle hosts a Bring-A-Friend Day when every member is supposed to bring someone new to their meeting. They said it changed a lot of people's minds about the group and destroyed some of their stereotypes about homosexuality. 3) "No Adults Allowed" (Or only one). Some groups have complained that their advisors are too domineering. Having this sort of meeting could be a good change of pace. Tell the adults that only one of them is invited to this special meeting and that they aren't supposed to talk unless absolutely necessary. 4) "What would the world be like if 10% of people were straight and 90% were gay?" This is an activity that can help participants better understand what it feels like to be devalued. Ask the group to imagine that instead of living in a heterosexist society, you lived in a homosexist society. What would it be like if parents wanted their children to grow up gay? What would it be like if you had to come out as straight? How does it feel to be labelled a minority? 5) "How can the Gay/Straight Alliance work with other school civil rights groups?" Newton South is planning a meeting with other groups to discuss how they can all work together and educate each other to make their school better for everyone. 6) . Some groups have found that coming out discussions are very helpful and important. Plan a meeting where people will talk about how they think people would react, what might happen, how to establish support networks, etc. 7) Games... Brookline High School's Gay/Straight Alliance plays a game called Common Ground. The students and faculty advisors stand in a circle. One person begins by saying, "I've got a younger sister," or some other statement that is true for them. Everyone for whom this is also true, steps into the center of the circle. Everyone who doesn't have a young-er sister, stays on the outside. You can always lie and choose not to step into the circle. The game often brings up personal and important issues that students may not want to discuss in a more formal setting. Sally Rubin, a Newton student, recommends an activity her group calls the Culture Walk. She said, "There are one or two mediators and they begin by asking a group of people, for example, the women, to move to one side of the room. The guys then ask them questions they've always wanted to know and the women give them answers. Then the women get to tell the guys what they as women want the guys to know about them. This game gradually becomes more personal. You don't have to talk or walk." 8) The things you'll learn... Some groups plan meetings where one student researches a topic related to gay and life, culture, history or oppression, and then reports to the rest of the group what they've discovered. Topics don't have to be dry and boring. They could include: Rock Stars Come Out, The , Lesbian Pulp Fiction, etc. Other groups pick current events from the newspaper, such as Gays in the Military, and discuss how they feel about these issues. 9) Working for Change. Most groups have spent at least some meeting time working to institute change in their schools or communities. Some have written editorials for their school papers describing the work of their group, their plans for the future, what they'd like to see change in their school and how to combat anti-gay . Other groups have detailed instances of on campus including the defacing of Gay/ Straight Alliance (GSA) posters and anti-gay slurs or remarks they've heard and then distributed them to students, teachers, administrators and school board members. Groups have written editorials for their school newspapers, PTO newsletters and community papers about topics like "Homophobia Hurts Everybody" and "Why I'm a Straight Ally." Groups have also spent their meeting time planning political action strategies or letter writing campaigns. Brookline High's GSA made posters to carry at rallies for the amended Anti- Law, sent letters to their state representatives and distributed petitions to the student body. 10) You're invited! Inviting other Gay/Straight Alliances or other clubs to your meetings or functions can be a great way to build support in your school and network with other schools. Also, inviting outside speakers can really spark interest in your group. Newton North holds an annual GSA Conference, which is attended by numerous groups from around the state. Boston Latin held a social for GSA's in their area. Other groups have invited speakers to come and talk with them. Winchester High School, for example, invited Michael Smith from the gay and lesbian radio show "1 in 10" on Boston's 101.7 WFNX. Newton North attended a special talk by a history and social sciences teacher on "Gays in Popular Culture," and invited William Johnson from the Boston Police Hate Crimes Division to address the school.

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Topic 1 : Important LGBT People in History Thursday, October 30, 2008 9:48 AM

The point of this meeting would be to celebrate the rich heritage that we as LGBT people have. It would also be a fun time to show the contributions that LGBT people have made, and probably surprise your members with the information you present.

A great resource for this meeting topic is the LGBT History Month website, www.glbthistorymonth.com. Here is their list of 31 Important people from 2008, and the biographies of some of them:

The 2008 Icons 1. Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon 2. Stephen Sondheim 3. Gianni Versace 4. Sheila Kuehl First openly gay member of the California Legislature b. February 19, 1941 “The hardest thing I ever did, coming out, turns out to give me a reputation almost instantly for honesty and courage, which any politician would kill for.” In a 1994 election, Sheila James Kuehl became the first openly gay California legislator. In 1997, she was the first woman in California to be named Speaker pro Tempore. She was a member of the nation’s first legislative LGBT Caucus. In 2002, she coauthored a bill that defined marriage as a civil contract between two persons, which passed the state legislature, but was vetoed by the governor. As a youth she appeared in the television series “The Stu Erwin Show” and “Broadside.” While an undergrad at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she portrayed the irrepressible Zelda Gilroy in “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.” Although her character Zelda was popular enough for CBS to plan a spin-off, the pilot was canceled. A network representative later explained she was “just a little too butch.” During the same time, Kuehl was banned from her sorority house when letters from her girlfriend exposed her sexuality. After television roles started to dry up, she transitioned into academia. She became associate dean of students at UCLA. Thereafter, Kuehl graduated from Harvard Law School. Kuehl went into private law practice specializing in civil rights and women’s issues. She advocated for victims of domestic abuse and cofounded the California Women’s Law Center in 1989. She taught law at UCLA, University of Southern California and Loyola University. In 2000, she was elected a member of the California State Senate for the 23rd district of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Most significant are her successes in civil rights legislation. As of 2007, she authored 171 bills that have been signed into law. Kuehl is the recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profiles In Courage Award (2003); the C50 Award, Celebrating 50 years of Women at the Harvard Law School (2003); the Outstanding Legislator Award from the Southern California Public Health Association (2003); the Victory Fund Leadership Award (2005); the Building a State of Equality Award from Equality California (2006); and the UCLA LGBT Center Distinguished Service Award (2007).

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5. Tennessee Williams Playwright b. March 26, 1911 d. February 25, 1983 "To me, it was providential to be an artist, a great act of providence that I was able to turn my borderline psychosis into creativity." Tennessee Williams was one of the most influential American playwrights. He transformed the darkest aspects of human existence into poetic theater. Born Thomas Lanier Williams, he was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He received his B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1938. He later changed his name to Tennessee, after his father’s birth state. While a scriptwriter at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Williams wrote an original screenplay the company rejected. It was reworked into a play. "The Glass Menagerie" (1945) earned the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and launched Williams’s playwriting career. Often set in the South and featuring characters seeking salvation and meaningful human connections, his plays were infused with aspects of Williams’s personal struggles. He sparked controversy by including gay characters. His award-winning plays include "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1947), "The Rose Tattoo" (1951), "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1955) and "The Night of the Iguana" (1961). "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Rose Tattoo" and "The Night of the Iguana" were adapted into Oscar- winning movies. Actors starring in his works included Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Jessica Tandy and Vivien Leigh. Williams and his partner, Frank Marlo, were together for more than 10 years. Their relationship ended when Marlo died of cancer in 1963. Williams received two Pulitzer Prizes, four Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, and a Tony Award for Best Play.

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6. Alice Walker 7. Greg Louganis Olympic gold medalist b. January 29, 1960 “When you're a kid growing up, and you think you're gay, you're often teased. But sports can be great for building self-esteem.” The winner of five Olympic medals, Greg Louganis is the world’s most successful diver and among the most high-profile openly gay athletes. Raised in San Diego, Louganis scored a perfect 10 in the Junior Olympics in 1971. In 1976, he won an Olympic silver in Montreal. Louganis graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 1983. At the World Championships the following year, Louganis became the first diver to score a perfect 10 at an international meet. At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Louganis won two gold medals—one each in the springboard and platform events—and was the first to exceed 700 points in the two competitions. For these achievements he received the Sullivan Award, which honors America’s best amateur athlete. During the springboard qualifying rounds at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Louganis misjudged a jump and struck his head on the diving board. Despite suffering a concussion, he continued diving and won two gold medals. He became the first male diver to win double golds in consecutive Olympics. In 1993, Louganis starred as a chorus boy who dies of AIDS in the Off Broadway play “Jeffrey.” He came out and disclosed his HIV-positive status at the 1994 Gay Games in New York. Louganis’s best-selling autobiography, “Breaking the Surface” (1995), recounts his experiences as an openly gay athlete.

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8. Bertrand Delanoë 9. Margaret Mead 10. Mark Bingham 9/11 hero b. May 22, 1970 d. September 11, 2001 “We have the chance to be role models for other gay folks who wanted to play sports but never felt good enough or strong enough.” Mark Bingham was a shining light on one of the darkest days in American history. On September 11, 2001, passengers aboard United Flight 93 stormed the terrorists who had hijacked their plane. The 9/11 Commission concluded this heroism diverted the plane from its intended target, which was either the White House or the Capitol in Washington, and caused it to crash in an empty field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Bingham led the counterattack. He prevented the destruction of a national monument and saved lives. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 220 pounds, Bingham was a star athlete, a savvy entrepreneur, a fearless competitor and a man devoted to his family and friends. Bingham was the CEO of The Bingham Group, a successful public relations firm with offices in San Francisco and New York. Bingham grew up in California, the son of Alice Hoglan, a single mom who struggled to make ends meet. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he helped the rugby team earn national championships in 1991 and 1993. He played on the San Francisco Fog, the city’s first gay rugby team. Bingham hated losing and never backed down. He once protected his boyfriend from an attack by wrestling a gun from the mugger’s hand. After being gored at the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, Bingham showed off the scar as a badge of honor. About 20 minutes before Flight 93 went down, Bingham called his mother. “This is Mark Bingham,” were his first words. She immediately sensed something was wrong. “I love you” were the last words she heard from her son. Alice knew if there was any way to turn tragedy into triumph, Mark would lead the charge. The Advocate named Bingham its 2001 Person of the Year. He was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2002. The Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament, an international rugby competition predominantly for gay and bisexual men, was established in his memory.

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11. Cleve Jones Founder of NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt b. October 11, 1954 "If AIDS had taught us anything, it was that we must be true to ourselves if we are to survive."

In 1983, Cleve Jones cofounded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, making him among the first to respond to the epidemic. In 1987, he conceived the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, which produced the world’s largest community artwork. Born in Lafayette, Indiana, Jones studied political science at San Francisco State University. He began his career as an intern in the office of openly gay San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, who was subsequently assassinated. He conceived the idea for the AIDS Memorial Quilt at an annual candlelight vigil remembering Harvey Milk. AIDS loomed over the gay community. At the vigil, hundreds of names of people who died of AIDS were written on cardboard scraps and taped to the San Francisco Federal Building. The cardboard reminded Jones of the pieces of fabric his grandmother quilted together. The quilting of pieces of fabric memorializing loved ones became the world’s largest piece of community art. In 1987, 1,920 panels were exhibited on the National Mall in Washington, and were viewed by more than 500,000 people. The AIDS Quilt became a symbolic funeral service since many who died were denied memorial services. Since 2005, Jones has spearheaded efforts to diminish homophobia in the hospitality industry with a project called UNITE HERE. He was instrumental in the Sleep with the Right People campaign, which encourages gay tourists to stay at hotels that respect employees’ rights. Jones was awarded honorary doctorates from Haverford College and the Starr King School for the Ministry. His memoir, “Stitching a Revolution” (2000), was a best seller. By 2006, the AIDS Quilt had memorialized more than 44,000 lives.

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12. Jann Wenner 13. Harvey Fierstein 14. Margarethe Cammermeyer Military Officer b. March 24, 1943 "I wear my uniform at every inappropriate moment to remind people of gays and who have to serve in silence in the military."

In 1992, Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer became the highest-ranking military officer discharged on the basis of . Cammermeyer was dismissed as chief nurse of the Washington State National Guard after disclosing she was a lesbian during a routine security clearance interview. She challenged the U.S. military’s ban on homosexuals in federal court. In 1994, she was reinstated as chief nurse, making her one of the few openly gay or lesbian members of the military. Cammermeyer was born in Oslo, Norway, during the Nazi occupation. Her parents sheltered Norwegian resistance forces. Cammermeyer credits her parents’ courage as her inspiration for defending civil liberties. In 1951, Cammermeyer’s family moved to the U.S. She became a citizen in 1961 and joined the U.S. Army Student Nurse Program. After receiving her B.S. in nursing from the University of Maryland in 1963, Cammermeyer reported for active duty. At her request, in 1967, Cammermeyer was deployed to Vietnam where she served as head nurse of a neurosurgical intensive care unit. She calls this time in her life “the most extraordinary experience any military nurse could have been a part of.” Cammermeyer was honored with the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service. In 1985, she was named Nurse of the Year by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1964, Cammermeyer married a fellow soldier and had four sons. The couple divorced after 15 years. In 1989, Cammermeyer met her life partner, Diane Divelbess. Cammermeyer’s autobiography, “Serving in Silence” (1994), received critical acclaim. The book was turned into a made-for-TV movie, executive produced by Barbra Streisand and starring Glenn Close. The film generated more than 25 million viewers and received three Emmy Awards and the Peabody Award. It was one of the first television movies about a gay person. Cammermeyer retired in 1997 after 31 years of service. She serves on the Military Advisory Council for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and is an outspoken advocate for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

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15. Anthony Romero 16. Melissa Etheridge 17. Gene Robinson First openly gay Episcopal bishop b. May 29, 1947 “It’s not so much a dream as a calling from God.” In 2003, The Rt. Rev.V. Gene Robinson was elected bishop of the diocese of New Hampshire, making him the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. His ordination caused a global rift within the Episcopal Church and led to international debate about the inclusion of gay clergy in church hierarchy. In the weeks leading up to his consecration, Robinson received hate mail and death threats, triggering the FBI to place him under 24-hour protection. Gene Robinson grew up outside Lexington, Kentucky. The son of poor tobacco sharecroppers, he was raised without running water or indoor plumbing. He recalls his childhood as rustic and religious, with Sunday school and services at a small Disciples of Christ congregation. Robinson earned his bachelor’s degree in American studies from the University of the South and his Master of Divinity from the Episcopal General Theological Seminary in New York. He was ordained a priest in 1973. Despite doubts about his sexual orientation, Robinson married in 1972. He and his wife moved to New Hampshire where they raised two daughters. Robinson worked as youth ministries coordinator for the seven dioceses of New England and cofounded the national Episcopal Youth Event. Robinson divorced his wife and came out in the mid-1980’s. Robinson is the coauthor of three AIDS education curricula. In Uganda, he helped set up a national peer counseling program for AIDS educators working with religious institutions. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force honored Robinson with a Leadership Award in 2004. In 2007, he received the Flag Bearer Award from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) for leadership and inclusion in faith communities. In 2008, Bishop Robinson and Mark Andrews, partners of more than 19 years, exchanged vows in a ceremony in New Hampshire.

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18. John Waters 19. Robert Mapplethorpe Photographer b. November 4, 1946 d. March 9, 1989 “I’m looking for the unexpected. I’m looking for things I’ve never seen before.” Robert Mapplethorpe is one of America’s preeminent 20th century photographers. His works have been displayed in prominent galleries and museums, including the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; and the National Portrait Gallery, London. Mapplethorpe was raised in suburban Long Island, New York. He earned his B.F.A. in graphic arts at Pratt Institute. In the 1970’s, Mapplethorpe’s photographs chronicling the lives of New York’s gay community established him as a unique and controversial talent. Prominent art collector Sam Wagstaff became Mapplethorpe’s and bought him a $500,000 Manhattan studio loft, where the artist lived and worked. Mapplethorpe’s photography encompasses an eclectic mix of subjects: flowers, especially orchids and calla lilies, classical nudes, homoerotic acts, bondage and discipline, and celebrities. Andy Warhol, Richard Gere, Peter Gabriel, Grace Jones and Patti Smith were among the famous people Mapplethorpe photographed. In the early 1990’s, Mapplethorpe’s “X Portfolio” series sparked a firestorm of criticism when it was included in “The Perfect Moment,” a traveling exhibition funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. The exhibit, which featured some of the photographer’s most sexually explicit images, was condemned by conservative religious groups who called on government leaders to withdraw financial support for the “presentation of potentially obscene material.” When “The Perfect Moment” was installed at the Contemporary Arts Center of Cincinnati, the center and its director were prosecuted for “pandering obscenity” and subsequently acquitted. The legal wrangling stirred debate about the delineation between art and obscenity and government funding for the arts. In 1988, Mapplethorpe established the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, which funds HIV/AIDS research, promotes the art of photography and maintains the artist’s legacy. In 1989, Mapplethorpe died from complications arising from AIDS. He was 42.

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20. Georgina Beyer First transgender member of a national legislature b. November 1957 “It is important to allow people who want to be positive contributors of our society regardless of sex, race, creed and gender to reach their human potential.” As the first openly transgender person in the world to hold a national office, Georgina Beyer was elected a member of Parliament in New Zealand. Beyer’s transformation from stripper and prostitute to politician is a testament to her remarkable fortitude. Beyer, born biologically male, spent her early childhood on her grandparents’ farm in rural New Zealand before moving to Wellington with her mother and stepfather. From an early age, Beyer recalls feeling like a girl trapped in a boy’s body. In her 20’s, Beyer began working in the Wellington gay nightclub scene as a singer and performer, and then a prostitute. During a trip to Australia, she was attacked and raped by four men. Beyer refers to this experience as her defining moment. In 1984, she had sexual reassignment surgery and forged a successful career as a film and television actress in Auckland. She was often typecast as a drag queen or streetwalker. From Auckland, Beyer moved to the small conservative town of Carterton, where she took a job as a youth social worker. In 1993, Beyer was elected to the Carterton District Council. Two years later she was elected Mayor of Carterton, where she served for five years. In 1999, she won a seat in the New Zealand Parliament. While in Parliament, Beyer helped pass the Prostitution Reform Act, which decriminalizes prostitution and protects sex workers and their clients. She was instrumental in securing same-sex civil union benefits for New Zealanders. Beyer chronicled her life in “Change for the Better: the Story of Georgina Beyer” (1999). A documentary film about her, “Georgie Girl” (2002), won international awards. Beyer was a keynote speaker at the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights in Montreal in 2006. She retired from Parliament in 2007, saying, “I can now look for fresh challenges.”

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21. Tony Kushner 22. Rosie O'Donnell 23. Philip Johnson Architect

b. July 8, 1906 d. January 25, 2005

"The job of the architect today is to create beautiful buildings. That's all."

Proportion, minimalism and geometry were elements Philip Johnson combined to create his masterpieces, which include iconic New York buildings. It seemed destined that Johnson, the descendant of Huguenot Jacques Cortelyou, who designed the town plan of New Amsterdam (later renamed New York), would leave an indelible mark on the city.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Johnson studied philosophy and history at Harvard. His education was regularly interrupted by long trips to Europe where he saw architecture that influenced his designs. At New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), he co-curated an exhibition that tracked recent trends in building. The show, "The International Style: Architecture Since 1922," included Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe and provided the official introduction of modern architecture to the United States.

During the Great Depression, Johnson pursued a career in journalism abroad. He subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Army. After his military service, Johnson enrolled in the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where he realized his passion for architecture.

Philip Johnson's work is characterized by innovation. In a career spanning almost 60 years, he developed a reputation for flexibility and foresight. Johnson founded the Department of Architecture and Design at MoMA and served as a trustee of the museum. He was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal (1978) and the first-ever Pritzker Architecture Prize (1979).

The Glass House (1949), which he designed for himself, is a modest 56-foot-by-32-foot rectangle with exterior walls made almost entirely of glass. The building, in New Canaan, Connecticut, incorporates the bucolic setting as an integral part of the home's ambiance. His other seminal works are the New York State Pavilion for the World's Fair (1964), MoMA's east wing and sculpture garden (1964), Pennzoil Place in Houston (1975), and the Sony Building in New York City (1984). The architect shared the last 40 years of his life with his partner, David Whitney, who died only months after Johnson.

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24. E. M. Forster 25. Randy Shilts 26. Allen Ginsberg 27. Troy Perry 28. Bill T. Jones Founder of NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt b. October 11, 1954 "If AIDS had taught us anything, it was that we must be true to ourselves if we are to survive."

In 1983, Cleve Jones cofounded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, making him among the first to respond to the epidemic. In 1987, he conceived the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, which produced the world’s largest community artwork. Born in Lafayette, Indiana, Jones studied political science at San Francisco State University. He began his career as an intern in the office of openly gay San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, who was subsequently assassinated. He conceived the idea for the AIDS Memorial Quilt at an annual candlelight vigil remembering Harvey Milk. AIDS loomed over the gay community. At the vigil, hundreds of names of people who died of AIDS were written on cardboard scraps and taped to the San Francisco Federal Building. The cardboard reminded Jones of the pieces of fabric his grandmother quilted together. The quilting of pieces of fabric memorializing loved ones became the world’s largest piece of community art. In 1987, 1,920 panels were exhibited on the National Mall in Washington, and were viewed by more than 500,000 people. The AIDS Quilt became a symbolic funeral service since many who died were denied memorial services. Since 2005, Jones has spearheaded efforts to diminish homophobia in the hospitality industry with a project called UNITE HERE. He was instrumental in the Sleep with the Right People campaign, which encourages gay tourists to stay at hotels that respect employees’ rights. Jones was awarded honorary doctorates from Haverford College and the Starr King School for the Ministry. His memoir, “Stitching a Revolution” (2000), was a best seller. By 2006, the AIDS Quilt had memorialized more than 44,000 lives.

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29. Andy Warhol 30. Rachel Carson Environmental Pioneer b. May 27, 1907 d. April 14, 1964 “If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.” Rachel Carson was a writer and research biologist credited with establishing the environmental movement. Carson brought public attention to the need to regulate industry and protect the environment. She was raised in rural Springdale, Pennsylvania, where she and her mother explored woods and springs, and enjoyed bird watching. She claimed her most enduring childhood memory was a desire to become a writer. In 1929, Carson graduated from the Pennsylvania College for Women (now known as Chatham College) with a degree in zoology. She earned a master’s degree in zoology from Johns Hopkins University in 1932. Carson is best known for her book “Silent Spring” (1962), a meticulously researched work about the dangers of the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Though the book sparked fierce opposition from the chemical industry, it succeeded at raising public awareness. President Kennedy ordered an investigation. As a result, the pesticide DDT was banned. While battling cancer, Carson continued her efforts to bring attention to environmental issues. She spoke out on the need for an independent government regulatory agency to monitor environmental degradation and its effects on human health. Her activism led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Chatham College established the Rachel Carson Institute to promote “awareness and understanding of significant and current environmental issues.” In 1980, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.

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31. Michelangelo

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How to use this information in a meeting: a. At the meeting before this one, you could assign your members one of the names to research and present about. b. Create a fun quiz, crossword puzzle, word search, etc, and give out candy for right answers. c. Go through the list, asking the members as you go along to guess who the people are, and share what they know about them (possibly with more candy?) d. Important LGBT Pageant: Assign each member a name, and have them dress up as that person (or use props, whatever), and act like them. e. Write names on index cards, tape them to people's heads, and have your members try to guess who they "are" after asking questions to others. It might be good to assign some reading beforehand, so that there are answers. You could create a list of questions, and they have to figure out who they are based on those questions alone.

Topic 2: Kinsey Studies Thursday, October 30, 2008 9:49 AM

Alfred Kinsey was an important sex researcher whose study found very interesting things about people and their sexual preferences. This would be a good topic because it can show your members that they are not alone in their feelings. Also, the study has become controversial over time, and would make for good discussion. Here is some information about Alfred Kinsey, and his findings:

Alfred Kinsey's 1948 and 1953 Studies o Kinsey, Alfred C. et al. (1948/1998). Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; Bloomington, IN: Indiana U. Press. Currently out of print. o Kinsey, Alfred C. et al. (1953/1998). Sexual Behavior in the Human . Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; Bloomington, IN: Indiana U. Press. [Please note that Female volume is a source of many comparisons of findings between male and female behavior.] o Gebhard, Paul H. and Johnson, Alan B. (1979/1998). The Kinsey Data: Marginal Tabulations of 1938-1963 Interviews Conducted by the Institute for Sex Research. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; Bloomington, IN: Indiana U. Press. [Augments data in the original 1948 and 1953 studies and discusses Kinsey's interview and sample.] Scope: To describe individual and group variations in human sexual behavior using taxonomic methods (primarily concerned with the measurement of variation in series of individuals that stand as representatives of the species being studied) from biology. Kinsey sought to accummulate "an objectively determined body of fact about sex" (p. 5 Male) that readers of the reports could use to make interpretations that fit with their understanding of "moral values and social significances" (p. 5, Male). He looked at quantifiable male sexual "outlets" to orgasm: masturbation, nocturnal emissions, heterosexual petting, heterosexual intercourse, homosexual relations, and intercourse with animals of other species; and at what factors might account for variations in sexual behavior, including marital status, age, educational level, occupational class, rural-urban background, religious group, geographic origin, and age at adolescence. He then compiled data for the female. Data was gathered from 1938 to 1963, when the project was closed.

Sample: 5300 white males and 5940 white provided almost all the data, with the majority of participants being younger white adults with some college education. (This part of the sample is referred to as the "College Sample.") Kinsey tried to compensate for volunteer bias in his sample by interviewing 100% of the individuals available in a given organization or group. Approximately 25% of the sex histories came from these 100% groups. (Kinsey did not believe a random sample was possible.)

Method: Kinsey used in-depth, face-to-face interviews by highly trained interviewers. In each history a subject would be questioned on up to 521 items, depending on his/her specific experience (the average in each case being near 300). Histories covered social and economic data, physical and physiologic data, marital histories, sexual outlets, heterosexual histories, and homosexual histories.

Kinsey's Studies | Kinsey's Findings | More Information

Bisexuality Males: Kinsey estimated that nearly 46% of the male population had engaged in both heterosexual and homosexual activities, or "reacted to" persons of both sexes, in the course of their adult lives (p. 656, Male). 11.6% of white males (ages 20-35) were given a rating of 3 (about equal heterosexual and homosexual experience/response) on the 7- point Kinsey Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale for this period of their lives (Table 147, p. 651, Male).

Females: Kinsey found only a very small portion of females with exclusively homosexual histories. He reported that between 6 and 14% of females (ages 20-35) had more than incidental homosexual experience in their histories. (p. 488, Female). 7% of single females (ages 20- 35) and 4% of previously married females (ages 20-35) were given a rating of 3 (about equal heterosexual and homosexual experience/response) on the 7-point Kinsey Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale for this period of their lives.(Table 142, p. 499, Female).

Kinsey's Studies | Kinsey's Findings | More Information

Homosexuality Kinsey said in both the Male and Female volumes that it was impossible to determine the number of persons who are "homosexual" or "heterosexual". It was only possible to determine behavior at any given time. (See Kinsey's Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale.) Instances of at least one same-sex experience to orgasm: • 37% of males • 13% of females, (p. 650, Male, p. 475, Female) Males: • 10% of males in the sample were predominantly homosexual between the ages of 16 and 55 • 8% of males were exlusively homosexual for at least three years between the ages of 16 and 55. (p. 651, Male) • 4% of white males had been exclusively homosexual after the onset of adolescence up to the time of their interviews, (p. 651, Male). Females: • 2 to 6% of females, aged 20-35, were more or less exclusively homosexual in experience/response, (p. 488, Female) • 1 to 3% of unmarried females aged 20-35 were exclusively homosexual in experience/response, (Table 142, p. 499, and p. 474, Female).

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Males do not represent two discrete populations, heterosexual and homosexual. The world is not to be divided into sheep and goats. It is a fundamental of taxonomy that nature rarely deals with discrete categories... The living world is a continuum in each and every one of its aspects, (p 639).

While emphasizing the continuity of the gradations between exclusively heterosexual and exclusively homosexual histories, it has seemed desirable to develop some sort of classification which could be based on the relative amounts of heterosexual and homosexual experience or response in each history... An individual may be assigned a position on this scale, for each period in his life.... A seven-point scale comes nearer to showing the many gradations that actually exist, (pp. 639, 656) Kinsey, et al. (1948). Sexual Behavior in the Human Male.

Kinsey Scale

0- Exclusively heterosexual with no homosexual 1- Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual 2- Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual 3- Equally heterosexual and homosexual 4- Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual 5- Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual 6- Exclusively homosexual

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How to use this information in a meeting: 1. Watch the movie, "Kinsey" 2. Depending on how comfortable you and your members are, you could discuss where you fall on the Kinsey scale. 3. Split into 2 groups, and debate whether or not you believe in the statistics Kinsey reported. 4. Discuss the information, and talk about how it impacts your lives, and the LGBT community.

Topic 3: LGBT & Religion Thursday, October 30, 2008 9:49 AM

Many of your members may have strong feelings about religion. Having a meeting focused on religion, and showcasing a variety of faiths and their stance on LGBT issues. You may want to keep this meeting on the positive side; while it is important to show some faiths' ideas that religion is bad, this shouldn't be a "Lets talk about the religions that hate us" meeting.

A great resource for this meeting would be Jim Lucas, chaplain for the LGBT group Gays in Faith Together. You can find his contact information in the 'LGBT Organizations' section. While his schedule is a bit on the busy side, he is always willing to speak at meetings, so plan ahead for this one.

Here is some basic information on major religions and the LGBT Community:

Buddhism: People's beliefs are greatly influenced by many factors; two of the most important are culture, tradition, and religion. Culture often trumps religion. For example, in the case of the worldwide Anglican Communion, many believers in the U.S. and Canadian provinces feel that the denomination is in a state of sin because it does not grant equal rights to homosexuals. Many believers in African provinces believe that Anglican Community is in a state of sin because some Anglicans support equal rights for lesbians and gays. Here we have a single religious movement, using the same Bible as their holy book, sharing the same rituals, sharing a common history for many centuries. Yet they take opposite views on homosexuality because of their differing cultures. The same cultural overlay phenomenon may be happening in Buddhism as well. 7 In the West, there appears to be a growing acceptance of same-sex sexual activity as moral. In Asia, cultural influences result in a continuation of a long tradition of considering same-sex behavior to be sexual misconduct. Apparently, the Buddha did not leave any teachings on homosexual orientation or homosexual behavior. He strongly encouraged his followers to "be a lamp onto yourself" -- to examine and test the truth of religious teachings before accepting them. Buddhism is most concerned with whether an action is helpful, based on good intentions, and freedom from harm. Thus, a specific act can sometimes be either permissible or not permissible, depending upon its context. This differs from the positions taken by Christian faith groups. They often evaluate a specific action itself, based on whether it is good or evil according to a system of morality derived from that group's interpretation of the Bible. Many women, gays and lesbians have been attracted to Buddhism because of its relative lack of misogyny and homophobia, when compared to some other religions. But others report "virulently anti- gay sentiments and teachings from religious teachers in Tibetan and other Buddhist" schools.

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Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard's initial beliefs: The teachings of the Church of Scientology are based upon the writings of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986). He was a very prolific author. In 2005 Mr. Hubbard was recognized as the world's most translated author by the Guinness Book of World Record. In 2006 Guinness confirmed this and also recognized him as the world’s most published author with 1,084 works. One of his most famous books was published in 1950-MAY, "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health." 1 It has never gone out of print since. It had sold over 17 million copies worldwide by mid-2004. 8 Book 2, Chapter 5, Page 120 says, in part: "The sexual pervert (and by this term Dianetics, to be brief, includes any and all forms of deviation in dynamic two such as homosexuality, lesbianism [sic], sexual sadism, etc., and all down the catalog of Ellis and Krafft-Ebing) is actually quite ill physically." The term "dynamic two" within Dianetics normally refers to the human urge to procreate. Ellis and Krafft-Ebing were two early researchers into human sexuality. One year later, in 1951, Hubbard published "Science of Survival: Prediction of Human Behavior." 2 One source has quoted excerpts from it. 3 Hubbard crated a "tone scale" which classifies individuals and human behavior. The scale runs from -3 to +4. He apparently rated gay and lesbian behavior at a 1.1. -- between "fear" (1.0) and "anger" (1.5). On this scale, -3 means death and +4 is the most positive rating attainable. 4 It is important to realize that Hubbard is rating same-sex behavior, not homosexuals and bisexuals as people. An individual may change the tone scale at which they are functioning many times an hour. Many anti-Scientology information sources have implied that persons who engage in same-sex sexual behavior are permanently at 1.1 on the tone scale. Book One, Chapter 18, Page 116 says: "At 1.1 on the tone scale, we enter the area of the most vicious reversal of the second dynamic. Here we have promiscuity, perversion, sadism and irregular practices." This presumably includes homosexual behavior. In Book One, Chapter 27, Page 163, he writes: "From 1.3 down to 0.6 we have the general area of the subversive, who promises a people freedom and equality and gives them a slaughter of their best minds and cultural institutions, to the end of a totalitarian dominance." In Page 89-90, he writes: "Such people should be taken from the society as rapidly as possible and uniformly institutionalized; for here is the level of the contagion of immorality, and the destruction of ethics...No social order which desires to survive dates overlook its stratum 1.1's. No social order will survive which does not remove these people from its midst." One of Hubbard's solutions to homosexuality was quarantine; the other was counseling with the goal of raising the individual's rating above 1.1: "The only answers would seem to be the permanent quarantine of such persons from society to avoid the contagion of their insanities and the general turbulence which they bring to any order, thus forcing it lower on the scale, or processing such persons until they have attained a level on the tone scale which gives them value." 5 It is important to realize that L.R. Hubbard's beliefs matched those of mainstream psychiatry and psychology at the time -- that homosexuals were suffering from a mental illness. This belief was based on studies of gays and lesbians who were either under the care of mental health therapists or were inmates in prisons. Needless to say, this was not a representative sampling of the homosexual population. Studying heterosexuals in therapists offices and in prisons would probably conclude that they also suffered from a higher rate of emotional problems. It was only in the mid-1950's that Evelyn Hooker made contact with the homosexual community and studied a random sampling of gays and lesbians. She published the first major balanced study of the mental health of homosexuals. She found that homosexuals could not be differentiated from heterosexuals using conventional psychiatric tests. This eventually led to the decision in 1973 by the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its official manual of mental disorders. 6 Other professional associations have since issued statements about homosexuality which contradict the beliefs of mental health professionals of the 1950's, including Hubbard's. Scientology has been one of the favorite targets of some members of the anti-cult movement. They frequently quote Hubbard's quotations from the early 1950s and claim that it represents the current teachings of Scientology.

L. Ron Hubbard alters position on gays and lesbians: In 1967, perhaps in response to the groundbreaking work of Evelyn Hooker and subsequent researchers into human sexuality, Hubbard wrote: "It has never been any part of my plans to regulate or to attempt to regulate the private lives of individuals. Whenever this has occurred, it has not resulted in any improved condition....Therefore all former rules, regulations and policies relating to the sexual activities of Scientologists are cancelled." 4

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Islam: Homosexuality is not allowed in Islam. There are various verses in Quran where Allah clearly says about Homosexuality. We also (sent) Lut: he said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? "For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." - Holy Quran 7:80-81 "Of all the creatures in the world will ye approach males". "And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!" - Holy Quran 26:165-166 The end result for not giving up homosexuality was the destruction of entire cities When Our decree issued We turned (the cities) upside down and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay spread layer on layer Marked as from thy Lord: nor are they ever far from those who do wrong! - Holy Quran 11:82-83 The Quran forbids any sexual relationship other than in a marriage between a man and a woman. Many homosexual men and women claim that they are born with their sexual preferences and that they have no choice. Although this point is very much in dispute in the medical world, it has no support in the Quran. Even then, irrespective of the nature of homosexuality, this matter would not affect the laws spelled out clearly in the Quran . We know that this life is a test. Everyone of us has his/her own test. For example someone may be born blind, but that person is expected to live his/her life according to God's law. Others are born poor, short, tall, weak, missing fingers, having big nose...etc but all of them are expected to follow God's law. Some men or women may never marry in their life, or spend part of their life without a spouse. As per the Quran they still have to live a chaste life and avoid any sexual contacts outside a marriage. They have to suppress their sexual feelings to follow God's law. It is a major test and not an easy one for many. Only those who submit to God will do everything they can to follow His law. They know that their salvation and eternal happiness rests in doing so. Since God condemns homosexuality, then we have to believe that a man or a woman with homosexual feelings is expected to behave like any other human being and follows God's laws if he/she truely believes in them. He/she shall resist his/her feelings , maintains abstinence , use all available resources of help including medical, social and behavioral therapies to overcome their behavior and feelings. They should pray to God to help them getting over it and submit to God's law that sees homosexuality as gross sin. Only those who steadfastly persevere in obeying God's law will they pass their test and confirm their submission to God. For a person who asks, "why me?" We know God is the Most Merciful and Just (16:90) and He will give each one of us a fair test and a fair chance. He assigns the tests to suite each one of us and we believe that He will never burden any soul beyond its means (23:2). And We have explained to man in this Qur'an every kind of similitude: yet the grater part of men refuse (to receive it) except with ingratitude!- Holy Quran 17:89 We have explained in detail in this Qur'an for the benefit of mankind every kind of similitude: but man is in most things contentious. - Holy Quran 18:54 We have put forth for men in this Qur'an every kind of Parable in order that they may receive admonition. - Holy Quran 39:27 The spouses that God have made from among ourselves are those that aid in producing children. Since the spouses in homosexual relationship would not produce children they are not the spouses God made from among ourselves. And Allah has made for you mates (and companions) of your own nature. And made for you out of them sons and daughters and grandchildren and provided for you sustenance of the best: will they then believe in vain things and be ungrateful for Allah's favors? - Holy Quran 16:72 With regard to dealing with homosexuals, the basic rule governing this would be 60:8 & 9. Allah forbids you not with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just. Allah only forbids you with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith and drive you out of your homes and support (others) in driving you out from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances) that do wrong. - Holy Quran 60:8- 9 However, to be a winner we have to advocate righteousness and forbid evil. Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity. - Holy Quran 3:104 Ye are the best of peoples evolved for mankind enjoining what is right forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith it were best for them; among them are some who have faith but most of them are perverted transgressors. - Holy Quran 3:110 The believers men and women are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers practice regular charity and obey Allah and His apostle. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power Wise. - Holy Quran 9:71 Also, if God so wills, a reminder may benefit the person. On their account no responsibility falls on the righteous but (their duty) is to remind them that they may (learn to) fear Allah. - Holy Quran 6:69 Therefore give admonition in case the admonition profits (the hearer). - Holy Quran 87:9

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Christianity (table):

The following table illustrates how each denomination deals with members who are currently in a homosexual relationship. See also: Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches. Denomination Allows as members Ordains Blesses unions Marries

Adventist No[1] No No No African Varies No No No Methodist Episcopal Zion Church/African Methodist Episcopal Church

Anglican Yes (may not receive Varies Varies No sacraments in some jurisdictions)

Baptist Varies No No No

Calvary Chapel N/A - CC has no No No No 'chuch membership' per se, but attendance is permitted Canadian and Yes No No No American Reformed

Churches Christian Yes No No No

Reformed Churches of No No No No

Christ The Church of No No No No Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") Church of the Yes No No No Nazarene Eastern Yes (but may be Yes (but must be No No

Orthodox denied sacraments) celibate)

Episcopal Yes Yes Yes No Jehovah's No No No No

Witnesses

Lutheran Yes Many LWF=Yes, LWF=Varies, ELCA, No ELCA, some Others (ILC, CELC, other LWF. & etc) =No Others (ILC, CELC, etc) =No

Mennonite Varies Varies Varies No Methodist Yes[2] No[2] No[2][3] No[2][3] (UMC) Metropolitan Yes Yes Yes Yes Community

Church Moravian Yes No No No

Church

New Apostolic Yes No No No

Old Order Amish No No No No

Pentecostal No No No No

Presbyterian Yes (may be refused No PCUSA=Yes, Church No Baptism or of Communion)[citation Scotland=Undecided needed] (sent down to Presbyteries under Barrier Act), PRC, PCA, OPC=No United Yes No national This is a decision for No (Not currently Reformed policy; a matter local Church legal in the UK) Church[4] for prayerful meetings consideration Religious Society Yes Varies Varies by meeting Varies by meeting of Friends (Quaker) Roman Catholic Yes (but may No (celibate gay No No

Church possibly be denied men also not to sacraments since it be ordained varies) although some are secretly ordained)

Old Catholic Yes Yes Yes (Europe) in No Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Swedenborgian Yes New Church=No; New Church=No; New Church=No; Swedenborgian Swedenborgian Swedenborgian Church=Yes Church=Minister's Church=Minister's discretion discretion Unification Yes No No No

Church Unitarian Yes Yes Yes Yes

Universalist United Church of Yes Yes, Not applicable yes, but only with

Canada congregation approval of local may decline to session call United Church of Yes Varies by Varies by Varies by

Christ Association congregation congregation Uniting Church Yes Yes, Presbytery's ? No

in Australia discretion Unity School of Yes Yes Yes Yes

Christianity

Waldensian Yes Yes Varies by meeting No

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Mormonism: Quotations:

"Physical orientation and sexual orientation are not moral issues, and majority / minority phenomena in nature do not involve natural versus unnatural categories. The exceptional in nature is still natural, whether the exception is left-handedness or the homosexual orientation of erotic desire." D. Michael Quinn, ex-Mormon and former professor at Brigham Young University.

"Being gay in ... [the Mormon] culture is beyond hell … I wanted to be cured so badly. The family is the center of Mormonism -- it is the sacred, potent unit. … It is a great failure that family can only be the family almost by the Ozzie and Harriet definition, and anything outside that is not family at all." Trevor Southey, artist "The only marriage sanctioned by God is of a man to a woman. In the case of a gay person, they really have no hope. … And to live life without hope on such a core issue I think is a very difficult thing." Marlin Jensen, official LDS historian.

"Homosexuality Is Sin: Next to the crime of murder comes the sin of sexual impurity." Excerpt from a 2002 Mormon pamphlet.

"We do not intend to admit to our campus any homosexuals. If any of you have this tendency and have not completely abandoned it, may I suggest that you leave the university immediately after this assembly.... We do not want others on this campus to be contaminated by your presence." Ernest Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University, in a 1965 lecture to the BYU student body, titled: "Make Honor your Standard."

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Ways to use this in a meeting: 1. Assign each member a religion, and have them research and present on it. 2. Discuss your member's religious experiences. 3. Watch "Jesus Camp" - its not about LGBT issues, but it is an incredibly insightful look at modern-day evangelism and youth.

Topic 4: Ex-Gays, Exodus Ministries Thursday, October 30, 2008 9:49 AM

Ex-gays, or people who have turned to through religious intervention, are getting more and more time in the spotlight nowadays, and it is important to discuss this topic with your members. The biggest reason you would want to discuss this with your members is to show them that they are not to be feared (the ex-gays, not the ministries themselves).

Some great resources (you should check out all of them before planning your meeting. Seriously): o 'Save Me' - a serious film about an ex-gay ministry o 'But I'm a Cheerleader' - a not-so-serious film o 'Swish' - a memoir by Joel Derfner. He is not an ex-gay, but the final chapter is a moving account of him sneaking into an ex-gay conference, and befriending the men there. It will change your attitudes on ex-gays o www.exgaywatch.com - a website devoted to "so-called ex-gays"

Information from Exodus International - a leading ex-gay ministry:

What can I do to make a gay person change? Of course, you cannot make anyone change. They must be motivated for themselves to want to change. But you definitely can play a very important part in assisting Christians to overcome homosexuality or lesbianism.

First, you can pray for an unsaved homosexual person and share the gospel with them. If you are relating with a Christian struggling with this issue, you can pray for them, too. Pray God will give them the courage and perseverance to achieve sexual abstinence. Sexual activity usually covers deep wounds. Once activity stops, the "pain-killer" of sex wears off and underlying emotional pain can surface. Be there to listen and support them in this process.

Pray God will help them see and find biblical resolution to underlying issues that led to a homosexual orientation. Learn what you can about these problems, and find someone with expertise that can counsel your friend. Pray the Lord will help them re-connect with His original design and purpose for them as a man or woman. If you are the same gender as your friend, you can play a tremendous part in his or her healing just by being a role-model of what a godly man or godly woman is like. That means being vulnerable about your weaknesses, aggressively pursuing personal maturity, and above all, seeking to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Don't discount your ability to help someone leave homosexuality and into all that God plans for their lives. Be a friend: encourage, confront, listen, share. Go side-by-side with them through the challenging adventure ahead.

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Is Homosexuality a Threat to the Family? To America? How can issues like gay marriage affect my family and the country? Despite the usual physical nature of sexuality, homosexuality is based on emotional need instead of sexual need. It involves the most intimate feelings a person can have— attachment to one’s own . Because this process of identifying and accepting our created gender assignment is vital to our emotional, physical, spiritual, and national well being, deviation from heterosexuality to homosexuality is devastating. The devastation pervades every relationship in which the homosexual man, woman, or child engages.

Abuse or feelings of rejection or alienation often create strife between parent and child at an early age sometimes, resulting in gender confusion. The gender confused child seeks to correct the growing distance between him/her and his/her same gendered parent by actions that range from total obedience to total disobedience. The emotional chaos of adolescence can cause translation of these feelings and actions into anger and bitterness toward those of the opposite sex; an overwhelming need for same sex affirmation; or even an aversion to one’s own gender assignment. As a result, gender confusion becomes defiant sexual activity (in thought or deed) and sexual satisfaction becomes the placebo for true love and acceptance.

Today we have become overwhelmingly aware that childhood problems create huge stumbling blocks for adults when they are not dealt with in a timely, God-centered way. With relational brokenness of this magnitude going on in childhood it is highly unlikely that normal healthy relationships can be achieved in adulthood by the homosexual youth without God’s guidance. Even for the gender confused person who has never acted on his sexual temptation, relationships with parents, siblings, spouses, and children will be damaged by the untreated emotional brokenness of homosexuality. America’s national health is predicated on the health of her families. Families who embrace, accept, or try to ignore homosexual sin issues are never healthy. Homosexuality is dangerous to the well being of the family and America.

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What's your "success rate" in changing gays into straights? What you are really asking is whether there is realistic hope for change for men and women who do not want their sexual orientation to be homosexual. And the answer to that is yes!

In 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, Paul gives a list of all kinds of sinners that will not inherit the kingdom of God, including those that practice homosexuality. But he goes on to say, "and that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Some Corinthian Christians had formerly been homosexuals, but now were counted among the saints. Now, that's good news indeed!

No one is saying that change is easy. It requires strong motivation, hard work, and perseverance. But we find hundreds of former homosexuals who have found a large degree of change--attaining abstinence from homosexual behaviors, lessening of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity, correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender. Some former homosexuals marry and some don't, but marriage is not the measuring stick; spiritual growth and obedience are.

On the statistical side, careful reviews of research studies on sexual orientation change suggest that real change is indeed possible. Studies suggesting change rates in the range of 30-50% are not unusual, although "success rates" vary considerably and the measurement of change is problematic. For details and review of several studies, see the link below.

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