A Letter From The President
Bob Dorr, PFLAG Omaha
Posted on December 28, 2003
The Pride Players, talented Omaha-area high schoolers, perform short, original skits describing things that happen to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths.
Each year the Pride Players give a series of performances in the Hitchcock Theater at the Rose Performing Arts Center, 2001 Farnam St. At 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, the group will give its third annual performance benefiting Omaha PFLAG and two other groups.
Some of the skits come from the daily lives of the youths, others from events in the news. This year, there has been a lot of news—good from the viewpoint of the skit writers.
The youths are directed by Brian Guehring, playwright in residence and education director of the Omaha Theater Co. for Young People.
The other beneficiaries of the event are Proud Horizons, the youth support group sponsored by PFLAG, and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), our partner in appearances that help educate the public on GLBT issues.
You can reserve seats for $10 each. In early January, you will receive a mailing that includes a ticket reservation form. Mark the date now on your calendar. The Pride Players have become increasingly popular over the last several years, and at least some of their performances will sell out.
*At PFLAG’s Jan. 8 program-support meeting, we will hear from Michael Gordon, executive director of Citizens For Equal Protection (CFEP). CFEP is the lead political organization in Nebraska working for the GLBT community.
CFEP is a plaintiff in the U.S. District Court lawsuit that seeks to overturn the passage of Voters Initiative 416, which put into the state constitution absolute prohibitions against same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships.
*In his opinion concurring with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that same-sex couples can legally marry, Justice John M. Greaney described how he hoped citizens would respond to the court’s decision. Even opponents of same-sex marriage, he said, should do more than offer “grudging acknowledgment of the court’s authority.”
Same-sex couples are “our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends” who volunteer in schools and “worship beside us in our religious houses. We share a common humanity and participate together in the social contract that is the foundation of our Commonwealth. Simple principles of decency dictate that we extend to the plaintiffs, and to their new status, full acceptance, tolerance and respect. We should do so because it is the right thing to do.”
Amen.
Bob Dorr, president
A Letter From The President
From the December 2003 Newsletter
Bob Dorr, PFLAG Omaha
Posted on December 8, 2003
My wife, Betty, and I recently attended a moving memorial service in Lincoln for Elsa Friendt, who was the life partner of D. Moritz. Elsa, 54, died of cancer after a short illness.
D. is widely known for her teaching and crusading for gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender equal rights. Elsa lived a rather quiet life. As a social worker, she helped parents learn parental skills. Before that she operated her own painting and remodeling business. She was an accomplished musician and photographer. She loved her children and grandchildren. She was proud of achieving 18 years of sobriety.
At the service, tears flowed freely. Elsa died many years too soon. The final weeks of her life weren’t easy. Thankfully, Elsa had her partner to care for her. Theirs was a caring, committed relationship that deserved honor and respect.
As I sat in that funeral chapel, I had this thought: If every American had the chance to know D. and Elsa, opposition to same-sex marriage would surely diminish. When you see a human face and get to know the person, myths and stereotypes evaporate.
Last Tuesday, in a long-awaited ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court opened the door for marriage licenses to be issued to same-sex couples in that state. The court ruled that Massachusetts may not deny them licenses. The decision, lawyers said, means that same-sex couples are entitled to the rights of marriage and that creating a separate class of marriage ”such as civil unions” would not be acceptable.
However, the court did not issue marriage licenses to the seven couples who sued. The court gave the Massachusetts Legislature 180 days to come up with a legal remedy that complies with the court’s ruling. The issue probably will face hostility in the Legislature, which has been considering a state constitutional amendment that would legally define a marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Since 2000, Vermont has recognized civil unions of same-sex partners. If those couples live in Vermont, they receive many of the benefits of marriage. Last week’s court decision could make Massachusetts the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage.
There has been a storm of backlash from this year’s gay-rights victories. Brace yourself. With the Massachusetts decision, that surely will continue.
Some Republicans and right-wing groups are proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would permanently restrict the rights, privileges and obligations of marriage to man-woman couples. That amendment must be defeated. Each of us can tell friends and neighbors how we are harmed, or how our family members are harmed, by denying the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. Each of us can express our views to our elected representatives in Washington, D.C.
Encouraging words came recently from Nebraska’s new Episcopal bishop. Commenting about the election of V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as the nation’s first openly gay Episcopal bishop, the Rev. Joe Burnett told The Omaha World-Herald:
"I believe that the time has come for the church to find appropriate ways to honor committed relationships of same-sex partners."
AMEN!
*We will make holiday socializing a part of PFLAG’s Dec. 11 meeting. We will begin the socializing at 6:30 p.m. and have our support time at 7 p.m. as usual. Instead of a program during the second hour, we will resume our socializing at 8 p.m. Bring a snack item or a plate of cookies or brownies, or something else to share with the group. Our meeting will be at the usual place, Mead Hall at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St.
*The last couple of months, several Omaha PFLAG members have taken on new duties, and we’re grateful. PFLAG can only be effective with the help of people who decide that our cause is worth their time and effort. Hap Rohwer is PFLAG’s representative on the Pride Committee. Larry and Sharon Landreth are doing the work to maintain the mailing list for our newsletter. Beth Curtis is our new transgender coordinator.
*And finally, I can report that PFLAG’s ice cream social benefit for the River City Mixed Chorus was a big success. More than one hundred people attended in addition to 50 members of the chorus who came to perform. We raised more than $930 to help pay expenses of the chorus’s planned trip to Montreal next summer to perform during an international festival. Thanks to all who helped in any way.
Bob Dorr, president
