FAMILY PRIDE IN THE NEWS

From InNewsweekly 

Doing the right thing - quietly, with impact

Kudos to Jennifer Chrisler and Stephen Wright this past week for striking the right tone in GLBT activism. 

In two stories over the past week, as the media readied itself for inflammatory, divisive quotes, these two responded with grace, and ultimately with authority and power. It's the way we'd like to see more of our national leaders handle themselves in public.

The first brouhaha concerned the recruiting of GLBT families by Family Pride to join in the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll on April 17. The attempt to make this a covert operation was thwarted when Mark D. Tooley, a member of the conservative Institute on Religion and Democracy, blasted the effort as "exploit[ing]" the event "for political purposes" in a column in The Weekly Standard.

Chrisler, executive director of Family Pride, didn't take the bait. Her official response was poised and appropriate. To the contrary, she explained, "We simply want our children and our families to be able to fully participate in an event generations of children have enjoyed."

 Furthering the point that this is about families and not politics, Chrisler noted that if any planned confrontations seemed likely to occur that would put children in danger, the visit would be called off. "I'm a parent first," she told the New York Times. "If we get intelligence about that happening, we'll make a decision."

Another New York Times piece posited that ABC cancelled a reality television show "Welcome to the Neighborhood" last summer rather than risk confrontations with right-wing Christian organizations. ABC officially stated that it cancelled the series because of the many racist and homophobic comments during its earlier segments. ABC, the article says, may have feared boycotts from those less than thrilled that a gay family takes the top prize of a house in a conservative enclave outside of Austin, Tex., after winning over some initially homophobic residents.

The right thing to do is, of course, for ABC to simply run the series. But we're glad that GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) didn't release a reactionary statement demanding that ABC do so, as it did in its knee-jerk response to a so-called anti-gay review of "Brokeback Mountain" by popular and gay-friendly critic Gene Shalit.

Instead, the story behind the story slowly speaks for itself, and reasonable people are making up their own minds - in our favor. Witness heartland-resident Aaron Barnhart in his blog for Kansas City Star who wrote, "'Welcome to the Neighborhood': Just show it."

Rather than blasting ABC in the shrill tones that many expect of the GLBT movement, Steve Wright, half of the gay couple that won the house with their adopted black son, didn't push ABC to run the show. "We said at the outset that if we changed one person's heart or mind, it would be worth it," he said, noting that at least one participant had come full circle from outright homophobia to acceptance of the gay family. "We have empirical evidence we did that."

As a GLBT rights movement, we can make brilliant attacks, erect monuments to those pyrrhic victories - like GLBT activist organizations did with Ford Motor Company - and leave no more than a taunting "F-U" to further inflame our opponents. Or we can quietly and confidently build a foundation for equality. If our actions happen to attract the eyes of others, it's not our fault. We place no blame. We take no credit. We are simply doing the work that needs to be done.

This is the very spirit of Rosa Parks. Thanks to Chrisler and Wright, that spirit is a small part of the GLBT civil rights movement today.

http://innewsweekly.com/innews/?class_code=Op&article_code=1193

SIGN UP TODAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL

If you want to help America see the love of your family, if you want to help America become a more equitable place, if you want your children to have all the same legal protections that children of heterosexual couples do, sign up today to participate in this important event. Please join us on April 17 and make a difference in the lives of LGBT families and our country. For more information or to sign up to participate, go to http://www.familypride.org/eggroll today.

FAMILY PRIDE PRESENTS “TALKING WITH YOUR CHILD ABOUT POLITICAL ATTACKS ON OUR FAMILIES”

Family Pride has created this special resource guide to help families meet the needs of their children while facing statewide and federal level attacks on our relationships and our families. The ballot measures, constitutional amendments and other attacks often include a media campaign, and your child(ren) could be exposed to negative images and comments about their family configuration. Talking about the wave of political attacks on our families and all the issues they can bring up does not necessarily come naturally to LGBT-parents. We hope this guide will give you some additional ideas on how to talk to your child(ren).

Click here to download a free PDF of THE FAMILY PRIDE GUIDE!

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The Family Pride Coalition does not necessarily endorse or encourage participation, and assumes no responsibility for these independent projects. This is an informational service only.

TLC and BBC Seeking 7-11 Year Olds to Tell Their Stories

TLC and BBC networks are creating an innovative documentary series will capture American life through the eyes of 7-11 year olds as they film video diaries of their lives. Production experts will train the kids to use the camera and then give them the freedom to decide what to film!    

We are seeking children of all backgrounds and personalities from across the U.S. Does your child have an interesting story to tell? A wonderful imagination? A unique view of life? Whether your child is shy or outgoing, funny or serious, stubborn or cooperative … we want to meet them!

If you are interested in learning more about this program, please call (212) 974-9050, ext. 221 or e-mail mylifeasachild@bbcnyproduction.com.