Transgender Day of Remembrance

There will be a Transgender Day of Remembrance event on November 20th in Lawrence, Kansas. It's probably the only such observance in the state of Kansas.

(www.rememberingourdead.org):
"The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the "Remembering Our Dead" web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Since then, the event has grown to encompass memorials in dozens of cities across the world."

The event will be held at the Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont at 7:00pm in the chapel. Contact: lawrenceksdor@yahoo.com.

A Time To Ride

Here's some info on the film that will be the program at our October general meeting.

A TIME TO RIDE: a documentary film about the
cross-country bicycle ride of two lesbian grandmothers
in search of marriage equality

Elisia and Carrie Ross-Stone, known as the Rainbow
Grannies, finished their second 3,100 mile
cross-country bicycle ride in New York City on July
10, 2004. The couple, who are life partners, parents
to three grown children and grandmothers to Jareth,
age 2, departed from San Francisco on May 2 to begin
their arduous trek over mountain ranges and across
deserts and prairies. As they pedaled, they stopped to
participate in rallies for marriage equality in
cities and towns along their route.

While they made their way across the country, Carrie
and Elisia met
with people face-to-face and told the story of their
own family. They talked about the hardship of raising
children without legal rights and protections -
protections that are only available to legally
recognized families. They shared their fears of
growing older without the benefit of governmental
programs paid for by their tax dollars.

The 2004 ride has been captured on film by
award-winning filmmaker,
Keith Wilson in a one-hour documentary called A TIME
TO RIDE. The film documents the Grannies struggle,
their courage and their determination in the face of
physical exhaustion, hostility, protests and death
threats.

A TIME TO RIDE is not just the story of the Rainbow
Grannies. It is about real gay and lesbian families
whose lives are affected by politicians and religious
zealots who use fear and ignorance for their own
profit and political gain.

A TIME TO RIDE will be available for viewing by
mid-September to give voters an opportunity to
understand what is really fueling the marriage
equality controversy. To see a trailer of the
documentary, visit ww.ATimetoRide.com

HELP US SPREAD THE FILM'S MESSAGE by organizing a
screening at a PFLAG meeting or in your community
before the November 2 election! For more details of
how you can get involved with this important and
timely project, visit: www.ATimeToRide.com

For more information:
- visit: www.ATimeToRide.com
- contact the director Keith Wilson: 415.269.3279
- contact the Rainbow Grannies: 800.891.8189

Kansas City LGBT Yahoo Group

A Yahoo Group has been started for the LGBT Community in the Greater Kansas City area:

Yahoo! Groups : LGBT-Community-KC "Our group is for all LGBT– Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,& Transgendered people & our Allies who live in Greater Kansas City. Our purpose is not to compete with LGCC-KC (The Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Greater Kansas City), but to complement their mission & efforts to serve LGBT people & Allies in Greater Kansas City."

LGBT Election Forum

The Four Freedoms Democratic Club asked us to post the following announcement:

Our voices count.

Our opinions count.

Our lives count.

Our issues count.

Our votes count.

WE COUNT

Election 2004

««««««

An election forum covering Missouri, Kansas and National candidates/issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People and their Straight Allies

LEARN WHAT THE ISSUES ARE

LEARN WHY YOUR VOTE MATTERS

LEARN HOW TO GET INVOLVED

DECIDE WHO DESERVES YOUR VOTE

AND MEET THE CANDIDATES!

Sunday, September 26^th

5:00 to 7:00 pm

Spirit of Hope Metropolitan Community Church of Kansas City

3801 Wyandotte Street

SPONSORED BY:

Human Rights Campaign, Four Freedoms Democratic Club, KC Pride Democratic Club, PROMO, Spirit of Hope Metropolitan Community Church

Paid for by Four Freedoms Democratic Club, Miriam Hennosy Treasurer

New Newsletter Articles

This month's newsletter articles are online.

Rainbow Room Rate

The Hyatt Regency Crown Center KC has a special "Rainbow Room Rate" for the GLBT community. It's located in the heart of Kansas City's gay community with museums, theaters, clubs and the Lesbian and Gay Community Center close by. Just ask for the "Rainbow Room Rate" to get your amazingly low "Pride Price" of only $95 all year round.

(816)421-1234
1(800)233-1234
www.crowncenter.hyatt.com

Contact: Mark Suleiman with any questions: (816) 435-4144 msuleima@mkcrkpo.hyatt.com

"Jim in Bold" Press Release

Here's the press release for the upcoming "Jim in Bold" event from the Greater Kansas City chapter of GLSEN.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Media Contact: Andy Schuerman
	Phone: 816-309-2591

GLSEN-KC Board Members
Andy Schuerman - Chair
David Alonzo - Secretary
Sharon Sanita - Treasurer
Dr. Jennifer Santee - Accreditation Chair
David Beal - Fundraising Chair
Dr. Sheryl Guth - Membership Chair
Coyote Schaaf - Programming Chair
Jim MacDonald- Member Liaison

Kansas City, Mo. - Growing up gay in rural Pennsylvania was too much for Jimmy Wheeler. An embattled artist with a loving family, the abuse he suffered at school and in the world led to his suicide in 1997. His short life and a look at the environment for lesbian and gay youth after his death are chronicled in the film "Jim in Bold."

The boards of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN-KC) and Four Freedoms Democratic Club will hold a screening of the film, "Jim in Bold," on Thursday, October 7, 2004 at 7:00 PM at the Tivoli Theater located at 4050 Pennsylvania Avenue in the Manor Square building.

Following the film, a question-and-answer session will be held with one of the film's characters, Andy Brown. A reception with cookies and milk provided by members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will conclude the evening.

"Jim in Bold" provides a look at Jimmy Wheeler's life through his paintings and poetry along with vivid and painful interviews with his family. Also in the film is a journey highlighting how things have changed since Jimmy's suicide. Five years after Jimmy's death, three filmmakers trek across the U.S. interviewing lesbian and gay youth to compare their lives to Jimmy's. These interviews are interwoven with those of Jimmy's family members to create a stark contrast from the time in which Jimmy ended his life.

"'Jim in Bold' shows that homophobia can kill," reads a summary of the film on its website, www.jiminbold.org. "The harsh reality of Jimmy Wheeler's abuse is a sober reminder of the destructive power of hate and prejudice."

Highlighting the climate for lesbian and gay youth today is a primary motivator for holding this screening, says Alex Flemington, president of the Four Freedoms Democratic Club.

"The environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth improves everyday," said Flemington. "However, much remains to be done to breakdown the institutionalized and internalized homophobia and heterosexism that still pervades our society."

David Beal, GLSEN-KC board member and one of the planners of the event agrees.

"This film illustrates the isolation and loneliness experienced by many lesbian and gay youth," Beal said. "It is the responsibility of us all to expose this isolation and help lesbian and gay youth feel safer in their homes, schools and communities."

According to the film's website, "Jim in Bold' manifests part of Jimmy Wheeler's dream for society.

"'Jim in Bold' is a story of a boy who dreamed of a better world and the people who live his dream today."

Tickets for the film are $10 and can be reserved by calling 816-881-1140 or by e-mailing mhennosy@sbcglobal.net. They may also be purchased at the door the day of the screening.

The Kansas City chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN-KC) works to ensure a safe environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and those who are questioning their sex ual orientation or gender identity (LGBTQ). The local chapter was established in 1998 and works with schools to identify their most pressing needs related to LGBTQ youth and strategies for addressing those needs including training, policy changes and the establishment of Gay-Straight Alliances for youth. More information about the chapter can be found at www.glsenkc.org.

The Four Freedoms Democratic Club, also established in 1998, provides a voice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Kansas Citians in the Democratic Party. The organization has sponsored voter registration drives, screened and endorsed candidates for office, campaigned for endorsed candidates and gained political visibility for LGBT people in Kansas City. More information about Four Freedoms Democratic Club can be found at www.fourfreedoms.org.