Announcing Greater KCMO SSN Group Meeting

We've received the following info about the next Straight Spouse Network meeting.

The Greater Kansas City area SSN support group will meet Monday night, April 3, from 6:00-8:30 PM, room 124 at Village
Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd, Kansas City. Come in the south entrance. Go down the stairs, turn left and immediately turn right. The room is about 20 feet past.

TOPIC---Mixed Orientation Marriages that Stay Together--Our past group facilitator will speak to this topic and will answer questions. About 1/6th of straight spouses stay married. We will also have time to explore any of our other issues, too.

FOOD--Feel free to bring your dinner and drink and/or snacks with you.

DIRECTIONS:
From I-35 south, take Rainbow or 7th St exit south on Rainbow several miles to Shawnee Mission Parkway. Turn right. At the second light, Mission, turn left and weave around a little until 67th St. There is a light here. The church is on the left. Take the next left into the South parking lot.
From the South, exit at Roe or State line north to 75th St. Mission is between Roe and State Line. From 75th St, go north on Mission past Prairie Village Shopping Center. Church is on right.

If 6:00 PM is too early for you, please feel free to come when you can.

Please contact me, either by phone or email, to let me know you will be attending and/or to let me know if you wish to car pool.

Donna in KS
785-221-8794

Love Needs No Cure

Here's some info we've been sent about the Love Needs No Cure vigil in St. Louis, Missouri:

Love Needs No Cure.
A Peaceful Vigil.
A Response to the Anti-Gay message of “Love Won Out”

Saturday, February 25, 2006
Vicinity of First Evangelical Free Church
1375 Carman Road, Ballwin, MO 63021

Frequently Asked Questions.

What is this about? Our community is responding to the hurtful and untrue message being promoted by “Focus on the Family” and “Exodus International” in their “Love Won Out” conference. These organizations are asserting, against all established, educated, and scientific studies and practices, that people can be “cured” of homosexuality. Our community-based response, which was organized by a group of people from various faiths, professions, political backgrounds, etc., will be respectful, joyous, life/love-affirming.

Who is invited to attend? All fair-minded people who stand in unity with the LGBT community, or oppose the oppression of others are invited to attend.

How long will the vigil last? Due to the structure (registration & adjournment) of the conference, we hope to have a large group of people attending the vigil during the morning and late afternoon hours. Certainly, people are invited to stay the entire duration of the conference, but your presence is appreciated even if only for a half-hour.

Morning Gathering: 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Afternoon Gathering: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

What else can I do to contribute? We also need financial support to organize this event, along with subsequent events to “counter” the message being delivered throughout our region on billboards. Please send any financial contributions to PROMO (www.promoonline.org) attn: Love Needs No Cure, 438 North Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63130.

Where do I park? Due to the anticipated turnout, we encourage you to carpool with your friends and family. In addition to very LIMITED parking around the intersection of Carman and Weidman, we will be hosting a shuttle service from the following locations:

Queeny Park | 550 Weidman Road (West Park Entrance)

Commuter Parking Lot | Northwest Corner of I-44 & Hwy 141

Manchester United Methodist Church | 129 Woods Mill Road @ Manchester Road
**Please park in the Northwest corner of parking lot.**

Good Shepard Lutheran Church | 327 Woods Mill Road (.25 mi. North of Manchester Road)
**Please park in the south side of parking lot – closest to house and garage.**

Interested in carpooling? Carpools will be available only in the morning (6:00 a.m.) from two locations:

Delmar Loop Metrolink Station | 660 Rosedale Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63112
St. John’s United Methodist Church (also MCC Church), 5000 Washington Avenue @ Kingshighway, located in the Central West End.

Interested in being a Peacekeeper? We need people to ensure the safety and security of those involved, and also be mindfully watching for possible disturbances. If interested, please contact:
Perry: 314-283-4050 | opus397@aol.com
Rob: 314-353-5951 | robbieblue11@msn.com

Kickoff Meeting For the Johnson County Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition

Please attend the kickoff of the Johnson County Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition. The purpose of this meeting is to:

• approve the Chapter bylaws; and


• elect board members for the Johnson County Chapter

Your participation in this organization is crucial to setting the direction for GLBT Kansans and ensuring fairness and equality for all. You can make a difference.

***Please note that in order to vote on bylaws and board members you must be a member of the Kansas Equality Coalition. There will be volunteers at the meeting to process your registration. Annual membership dues are $25 (household); $15 (individual); and $5 (full-time student). Checks accepted.***

---

January 25, 2006
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Colonial United Church of Christ
7039 Mission Road
Prairie Village, KS
Heritage Room

7:00 – 7:10 Welcome
7:10 – 7:20 Review of Bylaws
7:20 – 7:35 Membership Drive
7:35 – 7:45 Acceptance of Bylaws
7:45 – 8:15 Chapter Board Elections
8:15 – 8:25 Legislative Overview
8:25 – 8:30 Next Steps/Adjourn

---

The Kansas Equality Coalition is a new, unified statewide group of fair-minded people who are determined to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We seek to ensure the dignity, safety and legal equality of all Kansans.

We are nonpartisan and include people who are religious and secular as well as straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered. We are from all walks of life and from all parts of the state.

Formally created on Oct. 9, 2005, in a meeting in Emporia, the Equality Coalition is the largest organization in Kansas dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Julian Houston

Julian Houston, one of our chapter's founding members, died Tuesday, December 20, 2005. We will all miss him.

Update: Our monthly newsletter has an article about Julian.

Helen Cohen

Our chapter has received word that former PFLAG-KC President Helen Cohen has passed away.  Helen was a wonderful chapter president for many years and a good friend to many of our members.  She will be greatly missed.

Ad Ideas

These are some ideas for an ad we are thinking about placing in a local publication.

Here's ad idea number 1:


And here's ad idea number 2:


Please feel free to vote in the comments.

Benefit Concert for Passages

Here's a news release about the upcoming benefit concert for Passages:

*Casey Stratton & Eric Himan to Play The Hollywood Room in Kansas City on April 22, 2005 *

Former Sony Music recording artist Casey Stratton and indie rocker artist, Eric Himan will be co-headlining a new 20-city tour this spring/summer. One of the first stops will be at the Hollywood Room in Kansas City on April 22, 2005 at 8 pm. This will be a benefit concert for Passages Youth Center.

Eric Himan has made a conscious decision to remain an independent artist producing and releasing four discs in as many years on his own label, ThumbCrown Records. */Dark Horse/*, Eric's most recent work was released on 3/22/05 to an eager grass roots fans base, selling 1000 copies in its first week and becoming a "Top Seller Now" at Cdbaby.com. National press features include OUT, Instinct, Genre and the Advocate. Eric was recently tapped to be among some on music's hardest hitters: Melissa Etheridge, Dixie Chicks, and Carole King on the Human Right's Campaign's latest compilation */Love Rocks/*. This Fender endorsed artist has built his loyal following by playing no less than 115 shows in 2004. Eric has become a favorite on the collegiate music scene, showcasing his talent at the 2004 NACA National Conference as well as stopping at over 75 colleges nation-wide. He breaks the mold of the soft-spoken, earnest folk troubadour. His performances are filled with electricity and power, but his lyrics betrayed a vulnerability and sadness that sharply contrast with his bad boy appearance. The combination proves irresistible to audiences.

Casey Stratton has packed a lot of music into a relatively young life. It was through the piano that he discovered a passion writing songs and singing them. After graduating from Michigan's Interlochen Arts Academy, with training in voice and composition, the budding artist left Michigan for Los Angeles. With the growing momentum and increasing popularity of his fan base, there was nation-wide label interest in Casey. The hard work paid off and he was signed to Sony Music Entertainment in 2002. His first Sony release */STANDING AT THE EDGE/* was produced by the legendary Patrick Leonard (Madonna, Elton John). Casey's performances have already resulted in a cult following, and he has received glowing reviews in magazines like People, USA Today and Billboard to name a few, and appeared on national television, including CBS Saturday Morning.

Casey's remix of '/House of Jupiter/' was recently *# 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart*. There has been an overwhelming response with this remix and with Casey in the past several months. Most recently, Casey has made a decision to take his next album */DIVIDE/* to a new level and release it independently in late Summer 2005 on his label, Sleeping Pill Music.

In a time where unique and inspiring live performances run second fiddle to pre-fab bands and lip-syncing on national television, Casey and Eric are here to reassure you that true talent is here to stay.

*Show Details:
**Friday, April 22, 2005 8 pm


Admission $17.00
Hollywood Room
100 E 20th St
Kansas City, MO
(Corner of 20th & Walnut)
Tickets available at:
Out There
205 Westport Rd
816.753.4757
&
The Planet Cafe
3535 Broadway Suite "D"
816.561.7287*