Director's Column: Thoughts on one year as Director
“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?” - George Eliot
It is finally here-August- which means we get to celebrate Pride in La Crosse on Saturday, August 22nd. If you haven’t stopped in to purchase your Pride button, stop into the Center and get one today-only $5! There is an excellent day planned full of music, entertainment, information, kid’s games, and more. A little something for everyone to come out and enjoy the day! Let us all come together and have the biggest Pride yet here in La Crosse. For one day come out and just be your wonderful unique selves at Pride. Invite your friends, family, favorite allies, and everyone to join in a day of true equality here in La Crosse.
The 4th of this month also marks my first year here at the Center. It has been exciting, challenging, and amazing! Over the past year we have hosted rallies and marches, spanned the blue bridge for equality, hosted our first Gala Event, presented at local trainings, given the keynote address at Viroqua Diversity Day, presented at Brookwood High School, organized and held fundraisers, served on the planning committee for the Transgender Health Care Conference, started new groups to meet the needs of LGBT folk and allies, and more. Reflecting back on the past year, we have had a great first year together. With gratitude I extend deep appreciation for each and every one reading this column. Thank you for your support. I look forward to an even better 2nd year!
Since August 2008, we have seen progress achieved across the nation. When we consider Same Sex Marriage in California (even with Prop 8 in California), New Hampshire, Ohio, and Wisconsin's Domestic Partnership Registry starting August 3, 2009, it is apparent we are on the right path toward realizing equal rights. We will continue to be out of step with those that oppose our demand for equal rights and dance for our freedoms. As we move steadily toward equality our opposition will become more ruthless, determined, and focused on denying us our rights, but we must stay united in our vision and stay the course. There are many courageous marginalized groups that have marched before us that we can look to for strength and nerve.
To simply state, “I do not want to get married; it does not matter to me.” is not enough anymore. It is not now, nor has it ever been about just one of us. It has always been about all of us! Even if some choose to never be married, it is really not a decision if we can’t do it any way. So remember we aren’t looking to marry off all the family-we simply want to be able to have a choice. In acknowledging and accepting our diversity we have the greatest strength to weather the storm of ignorance, fear, and heterosexual privilege.
I invite you to attend our last two Brat Barns of the season at the Onalaska Festival on Saturday, August 8th and Friday, August 21st. If you have not made it to one, please stop and show us your love and support. If every subscriber of the enewsletter bought just one brat we would sell 363 brats which would raise $907.50. Will you commit to help us achieve the best brat barn ever? Bring your family, friends, partner, and coworkers and let’s finish with the best sales for the summer. Your support at our fundraisers is appreciated and needed.
We are committed to being a viable Center that helps promote equality, an atmosphere of openness, and assists in community dialogue to help all persons embrace each others uniqueness. In our diversity we are bound by our humanness. Here is to another year of good work to further the vision of the Center.
Peace & belief,
Rosanne