A Note to Consider

This letter was sent to Delaware GLU's Facebook page from Mary Post:


Hello everyone,

As you may not know, I am on the board of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence. We are looking at “revisiting” the GL concerns task force that was in existence about 3 or 4 years ago. We are looking to have a meeting in March 2012 in order to explore if a task force for GLBT concerns would be something of use in Delaware or if there are other avenues to assist in helping members of the community who are experiencing Domestic Abuse/Violence in their relationships.

At this point we do see a need to educate the community that same-sex partners can get Protection from Abuse through Family Courts as well as educating those who work in the field about being GLBT friendly through their use of language, signage and inclusiveness. There are concerns about the shelter systems, not just in Delaware, but all over the country and if they are able to work well with our community and see the unique needs that we face.

The idea is to have a discussion – a needs assessment if you will – to help us determine the best way to move forward. As I wrote the meeting most likely will be in March of 2012. I do not have the location yet but I know that we can arrange for teleconferencing.

If you know of anyone who would like to attend this meeting or would like more information please contact me. We are looking for community service providers, therapists, shelter workers, advocates, members of faith communities, etc. – so PLEASE FORWARD THIS!!

My information is below.

Thank you,

Mary
mpost@dcjustice.org
302-658-7174 x22

January is Now.

Sorry about the first few missed days:


January

8:
9: Pride meeting (Wilmington)7pm Brandywine Library, also the Rainbow Chorale Auditions(Wilmington)6pm Westminster Pres Church
10:
11:
12: PFLAG meeting (Wilmington) 7pm Westminster Pres Church
13: Wilmington Art Loop
14: Renaissance meeting
15:
16: Rainbow Chorale Auditions 6pm (Wilmington)
17:
18:
19: Our Night Out 6pm (Wilmington) Piccolina Toscana
20:
21:
22:
23:
24:
25:
26:
27:
28:
29: Anita's Angels 8pm (Clue Parrot, Wilmington), Amateur Drag Extravaganza 9pm (Club 3, Wilmington)
30:
31:

If you know of any events not yet listed, please email me:
delawareglu@gmail.com or jjsielskijr@comcast.net

Sorry for the delay

Has it been a month already?!

My how time flies when you're being lazy.

Happy 2012... now lets get back to work!

You are Surrounded by Love.

If you have not yet seen this video, now is the time.

At this moment, the world is reaching out to Jonah. We are standing up, we are writing in, we are speaking out in a chorus of love and hope.

This is what I love about our community. This is one reason, out of many, I know I can really be proud to be gay..... Every one of us is willing to wake up our souls at any moment to reach out to a child in need. We all are equipped with the emotional/spiritual CPR, in a sense, to breathe that Breath of Life back into the bodies of those suffering souls. We bond ourselves together as a community because we honor human self-preservation. This has been going on since the beginning of time, here it is again today.

All of us, every person on this planet has an abundant capacity for love and the capacity to love. Since I believe this point to be true, I also believe that there is no such thing as a bad person. However, I do believe that we allow ourselves to forget about this capacity; I believe that we allow ourselves to become lazy with our potential for kindness. Being hopeful/kind is much more difficult than being pessimistic/judgmental. Therefore bad things happen. If you show a person love, they want love. If they don't experience enough love, they learn that love doesn't exist. Our responsibility as people who interact with people is to show love at all times, this is a universal rule. It will take constant effort and self-reflection, but there is no greater reward.

"At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted that flame within us" - Albert Schweitzer

This is our mission, Delaware. Unlike Mission Impossible, we don't get a choice as to whether we accept it. It is our human responsibility to be kind to one another simply because there is no other option. I'm certain many have already read the one article: "I'm Christian, Unless you're Gay" ...which highlighted this point far superior than my humble paragraphs. But my point is this: There are people who are still suffering or struggling with emotions relevant to their sexuality, even in Delaware! Find them. Help them. Nourish them with your wisdom and your kindness. Educate them that they are not alone. Inform them about groups like PFLAG, Haven, CAMP Rehoboth... and the many other groups that exist to bring comfort and joy to our area. (Note the chain of links off to the right of this page) However, understand that you alone are enough. You, as a friend or family member, are enough to be your own support group for whoever is hurting. The last thing Delaware needs is more people being lazy with their generosity. Embrace the best in yourself and know that you are surrounded by love so that you may surround others with love as well.

That little boy in the video had no idea of how profound an impact his message would leave in the community. You are loved, leave with gratitude.

<3

Sunday Wisdom

Love and gratitude are not expressed in sentences,
they are expressed in sentiments.

December so far....

1:
2:
3:
4:PFLAG (Rehoboth), Bingo-a-GoGo (Wilmington), Rainbow Choral @ Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA)
5:
6: LGBT community event @ Pro Kitchen Gear (Greenville)
7:
8: PFLAG (7pm, Wilmington, Westminster Pres. Church)
9:
10: Rainbow Chorale Concert (3 pm, Epworth Church, Rehoboth) Renaissance Meeting (Wilmington)
11: Rainbow Chorale Concert (4pm, First/Central Church, Wilmington), Anita's Angels Drag show (8pm, Blue Parrot Bar/Grill, Wilmington)
12:
13:
14: De Pride Community meeting (Wilmington)
15: Our Night Out's 1 year Anniversary/Holiday party(Wilmington)
16:
17:
18:
19:
20:
21:
22:
23:
24:
25: Merry Christmas!
26:
27: Food Bank volunteering opportunity (Newark)
28:
29:
30:
31: Rehoboth GAYla

January 1: Civil Unions are legal!
.....
January 7: One Love, a civil union event (8pm, DE Art Museum, Wilmington)

A worthwhile reminder

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” [Nelson Mandela]