Door Donations Increase! See “The Soapbox”, page 7!
CHALLENGE
The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Since 1972 Volume 41, Issue 5, October 2015
Staying Above the Fray by Sherri Rase When I sat down to write this President’s Letter, I had the experience of instant autumn – just add water! A temperate, humid morning gave way to an overcast afternoon. Mother Nature wove a little magic and after a brief rain, the winds of change literally brought the look and smell off fall to my patch of Heaven. Fall means back to school for some, new jobs for others, and the political process for all.
October at GAAMC is especially cherished as it holds our Vote Your Issues meeting. Traditionally held on the eve of the last day to mail in a voter registration, we invite candidates from all sides of the aisle to tell us how they’re going to change our world, if we vote them into or re-elect them for office. Other world changing October events include a visit mid-month by Jane Clementi to discuss the work of the Tyler Clementi Foundation; and the end of the month brings our annual version of don’t-dream-it-be-it, the Halloween Social.
It’s difficult, but very important, to keep political discussions grounded in issues. GAAMC is a charitable organization, so we practice ardent non-partisanship. Keeping our interest in issues that affect us as individuals and as a movement helps keep emotion out of Be passionate in your beliefs and moderate in discussions as much as possible. Passionate your speech. Other people have opinions and discourse is great but it beliefs too, and it’s Inside Challenge is critical to keep the our differences that Challenge Information ........................... page 2 flames of emotion away make us most interGAAMC Events for October ................... page 2 from the paper of our Gleanings -- Queer news from around esting, rather than arguments. Issues go up the ways we are the the world ............................................ page 3 like tissues with inflam- October Q-munity Calendar – LGBT same. Explore our events in and around New Jersey .... page 5 matory rhetoric and differences by makArts Reviews ............................................ page 7 quickly we devolve to ing GAAMC a regular Bulletin Board ......................................... page 7 schoolyard taunts rather part of your calenGAAMC Board Meeting Minutes........... page 8 than the rational exdar. GAAMC Information .............................. page 9 change of thoughts. More content can be found at www.issuu.com/GAAMC