09Oct

The Diversifieds A publication of the EDRC at Grays Harbor College

Volume 2, Issue 1

October 2009

National Coming Out Day Story by: Janet Parker National Coming Out Day is a day celebrated annually to increase social and government awareness of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender issues. Coming Out Day started in 1987 with the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights and the AIDS quilt display. The March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights is often regarded as a pivotal moment for the gay community. Here is one woman’s story firsthand of the events of that: day.

In April of 1993, a friend living in Virginia invited me to come out east and attend the historical March on Washington. This was to be the largest gathering of lesbian and gay folks, ever.

What an incredible, empowering experience! Over one million lesbians and gays went to WA D.C., from across the globe, to lobby legislators, pay tribute to lesbian/gay veterans, network, strategize, march, get married, dance, demonstrate, celebrate life and love, and create history.

Organizers planned 10 days of events. These included a soccer tournament, mass wedding ceremony in front of the IRS building, the NAMES project Memorial AIDS quilt was displayed with over 22,000 names at that time, a candlelight vigil was held at the Holocaust Museum, a Flirtations concert, the March to the Mall with a rally to follow, and numerous other functions where one could encounter a massive display of hope and pride.

We wandered amongst the riptides of people until we saw the Washington state contingency that we joined for a few blocks. There were approximately 100 contingents that day. At 2 pm, during the March, participating ACT -UP contingents staged a “die-in” that lasted 7 minutes. The bodies lying on the ground dramatized that an AIDS related death occurred every seven minutes. It was very disturbing to see people dropping to the ground, but the reality showed the problem we were facing.

The rally at the Mall had huge video screens set up along the way, to broadcast the main stage, as there was no possible way to get close to the front of the crowd. Speakers and entertainers that spoke included: Phil Donahue, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Martina Navratilova, Cybil Shepherd, Lea DeLaria, Kate Clinton, Suzanne Westenhoeffer, Flirtations, Toshi Reagon, Indigo Girls, and Melissa Ethridge. A taped message from Senator Ted Kennedy was shown and California Rep. Nancy Pelosi read President Bill Clinton’s message.

Even though the US Park Service only estimated 300,000 people attended the event, and later changed the figure to 750,000, the more realistic figure of 1.1 million showed an empowering, proud community. Attending this historic event was a changing point in my life and I am very glad I took the opportunity to attend. We still face some of the same issues in 2009 that we did in 1993, so the fight will go on.

October is...

• National Disability Employment Awareness • National Italian American Heritage Month • National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Awareness Dates: Independence Day: Nigeria National Day: Hong Kong German Unity Day: Germany Mid‐Autumn Moon Day:China

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National Foundation Day:S. Korea

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Sukkoth: Jewish

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Surrender of Chief Joseph Republic Day: Portugal Armed Forces Day: Egypt

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Karva Chauth: Hindu Hoshanah Rabbah: Jewish

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Battle of Angamos: Peru Sh’mini Atzeret: Jewish Leif Ericsson Day: U.S. Han’gul Day: South Korea Independence Day: Uganda

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Sh’mini Atzeret: Jewish Simchat Torah: Jewish Double Tenth Day:Republic China.

Grito de Yara: Cuba National Coming Out Day General Pulaski Memorial Day Our Lady Aparecida: Brazil Columbus Day: U.S. Dia de la Raza: Latin America Health & Sports Day: Japan

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The Diversifieds are a publication of the EDRC of Grays Harbor College. The mission of the EDRC is to promote awareness, respect, & equitable treatment of the diverse individuals and groups that exist within our campus and surrounding communities. The EDRC is open to all! Please come visit us in the 200 building.

The Diversifieds

Being Raised By A Single Lesbian Mom

As long as the differences and diversities of mankind exist, democracy must allow for compromise, for accommodation, and for the recognition of differences. ~Eugene Mccarthy

[People] may be said to resemble not the bricks of which a house is built, but the pieces of a picture puzzle, each differing in shape, but matching the rest, and thus bringing out the picture. ~Felix Adler

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by Randy E.D.R.C. volunteer and G.H.C. student

I was born in 1979 and lived with my birth parents. By the time I was six I was in a foster home. I don't quite remember how long I was there but, I do remember a very tall female showing up at the foster home looking to adopt and she had chosen me. I didn't really know much about her until I moved to her home. My adoption was finalized in 1987. I was about seven or eight when I found out that she is a lesbian. The way she had explained it to me was excellent. She told me that some families have one mom and one dad, two moms or two dads and so on, then she went on to explain about herself. I became very respectful and accepting of her and I got to meet all of her gay and lesbian friends. It got to the point where she would ask for my advice about another female that she wanted to be with because of the fact that I was very respectful of. I also learned that all of her family members were also very respecting and accepting of her sexuality. There is a lot of love and respect in our family.

School was not easy for me. I got teased a lot about the fact I did not have a dad. I got into verbal and physical fights at school because of this. Almost every time I had a problem at school with the teasing I would talk to my mom and she would talk to me about the issues gays and lesbians face every day. As time went by, I tried more and

more to avoid the teasing.

When I reached High School the teasing was really bad. I was constantly teased because I was different. And once again, my mom would try to comfort me by talking about the gay and lesbian issues in the society today. I would also talk to the counseling center at school about the teasing. I learned that at that school there was a big issue regarding gays and lesbian teens. I was able to get some pamphlets for the counseling center to display.

A lot of people say, “If you are raised by gay or lesbian parents, you will end up becoming gay or lesbian yourself." NOT TRUE!!!!!! There are kids out there who were raised by gay or lesbian parents and they grow up to be straight. Being raised by gays or lesbians is not as bad as you might think. Gays and lesbians are not treated as equal as they should be. You hear a lot about laws changing around the U.S. regarding gays and lesbians. Laws are changing here in Washington as well but, WA still denies Same Sex Marriage. Why? Well, that is a very good question. If you are raised by gay or lesbian parents, don't think of it as a bad thing. I was raised by a SINGLE lesbian mom and I never disrespected her.

Volume 2, Issue 1

40th Annual

Haunted House

Oktoberfest Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society

by Jack Prelutsky

Frances, WA (East of Raymond)

There's a house upon the hilltop We will not go inside For that is where the witches live, Where ghosts and goblins hide.

October 3rd

Tonight they have their party All the lights are burning bright, But oh we will not go inside The haunted house tonight.

The demons there are whirling And the spirits swirl about.

They sing their songs to Halloween.

"Come join the fun," they shout.

But we do not want to go there So we run with all our might And oh we will not go inside The haunted house tonight.

True or False Trivia

European 9-pin Bowling 9am-10pm First Perfect Score of 27 wins $500 Craft/Vendor Fair & Bake Sale 10am-3pm Free Vendor Space Available

Kitchen & Beer Garden open at 11am Horseshoe Tournament—Noon Pinochle Tournament—Noon Kid’s Activities—Noon Dinner—5pm

Swiss Dance Lessons 7:30-8:30pm

Dance to Live Polka Music 8:30pm-2am Free Admission ($3 for Dance) For more information: www.lpss.info

1. The Earth is the closest planet to the sun to be orbited by a moon.

2. Identical twins have identical fingerprints.

3. The 100 year war lasted 116 years.

4. When basketball was invented it was played with a volleyball.

5. The city of Hollywood was founded by a temperance society and only non-drinkers were allowed to live there.

Stop by the EDRC to see if you have the correct answers to this month’s trivia and your name will be put in the EDRC’s monthly drawing.

Samhain

All Saints Eve

By: Charlott Kelley

By: Beth Lavallee

Samhain (Sow-in) is often called The Witches New Year. It is the last harvest before the winter and anything left in the field on this day is often left as an offering to the spirits. Some people believe the veil between the worlds is the thinnest on this night. So it is not uncommon for people to set an extra place at the table for departed loved ones. Small offerings are also commonly left for the fairy folk. Candles are lit and placed on windowsills to guide spirits home, and faces are carved into gourds to scare off bad spirits and tricksters. Many of these traditions are more commonly associated with Halloween which evolved from Hallowmas and Hallowmas evolved from Samhain.

If you are in Sweden on the Friday between October 30th and November 5th you will notice most businesses are closed early or all together. This is in celebration of All Saints Eve. In Swedish tradition many holidays have their main celebrations on the eve of the holiday, and that is the case with All Saints Eve. The holiday that follows All Saints Eve is All Saints Day also known as The Feast of All Saints.

Many people associate this holiday with Halloween however; Halloween traditions are derived from fear of the dead and the traditions of All Saints Day are designed to celebrate our relationship with those who have gone before us into heaven. This holiday is designed to remember and show respect to those who have passed on. It is celebrated by lighting candles on gravestones of loved ones, feast, and festivals. Some churches organize concerts to celebrate.

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How Domestic Violence Affected Me I grew up in a home where my father was mentally

By Kary Estabrook

I have made my share of mistakes in relationships

and physically abusive to my mother. Although my

throughout the years. I could never within myself feel that I

mother tried to shield my siblings and myself, I was

was worthy of the person I was with so I did things to mess it

aware of all the names he called her and the threats he

up. Even got to the point of trying to being controlling in

made. When I was nine years old my mother left my

order to not lose someone. At that point I went into a deep

father but the abuse didn’t stop until I was about thir-

depression, which no one knew I was in. About four years

teen. Both of my parents had remarried when I was ten

ago I did a lot of soul searching and thought I came up with

years old but my father was still drinking and thought

a step in the right direction. I decided I would write my fa-

he could run both households. I lost respect for my fa-

ther a letter forgiving him for all the bad things that had

ther when I was about eleven years of age.

happened throughout my childhood. I realized, soon after,

Growing up I always swore I would never be with any-

what a huge mistake that was. He told me I was a liar, that I

one like my father or let anyone abuse me. I have stuck

was a disappointment to him and even said that he never

true to that. Throughout the many years I have faced

harmed my mother. That is when I realized that I would

many emotions over the pain I felt over those years. In

never have a good relationship with him.

ever relationship I have ever had there has been an

Today I still have inside me anger, sadness, pain and an

emotion from my childhood. It took me until recently

emptiness that eats at me. I have learned to accept the

to figure all this out and I am thirty-eight years old

things I can not change or make better because life is to

now. Although my father was never abusive to me as a

short. I see the strength my mom has although she was the

child, I took all the things he said to my mom and

one that was abused and I strive to be that strong. If only I

thought they were directed at me, after all I am a prod-

could have her ability to let it all go just to be at peace.

uct of my mother.

Someday I hope to be there.

Sexual violence affects us all!

Every 2 ½ minutes an act of sexual violence occurs somewhere in America, most of which will go unreported.

Beyond Survival is a Sexual Assault Resource Center in Grays Harbor County that provides services to ALL people impacted by sexual violence. These services include: Advocacy and support through the medical and legal processes as they pertain to sex crimes.

24 hour crisis line response Community Education On-going support and skill building for survivors, their family and friends Prevention presentations in schools that are tailored specific to the age and developmental levels of audience/participants; including internet safety, safe and unsafe touching, bullying, sexual harassment and healthy relationships Support Groups Therapy Information & Referrals Bi-Lingual services

All staff and volunteer advocates are specially trained to serve and meet the needs of people dealing with issues caused by sexual violence.

All services are free and confidential.

Call us today. No one should have to go through this alone!

117 E. Third St, Aberdeen 360-533-9751 888-626-2640 :www.ghbeyondsurvival.com

Domestic Violence Center 360-538-0733 or Toll-free 1-800-818-2194

A batterer will use anything to gain power and control within a relationship.

• Physical Force (hitting, slapping, tripping, pushing) • Emotional Abuse (coercion, threats, intimidation) • Economic Abuse (not allowing partner to have a bank account, forcing partner to work or not work, withholding money • Sexual Abuse (withholding affection, denying reproductive choices, forcing sex)

The Domestic Violence Center provides safety and support for you and your children. Our advocates can help in many ways: • Emergency shelter for abused women and their children, or hotel nights for abused men.

• Crisis intervention 24 hours a day through the Domestic Violence Hotline: 360.538.0733 or toll tree 1.800.818.2194.

• Legal advocacy and justice system support including help with protection orders and victims compensation.

• Advocacy with other social service agencies (with permission from the client) • Advocacy-based counseling for groups and individuals • Disability accessibility and advocacy.

• Technology Safety Planning and assistance • Assistance with exploring options, choices and referrals to social services Page 5

Gandhi; Lessons On Life by:Beth Lavallee On October 2, 1869 Mahatma Gandhi was born. Gandhi was a great man and an icon to many people. He was a leader in peaceful mediations, an author, a student of law, he was an important figure in the effort to achieve religious equality, and an advocate for peace, love, and respect amongst all individuals regardless of differences. Gandhi made 12 vows in which he followed. Truth, Non-violence, Chastity, Control of the palate, Non-stealing, Non-possession, Swadeshi (use locally made goods), Fearlessness, Removal of Untouchability, Varnashrama Dharma, Tolerance, and Physical Labor. Even today, more than a century after his birth, Gandhi’s beliefs still have significant meaning and there is much to be learned from him.

To commemorate the birth of this great man I would like to share some of the things I have learned from Gandhi’s vows. Truth: “Truth is not fulfilled by mere abstinence from telling or practicing an untruth in ordinary relations with fellow men.” Be truthful with yourself and others. Don’t engage in activities in which you might resort to telling an untruth. Non-violence: “The active part of Non-violence is love.” Love yourself and those around you. It makes non-violence easy if you learn to love even the wrong doers in your life. Love them for their humanity. Control of the Palate: “Eating is necessary only for sustaining the body and keeping it a fit instrument for service, and must never be practiced for self-indulgence.” Unlike Gandhi I will not be fasting for protest, but it is a good principle to remember. Nonstealing: “It is not enough not to take another’s property without his permission.”

Gandhi believed nature provides just enough for our daily needs and that receiving or possessing unnecessary goods is also a theft. Swadeshi: “Following this principle, one must as far as possible purchase one’s requirements locally and not buy things imported from foreign lands, which can easily be manufactured in the country.” Enough said! Fearlessness: “One cannot follow Truth or Love so long as one is subject to fear.” What is it that we are all so afraid of? Is it failure we fear, or success? Tolerance: “The Ashram believes that the principal faiths of the world constitute a revelation of truth, but as they have all been outlined by imperfect men, they have been affected by imperfections and alloyed with untruth. One must therefore entertain the same respect for the religious faiths of others as one accords to one’s own.” AMEN!!!! Physical labor: “Man can be saved from injuring society, as well as himself, only if he sustains his physical existence by physical labor. Ablebodied adults should do all their personal work themselves, and should not be served by others, except for proper reasons. But they should, at the same, remember that the service of children, as well as of the disabled, the old and the sick, is a duty incumbent on every person who has the required strength.” Take care of yourself and take care of others.

For more information on Mahatma Gandhi visit www.mkgandhi.org

Other Awareness Dates: 12- Liberation from France: Laos, National Day: Spain, Thanksgiving Day: Canada 17- Bandi Chhor Day: Sikh, Diwali: Hindu 18- Restoration of Independence: Azerbijan 20- Birthday of the Bab: Baha’I 23- Chulalongkorn Day: Thailand, Republic Day: Hungary 24– United Nations Day, Suez Day: Egypt 25– Republic Day: Kazakhstan 26– Chung Yeung Festival: China, Labour Day: New Zealand, National Day: Austria 31– Halloween

Campus & Community Happenings

Diversity Committee FREE movie “The Visitor” Oct 2 @ 6PM G.H.C. room 2250 doors open 5:30

40th Annual Oktoberfest Oct 3– 10AM‐2AM Craft/Vendor Fair & Bake Sale, Kitchen & Beer Garden, Horseshoe Tournament, Pinochle Tournament, Kid’s Activities, Dinner, and Swiss Dance Lessons Faculty Professional Day (no classes) Oct 9 Student Success Conferences Oct 14‐ 9AM‐2PM Free, short workshops on study skills, personal devel‐ opment, and college knowledge.

Molly’s Revenge acoustic Celtic band Oct 17‐7:30PM‐9PM Bishop Center for Performing Arts $13 adults,$11 seniors,$8 students & children 12 & under

Calling All Writers!

The Diversifieds would like to welcome and encourage students and staff to submit articles for publication in The Diversifieds. This is a monthly publication. Please contact Beth Lavallee at lava6205@chokermail.ghc.edu for next month’s topics and to submit articles, poems or artwork.

Equity & Diversity Resource Center DIVERSITY COMMITTEE Committee Chair: Brian Shook The Diversifieds Staff: Beth Lavallee

360-538-4247 Room 219 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive Aberdeen, WA 98520