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An Open Letter From Robin Malta, SDGMXXVI
Let me begin by thanking my friend Ronnie Kramer. He brought around a cloud to rain on my parade and made it the most memborable experience for me and I hope for everyone else. Now I believe I can fly.I can't begin to express my thanks to everyone in our community and to all our guests from abroad. You all made me feel very special and made each other realize what friendship and respect are all about. I believe we can all fly.
I'd like to thank my sister Rick Thomas for being there for me every step of the way for the last 8 years. I love you! Ronnie Mentel, Don Dupree, Steve and Chuck, Hunter and Wally, Randy and Mark, Bruce, David and Paul, Walter, Ricky, Arnell, Keith, Kenny, Bob and Danny, and Sue Peters-I love you all buckets.
Thank you, Errol, for all of my errollisms. They were perfect. Special thanks to Ken Marino and all the staff at Wood Enterprises, Tommy and Staff at Oz, and Jonathan and staff at the Pub/Parade. You all joined together to help me in a way which I am unable to express my thanks enough.
Sidney and the Clover-you truly went bananas! Thank you. Larry Graham from Studio One-you made me look and feel like a million bucks-thank you.
Lucille and staff at Golden Lantern-hats off to a job well done. Miss Love and all past GMs-thank you for accepting me as you did. I'm glad we're all friends forever.
Blanche Peters, you made me look and feel like the real thing. Thanks for your patience and efforts on such a short time. To the 8th District Police Station, especially my lead officer and Sgt. Matthews-you could not have been kinder.
Jerry Peters of Budweiser beer-I can't say enough about you and your staff. I hope I did for you what you did for me. Thank you.
Rip, Marsha and the staff at Ambush, especially Toni Pizanie-without you guys I don't believe I could have pulled it off. To all the bars along the GM drink run and parade route-thank you so very much for being a part of it all.
Jason and Jeremy with Ambush TV-thanks for putting up with me all day; and James Tompkins for all my graphic design work.
In closing, I hope I didn't leave anyone out. I had so much help. Again thanks to everyone for making this a very memorable time in my life. With much love,
--Robin Malta, SDGMXXVI
P.S. To Terrance, you're in my heart and prayers. I love you like a pig loves corn.Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to Maudelle Cade's letter in the last issue. While I don't know all of the ins and outs of who said what to whom and when, I do know that on June 28, 1998 1 wrote a letter to Ms. Cade expressing my concern about treatment of gay and lesbian youth at Covenant House.I had heard about and related to Ms. Cade an incident of a gay youth being beat up at Covenant House. I heard it from his own lips. He said it happened in the presence of staff who did nothing to intervene. This young man has been living on the street ever since because Covenant House was not a safe haven for him. After hearing this story, I heard from adult members of the GLBT community that this has been an ongoing problem.
Ms. Cade responded to my letter with one of her own. This letter assured me that anti-gay activity was not allowed at Covenant House. She told me that the LGCCNO was going to hold sensitivity sessions for the full staff. I have also spoken to an adult volunteer at Covenant House who told me word had come down from Sister Mary Rose (National Director) that anti-gay activity would not be tolerated.
While I understand Ms. Cade's concern to get her side of the story out to the press, I think it is important that people like Toni Pizane [sic] write their concerns and positions in their columns. Someone with a voice needs to speak out to help protect our youth.
Despite Ms. Cade's categorical protestations that no one had reported this incident to Covenant House, I am writing to let you know that I informed her of the attack on the gay youth in my letter of June 28 and requested that she contact leaders in the gay community to check out what I reported.
I have since heard more stories of recent mistreatment, by staff, of GLBT youth at Covenant House. Tell Toni to keep the light shining brightly on Covenant House. We need them to be a place our young people can go when they find themselves cast out on the street. Sincerely,
--Michael DesJardinsDear Editor,
Last spring the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Area Chapter of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG/NO) determined that it wanted to place an ad in the Louisiana Human Rights Campaign Dinner program to indicate PFLAG/NO's support for the Human Rights Campaign as well as inclusion of transgendered persons in the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (EDNA). It was subsequently agreed that the following wording would be incorporated into the ad:"We support the inclusion of transgendered persons in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (EDNA) now. Having regularly addressed the homophobia experienced by the parents, grandparents, children, siblings, aunts and uncles and, yes, even spouses of lesbians and gay men, we felt that we are uniquely positioned to appreciate the anguish transphobia visits upon our transgendered family members and loved ones."
However, because of miscommunication between PFLAG/NO and the Louisiana, HRC Dinner Committee and within one or both of our organizations, the agreed upon message was left out.
Although we are convinced that the omission was not caused by the intentional act of any individual, we are agreed that it is important for as many members of The New Orleans gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community as possible to be made aware of the position of PFLAG/NO on this important issue.
We would therefore very much appreciate your publication of this letter. Sincerely,
--Robert S. Riply, Co-Chairperson, LA HRC Dinner Committee
--Sandra Pailet, President, PFLAG/NODear Rip & Marsha,
Thank you so much for your participation as a sponsor of Red, White & You!! Your generosity will help enable City of Hope's progress in search of a cure for HIV/AIDS and related cancers.Funds raised through Red, White & You!! support City of Hope's innovative gene therapy which is using "molecular scissors" or ribozymes that could prevent people with HIV from developing AIDS. This treatment, now in human trials, has the potential to lower the costs of AIDS treatment and provide long-term or permanent resistance to the virus.
We appreciate your contribution to City of Hope. With your help we will win the fight against HIV/AIDS and related cancers. Thank you for being involved with making Red, White & You!! part of Texas history... and a new Texas tradition! Sincerely,
--Charles W. Solomon, President, Texas Chapter, City of Hope
--Linda E. Ballard, Senior Director of Development[Letters and Comments should be sent to Ambush Letters, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; or, E-mail to webmaster@ambushmag.com]
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