UC Davis with Laura...and Laura

So, I caught some sort of bodyache cold flu thing from Buffalo's flights - I forgot the Airborne - but we headed up to UC Davis in California by car and got there just in time before the Q&A. I was really impressed by a table set up and presence of a Christian group who is all inclusive...and they mean it. I'm told there's a bazillion student Christian groups on Davis' campus and they run the gamut of perspectives. There's ONE that has connected the dots of being open and affirming. They have dinner nights, retreats and different services and socials. They're gathering steam as more GLBT folks figure out they don't have to chose between being gay and religious as they find places they can go to in their local area and be themselves.

Laura Engelken who is a seminary student and attended the Davis screening with us fielded questions and had one student come up to her one on one. Her name was Laura as well and said how grateful she was Laura was in the movie because she resonated with Laura's experience and has similar thoughts. She's currently struggling and was thrilled to see our title say "and" and not "or". She attended by herself, was quiet during the Q&A, but when she shared herself with Laura and Laura later shared her conversation with us, we felt strongly that the screening that night was for Laura, the student attending the screening. We were thrilled at the hopes that she won't have the hard time Laura Engelken and I did. That she can have unity inside herself by saving herself from the drama and disconnect with God.

We also met a unitarian minister who shared with us that his parents have a hard time accepting him still. Here's a grown, intelligent, sensitive, honest, loving and caring man who's devoting himself to ministering to others and his parents aren't able to still recognize who he is...they only see who he isn't, and that's not knowing your own kid. Ouch. We loved meeting him and hearing more personal stories. One of my favorite reasons for being out on tour with the movie is hearing people's stories. I like to hear what they've been through, where they are now and where they want to be. I like to know what's really going on with people since I know from a lot of experience that mainstream media do not reflect what Americans really think, feel and believe.