"Funny Hurts" from Jason Stuart

Hi guys. Here's an article Jason Stuart, who's featured in our movie and is a wonderful comic and human being, has written that I felt deserves posting on our blog. Take a gander and go from there...

All I ever wanted to do was act and do stand up comedy. Since I discovered that being gay was an issue to most folks one way or another, I feel compelled to take a stand when I see a group of my fellow human beings attacked. I was never the kind of man who could sit at a family dinner when a racist comment was made about any group. So if a racist joke were made, I would simply say, that's not ok with me. They would reply but you're not Black. Well, it's still not cool or funny.

So, I was saddened and offended at the crudeness, the lewdness, the brazen racism expressed by Michael Richards unloading his rage. Surely most comics have the skills to handle hecklers or distractions, from a large group of friends gathered for a surprise party at a comedy club where alcohol is routinely served. This should come as no surprise to any comic, and our tactics should be playful, to engage, and win over the noisy fuckers. It's part of our job.

To demean, an audience member with a vile, hateful diatribe, simply has no place in comedy. It's not even the word, it's who says it on our cultural landscape, in what context it is said, and most importantly the intent behind it. Nonetheless, I side with Oprah and think the word has too much meaning to be used in a public setting.

It is time for us all to stand up for an internal audit. What are we capable of? How many Mel Gibson and Michael Richards' moments have we witnessed in ourselves, both in and out of a comedy clubs?

As the NY Times stated on Dec. 3, "For some, the most important lesson, one which may show some progress toward racial tolerance, is that it is the man who first hurled the racial insult who appears more damaged this time, not the target of his epithet." Mr. (Dick) Gregory said his son told him a joke the other day: "What is worse than a white man calling a black man a nigger?" Mr. Gregory said, quoting his son. "Calling a white man Michael Richards." My hope is that Mr. Richards is able to turn this negative situation around and make it a positive by supporting the community with his celebrity. My hope is that then, he'll no longer be the target of jokes, and all of us may be changed by the discussion his behavior ignited.

I found myself in the lobby of the Laugh Factory after the news conference on November 27th and was asked to be of support to the owner Jamie Masada, who has had me work at his clubs for over 20 years as a headliner and always as an equal. After the press conference the New York Times asked me some questions. But the NY Times misquoted my words. So I wanted to set the record straight.

What I said was that, "about 25% of black comics have anti-gay material in their act and just as many or more white comedians do the same. What are we doing about that?" Nothing.... I spoke with Najee Ali, a civil rights activist and he responded by stating that he has been on the front lines to support all folks from prejudice.

So I turn to you, my community to start an enlarging dialogues on the social acceptability of gay-bashing. I ask the question where do we draw the line? The current all-important discourse on racist speak is vital. How can we as gay folks add to the crucial discourse centered now on racism? At a time when LGBTQ folks are scorned, do we not have to address the hate radiating from the Religious Right, and to all comics making us the "butt" of their homophobic fixations? We must ignite amongst Americans a desire to also dig deeper and address the hate. Most Americans have soul-searching to do in their comedy choices, on street corners, and middle school hallways, that are often not very funny either but painful to others.

I learned when I was 12 the word "fag" scraped on my locker with a nail. I saw it every day for 3 years in Jr. High School. I never said a word to a soul. It shredded my sense of who I was for almost 20 years, until I started speaking on college campuses on the power of being out in the workplace.

It is time for change and I for one intend to continue to be a part of it in my work and my life.

Podcast Interview with Luane Beck & Darren Main

Darren Main hosts her own podcast interviews where she discusses health, wellness, spirituality and more from all kinds of angles. She recently interviewed Luane, our director and has posted the interview on the web. Please take a listen and pass it around via email to as many as you can, keep feeding yourself and others on the subtance that'll help us feel "full", no more twinkie content to keep us asleep.

Darren, thank you for the interview and your support for our movie. Opportunities such as these will make differences and change lives, many of which we won't know about but know enough that they are there.

Listen to the interview
For iTunes

Email the trailer to your friends - new discussion group on YouTube

Hi guys. Since we've been home from the last three months we've been on tour, we've been getting our act together behind the scenes trying to spread the word about the movie at the grass roots and organic levels. Any time we screen, the response is always huge and very favorable. Now that the movie is FINALLY avaialble, we're trying to get the word out and let people know here in the holidays.

What better gift is there to give yourself and others than love, support, acceptance and understanding? That's what this movie's about. Help us out by spreading the trailer now available to email around on YouTube.com.

Also, there's a discussion group! Our December newsletter will be out soon, think of getting the DVD for your friends, family, your self, your co-workers who could use a helping hand from a non-threatening source this holiday season. Dismount the year in style!

Thanks for your help!

Kim & Luane's Christmas List

My family has always tossed around a Christmas wish list. Dad usually gets one or two things on the list for me, my sister will get one and my mom will deliberately get me something NOT listed. It's part of my mom's sense of humor. Actually, my favorite gifts from her are the ones she makes. She's made me afghans, a picture pillow, a pad for this storage big Luane built, stitch work, candles, and a quillow -- ever heard of those? It's a pillow and when you "unfold" it, it's a quilt. Then you fold it back up to a pillow. It's like skorts, or a spork. Well, the word is anyway.

Luane's family tree is currently a twig. Lists don't seem necessary. Her mom basically says "send me the link and I'll take care of it". Her mom is generous at Christmas and cares a great deal that she gets us exactly what we need. She's not very technically savvy (knowing this, I set up her new mac with our website as her homepage so she can see us every morning) but is very understanding of us needing certain tools to do our work effectively. She actually bought one of the three cameras we needed to shoot the documentary last year.

So, Luane isn't into lists and it's been like pulling teeth to get her to tell me what she wants. As a compromise, she tells me stuff here and there and then I'm to be creative beyond that. However, I'm the one in our couplehood that wants so badly to choose something personal and sweet that she will love and will bring a tear to her eye and end up getting like a bag of socks for her. I'm just not good at it. And yet, every year she blows me away with her thoughtfulness and dead-on choices of gifts for me. It's a talent.

I'm easy to buy for. I lay it out on the traditional christmas wish list. Just like the song about grown up christmas lists, mine now includes the charities I'd like my family to donate to, spread the cheer that way. I've mever been into "stuff", it just means it's more to take care of and clean. So, I'm choosy and it's almost always relating to our work. There's not much of a boundary between me and my work, especially with this documentary, it spawned from my story so I'm not only in it but all over it. So if there's something I desire for Christmas, you can bet it'll be something I'll use for the doc and our upcoming supporting services.

The list used to be posted on the fridge. Now it's posted on the web. My how times have changed. I hope you get what you desire and wish for. Consider adding your favorite charities to your wish list too. Here are just a few of our favorites:
- Heifer International (being vegetarian, we tend to sponsors the trees...)
- American Forests (make sure you see Inconvenient Truth with Al Gore)
- Habitat for Humanity
- Save the Dolphins foundations
- The Hunger Project
- PFLAG
- HRC (Human Rights Campaign)
- Soulforce

We usually support organizations that don't just band aid but get the community to help itself. There's no long term effect just giving someone a turkey once a year. I'll save that for another blog...Luane has an interesting story around that. Anyway, consider supporting folks who build people up and in turn their communities for long term improvement and prosperity. Have a great week.

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Lots to be thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving! Luane and I usually drive several hours house-hopping visiting family for Thanksgiving but since we've been gone from home so much lately, I think Luane's feet are nailed to the living room floor and our cats permanently attached to our laps. So, we decided to have the day of gratitude on our own. Then, we got invited to a friends for breakfast...it was only 10 mins away, can handle that. We ate a lot and managed to see the Parade for the first time in like 15 years and see Barry Manilow's 2 minute plug for his 1960s album. If you haven't seen his show in Vegas, I recommend it...and save up to get the stage tickets too.

Anyway, back to eating a lot...then various family members from all around the country began the calls and check ins. I was on the phone with folks as often as I was talking to people in person...lots of talking, lots of love going around. We went home, I talked on the phone, Luane and I ran through the 79 ideas of what we could and in what order for the rest of the day which included hot tubbing to frisbee throwing to meditating to starting the deviled eggs. None of that happened.

We got another call. A friend of ours said we had to go to her house as her non-vegetarian aunt brought two huge platters of mediterranean food and they could never eat it all. So, Luane got off the treadmill, wiped her pits and off we went. Our friend didn't give us any time to clean up so we got real cozy with her and her family!

All in all, we were really thankful to have met so many new people, we got to share the movie all day, everyone wanted to hear about the tour and we carried around our *one* copy we own (isn't that funny? We have ONE). It made us reflect and appreciate what an amazing year this has been for us. We're so grateful for the support you've given and we hope you feel the support and love through the movie, blog and website that we have for you and yours. Happy Holidays! Let the Christmas music take over!

Election Reflection Nov 2006

First of all, congratulations to Arizona for being the only state to not allow the ban on gay marriage amendment to go through. While we visited there in October, people weren’t sure how things were going to go but were optimistic and believed in the people of Arizona…and it paid off. Yes, it was close with a 51% to 49% result, but nevertheless, the ban is now not something else to prohibit equality in Arizona. The shifting in the Congress and Rumsfeld resigning is all very interesting and encouraging that Americans are tired of living in fear. It's exhausting, isn't it? Thank you to everyone who participated in our Evening on Equality. We felt the energy move and really appreciate your taking the time and heart space to participate. It made a huge difference! We'll host these virtual events from time to time, looking forward to our next one. We're looking at ways to webcam them so we can seem more in the same room.

Lewisburg & Cookies

We were just in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania which is in the middle of the state. We were told before arriving that “there’s Pittsburgh, there’s Philadelphia, and then there’s Alabama inbetween.” We checked that statement with the locals while we were there and they actually agreed.

We missed the beautiful leaves by two weeks but there was still some orange and bright yellow to be seen. One thing I really appreciate in the trees that are bare and transparent with all the leaves gone, is that I get to see the nests the birds were using. I get to see where they built them, how they constructed them, admire their engineering of renewable resources and marvel at the art in the architecture. When such natural amazement is revealed, I like to pause and just appreciate. I felt this way in the vulnerability that Lewisburg residents and Bucknell University students showed us during our brief visit.

One of the first things we did at Bucknell was speak at a freshman foundations Social Justice class taught by a Ph.D. in Psychology. It was a small in number class but a high IQ composition. All but two of the students were female. Where are the guys? It’s not Home Economics, it’s social justice, where are the males?
What does that class’ composition say at a macro level? Or is it a fluke?

Nevertheless, the professor was very trusting of us and we reassured her Luane and I had taught at the University level for eight years and we’d behave as guest speakers. We even put her through a little experiment along with the class and she participated fully. The students were engaged, they seemed challenged, and got a chance to talk and look at a subject matter that is at the surface but rarely discussed openly and in such a safe space. We love doing classes so it was a real thrill to be able to work with this “next generation”.

The screening took place at the Campus theatre in downtown Lewisburg, which is an independently owned non-profit, kept in tact with its original 1941 art deco décor and ambiance. I’m told by Mary the amazingly cool manager that it’s one of twelve single screen theatres still running. We were proud to have screened there. It was so beautiful, you have to see it for yourself…check out their website at http://www.campustheatre.org. We got a tour up in the projector room and saw all this original equipment, firedoors and just how many miles of film makes up a movie. We also got to hear from Chris the local comedian projectionist, several funny projectionist stories of films spliced together out of order and therefore run out of sequence…the character’s eating, now he’s not, oh! He’s eating again…or still? I love hearing the behind the firedoor stories.

The screening went flawlessly, looked beautiful on the huge screen in 16:9 and sounded awesome. We had a great crowd who asked lots of questions coming from all kinds of different perspectives and experiences, and all there to learn, appreciate and exercise compassion….on themselves and each other.

We met people who are starting to deal with the struggle and the hard times that may lie ahead. We met people who didn't grow up in a religious home and found the movie talking to them in a way that helped them see that they can have a relationship with God even if organized religion is not for them. We also met a mom who came because she has two pre-adolescents and attends a conservative Christian church, wanting to know how she can help make room for her kids to let them find out who they are attracted to without getting stuck on the assumption they are both heterosexual. There’s more to be said on this subject but I’ll keep that for another blog entry.

In essence, we loved the people and the place of Lewisburg. It's a town where you can leave your car unlocked and it's still there when you return - in tact. I even saw someone leave their laptop case with the laptop in the coat check area of the eating commons. It was refreshing to see trust still existing in a community. Finally, I try to eat a chocolate chip cookie locally made at every place we go to and I got to have two this time...so the trip was a great success.

Sunny San Bernardino

San Bernardino had the most perfect weather. It was warm and beautiful. The only downside was the smoke in the air dusting up the horizon from the wildfires set by arson that had killed firefighters. What can a person be thinking by setting a fire in dry brush on a hill near homes and a university? The loss of nature, lives, animals…it makes me shudder. Not to mention that those trees, those green leafy things I see too often being cut down and replaced by concrete is our source of oxygen. We’ll suffocate without them and they are burning down in these wildfires as well. I won’t dwell on this topic since we believe what we focus on expands so I’ll focus on lots and lots of trees…therefore lots and lots of oxygen. Inhale...

The screening at California State University San Bernardino was really fun. We had great questions as usual – which we don’t take for granted, we’re very appreciative of the level of quality questions and integrity in keeping the discussion at a safe space for everyone. We had a student say he’s considered a conservative Christian and just the fact that he came we really wanted him to know how appreciative we were that he was there. He broke stereotype by attending and asking a great question and was open to the answer we offered. We have a ton of respect for people who come to the movie who may already think they know what to believe about the topic but don’t get stuck and/or stop at the title: God & Gays. They still take the time to hear something new, something that’s not openly talked about in this way in their circle. They are stepping out of their comfort zone and that’s a sign of spiritual maturity and for that we are grateful!

I also got to experience a student’s dilemma of talking to a friend who pretends he’s not gay but when he thinks no one is looking, he’s with guys in secret. My heart was aching for this friend and for the student. It’s not easy bringing a deliberately avoided subject up in conversation. The student cared and wanted to tell the friend she was accepting and supportive of him and wanted him to basically stop lying through his behavior to her and others….that he didn’t have to and that the friends loved him no matter who he’s interested in. She was afraid he’d get mad and cut off the friendship if she brought it up. Yeah, that’s definitely a legitimate risk. So is him opening up and being so relieved to have someone to talk to about what he's going through. As Henry Ford said, whether you think you’re right, or you think you’re wrong, either way you’re right. So, again, focus on what you want to have happen, have that emit as frequency from you and do your best. If the friend freaks out and slams the door on her, it’s just where he is right now and he got exposed when he thought he had people fooled. But, I made her promise that no matter how he reacted, she needed to understand that it was his reaction and she didn’t “cause” anything; he must own his reaction. He can take the conversation as a blessing and opportunity for acceptance and love or he can run and hide some more, and therefore everyone loses. But, he’s entitled to his process and so is everyone else.

I hope she talks to him, sooner than later. At least he’ll know there’s one friend that cares about him, wholly, honestly and completely and she’ll keep the door open for him as he’ll need a support network while he goes through his process. I was grateful she told us her situation. It reminded me once again why we did made this movie.

Soooooooo Close!

Ah, the world of indy filmmaking. Restricted by time and money, we're having to make some interesting choices for the final DVD. Then, when we thought we were at final, we aren't as the menu needed some sprucing up. The DVD is available for pre-order now and will be shipping on Monday, Nov 6th. We are sooo excited. It's really odd to think so much of your life and energy ends up on a thin disc between plastic. At least I have a snapshot of my life and say hmm...I wonder what I did in 2005 and 2006, look at the back of a DVD cover and know the answer. I'll hold the answer in my hands. I've had to be more involved in the technical aspects of finalizing the DVD than we anticipated, which is another part of indy filmmaking, the more aspects of the process you're good at, you'll probably end up doing them at some point. Between Luane and I, I'm the more technical one. We're a good pair...she's the creative, head in the clouds, big vision person and I'm the feet on the ground, technical, detailed one with a secret sociological identity.

This has gone off in a tangent...anyway, we thought we'd have the final delivered today of the DVD but nay, the excitement continues.

We're currently in San Bernardino, CA at a screening. I'm in someone else's office and there's a Taco Bell attached to the other wall. Taco Bell is the last remaining fast food place I'll touch since it offers vegetarian options. I'll write more soon on what we've learned while in San Bernardino where wildfires have been set by arson and wiped out the beautiful green tree-y mountains at the foothills of the campus. They had a flash flood last week dousing 1st floors of buildings since there isn't any brush and trees on the mountains to contain the rain. More from So. Cal. soon.

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.

In Buffalo, NY, there is Canisius College

We've been having the most odd luck. Our screenings seem to land right around really odd acts of nature and humanity and when we arrive, the campuses are a little off axis. This time, we're in Buffalo at Canisius College which is named after St. Canisius and is a Jesuit school. Their freak adventure was a very early snow storm in October to where there was so much snow, and the trees still had their leaves, the branches and sometimes the leaves themselves snapped and fell...sometimes roots and all.

This caused power outages to lots of blocks, included dorms and classrooms on campus. Where our event was held, we had power so, "the band played on." We screened in a cultural center where it's a revamped old church with beautiful stained glass and stone work.

We sat in the greenroom during the movie and handled some phone call meetings since we were three hours ahead of most of our team back in California. They left us chocolate chip cookies and water, which is my favorite snack in the world. Ahhh....choc chip cookies.

For the Q&A, we had some great questions on the film and us personally. We always lay the groundwork that we're transparent and can answer anything asked...if we know the answer anyway. One person asked about the differences between marriage and civil unions and I told the audience how I feel when I'm reminded my status is considered second class because everytime I fill out my tax forms, I have to lie and say I'm single...under penalty of perjury no less. I'm not single. I'm married. But, I have to lie to my government because it judges my choice of love to another human being. I just have to laugh...probably because I don't know what else to do sometimes...that my marriage to Luane is decided upon as legit or not by strangers in voting booths by punching a card.

So, the best way we try to answer all questions is demonstrating what it's like for us, tell our personal stories. Then, the audience can decide on its own what it feels and believes. We can only tell our truth.

Buffalo also has an interesting plethora of Greek restaurants. Not sure why, but we always eat at locally owned cafes and restaurants wherever we travel so we can get the local feel and we kept ending up at Greek places. The food was excellent and our company was fantastic. We'd eat with other leaders at the University and we'd have some great, open and honest talks about issues effecting our lives. We broke all the dinner table etiquette rules and talked about religion and politics. We'd have some folks look over and stare, and that's okay. Glad they were interested and I hope they got something out of it.

Buffalo has a small gay area/street called Allentown and we just loved the old buildings. We went by an old church that Ani DeFranco bought and is renovating into a recording studio. There was this fantastic quilt tied between two trees in front of the church...not sure what it was doing out in the rain, but it was bright and colorful amonng the gray and brick.

Loved our visit to Buffalo. The students there have strong boundaries, they are motivated and have VERY strong ally support. One kid said there was another student calling him names and spitting on him and the kid told him to stop and when he didn't, he said the student crossed the line and put a restraining order on him due to harassment. THAT'S knowing and upholding your boundaries and nipping hatin' in the bud. Everyone deserves respect and just because you may not agree, doesn't give you the right to act like a dork.

First Stop On Tour, Starting off Easy in...Virginia

Charlottesville, VA was our first stop on the fall 2006 tour. We did the red eye flight into Dave Matthews Band territory and was welcomed with Joy, our host, holding up a sign with our names on it. We had to take a picture by the baggage claim with her since we’d been in town two seconds and learned by the signage and flags all over the airport what “country” we were in now.

After some rest and a yummy stop at Panera, we arrived at the afternoon screening. It was the middle of day, didn’t know how much attendance we’d have but Kim the intern had this beautiful spread of veggies, drinks and cookies, the whole campus would be fed. The time came, soda cans popped, lights dimmed and the show went on. For the Q&A, we were told by students that there were a number of conservative Christian pastors in the audience, but they left immediately after the movie. There were also members of the campus republican club there. We loved it. Diversity and inclusion cross party lines…it’s unfortunately not as common, but it does and should exist. We had many straight allies in the audience and I made sure they felt the love we have for them in their showing up and caring about their fellow classmates not getting equal treatment.

The second showing was later that evening and the room was standing room only. Students sat on tables and leaned against walls to see the movie. Many people from the community came and we got to hear some really hard and some wonderful stories. The harder ones included a woman who was raised in what she called a “Christian cult” in New Mexico and was programmed at an early age that if she left, she’d go to hell. Fun, huh? Happy childhood memories... She still left but also still lives in fear that God not only may send her to hell for leaving the cult but now because she’s been in a long term relationship with another woman. She said the movie helped heal some of the hurt she’s been holding onto and it showed her not to stereotype all Christians as unaccepting. It’s true, there is so much support by mainstream Christians for GLBT people than what is said publicly (due to their fear of being socially punished) we cannot get stuck in the mire of lumping all religious folks into being uninformed and unaccepting. It’s just not true. We get emails and people (whispering) to us how they support equal rights but feel they can’t be outward about it in their church or community. This is a sad current state of affairs of course, as the negative stereotypes then stay alive and well about straight Christians and people and the subject continues to stay stuck. But, they are there, we promise. We hope those folks will see the movie and get the message that not only do gay people need to be honest and open of who they are but also straight allies must come out and be open and honest of their support and acceptance (mind you, I’m not saying tolerance…tolerance is unacceptable…and I hope you enjoy the double entendre of that statement).

Back to the cult woman, she mentioned if the unmarried gay and straight person’s marriage amendment passes, her and many others like her – gay and straight – will have to move out of the state. The amendment will prohibit further equal rights including hospital visits and she has health issues that should the time come, her partner will need to be there to make decisions on her behalf. They’ve been together 20+ years and there is no one else to be with her. With this law, her partner wouldn’t be allowed to be with her nor have power of attorney, etc. as she’d not be considered “family”. Think about that for a minute. What would that be like if you were in her situation? If you are straight, been with your spouse for 20 years and he/she couldn’t make decisions for you and that person knows you best? Some second cousin you barely know has more authority? Just pause and soak in that scenario for a minute. Remind me again how this promotes family values...

We also got to enjoy a good talk with an atheist bioengineering student who kept asking “who cares if it’s a choice or not?” as he’s really into the science of it all. It was great talking with him and it helped renew our faith in this collegiate generation that they too don’t all fall into the stereotype of being sheep who just memorize and are lethargic. We’re meeting outstanding minds and personalities and are better people because of it.

Tour Fall 2006

Luane and I are so jazzed about hitting the road these next three months to Universities and theatres hosting us in all different areas of the country. We start in Virginia and basically get to cover the whole state hitting Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Norfolk. We've got one day off inbetween which we plan to make some visits with HRC and PFLAG in Washington, DC. Those guys are national marketing partners and we'll be adding more akin organizations throughout the next few months. I love it when we can all work together!

Back to the tour...so then we'll head to Arizona, Vermont, New York, California and Pennsylvania. We really wanted to get the movie on the road with us before the mid-term elections in hopes those who come will get exposed to information that could lead to a more informed vote. What's going on in Virginia with yet another attempt to narrowly define acceptable love and recognition is occuring verbatim in Arizona. We are anxious to learn what people are doing locally in their states and how the elections effect them. We plan to do a looootttt of listening. Bags are packed, fish and cats are fed, plants are watered and we're ready to hit the road!

Working on the DVD Extras

Okay, the time is drawing near when we'll announce the release of God & Gays. We're working hard on the DVD extras and will be shooting some interviews with featured folks in the movie during our tour in Sept and Oct to many states who have a lot to fight for in the upcoming elections.

Our challenge is selecting from what we have. It's hard! We actually have enough to do a whole other movie. Alas, here we are on another holiday weekend banging out our ideas. If you've seen the movie, contact us at info@godandgaysthemovie.com and let us know what you'd fine interesting on your copy of the DVD in the Extras.

In the consistent spirit of paradox, happy memorial day.

Mel White's new book and tour

Mel White who is one of our featured speakers in God & Gays has a new book out called, Religion Gone Bad, the Hidden Dangers of the Christian Right. He's also going on tour around the country when it's released on Sept 7th. Check out the website for more info: http://religiongonebad.com/.

We had breakfast with Mel before we premiered in March and he told us this book was not holding anything back. He is very committed and serious in exposing the spells that many Christian Right leaders seem to have on their loyal audience. He's an amazing leader in this quest to educate.

He's also father to Mike White, who you may know of from School of Rock with Jack Black and Black/White Productions in LA. They just released Nacho Libre. Mike is doing really well and is currently directing his first movie in California.

Media comes in all its forms of messages. Its cornucopia can get overwhelming and in the spirit of the "goodbye" message from the flight attendants upon arrival, we know you have a lot of choices for your media consumption and what messages you'll put your attention to, thank you for choosing ours.

Seriously, we're grateful it resonates with you. We hope you continue flying with us. Thanks.

Bridge That Gap Comes to Santa Cruz, CA August 19th!

We're thrilled to be taking the Bridge That Gap conference to Santa Cruz, CA! A perfect vacation destination. This is home to the very popular Rev. Deborah L. Johnson from Inner Light Ministries and her partner recording artist Valerie Joi Fiddmont who are both featured in God & Gays: Bridging the Gap. I'm proud to know them and be working with them on creating this incredible, unique and really cool one-day conference.

New to this conference is I'll be speaking on Comfort Zones Are Slow Dream Killers and run a breakout group on bridging fear to love, helping each of us acknowledge where we're making decisions based out of fear and bust through our belief systems to make decisions from God's point of view, from love. I've been running workshops at other people's conferences and have been encouraged to speak at my own conference, so, come to Santa Cruz on the 19th and check it out!

We'll have live music from Marjorie Pearson and Valerie Joi's choir, author Darlene Bogle talking about her exodus from Exodus and we'll kick off the day by showing our movie, God & Gays: Bridging the Gap. Many of the people featured in the documentary will be there in person; how often do you get to talk with people from a movie in person?

It's going to be an incredible event. Thank you to Santa Cruz and Inner Light Ministries for bringing the conference to your area. If you can't come to Santa Cruz for the conference, then you can bring the conference to you! Email us from the website as we're already booking sites for Summer 2007!

Have you heard of The Secret?

It's a movie and no, I can't tell you much more than that, because, it's a secret.

What I do encourage you to do and I'm very very serious about this, is, to go to thesecret.tv and either watch the trailer and the whole feature-length movie there on the site or order a copy to purchase. It's not on Netflix, not in theatres. This is the only way to see it unless you have friends that own a copy. Then, get a showing together and include chips and dip.

We highly recommend seeing it with a small group of people. The discussion afterwards is always very enlightening. You'll be talking and thinking about it for days after watching it. For some, they watch it every few weeks to kind of make sure they're still on target and didn't stray too far.

You'll see life in a whole new way. More power to ya. Feel free to write us and let us know what you think of the The Secret after you see it, post your comments below.

I'm having a hard time not sharing stories of how our lives have been different since really watching the movie and see how its messages show up in life...so, check out the movie and share your stories with us.

More power to you.

Kim & Luane go on tour packed with the movie to the magic 17 states

The November mid-term elections are on the horizon. When I was in school, most people didn't like midterms, but they were precursor to how we'd do on the Finals which made the midterms that much more important. It's like when I played basketball in high school, how much attention I paid and effort I gave in practice clearly showed up in how I played the game.

The campaign ads have begun their race to the bottom, which helps fair-weathered voters blow off the mid-term elections. With my analogies above, hopefully we can really change our tune about these kinds of elections. Just because we aren't electing a president this time, doesn't mean it's not important. Future presidents are running for seats as governors, congress members and their are 17 states here in 2006 that still battle to legislate people's equality rights.

Just because it's baffling and absurd to most of americans, that doesn't mean we should ignore it and it'll go away. There's a bazillion signatures that need to go on a petition to get to a ballot. Somebody's signing them and those same somebodies are motivated to vote.

So, just like basketball practice, Luane and I have decided to hit the road and help political, spiritual and community-oriented organizations by providing non-threatening, educational, compassionate and undeniable content for their event.

Remember my post on living small? Luane and I can't make a movie like this and not do anything with it when there's so many people in the shadows who don't deserve to be there. The movie is meant to be seen and be a tool to bridge gaps: gaps of understanding and gaps between friends, family members and within ourselves.

We're serious about this stuff. Just yesterday, sitting in a restaurant, a woman leaned over to me and told me of her husband's brother who's gay and the whole Mormon family has shunned the brother except her husband. She talked of the divisiveness of the family and how her husband is also shunned for actually loving his brother, no matter what. Interesting implementation of family values.

So, if you and your affiliated organizations are running community educating events, no matter what state you're in, email us from the website and let's work on this together. We look forward to the road trip and meeting you in person.

Thank you for what you do, every day, from wherever you are.

Some say 6/6/06 is the apocalypse, maybe their right: The FMA vote

Hi everyone. Today, the US Senate is actually taking the time to deliberate on if LGBT people deserve equal rights and propose to amend the constitution banning gay marriage (the FMA: Federal Marriage Amendment). If you're reading this from outside the US, you're probably throwing your arms up in the air and thinking, if Americans are this bored, perhaps a library card or gardening would be less harmful to portions of their human segments? It's quick and easy for us Americans to respond with sadness, rage, depression, powerlessness at the very thought of someone's value being discussed in legislation. It's oh too easy to go there.

This is the consequence of doing nothing.

That willingness to sit in a corner in defeat and fear is what has allowed the discussion to even get this far. Lethargy is one of the main factors for the fact this documentary had to be made and is in high demand, that there is a PFLAG and an HRC. One would know the world is serving fully and spiritually if none of these organizations had jobs...there'd be nothing basic and obvious for us to teach and explain to each other like there's no difference between heterosexual and homosexual people...all are people.

We are not to be on the defensive. There's no reason. We have nothing really to explain, or justify. It just seems that way because many LGBT people feel attacked. Well, Osama felt attacked so he attacked. It's perception. Americans felt we got attacked by Osama. Who's right? It's perceived, long-held, well-watered beliefs.

I agree with Anne Frank. I believe there is good in every person. I also agree with Mandella when he said: "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 frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world." (Read Marianne Williamson's Return to Love for more)

I especially have been inspired by that last line. I used to tell my media theory class to stop robbing us of them, for example. When we "play small" we stay as insignificant as we believe we are. That's a lie.

Think of watching a group of kids in a dance recital. There's always one or two kids that just give it their all, you can tell they've rehearsed, focused, practiced and now really are shining. Then there's the other 82 that watch the person next to them, look bored or are clueless. They aren't connected, they dance small. Who are we inspired by as the audience? Who do we pay attention to? The kids who are dancing big and connected to themselves.

Below is a segment of a blog written by an episcopalian reverand who speaks on behalf of HRC. Please consider the words and their meaning. Call your Senators and tell them to continue to say no to the FMA:

"The exploitation of gay and lesbian families in the game of partisan American politics is what we went to Washington to protest. Writing discrimination into the Constitution is antithetical to our core American values and I believe it is critical that we hold to account those in this country would use the issue of marriage equality as a wedge to further polarize and divide a nation looking for ways to come together to solve the many very real problems we face.

Just as we said "No" to the Federal Marriage Amendment we must say "No" to any resolution that would place the burden for the unity of the Communion on the shoulders of a percentage of the baptized. Our vocations and our relationships cannot be used as bargaining chips to secure unity for some at the price of justice for all."