Three Recommendations for Nonprofit Organizations

1. There is a great opportunity for small nonprofit organizations to take advantage of new trends in communication, such as personal publishing. Blogger is a wonderful tool that is free and easy to use and only requires access to the Internet. In such an environment, where demand for up-to-the-minute and convenient news is inescapable, weblogs could be a great asset to these organizations. Not only would “online networking” with communication forums and blogrolls add visibility to the organizations, but it would allow their voices to be spread across the globe in a worldwide arena of activism.

2. It is absolutely necessary for smaller organizations to continue face-to-face interactions with similar, more well-established organizations in an attempt to network. Building these relationships will allow smaller groups to continue to develop and function as an independent entity, while being harbored and assisted by the larger “umbrella” organization. There are great incentives in participatory activism, such as the establishment of strong alliances, access to communication technologies and the strengthening of the overall community.

3. I think one of the greatest ways for smaller nonprofit organizations to receive assistance with Web site development is to advertise these “service opportunities” to the local community. There are many high schools and colleges that require students to complete some form of community service in order to graduate. With the younger generations having earlier experiences with computers and a better understanding of their functions, this is a perfect way to fulfill mutual needs. It’s also a great way to get the younger generations more involved with activism and community organizations in general.

Six Web Resources for Nonprofit Organizations

Title: Digital Divide Network
Web Address: http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/sections/index.cfm
Brief Description: This is a wonderful Web site that gives in-depth information about the digital divide, problems with accessibility, international issues and the latest measures taken to bridge the gap. It offers a discussion forum, feature stories, links to the latest headlines and information about upcoming events.

Title: TechSoup – The Technology Place for Nonprofits
Web Address: http://www.techsoup.org/
Brief Description: In my opinion, this Web site is by far one of the greatest resources for nonprofit organizations because it offers advice on how to make the most of a budget and how to effectively utilize communication technology. The “How-To” function is especially useful for information about Web building, training, funding, organizing volunteers and creating databases.

Title: Charity Focus
Web Address: http://my.charityfocus.org/my/login/
Brief Description: Charity Focus is comprised of a group of volunteers who give back to the community by offering their knowledge and services to small nonprofit organizations in hopes of building a stronger network of activists. With the slogan, “Helping Others Help Others,” the group provides free technical assistance and helps nonprofit organizations to build and design their own Web sites.

Title: Nancy Schwartz & Company – “Should Your Nonprofit Launch a Blog?”
Web Address: http://nancyschwartz.com/nonprofit_blog.html
Brief Description: As the editor and publisher of a successful monthly e-newsletter, Nancy E. Schwartz offers great insight and advice about effective communication. This article discusses the positive effects of adapting blogs as a communication tool and explores the various ways blogs can become a great asset to nonprofit organizations. It gives information about the structure of blogs, provides examples of successful nonprofit blogs and discusses tailoring messages.

Title: Bridges – Spanning the International Digital Divide
Web Address: http://www.bridges.org/
Brief Description: Bridges is an organization, founded by members of the technology community, which works with other leading international organizations in order to help shape policy, promotes the widespread use and access of communication technologies and helps to educate communities about the advantages and convenience of such technology.

Title: “Internet savvy nonprofits: Dot-orging your way to success”
Web Address: http://www.lib.unc.edu/ (Requires article database access)
Nonprofit World. Madison: Jan/Feb 2002. Vol. 20, Iss. 1; pg. 25, 2 pgs
Brief Description: This article investigates why nonprofit organizations have been slower to adapt new communication technologies in comparison to for-profit organizations. It outlines how many small organizations fail to see the benefits of such technology and rarely have enough time/money to engage in such endeavors. The article goes on to list potential benefits and offers resources to help initiate organizations in the step toward global communication.

Five Biggest Fears About the Effect of the Digital Divide on Nonprofit Organizations

1. As newer, more expensive software and top-of-the-line communication technologies emerge, small service-based organizations are struggling just to keep up with yesterday’s communication trend. It is easy for an organization to fall apart and be left behind if it continues to rely solely on word of mouth, door to door canvassing and mailings to garner interest from the local, regional, and national community.

2. Nonprofit organizations often do not have the funds to hire a professional Web site designer, nor do they always have people on staff who are knowledgeable about Web layout and HTML codes. These two factors help to contribute to the lack of appeal and loss of interest for potential volunteers and members to the organization. People are easily turned off by Web sites that lack sophisticated and professional layouts because they are often associated with a lack of useful and interesting content.

3. It can be very difficult and cumbersome for small nonprofit organizations to not only complete and file all the proper governmental paperwork at the state and federal level, but to also work at securing a domain name and a quality company that will provide adequate server space for a Web site. There are so many online companies out there that advertise low rates and promise to provide top-notch services to these small organizations. If they are not careful in completing the proper research, organizations can find themselves locked in a situation where the binding long-term agreement is filled with loop holes, where the overall cost is too high and where the server space is not large enough to host the ever-changing needs of the organization.

4. Larger organizations, which tend to be the most successful, are becoming more and more like corporations everyday with marketable services and products. They often use these new communication technologies in order to create more interactive and informative Web sites. Some are even able to perform monetary transactions online in order to secure donations. The less work for the donor, the more likely he/she will be willing to give. This puts smaller organizations at a great disadvantage because they are unable to compete with these fashionable “trademarks.”

5. If this is a problem that organizations here in the United States have to deal with, what does this mean to emerging groups and organizations in developing countries? These organizations exist in an environment where technology has only begun to be accessible and many times, they have to deal with restrictive laws and control over the Internet and its content.

Nonprofit Organizations and the Digital Divide

“Digital divide” often refers to the gap between people who have access to or knowledge about communication technologies and people who don’t have a similar type of knowledge or access. With the emergence of newer technologies, it makes one wonder what overall effect this has on the gap. Reports often talk about the digital divide in terms of demographic information. Researchers have more than overwhelmingly proven that race, class, age, education level and citizenship play a large role in the digital divide. Simply stated, minority communities are impacted the greatest because they don’t have the same forms of advantages and privileges that mainstream communities utilize everyday.

Can we think about other types of minority entities? What about small organizations that are trying to compete in the ever evolving world of communication technologies? Nonprofit organizations are greatly effected by the digital divide because they far too often don’t have the money or the knowledge to properly utilize the latest communication technologies. These organizations work so hard to get their message out to the surrounding community that they sometimes forget the importance of regional, national or even global visibility. As well, it can be difficult to rely on the knowledge of volunteers to fulfill these types of expanded communication roles and needs.

There are many activists and organizations worldwide that don’t have Web sites or access to other forms of digital communication and therefore have to rely heavily on the help of umbrella organizations to spread their message. For example, the Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association, founded by Fannyann Viola Eddy, depended upon other organizations to share with the world that Fannyann had been brutally raped and murdered at the end of September 2004 while working late one night in the office of SLLAGA.

As executive director of Operation FREEDOM, a small nonprofit organization struggling everyday to have its voice heard above the “noise” of the Internet, I understand first-hand the importance of utilizing communication technologies and how difficult it can be to increase visibility even when access to such communication technologies is available.

Vote for me!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have created a link to Outlet Radio Network's Freedom Forum (just a coincidence!) under my blogroll. It contains a listing of LGBT blogs and allows people to rate the content of different blogs. In the spirit of the democratic process...feel free to vote!

Operation FREEDOM launches its new Web site!

I'm happy to announce that the new Web site for Operation FREEDOM (Foundation for Rights and Equality - An End to Discrimination and Oppression in the Military) has now been uploaded! Please check out http://www.opfree.net/ and let us know what you think. It's still a work in progress, but a majority of the content is now online.

One of the newest features of our site is a Weblog. Soon we will begin posting news, articles and links of significance, as well as information about upcoming events.

Thanks for your participation and for supporting our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members!

Hui Liu's blog, Cross-Cultural Communication, is the one blog that has great potential to serve as a a reference guide to all of us in the class. Her travels and background have certainly given her the credentials needed to present important information and to help us all explore the global impact of new communication technologies. I definitely monitor her site for information and links, which will help educate and aid me in my own research project.

I truly believe it is important for each and every one of us to understand our similarities and differences and attempt to see how these components impact our lives: from the way we interact with each other, to the opinions and beliefs we have about what's right and what's wrong. Being sociologically mindful of how our identities are developed and having the ability to identify the positives and negatives of these constructed identities will only help us communicate better in the world.

I am really excited about watching the development of Tracy's blog, Journalist in the City. So far, I have enjoyed her posts and feel as though we are, to a certain extent, working on similar topics. I, too, enjoy monitoring the political process and learning about how groups of marginalized people make their voices heard loud and clear. As a native from New York, I am also looking forward to hearing about how political movements from around the world differ to those that take place in New York City. Once again we find ourselves in an important comparison to the "westernized" model.

I think one of the main areas that Tracy and I differ, is that she has decided to maintain a non-partisan voice while working on her project. I am glad to see that she is very objective and extremely cautious of the information that other people present. I have admittedly interjected myself into my research project, both as an activist and as a member of a minority group. It will be interesting to see how our two blogs develop in terms of similarities and differences as we take on different angles to somewhat similar topics.

Web site Evaluation - Part V

The thing I have been most concerned about in evaluating Web sites for my research project is the fact that my topic tends to either be supported (pro-LGBT rights) or opposed (anti-LGBT rights). I think I've made a concerted effort to present the material on a global level, but it doesn't negate the fact that it's hard for me to compare clashing issues with the same unbiased standards I would use had I chosen a different topic. I think my stance on issues of human rights and civil rights is quite clear. I bring all of who I am to the table, and this includes my identity as a sexual minority and as an activist.

For this last set of Web site evaluations, I am going to leave my various identities at the door for two main reasons: 1) I will admit that I do not know much about the issues and I try to stay out of other people's conversations when it is discussed, and 2) it is a really touchy topic for some people because it is extremely personal. With that being said, the topic is: religion and LGBT people of faith. I will present the following Web sites as a demonstration of extreme opposites and will let the reader click on the links to find out more information.

The point of this post is to demonstrate how positive or negative messages sent out by Web sites can greatly impact whether or not sexual minorities use religion as one of the tools to create an identity and connect as a community.

The Good

Metropolitan Community Churches, founded by Rev. Troy Perry in 1968, is "the world's first church group with a primary, positive ministry to gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender persons." Over the past 36 years, the church has grown dramatically and expanded into 22 countries. The main focus of the church is provide a place for worship and guidance for LGBT communities and to spread the world-wide message of love and acceptance.

"The Bible has brought comfort, hope, healing, and redemption to many people in so many places... Sadly, it has also (and too often) been used as a weapon to inflict pain and cause separation. Don't be fooled by false arguments. Read some of the insights offered here and decide for yourself what this enduring book of wisdom has to say about you and God, and love and life."

The Bad

The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, was establish by Fred Phelps in the mid-1950s and is considered an "Old School Baptist Church." Fred Phelps is also the founder and creator of the God Hates Fags Web site.

"The WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, GOD IS NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, FAGS DOOM NATIONS, etc."

I think Drew has done an exceptional job with his blog, Liberation Watch. He offers a wide variety of news sources and gives the reader up to date information about our troops and the conflict in Iraq. It is clear to see that by interjecting his own experiences of serving in the hostile territory, he is able to add not only credibility but a personal touch to the issue (and this is much needed in my opinion). Many of us are effected by the deployment of friends and family who are currently serving in the military. Relying on the mainstream media to provide us with information about our loved ones can be quite stressful (especially with the amount of coverage that is shown due to the consistent trend of embedded journalists). To have someone who has just returned from the war offer "unique insight into the current conflict in Iraq", seems to bring a sense of clarity and calmness.

Drew adds a lot to his blog with the information he posted on his "About Me" page. Just glancing through his blog, the reader could assume that he is a very serious person and very passionate about his research project, which is true. However, by looking at his travel photos and some of his links, the reader can begin to see below the surface and have a better understanding of Drew's personality and his interests, and that makes all the difference.

Blogrolls - Potential Lists of Great Resources

If you are lucky enough to find a blog that contains specific information in which you are genuinely interested, more than likely the writer's blogroll will contain links that could be of great use. The only problem is narrowing down the list. Being the novice blogger that I am, I am truly amazed at the lengths of some of these blogrolls. I also find the fact that most blogrolls simply list the names of blogs very frustrating, because it offers little insight into what information may be found on these blogs. I barely have enough time to work 8 hours during the day, post to my blog at night and try to function properly as a human being, much less read 20 other blogs and decipher through random information until I find what I am looking for.

I started off not really knowing what I wanted to add to my blogroll and for the most part, I have left it fairly empty. As I continue to work on my postings and further develop my blog, I'm sure the content of my blogroll will change dramatically. In a way, I feel as though my blogroll will develop into a type of interactive and comprehensive online "bibliography" for my research project and I hope to offer some type of description of what other readers might expect from those blogs.

It's been hard for me to judge if people are interested in my blog and reading the information I'm putting out there, but I'm certainly learning from what other people are doing. Perhaps people are put off by the political nature of my blog or perhaps they are uncomfortable with the content. For me, writing about what I know and am passionate about is a great release. It's also a great way to share information and to learn from each other about the things and people we may never experience during our lifetime.

Viral Marketing and the Dissemination of Information

The development of new communication technologies has improved the way we, as journalists, disseminate information. The rate and the distance of which information is now able to travel is almost incomprehensible. Even with the fragmentation of audiences, journalists are able to reach MORE of the target public with what seems to be less effort. But is it....?

One of the negative effects of online journalism, especially with writing a blog, is that it is sometimes hard for the audience to decipher who is and who isn't a credible source. This makes readers weary (and for good reason) of the information they see on the Internet. Another negative effect is that the online journalist has to compete with the "noise" of technology. Individuals deal with "information overload" everyday and have to find a way to filter out information that is either not important to or does not impact the person directly. In return, there really isn't any good way for a writer to measure just how much content the reader is absorbing.

As I was surfing Advocate.com today, I came across an article called "Virtual Victories" that introduced a term I had never heard before: Viral Marketing. I knew the general concept of this "word-of-mouth" dissemination of information, but never knew exactly what to call it in terms of online marketing. According to the article, it has become widely used by political and civil rights group to garner maximum interest in current social issues. The only problem with this type of quick, high energy dissemination is that the message often burns out quickly.

Historic Event - October 14, 1979

Today is the 25th Anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has asked people who participated in the march to share their Thoughts and Reflections. The march is very significant to the LGBT movement for equality because it occurred 10 years after the Stonewall Riots and one year after the assassination of openly-gay San Francisco city supervisor, Harvey Milk.

Web site Evaluation - Part IV

The LGBT movement has pushed forward in a steady manner over the past 35 years. Starting with the Stonewall Riots in June 1969, all the way to the fight for marriage equality of today. We are a community of diversity and strength, yet even in our progress we sometimes stand divided. We celebrate our accomplishments, yet we fail to recognize that we struggle as a community with issues of racism, classism, sexism, gender identity, ageism and perceived HIV/AIDS status. The fact that some of our leading national LGBT organizations compete with each other further proves that, until we can come together in harmony, we will never find true equality as a community.

The Good, but Good Enough?

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest and perhaps the most well-known of the national LGBT organizations in the United States. HRC works hard in the fight for LGBT equality and has been instrumental in gaining support from major celebrities and orchestrating national events that, in turn, draw a lot of attention from the mainstream media.

My biggest complaint about the HRC is that the organization has turned into somewhat of a brand name, but only offers hidden visibility. Nowhere in the name does it indicate that the organization works specifically on LGBT issues. If you were unfamiliar with what the HRC does, you might support it simply because you agree with human rights. As well, the famous HRC logo of a blue square with a yellow equal sign in the middle does not send the same message as that of a rainbow triangle: the global symbol of LGBT pride. Regardless of this fact, a wide variety of merchandise containing the official logo can be purchased off the HRC Web site. If this "symbol of equality" is only recognizable to people in the LGBT community or to LGBT allies, is this the type of visibility we really need?

The Good, but why'd you have to do that?

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the oldest national LGBT organization in the United States. Its main focus is on political grassroots activism at the local, state, regional and national level. NGLTF is very successful at training other organizations on how to defeat anti-LGBT legislation. The Policy Institute is part of NGLTF and conducts extensive research, while serving as the "think tank" of current and upcoming social issues that will directly effect the LGBT community. As well, the organization hosts the largest skills-building conference each year called "Creating Change."

NGLTF has gone through some significant changes recently to "update" the organization's image, and I believe it has done so in order to keep up with organizations that tend to get most of the credit. NGLTF now refers to itself mostly as "The Task Force," which is an interesting move away from using "lesbian" and "gay" in it's name. I can understand why, though, because the name is not inclusive of the entire LGBT community (The original name was The National Gay Task Force. Lesbian was added on later). The Task Force has also adopted a new logo that incorporates a pink 3-D triangle and a purple "greater than" sign (notice the use of stereotypically "gay" colors). This feels too much like the HRC and, quite frankly, is a sell-out for this hard working organization. My fear is that the organization is trying to be too much like the HRC and will get buried in the shuffle.

The Emergence of LGBT Gatekeepers

As I was flipping though the October 26, 2004 edition of The Advocate, I was excited to find quite a few articles about how LGBT organizations are using new communication technologies as a strategy for online activism. One of the articles, titled "Bloggers Get Active," talked about how blogs have greatly amplified the voice of the community. From daily blog entries used to share personal thoughts and feelings all the way to politically fueled posts used to "out" LGBT politicians who support anti-gay legislation, the LGBT voice is being heard.

I feel it is important to mention the the act of "outing someone" who is closeted and in a position of power is nothing new. LGBT activists have used this tactic many times to increase the visibility of LGBT people. The most recent example would be the online "outing" of U.S. representative Edward Schrock on BlogActive.com. Or what about the beckoning of Mary Cheney (daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney) to speak out as a lesbian for LGBT rights? Online activists created the Web site, DearMary.com, in order to make a political point about silence.

This type of online activism is cutting-edge in the way it disseminates information at lightning speed and connects LGBT communities all over the world. Before the emergence of blogging, our gatekeepers were comprised mostly of the mainstream media. LGBT bloggers, who are now taking on the role of gatekeepers, are helping to bring us together as a community like never before and to educate us all on issues that effect us directly as part of the LGBT community. Blogrolls and links offer a unbelievable amount of resources and have in essence, breathed new life into many struggling LGBT organizations that had a hard time being heard.

Web site Evaluation - Part III

In recent years, mainstream companies have increased research and expanded spending budgets for their marketing campaigns in order to better focus and tailor messages directly to fragmented publics. This type of marketing is often referred to as niche marketing and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is no exception. We often hear phrases like "gay money" and "pink dollar", but what does this mean? The following Web sites will help to demonstrate how the push and pull for LGBT consumers can be both positive and negative.

The Good

The Commercial Closet is a wonderful online tool that hosts a collection of print and television advertisements from all across the world that, in one way or another, involves the LGBT community. The Web site keeps track of important information, such as the date the ad was launched, in what country it was shown, what medium was used, the company name, what advertising agency was used and whether or not the ad had a positive or negative impact on the LGBT community.

The advertisements themselves are listed under specific themes, but can be searched for by key words. Descriptions of the ads are accompanied by still-frame photos or by streaming video if applicable. In general, the organization and its Web site serve as a media watch-group and monitors the messages that are being sent out to the public. After scannng through a few ads, the viewer can get a sense of how these messages can greatly effect both the LGBT community and mainstream consumers based solely on the content of the ads.

The Not So Good

It is a well-known fact among the LGBT community that Subaru was one of the first companies to specifically target sexual minorities as an important and valued consumer group. Recently, other large companies have followed Subaru's lead by placing specialized advertisments into specific publications, such as The Advocate. These ads often contain messages that directly tie in with the concerns and values of the LGBT community.

Throughout the years, Subaru has forged partnerships with many leading LGBT organizations across the nation. Through public awareness, advocacy and promotion, Subaru has helped make a huge impact on the fight for equality. However, the company's Web site does not have easily accessible information about its involvement with the LGBT community. This is really disheartening because it feels as though the company is trying to shadow it's involvement in order to maintain the interests of mainstream consumers.

Web site Evaluation - Part II

In continuing with my research on how global communications impact lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, this second phase of Web site evaluation focuses on an individual's sense of identity.

The Good

COLAGE stands for Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere and helps to connect children of LGBT parents with other children in similar family situations. I really admire the work that this organization does because it not only builds a community of support and celebration on a local, national and international level, but also helps children to define a real sense of individuality. It can be hard sometimes when, as a child, your family doesn't look like the other families in your neighborhood. COLAGE helps these children to be proud of themselves and their diverse family structure. And it's not just limited to small children.....COLAGE offers online chat forums and pen pals for people of all ages who have LGBT parents. The information on this Web site is validated because it is done "by and for" people within the LGBT community, who truly understand the difficulties that sometimes arise when you are outside the "normal" structure of society.

The Bad

This next Web site is a forum for just one of the many organizations that "provide support" to the LGBT community. PFOX stands for Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, and promotes the idea that homosexuality is a sin and is something that can be overcome and reversed. In a recent press release, the organization announced that,

"At a time when homosexual activists are seeking special rights, such as “gay marriage,” hate crime laws, adopting children and promoting homosexuality in schools, they are also attacking the freedoms of the ex-gay community. As a counter to homosexual activists’ campaigns, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) has put up a billboard on one of the busiest Interstate highways in the nation...We put up this billboard so that people will know the truth – that you don’t have to be homosexual if you don’t want to be. We’re hoping this ad will bring about public awareness, respect and tolerance.”

Here is an interesting article I found on the PFOX Web site that deals specifically with children of LGBT parents. The message is much different than that of COLAGE, because it describes the relationships as unnatural and insinuates that children in these families will have problems. Overall, the site is dangerous in terms of sense of identity because, although the above message may be of respect and tolerance, the organization only provides respect and tolerance for those who want to become straight. This is further illustrated in their list of resources where you will find information only about reparative therapy and ex-gay support groups.

On a side note, this organization's name is remarkably similar to the well-known and well-respected organization PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. This could be dangerous for sexual minorities who are looking for support and guidance if they stumble onto the wrong site. Instead of finding acceptance, they find misguided information and facts about how to leave the "homosexual lifestyle" for a healthier life of heterosexuality.

"Your silence will not protect you" - Audre Lorde

THE ULTIMATE SILENCE
October 12, 1998



Six years ago today, Matthew Shepard was murdered for being homosexual.

What will you do to end the silence?

Click here to post this on your own page or weblog

October 11, 2004: National Coming Out Day

Dear Family and Friends,

Hope you all are doing well and that you are enjoying the beautiful weather. I just wanted to send you this e-mail to let you know that today, October 11, is National Coming Out Day. It is a day that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans are urged to talk to friends, family and co-workers about the issues that face us as a community, as an individual and as an acquaintance to you. It is important, now more than ever, to talk about these issues because of the upcoming presidential election.

I'm sure everyone is aware of President Bush's proposal to amend the Constitution of the United States in order to ban same-sex marriage. Regardless of your political affiliation, please be aware that this proposal discriminates against sexual minorities, is being used as a wedge issue in the upcoming election and will continue to treat people you know (i.e. me!) as second-class citizens. According to a 1997 Government Accounting Office report, there are over 1,049 benefits and protections allotted to married couples that are denied to same-sex couples every day. One argument that we hear over and over again is that we must protect the "sanctity" of marriage, a marriage between one man and one women. This is shocking considering I come from a country where 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Just to let you know, Lisa and I will celebrate our third anniversary on Nov. 22.

Another key issue is that in some states, gay and lesbian couples are legally banned from adopting children. What message does this send to children who have been adopted into loving, stable families comprised of same-sex couples? "I'm sorry, but even though your parents have been in a committed relationship for 20 years, your family doesn't count."

I'm sorry if this e-mail is offensive to you, but it is something I deal with everyday as a lesbian, as your daughter, sister, niece or friend. I live in a world where, depending on which state I reside, I can legally be fired from my job, kicked out of my apartment or until recently (Summer 2003 Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence et al. v. Texas) be arrested based solely on my sexual orientation. I live in a world where our military is one of the last institutions that is still allowed to discriminate against a certain group of people. I am a proud veteran of the Marine Corps and feel that my sexual orientation bears no weight on my ability to be a good leader or to be a damn good Marine. I got tired of being isolated, tired of hiding who I am, and tired of denying an important part of my life. I told my command that, regardless of my sexual orientation, I still wanted to serve. It was my decision to "come out" to my command and I did so because, unless the military was willing to accept me for all of who I am, it didn't deserve my service. Due to my actions, I was discharged (honorably) out of the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

I write to you now as the executive director of Operation FREEDOM, a nonprofit organization that Lisa and I co-founded. Our organization is working hard to raise public awareness about the oppressive nature of the policy, to raise academic scholarships for former military personnel who have been discharged under the policy and have lost their veteran benefits (i.e. Montgomery G.I. Bill) and to raise funds to sponsor these individuals to attend LGBT-friendly conferences and events.

I value each and every one of you in my life and I hope you feel the same way about me. This was my way of sharing with you things that go on in my life and to increase the visibility for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people everywhere. Please feel free to respond with your reactions and thoughts. Let's all celebrate National Coming Out Day together and work hard toward equal rights for all people.

Love,
Michelle

Research - Web site Evaluation

The next phase of my research project involves evaluating Web sites. This entails looking at all types of information: the good, the bad and the ugly in terms of impact on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The Good

The first Web site I am going to present ties in perfectly with my interest in personal activism within a larger community. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is one of the largest and oldest national LGBT organizations in the country. It deals specifically with grassroots activism and helps with the local, state and regional fight for equality by training local communities on how to defeat anti-gay and discriminatory legislation.

I have a special place in heart for the organization because I was selected as one of the 2003 Messenger-Anderson Journalism Intern/Scholarship recipients. This was not only my first experience in civic journalism but also the first time I became an LGBT activist after being discharged out of the United States Marine Corps under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

The Bad AND The Ugly

The next Web site I would like to present is for an organization that falls under the radical religious right category: The American Family Association. This organization " exists to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth and traditional family values." Although it claims to not hate "homosexuals," the organization warns of the "homosexual agenda," "gay" marriage and blames the media for promoting the "gay" lifestyle to Americans. To say the least, it demeans the lives of LGBT people everywhere and in every way.

One of its latest campaigns to boycott companies that specifically target LGBT consumers successfully shut down the Commercial Closet Web site after the organization learned of an advertisement created by Procter & Gamble. This ties in perfectly with my interests in niche marketing to minority communities.

A new feature on the AFA Web site is the addition of its own weblog. Needless to say, it didn't make my favorites list, but if you are so inclined, here is the link.

Show Your Pride!

Just wanted to touch base with everyone, it's been a while. Tomorrow our organization, Operation FREEDOM (Foundation for Rights and Equality - An End to Discrimination and Oppression in the Military), will be tabling at this year's NC Pride event, located on Duke University's campus. I'll get back to you with pictures and updates from this event.

Also, Op-Free is launching a new Web site. Although it hasn't been uploaded yet, it will be soon and can be found at http://www.opfree.net.