GLBT leaders want gay families to speak out
The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance will present a speaker’s bureau training session at the John Thomas Gay and Lesbian Communi-ty Center on July 16 at noon.
The session begins with lunch and continues until 5 p.m. It is sponsored by Equality Texas and the Family Pride Coalition.
The groups are encouraging gay and lesbian people to become effective and knowledgeable speakers for family equality.
Paul E. Scott, executive director for Equality Texas, said the gay rights movement needs people who head GLBT families to become active.
“These media trainings are essential in working with LGBT families to tell their family stories among their friends, at the grocery store, and to our elected officials,” Scott said. “For too long, LGBT families have been left out of the definition of family, and it is imperative that we share our lives to dispel the myths and stereotypes perpetuated by extremists.”
Scott said opponents of gay and lesbian families have worked for four legislative sessions to pass detrimental laws, and their efforts are expected to continue.
“We know how effective LGBT parents are in reaching our elected officials, and we need to flood the Texas capitol with people willing to stand up for their families.”
Scott said the goal is to make gay and lesbian families visible and active, by sharing stories of the reality of their lives. They are stories about real people, real lives, real families and real love, he said.
The speakers bureau training sessions, which will also be held in Austin, Houston and San Antonio during July, are free and include child care.
To register call 202-331-2070 or visit familypride.kintera.org/outspokentx.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, July 7, 2006.