News & Events: July 2007

07.05.07 Denver, CO

This was our first stop on our sixteen day road pride trip. We met the Center Director, who welcomed us with open arms. The community center is located in downtown Denver. We left information about Rainbow Legends. She told us that a project was underway that is a collection of LGBT stories. What a super idea!!

...more about The Center in Denver

07.06.07 Las Vegas, NV

We stopped into the LGBT community center in Las Vegas to get some information on Gay Days and Nights. The Assistant Director, Josh showed us around and introduced us to several people. We met a group of women who were heading to First Friday and invited us to join them. In the 117 degree heat we laughed, drank lots of water, and toured the art district of Las Vegas; it was a wonderful time. We gave out tshirts, bookmarks, and other Rainbow Legends information. We had a great time.

...more about The Center in Las Vegas

07.08.07 San Luis Obispo, CA:

The weather was a comfortable 75 degrees. We had a fantastic location for our booth; between the beer garden and the main stage. We talked with hundreds of people, and gave away tshirts to people who shared their story, dollar bills, bookmarks, and other RL info. We also had the opportunity to video and audio tape twelve stories on site. At one point a vendor stopped by to tell us, that we were the talk of Pride, because most vendors wanted attendees’ money and we’re actually giving money away. He could hardly believe it was true, and tears filled his eyes when we told him the story about the Significance of One. It was a great day!!

...more about San Luis Obispo Pride

07.13.07 Palm Springs, CA

There is a huge gay population in Palm Springs with lots of LGBT support: Senior Rainbow Center, Desert Pride Center, Desert Aids Center, and more… We met the Director of the Senior Rainbow Center, Harvey Stern, and he shared their mission to provide companionship and community resources for older members of the LGBT Community. We also spent time with Allen White from the Desert Pride Center and he gave us a tour of the center and explained the many important programs they offer. Afterwards, he took us on an incredible tour of the city and its many gay owned establishments. We stopped by a few of these businesses and met warm open people, one couple invited us back to their home and they shared their love story with us. Again, this was a wonderful time. We can hardly wait to go back.

...more about the Golden Rainbow Senior Center

...more about the Desert Pride Community Center

07.16.07 Tucson, AZ

Moving on from the California desert to Arizona, the heat continued as we drove into the parking lot of Wingspan, the LGBT Community Center. However, once inside, we forgot all about the heat as we were greeted by the warm staff. This Center is the largest center we visited on our sixteen day trip. It is located in a twostory building with seventeen paid staff and numerous volunteers. We recorded many wonderful stories while we were there and met people we shall never forget. After the interviews were ended we were taken to City Hall by Bruce Cole to visit the memorial for Richard Heakin who was the victim of a brutal hate crime in the 1970s.

...more about Wingspan

07.17.07 Phoenix, AZ

PFLAG President, David Pape made arrangements for us to record interviews at Executive Plaza. We recorded many touching and heartfelt stories there. We were also invited to attend the East Valley Lesbian Coffee Group which was held at a lesbian owned café, Caffeline in Mesa, for their Grand Opening. It was wall to wall lesbians; we were thrilled to be among so many sisters and had the opportunity to make new friends.

...more about PFLAG Phoenix

...more about Plaza Executive Suites

07.18.07 Colorado Springs, CO

Ahhh, cooler weather…
The Metropolitan Community Church of Colorado Springs www.ppmcc.org opened their doors to us and allowed us to conduct interviews in their beautiful facility. Here we met cofounders Josh and Jeremy Cleveland who shared their mission and vision for HEAL. healcoloradosprings.org We also met Pastor Dan the interm minister. MCC is a welcoming ministry for all LGBT people and is an international organization.

...more about Heal Colorado Springs

...more about Pikes Peak Metropolitan Community Church

07.19.07 Omaha, NE

Last stop!! This was our second trip to Reading Grounds Bookstore. Owners Cindy Collins and Angie Keys are incredible women with activists’ hearts. Their bookstore is truly a one of kind in Nebraska.
We met people whose stories will touch lives in a meaningful way. Well, this was a fantastic trip. We met so many wonderful people and made new friends everywhere we went. The stories we collected on this trip reinforced to us just how important this project is…we can hardly wait until Oct 11, 2007 to share them with all of you.

...more about Reading Grounds Bookstore