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Last year National PFLAG changed the way we submit dues. Instead of accepting members throughout the year (quarterly), the new system has memberships being paid in January for the next calendar year. In order to be timely with this, Madison chapter members need to have their membership dues paid to our treasurer no later than December. Paying promptly will ensure your continued membership, and save us money on postage to send reminders. Membership forms are included with this newsletter, or can be downloaded from our website. Checks should be mailed to: Karen Baker, Treasurer 3634 Graham Paige Rd. Cottage Grove, WI 53527
Tickets MUST be purchased at the door. Reservations are unnecessary.
Location: Bartell Theater, 113 E Mifflin, Madison, WI
For further information about the normal play run, see www.stageq.com
Jeffery Kin’s new play has been a hit with audiences and recognized as an award-winning play at several competitions. The story is about a young man, mourning the death of his lover, whose life changes for the better when he meets a delightfully talkative woman on a bus ride to New York. Margaret becomes something of a guardian angel to Jason, who manages to find the happiness he thought he would never feel again. Audiences will walk away inspired to take a closer look at their fellow human beings, no matter who they are. Even strangers.
Conservative Republican lawmakers, who control both houses in the state legislature, are backing a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions. The issue will likely be put to a public vote in the fall 2006 election, the same time Gov. Jim Doyle is up for reelection. In Wisconsin one-third of the population is opposed to the proposed constitutional ban and another one-third is supportive. The remaining one-third will be key to the end result.
With legislators preparing to debate a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, it makes sense to check in with the only state in the union that allows gays and lesbians to marry. That state is Massachusetts, where a court order has allowed about 6,500 same-sex couples to marry since May 17, 2004. After the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples had a right under the state constitution to marry, legislators there began working to pass a constitutional amendment that, like the amendment currently under consideration in Wisconsin, was written with the express intent of discriminating against gays and lesbians. Initially, the amendment drew broad support. In March 2004, the Massachusetts Legislature approved it 105-92. But the amendment needed to be approved by two consecutive legislative sessions. And that did not happen. When the issue came up last week, the Legislature rejected the amendment overwhelmingly, 157-39. Why the big switch? "I do think that a lot of people have been thinking over the last year," explained state Senate Republican leader Brian P. Lees, who had been a co-sponsor of the amendment in 2004 but who abandoned that position after receiving more than 8,000 e-mails.
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association welcomed American Medical Association President Edward Hill, MD to address delegates at its Annual Conference yesterday morning. The speech marks the first time that a President of the AMA has addressed a GLMA meeting. Speaking before approximately 300 GLMA delegates, Dr. Hill began his address, entitled "Understanding, Advocacy, Leadership: The AMA Perspective on LGBT Health," by stating "I know that GLMA members and LGBT physicians have been treated unfairly by the AMA in the past. There is simply no excuse for discriminatory actions or exclusions based on sexual orientation or gender identity -- none." He continued, "First, GLMA has opened [the AMA's] eyes to the diverse needs of LGBT patients, and second -- and just as important -- GLMA has told patients that they have the right to expect a health care system filled with openness, fairness and equality."
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