From: Facessd@aol.com Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 14:43:46 -0400 Subject: Newsletter highlights in FACES of South Dakota FACES of South Dakota (c) 1996 FACES of South Dakota, Inc 13121 South Creekview Road, Rapid City, SD 57702-8503, phone 605-343-5577, fax 605-394-8962, email Facessd@aol.com Newsletter for the Month of May 1996 (Highlights) There were also 5 photos High School student receives taunts, threat Over a period of a year, from February 1995 through March of 1996 another South Dakota high school student has faced threats and intimidation because of quiet openness about sexual orientation. Ultimately, a complaint was filed and the offender was reprimanded. A troubling aspect of this is that the student has expressed wanting to drop the matter even though the student said four or more friends of the offender have picked up where the he left off. School authorities state that they are continuing the investigation of the matter and take it very seriously. The high school student, whose name must remain anonymous, has sought protections from high school authorities in that community and has received solid support in the claim of sexual harassment and discrimination. The student has been in contact with state gay activists and is receiving the little support and encouragement as we are able to provide at this time. FACES of South Dakota is actively seeking copies of school district harassment and discrimination policies around the state to see what kinds of protections are now offered to students who face similar, deplorable treatment. FACES board declares June 29 Gay Pride Day in South Dakota Quiet celebrations around South Dakota will be held in commemoration of Gay Pride in South Dakota. There will likely again be a picnic in Rapid City and a similar event in Sioux Falls this year. Gay Pride celebrations around the nation are likely to be a bit more exciting with many from South Dakota attending out of state pride events. State-wide newspaper articles, letters to the editor sought FACES of South Dakota has taken an active stance in telling the rest of the world what is happening is South Dakota. When any news articles or letters to the editor appear in numerous local newspapers, either weekly or daily, FACES requests that they be emailed, faxed, or sent to FACES office as soon as possible. Any article dealing with issues surrounding gay or lesbian topics is requested to be sent to FACES for distribution to FACES state-wide network of gay activist both on email and via fax. FACES sends articles to nationwide distribution points such as various homepages on the internet so that more people are able to see them. What South Dakotans think and write about gay and lesbian issues is important nationwide. You have a vital part in this process of communications. Please include the date of the publication and general information about the publication like it’s name, address, telephone number, fax number and email, if any. Columnist ACE LUNDON In Tribute to Mother Are you really old enough to remember when folks were saying we were homosexuals because we were “Mama’s boys?” Of course, they never said that a lesbian was a “Daddy’s girl”...but what did they know!? When one is afraid, they tend to grab at straws. I thought a lot about this however because I wasn’t a “Mama’s boy.” and, I wasn’t much of a “Daddy’s boy” either. I was a loner and never wanted to really get too close to either of them because I knew I was a homosexual. I felt more safe in my closet at that time and being truthful wasn’t in my vocabulary. I even practiced in front of our full-length hall mirror to make sure I wasn’t one of the lispy, wispy sissies everyone thought was what a homosexual was all about. “See what a domineering Mother can do to a child!” they decried. After I came out of my closet at age forty, I did become very close with my Mother. My dad has already passed away by that time. I did find out luckily that a Mother-son relationship is something very precious—even for a son who wasn’t a “Mama’s boy.” We has some wonderful talks—this woman who provided me with life. This woman who was also a bonafide “born againer.” This woman who loved her first-born son. Her questions were nearly merciless at times as he love for her newly announced homosexual son drove her to search to answers. She was so sure and so afraid she’d never see in heaven now and her pain was real and great. Yes, my coming out of my closet was a painful step for her as well. It probably is for all Mothers even when they tell us it’s OK that we’re gay. What proved fascinating about coming out to Mother was that it provided me with the most incredible opportunity! Getting to really know my choice of maternal genetic tie. I could have missed this. I wish I could have known my Dad in the same manner but was too slow in coming out. One thing you’ll have to work out ASAP is you're going to truly communicate with Mother IS: you’re going to have to break an old, well-developed habit. The habit of telling lies which all closeted gays and lesbians have had to learn so well. When we exit our closets, one of the first challenges we really face is in learning to tell truths. It’s a good step to let Mom be in top spot to hear your truths. Guess what I’m really trying to say is that truth breed friendships. Your mother could become your best friend as well as being your Mother. Now, she may not realize it during the process of becoming your best friend, but she’ll love it when the reality sets in. Remember: it’s a process; so go with the flow, so to speak. Don’t expect it to occur overnight. Part of the joy experienced during this process is in watching the process of creating the picture you’d like to see in y our relationship with your mom. Now, in case you’re saying you’d never be able to be intimate with your truths to your Mother. Well, you want to remember what “intimate” is. For nine months you were inside her very body! That’s intimate! For the next fifteen or so years, she not only saw every inch of your physical body, she maybe even taught you your ABC’s bathed your wounds and lent a shoulder to cry on. And you think you can’t be intimate with her?! With someone who has already been more intimate than you can imagine. She probably would love to learn to know, even if it might be fearful to her, just to learn how her child has “turned out” now that you’ve grown up. No matter what we call her—-Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy—-we all have one. Even the anonymous who wrote: “ME MUDDER” When my prayers were early said Who Tucked me in my widdle bed and spanked my ass til it was red? Me Mudder. Who lifted me from my cozy cot (continued on the next page) And sat me on an ice cold pot And made me pee, if I could or not? Me Mudder. And when the morning lights had come And in my bed, I dribbled some Who whipped my tiny widdle bum? Me Mudder. Who did my hair so neatly part and pressed me gently to her heart And squeezed me sometimes til I’d fart? Me Mudder. <><><><><><><><><><><> Ace Lundon is a recent emigre from Nevada to the Rapid City area. Born in Beresford, SD, he’s returned to assist with the founding of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Black Hills. News and information sources grow for BGLT Community in SD One new newsletter and a new bimonthy publication for the bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender community in South Dakota have blossomed. The new newsletter is called The Uplift. It’s publisher is the Metropolitan Community Church of the Black Hills. It’s first cover features a colorful rendition of the MCC cross and colorful male and female scientific symbols in lavender and pink. It features six pages and a remarkable story of courage at the discovery of his own HIV status by a West River resident. The Uplift joins the St. Francis and St. Clare Times which is the official publication of the MCC church in Sioux Falls. A new publication called SHOUT OUT! has been announced by its publisher Sam Coffman. Coffman assisted the ACLU representative in Pierre and kept many informed of activities during the session. Coffman, from Sioux Falls, says “Our main objectives are to increase Pride and wipe out the same in being gay in South Dakota...we want to let those who do want to get out...know they are not alone. FLAME ON! Column by Barry Wick, FACES Executive Director and publisher My thoughts are about money and education. South Dakotans have a difficult time with this because the equation is very simple: money to support education equals change. If there’s no money for education, there won’t be change. If there’s one thing gays and lesbians in South Dakota understand is that South Dakotans don’t like change. It follows that they don’t like education. So it follows that they won’t spend much money on it. If South Dakota businessmen won’t protect their gay and lesbian children with money for education to make a change, then they deserve exactly what they’ll get when they hit the international market. If there isn’t going to be change in South Dakota then the good Christian businessmen of this state won’t be able to sell their cattle, their wheat, or their products of any kind to people who are different. If these Christian businessmen can look the other way when selling Bhuddists and Moslems, why can’t they look the other way when it comes to their gay and lesbian children or their neighbors in their home state? The end of the month comes along and I have three or four really important things to write about. Money. Money. Money. And money. More on money later. Remember money for education equals change. Interspersed with thoughts of money come all the issues we want and need to cover. FACES is about education and information. Kenn sends us an article about what it was like in high school for him. Kenn isn’t the person mentioned on the page 1 article. Every teacher in South Dakota ought to read Kenn’s message on page 9. When I’ve heard of teachers lecturing in their classrooms on the “evils” of being gay when there were gay students in that class, I want to cringe. That’s why I like to go up to BHSU and talk to future teachers when they invite me. I don’t want to change minds about what people believe individually for themselves, I just want them to recognize that we exist and we deserve equal rights, no more no less. I spoke at BHSU to a human relations class in April. Not everybody “got it.” I’m always left with the feeling that I didn’t do a good job or that I left something out or that I was too political or...or...or. One person in the class tossed out copies of the back issues of FACES and other information I handed out. Simply, if I convinced one person to change their minds about gays and lesbians I accomplished something positive. That’s all that matters. If I talked with future teachers and got them thinking their future students then that’s all I could do. There wasn’t a single teacher I could to talk to about my feelings of being gay when I was in high school. My feelings (continued) (Barry Wick continued) were based upon my reading in a June 1964 issue of Life magazine I read a hundred times. Then being gay was illegal, people were arrested and there was nothing good written about about it available in Rapid City. And who could I talk to about those feelings? With my Republican parents so prominent in the community, I had no where to turn. As many gay men have done, I turned to drugs, alcohol, food and anything else that would shut out my feelings. Lies built upon lies. That was my life for a long time. It took a long time to work through my feelings and finally understand who I was and my place in this world. Lies are costly in an international marketplace. Kenn has it a bit better. At least he has other gays friends to talk to and understands that being gay is like being left handed. It just is and he’s gradually making a positive space for himself. We can all work harder to make positive spaces for each other. Kenn is an intelligent young man and any businessman should be thinking about keeping him in South Dakota. They won’t. He’s going to go just as soon as he can. That’s a brain drain and this state can’t afford to lose smart people who’ll make good workers if given a chance. Kenn wasn’t given much of a chance in the Rapid City public schools with Stevens High School shunting their “problem” some place else as in Kenn’s case. There are lots of Kenns. Now we get down to talking about money. Money will make positive spaces for us and a bit of education for those who surround us. FACES needs an office/library space. We need a space to hold meetings and groups. We need to create safe places for bisexuals, gays, lesbians and transgendered persons in the state. That takes money. It takes lots of money. Right now it costs FACES about $1,000.00 a month to have phone and fax, internet, publication, postage and all the other little things. There are no salaries. I get no pay for being executive director. In fact there are costs associated with FACES now, like electricity and space, that are being covered or are “free.” We’re working on making changes. We have to do it ourselves. Until we get our tax deductible status for our educational work, we’ll still need you to send some bucks from time to time. It’s not tax deductible right now. We’ll get there. We still need you to support us. Give what you are able whenever you think about Kenn and the others. FACES library continues growth Books continue to poor into the South Dakota Alternative Library owned and operated by FACES of South Dakota, Inc. Over 250 books are now included. Several more gifts including books from Patrick Simmons of Rapid City and Randy Wilson of Sioux Falls have been added to the library. A complete listing of the books is now available on a separate sheet by writing to FACES of South Dakota, Inc. (See resource guide) A small collection of The Advocate magazine has begun and back issues are sought. Books are still welcome. All books will now be fitted with standard library pockets, library check-out cards and fixed with labels for easy access. Especially sought at this time are women’s magazines and very old collectibles that might even be considered rare. Call 605-343-5577. Policies and Procedures of FACES of South Dakota, Inc. 1.1 Fundraising (adopted by the board 1 /17 /96) The only persons authorized to solicit funds for Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. are the members of the Board of Directors. Donations may be accepted by any member of the board as long as all checks are made out to FACES of South Dakota, Inc. and forwarded to the treasurer or president for deposit in a timely manner. 1.2 Fundraising (adopted by the board 1 /17 /96) A request for authorization for any fundraising must be submitted in writing to a member of the Executive Committee of the board at least 30 days before an event approval will be granted. No other persons are authorized to use the name of Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. or FACES of South Dakota, Inc and will subject themselves to the potential of lawsuit or prosecution in the event of misuse of the names of this organization or fund-raising without permission. Congratulations Laura & Billy Jo on their holy union in Sioux FallS, Apr. 20 even if South Dakota won’t recognize your loving union, WE DO! You’re HITCHED! Yahoo! Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Resources in the State of South Dakota State of South Dakota STD/AIDS Hotline 1-800-592-1861 Brookings, SD Groups/Information Sons & Daughters South Dakota State University P.O. Box 2815 Brookings, South Dakota (605)692-6026 email: halcyon@itctel.com (president) d4pa@smsumus.sdstate.edu (vice-president) ONLC@SDSUMUS.SDSTATE.EDU (Lawrence of Brookings) Hill City, SD Restaurants Oriana's Book Cafe 329 Main Street Open 7 days a week, under new management, live music on weekends, no cover, restaurant[excellent food], books, complete coffee bar, beer and wine (605) 574-2034 All welcome though gay friendly POB 1142 Hill City 57745 Lake Preston, SD United Church Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns Marilyn Jones, Executive Director Rt. 1 Box 76 Lake Preston, South Dakota 57249 (605)847-4623 Marshall, MN Lutheran Concerned/Integrity Southwest Minnesota/East Central South Dakota PO Box 3013 Marshall, MN 56258 (605) 692-6026 Rapid City, SD Groups/Information Gay & lesbian Talk Line 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information, if any, on activities Monday through Saturday 605-394-8080 Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays--PFLAG-Rapid City Margaret Minkel 4636 Wentworth Rapid City, South Dakota 57702 (605) 342-9402 Counseling and Self-help Geniva Burns MN, CNS, NCACII Sex therapist, specializing in addictions and couple therapy, stress management Starfish Counseling& Consulting Services 429 Kansas City St. Suite 5 Rapid City, SD 57701 605-341-4777 605-399-2829Beeper Sharon Green, M.Ed., NCC, CCDCIII, LPC Private Practice, also in Phillip and Kadoka 605-343-6316 or 1-800-745-2204 430 East Waterloo Street. Rapid City, SD 57701 A general practitioner with specialties in substance abuse and sex abuse. Bonnie L. Jackson, RN, NCAC-I 108 Kansas City Street Rapid City, SD 57701 605-348-2824 Family of origin issues, relationships, and co-dependency Richard L. Leir, MSW, CSW/PIP Individual, Marital, Family, Group Counseling Therapy Consultation POB 9462 809 South Street Rapi d City, SD 57709 by appointment 605-342-3640 Unified Live and Let Live Gay Alcoholics Anonymous all welcome who wish to stop drinking. Thursdays at 8 p.m. 219 East St. Anne. Call John at 355-0554 for more info. Accommodations Camp Michael Bed & Breakfast, nestled in the hills farm style breakfast, private entrance, secluded area, easy Resource Guide Continued: Camp Michael access to all tourist areas, gay video and book library $50-75 a night email: CAMPMIKE_1@aol.com, BOGUS13051@aol.com (605)342-5590 Educational and Activist FACES (Publication & State Organization) Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc.; South Dakota Alternative Library (books, periodicals, journals, videos and articles accepted for donation) Barry Wick president/executive director Free American Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. 13121 South Creekview Road Rapid City, SD 57702-8503 Phone 605-343-5577 FAX 605-394-8962 email: Facessd@aol.com http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/south_dakota/FACES http://www.qrd.org/qrd/orgs/FACES Faith Services Black Hills Unitarian Fellowship Sunday mornings 10:30 a.m. welcomes gays and lesbians to its service in Senior Citizens Center on Canyon Lake Road behind Latter Day Saints Church(Mormons) Gay and Lesbian All-Faiths Services in praise of a higher power with the goal of joining Metropolitan Community Churches. Sundays, 10 a.m. Meets above the Quest on Main in downtown Rapid City but Call 394—0368 for more information since locations have been changing recently. Synagogue of the Hills meets 2nd & 4th Fridays, 7:30 p.m. for location information call 342-9524 HIV and AIDS Resources Positive Approach Support for HIV+ persons (605)348-4419 Rapid City Regional Hospital Hospice Program and Home Health 353 Fairmont Boulevard Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 (605) 399-7801 HIV Testing, Condoms or Information Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, South Department of Health 725 North LaCrosse St. Rapid City, SD 57701 605-394-2370 Planned Parenthood 1711 West Main Rapid City, SD 57702 605-341-2545 Other Heritage Book Store 912 Main Street Rapid City, South Dakota adult book store with news magazines for the gay community, videos. Restaurants The Atomic Café gayfriendly 515 7th Street Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 605-399-1922 gay friendly, open to everyone. Hours: Monday through Thursday open 10 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday open 10 am to 3 am, Closed on Sundays coffee, food and talk. Sioux Falls, SD Groups/Information Sioux Empire Gay and Lesbian Coalition PO Box 1716 Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57105 (605)333-0603 Together Augustana Box 1886 Augustana College Sioux Falls, SD 57007 lcwickst@inst.augie.edu PFLAG of Sioux Falls--Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Jean Kane (605)334-5508 Counseling/Self-Help Rainbow Wildbunch AA A new AA group has been started for gay, lesbian, bisexual persons, their family and friends. It meets on Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. at Berakhah House, 400 N. Western Ave. Bisexual Support Group 6 p.m. First Monday of the month. meets at Dakota Midwest Cancer Center on McKennan Campus 800 East 21st Street Call 605-339-7515 for more information Sioux Falls Lesbian Rap Group call Kyla or Tedeigh at 335-7808 for more information or Sherri at 334-9091 for more information on location. Probable Saturday meetings. Fran Mount, Ed.S., M.A. Mental Health Therapist Stronghold Counseling Service 629 South Minnesota Suite L-100 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 605-334-7713 Carol Knudtson, M.Ed.,LPC Licensed Professional Counselor LifeMarks—Counseling and Mediation Services 101 South Main Ave. Suite 212 Sioux Falls, SD 57102 605-332-6128 Faith Services All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist Church PO Box 400 Sioux Falls, SD 57117 1129 East 9th Street 9th St.at Cliff Ave. (605) 338-8652 Morning Services 10 am Religious Ed. 10:15 am Child care provided 11 am to 12 noon invites everybody St. Francis and St. Claire MCC 9th Ave. and Cliff Ave. Sunday 5:30 p.m. POBox 266 Sioux Falls, SD 57105-0266 TriangleH@aol.com 605-332-3966 Nightlife Touchez (mixed MF) 331 1/2 South Phillips Sioux Falls, SD 57105 (605) 335-9874 HIV and AIDS Resources Berakhah House (home for persons with AIDS) 400 Western Avenue N. Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104 (605) 332-4017 Contact: Sister Liz Remily McKennan Hospital 800 East 21st. Street PO Box 5045 Sioux Falls, SD 57117-55045 PWA Support Group meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at Dakota Midwest Cancer Institute, Family and Friends of Persons with AIDS Support Group meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at Dakota Midwest Cancer Institute. For more information call (605) 339-7515 AIDS Support and Information Eastern Dakota Aids Network (EDAN) at McKennan Hospital Pat Lovely 605-339-7839 Spearfish, SD Groups/Information University GALA Black Hills State University Steve 1200 University USB 8599 Spearfish, SD 57783-8599 605-642-1644 email: seb7264@mystic.bhsu.edu Counseling/Self-Help Patty Miller, DCSW Judith Neighbors, Ph.D. clinical social work and psychology 825 Main Street Ste. 4 Spearfish, SD 57783 642-0603 phone 642-8564 fax Bruce Woodard, MSW, CSW-PIP 210 East Colorado Blvd. Spearfish, SD 57783 605-642-1584 Vermillion, SD Groups/Information Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Alliance University of South Dakota Coyote Student Center 414 E. Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 (605) 677-5334 Watertown, SD Watertown Area HIV/AIDS Network P.O. Box 1091 Watertown, SD 57201-6091 605-886-3420 800-783-0447 Speakers bureau, plus confidential non-judgmental emotional support to HIV positive persons and their loved ones. (continued) This resource guide and newsletter is correct to May 1, 1996. The sexual orientation of individual persons mentioned here, the representatives or clientele of businesses or organizations is not to be inferred or implied by such representation or mention in this guide or newsletter. We do not sell advertising or space. We do try to create a more appealing listing if those groups or individuals have made a donation to FACES. Such typeface differences are not guaranteed with a donation as space may make change possible. All listings are free. The South Dakota Alternative Library now has 239 separate listings cataloged. Library membership is free with your membership in FACES of South Dakota, Inc. We gladly accept donations of books and periodicals that you no longer use. The library now has 239 different titles with a total of over 250 books as of April 29, 1996. We do not accept, distribute or condone child pornography. Membership in our library is limited to persons 18 years and older at this time. We are interested in books by gay and lesbian authors, fine arts, and other materials. A complete catalog to date will be printed soon. Call 605-343-5577 for details. Please pass a copy of the newsletter to a friend. We are now sending only one copy of a newsletter since our list of recipients has grown so large. We don't charge for this service, but your donation of $10 or more would help to greatly offset our newsletter and resource guide production costs. The Advocate Magazines in FACES Library (We gladly accept duplicates) 1985 November 12, 1985, 1986 June 10, 1986, August 19, 1986, September 2, 1986, September 16, 1986, 1987 none 1988 July 5, 1988, October 11, 1988, 1989 May 23, 1989, August 15, 1989 1990 January 3, 1990, February 13, 1990, February 27, 1990, April 24, 1990, May 22, 1990, September 25, 1990, October 9, 1990, November 6, 1990, 1991 January 15, 1991, January 29, 1991, February 12, 1991, 1992 September 22, 1992, October 20, 1992, November 3, 1992, December 29, 1992, 1993 January 12, 1993, March 9, 1993, March 23, 1993, May 18, 1993, June 1, 1993, June 29, 1993, July 27, 1993, August 10, 1993, August 24, 1993, 1994 none 1995 June 13, 1995, June 27, 1995, July 11, 1995, July 25, 1995, August 22, 1995 September 5, 1995, September 19, 1995, October 3, 1995, October 17, 1995 October 31, 1995, November 14, 1995, November 28, 1995, December 12, 1995, December 26, 1995, 1996 January 23, 1996, February 6, 1996, February 20, 1996, March 5, 1996 March 19, 1996 We are collecting any b/g/l/t/ periodicals for our library project. Please donate yours instead of throwing them away. Thanks. Metropolitan Community Church now in the Black Hills What began as a few folks gathering together on a Sunday morning to share their lost sense of spirituality has now fully blossomed into a faith fellowship association with one of the fastest growing denominations in the world. The Metropolitan Community Church of the Black Hills has now installed their first Lay Pastor, Joyce Naughton. It’s been a long road, one that took them to various meeting places all over the Rapid City area. First, it was the Art Bank on 7th in downtown Rapid City, then a few Sunday’s in the Senior Citizens Center until complaints from another religious service forced them into their current meeting place at the Quest. The Quest is a store that serves the area’s spiritual community with a wide variety of products and services. MCC District Coordinator David Sorey came to Rapid City to install the officers and lay leaders in early April. The MCC of the Black Hills will be what is known as a mission church. It’s a great start according to all who attend. MESSAGE FROM KENN [Kenn is not the real name of the person mentioned in his story. We have changed his name to protect his identity. Names of the high schools he attended have been changed so that officials cannot trace him down. FACES Editor thought this would be best considering his age at this time. Kenn’s story matches lots of kids his age. It’s true because he sent it to us and is known to us. All underage correspondents will receive similar protections.] Let me start by telling you that my name is Kenn and I am a 17 year old high school student. I should also tell you that I have been openly gay since I was 15. These are some things I have experienced being a gay youth. I was attending a South Dakota high school and was nearing the end of my sophomore year. There were a lot of people at school who gave me a lot of grief about being gay. They would follow me down the halls calling me a faggot and queer. For the most part I didn't really pay attention to them. Then one day a guy punched me in the middle of the hall between classes and I defended myself. They suspended me from school for 3 days. After my suspension my parents and I had a conference with the administration at my high school. My parents were very upset that I wasn't safe at school. The administration at the high school thought it would be best if I didn't return in the fall. They said that they couldn't guarantee my safety. So, I finished the year at home and enrolled at another high school the following year. When I first started there, things were pretty rough. I received death threats in my locker, I had my car vandalized, and I was harassed by other students. I realized that denying my homosexuality was getting me nowhere. It was amazing how things stopped when I admitted that I was gay. I confronted one of the students who was calling me a fag by looking him in the face and saying "Yes, I am gay. Is there a problem with it?" He was in total shock and didn't answer me. After that, people basically left me alone at school. I still got funny looks, but I didn't receive any more threats. This year I was attending still another high school and ran into trouble. The counselor didn't think that it was safe for me to attend school there. He informed me that I was "openly gay and militant about it." He suggested that I enroll in an alternative program where I could study at home. Statistics show that 30% of successful youth suicides are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender youth. With the harassment GLBT youths face, it is no wonder the numbers of attempted suicides are so high. I tried to take my life in December 1993. I didn't think I could deal with being gay, and I couldn't handle not being accepted by my family. Being gay is not always easy, but it is a part of who I am. It is a life that I have accepted. I have gained a great deal of strength in the support I have found. My parents weren't pleased when I told them I was gay, but they have stood by me. The support I have gotten from the gay community and the MCC in these past few months has been tremendous. Thank you. [Editor’s note: Thank you, Kenn] Also in this issue of the newsletter is a copy of the Bylaws of FACES of South Dakota. Please call or write and request a copy if you need one. For a $50.00 donation to FACES receive a copy of ACE LUNDON’S The Closet’s Are Empty The Dining Room’s Full FREE as a premium Contact FACES at 605-343-5577 phone or 394-8962 Fax...email Facessd@aol.com