Lyndsey Adams, a Co-founder of the glbt community of the Verde Valley, was injured in an accident. She is home-bound for some time.

This column has been developed for the purpose of letting community members know what other community members are doing in the larger community. Let's all get out there and support one another. Please send your contributions for this column to both Susanna, for the "Closet Times" newsletter and to Stephen for this web page.

The Verde Valley GLBT Community, formerly known as the Verde Valley Alternative Lifestyles Community, has been key in bringing together "family members" from the Verde Valley and all over Arizona. We have provided a safe haven for those just venturing out for the first time, and a place full of love and friendship for those that have been with us from the start. The VVALD is a not for profit corporation that relies on donations and attendance at functions for its survival. Without you and your support, we could not continue to exist.

Over the years we have sponsored dances, potluck suppers, and even our own Pride celebration, Diversity Day. We have sponsored camping trips and picnics. We have reached out to the general public by raising money for cancer research and by becoming a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Cottonwood and of Sedona. We have made donations to families in crisis. And, most importantly, we have kept our community together with the monthly newsletter. This newsletter is put together by an amazing staff of volunteers. Again, all of this would not be possible without YOU!

Our goal for the coming year is to continue all of our ongoing activities and to reach out to our community and community at large with an ever increasing education program. We would like to set up an outreach program to teens, the aging, and the ill. We would also like to conduct programs that focus on men's health issues. In addition we want to provide general education on issues relating to areas such as legal, insurance, and health. Watch for new programs in your newsletter. Also, volunteers to help plan such programs are always welcome as well as volunteers to provide education on a variety of topics. If you are interested, please contact a board member.

We especially want to thank you who have donated time, money, your homes, etc., in the past and to encourage you to keep your support coming. For those of you who have not yet donated, we still need you! Remember, all donations are tax deductible.

We depend on your financial support and by your participation in our activities to keep this organization viable and to help us achieve our goals. Thanks and keep coming!!!

We as a gay community have been fighting for equality since the beginning of time it seems. Most of us long to be able to be ourselves in the public arena and not have to think twice about holding the hand of our partner as we walk down the street. Most of us look forward to the day we can have our partner or date meet us for lunch at work without fear that we will be fired "if the word got out." Most of us long for the time when we can dance with our partner cheek to cheek on any dance floor and not have to worry that we will be ridiculed or worse. For most of us going to our community functions creates a safe place to be who we are without the fear. It enables us to relax and enjoy each other's company, meet knew people, and know that we are all in the same boat.

Now, answer me this question. How many of you have straight friends that love you and support you? Come on...count them. How many of those people are willing to support our community? A lot of them! From the amazing turn out I see at some of our functions we are loved and supported by our straight friends and family. In our little corner of the world, I see many straight people getting to know us individually and realizing that we are not "freaks of nature" but caring, considerate, hard working, intelligent people. They are comfortable with our lifestyles and choose to love and support us. What a shame it is when I see that we have finally begun to reach out to the straight community and make a difference only for members of our own community to be uncomfortable with them being comfortable with us and celebrating who we are. I worry if that kind of thinking persists then we will have failed at our claim of celebrating diversity and will be no better than the straight people that refuse to accept us as equals! Will we cast out those straight people that do support us when we have fought for the acceptance? Has anyone at our functions been harassed by our straight friends or do they dance side by side with us? Do they mock us or judge us, or do they show us that, yes there is still hope of abolishing hate and bigotry?

At the next function I encourage all of you to reach out your hand and thank those that show up to support us. Love and acceptance begins in our own back yard. If we want to be respected and supported then we MUST accept it with much gratitude when it is given.

Wendy Thill

The new VVALD t-shirts for 2001, sporting our colorful new logo as seen in our Directory. Shirts are now in two colors, gray and black, and come in two styles. All are pure cotton. Support your community so the educational, cultural and social programming can continue and improve this year. Show your colors at all events and around town. Be proud and slip on a new shirt!!! You may purchase them at "Seasons Party Shoppe in Cottonwood. Shirts will be available at all VVALD events or you can contact:

email: Evelyn

We'll be saving one for ya!!!!

OUR MAJOR WEB LINKS

OUT 'N ABOUT DIRECTORY PAGE Directory to all our other pages.

OUT 'N ABOUT EVENTS PAGE Socials, Dances and Events for the GLBT Community.

VERDE VALLEY GLBT YELLOW PAGES Our informational web page.

VERDE VALLEY GLBT YAHOO GROUP Our Yahoo GLBT Club.

Last Updated 16 August 2005

This page began on 17 February 2001

Email any local news to Stephen Frakes and put "VVGLBT Local News" in Subject.