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But, two years after the merge with COLAGE, they still never did set up an SG page for themselves and it's still just linked here. So, I thought I'd better do something.
I've tidied up, gotten rid of much of the very old news and some of the non-working links.
Second Generation was formed out of my own needs and what I presumed were the needs of others. I was correct in that assumption and I know I will always be happy that I helped people somewhere along the line. A true mensch I am, as mom would say.
--Dan
Anyway, when this tidbit was dropped on me, I was a bit angry. I mean, I went through my childhood and teen years knowing I was gay and struggling with it. (Hard for wee punker-rudie like myself) and here was my mom telling me that she was queer, too!
The response from people was, "Oh, you must have had it so easy then, as a gay kid." And truth is, no, I didn't. My folks were not too keen on it at first. (Not to mention all that lesbian folk music offending my punk rock sensibilities! :) ) I knew I couldn't be the only one in this situation, so I started Second Generation in 1992. What started with 4 people at that 1st meeting has turned into a nation-wide group of almost 200. A lot of the credit is due to 2 factors:
1) Like many a go-getter out there of my generation, I started a
newsletter/zine.
2) As of the 2nd issue, my newsletter was distributed by COLAGE
(or Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere), which was a tremendous help
for fraying the cost and for getting the word out.
At first, SG was an autonomous entity connected to COLAGE (sort of like the Faroe Islands and Denmark), but lately they've become more absorbed (like Brooklyn in New York City). Basically, all inquiries should be sent to COLAGE.
Who can join?
As you can see see from our "subheading" up top, Second Generation
is for queer AND for questioning folk of glbt families. We did have a rash
of younger members feel they could not join because they were not definite
about their sexuality. Well, that's no reason not to join. I think I can
safely say that most of the people in SG have been in that same boat. And
what better place to discuss your feelings than with people who've been
there (or are there)? And by joining SG, no one is going to make you prove
your sexuality. That's for your parents to worry about! [joke, I was
making a joke!] And, if have joined SG, but later on come to realize
that you might not be queer, well, we still love you and you can keep the
lovely parting gifts.
The Old SG Newsletter
For many years I put out a zine-like newsletter. Some folks thought
it was too evil which, of course, made me publish even more of them! However,
I would spend months pushing people for contributions of articles, only
to find out that COLAGE was soliciting for SG material and people wrote
for them first. So, instead of doubling the efforts, I now write a regular
article for the COLAGE newsletter.
I had some of the old text online, but no one ever really looked at it. I could scan the old ones in, and that may happen soon. Til then, if you ever want a hard copy of them, though, write to me at the address below. Also look formy regular article in COLAGE's newsletter.
Media Coverage
From time to time, SG would get some cool press. Here is some:
New
York Times 6/7/98. This is a non-pictorial copy I made. Otherwise you
can pay for the actual copy (with cool photos) at the Times
site.
U.S. News,
1998.
NYC
Center Kids Talk Oct. 1998. Transcript of an interview I gave.
We've been asked to leave Pride parades, had our group taken off various lists, and have been ostracized by people thinking we're some NAMBLA offshoot. We've met the enemy and it's our community.
[My views have not abated -- Dan]
For more info about Second Generation you can e-mail COLAGE at colage@colage.org
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