REACHING
THE HEARTLAND
LEF News and Views
Living in the Heartland
The Washington Post profiled several young
adults about growing up gay in America. The newspaper
profiled 17 year-old Michael Shackleford, highlighting
the challenge of being gay in a small Oklahoma town.
“Michael is 17 and gay, though his mother still
cries and asks, ‘Are you sure?’ He's pretty
sure. It's just that he doesn't exactly know how to
be gay in rural Oklahoma. He bought some Cher CDs. He
tried a body spray from Wal-Mart called Bod. He drove
22 miles to the Barnes & Noble in Tulsa, where the
gay books are discreetly kept in the back of the store
on a shelf labeled ‘Sociology.’
“While the rest of the country is debating same-sex
marriage, Michael's America is still dealing with the
basics. There are no rainbow flags here. No openly gay
teacher at the high school. There is just the wind knifing
down the plains, and people praying over their lunches
in the yellow booths at Subway. Michael loves this place,
but can it still be home?” Read
part one. | Read
part two. | Read
the follow-up story.
A Father Speaks Out
The publisher of the North Scott Press in tiny Eldridge,
Iowa courageously told his family’s story as a
way of increasing support for basic fairness in his
community. Bill Tubbs has a lesbian daughter, Aimee.
He writes, “ Thus, dear readers, here is my vision
for the future, thanks to Aimee and the wonderful friends
we've come to know through her: I envision the day when
homosexual people are welcome in our churches and loved
for who they are, the same as heterosexuals, with no
expectation of change. I envision the day when it is
considered normal for same-sex couples to make a covenant
in church to be faithful to one another, and the government
would recognize this union with the same rights as a
heterosexual marriage.”
Read more.
The Power of Coming Out
A student at Ole Miss wrote a compelling op-ed
encouraging all gay and lesbian people to come
out of the closet. Landon Huey writes about his
painful struggle coming to terms with his sexual
orientation. “I cannot tell you how many
times I prayed to God to change me — to
not let me be gay. Thank goodness I do not have
a stomach for pain or blood or these words may
never have been written. The first step of coming
out is the most painful: admitting that you are
gay to yourself. It is a mountain that so many
on our campus (‘Ole Miss) still have yet
to climb. The second step of coming out is not
really any easier than the first and actually
it lasts a lifetime: coming out to family, acquaintances
and friends. However, when you finally come to
terms with your sexuality and realize God made
you the unique creation that you are, life becomes
much easier. The closet is a painful place. Unequivocally,
you cannot change your sexual orientation. It
is simply impossible. I know. I tried.”
Read more from this
op-ed which was published in the ‘Ole Miss
student newspaper, The Daily Mississippian.
Fighting for Fairness
Sergeant Greg Lemke is breaking down barriers,
defying stereotypes, and changing his community.
Not only is he a highly respected police officer,
but Lemke is also an openly gay elected official
in the middle of the heartland.
In addition to his normal duties as a Fargo,
North Dakota policeman, Lemke serves as a DARE
(Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer, school
resource officer, and member of the Moorhead City
Council. He was also the first Fargo officer to
come out of the closet, and is the only openly
gay official in the area. Read
an article from The Forum.
Out on the Field
A star lacrosse player at Dartmouth college comes out
of the closet to his teammates. ESPN reports, “Andrew
Goldstein, according to those who document these things,
is the most accomplished male, team-sport athlete in
North America to be openly gay during his playing career.
He revealed his sexuality to his team after the 2003
season…. Goldstein's primary reason for coming
out so publicly was to inspire others to follow his
course. ‘Hopefully, because of me, the next one
can come out and it's even less of a big deal,’
he said. ‘I would hope the next step is kids in
high school don't have to feel bad about themselves.
They don't have to worry. They can feel happy about
who they are.’ Read
more.
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