Congratulations to Equality WS on 4 Successful Gay BIngos & Organizing the PRIDE Event ( Oct 15, 2011)
Equality WS held 4 successful Gay BIngo nights in the first half of 2011. Those proceeds have gone to funding the first PRIDE event in our city in 15 years. Plans are currently being finalized for Saturday Oct. 15 11am - 5pm in downtown Winston Salem for vendors, music, and a parade. Those of us working on local LGBT issues certainly appreciate all the hard work that is going into the PRIDE event. Show your support by attending; be sure to visit our Adam Foundation booth. We'll see you there! For more information, check out Equality WS .
Spring 2011/ Congratulations to Local Gay Couple in Longterm Relationship: Frank Benedetti & Gary Trowbridge Recent Speakers at Baptist Men's Group
Longterm AF supporters, Frank Benedetti & Gary Trowbridge, have been together over 40 years. They have always been open about their relationship. In fact, they speak frequently to any groups that will listen to their experiences as a committed gay couple and what needs to be changed in policies to provide more equity for LGBT individuals, partners, and families in many critical areas of every day life. They have spoken across the state and throughout the country ...including in front of Congress. But even they were surprised to get a call from our own local First Baptist Church on Fifth Street.
There is a MEN'S discussion group that meets monthly at this First Baptist church. A member liked a recent article about Frank & Gary in the WS Journal, and called the paper asking for their phone number. To be safe, the Journal reporter took the church member's name & number and forwarded it to the couple. When Frank & Gary returned the call, they were invited to speak on the basis that the Baptist Men's Group had never had a discussion about gay civil rights; they thought it would make for an interesting discussion for the group.
Frank & Gary report: "We introduced ourselves and told them we would answer any questions, no matter how personal, IF they would agree to listen to the answer. One of the first questions asked was 'What do you guys do in bed?' Our response - 'sleep.' The men's group discussion usually lasts one hour. This particular meeting exceeded two hours. Talk was friendly & respectful. Both of us really enjoyed it. In fact, we just got an e-mail that the minister & his wife would like meet with us for dinner."
AF congratulates Frank & Gary on their personal commitment to breakthroughs in LGBT communications & perceptions in our OWN town.