  I am so tired right now. I feel that my day began 3 am on Wednesday and is still continuing on today (as of this second, it is 10:06 am on Friday). I have been down in Orange County for a Grassroots Organizing training. But, it was worth it. There were many tricks and tips that I can take back to my everyday life. Before I went on the trip, I was updating urlLink my Web site by posting some pictures in my photo gallery. I posted urlLink pictures from my trip to Stonewall 25 and the Gay Games IV. I can't believe that those pictures were taken ten years ago this month.
While it was wonderful taking a trip down memory lane, this event was a pivotal moment in my life. It was at the Stonewall 25 march that I met the one person who would inspire me to live my life as a grassroots organizer -- urlLink Donna Red Wing . I remember the moment I met her. She was a jovial woman who just drew you in. She had a warmth to her that just made you want to listen to her.
I remember thinking to myself, "God, this woman is charisma incarnate. " All I knew of her was her reputation. At the time that I met her, she was the National Chapter Coordinator for what was then GLAAD/USA. This was before GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) was a national organization. Prior to that, she had been a driving force in the battle against Ballot Measure 9 in Oregon which would have turned back the clocks by legalizing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. When the organization became national, I had more of an opportunity to work with Donna on a regular basis.
I even got to call her a friend. Donna transitioned into the role of National Field Director for GLAAD. She was so amazing to me and to hear her stories about her work in Oregon made me realize how people could make a difference. I'm not one for a lot of pomp and circumstance. Most of the time, when I hear our community's leaders speak, I feel rather emotionless.
I agree with what they're saying, but I'm not necessarily feeling the battle cry. However, when I hear Donna speak, I am ready to win the war. At the 1995 GALA Chorus Conference, she said: Clearly, a holy war is being waged against us, it is the backlash to our victories. It is not politics as usual ... it is not business as usual ... it is about how, and if, we get to live our lives.
We do not have a choice, whether or not we engage, our engagement is defined by who we are. If you are an out and open gay man, lesbian, bisexual man or woman or a transgendered person, it is your struggle. You cannot fight this battle from the closet. Your voice cannot be heard behind that closet door. I know that being out, especially now, especially in this political climate, is probably the most frightening and most dangerous thing you can do — it is also the most liberating thing you can do — coming out is the most profound political act of your life. If you are not out — you must decide to come out now, while it still matters — while you still can. I remember her reading me this speech and thining to myself, "If I were in the closet, I'd definitely be ripping the door down about now.
" Why did Donna affect me so much where so few can? It is her tireless energy and her belief that people can make a difference. To her, it is not the agency that is the power, but the people who drive the movement. She really talks to people and finds out what their skills are and how to connect them with what is going on out there. It is more than just the simple theory of "grassroots organizing. " She is a living example of how it works and how it becomes successful. I'm reminded of the lessons she taught me after coming back from this training. Grassroots organizing, community, leadership -- they're all fairly lofty terms when you think of them as words.
Sometimes, we tend to get bogged down in theoretics rather than appreciating that we do grassroots organizing everyday of our lives. The training reminded me of the simple things that Donna leads her life by. We all take part in something vast, so let's harness and focus that energy. And, I need to remember this...especially now with this being a critical election year. The President seeks to turn back time on our civil rights and it is time for us to take back the White House...take back all of the offices and institutions that would rather see us treated as 2nd class citizens.
After Donna left GLAAD, we'd make a point to catch up with each other every year at the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's (NGLTF) Creating Change conference (the largest gather of LGBT activists in the country). She was always on the road and everyone wanted to catch up with her. I felt so honored that she would make every effort to schedule coffee in with me. But, that's Donna...again, it's about making sure she connects with people. Now, Donna is runnning for Colorado House District 25. She has been named one of [Howard] Dean's Dozen . Said Dr. Dean: Several months ago I put out a call to the hundreds of thousands of grassroots activists who had worked on my campaign to run for office themselves. Hundreds of volunteers answered this call. Our new organization - Democracy for America - is dedicated to using its resources to support those candidates in their fight to take our country back from the right-wing conservatives who dominate our government. Today, Democracy for America announces the Dean Dozen - twelve diverse candidates that represent the spirit of grassroots democracy. These will be tough races, and not all of the Dean Dozen may win. However, they will all spread the message that to change America progressives must compete. Yup, that's Donna. So, if you happen to live in Colorado House District 25, please vote for Donna Red Wing! And, Donna, if somehow, you are reading this...thank you for helping make me the activist that I am today. 
