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12-year-old boy in Mexico stands against 11,000 anti-gay protesters. Such courage!
Image courtesy Manuel Rodriguez
Thanks for checking out our Blog! We're the team of RainbowWeddingNetwork (Marianne, Cindy, Kendra & Ira) - Enjoy the posts, and always feel free to message us with any feedback through Facebook or email us directly. If you do reach out, be sure to request a copy of our latest e-newsletter! ...and remember to check your spam filter for any reply from us, if you don't see a response in your inbox.
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The following letter was written by one of our recent LGBT Wedding Expo exhibitors, Douglass Carr Cunningham, who joined us at our Charleston event in August 2016. He shared this piece with us and expressed this thoughts that it rang true for the LGBT community as well as the African American community. We agree! And thought it well worth sharing. Enjoy, as you savor the insights and uplifting message:
THIS LETTER IS IN RESPONSE TO RON BRINSON’S EXCELLENT
JULY 16 ARTICLE FOR RACIAL HEALING
One Foot In Power, One In Slavery…We Can Heal
By Douglas Carr Cunningham
We Americans continue to live under the dark cloud of racial conflict, when the truth and solution is right in front of us.
Our national concept of multiculturalism and diversity must be discarded as the dialogue in regards to our racial relationships; our commonality and unity as Americans must be stressed, instead. I have long believed we are of the same race, and should not separated into ‘divisions.’ I am frustrated and a bit angry that we are in categories that separate us – white, African-American, Latino, Asian, etc. Our outward appearances are somewhat different, but it is fact that we share the same blood and DNA. Our strength as Americans is our unity as one people, one soul.
I am told that I am naïve in my belief, but to bring us all together our national dialogue must change. We are constantly being manipulated.
‘Diversity’ is a culprit. I abhor the word and how it is used for political purposes. By its very definition, ‘Diversity’ means difference, which sets up separation, which has come to emphasize the separation between all people of color in this country (whites have color, too). We have come too far with this Diversity craze. We should be emphasizing our Unity as a people, our cohesion as a nation of different colored humans. We will survive chaos if we refuse to be divided by Diversity and difference.
The word, multiculturalism, is also stressed more than it needs to be. While we are a nation of many cultures, we must adjust ourselves into an American culture. Together, we must define the American culture, and unify under its banner.
Martin Luther King had a dream, one that this nation once celebrated. His dream is still attainable, but I fear we have forgotten what he stood for.
My label as a boy was “Colored.” I was a colored boy, who was a credit to his race, as I remember. The word, “nigger” was tossed around a lot, when I was a kid, by white and black, and it was never nice. When I was transformed from Colored to “Black”, I admit James Brown made me a little more proud of whom I was. Then came the label “African-American.” Not okay for me, because it is too much of a politically correct moniker, made to give brown Americans a connection to the ‘home’ country, like the Irish, like the Italians, the Chinese, the Mexicans, etc. My ancestors came from Africa. I did not. I was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. We slave descendants have always been manipulated, and we are still being manipulated by forces pro and con. I am brown-skinned, but I reject being labeled. I reject labeling others, and I have good reason to feel as I do.
As a black citizen, I discovered at a late age that one side of my family was born from the “white” power structure of this nation, the other side from ancestral slavery. The story goes like this. My mother’s biological father was a powerful North Carolina politician. Her mother was his black maid. Mom, a blue-eyed, blond baby, was adopted twice; first to a white family, which gave her up, then to a black couple on the black side of Greensboro, North Carolina. My adoptive Nana was of a mixed color, so it worked. Mom was raised with a black identity, but she was a very “white-looking” girl. My father was black, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, from a mother who worked the cotton warehouses as a 14-year-old in Blair, South Carolina. My paternal grandmother’s family history is recorded from 1867, and Reconstruction. Most likely, my family was enslaved before then.
Two of my daughters could be members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, if they cared to be. My second wife, their mother, is connected directly to Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks, and Col. William Bradford of Plymouth Rock. The lineage has been traced already. My oldest daughter’s mother is from the Philippines. My third wife’s daughters connect directly to Portugal.
One foot in power, and one foot in slavery - that is how I see the origins of my family. Surely, there are others like me in this country.
Some of this I learned very late. Such secrets are similar in America, all over the place (Edward Ball’s book, Slaves In The Family comes to mind). As a nation we suffer from so much secrecy, hate and false truths. I believe with a forward-looking heart it is possible the real truth can set us all free. But it is a hard road. We have shared a terrible history of racial conflict in this country. It is important for “white” Americans to acknowledge and honor people of color. It is important for people of color to try hard to forgive the past, as it is gone. We must overcome difference. The future awaits us.
I grew up somewhat color-blind. This is not to say I have not been angered by unjust incidents in my life. Oh, yes, I have, but the memory of my mother’s angst, and my father’s suppressed opportunities, however, has served to push me forward. I am not a group. I am who I am.
Let us not be manipulated. Our commonality as a people can bring us together as Americans. Disperse the racial and multicultural cloud. Change the dialogue to one of Unity.
Douglas Carr Cunningham, SC
Lead Photographer, Charleston CameraWork
Article courtesy Associated PressATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — After competing in pageants for generations in the closet or working behind the scenes, gays and lesbians finally get to see one of their own take one of pageantry's biggest stages.
Miss Missouri, Erin O' Flaherty, will compete for the Miss America crown this weekend as the first openly lesbian contestant.
A vendor shares her thoughts...
"I was a little ambivalent about renewing my ad, since over the last year it had drawn in only a very modest amount of business. But it suddenly dawned on me that placing an ad on a site dedicated to LGBT weddings is much more than a sales-and-marketing opportunity ~ it's a political statement. Especially in the face of the upcoming presidential election, and the stunning intolerance it has helped foment, it's a way to say I stand unequivocally with my LGBT sisters and brothers. Regardless of how much business the ad may or may not bring in, it's money well spent."
REV. LESLIE BOCKIAN
"Exquisite Celebrations to Touch Your Heart and Spirit"™
Post Office Box 16477
Encino, California 91416
(818) 776-8185 ♥ (877) 237-9485 toll-free
email:
Vice President Joe Biden Officiated His First Wedding for Same-Sex Couple This Week
Eight years ago our staff here at http://www.RainbowWeddingNetwork.com had the pleasure of attending a Clinton rally in Asheville, meeting her briefly, asking her about her stance of LGBT marriage rights, and we gave her a gift: one of our signature 'Same Love, Same Rights'® lapel pins. Such an honor!
Just this year, we had the chance to attend another rally - in Charlotte, this time, just last month, when President Obama officially endorsed Secretary Clinton in her bid for the presidency.
None of our staff has had the pleasure of seeing or meeting Vice President Biden, but his leadership and down-to-earth style have continued to captivate and inspire us. He's continued to be an advocate for the common person, and that, for quite some time, has included the LGBT minority. Kudos, Joe! We appreciate your service and your integrity. And congratulations on taking this beautiful opportunity to officiate at the marriage of these lucky grooms earlier this week!
Important News with regard to our military...
“This is the right thing to do for our people and for the force,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said. “We’re talking about talented Americans who are serving with distinction or who want the opportunity to serve. We can’t allow barriers unrelated to a person’s qualifications prevent us from recruiting and retaining those who can best accomplish the mission."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pentagon-lifts-ban-on-transgender-troops/ar-AAhOIG1?ocid=spartanntp
Here at RainbowWeddingNetwork.com, we are proud to partner with the team at Path2Parenthood.org. This wonderful organization supports the LGBTQ community by offering insightful, respectful information in exploring options toward building a family.
Path2Parenthood assists everyone in our community; however we'd like to bring special attention to their handbook that is specifically focused on helping trans- men and women.
"This informational handbook is designed to provide an overview about family building for transgendered men and women, through both medical means and adoption. Everyone deserves to have the family of their dreams! Path2Parenthood hopes this book gives you the tools you need to make that happen."
Can you believe it's been a full year since marriage recognition was enacted here in the USA?? WOW. A lot has happened since then, with regard to pushback, headlines, ongoing heated dialogues and bathroom bills... We're also now seeing some numbers. This article is a quick read and has some helpful, quantitative info!
Transgender child can pick restroom at South Carolina school
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — The U.S. Education Department says a South Carolina school district has agreed to let a transgender elementary student use the restroom with which she identifies.
The Department's Office for Civil Rights said in a statement that Dorchester District 2 had violated Title IX, which protects students from sex-based discrimination. The office said the district originally had not given access to the girls' bathroom as a result of her transgender status.
READ FULL ARTICLE:
Kudos to Prince William and Prince Harry as well - they have become thoughtful, active and involved young men, as their mother hoped they would be. Well done, Royals!
Here's a quick collection of ideas for your Summer Theme Wedding, Candy Buffet and Unique Cakes from this week's Podcast. Hope you have as much fun browsing our pins as we did collecting them.
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Here is a direct link to the podcast as well:
http://www.rainbowweddingnetwork.com/podcast/jun116.mp3
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All the best to you and your fiancee!
- Ira, RWN Team
With the recent passage of North Carolina’s HB2 Law, aka “The Bathroom Law,” and its message of exclusion, high-profile corporations and celebrities have spoken out, canceled events or threatened sanctions if the law is not repealed. Last month, transgender actress and activist Shakina Nayfack launched a crowd funding campaign on YouCaring.com to raise money to bring her Manifest P*ssy Tour to North Carolina. With the success of the campaign and the amazing groundswell of support from local presenters and organizations, Nayfack is proud to announce the venues for her North Carolina leg of the Manifest P*ssy Tour. The tour will begin on June 11 through 19 with stops in Raleigh, Ashville, Wilmington, Charlotte, Greensboro, Chapel Hill and Durham (more stops may be added). Funds raised at these shows will be donated to local LGBT organizations. Manifest P*ssy Tour of North Carolina will be bookended by two performances at Joe's Pub at the Public Theater in New York City, June 8 and 23Manifest P*ssy combines two solo shows, written and performed by Ms. Nayfack, ONE WOMAN SHOW, which tells the story of her life leading up to her ultimate transition, and POST-OP, which follows the six weeks she spent in Thailand before, during, and after the surgery. Both shows were originally produced by Musical Theatre Factory and premiered at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in New York.
“We are thrilled about the outpouring of support in response to our announcing this tour. I look forward to performing in the beautiful state of North Carolina while following the law as it is currently written. In New York City, my transition has been very public and widely accepted. My shows have opened up a fantastic dialogue about what it means to transcend the gender binary, politically, socially, sexually, and spiritually. The passage of HB2 is not only hurtful, but has much wider implications than most people realize. I very much appreciate the vocal and quick actions taken by such people as Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, and Stephen Schwartz and companies such as PayPal, Google and the NBA. In their strength to stand up and speak out, I find my strength to bring my story to the very place that my community is being excluded. I hope people will support this tour and help bring pride and empowerment to LGBT people and their allies in North Carolina.” Actress/ Activist Shakina Nayfack
For showtimes & dates, as well as for info on the funding campaign, visit:
To be released June 21st, in celebration of Pride - Check out the new documentary "Oriented"!
ORIENTED follows the lives of three gay Palestinian friends as they confront their national and sexual identities in modern Tel Aviv, Israel. There's Khader, a nightlife "darling" who lives with his Jewish boyfriend David. Fadi, an ardent Palestinian nationalist finds himself falling in love with an Israeli soldier. Naim, must find the courage to come out to his conservative family. Determined to change their reality, the three friends form a non-violent, cultural resistance group called "Qambuta" (Cauliflower) to advocate for sexual, ethnic and gender equality.
Be sure to look for it in June on DVD and VOD (Itunes, Indemand, Amazon, Google Play, Dish!)
