As I said in the previous post, I was pretty busy with all of the workshops that I was trying to squeeze into one hour and a half period, but I think I got some good stuff from each of the sessions that i was able to drop in.
I sat in on “How Safe Are Our Schools?” which was led by Rhonda Thomason, a long time ally, friend and board member of Equality Alabama.
I also attended “Being An Effective Ally” with Patty Rudolph of the Birmingham chapter of Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays(PFLAG), and “Being Southern and LGBT” with Mandy Carter.

How Safe Are Our Schools?
These education based workshops always interest me because I didn’t go to public school (or even private school). I was struck by the sense of relief on the faces of the students who were attending this session. One student was even brought to tears as she described what it was like being an LGBT student in Alabama.
Each of these students looked as though they had been fighting a battle their entire lives and were given a short respite from war within the confines of the meeting room’s temporary walls.hool counsel
The students were from both high school and college levels. One student, Jon Atchison, is pursuing a degree in education and worries that he will be harassed even as a gay teacher. “I want to be a teacher and that terrifies me because I’m gay,” Atchison said.
Equality Alabama is working with the Alabama Safe Schools Coalition on student issues.


Being An Effective Ally
In this session, Patty Rudolph of Bham PFLAG (pictured, left) and a few of the groups members discussed ways that PFLAG can make a difference in the lives of not only LGBT people but their families and friends as well.
PFLAG has created an excellent information packet to give to parents who just found out their child is LGBT.
Rudolph said she remembers when the group was only 3 or 4 people per meeting. I remember this too because I was usually one of the 4 . Rudolph said they have as many as 28 people per meeting now. PFLAG has been active lately, sending mailing to local paediatricians so that they will be able to refer LGBT youth and families to PFLAG.
In the next year they hope to send another mailing out to area school counsellors.

My favorite part of the session was Patty’s shirt. It read: “Be careful who you hate. It might be someone you love.” Excellent work BHAM PFLAG!

Being LGBT and Southern

Of all the sessions I wanted to attend, I was really looking forward to this one, but I arrived late and most of the discussion had ended. The session was led by Mandy Carter of Southerners On New Ground (SONG) and she encouraged attendees to embrace issues outside of sexual orientation. “Don’t make it just about the ‘gay thing,’” Carter said. “Things like housing, affordable health care are everyone’s issues.”
It was a strong discussion and I wish I could have been there for more of it.

After the last session I was pretty much beat. I elected not to attend any of the caucuses and instead went home to get ready for the evening’s gala event. All in all I’d say the organizers of the day picked very interesting and informative workshops. I only wish I could have attended all of them.

Up next: The Equality Dinner with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)