An Amazing Organization My (crazy) Life Starts Now

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My (crazy) Life Starts Now

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An Amazing Organization
14 Aug This blog is called My (crazy) Life and usually it is all about me. Me. Me. Me. The pronoun I is used very often. Using the word I as often as I do is a denitely no-no in the blogging world and yet I do it all the time. See there it is, I did it again. Today though the blog is going in a dierent, less egocentric direction. Lets focus one of Huntsville Alabamas hardest working gentlemen and the very worthy and amazing organization he founded and serves. If youre from the Huntsville area you might know that in June, Huntsville hosted its rst Prideevents in some years and its rst ever Pride parade. It was a pre y impressive milestone for this conservative small city here in the Deep South. One of the motivating forces behind Junes Pride events in Huntsville was James Robinson. In addition to being an event organizer, and perhaps more importantly, James is the founder and Executive Director of GLBT Advocacy and Youth Services (h p://glbtays.org/index.html). In the past two months I have had the very distinct honour and pleasure of meeting James. Hes a wonderful, dedicated, and seemingly tireless advocate for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. GLBTAYS is an amazing organization with monumental task. To advocate for the GLBT community and to help GLBT youth in a variety of ways is a dicult challenge in and of itself. Trying to do that in the Heart of Dixie . . . well, lets just say that it makes things exponentially more dicult. Trying to do that in the Heart of Dixie when youre the only such organization in the entire state, in fact in several states? Well, lets just say that Don Quixote had nothing on James when it comes to dreaming an (seemingly) impossible dream. In the face of the Chick-l-A debacle James did numerous press interviews always presenting a calm, kind, loving and rational face for the GLBT community. He represented those who were hurting in a way that was inspiring. Yes, there was a counter demonstration in Huntsville the weekend following Chick-l-A Appreciation Day and yes, James was there. It was an important moment for our community and he was there with smiles and encouragement for the young adults who organized the demonstration. He stood out there in 95+ degree heat, sweating, smiling, encouraging . . . and engaging in the most level headed, polite religious debate Ive ever heard with a man who seemed to several of us to be a bit disappointed to be receiving a measured, rational, well-reasoned response. But that wasnt all that this Superman in a polo shirt did that day. James works hard to ensure that

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An Amazing Organization My (crazy) Life Starts Now

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GLBTAYS isnt just about helping the GLBT community in an insular Us vs Them manner. Earlier that same day he and volunteers he rallied were at Westlawn Middle School (h p://whnt.com /2012/08/06/volunteers-clean-up-sidewalks-courtyard-at-westlawn-middle-school/), helping spruce up the courtyard for the students return. A week later James could be found back out at Westlawn for their Community Fair with an anti-bullying message. While planning Pride events, advocating for the GLBT community in the face of the Chick-l-A storm, and responding to the need for help at Westlawn, James was also helping a young woman deal with a case of harassment and intimidation by her JROTC instructor (click here (h p://www.wa.com/story/19217350/glbt-advocacy-group-les-report-with-us-departmentof-education) for the story). GLBTAYS also has a Host Home Program (h p://glbtays.org /hosthome.html) to provide safe shelter with caring adults for displaced GLBT youth (thats fancyschmancy talk for providing a safe place to land for someone who was kicked out of his or her home for being GLBT). As well as oering opportunities for GLBT youth and adults to meet with support groups. Please check out the GLBTAYS link at the top of the page and if you live in the northern region of Alabama please consider donating your time, talents and/or money. There is a lot of work to be done here in the Deep South to promote equality and understanding and I know that GLBTAYS (and James) could use some help.

About Carole S
Im a single mom, full-time nursing student, vegetarian living in northern Alabama. View all posts by Carole S Leave a comment Posted by Carole S on August 14, 2012 in Life Lessons and Introspection

Tags: Alabama, bisexual, charity, gay, GLBT, Huntsville, lesbian, LGBT, transgender

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