Activism in Saipan, Battling Gay Agenda?

So there I was last night surfing the net for interesting topics to discuss on this blog as the misses went to bed early as she was coming down with a bad cold. I stumbled across a Google search titled “Teens Battle Gay Agenda in Schools” and Saipan is listed. I followed the link to CBN.com, a Christian News site. In an article the author states that the Alliance Defense Fund assists students to initiate a “Day of Truth” (DOT) event in their schools. The DOT event is to present their Christian views on homosexuality to counter the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) “Day of Silence”. At the end of the article the author states “the Day of Truth is also working internationally against the homosexual agenda, as Tokyo, Saipan and the United Kingdom are now involved in this event.” (Haverluck, 2007)

Wow, is the first thought I had. Then in more depth I questioned is there actually any GLBT clubs in ANY of the schools in Saipan? I searched for more information to see how Saipan is connected with the DOT or Alliance Defense Fund and could not find any connections however, that does not mean there isn’t the connection they state.

In my search I did find the “Family Research Council” site. They declare they are “Defending Family, Faith, and Freedom”. Hmmmm. I thought freedom is the ability to be whom one is. I really do not see how the GLBT community is asking heterosexuals to become like us, as if that could be truly possible. I do hear the GLBT community asking for EQUAL RIGHTS, which again brings up the word ‘freedom’! The scary thing is that on this site they list eight resources to assist preventing homosexual activism in your school. (No author listed, 2007)

To my bloggers who do not think that there are GLBT issues "now days", go take a look at the link resources and see.

Island Dyke


Reference:

Haverluck, M. (2007). Teens Battle Gay Agenda in Schools. US News on CBN News.com. Retrieved on December 20, 2007, from http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/133034.aspx.

No author listed. (2007) Family Research Council. Retrieved on December 20, 2007 from https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=CONTACT_FRC&iss=HSED&step=2.

Marketing Saipan to Gay and Lesbian Travelers

According to the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, consumers nationwide online travel behaviors studies have shown that 79% of gays and lesbians will book their vacation hotel rooms online compared to 54% of straights booking online. The study also revealed that 71% of gay/lesbian travelers top choice for picking a vacation spot is the price compared to 64% of straights having that as their top choice. Additionally, 22% of gay/lesbian travelers say one of the most important factors to picking a vacation location is if they feel they will received "fair treatment of guests like me". (MEDIA, 5th)


So if close to 80% of gay/lesbian travelers will book their vacation online, what would it cost to market these vacation packages online? The second part of the topic is if you think Saipan will show fair treatment to gay/lesbian guests. In one of my first blogs I wrote about a gay travel critic and his wonderful stay at Saipan's Pacific Island Club. Also I have shared how I feel excepted by most everyone living here. Saipan also currently has at least one gay club and has had others in the past and I recently had a blogger request information on gay bars in Saipan as they were planning to travel here.


So here it is all you energetic, business savy marketers, and computer geeks (ok, computer savy) people; can someone go strum up some business at the hotels and bring the GLBT tourists here! We want rainbow money here! ;0)

Island Dyke

Reference:

MEDIA 5th WWW DOCUMENTS. Tourism Industry Update, May 2, 2006. Retrieved on December 19, 2007 from http://www.hvcb.org/media/documents/TIU06-09.pdf.

California's Rally for Equal Marriage Rights

The "Love is Love" video posted above is from Equality California Institute. They are promoting a project called "Let California Ring". It is a project to educate the public about the freedom to marry. Follow the link below to their web page and click on "find out more" followed by "facts". Scroll down close to the end of the page and you will find what rights are not afforded to gay and lesbian couples by not allowing legal marriage. After that you will also find some interesting statistics taken in a 2000 Census. This is one of the statistics mentioned; "There are an estimated 3.1 million people living together in gay or lesbian relationships in the United States." (n.a.l., 2007)

Island Dyke

Reference:

No Author Listed. (2007). Let California Ring. Retrieved on December 06, 2007 from
http://www.letcaliforniaring.org/site/c.ltJTJ6MQIuE/b.3554233/k.C3D3/Videos/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp

Being a GLBT Parent in Saipan

I recently wished all of you a happy Thanksgiving Holiday and then dove right into the celebration of our son's first birthday. He turned the big one on November 28th and we, both mommies, took the day off to celebrate the happy occasion. This was followed up with a big party on Saturday with hamburgers and hotdogs. For our daughter's first birthday, who is now three, we had a very small party. (It is recommend one child guest for every year the child is) However, this time we decided when the child is only one years old the party really is for the parents, not the child. Additionally, in this community we have been invited to many children's birthday parties and they are usually full of lots of adults and children. One tends to feel obligated to invite all of those who have invited you to their children's birthday party, not to mention if you invite one you have to invite all as word gets around. Ultimately you still miss inviting people out of pure short-sidedness and hope in the end to not have offended too many.

This leads me into talking about how it is to be a GLBT parent living in Saipan. I have only known of three other GLBT parents here is Saipan. (one gay local couple, one gay mainland couple, and one lesbian Asian couple) When I think of there being four GLBT parent couples (that I know of) in Saipan it makes me think it must be a fairly supportive environment. Yes there isn't any GLBT parent clubs or social support groups. However, I do not feel as if my life is in danger or feel contempt from others living around me which can happen living in other places. I can say that 99% of me feel's just like everyone else. The one percent that doesn't was based on less than a hand-full of experiences here in the past seven years. Living in those places where one does feel a threat it is important to have support groups however, living here I do not feel different from others and that need isn't so important. Every now and then I do miss the GLBT community support group though because it is nice to be around people like myself.

Island Dyke