Fall 2001    

Executive Director's Report

I write this report almost a month after the terrible attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I feel humbled and chastened by the enormity of the suffering, the incredible bravery of the firemen, the police, and the ordinary citizens who were caught up in the attack, and sad that many of us are now feeling afraid and insecure.

Rev. Falwell's idiotic statement in the wake of the Sept. 11th attacks blaming gays, the ACLU, and abortion rights activists for provoking the wrath of God exposes him as a complete moral moron, should anyone have needed further proof. Thank God (sorry, Jerry) that the prospect of our own fundamentalists establishing a home-grown Taliban regime in America is a nightmare that we need not fear.

While it is not the goal of Speakout to try to convert the "Holy Mishuganahs," neither can we forget that they're out there trying to impede our quest for tolerance, safe communities and equality. We cannot forget that Maine is the only New England state to have seen its civil rights amendment prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination twice repealed by popular vote in campaigns led by anti-gay Christian organizations.

So we will continue to reach out to the majority of Mainers "in the middle," many of whom have not met an openly gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered person before --- or parents willing to talk about their son or daughter --- to share our personal experiences in a spirit of respectful give-and-take. And we are focusing our efforts on securing speaking invitations in the towns in which a majority voted against the civil rights bill in the last election.

While many of us were very discouraged by losing these votes, we need to bounce back in the face of these setbacks. We are making progress and we can accelerate this progress if enough of you will come forward, get trained as speakers, and help us find speaking opportunities in your community, at your workplace, church, synagogue or civic group. The time to speak out is (still) now!