We want to thank Chuck Remmel and Doug Malcolm, former board members, for their hours of devotion to Speakout and wish them well as they move on to new pursuits.

And we want to welcome with appropriate fanfare three new board members who have the distinction of being Speakout's first board members under the age of twenty-five. Ben Bigney, the senior member of this youthful cohort, is a recent graduate of USM and a talented jazz pianist. Lindsay Keller and Sara Webber are both students at Deering High School where, among other things, they are active in the Rainbow Alliance.

I joined Speakout because I was interested in volunteering in the greater Portland GLBT community. As a gay man who has been blessed with understanding family and friends, I've found that through Speakout I can share my story with folks who might be struggling with how to support GLBT loved ones. In addition to speaking, serving on the Speakout board of directors has enabled me to be more involved, and is helping me learn how a non-profit, grass roots movement is organized and operates.

I joined Speakout because I want others to realize that being gay isn't a disease, isn't radical, isn't immoral , but rather just normal (to us). You love who you love, it isn't a chosen lifestyle or trend. I just want to see a change. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, any discrimination actually, really upsets me, it's unjust and ridiculous. If a woman wants to love another woman, why does it matter that they are of the same gender? This ignorance bothers me, and I want people to see that we aren't threatening or wrong because we love the same sex; I want to normalize homosexuality and stop discrimination. We are the same as everyone else, so we should have the same rights, protections, and privileges as every other person. I felt that Speakout could help me contribute to this change; it won't happen if no action is taken and people just sit back and watch. Plus, it'll look really good on college applications!

Sara Webber - For me Speakout was a chance to give something back to the community. I wanted people to become aware that adults aren't the only ones fighting for these issues, teenagers care too.