Archives

Click on a link below to go to a specific event.

Alex Nicholson, Founder and Director of the Call to Duty Tour.

The Call to Duty Tour  was held on the NGCSU campus on March 7, 2006. Sponsored by the School of Education and the Department of Psychology & Sociology, the presentation was open to the public and focused on the experiences of people who are gay serving in the military under the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy.

Doria Roberts February 9th 2006

"Black-eyed Susan: Surviving Multiple Minority Status in the United States": A panel discussion with NGCSU students. Held in the Hoag Auditorium, approximately 100 people attended this event. Doria Roberts, well-known singer, song-writer, and human rights' activities facilitated a panel discussion about growing up gay, lesbian, poor, and African American. After hearing person stories from members of the panel, Doria facilitated audience interaction with a question and answer period. The panel discussion was video-taped and is available on DVD from the CTLE.

Doria Roberts in Concert February 9th 2006 at the Crimson Moon Cafe in Dahlonega, GA.

It was standing room only at the Crimson Moon Cafe as fans of Doria Roberts vied for good seating to hear Doria perform. Sponsored by the North Georgia Gay Straight Alliance and Project Dignity and financially supported by a grant from the Fund for Southern Communities, the cafe was rocking to the sounds of her music - mixes of folk, jazz and pop with lyrics about everyday life. For the past seven years, Roberts has been the executive producer of Queerstock, a concert showcasing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender artists. The “Grassroots Queers,” an activist group, created Queerstock in Philadelphia in 1995 and invited Roberts to perform in what would be one of her first appearances as an openly gay artist.

 

 

ACLU Attorney Beth Littrell

 On Thursday, October 13th, the North Georgia Gay Straight Alliance sponsored a presentation by Beth Littrell,  an ACLU attorney. Her topic was focused on coming out, as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, questioning or as a LGBTQI ally. All students, faculty, and staff were welcome to attend and learn about the process and experience of “coming out.”  About 30 people attended her presentation..

Beth’s presentation included personal coming out stories. But, she also talked about how being “out” helps the gay community to obtain equality. We need to put a human face on what being a member of a sexual minority is all about. “Coming out” is a process. Being “out” makes a positive difference in being able to function as a contributing member of the campus community and society at large. Beth talked about facing those inner demons and coming to terms with who we are as LGBTQI folks, facing the imagined and real fears with courage.

In addition to addressing the significance of coming out for personal and political reasons, she also emphasized the importance of individual participation in this evolution toward equal liberty for orientation and identity minorities.  As a civil rights lawyer and advocate, she believes that persuading individuals to look at the big picture, and their responsibility for painting it, helps them appreciate the value in small contributions.

Dr. Margarethe Cammermeyer Ph.D, RN, Colonel, USAR

Activist and Author, Serving in Silence

On Thursday, March 3, 2005 at 7:00 PM in the auditorium of the Health & Natural Sciences building, Dr. Cammermeyer spoke about her experiences in the military. The North Georgia Gay Straight Alliance invited her to speak. Project Dignity is co-sponsored the event.

"In 1989, during an interview for top-secret clearance, to apply for the War College, I told the military 'I am a lesbian'"

Dr. Margarethe Cammermeyer PhD, RN, Colonel, USAR, retired from the Army after six years on active duty and 25 years in the Army Reserves and National Guard. Concurrently she worked as a Clinical Specialist and sleep researcher at Veterans Administration Medical System. She has a BS in Nursing from the University of Maryland, and a M.A and Ph.D. from the University of Washington.

During her military career she challenged policies that discriminated against married women, and married women who became pregnant. In 1989, Colonel Cammermeyer, having served for 25 years, challenged the military's anti-gay regulation. Her story drew national attention since she was nationally recognized as a specialist in neuroscience nursing, was Veterans Administration Nurse of the year in 1985, had earned the Bronze Star for Service in Vietnam, was Chief Nurse of the Washington National Guard, and had an earned Ph.D. in Nursing Science.

Her book Serving in Silence (with Chris Fisher) was published in 1994. In 1995 a made-for-television movie, Serving in Silence, in which Glenn Close portrayed Colonel Cammermeyer, was aired earning the Peabody award and three Emmy Awards.

Dr. Cammermeyer continues to challenge the status quo and promote civil and human rights throughout the world. She is an avid spokesperson for lifting the ban against gays and lesbians in the military. Using the military as the paradigm she weaves stories of social change, stressing the necessity to change the military as well as the corporate workplace to an accommodating environment for everyone. The challenge to the sexual minority community in disclosing and the challenge to the sexual majority to feel less threatened is illustrated as she shares anecdotes about grappling with her own sexuality, dealing with her children, being a political candidate and now an activist. Her personal touch is felt in virtually any forum in which she speaks.

Dr. Cammermeyer was born in Oslo, Norway under Nazi occupation in 1942. She immigrated with her family to Washington DC in 1951. In 1965 she married a fellow military officer but divorced in 1980. She has four sons from that marriage. In 1988 she met her life partner, Diane Divelbess. They share a home on Whidbey Island, Washington and are frequently visited by sons and grandchildren.

The cost of serving and living in silence is extraordinary to the individual, the family, the corporate world, the church and reality. It is not just a simple "why can't you just be quiet?" as Senator Warner asked Colonel Cammermeyer at the Senate Armed Services hearing in 1993 on lifting the ban against homosexuals serving in the military. Col. Dr. Margarethe Cammermeyer's compelling story of trials and tribulation in the military, to running for public office, to dealing with children and grandchildren give her a unique perspective of the costs and benefits of an open accepting society and work environment. The weaving of her own experiences with the changes in society makes the topic of gays in the military and in society an ever present and challenging topic of her lectures and discussions. Demystifying the unknown is the only way to challenge even subliminal biases. The benefits are in providing a safer work place, challenging prejudices, providing security with respect to home family and community. It occurs one person at a time coming out and speaking their truth. Colonel Cammermeyer's truth cost a military future and gained her the respect and integrity of all who hear her story. Her story is an exemplar of the lives of thousands unsung and unheard in America.

Coming Out at the Capitol 

           

Dr. Karla Drenner and her children.

The Honorable. Karla Drenner, the only openly gay legislator in the Georgia General Assembly spoke on campus on Tuesday, October 12, 2004. She addressed an audience of approximately 150 people in the Hoag Auditorium in the Student Center. She described her experience as a lesbian legislator during the time that SR 595, the proposal to amend the Georgia State Constitution to ban gay marriage, was being debated at the Capitol.

             Dr. Drenner is a Representative in the Georgia House of Representatives. According to her web site (www.karladrenner.org), “Along with her two children, she has made her home in Avondale Estates and currently, in addition to her duties in the General Assembly, works as an environmental health and safety consultant. Rep. Drenner was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives on Nov. 7, 2000, and was officially sworn in on Jan. 2001. Dr. Drenner ran an issues-driven campaign, concentrating on education reform, environmental concerns and improving local neighborhoods. Rep. Drenner went to work right away on these issues, passing HB 393 in her freshman year. HB 393 encourages residents to practice carpooling by protecting carpool databases from public disclosure.”

            Dr. Drenner is an adjunct Professor at Devry University where she teaches Environmental Science, Principles of Ethics and Leadership and Motivation. She also owns an environmental safety and health consulting firm. Dr. Drenner has published a book entitled, One: The True Story of Politics, Prayer and The Power of One. She is also an accomplished marathoner.

             Dr. Drenner was an entertaining speaker. Everyone was welcome to attend her address and meet her at a reception following in the Great Room.

Mother of Hate Crimes Victim Spoke at NGCSU

Judy Shepard, mother of Mathew Shepard

March 9, 2004

Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, spoke at North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU) on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 PM. The public was invited. The presentation was  in Memorial Hall, the university gymnasium. Between 500 and 600 people attended this event.

Judy and Dennis Shepard were awakened on October 8, 1998 in the middle of the night in Saudi Arabia, where Dennis works, by a telephone call no parent should ever have to receive. What they heard changed their lives forever. Their eldest son, Matthew, was in a coma after having been brutally attacked in Laramie WY - because he was gay. On October 12, Matthew died. He was 21 years old.

Judy Shepard is determined to use her grief over her son's death to make a difference - to do what she can to ensure that no other parent will have to endure what she has. She came to NGCSU to speak about what we can do to make our schools and communities safer for everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. "I feel we're doing what he [Mathew] would want us to do. We realize that we must use the voice his death has given us. I realize that what I can try and accomplish is to make people aware. We get so complacent in our lives that we forget not everyone is safe, and frequently, it is our children who aren't safe," said Ms. Shepard.

Matthew Shepard may have been small in stature, he only weighed 105 pounds, but he had a big heart. Fighting for social justice was central to who he was, and it formed a significant part of his life. In the aftermath of his death, Judy and Dennis Shepard started the Matthew Shepard Foundation (www.matthewshepard.org) to help carry on Matthew's legacy by embracing the just causes their son had championed. This includes working for gay and lesbian equality and helping to prevent hate crimes.

"Project Dignity and the Gay Straight Alliance at NGCSU invited Ms. Shepard to speak in order to promote a dialogue about making our community a safe place for everyone," said Donna Waddell, faculty advisor for the Gay Straight Alliance and a resident of Talking Rock. These two university organizations were formed to provide education to the university and surrounding community about the importance of diversity, tolerance, and respect. Members of these groups have raised almost $10,000 to support this event. Proceeds will be donated to the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

"The Legacy of Matthew Shepard" was supported through contributions made by Georgia Mountains Unitarian Universalist Church in Dahlonega, Mountain Light Unitarian Universalist Church in Ellijay, Dr. Daria Cronic, Jeff Cleghorn, Dr. Leonard Buccellato, the Dahlonega Ministerial Association, Jean Tyson, Janet Dunsmore, Coe & Betty Hamling, Dr. Donna Waddell, Herb & Myrna West, Emmy Sorth, David Hawthorne & Caryl Hanson, Laura LaTourette, and Pat Kleinhaus. Two grants were awarded by Omicron Delta Kappa and the Student Government Association at NGCSU which substantially supported this event.

How to get there

Directions to NGCSU

This event will be held in the Memorial Hall Gymnasium. Click here for a map of the NGCSU campus. The Memorial Hall Gymnasium (number 11 on the map) is the first building on your right after you enter the front gates.

Project Yes Communication Workshop

November 13-14, 2003

Thursday and Friday, Beth, Donna, and Rev. Frank participated in a workshop designed to help our leaders facilitate discussions and to teach us how to create a safe and accepting environment for communication.

     
Beth and Rev. Frank chat while on a break   Martha Fugate, Director of Project Yes, and Beth doing "practice" speeches.
 
Workshop Participants:
Front row: Tim Wagoner
Back row: Donna Waddell, Beth Newton, Diane Stephenson, Bob Michaels, Martha Fugate

Diversity of Sexuality Seminar

October 30, 2003

Donna Waddell, Faculty Advisor for the GSA, presented "The Diversity of Sexuality" on October 30, 2003. Dressed up as a witch she shared Halloween candy with the group. Her presentation focused on gay culture, gay history, and many taboo terms such as "bulldyke" and "faggot." Based on the work of Judy Grahn, lesbian poet, Donna traced the history and meaning of many words unique to Gay culture. In addition, she explained why Halloween is the National Gay Holiday.

Following her presentation, members of the Gay Straight Alliance gathered at the Presbyterian church for pizza and fun. Frank Colladay, campus minister, played a video of Ellen Degeneres for the group. A good time was had by all.

     
Donna Waddell   Donna Waddell presenting to the group

Proposal to bring Judy Shepard to speak at North Georgia College & State University

September 25, 2003

"It was not only the October 6, 1998, attack against Matthew Shepard--or even his death six days later--that caught the world's attention. It was also the way he lived his life openly--faults and all-- in the small college of Laramie, Wyo. It was the way people in that town responded to him. And it was the way his family rushed from Saudi Arabia to be by his side-to be together one last time. That's what brought traffic in midtown Manhattan to a halt. That's what brought thousands of mourners to the steps of the U.S. Capitol and to vigils at hundreds of college campuses across the country. That's what sparked debates on hate-crimes legislation in statehouses nationwide. And that's why, five years later, Matthew Shepard still matters." (Introduction to an article on Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother, by Michael Joseph Gross in the September 30, 2003 issue of The Advocate magazine).

Judy Shepard has been on the go since her son's murder five years ago outside Laramie, Wyoming. Giving her personal testimony about the experience of the family in losing Matthew, she talks about how hate can destroy. She has the first-hand knowledge. For her, it is up front and personal.

Project Dignity and the Gay-Straight Alliance of North Georgia College & State University, "in the small college town" of Dahlonega, Georgia want to bring Judy Shepard to the NGCSU campus and the North Georgia community. We believe that she has some words that we need to hear - words of hope, words of encouragement, words of love. NGCSU is a four-year institution of the University System of Georgia. It is the Military College of Georgia.

The cost of bring Judy Shepard here is $9,000, which includes all expenses such as airfare, lodging, etc. The monies that are not used for expenses are donated to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The Foundation is carrying out Matthew's legacy by supporting educational projects, activities, and documentaries that raise awareness of the issues involving discrimination and diversity.

Financial donations to bring Judy Shepard here in March of 2004 are being sought. Donations can be made to the North Georgia College & State University Foundation and all donations will be tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Any help you give to make this a reality are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Donna Waddell, 706-864-1652 or the Rev. Frank Colladay, 706-864-2638.