Video Spotlight: "My Address: A Look at Gay Youth Homelessness"

As summer is finally beginning to dawn, many LGBTQ indviduals and their allies from around the country, and around the world, will come together in Pride events to publicly celebrate and honor who they are as a community and their continuing struggles in seeking justice and equality, rights often denied by a larger society that holds to heteronormativity as if persons of other identifications are fictitious and scary (they aren't, on either account). (And note: when I say "society" that means WE need to take responsibility. Society is made of individuals – aka YOU & ME – who discriminate or are willing to blindly allow discrimination. Our individual actions contribute to societal norms. Don't be passive.) As my tiny contribution to bringing awareness and a more concrete understanding to LGBTQ struggles, I wanted to share this video, produced over a year ago by the lovely folks at OurChart.com. This is the second of a five episode series narrated by Katherine Moennig exploring homelessness among gay youth. To see the rest of the web series, you can visit OurChart.com, or to read the report put out by The National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce on which much of the cited statistics are based, you can go here. Peace.

Yay Green Festival!

Long time, no chat! Forgive me, I've been buried up to my eyeballs in schoolwork. (Got another three weeks to go 'til summer. I'm anxious.) But, I wanted to share a happy experience with you all. (I always talk about sad and grumpy things, which -- don't worry -- I'll get back to, but I thought talking for once about something wonderful would be, well, wonderful!)

This past weekend I took a break from homeworkin' it and headed over to Navy Pier for Chicago's 2nd annual Green Festival. I went last year when it was held at McCormick Place, but it's grown in scope since then and the Pier was a good site choice (despite the fact that the CTA was a disaster -- running the Red Line on the upper tracks, leaving me to spend two hours in bus transit each way. I could have walked the 7 miles faster...).

For those of you unfamiliar, the Green Festival, which is hosted at several locations each year (this year's are Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington DC), is a uniquely amazing festival focused specifically on issues of sustainable economy, ecological balance, and social justice. It's my kind of shindig! The events, cosponsored by Global Exchange and Co-op America, are described as:

Green Festivals are a walk through a sustainable community. It starts with the personal: how people can make their lives work better. Individuals and business and community leaders also come together to discuss social and environmental issues of personal, local, national and global concern. Organizations and businesses showcase programs and products that serve the community. Neighbor-to-neighbor connections are formed, and skills are shared to empower people to create a livable community. Of course, it wouldn't be a festival without music, art, culture and delicious food -- all from locally-based organizations and businesses!

Pretty much, it's a rip-roarin' good time. Inspirational. Informative. Progressive. And generally just AWESOME. You have the opportunity to hear hundreds of speakers, check out over 350 exhibitors sharing knowledge about everything from how to green your house and conscious investing to local food options and community action, be in rich conversation with others, eat mouth-wateringly good food -- all local, mostly natural, and yes, there is an organic beer and wine garden, as well as a tea garden. There is a bookstore, a kids' area, a makeshift yoga studio, a film festival, and TONS of learning to be had. Crowded and overwhelming at times - yes. But worth it, if you ask me. (Gotta tell ya, last year they estimated the attendance was 31,000. This year they were anticipating 33,000 or more. CRAZY!)

Now, why am I telling you all this (other than the fact that it's my blog and I can do whatever I want)? Well, two reasons. One: If you live in the DC or San Fran areas, your Festival is still to come. (DC's is November 8 & 9 and San Fran's is doin' it up right with a three day fest from Nov. 14 to 16.) Two: If you cannot make it to a Festival, I understand, but there is this amazing resource available to you called the internet. If you navigate yourself to the Green Festival homepage, you you will see on the left hand side several "play" buttons. One reads "Launch Green Festival Radio" and another reads "Green Festival Videos." These are your links to free knowledge - and how you could pass that up?! The wonderful folks at the national level of Green Festival have made it possible to hear many of the speakers who have contributed their time and knowledge to Green Festival audiences since 2005. Just click a speaker of interest to you and you're good to go. (Might I suggest a few crowd favorites including Amy Goodman, Bill McKibben, Thom Hartmann, Medea Benjamin, Ralph Nadar, and Dennis Kucinich.)

That said, let me leave you (and return to my homework) with a little promo video. This should give you a decent idea of what Green Festival is all about. And 'til next time, be well!