GLBT Community

[xenagoddess]

Hi all,

Well this is what got the idea for the Common Things board going. It seemed like it would be nice to meet up with other gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender folks and talk about how we fit ourselves into this world of CORE and WW.

A bit about myself: I have been married to my partner for 12 years now. We have done the marrying part several times (I think we are up to 5X) depending on the political fight of the day. We have a six year old son who is happily in 1st grade. I am a firefighter and my partner also works for the fire department in the prevention section.

Xenagoddess

[HippoMommy]

So excited to see this thread and board. I fit into so many categories, LOL!

I'm Jennie (age 40), DP is Deb (will be 39 in a week). We have 2 kids -- DSS (age 7) (Deb's from a previous relationship) and DD (age 3 1/2) (ours together). We have been together for about 6 years, married for 5. We married ourselves to ourselves, and are waiting for all the legal issues to shake down. I'm a SAHM who's homeschooling DD and helping to homeschool DSS (we have a fairly warm relationship with Deb's ex, and she and I are in agreement about many important issues related to the kids, which is nice). I have a Master's degree in Counseling. Deb is a construction project manager. We live in the Los Angeles area.

[cyclegoddess]

I'm just thrilled that this board is up and running! Hello everyone.

I am 35 and not currently in a relationship. In my state, I helped found an organization of LGBT union members, which works to educate LGBT folks about how unions can help address civil rights & discrimination issues in the workplace, and we work to educate union members about LGBT issues. I've also been involved in efforts to win second-parent adoption (now in law) and gay marriage. I also do a lot of political work, managing the campaign for our first openly gay (bisexual) female state representative, and mobilizing LGBT community around political campaigns for friendly legislators.

I think it is great to have a place where LGBT members can come together to discuss WW and core. I really love my WW meetings, but it does seem to be a very straight culture. That makes this even more special, to have a place where we can be "at home".

Thanks Kippy & Pookie for making space for us.

[janek46]

First..let me say...I have no problem with the GLBT community. I think whoever makes you happy in life is a good thing!

My question is WHY do we have such a board on a site that is set up for Core followers of ALL types? I thought we were all in this together. Should we set up a 'tattooed and pierced' board, 'religious people only' board? What comes next? I think of this site as a community filled with all kinds of people from all walks of life with a common bond. Why does it have to be split by gender preferences? I come here for help and support and to give it to others. What their gender preferences are, religions are, skin color, hair color or whatever makes no difference.

If this comes off as anti anything.....I'm not...
Just my 2 cents worth.....

Jane

[xenagoddess]

Janek46:

We just find it a nice to way to encourage conversation with others with common interests and life experiences.

As we said in the first post on this board:

Our only request for this board is to be respectful. This is not the place to come for debate. It is the place to be if you want to support others in your community.

If you don't like a particularly thread please just don't join in on the conversation. Instead start a thread that you do like.

[cyclegoddess]

Hello Jane, thank you for stopping by. I think that community boards are a place to *enhance* our wonderful diverse board... there's nothing in discussing common interests that splits anyone.

If you wanted to start another board that dealt with religious disucssions I am sure you would be welcome to do that. (I think the WW board does have a board where folks gather on religious topics, "Inspiration Soup".) Or a tattoos board. Our goal is *not* to start debate threads but to give people a place to come and talk.

Speaking for myself, there can often be an intersection between GLBT issues in life (dealing with family, coming out, discrimination, etc) and the issues of weight management. Also, while I love and respect WW, there is a strong culture of people talking about their spouses and married lives etc. that can leave GLBT members feeling a bit isolated.

It is helpful for GLBT members to have a space to discuss our struggles - and our families - in a safe, welcoming and open environment.

[janek46]

I was not disrespectful nor asking for a debate. Just stating my opinion....

Have a wonderful day.....

[HippoMommy]

Jane, Thanks for your support of GLBT folks.

I'm not sure, though, if your question is specific to this thread, or the whole board in general. It seems like maybe it could be directed to the whole board in general, from the way you worded it, or do you just have a problem with a GLBT thread specifically? If the problem is with the whole T.I.C. board concept, maybe your question could have been directed by P.M. to Kippy, Pookie, Xenagoddess or Cyclegoddess? Just trying to clarify exactly what you're alarmed about. . . .

Your first post began with a question "WHY," so I assume you are asking for responses (though, again, I'm not sure if the responses should come from Pookie & Kippy or all of us), if not a debate. . . . I'll just tell you why I'm happy that this board is here.

I agree with Cyclegoddess's response, and I'll add that I think it enhances our Kippy's Core-ner community to explore our various "Things in Common." Many of us probably identify with several "Things." I belong on this thread, on the homeschoolers' thread, on a mom's thread, on a book lovers thread, on a thread for West Coasters, on a Vegetarians' thread, on a thread for folks who follow the Kosher dietary laws, on a thread for dog lovers (should these latter threads get started), etc. It's enriching to talk about common interests, shared concerns, specific challenges that arise within those contexts. . . . Some of those "Things In Common" probably carry more challenges to following Core than others, but I bet there are unique features to all.

I don't imagine that belonging to this thread or any other on the T.I.C. board would detract from my commitment to or involvement in the other boards on this site. I love this big community, and the smaller areas of interest only enhance that experience for me.

I would ask you not to view this thread (or the other threads on this board) as a rejection or a divisive move. Rather, my wish would be that it could be an indication of how vibrant our "culture" is here, how safe and at home and loyal to Kippy's Core-ner we feel (we are willing to truly be ourselves here, not hiding or withholding ourselves from everyone). I would ask you to consider that it's a really good and unifying thing when we can all be who we really are, not simply sticking to our "sameness."

In any case, I'm really glad YOU're on this site, and hope you'll continue to be part of the Core-ner, regardless of how you feel about this particular thread. You add a lot to the Core-ner!

[sarpon]

Jane, I think I can answer, if it isn't presumptuous for a straight married woman to do so. I think that although we all have Core in common (or we wouldn't be here) there are subsets of commonality within the Core community, and in some of these ares, probably particularly when it comes to this one, it must be trying to never know if you are "safe" enough to share about your home life, or if you risk having someone you thought was your on-line friend turn on you.

I'd like to think that no one who posts here would be that way, but I have no illusions about the WW community at large. Today, in a thread on the GDT that was really pretty calm and reasonable about religion, some ditz came on and posted that "of course Jesus is God "with a capital G" and how could anyone seriously think otherwise?

Of course, as this thread is open to view as are all others, it isn't as if anyone who chooses to participate is going to remain closeted. To me, it's just one more thing to know about anyone (and, as I have a mind like a steel sieve, probably forget). I am not likely to need advice about handling an obnoxious right wing relative who is nasty to my significant other, but another member might, and it would be good to know that there is a place to come to ask, just as we can ask about mom-to-mom issues, or fashion issues.

Anyway, if anyone feels it wasn't my place to butt in, I apologize.

[janek46]

First, I must say that I didn't see the 'things in common' board with all the other subjects that are listed. My fault for not paying more attention......

Second, I never meant to offend anyone. Like I said, I'm here to support everybody.

Hope everyone has a great weekend......

[cyclegoddess]

Thanks Jane - you have a good weekend too.

[HippoMommy]

Thanks, Jane! No offense taken.

[pookie]

Frankly, I think of new boards as a marketing tool The more and diverse boards, the more new members and hopefully they will be active members!

I think of all the boards here as facets of our big Kippy Diamond

[xenagoddess]

It all cool Janek. 8-)Hope you have a nice evening.

A thanks to Sarpon for sharing her thoughts and to Pookie for the diamond image. I am definitely wanting this to be a place where we can just relax and share. As I said earlier I would like these TIC boards just to help facilitate conversation.

Soooo....onto other things.

I am curious how people feel at meetings. My meeting are pretty much straight (dare I assume - probably not in this town) older women who are all articulate and friendly. I seem to lack peers not only in the orientation area but just in terms of my own age (38 yrs. in a couple days). I don't think anyone at the meeting would be blatently homophobic but I sometimes feel like a fish out of water. Maybe WW just doesn't appeal to the Lesbian sect....the whole "fat is a feminist issue"..."I should be able to deal with it myself thing". It took giving up a lot of ego to walk in and sign up for the meeting and still I feel a bit shy about going in there. But maybe that is just me.

HELP: While I am spilling my guts.... I am needing a reality check. After having my appendix out on Monday I am finding that it is hard to get restarted on CORE. My son brought home a huge bag of candy today and I have started dipping into it. This is not making me a happy person. I am off the pain pills and my energy is much better today. I can see myself coming up with a millions excuses for not going back on plan...but I don't want to gain weight and would like to keep losing slowly. Sigh... I know what I need to do. I just needed to journal to my new friends some of my challenges this week. Thanks for listening. Hugs.

[Wildflower]

Well you guys better have your logo over here! So here you go!

I want to wish you all the best. I'm certain you will benefit greatly from having a board of your own to discuss your personal struggles, etc.

You'll have to excuse my awkwardness about the subject. As I said before I have led a sheltered life and don't get out much. I love all of you, you've really helped me learn the CORE program more deeply and it's fun to become closer friends as we get to know each other better.


Your friend,
Sandy

P.S. to Xena
"Feed a cold, starve an appendix."