Amazing, isn’t it? In 38 states gay
employees can legally be fired, not hired, or denied a raise just for
being gay, and many instances of such discrimination have been well
documented for many years. At the same time, Congress has been unwilling
to pass the Employees’ Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would stop
such abuses, despite a Gallup poll showing that 85% of Americans believe
in equality for gay employees.
But
suddenly when our legislators fear losing THEIR jobs in the midterm
elections they immediately pass bills curbing corporate malfeasance in a
pathetic attempt to curry favor with the electorate.
Sadly,
a similar situation of legislative self-interest exists in our own State
of Delaware. Our state legislature could not find a way of overcoming the
obstructionism of one senator who held hostage HB 99, a bill protecting
gay Delawareans in the workplace and other venues. Sixty-nine percent of
Delawareans backed the bill. But how the lawmakers scrambled to ensure
legislative redistricting would allow them to keep their jobs!
We
gay Americans want to be judged on our work performance alone, not on our
private lives. We also want our legislators to represent us, that is, to
do their jobs.
Douglas
& Corey Marshall-Steele
I
would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Chris Riss on the
success of the CAMP Follies 2002. This new addition to the Rehoboth summer
season, which I hope will become an annual event, is a credit to his
dedication and creativity. Chris has been a staple of the scene here in
Rehoboth for more years than he wants mentioned, but I believe this was
his greatest event. I know how hard he worked on every aspect of the
Follies from coaxing the acts to participate, rounding up the auction
items, selling tickets, and I even heard he set up a chair or two.
I
even thank him for asking me to participate as a judge, though I have been
told that a few “former” friends are no longer speaking to me.
What
was so great about this event was the enthusiasm of both the participants
and attendees, who, if one looked both on stage and out over the audience,
were a great cross section of our community. It was a little older crowd
than one would see at some of CAMP’s
other events, and I was so happy not to be the oldest person in the
room as I usually am.
(Tony
Burns not admitting to his age.) It was a crowd that symbolized the coming
of age of our community here in Rehoboth.
Someone
said to me that night that they thought of the old slogan as they chatted
with friends, “we’re queer and we’re here,” gay and lesbian
together.
I
also don’t want to forget to mention some of the regular workers and
volunteers without which no Rehoboth event would ever happen successfully:
Rob Dick and the Blue Moon,
Steve
Elkins and Murray Archibald, Kathy Weir, Natalie Moss, Heine Lund (aka
Tinkerbell), Maureen Keenan, Gene Dvornick, and many others.
We
have a bright new addition to the firmament of annual summer events in
Rehoboth, and Chris, “hats off to you” and thanks.
Peter
Rosenstein, The Oldest Judge
Oh
what a night!
A
year ago when that thorn-in-my-side Chris Riss told me of this Rehoboth
Follies thing I politely said “oh, great idea,” turned, rolled my eyes
and thought “it’ll never work.” How on earth would he ever get 10
groups motivated enough to pull it off if not even I was optimistic?
I
know what it’s like just trying to get five people to the beach at the
same time, much less props, costumes, rehearsal, and the hardest job,
developing an idea in the first place. It’s like building a house of
cards out of eyelashes, falsies, and mood swings.
Well,
that fork-tongued, insult-wielding son of a gun did it—a sold out event
that was “heels over head” better than I ever expected. When one of
the many local and national publications phoned me for an interview (OK,
the Cape Gazette) they asked me what my favorite part of the Follies
experience was. I responded “me.” No, actually it was the excitement
in the Convention Center before the show. Everyone from spectators to
performers was so enthusiastic—the air was so thick with anticipation
and support you could cut it with an eyeliner pencil! We were all there
for each other and it was probably the strongest sense of community I’ve
ever felt in this town.
Believe
it or not, this was the first time I had ever performed. I’d never
lip-synced other than in the car and haven’t been on a stage since my
tap dance recital when I was seven. Though I was thrilled that our troupe
won the Paul Robinson Award, the competition part of the event was
insignificant. Every skit accepted and accomplished a challenge while
making our friends laugh and cheer. We all won. It was truly an evening
“over the rainbow.” Thank you Chris and Rehoboth for supporting me in
my many, many faces of silliness.
Cliff
Lassahn
The
CAMP Rehoboth Follies, what a great show! I was amazed to be sitting in
the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center surrounded by hundreds of women and
men, young and old, all laughing uproariously at the antics taking place
on the stage. Anyone who hasn’t been to town since CAMP Rehoboth came on
the scene would not believe their eyes.
All
I can say is thank you to each and every one of you who worked so hard to
make the Follies such a success. I can’t wait until next year.
Diane
Rogers |
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