Local groups offer competing message for Gays

Focus on the Family will bring its message that there is "a way out of the homosexual life" to Northshore Baptist Church in Bothell as the regions lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community gather for "gay Pride" weekend. However, local groups are planning their own conference to send a different message: Your fine just the way you are!

The Parents Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG), the Pacific NW Reconciling Ministries and the Religious Coalition for Equality will host, Love Welcomes All, at Newport Presbyterian Church in Bellevue on Saturday, July 9. The event will include experts on the harmful effects of "reparative therapy," parents of LGBT people who have struggled with the issue, and a former "ex-Gay" man.

A couple of the notable speakers include:

• Douglas C. Haldeman, Ph.D., a counseling psychologist and a member of the clinical faculty at the University of Washington's Psychology Department. He is also the current President of the Association of Practicing Psychologists, and a the recipient of a 2005 American Psychological Association's Presidential Citation in recognition of his work on behalf of LGBT psychology. Haldeman co-authored the APA's "Guidelines for Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Clients" as well as the organization's "Resolution on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation."

• Ron Poindexter is a former "ex-Gay" man who reconciled his evangelical Christian faith and his sexual orientation after seven years of "ex-Gay ministries" and "reparative therapy." He holds a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological

Mainstream medical and psychological organizations have condemned therapy methods that claim to change a person's sexual orientation. On its website, the American Psychological Association states: "Even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some homosexual or Bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy, sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or religious groups to try and do so. The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable."

For more information about the Love Welcomes All conference or to register, visit www.lovewelcomesall-wa.org or call Bellevue PFLAG at 206-325-7724.

Blogumentary Comes to Seattle!

Chuck Olsen e-mailed me asking to get the word out about his Blogumentary! It premieres in Seattle this Friday. Check it out!

The film includes interviews ith Jeff Jarvis, Joe Trippi, Rebecca Blood, David Weinberger, Dan Gillmor, Power Line's John Hinderaker and many more. The film also "explores the personal side of blogging, including a BBC blogger injured in Iraq and a friend's suicidal blog post. Whatever your familiarity with blogs, Blogumentary offers a fresh and compelling look at how blogs are changing the way we communicate."

WHEN: Friday, May 13th, 6:00 - 8:00
WHERE: Parrington Hall, Rm 308 on the University of Washington Campus.
EATS: Light refreshments (probably pizza and soft drinks).

SEABlogger health update

A medical exam has revealed my liver is "struggling." Additional blood work has ruled out Hepatitis A, B, or C. The doctor's office drew more blood to check for diseases were the body attacks its own liver. I am also going for an ultrasound of my liver. 

In the meantime, the doctor says "No alcohol or meds of any kind." It will be particularly hard during the holidays when wine is abundant. I will have to forego the Pepto-Bismol after the Christmas meal as well. Basically, I can't have anything the liver would have to filter.

I am sticking with the fatty liver scenario. It sounds much better than a disease in which the body attacks the liver! I need to lose a few pounds (okay, a lot) anyway.

Will keep you updated.

Bring BloggerCon to Seattle?

Having recently returned from BloggerCon at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, I was eager to tell fellow bloggers about the differing format of this convention versus others I have attended in the past. This is described at the " newbies" page on www.BloggerCon.org.

I think it is a format that should be adopted by convention planners and applied to conventions of all topic areas. It is surprising how much one can learn from the participants themselves when given the chance. We don't need some corporate sponsored speaker who will underhandedly pitch his product or feed us his or her view of the Blogosphere.

I am also tired of corporations dictating terms to us, the users. Doesn't it make more sense to include us in the developing process so we can critique, lobby for and suggest changes? By giving us what we want, corporations make a more desirable product and thus make greater profits. Conventions like BloggerCon give developers another opportunity to sit back and learn from us.

Most importantly, the "un-convention" approach helps to create a cooperative environment reminiscent of the Blogosphere. This is something that can't be quantitatively analyzed or monetized. It encourages users, new and old, to grow personally and professionally.

That is why I calling all Northwest bloggers to come together and show them, those pompous convention planners and clueless CEO's (of course there are exceptions) how its done. Let's bring BloggerCon to Seattle!

The Seattle area is one of the high-tech centers of the world. Several of the world's largest software, internet and gadget developers call this region home. This would lead me to conclude that Seattle boasts an amble supply of bloggers and blog readers.

Email me at SEABlogger@seattleblogger.com if your interested in helping to get this project off the ground. Anyone of any ability, varying degrees of interest or level of talent is encouraged to drop me a line!

Yours Truly,
SEABlogger