Gabi Clayton ~ inside the outsider . . .

Olympia Monthly Meeting (Quakers) creates a “Friends Ugandan Safe Transport” project to aid LGTBQ Ugandans

2014-04-23T09:37:00.001-07:00

This is something I am involved in, passionate about and need your help on. This is a Minute from Olympia Friends Meeting (Quakers) which I am involved with:

Olympia Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends has noted with deep concern the Ugandan Government’s passage of a law targeting the LGTBQ population. This law has created a climate where the life, health, and freedom of all LGTBQ Ugandans and those who help them are at immediate risk. We are appalled at hearing about those who have already been kicked out of their homes, denied basic rights, abandoned, beaten, imprisoned, or killed, or who live in constant fear.

Olympia Monthly Meeting has been called to create a “Friends Ugandan Safe Transport” project (originally named Friends New Underground Railroad) to aid LGTBQ Ugandans who are fleeing their homeland for their lives and safety. We have been given an opportunity to provide direct assistance that will save lives. In the first few weeks of this effort we have helped 17 LGTBQ Ugandans get to safety and freedom. Many others remain at risk, and are trying to escape.

We call on all Friends, both individually and in their Meetings, Friends' organizations, and all people of good will, to help us in in this effort.
For more information, contact me, Gabi Clayton, Co-Clerk, Peace and Social Justice Committee, Olympia Monthly Meeting: 360 888-5291; gabi@gabiclayton.com

Send checks to:
Olympia Friends Meeting
1717 18th Court NE
Olympia, WA 98506

Make checks out to Olympia Friends Meeting and put “for Uganda” or “New Underground Railroad Project” in the memo line.

Please let me know privately if you are donating so we can plan.
And please share this link: http://gabiclayton.blogspot.com/2014/04/olympia-monthly-meeting-quakers-creates.html with your friends to help us ask them for assistance.

Thank you,
Gabi Clayton

Emergency Fund for Ugandan LGBTQ Friends Seeking Escape: Talcott Broadhead, Danger Dot Publishing

2014-04-10T08:26:00.004-07:00

I want to share this with you. On their website, my friend Talcott Broadhead of Danger Dot Publishing wrote:

This is no “Savior” effort. This is a response to the request of Ugandan LGBTQ communities to get.them.out. DangerDot is honored to provide 1 case of “Meet Polkadot,” as a beginning to this immediate relief effort.

The Polkadot Series [Danger Dot Publishing] » Emergency Fund for Ugandan LGBTQ Friends Seeking Escape - by Talcott Broadhead
http://dangerdot.com/emergencyfundforugandanlgbtqfriendsseekingescape/

April 6, 2014

At this moment DangerDot is working closely with the Olympia Friends (Quakers) to support 3 of our gay friends in Uganda. The brutality, imprisonment and deaths suffered by LGBTQ Ugandans is not merely a blip on your news feed– it is real. It is happening right now. Ugandan police and civilians are hunting down LGBTQ folks. It is on. We know of 3 murders just this week and those are just the murders that were public and undeniable. We know that many more of our brothers and sisters are imprisoned and have lost their lives because of their sexual and gender identity. Both real AND perceived.

and:

This is a moment to think seriously upon our collective commitment of “Never Again.”

and:

I know, and our friends in Uganda know, that creating an Underground transport to move them out of the country where they experience this oppression and violence is not the “answer” to fixing the broken system there. However if we don’t move these friends now then we will be dealing with a recovery effort rather than a rescue effort. We do what we have been asked to do. We seek to use our privilege to create relief for those who are suffering. This is no “Savior” effort. This is a response to the request of Ugandan LGBTQ communities to get.them.out. DangerDot is honored to provide 1 case of “Meet Polkadot,” as a beginning to this immediate relief effort.

As of Thursday morning, 4/10/14 DangerDot has raised $751.
The goal is to raise $1500.

Please learn more (read the whole piece) and make a donation here:
http://dangerdot.com/emergencyfundforugandanlgbtqfriendsseekingescape/

About the book: “Meet Polkadot” is written and illustrated by Talcott Broadhead, MSW.

“Meet Polkadot,” the first book in the Polkadot Series is an accessible introduction to our main character Polkadot. Polkadot as well as Polkadot’s big sister Gladiola and best friend Norma Alicia, introduce our readers to the challenges and beauty that are experienced by Polkadot as a non-binary, trans kid. http://dangerdot.com/faq-the-polkadot-series/

About DangerDot:

DangerDot is a small independent publishing company in Olympia, Washington, started by Talcott Broadhead in order to provide a landing spot for anti-oppression and liberation-focused literature for all ages. http://dangerdot.com/

Important - regarding Andrew and --- - please help and share:

2014-04-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

---- wrote 18 hours ago:

"Thanks to your prayers, solidarity, love, support and faith...Andrew is now still receiving treatment and medication!!! However, its heartbreaking that --- is still stuck in Uganda, her hunters and the homophobic haters are looking for her, if they land their hands onto her she will stoned to death the mob. So far we have raised $324 for her Airticket and more is still needed ASAP"

About an hour ago ---- wrote:

"The police have intensified their search for ---. All she needs now is a top up on her flight ticket out of Uganda. She needs $691 and some pocket money. "Meanwhile --- has been forced to close down our offices and one volunteer has been arrested. We are stuck with 13 people in Malaba and have insufficient resources to get them out. We need $865 for immediate need. Please stand with us to help get LGBTQ Individuals safely out of Jinja Uganda.
One of our supporters and partner in solidarity offered to help us fundraise by allowing us to use her paypal account which is interlinked with our http://www.gofundme.com/6suykk You can read more about Kristy on www.kristyboyce.com She is a photojournalist and has worked in Africa. We get the money directly within minutes of your donating. For comments and more information please contact us on --- or inbox us in fb."

Information about Andrew is in posts below. RE --- if you don't know who she is, here is an April 6 post by ----:

URGENT: --- 26yrs old has been an LGBTq Volunteer with --- in HIV/AIDS Program since 2008. On Tuesday she was exposed on over 6 FM Radio Stations in Jinja. Since she has been outed, she has been attacked several times, escaped 3 arrests and she is on the run. --- has been having a Visa to Canada for some time and now she is appealing to your our friends to make contributions towards her airticket. Please make a donation if you can and willing. She needs $1.025 to make it to Montreal Canada ASAP. http://www.gofundme.com/6suykk"

For more information about --- and Andrew Waiswa, see other posts on my blog: http://gabiclayton.blogspot.com/
I will have more information soon about this work to save LGBTQ people in Uganda which I will post as soon as I can. You can subscribe to get my posts via email. See the form for that on the right side of the page.

Please make donations via ---

Thank you!
Gabi

Update from --- and Andrew Waiswa

2014-03-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

Andrew Waiswa was able to get out of Uganda and is in Nairobi, Kenya now waiting for the Canadian embassy to verify his travel documents and identity. Then he will be able to fly to Toronto as a refugee.

Note: If this is new information to you, read the two previous posts on my blog.

On March 4 Andrew wrote:

Uganda is no longer our home..... You can still sponsor a kuchu out of Jinja Uganda, its time for faith and action - let us not wait till its too late...

http://www.gofundme.com/6suykk

On Friday, March 28 --- (probably Andrew) posted:

This morning the Netherlands Embassy once again did it for us, it gave one of our client a visitor's visa to the Netherlands. He is called Nyeko Michael 26yrs T. Please support Nyeko to escape this hell and suffering in Uganda, you can contribute to his flight ticket to Netherlands so he can start a new life

Yesterday, March 29, --- posted:

Through an arranged program, --- is helping her LGBTq Clients out of Uganda to go and seek asylum in other welcoming Western Countries. ---has 73 verified cases of LGBTq Individuals at immediate risk and danger that have to get out of Uganda ASAP. Here is a cost breakdown, for those who want to sponsor a gay person out of Uganda.
Transportation to Nairobi Kenya - $35 US Dollars
Logistics, food supplies, accommodation and stay for the individual as he waits approval 2-4weeks - $283 US Dollars
Passport - $60 US Dollars
Visa Application fees - $ 71 to $150 US Dollars (Depending on the Embassy)

Please help.

Donations can be made---

I am begging the US Ambassador to Uganda for help for Andrew Waiswa - and for help from all

2014-03-20T14:27:00.001-07:00

I want to share an email I sent to US Ambassador to Uganda Scott H. DeLisi this afternoon. It is asking for help for one gay man in Uganda although I know there are thousands. Although I have never met Andrew in person, we have become friends online and I have a deep respect and love for this man and the work he has been doing. I am sharing in hope that others will help also. Thanks, Gabi

Subject:     Please help Andrew Waiswa in --- , Uganda.
--- Date:     Thu, 20 Mar 2014 13:57:10 -0700
From:     Gabi Clayton
Reply-To:     gabi@gabiclayton.com
To:     KampalaWebContact @ state dot gov

Dear Ambassador LeLisi,
We connected on Facebook and I have that pasted below.

My friend Andrew Waiswa in Jinja, Uganda is in very serious danger. I know many people there are who are gay as he is, but he is the person I made a connection with online.

Andrew --- was a refugee in Canada and went home to Uganda to help. Now his life is in jeopardy.

He just posted:

I know I will be jailed for seven years, but I can't risk to be lynched by the local mobs and gangs I can easily die if I make any mistake of showing out my face, so am considering to handle over my self to the police, be taken to court and sentenced, if am lucky I will only get 7yrs! If I don't get financial help to get out of Uganda ASAP am taking chances with the police and the Ugandan courts

Here is our contact via Facebook which has a link to my blog posting about him which has a lot more information.

----------------------------------

Gabi Clayton to ‎Scott H. DeLisi
March 4 at 9:24am

Ambassador DeLisi, I am an American citizen in Olympia Washington, and among other things I am mother of a wonderful son who committed suicide after a gay bashing here in 1995 when he was 17.
I am very concerned about the safety of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of Uganda now. Please do what you can to help them and get them asylum and safe passage out of Uganda. Their lives and at stake!

I have been posting on my blog here: http://gabiclayton.blogspot.com/2013/12/supporting-work-of-andrew-waiswa-and.html
Thank you.
Gabi Clayton ~ inside the outsider . . .: Please support the work of Andrew Waiswa and
--- gabiclayton.blogspot.com

---

Scott H. DeLisi
March 16 at 12:35am
Ms. Clayton. Sorry to be slow to respond. I was traveling to and in the US to discuss exactly these issues. We remain strongly committed not only to issues of LGBTI equality but to fighting for the protection of LGBTI cirtizens at risk of harm because of their sexual orientation. This is a commitment about which President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and many others among our senior leaders feel strongly, I can promise you.
---

Gabi Clayton
March 16 at 12:35am
Ambassador DeLisi, I very much appreciate your response, your service, and the support of you, President Obama, Secretary Kerry and the others. Please see if there can be direct assistance for Andrew and the others there as I remain so afraid for their lives. Thank you.

--- And today March 20th I posted:

Gabi Clayton

Ambassador DeLisi, my friend Andrew Waiswa in Jinja, Uganda posted as --- today:

"For the last many years, I have been begging and appealing you to stand with me to provide for the LGBT Individuals at risk in Jinja Uganda, now its me who is at immediate danger! I want your help friends. Please consider a small. Contribution to help me leave ASAP. Yes am also now in hiding and its not safe. I don't want to be killed, help me" Andrew Waiswa

He is in grave danger. Is there something you/we can do to help him get out of the country?

--------------------------------------------------

[In my email to Ambassador DeLisi, I continued:]

I know this is something you care about as does President Obama, Secretary Kerry and others.

This man put his life on the line to do good. He can do much more but not if he in prison for being gay or killed because of it.

I am asking for action.
Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Gabi Clayton

--
Gabi Clayton
Olympia, Washington
website: http://www.gabiclayton.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gabiclayton

    In memory of Bill
    http://www.youth-guard.org/gabi/
    Resources and my favorite quotes
    http://www.gabiclayton.com/gcresources.htm
    Organize! Some of the organizations I'm involved with
    http://www.gabiclayton.com/organize.htm

--------------

---

Thank you,

Gabi

P.S. One more thing (for now):
Regarding my friend Andrew in Uganda, I have never met him in person. For those of you who don't think an online friendship can be real, consider mine with Steve Schalchlin which changed my life way before I was able to meet him in person.

Please support the work of Andrew Waiswa and ---

2013-12-11T11:13:00.001-08:00

NOTE: Updates are at the end of this article.

Please share this post to let others know what is going on and how they can help:
http://gabiclayton.blogspot.com/2013/12/supporting-work-of-andrew-waiswa-and.html

I met Andrew Waiswa on Facebook in October of 2013. I learned he had lived in Toronto, Canada as a refugee from 2010 to 2012, but he returned to Jinja, Uganda to become founder of ---, which he created with others to help the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community there because the situation for LGBT people in Uganda is horrible. They get killed, assaulted and chased out of their homes and workplaces. --- provides safe houses for those who need shelter, legal and medical aid.

In her article, "Indomitable activist," Andrea Houston writes:

Ugandan gay rights activist Andrew Waiswa lives under constant threat of persecution, always worrying police will find the secret location of gay safe houses and bust down the doors.

… (Waiswa has given me permission to write his full name. In fact, he insisted on it. He knows the risk but says making himself visible to the world is the only way his voice can be heard.)

"I set up the safe houses because I could not stand the pain of being picked up by the police, thrown in a cell, questioned and treated badly," he says. "For gay people, it’s torment when you think you’ll be arrested. Most people just hang themselves or take poison or commit suicide in any way."

--- does wonderful work. For example, on October 20th Andrew posted:

This coming Wednesday and Thursday, --- will be training 25 Police Officers on how to process cases of transgender men and women. This was on request of the police, though it was their own initiative --- is not only expected to facilitate the training but also provide lunch/feeding and training materials. It's a step towards acceptance, and we are all in!

At the end of October ---’s members were heartbroken when they had to raise funds for the burial of Noel Baganzi, “activist, a friend, a skilled person and above all a member” who was killed when he was hit by a car.

Then at the end of November 2013, Andrew was assaulted in what was probably a hate crime and he was in critical condition. He has had two operations and has had to be moved from one hospital where he was getting poor care to another. --- has had to raise money for his care and for continuing the work of the organization.

On Facebook, supporter Fred Kwint writes:

We cannot let our brothers and sisters in Africa alone. Too many have paid with their life already! Too many are on the run, in hiding, living their life in fear.
…With Andrew in the hospital the work of --- needs to continue. There is need for water and food in the safehouses and the rent needs to be paid. We can't bother Andrew with that now, so PLEASE!!!!!!!! If you can afford it, HELP!

Another friend of Andrew and --- wrote on 12/11/13:

URGENT: Reportedly, in his absence while in hospital, Andrew's task of servicing and maintaining the safehouses for the clients, has been interrupted. Will you please consider lending a hand?

The monies are necessary for rent, food, and utilities most importantly. There are no Government-based resources for them. They are treated and considered as criminals with nowhere to turn.

BREAKING--- VIA Fred Kwint:

"Just got a textmessage from *******. He does not want to bother Andrew with it, but the situation at the (---) safehouses is bad, they need money desperately. Would you help and spread the word?"

http://www.gofundme.com/6suykk

On November 4th Andrew messaged me, “Things are pretty hard right now but we have no choice out, hard times can't last forever.”

If you are able to donate, please go to the GoFundMe page for ---:
http://www.gofundme.com/6suykk

To find out more, visit their website: ---
And their Facebook page: ---

-- Media --

"Indomitable activist" by Andrea Houston - Feb 14, 2013 - Daily (Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver)
http://dailyxtra.com/canada/news/indomitable-activist

"Stephen Fry ‘Out There’ about Gays in Uganda"
In this video British TV personality Stephen Fry examines the way gays are treated in Uganda and he confronts some of the prejudices that are widespread. Broadcast in the UK on BBC2 on 14 October 2013.
The part about Uganda starts at 17:32 but the whole video is excellent and related.
http://www.geho-uganda.org/2013/10/stephen-fry-out-there-about-gays-in-uganda/

"Film explores role of US evangelism in Ugandan moves towards proposed 'kill the gays' law" by Joseph Patrick McCormick, 17th October 2013 and with film trailer:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/10/17/video-film-explores-role-of-us-evangelism-in-ugandan-moves-towards-proposed-kill-the-gays-law/

UPDATES

UPDATE: February 19, 2014

--- (Andrew Waiswa) just wrote:

"I have just been updated that President Museveni already signed the AHB commonly known as the Kill Gay Bill! The government is just delaying to make it known to the world. Now live with it, the AHB is now a law and legally am a criminal. Its a hardknock out here hey...!!!???? Lost n confused"
Your help, love, solidarity and support is needed now. Some LGBT people there must seek refuge outside of Uganda to save their lives. Others are in safe houses when they can find them, and those need support now more than ever. Donate through this link: http://www.gofundme.com/6suykk Thanks! Please share

-----

UPDATE: March 1, 2014

I am sharing this status by --- to show why I have been asking for people to be involved, to donate, to do something to help LGBT people get out of Uganda.

--- (Andrew Waiswa) wrote:

"Two suspected Gay men have been badly beaten by a mob and shameful dragged to Nansana Police Station. Reports coming indicate that they were undressed, forced to have sex in broad day light, they were only saved by one person who suggested that they be taken to police or else they could be dead by now. I will keep on following this developing story and share the details. This is the 17th attack in just 5days."

------

UPDATE: March 2, 2014

--- wrote:

Aluta Continua……
The struggle has been long and hard, many battles fought to stop the AHB right from the start. Unfortunately there were many forces in play behind the scene and it was signed into a law.

“I am a criminal not because of what I did but just because the law says so” Andrew Waiswa the founder of ---, when he learnt that the President has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

“I can’t just believe we the gays have sacrificed for political gains in Uganda, how can reasonable people arrange evil for the homosexuals yet ignoring important issues affecting Ugandans like poor education, poor housing, bad lacks, health etc” Moses Kyala Independent Political Researcher.

Unlike other laws, The Bahati - Anti Homosexuality Act doesn’t have a designated commencement date, so it should be operational after it has been gazetted, which can be anytime, since President Gen. Museveni signed. Though no person can be charged under this Law since it has been gazetted, because of lack of rule of law in Uganda, the public/locals have taken the law in their own hands. The Anti-homosexuality act has a lot of support among the Ugandans, and the President has used it to gain a lot of support in preparation for the 2016 general elections where he will be standing for another 5years’ term (He has already been in power for 28years)

In the recent days, just after the president assented to the AHB, several LGBTq persons have been assaulted, arrested and detained. On Feb/25th a gay couple was attacked and one of them killed while the other is in critical condition in hospital. Hundreds of LGBTq Individuals have been thrown out of their homes by landlords and several have lost their jobs.

--- demands that the citizens of Uganda desist from radical and irrational acts of violence towards suspected LGBTq Individuals.

The Press, Media Houses etc should immediately stop negative reporting which has generated a lot of hatred and attacks on suspected LGBTq Individuals.

--- demands that Uganda should be isolated and we further support the move by donor countries to suspend aid to Uganda however they can still channel funds to NGOs working in Uganda and respect human rights irrespective of sex orientation.

--- further demands that the Uganda police and prisons investigate any cases of violence perpetrated against LGBT Individuals and holdback from making arrests based suspicion. Uganda is a signatory to International treats and in 2013 Geneva - Universal Periodic Review Uganda committed to protecting LGBTq persons. While assenting to the Bill, the President said that the country can’t be forced to do something “fundamentally wrong.”

Since it’s very clear that --- can’t not get support locally, we request the International community to support the LGBTq community Technically, Morally &financially, this support goes towards security issues and human rights abuses and violations.

To make a donation big or small to ---, please contact us on ---

-----

UPDATE: March 4, 2014

--- wrote:

The world should know that some exposed and at risk LGBT Individuals are being attacked, killed, abused, blackmailed....more and more will die in cold blood is nothing is done to get them out of Uganda. If all join hands we can save this bloodshed.

-----

UPDATE: March 20, 2014

--- wrote:

"For the last many years, I have been begging and appealing you to stand with me to provide for the LGBT Individuals at risk in Jinja Uganda, now its me who is at immediate danger! I want your help friends. Please consider a small. Contribution to help me leave ASAP. Yes am also now in hiding and its not safe. I don't want to be killed, help me" Andrew Waiswa

Wa are having a Giant Home Studio Art Sale this weekend!

2013-11-26T12:01:00.002-08:00

Please join us this weekend for the Claytons'

Giant Home Studio Art Sale!
More than 150 paintings and drawings!
Crazy low prices!

We have been severely impacted by the financial meltdown and have both lost work we depend on to meet our basic living expenses.

So … we’re having a two-day art sale at our home in Olympia, WA on November 30th and December 1st, 2013.

Paintings will be sold at WAY BELOW gallery prices with unstretched paintings discounted even more. There will also be lots of small works on paper by Alec and Gabi.

Alec’s oil and mixed-media paintings on canvas and wood panels sell in galleries at prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to $4000. We’ll have many paintings in the $200-$400 range and many unframed works on paper as low as $20 to $50.

Alec has a Master’s Degree in Drawing and Painting and has taught from first grade through advanced college classes. His paintings have been shown in galleries across the country and even once in Korea! He is currently represented by B2 Fine Art Gallery in Tacoma, which has graciously ok’d this sale.

He retired from making visual art in 2002 when he had open heart surgery (other than finishing up a handful of works in progress). His last exhibitions were a group show at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle in 2009 and a one-person exhibition at South Puget Sound Community College in 2007. Neither of those had works for sale. His last commercial gallery show was at B2 Gallery, January through March 2013.

This time we will also offer for sale 70 of Gabi’s works on paper. She majored in drawing and painting for two years before switching majors to film and animation. These have never before been shown in public!

The sale will be first come first served.

Autographed copies of Alec's novels will also be available.

Saturday, November 30th - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, December 1st - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

1327 25th Court NE; Olympia, WA (corner of Bethel)

Info: 360-628-8412 or alec@alecclayton.com

Please print and share this poster. (pdf file)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/212264968955844/

Thanks,
Gabi and Alec

My Savory Oatmeal

2013-05-31T12:39:00.001-07:00

Breakfast this morning was savory oatmeal. Yum!

I used leftover rolled oats with a spoonful of peanut butter (chunky), soy milk (vanilla flavored), red chili flakes, Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning (which is sea salt, mustard seeds, black peppercorns, coriander, onion, garlic, paprika and chili peppers) and Jamaican (spicy) curry powder from Buck's Fifth Avenue - Culinary Exotica.

Sometimes instead I'll make it with soy milk, Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning, Bat's Brew Louisiana Hot Sauce, and red chili flakes.

I didn't measure anything, so have fun and do it to taste.

Alec likes his with raisins, blueberries, maple syrup, and soy milk.

The Last Letter: A Message to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney From a Dying Veteran

2013-03-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

March 18, 2013

The Last Letter
A Message to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney From a Dying Veteran

To: George W. Bush and Dick Cheney
From: Tomas Young

"I write this letter on the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War on behalf of my fellow Iraq War veterans. I write this letter on behalf of the 4,488 soldiers and Marines who died in Iraq. I write this letter on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of veterans who have been wounded and on behalf of those whose wounds, physical and psychological, have destroyed their lives. I am one of those gravely wounded. I was paralyzed in an insurgent ambush in 2004 in Sadr City. My life is coming to an end. I am living under hospice care."

Please read the letter here:
http://www.truthdig.com/dig/item/the_last_letter_20130318/

Great theater! The Big Voice: God or Merman?

2013-01-29T19:42:00.001-08:00

I've been meaning to share this, so here it is! You get to watch ALL of the New York Off-Broadway production of The Big Voice: God or Merman?-- written and performed by Jim Brochu & Steve Schalchlin. Enjoy!

The Big Voice: God or Merman? Act One

The Big Voice: God or Merman? Act Two

"Think of two gifted and smart gay men with years of theater stories deploying their considerable talents from the two pianos you happen to have in your living room. Any question you could ask, they answer with a sidesplitting story or a telling anecdote. As these men onstage evoke Arkansas, a cruise ship or Sardi’s, you crack up at their deft mimicry and marvel at the romantic sweep of their songs, emotion catching your throat as you see them navigate AIDS and success, breakup and reconciliation." ~ A Musical Attempt to Share Some Secrets of True Love - by HONOR MOORE, NEW YORK TIMES

"Life stories so exquisitely divine, only Mother Fate could have spun! As if each moment in their lives, up to this point in time, was destined to be staged as an award-winning memoir." ~ by Eugene Lovendusky, BROADWAY WORLD

These reviews and much more on the website:
http://www.thebigvoice.com/

Alec Clayton’s got big stuff happening and you’re invited!

2013-01-16T08:59:00.002-08:00

A Six Person Art Exhibit!

AZUL
CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS IN PRIMARY BLUE MOOD

Join us for the Artist Reception
Thursday Jan. 17, 5-9 p.m.

B2 Gallery
711 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, WA
www.b2finearts.com

The show runs through March 2nd.

__________________________

Dramatic readings from his newest novel
Return to Freedom

Readings at bookstores in Olympia and Tacoma feature local actors.

Saturday, Jan. 19
3 p.m.
Orca Books
509 E. 4th Ave Olympia
www.orcabooks.com

Actors featured in the reading at Orca Books are:
Michael Christopher
Heather Christopher
Jennie Jenks
Christine Goode
Pug Bujeaud will read the narrative and the other actors will read the dialogue.

Discussion and book signing to follow.

Thursday, Jan. 24
7 p.m.
Kings Books
218 St Helens Ave., Tacoma
www.kingsbookstore.com

Actors featured in the reading at Kings Books are:
Micheal O'Hara
Sharry O'Hare
Samantha Camp
Jenifer Rifenbery
Luke Amundson will read the narrative and the other actors will read the dialogue.

Discussion and book signing to follow.

Find out more:

www.claytonworkspublishing.com
and www.alecclayton.com

Download the poster with this information in pdf format here:
http://www.alecclayton.com/AlecClaytonArtExhibitAndNovelReadingsPoster.pdf

A little bit of history: The Salvation Army Kettle "Dollars" Protest

2012-11-29T12:01:00.004-08:00

I am still hearing about folks using Salvation Army kettle "dollars" to let the Salvation Army know of their disapproval regarding the organization's homophobic/transphobic policies.

The first Salvation Army kettle protest "dollars" that I know of were created in November 2001 by Mary Scholl, then President of the PFLAG Genesee County, MI chapter. The graphic and the chapter's "Letters and Information Concerning our Salvation Army Project" used to be on the chapter's website but I couldn't find them there now. And this article below is not now on theadvocate.com website that I could find with the site's search, but I had it saved, so here it is:

Secret Service investigating PFLAG protest
The Advocate, 12/28/01

The U.S. Secret Service has launched an investigation after some Michigan gay rights advocates placed slips of paper resembling dollar bills into Salvation Army donation kettles as a sign of protest against the organization's refusal to extend benefits to the same-sex partners of its employees.

A Michigan chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays mounted the protest at the start of the holiday season.

Many members placed "reminder bills" into the army's Christmas collection kettles instead of an actual cash donation.

The fake bills read, in part, "I would have donated $5, but the Salvation Army's decision to discriminate against gay and lesbian employees prevents my donation now and in the future."

But some of the reminders may have looked a little too much like real money. Salvation Army officials in Flint, where the protest began, said they were contacted by a Secret Service agent investigating the phony bills as possible counterfeiting.

"[The agent] was quite concerned," said Maj. Ralph Bukiewicz, Genesee County Salvation Army commander. "In addition to some of the standardized slips that were dropped into the kettles, there were some from PFLAG that had actually duplicated [currency], changing some of the wording."

Protest organizer Mary Scholl, who is president of the Genesee County chapter of PFLAG, said that another Secret Service agent left his card on her door before Christmas, but she has not contacted him yet.

Scholl said the protest bill, which was available for downloading from PFLAG's Web site, had obvious differences in appearance from actual currency. "It looks like a dollar bill, but it's very small, with a little square that looks like a rainbow," she said.

Secret Service officials declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

--------

And there is was an update which is also posted here:
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/boycotts,3.html

The slips were similar in design to a one-dollar bill but smaller, emblazoned with a rainbow logo, printed on only one side, and in no way mistakable for United States currency. Nevertheless, a few days before Christmas, Mary Scholl, the president of the Genesee County PFLAG chapter, came home to find on her door the card of a United States Secret Service agent, instructing her to call him. (The Secret Service is the agency in charge of investigations of counterfeiting.) Instead, Scholl--refusing to be intimidated--consulted a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union. No prosecution of PFLAG members occurred.

Dodging Puddles - by Noel Clayton

2012-11-06T19:43:00.003-08:00

Our son Noel Clayton wrote and posted this on Facebook on October 31, 2012. I have his permission to share it, and I added the photos of Noel and Bill...

--------------------------------------------------------------

I missed it. Somewhere in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a milestone came and went without comment.

Many runners will tell you of the healing power of running, that when we get out on the road we can let go of all the little stresses and worries in our life and just live in the moment for a little while. But sometimes it backfires. Sometimes, on a solo run in the rain, your mind begins to wander, and you remember something you have tried to forget.

It was a date that I never marked on a calendar, the answer to a math problem done entirely in my head because even as I worked it out I knew I didn't want to remember it. Back in January, I realized it had been 17 years, but I couldn't let it go at that. You can't ignore the extra days. So, 17 years and 105 days later, on an unremarkable day in August 2012, my brother's absence from my life surpassed the length of his presence on earth and I was mercifully unaware.

But the memory caught up with me, and I found myself dodging puddles and wondering what my life would be like if he hadn't swallowed those pills over 17 years ago and ended his own life. Would I still be me without the absence I've lived with for so long? And what about my family? My parents were always activists, but would they have become such seemingly tireless crusaders in support of a beloved and still living son? How many families are better off today because of the outreach, support, kindness and courage they have shared so generously. A flame not sparked, but certainly fanned by their loss.

Without the work that they have done, would this state be on the verge of fully legalizing gay marriage next week?

But then I remember that mischievous grin, that boundless energy, that incredible stubbornness. I remember the boy who could never give up on an argument, no matter how absurd. The 13 year old who organized a walkout of fellow students to protest a war. And I remember the young man who stood up in front of a crowd just days after he was brutally beaten because of his sexuality and told them that no one should be forced to bear those scars.

And I know that the world cannot possibly be a better place with him gone. The brother I remember would not have settled for 17 more years of being a second class citizen. He would have fought the crusade himself and brought us all along with him.

Those who know me will know that I have not taken on the role of a crusader. I do my part in subtler ways and make an art of silence. But today, with this forgotten milestone weighing on my chest and the image of his face before my eyes I can't stay silent.

So I'm asking you all to cast your votes to support marriage equality in Washington and Maine and Minnesota and Maryland. And to support candidates who will stand on the right side of history on the issue of gay rights. Because it is time. It is long past time for us to stop treating people as something less simply because of who they love.

It is time to make a change.

For Bill.

A local public television station and a PFLAG-Olympia screening of the documentary "Two Spirits" - Sexuality, Gender, and the Murder of Fred Martinez

2011-06-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

The documentary "Two Spirits" explores the life and death of a boy who was also a girl and the essentially spiritual nature of gender.

Fred Martinez was nádleehí, a male-bodied boy with a feminine nature, a special gift according to his Navajo culture. Martinez was brutally murdered at 16 in Cortez, Colorado in 2001. "Two Spirits" interweaves the tragic story of a mother’s loss of her son with a revealing look at the largely unknown history of a time when the world wasn’t simply divided into male and female and many Native American cultures held places of honor for people of integrated genders.

The Navajo believe that to maintain harmony, there must be a balanced interrelationship between the feminine and the masculine within the individual, in families, in the culture, and in the natural world. "Two Spirits" reveals how these beliefs are expressed in a natural range of gender diversity, and examines the Navajo concept of nádleehí, “one who constantly transforms,” and tells compelling stories about traditions that were once widespread among the indigenous cultures of North America. The film explores the contemporary lives and history of Native two-spirit people.

“Riveting.” ~ LA Weekly

“A gorgeous, moving, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting story, the kind of film that opens the mind and heart so wide they can never close as tightly again.” ~ Martha Beck, Oprah magazine columnist and bestselling author

“TWO SPIRITS is a beautiful film, one that poignantly conveys the pain that Paula Mitchell suffered when she lost her child to hate violence. Fred Martinez was murdered simply because he dared to be himself, and the violence against young people like him must stop. We will never be the society we hope to be until we replace hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance. This very powerful film is an important step on that journey.” ~ Judy Shepard, President of The Matthew Shepard Foundation

“A rich and textured work that provides a focal point for many important conversations on campus. It’s very moving to see the reactions, and the appreciation of so many people who feel that a deep aspect of their reality has been acknowledged and valued.” ~ Ann Braude, Director of the Women’s Studies in Religion Program and Senior Lecturer on American Religious History, Harvard Divinity School

"Two Spirits" is a production of Say Yes Quickly Productions, Henry Ansbacher, executive producer; Riding the Tiger Productions, Lydia Nibley, director, co-producer, and co-writer; and Just Media, Inc., Russell Martin, co-producer and co-writer -- with Darrin Navarro, editor; David A. Armstrong, director of photography; and Ron Eng, supervising sound editor and sound designer.

TWO SPIRITS screenings:

Monday, June 27: INDEPENDENT LENS: TWO SPIRITS will be broadcast on PBS' KCTS TV, Channel 9 (Seattle, WA) at 10 p.m..

Sunday, July 10: PFLAG-Olympia will show the film "Two Spirits" and have a discussion afterward. Due to the length of the film we will shorten the introductions, announcements and social time. Our meeting starts at 2 p.m., the film will be shown at approximately 2:45p.m.. Please join us!

More information:

TWO SPIRITS
http://www.twospirits.org/

Facebook: TWO SPIRITS: Sexuality, Gender, and the Murder of Fred Martinez
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_104028070497

Additional Resources from the producers of the documentary TWO SPIRITS:
http://twospirits.org/additional-resources/

Independent Lens| TWO SPIRITS Discussion Guide:
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/two-spirits/resources/two-spirits-discussion.pdf (pdf format)

Families United Against Hate: Fred C. Martinez Jr. ~ Cortez, CO
http://www.fuah.org/fuah_cortez.html

PFLAG-Olympia
http://www.pflag-olympia.org

Exciting event! A Reading of Alec's Screenplay.

2011-05-31T15:01:00.000-07:00

The staged reading of Alec's screenplay “The Backside of Nowhere” based on the book by the same title is

Wednesday, June 15, 2011
7:30pm - 9:30pm.
Lakewood Playhouse
5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd.
Lakewood, Washington

It is a one night only free event.

The screenplay is for a full length feature film.

It is being directed by Scott C. Brown and features a dozen of the best actors in the South Puget Sound region.

The cast:

Scott C. Brown - Pops Lawrence / Fat Man
Deya Ozburn - Melissa Baker / Young Melissa / Teen Girl #1
Mark Peterson - Murabbi "Freight Train" Taylor / Cop / Reporter
Elliot Weiner - Man #1 / Player #1 / Announcer-News Anchor / Doc Duval
Chris Cantrell - Man #2 / Player #2 / Sheriff Randy Moss / Young Randy
Jenifer Rifenbery - Woman #1 / Bar Girl / Jasmine Jones / Teen Girl #2 / Nurse
Alex Smith - Young Man / Guard / Weatherman Donny / Bo Bergeron
Bryan Bender - David Lawrence / Young David
Christine Goode - Mary Beaudreau / Young Mary / Nurse #2
Jennie Jenks - Sue Ellen Patterson
Syra Puett - Shelly Lawrence
Luke Amundson - Narrator

Here are a few video clips from the first run-thru on 05-22-11:

See photos from that first rehearsal.

See more about the book here:
The Backside of Nowhere

Alec's blog post about it here:
First run-thru

Lakewood Playhouse

Join us!!

Mother’s Day 2011. Bittersweet.

2011-05-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

Today is a bittersweet Mothers’ Day.
Bitter because THIS is the year I found out some of how much my Mother lied before her death in 1990. They were big lies. Giant lies. Its complicated and I am still learning and sorting it out and probably will be for a long time. Complicated too because as difficult as she was to love even before I knew the extent of her betrayals, I was also proud of her for many things - for her activism for peace, civil rights and much more. These truths are painful, and still I would rather know them than live with fraud and hypocrisy. That is not courage, it is survival because the truth makes unfortunate sense out of the scrambled bits of memories that never made sense before.

Bitter also this is the 16th anniversary of the day our son Bill committed suicide. It has never fallen on Mother’s Day before that I can remember. Ouch. The anniversary is always a hard but falling on a Mother’s Day makes it even more difficult.

Sweet because of Noel. No mother could be more proud of a child or more happy with him and for him. Noel, I thank you and celebrate YOU on this day for all you are. Lucky am I to have you in my life.

Bullying: Breaking The Cycle - a documentary Alec and I were in - is now online

2011-03-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

Alec and I were in a KIRO 7 (Seattle) Family Connection Special Presentation documentary, Bullying: Breaking The Cycle, which aired on March 17 and March 26, 2011.

It can now be watched online in four segments:
Segment 1, Segment 2, Segment 3, and Segment 4.

Those segments are all linked from this page:
http://www.kirotv.com/bullying/
if you just want to give one URL, and there are links to other connected videos, plus more information and resources on that webpage.

Also, there was an online chat after each screening.
Here's a recording of the 03-18-2011 KIRO 7 "Bullying: Breaking the Cycle" web chat, and here's a recording of the 03-28-2011 KIRO 7 "Bullying: Breaking the Cycle" web chat.

My testimony today at the hearing regarding House Bill 1163 at the Washington State Senate Committee on Early Learning and K12 Education

2011-03-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

This is what I said in my 2 minute (approximately) testimony today at the hearing regarding House Bill 1163 at the Washington State Senate Committee on Early Learning and K12 Education:

My name is Gabi Clayton, and I live here in Olympia.

Our son Bill was assaulted on the grounds of Olympia High School during Spring Break in 1995. He was bashed by one student from Oly High and three youth from Rochester because he was bisexual. His best friend Sam was assaulted with him because they assumed he must be gay too.

The physical wounds healed, but Bill remained traumatized and depressed. He was 17 years old, and the only place he felt safe was at home.

One of the main places he did not feel safe was at Olympia High School, where the attitude was that the police were handling the assault – so the ONLY thing the school administrators did was to tell the young man who assaulted Bill who went there that he would “be in trouble if he even looked at Bill sideways.”

Bill became suicidal and he agreed to go to the hospital. While he was there he heard that another friend of his who was gay was bashed during school hours in a small town near Olympia.

Bill came home from the hospital on April 28th 1995. I would give anything to tell you that he is now 32 years old and doing fine, but he committed suicide a few days later on May 8th.

I hear SO many stories from across our state about the frightening harassment, intimidation and bullying that still occurs. Some of the people who work in our schools do amazing work to keep the students entrusted to their care safe, but many do not – because they have not been trained on how to intervene – because they don’t know they will be supported if they do – or because they don’t think it is important.

I promise you that our youth understand – like our son did – that they are not safe.

We are all responsible. Please support House Bill 1163. Thank you.

---

See:
HB 1163 - 2011-12 on the Washington State Legislature website.
Concerning harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention.
Revised for 2nd Substitute: Creating a work group on preventing bullying, intimidation, and harassment and increasing student knowledge on mental health and youth suicide.

And see:
Safe Schools Coalition's Action Alert - WA Anti-bullying House Bill 1163 passed the full House of Representatives.

Mourning the death and celebrating the life of Carolyn Wagner

2011-03-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

Carolyn Wagner died on January 18th. Wow, its been two months tomorrow.

Carolyn co-founded Families United Against Hate with me, and she was an amazing woman and a wonderful friend.

We have a memorial set up on the FUAH website and it says much more than I can here, so I invite you to read about her there and perhaps sign the memorial guestbook. See In Memory of Carolyn Wagner.

Reading of Alec's new novel this Thursday at Orca Books!

2011-01-08T08:21:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone,

Wow, it has been way too long since my last post.

Orca Books is presenting a dramatic reading from Alec Clayton’s latest novel, Reunion at the Wetside, with the author and a cast of accomplished actors playing the parts of leading characters. I was at the rehearsal and its going to be lots of fun!

Dennis Rolly as the author
Jennie Jenks as the beautiful outspoken leftist, Alex Martin
James Patrick as Alex' unlikely lover and political opposite, Jim Bright
Chris Cantrell as police reporter Harry Drews

"If you like murder mysteries with a bit of meat and history on them, you will love Reunion at the Wetside,” wrote Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Jack Butler.

"With an epic cast of characters who come and go, this tale of romance between two elderly lovers is one of the most fun reads I have had in a long time," wrote Amos Lassen, amazon.com top reviewer

There will be a talk back and book signing after the reading.

Join us!
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Oops more details added - the reading is this Thursday, January 13th at 6pm. Orca Books is at 509 4th Ave E in downtown Olympia between Jefferson and Cherry, across the street from Olympia Fireplace Supply.

Living In The Bonus Round: "William's Song" to be performed on the radio.

2010-11-16T08:06:00.000-08:00

Living In The Bonus Round: "William's Song" to be performed on the radio.: "Taking A Stand Through Song: The Power of Protest Songs
KALW 91.7 FM RADIO or www.kalw.org

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 10 PM (PST)
Vocal music has long been used as a powerful vehicle of solidarity and dissent. Here on VoiceBox, we’ll be taking a stand through song when Dr. Kathleen McGuire, founder and artistic director of the recently formed vocal ensemble Singers of the Street, a choir made up of homeless and non-homeless San Francisco-based singers, will join host Chloe Veltman in the studio for a discussion about the history and function of protest songs.

http://info.voicebox-media.org/search/label/schedule"

"William's Song" was written by Steve Schalchlin.

Asher Brown, Billy Lucas and Seth Walsh

2010-09-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

September 30, 2010

I’m angry. I’m reeling from the news that on September 23rd 13 year old Asher Brown of Cypress near Houston, Texas shot himself, lost to hopelessness and fear because those who had the power to save him – the adults in his school – did nothing, leaving young Asher alone with the knowledge that he was not safe in this world.

Before that, on September 9th 15 year old Billy Lucas of Greensburg, Indiana hung himself. His friends said that he had been tormented for years based on his perceived sexual orientation. The memorial page for him on Facebook states “… he was a great person. But everyone made fun of him at school and he couldn't take it anymore so he decided to end his life.”

Seth Walsh, an out gay 13 year old in Tehachapi, California hung himself too, and after several days on life support he died on September 28th. He had been taunted by bullies for years, and school officials did not protect him. After a couple of weeks of school this year, he was transferred to independent study but it was too late to save him. While his parents say they reported the harassment many times, school officials claim there had been no reports of bullying.

Asher, Billy, and Seth – and how many more we don’t know about – chose death rather than to live in the world we made.

The news hits me raw and this is not yet the kind of anger that fuels me daily now. That will come – at least I think it will as it always has since our beautiful son Bill committed suicide at 17 after a bashing based on his sexual orientation fifteen years ago.

I know that if more of us had visibly worked to make their schools and communities places they could thrive in, these children of ours becoming adults in a world which they saw had no safe place for them might have survived the horror and suffering that killed their spirits to have the good life we know can be possible.

So now what can you do? Below is a link to what I wrote last year after two other young men died by their own hands. It is a response written at a time a little more distant from the sad news reaching me now to the people they left behind and to the helpers who were trying to figure out what to do in the face of such loss.

Responding to the suicides of two more gay youths — letter to a community.
http://www.gabiclayton.com/RespondingToTheSuicidesOfTwoMoreGayYouths.pdf (pdf format)

Gabi Clayton
Olympia, Washington
gabi@gabiclayton.com

How would you reply?

2010-08-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to this email:

Subject: about Bill
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 09:28:47 +0000
From: alex smith (email address deleted by Gabi)
To: gabi@gabiclayton.com

I hope you now see that you're rebellion against God's laws led to your son's death. If you really loved your son, you would not have led him on a rebellion against God. Why is this so difficult for you to understand?

I don't get them often now but I'm tired of getting any email like this one* and so from now on I will publish them.

How would you reply?
---
* A little history: When I had an active guestbook on my website and someone signed with a negative response to Bill's story I left it there - along with all the wonderful ones and the sad ones - so people could see what hate looked like.

Ty's black bean veggie chili

2010-07-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

Our friend Ty brought this dish to a potluck Alec and I were at and it was sooo great we asked for the recipe. Its become one of our favorites -- especially when fall is ending along with the warmer weather.

One can of black beans
One can of diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
1 cup of corn (I usually do 3 or 4x the recipe amount because I like corn)
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic (I use at least 3x this much!)
½ cup of chopped onion (again I am liberal in my use of onion. Probably 2x the recipe)
1 tablespoon of chili powder (add to your liking)
1 tea spoon ground cumin
1 tea spoon sugar (Gabi's note: we leave out the sugar.)

Other yummy things I like to add in occasionally: cilantro, fresh avocado on top, cheese, fresh chopped green pepper on top, sometimes a tea spoon of salt depending on how much chili powder I use. (Gabi's note: we've never added salt.)

Sauté the onions and garlic for the chili and then add the spices and everything else.

It is pretty low-fat and relatively low sodium.

An anniversary and a thank you

2010-06-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

The beginning of Bill's Story was a single page with photo of Bill and a simple statement about him committing suicide after a gay bashing. I had a request to people to help end the hate, and I mentioned being a member of PFLAG.

A man in Los Angeles was searching for information about that organization, and he happened upon my website. So the very first letter responding to Bill's Story (posted here) was written 14 years ago today:

This started on June 26, 1996, with an e-mail from Steve Schalchlin, long before "Bill's Story" was written, or even thought about. Steve found my homepage and the dedication to Bill on it that you can still see there now, and he wrote:
I just found your home page and when I saw the picture of your son and story that went with it, I wept right here in the living room. I can't tell you how much it affected me, that someone so beautiful and obviously so loved by his mother would still be crushed by the hatred in this world. If only these bigots truly understood how much damage they cause.

I invite you to view my web site. I am a gay man living with AIDS and as part of my own struggle to survive, I have created this site the centerpiece of which is my on online diary where I detail what I'm living with. For some reason, people all over the world are being drawn to it and it has helped many people, especially many Christians to stop and think about what they do.

I appreciate you fight, dear lady, and I want you to know that I am in anguish over your loss. That you took this pain and turned it into a fight against hatred moves me and reminds me that there are great people out there. And you are a shining example.

Your Friend, Steve
...and so it began. I visited Steve Schalchlin's Survival Site and online diary, and there he showed me how the internet can be used to reach out to people in the very best of ways. Now, months later, "Bill's Story" is up, and it is beginning to take on a life of its own. The responses have been so touching and inspiring that I am starting this page as my way of sharing them with all of you. Please check back from time to time - I will be adding new letters. If you would like me to put your response to Bill's Story on this page, please let me know.

Gabi Clayton 10/18/96

Thank you, Steve! All those years ago that email you sent me started a wonderful friendship and helped shaped the way Bill's story is shared and affects people in more ways than I can count. I can't imagine who and where and how I would be if you had not made that connection with me.

((((HUGS)))) to you my friend.
Love, Bagi