Hope February 2009

As a people, it seems that we, the majority of LGBT people, are generally not easily identifiable or detectable to the mainstream population. Because we are not counted in the US Census as LGBT, and because orientation isn’t a nationally protected right, the qualitative and quantitative information other groups and populations use to justify policies, programs, and product and service development isn’t readily available to those who might initiate services for us. As you may know, funding is dependent upon this kind of information, whether it be for non-profit or for-profit organizations.

Obviously, we have to do it for ourselves

We know we are used as a political football to incense those who consider themselves fundamentally “religious”. Somehow this kind of activity translates into protecting “rights”. All of this funnels major dollars into what passes for a “conservative” political agenda. It also causes “we, the LGBT people” to funnel huge amounts of cash, and energy into repeatedly fighting the battle for our basic civil rights, over and over again- and that’s money and energy that we know could go into taking care of other major issues- especially in light of the current economic crisis in the world.

We know we have to do it for ourselves.

As an out LGBT woman, making sure there was a place we, the LGBT people, could come home to, and live in the majority, was a critically important thing to me. Any one who knows me can tell you that my relationship with my mother wasn’t great. If she could have seen that I have become a career lesbian- well- if she wasn’t dead already, Oi Vey!

Like many others, I longed for a place where I felt I was at home. And just like Dorothy, I longed to find that place- and Judy Garland convinced me it was somewhere over the rainbow.

Obviously- it wasn’t going to happen if we didn’t do it for ourselves

By 1997 I was haunted by the thought that changes would come to the world, and we wouldn’t be safe. Waiting for the world to care for us obviously wasn’t going to work- we learned that for sure in the 80’s- so it seemed to me that our best bet was to Envision Our Future, Ourselves- and to learn to be the Change we want to see in the world.

Well- we did do it for ourselves. Against all odds we opened in June of 2006- and not a minute too soon. No doubt that in today’s economy it would have been impossible.

As the first of its kind in the world, RainbowVision stands proud and strong in right here in Santa Fe, New Mexico. What better place to face life’s challenges, then to be in a community that respects us, and loves us, for the very essence of our being.

Together, in all our diversity, as a Rainbow- we can face anything -

So Please- let this be an invitation to all of you- at any age. Come and see what your heart created in Santa Fe. Because RainbowVision is the Dream Your Heart, all of your hearts- Made Come True.

Thanks!