The End of an Era...or the Beginning?

Post #25

Yesterday, our wonderful local public radio station, WAMU, aired a segment on the closing of Lambda Rising.  Self-described as Washington's “bookstore that celebrates the gay and lesbian experience,” it has been a landmark in Dupont Circle for the past 35 years. 

It was through the store that the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community gained visibility, support, a safe haven… and ultimately greater acceptance in the mainstream.  In addition to selling books, the store was a gathering place and organizer.  For 5 years, Lambda Rising organized the precursor to DC Pride Day until it outgrew the neighborhood’s capacity.

Rather than a reflection of the failing economy or the decline of independent bookstore, founder and co-owner Deacon Maccubbin attributes the closing to the success of the gay and lesbian movement.  For him, it’s a better use of the phrase “Mission Accomplished” than former President George W. Bush’s infamous proclamation regarding his perceived end of America’s major military efforts in Iraq.

It’s amazing how quickly our society has changed when it comes to the LGBT community.  I recall when the popular television show “L.A. Law” aired an episode (could it really have been as recently as 1991?!) with two women kissing and the kerfuffle that that created.  This was before Clinton’s policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which disappointed all sides of the issue.  (Rather than moving backwards on the issues of gays in the military, there are now congressional cosponsors being gathered to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military.)

And although we still see unfortunate instances of anti-gay hate crimes, it seems the era of hateful condemnation of gays as “deserving” of AIDS is (mostly) behind us.  Instead, the dialogue is focused on marriage equality, adoption, access to a partner’s health benefits, tax and inheritance laws.

Lambda Rising, once the gathering place and source of support for the DC-area gay and lesbian community, believes its mission has been accomplished.  We have openly gay legislators, athletes, artists, and religious leaders.  With rare exceptions (like Iran’s President Ahmadinejad whom we ridicule), most people acknowledge the presence and the contributions of the LGBT community as parents, as colleagues, as leaders, and as valuable members of our diverse society.

Indeed, it has been quite an impressive—and recent-- history of progress.  Maccubbin and his partner deserve to enjoy their retirement and celebrate their accomplishments.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  Have your views evolved regarding the LGBT community over the years?  Which existing barriers do you believe the most troubling?  You may send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#25) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

The Meaning of Christmas

Post #24 

Today is Christmas Day.  Whether or not it is a holiday you celebrate, many people will be spending a day off from work with their families.* 

On this day, we celebrate “Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All” and feel loving and charitable as many exchange gifts or tear open those delivered by various “Secret Santas.”  So, how are we doing as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated by Christians around the world?

First, we obviously don’t have peace.  Brave American soldiers are at risk around the world and continue to be returned to their loved ones in pine boxes.  Terrorism, border skirmishes, hostage-taking, and the reckless use of firearms threaten families at home and around the world.  While President Obama has been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize for his early outreach efforts to other countries, we have a very long way to go to realize a more peaceful world.

‘Goodwill to All’ is another lofty goal that we are far from achieving.  Whether it’s the unanimous NO vote on health care by the Republicans in the U.S. Senate or the rise in rudeness in online debates (including my own Facebook page!), we are an increasingly divided country.  It seems a challenge for many to even disagree in a respectful manner and really hear what their opponents are saying.

Empathy and charity are sometimes supplanted by a myopic focus inward and denial of others’ suffering.  Did you know that according to the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, there were 1150 homeless people in Montgomery County-- of which 272 were children?  This was in January of 2008; surely the numbers are worse now.  Interfaith Works assisted over 6,000 low-income and homeless families and provided clothing to over 18,000 individuals last year.  Finally, despite our wealth, the Developmental Disabilities Coalition found that Maryland ranks 43rd among states in our spending on developmental disabilities services.  The burden on families and underpaid staffers is difficult to imagine.

As we celebrate our time with loved ones in a warm and safe home, let’s remember that we have a great distance to go before we can truly accomplish what people describe as “the spirit of Christmas.”  Perhaps we can all do our part toward achieving these goals in the coming year.

*I’d like to acknowledge the hard-working and committed firefighters, police officers and other public safety personnel who are working to keep us all safe today and every day.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  How can each of us personally help achieve these lofty ideals?  What holiday values can we work to maintain year-round?    You may send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#24) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Buy Local: Why It's Important

Post #23

As people continue scurrying around, completing (or starting?) their holiday shopping, there’s a factor you might not have previously considered.  In addition to everyone’s wish list and appropriate colors and sizes, you have an opportunity to help the local economy and protect jobs.

In countless ways, the Internet has brought the world closer together.  What it has hurt, however, is local commerce.

Did you know that every dollar spent recirculates within the community an additional six to eight times, according to Rockville Economic Development Inc. (REDI)?

In addition to individual consumers choosing to support local businesses, businesses can also focus on supporting their local colleagues.  Rockville’s Legacy Hotel set a great example.  By buying their cleaning supplies locally, they were able to “go green” by reducing the emissions of long-distance shipping and delivery.  (I suspect there was also a hope for some reciprocity through referrals to their lovely hotel!)

In addition to Rockville, other area jurisdictions (including Annapolis/Anne Arundel County, Alexandria, and Silver Spring) have emphasized buying locally.  Others around the state and around the country are currently exploring the same concept.

REDI also informed me that Montgomery County government requires its County departments to purchase 10% from local registered (www.montgomerycountymd.gov/lsbrp) small businesses.  I would love to read some studies as to the compliance, price competitiveness, and impact of such a policy.  Should it be emulated elsewhere for its impact?

Regardless of the long-term prospects for policy incentives, there are many local shop-owners who are hoping to see you (and your credit cards!) in the coming days.  Perhaps you can help them to have a happy holiday season as well?

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  How conscious are you of patronizing local businesses and family-owned eateries?  Should it be a mandate or goal in government spending?  You may send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#23) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Snowed In!

Post #22

As a child growing up in Montgomery County, I sometimes longed for snow.  As you can imagine, I was hoping for a day off from school.  But it also meant that my sister, brother, and I would get to take out our sled and saucers and enjoy riding down the empty streets in our neighborhood.

As I got older, snow meant treacherous roads and challenges getting to work and community events.  I was once in a pretty serious car crash when two vehicles skidded and crashed head-on into each other.

This weekend, snowed in from this huge storm, I couldn’t help but feel both like a child and an adult. .  The kid in me loves walking around our neighborhood, greeting the few people out in the snowy weather.  The adult relishes the down time to catch up on “to-do” list items, clean house, and cook.  Especially because we haven’t lost our power this storm (thank you PEPCO!), I can enjoy quality time with my wonderful husband.  We can play ferocious games of Scrabble, finish the books we’ve been reading, and cuddle up by the fireplace to watch a movie.

Still, I can’t hear those snow plows without thinking how the costs of cleaning up after this storm will place additional fiscal burdens placed on governments already facing challenging budgets.

And when Monday comes, will it be a hassle to get things going again?  Probably. 

But in the meantime, I am grateful for the respite that the weather gives us.  We can take time to appreciate both the beauty outside… and the love inside our homes.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  What sort of experiences have you had in the snow?  How are you spending this snowy weekend?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#22) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.

Remembering Josh

Post #21

Three years ago today, Josh Freeman was killed in a helicopter crash.  Our community lost a respected corporate leader, a passionate philanthropist, and a devoted husband and father when he died at the age of 42.

He was so young, yet already so accomplished.  Josh had succeeded his father, the legendary Carl M. Freeman, as head of the company known for building homes both in Montgomery County and at the beach in Delaware.  A risk-taker, Carl envisioned Sea Colony as a respite for families during Washington's insufferably humid summers.  The Americana condominiums are still homes for families many decades after their construction.  He also established a family foundation that was dedicated to giving back in the same localities where the company made its money.

Josh built on the record of leadership and quality development set by his father, who died in 1998.  He constructed the Village at Bear Trap Dunes, a golf course community with approximately 600 homes.  He realized a dream with the grand opening of Bayside near Fenwick, featuring a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course that is known as particularly challenging-- even for excellent golfers.

On behalf of his family and the 600+ company employees, Josh expanded the Carl M. Freeman Foundation.  He honored me by hiring me as its first-ever Executive Director.  We enhanced our visibility, held public grant cycles, and conducted site visits with the trustees for the first time.  In order to teach employees about giving back, Josh dedicated his personal funds to matching employee donations to nonprofit organizations of their choice.  He envisioned a Nonprofit Leadership Institute that we created in partnership with Montgomery College.  It offered emerging nonprofit leaders the skills to increase their effectiveness.

It would be impossible to end a tribute to Josh without mentioning his commitment to his family.  He adored his lovely wife Michelle, who provided joy and balance to his life.  To his children, Nick, Benjamin and Juliana, he was a devoted father and loving mentor.  While it is incomprehensibly tragic that they will grow up without their dad cheering them on, they will have memories and hear stories from others about how fiercely their father loved them.

Our entire family and the greater Washington area lost a brilliant, loving and visionary leader three years ago.  I hope that by celebrating and sharing stories about Josh, we can inspire others to carry on his legacy, even in some small way.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  Do you have a memory of Josh you'd like to share?  Are you aware of how he touched your life?   Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#21) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.