MichaelAnthony, you asked for personal stories. I find it hard to write about this for now, but will try to later on. I am involved in a grassroots organisation which a few of us started seven years ago or more in Wyoming to work for human rights. We have tried, unsuccessfuly, for each of those years, with ally orgs., to get bias crimes legislation passed. Right now the fight has gone out of me, esp. when they still didn't pass it after Mathew shephard's murder.

We have learned many lessons about communicating with minority groups, law enforcement, those who oppose what we stand for, educational authorities, and ordinary citizens. I'll see what I can put together when I am not feeling so sad about it. (Just watched a movie about Mathew on MTV.)

For myself, it started a long time ago, when I saw something I thought was unjust. I wrote a letter to the editor, continued doing so, now am paid for doing so in several publications, one national and everytime I think about quitting, someone tells me my voice is important, so I keep saying what I gotta say.

It can start with ourselves, alone, BUT I feel when we are in a group, we help ourselves, just naturally, as well as others. It is a good feeling.

Thanks,

kat