In Miami Florida, on February 1, 2006, we sat inside an AirStream trailer- turned recording studio, and told our story for StoryCorps - a program affiliated with NPR and The Library of Congress.  A portion of our story was featured on an NPR station in Miami last Spring, and is now filed with nine thousand other stories inside the walls of the Library of Congress in Washington DC.  We hope our story will be heard and told for decades and centuries to come, so that our passion and purpose of "creating change in the world through the expression of our love" will live on long after we have gone. 

On January 2, 2007, we guest-hosted the Joe Teehan show, called the Liberal Outpost, on KGMI in Bellingham, WA. (AM 790, www.KGMI.com).  

We interviewed Jim Hunt, who recently completed his term as President of the National League of Cities.  We plan to travel to those cities that have signed on with their ground breaking program... We Are Building An Inclusive Community, as part of our Great American Roadcast Project.  The Partnership includes 154 cities and towns in 40 states representing over 15.6 million people and continues to grow.  Click here for details on that program. 

At the end of the show, we interviewed our neighbor, Michelle Willoughby, about the initial fear she felt when a lesbian couple (us) moved next door, and the impact on our neighborhood.

See www.StandUPspeakOUT.com

This interview is with Peggy Campolo, an evangelical Christian who challenges evangelical churches to re-think their stand against gay and lesbian people. She is on the Advisory Board of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, and speaks frequently to church and campus groups. Peggy is also a highly-visible advocate for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender people within the church. She is a member of PFLAG and Evangelicals Concerned, and is a member of Central Baptist Church in Wayne, Pennsylvania.  A graduate of Eastern College, Peggy is a writer and editor. She contributed to a book by Walker Wink entitled, Homosexuality and Christian Faith. Questions on Conscience for the Churches.  Dotti and Peggy first met in 1999, when Soulforce initially met in Lynchburg, VA, to confront the spiritual violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.  Peggy and her husband, Tony Campolo, are well known for their talk, "Living with Our Differences," which they have given at numerous churches.

Click on this link: http://static.flickr.com/142/326913996_09d6ef6245_o.jpg to see a great photo of Peggy with Peterson Toscano and "Momma"  (Worthie Meacham) at a recent conference.  For some good reading, see Peterson Toscano's blog: http://www.a_musing.blogspot.com/

              This is a RE-PUBLISHED version of our interview with Lars Clausen, the Lutheran Minister who rode his unicycle 1,000 miles STRAIGHT INTO GAY AMERICA.  The previously posted version somehow got cut short after publishing, so if you didn't hear all of this GREAT conversation with this amazing man, who is touching lives and making a difference in the world... then LISTEN NOW!  Don't forget to visit Lars at www.straightintogayamerica.com, and for a great read, buy his book, Straight Into Gay America, My Unicycle Journey for Equal Rights.

            This Stand UP Speak OUT Great American Roadcast episode took place in Provincetown, MA with well-known author and corporate diversity trainer, Brian McNaught, dubbed "The Godfather of Gay Sensivity Training," by the New York Times.  Dotti says, "I had the privilege of studying with Brian at the Thornfield Sexuality Workshop in New York in 1999, participating in a training track, 'Diversity in the Workplace.'  Brian is not only a role model, but an inspiration to me."  What a great view from the balcony of the home of Brian and Ray (his partner of 30 years).  Listen, learn and laugh with Brian and Dotti, as they share stories from the past, talk about diversity in the workplace, and the importance of living authentically.

We just discovered that our podcast called Stand UP Speak OUT-Episode 1 was missing part of the interview due to an upload error.  If you originally listened to this podcast and it suddenly stopped, please go back and listen to the entire interview!  The first part is talking to Donna Rose, a transgender woman, who is on the board of the Human Rights Campaign, about life in general and how she came to better understand herself.  The second part is an interview about her thoughts on transgender issues and corporate America.

Stay tuned next week, October 5, 2006 for a podcast with Lars Clausen, a Lutheran minister whose journey, Straight Into Gay America, inspired the year long journey, Gay Into Straight America, of Two Women and a Poodle, Dotti Berry, Roby Sapp and Rylee Joy.

Interview with Transgender Woman, Donna Rose.  This first "roadcast" from www.GayIntoStraightAmerica.com could not be more meaningful, since Dotti interviewed Donna Rose in person while we were in Scottsdale, with Roby recording with the podcasting equipment.  No person personifies being a "Stand UP Speak OUT Wind Changer" more than Donna Rose.  We are pleased to announce that Donna is our newest "Stand UP Speak OUT Wind Changer" honoree.  Click here for past honorees.  This is a diverse group of people, from everyday to well known folks.  Each is making a difference...that is the common thread.