The Straight Spouse Network Launches Fundraising Campaign During Gay Pride Month
The Straight Spouse Network is an international organization that provides confidential support to help spouses and mixed-orientation couples,cope, heal and move forward with their lives through the "coming out" process.
EL Cerrito, CA (PRWEB) June 23, 2005 -- As June Gay Pride events take place
across the country, the Straight Spouse Network (SSN) has launched a fundraising
campaign in support of heterosexual spouses or partners of the gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender persons celebrating in parades and festivals. SSN,
whose mission is reaching out, healing and building bridges within such
marriages, has 84 support groups around the world, spouse contacts in every
state in the U.S.and abroad, and many Internet mailing lists to help straight
wives and husbands deal with the shock, pain and challenges when their husbands
or wives come out.
"Up to two million straight spouses have been or will
be in this situation, SSN Executive Director, Amity Buxton says, but family
members and friends minimize their concerns and outsiders ignore their pain. Few
therapists understand their issues of sexual rejection, betrayal, and identity
crisis. So, straight spouses cope alone in isolation unless they find SSN. SSN
is the sole source of support for spouses and mixed-orientation couples as they
try to resolve complex issues."
The Straight Spouse Network Campaign 2005
will ensure support for the increasing number of spouses whose partners have
come out. Since New Jersey Governor McGreevey disclosed being "a gay American"
on television August 2004, and author J.L. King started the public conversation
about "men on the down low", shortly thereafter, calls to SSN from straight
spouses and from gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender partners in
mixed-orientation relationships, have more than doubled. Requests are coming
from an ever-broadening range of spouses. To meet their needs, Straight Spouse
Network must hire more staff, expand programs, and develop outreach to the
underserved--especially spouses of color.
The goal of Campaign 2005 is to
raise $100,000 by Labor Day. To jump-start the campaign, an angel has given the
Straight Spouse Network a grant of $25,000. Donations are already being received
by the organization. Many spouses want to give back a measure of what they have
received. A recent memo to SSN support group leaders states, "A check for $100
is about what one pays for an hour of therapy. And spouses get two or more hours
of help from (SSN)support groups at least once a month for free."
"We
want more people to understand how non-acceptance of homosexuality and
expectations of only opposite-gender marriages has led to the painful scenarios
we hear day after day, says Dr. Buxton. Many gay men and lesbians marry, even
today, to meet societal expectations of their familes, communities, or faith
congregations. To marry, most deny or ignore their same-gender
attractions.
However, these feelings do not stay suppressed, and after
struggling - some for many years, "come out" or are "discovered" by their
spouses or life partners."
The majority of couples then divorce and
families are broken, children suffer - everyone suffers. The Straight Spouse
Network serves as the bridge of understanding between the spouses and their
families.
To assist the Straight Spouse Network in their efforts to heal
and to educate, SSN is seeking individuals and organizations committed to
diversity, family concerns and social justice, to join them in celebrating Gay
Pride Month by contributing to Campaign 2005. Contribution forms can be found on
the Straight Spouse Network website, www.straightspouse.org
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb253904.htm