Where I come from, and I’m speaking specifically of my immediate family, when you see an injustice, you do what you can to right it.

The Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, AL.

Not loudly or with selfish motive, but rather unceremoniously and simply. My grandmother fought sexism from the mid 1930’s on throughout her long career in medicine. My parents fought silently and patiently, through writing and letters, for civil rights in the 1960’s. So when I see men or women being discriminated against for their sexual preference, I just know at my very core that it’s wrong.

During my Navy days, I met many gay sailors who endured humiliating verbal abuse and had to do so silently for fear of losing their careers. They literally had to lead double lives. It made me furious that these men and women were good enough to serve their nation and potentially give their blood, their lives, but were, and are, prohibited by law from marrying and leading equal lives.

It made me so mad, in fact, that I went back to school, took the LSAT, and prepared to go to law school: I planned to help an organization like the Human Rights Campaign and champion for equal rights in a legal/constitutional forum. However, with the shaky economy, lack of financial aid, and growing kids with growing needs, my plans for law school fell through. At the same time, the welcoming arms of Hampton Roads Pride opened up to me. I began volunteering and fell in love with not only the cause, but the astronomically incredible people who work with HR Pride.

We are one.

The people with HR Pride are some of the most selfless, creative, hard-working, welcoming, and genuine people I’ve met in years. They not only accept whatever volunteer assistance you can provide, they welcome it and make sure to express their gratitude. The volunteers at HR Pride are like family and are welcomed into the fold almost immediately. The organization sponsors a myriad of awesome events through the year and even has a committee specializing in youth outreach for gay youth in the area.  From drag shows to elegant wine tastings, extraordinarily diverse fundraisers give all LGBT community members a chance to celebrate and contribute for the big event: Out in the Park.

We are beginning to recruit dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers for Out in the Park 2011. We’re looking to gather a list of interested volunteers to get the ball rolling, and the sign-up form can be found by clicking here:

Giving your time to assist others is always fulfilling, but after I meet with any of the folks from HR Pride, I feel downright rejuvenated, inspired, and energized. If you’re looking for the same volunteer experience, please sign up and help out!