She Speaks
By Deb Taylor

This is my last issue as editor of the Flint Hills Observer.  Beginning in 1999, Chris Higgins will be the new editor.  I will merely be a contributing writer.  But don’t worry; I plan to stay as involved with the Observer as a former editor can without getting in the way of new ideas and changes, as well as a competent new editor.

The first issue of the Observer came out in February 1995.  Since then, we’ve covered lots of national issues: the U.S. Supreme Court declared Colorado’s Amendment 2 unconstitutional; ENDA was defeated and DOMA was passed; and the Hawaii Federal Appeals Court declared that Hawaii’s anti-same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, to name a few. Kansas has had its own share of issues as well: Lawrence successfully added sexual orientation into its Human Relations Ordinance in May 95; Governor Graves signed SB 515, the “Anti-Gay Marriage in Kansas” bill into law on April 11, 1996; and early this year, a Kansas legislator requested a list of all courses in the Kansas Regent’s that discusses homosexuality. We’ve reported on the antics of the Phelps cult and homophobic leaders like Topeka’s Rita Cline.

We’ve always reported on Flint Hills Alliance guest speakers: state representatives, the Manhattan school board, Manhattan and Topeka mayors, KSU faculty, lawyers, journalists, psychotherapists, spiritual healers, and many others. We’ve kept you posted on FHA potlucks and BLGS happenings.  We’ve almost always told you where the party was!

Looking back at all the issues of the Observer, I can definitely tell you that much has happened in our part of the world over the past four years.

And more will happen. The religious extremists and the ultra conservative Republicans have made condemning homosexuality their agenda for life and, despite public disapproval, they are not smart or decent enough to drop this issue.  This is exactly why new people need to step forward and help with the struggle for advancing queer equality in Manhattan and at KSU.  A lot of ground has been laid over the years by people who worked tirelessly and then got burnt out. The work weight definitely needs to be redistributed.  New people need to take over with their fresh ideas and exciting energy.

I thrived on that exciting energy when I first started the Observer almost four years ago. In fact, I’ve enjoyed putting it together as well as increasing my knowledge on queer issues and meeting lots of interesting people. Currently, I have the wonderful opportunity to work with a group of terrific queer leaders across Kansas on an important statewide issue.

Unfortunately, I have to work (like everyone else), and my job takes out the best ten hours (including driving time) of five days of my week.  Therefore, little time is left to give equal and fair time to all the queer issues and events in which I participate, and still have a personal life.

I find myself in desperate need of cutting back in some areas so that I can concentrate more on others.  The newsletter is the most favorite of all my “chores,” but it has always taken up a lot of my spare time (anywhere from 20 to 40 hours out of a month). As I’ve become involved in more projects, publishing the Observer as often as I used to has been difficult. I’ve gone from putting out nine issues a year to only four or five.

Enter Chris Higgins, who has an impressive background in journalism as well as a conviction to keep Manhattan and KSU informed on queer issues.  Chris will bring new ideas to the Observer, as well as a freshness that the newsletter has needed for quite some time.  Thanks to Chris’ talent and motivation, Manhattan will continue to have a local newsletter. I hope you lend him your support.

I also hope that others will step forward in the coming months.  New blood is needed in the Flint Hills Alliance as well as BLGS.  The same people shouldn’t be carrying a few rusty torches.  New torches need to be lit.

At any rate, I’m still around.  I’ll continue to contribute to the Observer as well as other Manhattan/KSU resources.  Now, I’ll just have a little more breathing room.