Table of Contents:

•  Thoughts on Community and Self Acceptance
•  October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
•  Letter from Angela C. FHA Co-President
•  Ear Candling: Come on Baby Light My Fire
•  Nice Day for a Bike Ride
•  Indigo Girls In Lawrence
•  Morris Dees in Topeka
•  Fall FHA Events
•  KSU's QSA Fall Events (Coming Out Week)
•  Letter from the Editor: Vote Tuesday November 7th
•  AIDS Quilt in Manhattan
•  Ginger Bread Recipe

Thoughts on Community and Self Acceptance
by P. Cullers (deadletterfile@hotmail.com)

Manhattan's Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered community is comprised of women and men with diverse backgrounds, ethnicity, and social standing.  We come together for social events periodically such as potlucks, holidays, and talking over coffee or games.  Our main commonality that brings us together is the fact that we are each gay or lesbian or transgendered.  That is a difficult commonality to share, as to be gay or lesbian or transgendered, each one of us has endured  to some degree, whether young or older, a lifetime of ridicule, judgment, shame, and occasional support from a primarily heterosexual society that not only surrounds us, but also attempts to indoctrinate us and assimilate us away from the natural homosexual orientation with which we were born or have chosen to manifest.

Each one of us walks through life with our homosexual identity while the gadfly of heterosexual homogenization gnaws away at our ability to define our homosexual nature with respectability.  There are times then, in our community of homosexuals, that we begin to believe the judgments against us, the ridicule, the shame, that we ourselves become the gadfly of our own souls, judging ourselves, ridiculing our sexuality, and feeling shame for having the courage to face our own true nature.  It is difficult not to internalize the guilt that we have felt for learning to love naturally in a society that has taught us to hate ourselves.  It is difficult not to bring that internalized hatred into the community of fellow homosexual peoples.

It is through the self that the foundation of our Manhattan Community can be built.  Learning to respect one's own sexual identity as natural, to have not just pride, but so much pride in who you are that you begin to really and truly believe that your way of loving is beautiful and meaningful and consecrated.  You begin to believe that your way of loving is so beautiful and meaningful and consecrated that loving yourself becomes as ordinary and everyday as it once

October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
by C.E

Riley County and Manhattan City Commissioners have both made proclamations that October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Manhattan's Crisis Center helps all people seeking assistance from domestic violence, whether woman or man, gay or straight. If you need help, please call the Crisis Center's 24-Hour Help Line at 539-2785 or 1-800-727-2785.

Letter from Angela C., Flint Hills Alliance President

Hello friends,

FHA had a wonderful cool night for the pool party in July believe it or not?  We had so much fun having the entire Manhattan City Park swimming pool to ourselves.  I was so excited that the chill in the air didn't prevent me from splashing and get whopped with a few wet toss abouts.

FHA's picnic on Sept. 9, was fun to catch up with friends and new friends!  I sure had fun frying hamburgers, it reminded me of my youth working at KreemKup!!

The Women's Coffee Talks are going very well with new faces attending every time.  I look forward to the Coffee Talks because they are social!  Also, I have learned to never tell Christina H. to top that!:)

The men's BBQ in August did not happen and I must share a bit of sad news that Jerry M. has resigned his co-presidency.  Please note that the officers met and discussed that I would fill that position with hopefully some help from the community.  That is exactly what has happened!  Some wonderful good friends have stepped up to help FHA.

Membership
At the pool party we had 3 men show and at the FHA picnic we had only 6 men show.  I want to assure everyone that FHA is for men and women.  Please email me with your comments, concerns and ideas to promote a more cohesive environment.  I am personally asking everyone to please pass the information about FHA to Gay, Lesbian, Bi's and Transgendered people in our community so we can build a strong membership.

This is just a reminder that membership dues are due in May for the succeeding year.  I know I have been guilty of not paying until voting time right before May but I am trying to do better.  :)  Please pay your dues if you haven't done so.  Dues are only $10 for the entire year and help FHA sponsor the newsletter, Picnics, Pool Parties, among other wonderful events. A check or money order made out to FHA can be given to any of the officers.   It is very much appreciated.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!  :)

Thank you to all of you who have donated time, money, effort and your skills to help better Flint Hills Alliance.  It is valued, priceless, and very much appreciated.

FHA President, Angela C. (angelica15@excite.com).

Ear Candling: Come on Baby Light My Fire
by P. Cullers (deadletterfile@hotmail.com)

Who would have thought that sticking a specially made hollow candle in your ear to suck out all of the years of waxy build up could actually boost your immune system and prevent illness?  That is the claim of the now popular homeopathic art of ear candling.  Ear candling is a healing practice that dates back to the ancient Egyptians.  It is not an accepted practice of the AMA, or the FDA, nor should you try it without some sort of instruction from a licensed practitioner or health food store clerk, or even an educational video.  The idea is that you have accumulated all kinds of disease ridden wax, fungi, yeast and other small objects in your ear canal, perhaps even packing some of it down like a cannon charge with Q-tips over the years; and that impacted junk in your ears makes you more susceptible to illness than if it were all cleaned out and squeaky clean.

In the upcoming flu season, it might be a good idea to look into cleaning out those ear canals with regular candling sessions.  Once you have gotten some basic instructions from some sort of professional, you will need to purchase a set of ear candles.  They can be purchased in some health food stores, at The Crystal Window in Topeka, or these online sources: www.wallysnatural.com, www.earcone.com www.arden.net/earcandle/home.htm.  Candles usually cost in the range from about two to four dollars each. The candles themselves, you will notice are very fine cotton cloth rolled into a hollow tube, and sealed in a special dripless paraffin, kind of like a small mummy.  One end of the candle is usually tapered.  This is the end you stick in your ear.

When you get them home, make sure you have a partner to help you with the experience.  We will call this partner "the keeper of the flame", as that will be their job, to watch over the flame on the candle, cut it’s spent wick off when it gets too long, and make sure no burning embers fall on your hair and burn it off.  You will need to cut a hole in a towel, and place his towel over your head, with the hole going around your ear.  This towel will also protect you from any embers that may fall on your hair.  Lay on your side with your head on a pillow.  You stick the tapered end of the candle in your ear.  The keeper of the flame lights the other end of the candle.  The hollow candle begins to soften up wax in your ear while at the same time creating a vacuum as the flame pulls the junk out of your ear and into the hollow recesses of the candle.  The keeper of the flame periodically snips off the spent section of candle with a pair of scissors, and tosses them into a bowl of water that they have nearby.  The keeper of the flame must also periodically remove the candle from your ear and tap out all of the junk accumulating in the candle from your ear into the bowl of water.  This is the best part of the whole experience:  seeing what comes out of your ear.  Waxy stuff is obviously ear wax.  Yellowish crumbles are probably a fungi of some sort.  Whitish crumbles are probably a yeast.  Candle your ear until the candle is about three or four inches long.  Douse the flame into the bowl of water.  Cut the candle open to see what else is in it.  If there is anything particularly unusual, you might want to consult a physician.  Now flip over and do the other ear.

You can do up to three candles per ear per session.  You shouldn't do more than one session a month.  If candling fails to keep you healthy, be sure to go out to the Riley County Health Department to get your flu shot.

Nice Day for a Bike Ride
by Jen Bame (jensfog@hotmail.com)

Ever look outside on a sunny Fall day and think "what a beautiful day to be outside?" Well, pull that old bike out from the garage and dust it off! It's time for a fun filled biking journey! Haven't been riding lately? No worries! We are riders of various abilities. This is a wonderful time to enjoy nature, exercise and chat with friends. Please join us! We generally go biking weekday evenings and weekends, usually about 2-3 times per week. To be notified of group bike rides write to me.

Indigo Girls In Lawrence

On Saturday October 14th, The Indigo Girls will perform in Lawrence at the Lied Center along with David Crosby, Shawn Mullins, and Indiginous.  Tickets range from $24-34.  You can buy your tickets online at Ticketmaster or by calling the Lied Center at 785-864-2777.
 

Morris Dees in Topeka

Morris Dees will speak in Topeka on Tuesday October 17, 2000 at 8 p.m. at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. He is President and Founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center; which has become one of the most successful education programs ever started by a private organization. Dees also started the Teaching Tolerance Program in 1991. THIS IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC!! Call 785-232-8808 for more information.

Fall Flint Hills Alliance Events
(For location information about events listed below, write to fha.kansas@usa.net.)

General Activities:
October 5th,  5:30 pm - Business meeting
October 20th, 7pm - Potluck at Jen and Carol's
October 28th - 8:30-midnight Costume Party with Regional Aids Project
November 2nd, 5:30 pm - Business meeting
November 17th, 7 pm - Thanksgiving Potluck at Bob and David's
December 7th, 5:30 pm - Business meeting
December 16th, 7pm - Christmas Dinner

FHA's Just for Men Events:
"After the Coming Out Process" - Every first and third Monday of the month at ECM.  This event is sponsored by Regional Aids Project.  For more information please contact Dru E. at RAP@Flinthills.com

"Game Night for Men" - None scheduled at this time.   Please e-mail Angela (Angelica115@excite.com) if you want to sponsor a game night at your home or want to attend.

Coffee Talk for Women, Every 2nd and 4th Friday, 8 pm:
October 13th & 27th
November 10th
December 8th & 22

KSU's Queer Straight Alliance Fall Events
(For more information about events listed below, write to qsa@ksu.edu)

October
1        Business Meeting 7 p.m.
9-13  Coming Out Week Events TBA (email qsa@ksu.edu or vist QSA's website)
15      Business Meeting 7 p.m.

November
 5       Business Meeting 7 p.m. (Possible social exchange with Emporia group)

December
3        Business Meeting 7 p.m.
10      SOCIAL Chili Feed/Gift Exchange

QSA's Icebreakers
Wednesday Nights at 6:00 p.m. Icebreakers is a support group sponsored by QSA dedicated to providing individuals with a confidential and safe environment where they can explore issues concerning sexual orientation. Email qsa@ksu.edu more location information.

Letter from the Editor: Vote Tuesday November 7th

Voting wasn't always considered a right in the United States, but a privilege. Being white, a male, owning property, and having a certain income level have all been requirements to vote at different times in our country's history. Imagine if any of those requirements still stood. Would you be excluded? Despite the struggle to obtain voting rights for all citizens, in the last presidential election less than half of the voting age Americans actually voted. Don't let someone else's opinion count more than yours. Even if your opinion is in the minority, by voting you have spoken.

The last day to register to vote for the upcoming election is Monday, October 23rd. You can register to vote when you renew your driver's license, by mail or at your county clerks office (for Riley County, 110 Courthouse Plaza, Manhattan).The registration form can be found online at www.kssos.org/election/96vr.pdf. Forms are available throughout the city of Manhattan at: Dillon's, the public library, all city offices, and some banks. For more information or to have a form mailed to you in Riley County call (785) 565-6200, in Kansas call 1-800-262-VOTE.

AIDS Quilt in Manhattan
Written by Dru E.

As part of our World AIDS Day activities RAP will be bringing eight panels of the AIDS Quilt to Manhattan. Four of the panels will include local people who have passed away from AIDS related illnesses. According to the NAMES Foundation, Manhattan and Emporia will be the only displays of the Quilt in Kansas.

The main reason for bringing the Quilt to Manhattan is to demonstrate the fact that AIDS is in Kansas. The Quilt will help to educate our youth and others, as well as bring together those who have lost family and friends.

This is a wonderful opportunity for members of our community to view the Quilt. There are people in our community who believe that this a manageable illness. We need to educate the community that not everyone can tolerate the antiviral drugs, and that AIDS still kills. The war on AIDS is not over and we need to continue to educate ourselves and others about this illness.

The display will be in the Ecumenical Campus Ministries (ECM) building at 1021 Denison Avenue, Manhattan on November 30, from 9 am to 9 pm. December 1, from 9 am, to 4 pm., and December 2, from 12 pm to 7 pm. There will be a candle light walk from the Triangle Park in Aggieville to the ECM building. Other activities include: "Living with AIDS" video, a memory bell (to ring for loved ones you have lost), a memory book (to preserve the memory of those you have lost), information on HIV/STDs, and refreshments.

Sponsorship will play in important part in the success of our World AIDS Day events and bringing the Quilt to Manhattan. We are inviting everyone to become sponsors to make this event successful. Any contribution that you can make will be greatly appreciated. Sponsor names will be displayed during the World AIDS Day events. Send your contributions for the Quilt to RAP,1021 Denison, Manhattan, KS. 66502. Call RAP at 587-1999 or 238-5338 for further information.

Ginger Bread
Submitted by B.W. (bdwaters@flinthills.com)

Drizzle honey over this fragrant spiced bread. It also makes great French toast. For bread machines, using the sweet bread cycle or the basic white bread cycle. Makes a 1 pound loaf.

1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons molasses
1 large egg
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, cut up
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2 cups bread flour
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon groung cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast