WELL SAID.....

MY (13 YEAR LATER) HIGH SCHOOL LETTER

Mr. Segal....

Wow, it has been so many years - 13 years exactly. I have to say that there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you or the student named Chris Hunt. After all these years I never have found him but always wondered where he ended up.

The main reason why I think about you everyday is because it is quite haunting the impression that teachers make on you when you are so young - like I was at 15 years old and living in the closet or just confused as fuck - LOL. I can remember countless times in your drama/english class where you would often perform the stereotypical gay lisp and it would get a chuckle out of everyone in class - I can even remember kids would copy you out of class - to them it was a funny joke and hell even sometimes I would laugh it off but it was a serious mind fuck for me that sent me deeper into the closet and ashamed of who I was. Now when someone does the lisp or a gay imitation I laugh and have the confidence to speak up if it offends me, however as a 15 year old kid everyday in high school was survival and putting a happy face on was mandatory.

Chris Hunt, the student I mentioned, was my classmate that numerous times would call me FLAMER, QUEER and things like that in your English fifth period class and in Mr. Hooven's class (third period I think). Funny how 13 years later I can remember the words, the period and the occurrences and how I felt. I can remember Mr. Hooven and you would tell the class to shush or quickly change the topic, nothing was done and I don't think you as teachers were trained to deal with a student bullying someone based on names like QUEER and FLAMER. Surely I would never speak up, I had no confidence and at 15 years old survival and having friends was more important to me than defending what I thought I might be - a queer or a flamer.

I know that using such lisps - even if you are a drama teacher is not encouraged these days and if you still do use them you will think twice. I have been contemplating writing this email for about a week now but realized I must do it to regain my piece of mind and move on from something that has bothered me for over a decade.

These days I am extremely comfortable with who I am and the only ill feelings I harbor against you is not casting me - a closeted gay male, in one of your plays. Damn it, I always wanted to be in those plays you had - I was so jealous and figured I would be cast on my so-called actions that were obvious to some.

Thanks for reading this email and taking the time! I hope all is well and YES i can still remember being in the front row of your class the first day you quit smoking COLD TURKEY. Everyday we would count - the days would increase and so did your anxiety!

Take care....

Scott Boardman

MY DRAMA TEACHER RESPONDED....

Dear Scott,

I am so sorry you felt the way you did in my class. To be honest, I really don't think about things like that because, at least these days, it's just one of dozens of voices I do in my classes. My students know that I poke fun at everyone because I love them and it makes class interesting. You must admit not all gay men talk that way but some do, no different than when I talk with a Southern accent. Not all people in the South talk that way, but some do.

As far as being in the plays, how many did you audition for? Because I am always on the lookout for guys as they're scarce in my program. If you did audition, it certainly wasn't your sexual orientation that was the reason you weren't cast as many of my actors are gay or lesbian. We also did a production of The Laramie Project a few years back and the district was very supportive.

To be honest, I don't even remember Chris Hunt, but I do know what it is liked to be bullied. From 6th to 11th grade, I was bullied for being short, Jewish, whatever. I still remember the guys that did it and I wouldn't be friends with them even today on Facebook. The wounds do stay with you and are for life. Regarding your hazing in my class, either I was too inexperienced (Not an excuse) or I was unaware that the name calling was serious. If you don't tell someone, how are they to know?

I'm sorry high school was so difficult for you and that I didn't help and, in fact, made it worse. Keep in mind that I do remember you fondly. You always had a smile and a kind word and I did consider you one of my more personable, fun students.

I'm glad things are better for you now and I wish you the best in the future.

Sincerely,

Mr. Segal

GET OUT AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!

DEFEAT H8

Last night I went to American Apparel and loved their new shirts that make a bold statement to defeat Prop. 8 - pretty amazing!

MODE SAYS NO TO 8

It's no big secret that I worship the ground that Depeche Mode walks on, but as of today not only do I love their music but I also love their politics. As you can see from the picture above Depeche Mode clearly supported VOTING NO ON PROP 8. To see the entire clip and read more about my favorite band log onto the official Depeche Mode site: www.DepecheMode.com and click on the NEWS section. If you want to see the full clip and move on with your life press play below, performing both will make me extremely happy!

GAYS SUCKS... OR SO THIS ARTICLE SAYS!

The following article pulls at my heart strings but at the same time gives me a resurgence of urgency and activism. Why? Because it reminds me that we don't live in a bubble, people still think we are immoral deviants and shouldn't be treated to the same rights as everyone else. Read the article below and let me know your thoughts...

Homosexuals Missing a Lot of Points

Posted by Jason Cunningham on Tuesday, January 06, 2009 3:19:40 PM

The furor over the passage of Prop 8 having abated somewhat, Scott Boardman of Monrovia feels that there just aren't enough pro-homosexual rallies taking place anymore, and he plans to do something about it. Fine; go ahead and exercise your right to waste your time -- for only in America are we affluent enough to be able to put serious effort into legitimizing perversion.

And speaking of rights, one of Boardman's supporters, the Rev. (and I use that term loosely) Susan Russell of All-Saints Episcopal Church, said recently: "The United States is founded on values of freedom of religion and from religion." Actually, "reverend," "freedom from religion" is nothing but a fanciful idea dreamed up by atheists and the ACLU (the Anti-Christian-Liberties Union). Like "separation of church and state," it's a phrase found nowhere in our nation's founding documents. Besides that, no one can be free from religion; even if you don't subscribe to an "organized" religion, you subscribe to whatever unorganized hodge-podge you decide upon throughout the course of your life. In other words, you believe something, and whatever it is you believe, that is your religion.

Russell goes on to say: "All-Saints is part of a national group that believes God's laws include everyone and that the United States Constitution provides protection for everyone." Well, duh. Of course the Constitution applies equally to everyone -- that is, it guarantees everyone's civil (a.k.a. political) rights -- the right to vote, to petition government, to peacably assemble, etc. But since marriage has nothing to do with any of these things, it can't be considered a civil (political) right. (Ditto with abortion.)

And it's funny that Russell speaks of God's laws applying to everyone, because she glaringly fails to encourage obedience to one of His fundamental teachings: that He designed marriage as a particular thing, to the exclusion of all other things, as a way of demonstrating to us the differences and similarities between Himself and humans, and His desire (despite our differences) for intimacy with us. Russell, I'm sure, bases her position, at least in part, on the twisted, homosexual-friendly definition of "equality," wherein any two consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want (then why not three, or 10?), and according to which there are no differences between males and females (then why do so many lesbians come off as being men, and so many homosexual men come off as being women?). At any rate, true equality doesn't mean equal results; it means having equal protection of our basic civil (political) rights, and we all have that (last I checked, homosexuals weren't being denied the right to vote, weren't being segregated and weren't being knocked over with firehoses). Beyond these "off-limits" items, society is ours (meaning everyone's) to shape as we will; you can disagree with any of the decisions, but a decision not in your favor doesn't mean that your basic rights have been violated.

Homosexuals and their advocates need to understand that sexual practices comprise a difference case than skin color: Even if sexuality (like skin color) is an inherent genetic characteristic, it is nonetheless (unlike skin color) a question of morality, and for many of us, the practice of homosexuality constitutes a perversion, a deviation from what God intended. For us, therefore, it's not a question of accepting someone who is different in a benign way; instead, you're asking us to agree with and approve of a behavior that we find immoral.

JOIN THE IMPACT: SIX DAYS AWAY!!!

I have volunteers and people saying they are going to come out in droves on January 10, 2009 - will you be there at Pasadena City Hall to protest against the DOMA Act? Of course I hope to see everyone there that came out for both the November 15 and December 20 rallies. From a selfish standpoint it's so amazing to see and meet new friendly faces that come up to me from the crowds to say Hello and Thanks for putting together
these rallies.

I thank you so much for reading my blog and sending me emails, scottboardman@aol.com. It's all appreciated and humbly welcomed!

WILL YOU JOIN ME?

BAD OBAMA

He now knows an American-hating Reverend and an outspoken homophobic Pastor... ouch, I hope things don't snowball any further!

DON'T PROTEST ALL CRAZY CHICKENS!!!

PLEAS​E READ ON WHY NOT TO PROTE​ST ALL EL POLLO​ LOCO'​S.​.​.​.​

http:​/​/​scott​board​man.​ blogs​pot.​ com/​2008/​11/​long-​beach​-​resid​ents-​prote​st-​chick​en.​ html

Also, I encourage you to read a statement from one of my email friends who wrote into the company 'El Pollo Loco,' please reconsider protesting ALL of their chains... instead seek out the ones in the LBC area (including Denny's and Corner Bakery) that contributed to Yes on Prop 8

-----------
FROM: jscott@elpolloloco.com

As an execu​tive of El Pollo​ Loco,​ I recei​ved your messa​ge indic​ating​ your inten​tion to stop eatin​g at our resta​urant​s becau​se one of our franc​hisee​s made a perso​nal donat​ion in suppo​rt of Calif​ornia​’s Propo​sitio​n 8. I voted​ again​st Prop 8. On a perso​nal level​,​ I not only under​stand​ your anger​,​ I share​ it.
You have share​d your opini​ons with us and we have read them.​ But befor​e you decid​e El Pollo​ Loco is taint​ed forev​er due to one perso​n’s polit​ical donat​ion,​ I respe​ctful​ly ask that you let me tell you about​ the El Pollo​ Loco I know.​
Six years​ ago, I joine​d El Pollo​ Loco.​ Durin​g my inter​views​,​ I asked​ my boss-​to-​be,​ the Presi​dent/​CEO,​ if the compa​ny offer​ed domes​tic partn​er insur​ance becau​se I would​ need it to cover​ my partn​er.​ He said,​ “Actu​ally I don’t​ know,​ but it’s clear​ly the right​ thing​ to do, so if we don’t​ alrea​dy have it, we’ll​ get it.” I am very proud​ that one of my first​ jobs was to annou​nce that El Pollo​ Loco now offer​ed domes​tic partn​er insur​ance cover​age.​
How many compa​nies can you name that have an out gay or lesbi​an on their​ execu​tive team?​ My femal​e partn​er and I will celeb​rate our twent​ieth anniv​ersar​y later​ this month​.​
My partn​er has parti​cipat​ed in all El Pollo​ Loco event​s that inclu​de “spou​ses/​partn​ers”,​ which​ is the langu​age we use on invit​ation​s to those​ event​s.​ Our relat​ionsh​ip has never​ been treat​ed any diffe​rentl​y from the heter​osexu​al relat​ionsh​ips of the rest of the El Pollo​ Loco manag​ement​ team.​ I do not hide our relat​ionsh​ip in any way. Her pictu​re is on my desk.​
One of my staff​’s respo​nsibi​litie​s is to inves​tigat​e and resol​ve emplo​yee compl​aints​.​ Feel free to ask anyon​e on my staff​ about​ the promp​t and serio​us emplo​yment​ conse​quenc​es for anyon​e caugh​t makin​g dispa​ragin​g comme​nts about​ gays or any other​ group​.​
El Pollo​ Loco has almos​t 5,​000 emplo​yees.​ We also franc​hise the El Pollo​ Loco brand​ to other​ compa​nies.​ Those​ franc​hisee​s combi​ned proba​bly emplo​y anoth​er 10,​000 peopl​e.​ A membe​r of one of those​ compa​nies,​ not El Pollo​ Loco,​ Inc.​,​ appar​ently​ made that polit​ical donat​ion.​ Of cours​e a group​ that large​ will inclu​de peopl​e with varyi​ng polit​ical persp​ectiv​es.​ I am not aware​ of a singl​e one who donat​ed as an El Pollo​ Loco repre​senta​tive to suppo​rt Prop 8. The only time the Prop 8 issue​ came up in the conte​xt of El Pollo​ Loco was when I recei​ved a compl​aint from a custo​mer that the staff​ in one of our resta​urant​s had put Post-​It notes​ all over the cash regis​ters and count​ers sayin​g “Vote​ No on 8!” We told that resta​urant​’s staff​ the same thing​ I will tell you. Peopl​e are encou​raged​ to vote their​ belie​fs,​ but El Pollo​ Loco is a resta​urant​ compa​ny and we do not take posit​ions on polit​ical issue​s.​
I hones​tly belie​ve that anger​ direc​ted at El Pollo​ Loco over Prop 8 is ill advis​ed,​ but it is certa​inly your right​ to eat where​ver you want to eat. You will be missi​ng the world​’s great​est chick​en.​
Put me on your maili​ng list and I will join your effor​ts in those​ areas​ where​ I belie​ve they are being​ done respo​nsibl​y,​ appro​priat​ely and with all the facts​ right​.​ My email​ is jscot​t@​elpol​loloc​o.​com.​
Since​rely,​
Jeann​e A. Scott​
Senio​r Vice Presi​dent
Human​ Resou​rces & Train​ing
El Pollo​ Loco,​ Inc.

STORMING CITY HALL - VALENTINES DAY

There's so much talk that the next big rally is on January 10, 2009 at all City Halls - again. At our majestic City Hall in Pasadena we had hundreds (some say up to 500) people rallying for what they believe in. While I truly believe the January 10, 2009 march will be BIG, I am putting forth a new date
for the biggest protest yet: Saturday, February 14, 2008 - Valentines Day, at 10:30 a.m.. Why not have thousands of mock weddings on the steps of your City Hall? As most of you know, Valentines Day is one of the biggest days to get married in the U.S. - it's just too bad our group will not be included!

Please forward this onto everyone you know and have them reference my blog, I will be posting updates and working closely with
JOIN THE IMPACT site!!!

UPDATED: RALLY UPDATE - GOOD NEWS!!!

This morning I trucked on down to the Pasadena City Hall to seek out either a permit for a rally/demonstration on the steps of City Hall or to at least let them know - turns out the latter is all that I needed. Given the name 'A Free Speech Demonstration" this needs no permit - the guys from Pasadena Gayborhood were correct - as long as you don't interfere with traffic then everything is fine and no permit is needed - HOORAY!!

I can't wait to see everyone on Saturday, I know our protest will be one to remember being both: peaceful and prominent!

Be well..

Scott Boardman

UPDATE: THE PROTEST WILL TAKE PLACE AT 10:30 a.m. on SATURDAY MORNING!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE LOG ONTO WWW.JOINTHEIMPACT.COM

PASADENA SPEAKS OUT!!!

I am beginning to think that the rally I've been organizing is going to be a great demonstration! I've been getting a good amount of emails over the past few days and last night I received the best one yet. I hope the lady who emailed me doesn't mind me sharing it with everyone however after reading it I closed my MacBook in tears and proud to be me.

See you all on Saturday, November 15, 2008 in front of Pasadena City Hall at 10:30 a.m.!

"Scott--

I found your blog and am relieved to hear there's a protest in Pasadena! No doubt downtown L.A. is going to be packed--which leads me to think that Pasadena is a better choice for myself and my 9 year-old son. I can't think of a better way to teach him that civil rights shouldn't be taken for granted by anyone. And that sometimes you have to put your feet and voice (and poster board) in action.

I hope there will be lots of other families there to show that hatred is not a family value. Are you having speakers? Are any addressing families and their needs? Just wondering.

Another straight (and seriously pissed-off about 8 passing) middle-aged mom for civil rights,"

Join the Impact

If it looks cheesy please forgive me, this is my first MacBook iMovie *wink*!

WILL YOU JOIN IN????

PICK YOUR CITY AND PROTEST!!!!!

This Saturday, all across America there will be massive protests against PROP 8! I will be hosting one in Pasadena, outside City Hall, and I hope you will join me. Either way log onto www.JointheImpact.com for MORE information!!!


http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/California

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=*(

According to CNN.com, virtually all of the gay propositions throughout the United States failed to be defeated... what a sad day for gay rights in the United States.