Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 16:55:34 -0500
From: Maggie Heineman <maggie@CritPath.Org>
Subject: A gift from Patricia Nell Warren 

>The word "ceremony" means "circle of the Moon." 

   >Louis describes himself as a "Christmas queen."  He spends these last 
   >weeks of the year making his apartment beautiful, surrounding himself 
   >with friends in a one-man Disneyland of lights, music and color. His blood 
   >relatives, who live in Manila and don't accept him, won't be there.

>Ina has her own vision of Judaism.  This includes knocking herself out 
>with cooking and entertaining for her partner and a vast raft of loving 
>relatives...and being visible at her synagogue, where she and partner are 
>equally accepted. 

   >For gay people, this need to celebrate our life and times does not
   >vanish with coming out.  To steal a phrase from Dickens, there are 
   >"ghosts of Christmas past" that live in many of us. 

>That holiday ceremony is for everyone, no matter what our sexuality 
>or view of life.  Indeed, doesn't the Moon herself shine down equally 
>onto all people on Earth?

________________________________

These clips are from a new essay by Patricia Nell Warren, author of 
_The Front Runner_ and its sequel _Billy's Boy._   

Titled "The Holidays: Ceremony for Everyone," the essay is appropriate 
for newsletters of PFLAG chapters and diverse communities of faith.
It is an inspirational challenge to all of us to remember "that the circle of 
beauty and love...is created with effort, over time, by investing into others 
-- through many moons and many journeys of our planet around the sun."

The essay is at http://www.bridges-across.org/holidays.htm

"The Holidays: Ceremony for Everyone" may be crossposted on 
the Internet without permission, provided it is without any 
editing whatsoever. To get permission to reprint the column 
in a print publication, email Wildcat Press <WildcatPrs@aol.com>

Those without web access may request an electronic copy from 
maggie@critpath.org