By Pam Cole
Louisville, KY, Feb. 20, 2006—Two lesbians and a poodle blew
through Kentucky this week on their mission to "engage hearts
and minds, create authentic connections, and dissolve differences
that separate us." Partners Dotti Berry and Robynne Sapp, and
their poodle, Rylee Joy, are halfway through their yearlong "Gay
into Straight America" tour. Their journey began on Sept. 11,
2005 in Bellingham, Washington. The idea for "Gay into Straight
America" came at the couple's commitment ceremony in July 2004,
when they vowed to "change the world through the expression
of our love." To fulfill that vow, the trio has been traveling
across the country pulling a 13-foot trailer behind their purple
Chevy Suburban, meeting people and engaging minds.
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This week, they were interviewed by the Louisville Courier-Journal,
Fox News, and Channel 36 News (ABC) in Lexington. Later, they'll
move on to Kalamazoo to speak at the SW Michigan PFLAG group. That's
about par for their schedule, which includes speaking at churches,
PFLAG events, high schools, and colleges. Their purpose is to engage
"with people who are 'wrestling' with their understanding of
GLBT persons." Whenever they meet someone new, they always
start the conversation by asking, "Do you know a gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, or intersex person?"
Berry and Sapp say that the answer has always been "yes,"
which opens the door for "engaging, not changing" minds.
The trip has been fraught with the usual road trip calamities.
They've had flat tires, a frozen water tank, and a dead battery.
It takes 45-minutes to heat the water in the trailer for a shower.
Sometimes, they park overnight in Wal-Mart parking lots. But they've
had plenty of supporters and "mostly positive" responses.
On their way through Cleveland, GA, they stayed with Kerry Pacer's
family. (17-year-old Kerry was Advocate's 2005 Person of the Year.)
The name of their tour was inspired by Lars Clausen, a Lutheran
minister who made a similar six-week tour called "Straight
Into Gay America" in June 2005. They also met him on their
trip.
Both Berry and Sapp are ordained ministers and offer their services
for performing weddings, "for straight people, too," they're
quick to add. Sapp is also a location photographer and includes
her services in a package deal.
For more information on this fascinating journey, go to www.gayintostraightamerica.com.
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