More than 140 March in Belleville to Combat Teen Suicide

www.DanielMcCree.Org

From METRO EAST PRIDE News
October 11, 2010
(BELLEVILLE)

by: Colby Kluthe,
Vice-President Metro East Pride 2010-11
(photos by: Colin Murphy)

National Coming Out Day was observed by Metro East Pride (MEP) on October 11th with a Candlelight Vigil and March through historic downtown Belleville.

More than 140 people of all ages and backgrounds gathered at the downtown Carnegie Library in remembrance of recent teen suicides as a result of bullying, and other stresses faced by LGBT youth. A special focus was given to the local impact of suicide, remembering at least 6 individuals locally who have ended their lives in recent years.

The CDC estimates that 149,000 youth between the ages of 10 and 24 receive medical care for selfinflicted injuries at emergency departments across the U.S. each year. *
In June 2010, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed HB4672 into law, requiring all educators in public secondary schools undergo suicide prevention training, to recognize the early signs of individuals most at risk.

“We must do everything we can to protect our youngest citizens,” said Governor Quinn. “This new law will help save young lives by making sure schools are better-equipped to monitor suicidal behavior and know when and how to intervene.” *

Metro East Pride, in partnership with TransHaven, Project Safe-Harbor, Daniel McCree Foundation, Gay-Straight Alliance chapters at SIUE & Blackburn College, and local High Schools joined with Q&A-SWIC,
Club Escapade and PFLAG-Belleville. The overwhelming response by the community at large demonstrates the urgency of the issue, as well as concerns by people throughout Southern Illinois & St. Louis Regionally.

Local media coverage included KSDK-TV of St. Louis, the Belleville News-Democrat, and Vital Voice Magazine. MEP President Sarah Baldwin spoke of our individual responsibility for what we say, and for what we hear around us. The challenge being that each of us has an opportunity to put a stop to harassment in both school and work environments.

National Coming Out Day, began in 1987 and is celebrated globally each year as an outward demonstration of support to those who have not yet "Come Out". The Metro East Region has taken on the mantra "you are not alone" as the Global Cry for 2010 has been "It Get's Better".

March of Remembrance- OCT 11th (Belleville)

http://www.danielmccree.org/

October 11th, 2010 we will join Metro East Pride, PFLAG -Belleville, Project Safe-Harbor, Transhaven, GSA-SIUE and Q&A-SWIC for a memorial march through downtown Belleville in remembrance of those in our region lost to suicide. We will also be celebrating "National Coming Out Day" for those who are free to be who they were created to be.

The march will begin at the downtown Belleville Library, at the site of the former "BelleGarten"

which Daniel planted in 2007, prior to its becoming a parking lot.

Join us, at 6:30 at the Library, as we march accross downtown to the MEP Festival Grounds, located on West Main at 2nd Ave.

Daniel McCree Foundation will be remembering not only Daniel, but the other loved-ones from our area who have become part of our "D-Vine".

Buck Postwako (12) who took is life while at home Oct 2007.

Nathan Maue - took his life in Tower Grover Park 2008

Jason Cox - who took his life while in a Southern Illinois' county jail

Daniel McCree of Sparta/Belleville, IL- lost in July 2007

Austin Mueller of Belleville (18) - May 2010 on the SWIC campus

Metro East Pride will provide the candles for the event-- ALL AGES are welcome.

Please bring the name of anyone you are aware of, so that we may remember them as well.

RSVP ON FACEBOOK

START POINT-

121 East Washington Ave

Belleville, IL 62220

END POINT- Club Escapade/Oregon Trail Coffee co. West Main Street @ 2nd Ave.

ADA Parking is located on 2nd Ave. just north of Main St.

For more information: metroeastpride@gmail.com or online at~ http://www.metroeastpride.com/

ABOUT BELLEGARTEN:
In June 2007, Daniel along with his roomates Larry and Tonji
planted an arrangement in the community garden near the library in downtown Belleville.
The gardens are completely vibrant with color.

October 2010 Newsletter - "For such a time as this"

www.DanielMcCree.Org

A letter from the editor:

October 4, 2010
"Sometimes I don't Know Who I am- But don't you forget"
-Robert Knight

Dear friends and visitors:

It has truly been an amazing year, and one we shall not easily forget. I continue to be reminded of the promise kept~
Daniel always told me "My vine has roots that go very deep"

I continually find myself lead forward in directions one cannot easily decipher a reason for. So im practicing my listening skills, for that still quiet voice that sometimes is not so subtle.

This photo was taken in my back yard alley on Palm Sunday in 2007. It was taken during the time Danny was building a tent out of stick he found in the brush on our adjacent lot. A recent visit to this location reveals the building we lived in has gone into foreclosure, and is now boarded up to protect the copper within. It also serves as a reminder that ALL THINGS CHANGE, except the love we share.

This love, which we experience is the closest thing to God we can have while still on earth. We aren't often privy to know why we are lead in certain ways, but I have learned that something much greater than any one of us, equips us for what lays ahead.

A friend recently told me they didn't think they were strong enough to endure the challenges that were very clear and present. I could say nothing more than keep walking, and know that you will be carried when you cant stand on your own.

In the past month, I have been blessed to meet new friends in the outreach efforts of Metro East Pride. These connections serve as yet another reminder of our mission and purpose, and confirm that our work has impact far and wide.

As I may have mentioned, we recently rediscovered some of Daniels writing, that was published in the then-popular EXP Magazine. Once I have touched base with our Board of Directors, we will likely make this publication available online.

Much thanks goes out to Colin Murphy of Vital Voice Magazine, who you may know is an avid collector of St. Louis LGBT history. He was able to locate and send this article published in 2003. And ended the 3-year search we had endured in locating it.

We also want to announce our Board of Directors for 2011.
joining the team will be COLE WOFFORD, who shall replaces the vacancy left ending 2010.
Cole is a long-time friend of Daniel's and served as his AA sponsor just prior to his passing. He also volunteers with Sherwood's Forrest Camp for kids, and will be a welcome addition to our directors in the coming year.

Keep an eye out for this new exhibit- we will publish to our FACEBOOK page, as well as our primary website. (www.DanielMcCree.Org)

Finally, mark your callendar for OCTOBER 30th, as we join Metro East Pride for a Halloween Block Party in downtown Belleville. This event is the first major fundraiser of the 2011 season.
As we donated to MEP in 2010, we have selected ONE SAINT LOUIS as our primary benefactor until December of this year. It should also be noted that as a participant in the recent "Prowling With Robyn" fundraiser, hosted by TRANSHAVEN, the Daniel McCree Foundation made a small donation to benefit Trans Youth outreach. More info at www.Imatyfa.org

Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support of our mission~ unchanged since July 2007.