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Oxford Day Two


Christ Cathedral, Oxford
Originally uploaded by p2son.
Last night I met with the Way Out group, a LGBTQ youth group in Oxford. Matthew, the adult leader of the group, warned me that English youth do not typically ask a lot of questions, so I had to engage them with the material.

That may be true, but once they heard about Exodus and "Let us Prey" (what I call their current agenda to target teens), they asked loads of questions.

Forunately the "ex-gay" movement has never been able to get the same foothold here in the UK as it has in the states. Religion does not sway public opinion and policy as much as it does in the US. Still the number one cause of death among queer youth is suicide and plenty of young people need the support of groups like Way Out.

Today I meet with Matthew at the Jolly Farmers, a gay pub, then tea with Marigold from the Quaker meeting and dinner with Jimbo and Trevor from GCN. Suddenly I have a social life!

Comments

Rob said…
Marigold B. who worked for Quaker Peace and Social Witness for many years? (Maybe she worked for a different organization. The Brits have no shortage of committees and groups. I get them confused.) If it's the same Marigold (and how many can there be?) I think she was an interpreter at the World Gathering. REALLY nice person. I was with her on a trip to Margaret Fell's farmhouse/manse. Ask her how to say quicksand in Spanish. I can't remember.

Safe travels.
11:32 AM
Mark said…
Glad you got a chance to sup with J & T.
12:34 PM
Peterson Toscano said…
yes, Rob, the very same Marigold. In fact she is perched on the sofa next to me watching me type this even as I type! I was just showing her and her husband Geoffrey all about the world of blogging and wikipedia. (Geoffrey is a Winston Churchill scholar).

Marigold remembers you and sends greetings.
She says "Arenas movedizas".
1:34 PM
Anonymous said…
Good to catch up with you in Oxford!

Enjoy the rest of your trip.
5:34 PM
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