Reasonably Logical

I’m posting my Christmas list for this year so I can easily share it with friends and family. It’s a fairly simple list; there’s only one thing on it! I’m requesting that all of my Christmas gifts be in the form of a donation to a charity. Most of my gifts in recent years have been gift cards of one form or another. Given the economy this year and the probability that some companies may be going bust - and thus not honoring gift cards - I’d much rather have that money go to a good cause. Besides, I’ve still got plenty of cards from last year!

I would prefer a charity that is involved in one or more of the following areas: youth issues, homelessness, education, or gay (GLBT) rights. Below I’ve included some suggestions for charities that I consider worth of donations, but I will accept a donation to any worthy cause. The only requirement I have is that the charity in question does not discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity, race or citizenship status. For example, Covenant House, Catholic Charities, or the Minutemen would not qualify. The one exception to this I will make is that I will except donations to the Boy Scouts of America.

When you make your donation, please let me know the charity and amount. I will be tracking the total amount raised and will post it here at the end of the season.

Suggested Charities

Point Foundation (National) - Point is a scholarship fund for GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) youth. Statistically, GLBT youth are much less likely to go to college than their straight counterparts. Point tries to do something about that. I’ve been contributing to them regularly since my first year in college.

Sylvia’s Place (New York, NY) - Sylvia’s Place is a homeless shelter in NYC for GLBT youth. I volunteer at the shelter regularly. Sylvia’s Place is run on an absolutely shoestring budget; every penny donated is much appreciated.

Avenues for Homeless Youth (Minneapolis, MN) - Avenues is an emergency shelter for homeless youth in Minneapolis. I’ve never worked with them directly, but did have a chance to interview the director while in Minneapolis for MBLGTACC 2007. I was impressed with the programs, in particular their GLBT Host Home program. Avenues is not exclusively an GLBT shelter, but is very welcoming for GLBT youth.

Lamda Legal (National) - Lambda is one of the premier legal organizations fighting for gay rights in the United States. They have been fighting the good fight for many years, both at the national level and in partnership with statewide organizations. They have been instrument in some of the most important legal victories of the last decade: Lawrence v Texas and Goodridge v. Mass. Department of Public Health for two. A donation to Lambda goes directly towards changing the laws that make GLBT individuals second class citizens in our own country and states.

Boy Scouts of America - I am an Eagle Scout and can say first hand how much good this organization does for so many youth. I disagree with their discriminatory policies, but support them non-the-less. Keeping in mind the national policies, I request that you make any donations directly to your local council rather than the national umbrella organization. List of Councils, Orange County Council

Electronic Frontier Foundation (National) - If you’re not on their weekly email list and you care about freedom of speech on the Internet, you really should be.