RFamily To Be Honored At GALA - How You Can Participate

[Natalie B]

RFamily Vacations, Gregg & Kelli, are being honored on Sunday May 6th with the "Guardians of Justice" Award for their extraordinary contribution to the LGBT community. The Award is being given by Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood's Reform Synagogue (founded by LGBT and gay-friendly progressives 15 years ago) and The Voice of My People Foundation (a secular non-profit pursuing social justice issues including the marriage equality.)

Here are two ways for you to participate:
1. Join us! There are tix still available and we would love to have lots of RFamily supporters there on Sunday evening. Gregg will be there, and Rosie is taping a special message for the event.

2. Support RFamily and express your words of love, admiration and gratitude in the Tribute Journal. Space is still available and the journal goes to print on April 20th (in 3 weeks). Rates vary with the size of the ad.

Here is the link for all the information: http://www.kol-ami.org

We look forward to seeing lots of RFamily faces at the event.

[PinkRibbonAmy]

A well deserved honor! I hope that there's lots of publicity because I don't think enough people know about r-family vacations and they SHOULD.

[sf_dad]

rFamily is being honored - when they submitted to bigots in approving their itinerary?

WOW- this award must be worth less than nothing.

[itsmewendee]

You are not a nice person Matt.
I suggest you keep your opinions off this board sf_dad and you should be ashamed of yourself!
I hope your daughter does not see what her Father has written here.

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

rFamily is being honored - when they submitted to bigots in approving their itinerary?

WOW- this award must be worth less than nothing.

sf_dad
<cute tag line goes here>



You are not a nice person Matt.
I suggest you keep your opinions off this board sf_dad and you should be ashamed of yourself!
I hope your daughter does not see what her Father has written here.

Hi Wendee,
I did a little reserch on SF_ Dad.
Four posts all very NOT NICE.
Honey I at times get frustrated and a bit negative.
Quite frankly you seem to express the negative at every opportunity you can.
Gregg,Kelli,Ro, and R Family do an immmense job a fighting for equality for
OUR COMMUNITY.
I commend the congregtion for their choice of recipients.
I know firsthand appreciate how far reaching their committment is.
They do deserve this honor
Congrats R Family.
Thanks for all you do.
Wendee I am 100% with you on this one.
I am going back on my place nice on the boards promise I made to myself now:mad:
Listen SF-DAD have some free time on your hands to post and comment?
Might I suggest JERRY SPRINGER or maybe the DUMP TRUCK has a site
His show content and guests seems to be more along your STYLE!;)
If you like I will check for their forum addresses :rolleyes:
Are you coming on the cruise with your can do lets have a ball and
celebrate our blessings attitude darling?
If so would you be kind enough to let me know what you will be wearing.
I want to avoid you at all costs.:p
I choose to go vacation with r Family and all that they bring
to have a great time.
Your mis directed anger is quite frankly annoying and rather
PATHETIC.
ENOUGH is ENOUGH.
IT is what it is.
That was just a nasty and mean post.
I would like to leave one that speaks to R Family and their being honored.
I am living abundantly.
My abundance is not defined by the money I make.
The Car I drive.
Or the House I live in.
It is defined by the GRATITUDE that
I have in my heart to make
A difference in the lives of others.
Celebrate and recognize the POSITIVE
in your life and those who make a differnce
in the world.
R Family you make a difference.
Thank YOU

[Gregg]

Sorry you feel like that SF Dad.... but here's the thing:

We respect the needs of all of our guests and all of our families. Safety is a very high priority with us. The "United by Faith" church group contacted me personally and publically stated that they wanted to send buses to the ship to take our passengers to their churches to pray for us. They also would not confirm that there would not be protests upon our arrival.

We have some families who feel like you that we should stand up to these folks. I personally am one of those people. I am a gay man who came out when I was 14. I had the crap beat out of me both verbally and physically all through high school. I found my voice when I went to college. I am not afraid and I am also a man who always is willing to sit down and hash it out. When we were protested in Nassau in 2004 (even after I met with the churches the week before), my Dad and I were the first ones off the boat.

The moment we heard there were churches who were not happy about us visiting Bermuda, I contacted them and said I would be on the next plane to meet with them to discuss who we were and why we have cruises like ours.

However, it's not up to me personally to decide for every family on our boat how to respond to these bigots. That's why we have to take the safer route. There were just as many families who would be furious if there were big protests and a disruption of their vacation that they have looked forward to all year.

Did the protestors win? I don't think so. I feel sorry for the government of Bermuda as they were very welcoming to us. I was personally contacted by the Premiere multiple times with his apologies for the actions of some of his citizens. However, the story of this discrimination was picked up by newspapers, websites, and blogs all over the world. (google "gay cruise bermuda" / click news.) The UK gay news was particularly harsh on their island with headlines declaring that Bermuda was not gay friendly.

Four million viewers saw Rosie and Elizabeth discuss it on the View. Even Elizabeth agreed that she would not want her daughter to be exposed to this type of disruption of their vacation.

Bottom line: we all have the right to our opinions. I respect yours. I hope you can understand that it's not up to me to decide what your family should do in these situations. That's your job as a parent. My job is providing the best vacation experience for families just like yours.

Hope you'll consider joining us on one of our cruises. The diversity of our guests and the open and welcoming attitude of those on board is magical.

Have a great day!
gregg
R Family Vacations
Founding Partner

PS I'm thrilled to be honored by Kol Ami and can't wait for my weekend in SoCal.

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

Sorry you feel like that SF Dad.... but here's the thing:

We respect the needs of all of our guests and all of our families. Safety is a very high priority with us.The diversity of our guests and the open and welcoming attitude of those on board is magical.

Have a great day!
gregg
R Family Vacations
Founding Partner

PS I'm thrilled to be honored by Kol Ami and can't wait for my weekend in SoCal.
Very well said Gregg.
I wish I could be there to see you guys get the recognition that you deserve for all that R Family does for our community above and beyond the JOB.
MAZEL TOV!!!!!!!!!!!!!