having doubts about traveling on the next Cruise

[kolemadison]

As a single gay father living in San Francisco, I have been contemplating traveling on one of the future R family vacations. I am having doubts about traveling on this Rosie Cruise since Rosie Odonell refused to support the Prop 8 Constitutional ban on Gay and Lesbian Marriages in California during the recent elections, This information is public information and is very dissapointing given that Rosie took advantage of having a gay wedding in San Francisco, yet refused to support the ban on the propositiion .. I thought we were all in this together, for the good of all future gay marriages, and it was a really dissapointing to not have someone as influential as Rosie on our side.

[Jimmy and Matt]

here is the thing. this is not a rosie cruise it is an rfamily cruise. it is not rosies business. rosie as far as i know did not donate to no on 8. she did support gay marriage because she is married and her marriage was invalidated. i am hoping mine is not taken away. she is one person and can only support "financially" so many causes. i can tell you gregg kaminsky who is a founding partner is a huge no on 8 supporter. my advice to you is do this cruise it is magical.
Jimmy

[CUBAN PETE]

hello kolemadison,

first i gotta say that if you are not thinking about going on the july cruise that by itself is a big mistake especially for your child, you can not begin to imagine what a beautiful vacation r family puts together for all of those with children and for some of us who do not, now as far as rosie goes, i really dont think that rosie would not support prop 8, she has repeatly said over and over " I LIVE IT, I AM PROP 8 " if you mean that money wise she didnt support it, well i really dont blame her, think about the millions of people starting from the mormons to other right wing religous groups that poured millions of dollars to lobbyist to fight prop 8 and have it overturned, and thats exactly what they did. so rosie's money would have gone to waste anyway and she knows this.

people like our friends jimmy and matt that we met on the r family crusie a few years ago and became good friends with them and they got married last year in san francisco and also on the r family cruise are now more than friends to us, they are indeed part of our family as we are part of theres and this happens because people like rosie o'donnell take the money they could waste and pour into something rosie knows in her heart is right now is a losing battle and instead put that money into ventures like a r family organazation so they can keep the operation of these trips ongoing and all of us can be together, in order to understand what i am trying to say, you would have to experience an r family vacation and get to meet the likes of jimmy, matt and there daughter, gregg kaminsky, kelli o'donnell, crazy cheryl and just about everyone else on those trips. this will be our 5th trip in less than 3 years with r family and we are always grateful that rosie o'donnell put her money into these trips instead of giving it to some type of useless cause. so please dont hesitate to book your trip and bring your son, he will love it, we would all love to meet you.

i really gotta end this with, i hope that 2009 will bring rosie a better year in the press, they are not very nice to her at all and only hope that she will either say something or do something that they feel is not right so they can make a circus out of it. if they only see the goodness she does for many and report more and more of it.

we truly hope to see you in july....

have a great new year,
hugs and kisses,
johnny and michael " d.j. cuban pete "

[Luv2Cruise]

From Rosie's blog.

2009

01.01.09 at 12:04 pm in love (http://www.rosie.com/blog/sections/love/)

this year
unplugged
see what happens
on we go

peace out
and in


Sounds like she won't be saying much this year.

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

As a single gay father living in San Francisco, I have been contemplating traveling on one of the future R family vacations. I am having doubts about traveling on this Rosie Cruise since Rosie Odonell refused to support the Prop 8 Constitutional ban on Gay and Lesbian Marriages in California during the recent elections, This information is public information and is very dissapointing given that Rosie took advantage of having a gay wedding in San Francisco, yet refused to support the ban on the propositiion .. I thought we were all in this together, for the good of all future gay marriages, and it was a really dissapointing to not have someone as influential as Rosie on our side.
Please allow me to chime in here.I am Crazy Cheryl known on the Boards as the unofficial welcome to the Boards wagon.If you went to RO;s site during the whole campaign you would have seen her NO ON 8 Banner.
To say that she doesn't support it is OVER THE TOP.
Ro has supported our community in so many ways that has been public, and in ways that were not made public.
Because she didn't publicly throw Millions of Dollars into that particular fight.
Who is anyone to judge her commitment to the cause?
The woman that first publicly came 0UT, LOUD and PROUD openly to the World.
Then let the world see through her blog her life the good the bad and the very ugly ithat the POPPERATS turned it into at every opportunity. She did this I believe so that perhaps the hate mongers could see that we are just like any other familes.
She has been on the Front lines in this War. That being said.
This one might get me in big trouble. Without her inintial support there would be no R Family.
No place of freedom where we could for one week have no 8 hate in our face.
Be accepted and loved meet friends that become family. Have the greatest entertainment. But most of all.Where are children are given an opportunity to see that they are not different from anyone other LOVED child.
They happen to come from a famliy that has a gay parent or two.So if you are thinking of not going because you believe that Ro doesnt support NO on 8 you would be robbing yourself and your child of the most beautiful empowering experience as a gay family that you could ever have.Your decsision would be based upon bad information.By the way Keli Ro's wife and Gregg and the rest of the R Family team work their Asses off to make sure that every detail and aspect of the trip is awesome..These are people that DO NOT NEED TO WORK. They do it from the HEART. They believe in the majic that they have created.If you ask Gregg he will tell you hat the families are what creates the Magic. It is not just a Cruise it is just what they named it a great big R FAMILY. I hope that you would read some of the posts and check out some of the pics .You will never meet a nicer bunch of people in your life. One common theme.to cram as much Fun and Love into one week as humanly possible.
CCC
aka
Crazy Cheryl
I hope you will join us.We have a ball.We dance we party I Gamble.Most of all we have a bond we undestand how hard it is live our lives in the Homophobic world.For one week we R one Family.
CCC
PS At the no on 8 Rally in New York that was put together in three days about two weeks before the election.They expected about 1000 people.We slammed them THOUSANDS shut down Broadway and in the crowd of THOUSANDS I looked up and there he was our own Gregg and his Husband Dan. I am going to find the Post and re post it.

[cwor0306]

I totally agree Rosie can only do so much for our community. However, being an out gay person to me is support enough. Rosie has her own worthy causes which are mostly tied to children's organizations here in the United States. I think putting her money on children is far more important. I am a single gay father of 4 wonderful boys that adopted from foster care. Rosie is also a huge supporter of foster care adoptions by LGBT families which for me is more important than Prop 8.

The cruise is an amazing time and yes the children finally get to be with hundreds of families just like theirs. It is a wonderful trip and one you will cherish for years to come. This will be our 5th cruise with Rfamily and each one has been amazing and eventful. Each year I take a different adult family member and they all walk away amazied.

I also agree with the other post Greg and Kelly run the cruise not Rosie she is there to be with her family and have fun. She does perform on the trip but who does not want to see her :-)


So I hope you will reconsider and go you will not regret it one bit.

Chris, sons( Robert, Angel, Antonio, & Colby)

[Gregg]

Hi Everyone,

I am saddened by everyone's concern about what Ellen or Rosie or any other celebrity has done in the fight to defeat prop 8. As a community, we need to stand together. When we start to bring down members of our community for what they did or did not do the fight is over.

It will take more than a celebrity to continue to move forward. But let's not forget how far we have come. I'm sure most of you have seen MILK (if not go see it now). The first thing you'll notice is how similar the response of the GLBT community was at that time. However, they were fighting for housing rights and job protection. Those are things we now take for granted. Now, we are getting close to marriage equality. How far we have come!

This company is so much more than Kelli or me. It's about bringing people together in a safe, welcoming environment with life changing experiences.

And for the record, I marched at rallies in NY and my partner and I contributed to defeat Prop 8. Guess because I am not a celebrity that doesn't matter?

Ellen and Rosie have done so much for the community by putting their faces and relationships and families in the spotlight. Now we want to say, "that's not enough"?

If you have never sailed with us, I assure you they are pure magic. NOT because of any celebrity that sails with us. NOT because of anything that Kelli or I do. It’s all because of the truly amazing guests that sail with us.

And if you want a forum to explore what is being done in our community and what more we can all do, R Family Vacations along with Family Pride Coalition provides many opportunities on board to participate in discussion groups and guest lectures. Let’s continue to stand together as a community.

Thank you for participating on our forum and I do hope I will see you “on the boat”!

Happy New Year!

Gregg Kaminsky
Founding Partner
R Family Vacations
☺

[Gregg]

Correction on my last post:

"Family Pride Coalition" is now "Family Equality Coalition"

[PetrieShodi]

Here Here Gregg. Thanks so much for putting into words what we have been trying to say. We are going on the cruise(s) because we as a family want to travel. And we prefer to travel with other families like ours!

Not because of Rosie or whomever else might be on the trip. Rosie and Ellen are Human Beings just like the rest of us. The only difference is that their every move is documented either on paper, on video or on the 'Net. A hard hard way to live. Quite frankly how anyone lives is nobody's business but their own! No matter who they are.

Just the look on my daughters face when she felt comfy telling everyone that she had two moms was enuf for us to be hooked. It is for that reason alone that we have decided to give up some our comfort things to save the $$ to go.

We are very lucky to be here in Canada where not everyday is a fight to be free to be who we are as it is for most LGBTQ Americans. That does not take away from the fact that the fight for equality is world wide, not exclusively Canadian or American.

So for those having doubts about travelling on the next cruise...Lose them...it is a place that is more magical than that other place with all the castles and the 'Mice'!! LOL

Cheers to all the 'Boat' People!!! Alaska here we come!!!

Robyn and Sherri McLean
Asia too!!

[Jimmy and Matt]

Hey Gregg

Well said. Cant wait to sail and see you again.

Jimmy

[ashes]

Gregg, thanks for posting that response, you hit the nail on the head.

Here in Califonia we have seen the efforts of people trying to "pit one group against the other", its an old diversion tactic. We must stand strong, shoulder to shoulder and laugh when we can. Alaska will be my third R Family cruise, along with my 7 adopted boys and we are bringing 8 other friends/family members this year to share the magic. Last year I brought a friend of 27 years along and we fell in love and are now engaged! Thanks to all of you and all you do. :o

[candue]

Yea for you Stephanie....May you have all you deserve and a long and happy life together, TJ

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

Hi Everyone,

I am saddened by everyone's concern about what Ellen or Rosie or any other celebrity has done in the fight to defeat prop 8. As a community, we need to stand together. When we start to bring down members of our community for what they did or did not do the fight is over.

It will take more than a celebrity to continue to move forward. But let's not forget how far we have come. I'm sure most of you have seen MILK (if not go see it now). The first thing you'll notice is how similar the response of the GLBT community was at that time. However, they were fighting for housing rights and job protection. Those are things we now take for granted. Now, we are getting close to marriage equality. How far we have come!

This company is so much more than Kelli or me. It's about bringing people together in a safe, welcoming environment with life changing experiences.

And for the record, I marched at rallies in NY and my partner and I contributed to defeat Prop 8. Guess because I am not a celebrity that doesn't matter?
Ellen and Rosie have done so much for the community by putting their faces and relationships and families in the spotlight. Now we want to say, "that's not enough"?

If you have never sailed with us, I assure you they are pure magic. NOT because of any celebrity that sails with us. NOT because of anything that Kelli or I do. It’s all because of the truly amazing guests that sail with us.

And if you want a forum to explore what is being done in our community and what more we can all do, R Family Vacations along with Family Pride Coalition provides many opportunities on board to participate in discussion groups and guest lectures. Let’s continue to stand together as a community.

Thank you for participating on our forum and I do hope I will see you “on the boat”!

Happy New Year!

Gregg Kaminsky
Founding Partner
R Family Vacations
☺

Very well said Gregg.How CRAZY was it that I found you and your wonderful Dan in the midst of the THOUSANDS of people at the Rally in New York.Oh by the way I think you are a STAR darling.Yes you do COUNT!!!!!!!
Now could we please stand together.
We certainly have enough from the outside to deal with.
Did everyone get the email Blast about the Price reduction?
Now that some good news for a change.
How about we share that and send it to ten people and ask them to send it out.
We are a powerful force to reckon with R Families.
We got a CRUISE coming people
The more the merrier.
Is it JULY YET?
LOVE,
CCC

[CUBAN PETE]

hi gregg

michael and i couldnt agree more with you, if anyone knows anything at all about r family vacations they would understand. and yes we all do need to stick together and dont be so quick to say who does or doesnt do enough to support us, we all first need to support each other and we will get this done as one..

if anyone has any doubts about anything at all, come along then at the end of the trip tell me what doubts you still have and see where you stand and how much everyone is part of everyone and no one is alone.


gregg, thank you for posting your thoughts, it is awesome to see that we are all in this together as a true family and we are so blessed to be part of it.

hugs and kissess to you and dan.
johnny and michael " d.j. cuban pete "

[ashes]

Thanks TJ Can't wait till July! Hope you are doing well.;)

[jklangbehn]

Correction on my last post:

"Family Pride Coalition" is now "Family Equality Coalition"


sorry another correction it's Family Equality Council -
jan

[jklangbehn]

hmm.. as a huge supporter of Gregg and Kelli and Rfamily.. why would it matter if rosie gave a dollar or a million to prop 8 or on Amendment 2 (where she lives in FL)?? why bring politics into the amazing utopia that Gregg and Kelli have given to us.. I have been on 2 (almost 3) cruises..

I find the original poster's comments that they don't want to go - very selfish if it's because of what Rosie does or doesn't do (and definitely the WRONG reason for choosing to go or not). You are short changing you and your family of a wonderful time where there is complete acceptance and a few days of pure bliss.

Sad that someone wouldn't go b/c of that. Thank you to Gregg and Kelli for creating this cruise. Those who know our story know I would never ever say anything negative about this company... I can't Rfamily cruises changed our family in more ways than one - and I'm deeply grateful for all their hard work, despite never turning a profit and ROSIE keeping it afloat literally with her own money.

just my 2 cents

[Crazy aka Cheryl]

hmm.. as a huge supporter of Gregg and Kelli and Rfamily.. why would it matter if rosie gave a dollar or a million to prop 8 or on Amendment 2 (where she lives in FL)?? why bring politics into the amazing utopia that Gregg and Kelli have given to us.. I have been on 2 (almost 3) cruises..

I find the original poster's comments that they don't want to go - very selfish if it's because of what Rosie does or doesn't do (and definitely the WRONG reason for choosing to go or not). You are short changing you and your family of a wonderful time where there is complete acceptance and a few days of pure bliss.

Sad that someone wouldn't go b/c of that. Thank you to Gregg and Kelli for creating this cruise. Those who know our story know I would never ever say anything negative about this company... I can't Rfamily cruises changed our family in more ways than one - and I'm deeply grateful for all their hard work, despite never turning a profit and ROSIE keeping it afloat literally with her own money.

just my 2 cents
How are you and the kids doing?
Honey you have a lot more than 2 cents.
You have a lot of Sense.
Beautiful said.
Looking forward to being around R boat people
Very well said
CCC

[Mishale]

A fabulous opportunity to do what? Have a bigger bank account and continue to live where you don't like living? Are you sure you think it's a fabulous opportunity?