Wednesday, June 18, 2003

Wilmington, NC – Programming for the week of June 23 for UNCW Community Link, an interactive, public affairs television show, engages the volatile discussion over homophobia, explains what services the Ability Garden brings to New Hanover County’s disabled population, and spotlights a new area employment agency.

This week Betty Ann Sanders speaks with Mrs. Amanda Greene staff writer for the Wilmington Star-News, Mr. Sam Connally, director of human resources for UNC Wilmington, and the Reverend Amanda McCullough, pastor of St. Jude’s Metropolitan Community Church about the confusion and disillusionment experienced by gays and lesbians in such vital arenas as the workplace and the church.

Faced with discrimination, gay and lesbian citizens look to be accepted for the quality of their work and character and not according to how they live their private lives. Mrs. Amanda Greene, a Wilmington Star- News staff writer who has covered issues facing homosexuals says that “the importance of this issue is growing.” Mrs. Greene also noted that with population increases the question of discrimination against same-sex relationships becomes more important. Many people find discussing this problem “uncomfortable” and that many “don’t want to see these issues in their “community” newspaper. The Reverend Amanda McCullough of St. Jude’s Metropolitan Community Church in Wilmington also feels that the public’s discomfort of discussing sexual politics has led to much confusion and unhappiness in the lives of gays and lesbians and their heterosexual loved ones. “Those in your life who matter won’t mind, and those who mind won’t matter,” Rev. McCullough says to troubled members of her congregation about living in harmony with friends and loved ones who may have problems with their sexuality. She also added that young homosexuals feel much confusion and mixed feelings about their sexuality, she notes that acceptance and identity issues “are not for non-gays to sort out, it is as important for gay people to reach out as for non-gays.”

H.E. “Hunter” Thompson, Jr. also speaks with two distinguished citizens concerned with quality of life issues in New Hanover County. Phyllis Meoli, director and horticultural therapist of the Ability Garden at the Arboretum at New Hanover County Cooperative Extension, is a special program that promotes accessibility for disabled people. The Ability Garden frequently works with healthcare and educational groups such as Cape Fear Community College Compensatory Education Program, Britthaven nursing homes and Coastal Adult Day Care. Mrs. Meoli says that one of the most rewarding aspects of her work is the chance, “to work with individuals who cannot express themselves normally on a daily basis.” She adds that these individuals can find many new forms of expression through fragrance and touch. Also appearing is Don Skinner, executive director of Phoenix Employment Services. Phoenix is a new employment agency that seeks to “empower impoverished people through meaningful work.” The agency has been counseling men and women of all races since its inception in January of this year. Mr. Skinner says that Phoenix’s goal, to help Southeastern NC’s unemployed to find work, is “quite a challenge,” but one that is readily accepted.



UNCW Community Link reaches beyond the television studio to allow citizens to sound off on compelling issues facing Southeastern North Carolina. Hosts Betty Ann Sanders and H. E. “Hunter” Thompson, Jr. engage and challenge the region’s newsmakers and opinion-shapers and then ask viewers to voice their opinions. Through collaboration with the Southeast Public Interest Network of North Carolina (www.SpinNC.org), citizens can use the latest Internet technologies to continue the dialog on show topics and community ideas.

For more information on this show’s topics please visit:

UNCW Community Link

www.communitylink.tv

St. Jude’s Metropolitan Community Church

www.stjudesmcc.org

The Ability Garden at the Arboretum

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/newhanover/abilhome.htm

Phoenix Employment Services of Wilmington

www.phoenixemploy.org

NC Human Relations Commission

http://www.doa.state.nc.us/doa/hrc/hrc.htm

Tune into UNCW Community Link

Wilmington & Brunswick County 7:30 p.m. Mondays 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays 1:30 p.m. Thursdays 7:00 p.m. Fridays The Learning Network on Time Warner Ch 5 and Charter Communications Ch 12

Pender County 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Government Channel 8

Carteret County/Havelock 8 p.m. Thursdays Time Warner Channel 10

Jacksonville 7 p.m. Thursdays Time Warner Channel 10