image from East Oakland Community Project Mural

Christmastime is upon us again, and unfortunately, we become so wrapped up in the festivities, we often forget the true meaning of it. I must say, there was a time when I lost the sense of what Christmas really means, and it took a homeless man to open my eyes so I could learn the true meaning of Christmas.

On a cold day in December, a few year ago, I was out shopping for Christmas presents to give to my friends and family. As I made my way through the downtown core of Montreal, I noticed the Christmas lights on the streets and the beautifully decorated store windows. I thought to myself, “Those lights are beautiful; it really gets people in the Christmas spirit.” I also noticed all the people running in and out of stores as if they had gone mad, trying to get gifts before they had all been picked over.

By John "Jasz" Szlachetka, Feature Author

John Szlachetka, also known as Jasz to many of his friends, has been an activist, speaker, and writer for LGBT rights, for a number of years.  A former high school teacher, he has seen the discrimination and bullying  LGBT youth face everyday.   He himself has lived through discrimination and homophobia both from his family and society in general.  This has made him stronger and more determined to fight for the equality of his LGBT brothers and sisters.   Besides his activism, he also councels LGBT couples with problems that arise in their relationships.  He is also a pastor for the Universal Life Church.    When he is not marrying couples, he is saving them from crisis.   You can also find him in many different facebook groups, fighting along side his LGBT brothers and sisters. 

As a member of the 10,000 couples team, Jasz hopes to promote both the e-magazine, and to to bring more couples into our 10,000 couples family.  Now that Same-Sex-Marriage has become an important subject world wide, he wants bring together everyone in the LGBT community to fight for the rights of our community.