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.

Comments(2):

1. family orientation

   The Gay Pride celebration in Vancouver, Washington, in the US is a great example of family orientation. It was held this year on July 10. There is no parade. It's Saturday in the Park. There is entertainment, there are booths from various groups; people come and stay for an hour or all day. With their partners, their kids, their dogs. I for one would love to see more festivals like this!

   Saturday, July 17, 2010 Rachel

2. THANK YOU

   I myself have not found that special someone I wish to marry and start a family with yet but I really appreciate your story. I too agree that Gay Pride should be about expressing our families and our love for eachother. To show everyone that we love just like they love. It is painful to see Gay Pride simply reinforcing the stereotypes and fears that many have when they think of homosexuals.

   Thursday, August 19, 2010 Andrew