To my fellow Browncoats, My heart is a little broken this evening as I sit and write this letter. I did something stupid. I spent two days joining every Yahoo Browncoat group in sight. I did so with the most honorable of intentions, I did it to reach to a group that I thought accepted everyone, regardless of gender, race, nationality, religion and sexuality. I did not realize the one boundary that we could not face or overcome was distance. I stretched out with the goal of unity, and comradery, but instead have come to realize that with the best of intentions I have somehow created the worst of reactions. I have been accused of spamming all the Yahoo groups, but I don't agree and here's why: 1.) I work with a production company that does at least four different "fundraisers" a year, and this event is the one that I thought already had networking in place, and it is easily the one I most enjoy because it wraps together my passion for being a Whedonite and my passion for a good cause. 2.) I feel because it was "just some average browncoat in some far away city", I feel my cry for help and companionship was viewed by some as "unsolicited usually commercial e-mail sent to a large number of addresses". I am not a corporation, I am not some advertisement for timeshare in Jamaica, I thought I was your brother in arms, fighting against ignorance of the abuse of women, and I thought I was allowed to talk with other Browncoats about my struggles (which at this point are many) and my victories (which are few). 3.) I joined other groups not only for these reasons, but also to get to know other browncoats worldwide, to find out how to help Nashville, and in turn Tennessee, spirit and heart become more alive. Maybe I'm not viewing the term Browncoat correctly, but I thought it was someone would do anything to stay alive, and keep fighting the good fight, even in unconventional ways. Any one who knows me knows I have a loud mouth, and I feel my loud mouth on the Internet got alot of reaction, good and bad. And I can definitely say this is a learning experience, and I'm grateful for the challenges planning this event has brought, I guess it just didn't see other Browncoats (or their groups) as the hurdles I would have to overcome. Regardless, again I am sorry if I have offended anyone in my pursuit of trying to be a part of the World's Greatest Event and inviting other people from around the world to be a part of helping another city succeed. But I will not give up. Long live CSTS, in Nashville, and everywhere else. -Will Prater, CSTS Nashville PS I am going to remove the email from the group, not because I feel it was wrong to post, but because it is taking needless energy and focus away from our purpose, spreading the love of the Browncoat, and getting the message of Equality Now out there. I got nothing but love for all my Browncoat brothers and sisters.
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