One benefit of joining Passing Twice is the opportunity to talk with other gay stutterers through an online group, hosted by Yahoo Groups. In case you're not familiar with online groups, the basic principle is: You send a message to one address, and it is then sent out to all the members of the list. There are also features on the yahoo groups website such as a place to post files and calendar. Currently, there are several dozen subscribers.

The group is place people can go to for support--much like our workshops, but it is there all the time, even for those who cannot go to stuttering conventions. It is a safe place where we can talk about anything. Everybody is free to express his or her opinions.

We have to membership options. You can join as a “web-only” subscriber and not receive emails, but still be able to read messages sent to the group from the Yahoo Groups webpage and view the files, which include pictures and the newsletter archive. You can also receive individual messages sent to the group or a daily digest of messages. Under this option, you also have access to the files and message archive. All members can particpate in our real-time chats, which happen on some Mondays.

To join, you must first be a subscriber to the Passing Twice newsletter. Send your snail-mail address--and confimation that you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender stutterer--to passing_twice@hotmail.com. After you join, you will be contacted by me about joining the group. Of course, joining is voluntary, and you can unsubscribe whenever you feel like.

--Bradley Lemmond - List Owner/Manager - Passing Twice Email List