Press Release—Gay-Owned Greeting Card Company Offers Cards For Every Couple

Boulder, CO-January 21, 2015 Perusing the cards at his local greeting card shop back in 2012, there was something Dan McLellan,the creator of Proudly Yours, couldn’t find– himself. “I wanted to get my boyfriend Michael a card for our 3rd anniversary of being together as a couple,”McLellan says. “There were no LGBT cards available in retail stores, so I looked online. All I could find were either sexually suggestive cards or silly cards with rainbows and cartoon characters.” He shared his frustration with his close friends, one of which was his ex-wife. “She suggested I make a card,” McLellan says. This suggestion grew into an inspiration for a line of cards specifically for gay couples. “I have always loved black and white photography and famous quotations. I paired the 2 and made a few prototypes from images I purchased and edited. I showed the results to a few friends and everyone was impressed with the idea and thought it filled a missing niche.” Those prototype cards soon became Proudly Yours, a unique and inclusive line of greeting cards.

“I initially designed 12 male and 12 female cards. I started a store on Zazzle, and then began work with a local print shop to get inventory for both retail and wholesale customers,” McLellan says. Stunning black and white images of gay and lesbian couples adorn the front of each card while quotes by a varied group of authors– from Judy Garland and Kahlil Gibran to Victor Borge and Trey Parker and Matt Stone- take the place of well-worn greeting card messages on the inside. “There are no specific greetings such as ‘Congratulations on your wedding’ or ‘Happy Anniversary’. Each couple is unique I wanted each card to be versatile -knowing that marriage equality is not available in all states/countries, my cards can be used for weddings, civil unions, domestic partnerships, commitment ceremonies, anniversaries, Valentine’s day, birthdays or just to say ‘I love you’,” he says. In the fall of 2014, McLellan added 8 new designs to the line. Plans for future cards include holiday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day as well as a line of cards featuring interracial couples and couples of color.

With Florida recently becoming the 36th state to recognize gay marriage and Valentine’s day right around the corner, Proudly Yours cards have never been more timely or easier to buy.“Our cards are available through are available for retail purchase on Amazon for US customers and Zazzle for international customers. This means any couple, anywhere can celebrate any occasion with our cards,” McLellan notes. Proudly Yours cards can also be purchased at over a dozen brick-and-mortar retailers around the country too.

About Dan McLellan

In addition to creating Proudly Yours, Dan has a master’s degree in Communication Disorders and Speech Science and is a practicing Speech-Language Pathologist since 1988. He currently owns a private practice working with young children with a variety of communication and feeding issues. He has two children, Taylor (22) and Jackson (19) with his ex-wife Kay. Dan came out in 2008 and married his husband Michael in 2012 in New York City. They live with their two dogs, Gatsby and Daisy in Boulder, CO.

For more information about Proudly Yours, contact Dan McLellan at (303)817-5055.

Visit Proudly Yours on Facebook, Twitter & at our website!

My Internal Struggle With Being ‘Queer’

The term ‘queer’ is everywhere. You can attend ‘Queer Theater’, listen to ‘Queer Music’, read ‘Queer Fiction’, and major in ‘Queer Studies’ in college. More and more often, I hear people referring to themselves as ‘queer’ rather than the usual gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender labels. Even news stories or blog posts, ‘Queer’ often replaces the acronym LGBT.

I get it. I really do. The term, which was (and still is) used pejoratively by homophobes and the ignorant, has been reclaimed by gay activists and is now embraced by ‘queer youth’. It describes a bigger umbrella than just the gender specific gay labels. Other groups that identify differently than heterosexual are included such as pansexual, intersexual, asexual and genderqueer. It is an important shift that unites a very diverse group of individuals all trying for, if not acceptance, at least equality in our society.

I get it. But I hate it.

I hate the term queer as much as I hate hearing the words fag or faggot. I cringe when I hear it used on the radio and when I read it print. Until this blog post, I don’t recall even typing the word unless quoting some hateful person.

I am 50, and for the majority of my life, that term has been used to spout hate and intolerance. People who used it were immediately placed on my mental asshole list. I have spent my entire life running from the term, and now I’m supposed to embrace it?

Yup! That’s how language works. Words and their use change, and the only thing that holds that back, briefly, are the old farts trying to hold on to what was true in their time. So I have a choice to make. I can be the old fart, who younger people either look at with pity or disgust as the rigid past generation desperately trying to hold onto what is comfortable, or I can take a deep breath, look to the next generation and grow.

I think I’ll pick grow – that sounds a lot more fun. So I guess for the next 40 years (hopefully) I’ll be part of the diverse and wonderfully creative Queer Community.

I feel better already!

Hey! That’s My Husband!

We had a family tragedy recently. There has been an outpouring of love and support from family and friends – amazing words and kindness and good wishes. We’ve been overwhelmed by it all. But something struck me. Many people have sent messages of sympathy to me and my ‘partner’. These are people who know me. These are people who know that Michael and I, because of the discrimination in our own state of Colorado, had to travel thousands of miles to be married in New York. These are people who know we had to sacrifice a wedding surrounded by loved ones and families because we couldn’t ask people to spend thousands of dollars to travel to witness our wedding. These are people who know that, until 2 weeks ago, I could not apply for a green card for my Canadian husband like any heterosexual bi-national couple can. These are people who I have introduced to Michael as my husband. These are people who read my blog posts and Facebook updates that talk about my husband. There is no confusion on how we refer to each other. So knowing these things… why would they call us ‘partners’?

It reminds us that we still have a long way to go in this country. Even though we are slowly gaining equality in a legal sense, there is still a feeling that our relationships are still ‘other’. That we are still not the same as straight couples. How long will it take until the terms husband and wife roll off the tongues of straight allies without a second thought? How long until we are referred to as couples instead of gay couples? When will we just plain ol’ boring like everybody else? I guess, for the first time in my life, I’m hoping for a little mediocrity.

Out of curiosity, how many gay, married couples use husband and wife, and how many still use partner?

A Chance Meeting on my Run This Morning

Had a nice surprise as I turned a corner on my morning run. I love living in Boulder, CO!

Homoquotables Featured in Out Boulder’s eNewsletter

Check out the great feature on Homoquotables in the Out Boulder eNewsletter!

Out Boulder connects the Boulder, Colorado LGBT community. They offer many programs, sponsor events, and educate the public about LGBT issues.

Coming Out Can Be Tough – But So Worth It!

I posted about a letter a young man wrote to his teacher. In it he came out as gay – and she wrote a wonderful response. It was a touching exchange. Like anyone, I was impressed with the teachers comments – the perfect response to such a brave move. But what I kept coming back to was the letter. The student’s fears echoed the fears I had when I was struggling with coming out. He is in his teens, I was in my forties. It made me realize that, even though the overall view of homosexuality has shifted toward acceptance, there are still enough prejudice that makes coming out frightening.

There is still the risk of family rejection – we know from the studies that an alarming number (40%) of homeless teens identify as LGBT. Of those youths, nearly all name rejection or abuse from parents and families as the cause of their estrangement.
There are still no legal protections from workplace discrimination for lesbian, gay or bisexual workers in 29 states.
There are still no legal protections from workplace discrimination for transgender workers in 34 states.
There are accounts of harassment, vandalism, assault and murder of LGBT citizens often in the media – and it is estimated that a large number go unreported.
Gay teens are bullied – Dr. Scott Quasha, a Brooklyn College School Psychology professor was quoted in the ‘Ladies Home Journal as saying:
- “Despite recent cultural shifts, kids still get the overwhelming message from society that homosexuality is not acceptable. It’s not uncommon to hear fierce condemnation from politicians and preachers as they debate gay civil rights. Homosexuality is compared to incest, bestiality, even violent crime. This trickles down into the schools, where bullying occurs. A gay child is an easy target for classmates looking to make trouble.
Gay teens are at a higher risk of suicide, and many of those appear to be linked to bullying and family rejection.

In my own coming out process, I had huge struggles. I carried a huge weight. I, like the young English student, was –

“afraid of certain people finding this weight. I’m afraid of them finding the weight and thinking differently of me. Thinking negatively of me. Hating me. That’s why I carry it. I just don’t want to be hated. Or even worse, kicked out of people’s lives”.

I had a beautiful wife of 20 years. I had two teenage kids. I had a best friend who referred to gay men as “fucking faggots” and lesbians as “dikes”. I had another good friend who referred to anything he felt was unmanly as “gay”, and who referred to the idea of gay relationships as making him want to “puke”. I had a father and two brothers to epitomized the stereotype of “manliness”. I watched television and movies depict gay characters as either conniving, back stabbing jerks, or hand flapping, whimpering and dependent simpletons who couldn’t open a jar of peanut butter by themselves. But most of all, I had me.

My own internal homophobia was the biggest hurdle. I honestly didn’t harbor any bad feelings about other gay people. I admired them. But in coming out to myself, I struggled. How can I be gay? How will that change me? Would I need to learn about antiquing and start listening to Madonna, who I don’t really care for? Will I need to dress differently? Talk differently? Would I have to move to a ‘gay area’?

Looking back, these thoughts that overwhelmed me about myself were the same hate-filled stereotypical garbage that the religious right spews daily. I had listened to their lies for so many years – and although rejecting them in my world view, I embraced them in my self view.

It took me a long time to come to terms that living openly doesn’t’ mean I’m “Gay Dan”. It means I’m “Dan”. For 45 years I answered to the name, but I wasn’t really me… not the whole me.

I came out slowly. Everyone I told was wonderful. Some were shocked and some weren’t, but all were accepting. Even my wife, although devastated at the time, was supportive of me being true to myself. My homophobic friends hugged me and told me they loved me and respected me. My family didn’t change one thing…. they just kept loving me like they always had.

Coming out was tough – but so worth it! I am married to an amazing man. I’m starting a new LGBT business. I have 2 amazing children. My ex-wife is my best friend and champion. I have acceptance from everyone i care about.

But the best thing of all… I’m finally “Dan”.

Gay-Lesbian Greeting Card Entrepreneur Expands Product Line, Goes National

Via Press release:

Homoquotables, the leading gay-lesbian greeting card company, is expanding its product line and adding national distribution.

“Since news of our tasteful line of gay and lesbian greeting cards was first announced, requests for our products have soared,” saidDan McLellan. “My focus now is on making my cards more accessible. Two stores on the East Coast and one here in Boulder are stocking them. I’ve also found a way to give customers a much quicker turnaround.”

McLellan has made good on his promise to expand his line of cards. His website,www.Homoquotables.com, now carries cards for gays and lesbians both, and has increased the number photographs to choose from to 24.

“We changed printers, too, and the quality of the printing has gone from good to exceptional,” he says proudly.

Homoquotables.com came to national attention a few months ago as a site offering gays and lesbians a place to find that rare product, a romantic, tender card to express deep feelings for a mate. The interest in these cards is booming, and McLellan believes that stores across the country will soon be stocking them.

The cards showcased on Homoquotables.com are rare in the marketplace. The full line of 24 cards is targeted not only to gays and lesbians in love with their partners, but also to family members who want to send their gay and lesbian loved ones appropriate wedding, anniversary, and birthday cards. Loving sentiment is captured in stunning black and white photography and all cards are printed on high quality paper. Online cards can be customized to suit the buyer’s needs. Click here to view and buy individual gay cards and other gift items from Homoquotables.com.

“Right now our cards are being carried in Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia, Blue Stocking in New York, and Boulder Bookstore. I’m hoping to interest a national chain so that gays and lesbians and their families across the country will have easy access to tasteful cards. I want people to be able to pick up a card for a gay or lesbian loved one’s birthday, or wedding, or any other occasion, without any hassle.”

McLellan welcomes inquiries from all stores, local as well as national, inviting interested parties to contact him. Cards purchased for store display feature high quality photographs on the face and famous quotations on the inside. Click here to view and order cards for store display. To contact McLellan, please click here.

“I’m sort of working from the East Coast and the West Coast toward the middle,” McLellan explains. “I’ve also had inquiries from Britain, France, and Germany, so who knows? Homoquotables could go world-wide!” He grins engagingly, and adds, “Of course I have another full-time job right now, so that may take a few more months.”

Homoquotables.com also hosts McLellan’s blog, which he says puts a positive spin on today’s news that concerns the gay and lesbian community. “Right now I’m doing a lot of blogging about marriage equality and how that is progressing through the courts,” he explains. I want people to be able to keep up with the issues, but I work really hard to keep the site upbeat.”

About Dan McLellan

In addition to being an entrepreneur, Dan McLellan has been a speech language therapist for the past 25 years. He holds a Masters degree in speech language pathology from the University of Colorado, and works mostly with autistic children and children who have genetic disorders, cerebral palsy, or similarly severe conditions that inhibit their speech.

Married for 23 years and the father of daughter Taylor, 19, and son Jackson, 16, Dan came out five years ago. He and his ex-wife, Kay, divorced amicably, and in addition to her career as an industrial designer, Kay assists Dan with the website. Dan and Michael married in March 2012. Michael is Canadian and he and Dan are dealing with immigration issues, since the Defense of Marriage Act does not allow Dan to sponsor Michael in this country. Dan and Michael live in Boulder, Colorado.

Boulder Pride

Heading out to Boulder Pride – I’ll be selling Homoquotables Cards and enjoying a beautiful day. Hope to see you there! I’ll be posting pictures throughout the day.

Homoquotables Cards at Proud Bookstore

Our cards are now available at the Proud Bookstore in Renoboth Beach, DE! If you are there on vacation, stop by!

Homoquotables Gay themed cards can also be purchased online!

Homoquotables Featured in 10 Thousand Couples Magazine

Check out the article about me and Homoquotables in this month’s edition of 10 Thousand Couples. This is a great magazine with a lot of great articles and links for LGBT folks.

Here is the article