Blog Hops: Equal Rights and When Sparks Fly

I signed up for two blog hops taking place at the same time, but I just couldn't pass up the "Equal Rights Blog Hop". So, since there are two hops, I'm offering two prizes, but you only have to comment once to take part in both. 
First of all, happy 4th of July, those who are celebrating :) Secondly, What does being a member of the GLBT community means to me? 
I'm part of the GLBT writing and reading community, but I also have my little toe in the Icelandic GLBT community. I'm heterosexual (or a 1 on the Kinsey scale), but I am a member of the Samtökin 78, the only Icelandic GLBT organization, as a supporter. One affects the other. Since I started reading and writing M/M fiction, I've become increasingly active in GLBT rights over the web. I am a member of the organizations educational committee, so I am now able to get my ideas across, and possibly into action. My focus is on the schools. I want GLBT children to be able to feel safe in schools and not fear rejection and bullying. I was bullied as a kid, but like for most kids, it came out of nowhere and there was no tangible reason behind it. GLBT kids, on the other hand, know they run the risk of being bullied if the come out. I guess, to answer the question, I get a good feeling of trying to help make the world a safer place, whether it be trying to make things better for Icelandic GLBT kids or spreading the message about massacres of GLBT people in far away countries. 
Now, my prizes are a choice between A Life Without You or Absolutely Eric for two commenters (the third will be out this summer, Black Hurricane!). Please provide your email address with your answer, or send me a message at eripike at gmail dot com if you don't want your email out there for everyone to see. I will randomly draw, contact, and announce the winners on July 9th.
But wait! There's more. Queer Town Abbey is offering three grand prizes for people who comment. They are three $25 Amazon gift cards. To visit the other blogs in the GLBT Equal Rights Blog Hop, please click this link.

To visit the other blogs in the When Sparks Fly blog hop, please click this link (there are 10 M/M authors in this hop, we're marked with {m/m} under our names).