Rep. Foxx speaks about Mathew Sherpard

North Carolina can't get away from the crazies, first Jess Helms now Virginia Foxx. Representative Fox spoke these words right in front of Matthew Shepard mother yesterday.
Rep. Foxx: "The bill was named after a very unfortunate incident that happened, where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. The bill was named for him, the hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's, it's really a hoax, that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."
here are the facts While his killers Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson did rob him, they also admitted that they were well aware of his sexual orientation and pretended they were gay to lure him away from the bar he was in at the time. The most striking feature of the case, of course, is that during the course of a normal, simple robbery, the victim is not generally beaten, tied to a post, and left for dead.
Here are her comments before the House, Mathew's mother just feet away -You tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqtk7PK8_Fc
This woman does not deserve to part of the congress of the United State. If I was a Republican from North Carolina who voted for her I would furious right now.
I've written my Representative Vern Ehlers and leader of house Joe Boehner asking them to demand her resignation. Please do the same.

Ringwald theater in Ferndale this Friday

Spring has arrived and FIVE15 is dong its part to bring Detroit exciting entertainment, Free. This Friday evening, May 1st, come enjoy a free preview of the Michigan Premiere of the new one-man musical, 'Songs from an Unmade Bed'. Show starts at 8pm.

One lyricist and 17 composers join forces to create a unique music/theatre event in Songs from an Unmade Bed, a solo work that propels a smart, resilient, wry, and ultimately romantic gay New Yorker through the heartaches and triumphs of love in the big city. Mark Campbell's lyrics on the endlessly surprising experience of urban romance have been set by an eclectic roster of today's musical artists including Duncan Sheik (Tony award-winning composer of Spring Awakening). Jamie Richards performs this funny, sexy, elegiac, ironic work with direction by Joe Plambeck, music direction by Michael Smith, choreography by Jerry Haines and piano by Amy Condit.

This preview is Free to all and will showcase songs from the show as well as other musical offerings by the shows star and FIVE15's resident Thespian, Richard Payton. Opening May 9th at the Ringwald Theatre,'Songs from an Unmade Bed' will play Saturdays -- Mondays for an exclusive four-week engagement. Tickets for Songs from an Unmade Bed are $20 for the 8PM Saturday performances, $15.00 for Sunday matinees at 3PM and Monday 8PM performances are half off regular priced tickets at only $10.00 a ticket. Reservations may be made by phone at 248-545-5545 or online atwww.WhoWantsCakeTheatre.com

Great PLates

Daily Walk Greenfield Village -Wright Bike shop

Coach Potatoes

David and Zeppo

Bent the DVD

theater Outing-Louisville

This is the Play that made Richard Greer famous -its was made into a low budget Art movie in 1997. The movie cast was great it included Mick Jagger as a female impersonator. Clive Owens in the the lead role.

May 7 – 24, 2009

Homosexuality runs through all classes of society and not all homosexuals were victims during the war. While many gay people who were too poor (like Horst) or too naïve (like Rudy) ended up in concentration camps, others used their money (like Uncle Freddie) or their power (like the concentration camp commandant or some of the German officers) to stay out of harm's way. Max occupies a middle spot in this spectrum between resistance and collaboration, as initially he tries to survive against all odds and perhaps later even escaping the camp, but he undergoes a transition because of Horst's influence and realizes one cannot always change one's luck through sheer willpower. The play was the first time that popular culture had acknowledged the fact that the gay men were victims of the Holocaust, and helped pave the way for more historical research and documentaries to be released about the fate of homosexuals under Nazi Germany.

May 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 24 @ 7:30 p.m.; May 10 @ 2 p.m.

Theater outing -South Bend Civic

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress

by Alan Ball

Synopsis | Times

From the creator of “Six Feet Under,” the critically-acclaimed HBO series, and from the winner of the 1999 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for American Beauty, comes this irreverent, hilarious look at the intricacies of friendship. During an ostentatious wedding reception at a large Southern estate, five reluctant, identically-clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom—each with her own reason to avoid the proceedings going on below. A comedy about life, men, marriage, and intimacy.

Studio Season

Friday, May 15, 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 16, 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 17, 3:00 PM

Wednesday, May 20, 8:00 PM
Thursday, May 21, 8:00 PM
Friday, May 22, 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 23, 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 24, 3:00 PM

one of reasons for the Day of Silence

NEW YORK, April 9, 2009 - An 11-year-old Massachusetts boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hung himself Monday after enduring bullying at school, including daily taunts of being gay, despite his mother's weekly pleas to the school to address the problem. This is at least the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to bullying this year.

Carl, a junior at New Leadership Charter School in Springfield who did not identify as gay, would have turned 12 on April 17, the same day hundreds of thousands of students will participate in the 13th annual National Day of Silence. by taking some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying and harassment at school.

http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2400.html

National Day of Silence -April 17,2008

This event has been happening for the last 8 years. This year with same-sex marriage passing in Vermont and Iowa-its been a lot of attention. So much nasty press from the Right winger this year. I'm a bit worried about the safety of teenagers gay and straight who taking part in it this year.

The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Each year the event has grown, now with hundreds of thousands of students coming together to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior.

East Lansing Art Fair

Always Great Food and Entertainment. Not as big as the Ann Arbor but the weather is usually cooler. Here is a link to to there web site http://www.elartfest.com/index.html

Gay Happening -Saugatuck Mi

The Unofficial kick- off party of Summer the annual Black and Weekend is May 1-3

David

Henry Ford Mansion

Pictures of my friends My friend Jans new grandaughter

Jack Wrangler -70's Gay Icon Passed Away

Rita's famous partners

I knew of Rita Mae Brown involvement with Martina Navratilova,






But I was surprised by Fannie Flagg and Elaine Noble

Rita Mae orinigal underground classic

The Center in Chicago

I actually shared a Whopper with Rita Mae Brown in like 1978 in Normal Illinois.

An Afternoon With Rita Mae Brown: Making History, Telling HerStory

Gerber/Hart Library presents "An Afternoon With Rita Mae Brown: Making History, Telling HerStory," on Saturday, April 25 at 4:00 PM. The event will take place at Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Street, in the Hoover-Leppen Theatre.

Tickets are $25.00, and can be purchased through PayPal on the Gerber/Hart web site, www.gerberhart.org, by calling Gerber/Hart at 773-381-8030, or by stopping in at Gerber/Hart, 1127 West Granville Avenue, during open hours.
Open hours are: Wednesday and Thursday, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM.

Ms. Brown was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the 2008 Gerber/Hart Library annual benefit. However, she was unable to attend due to the impending landfall of Hurricane Hanna.

Rita Mae Brown is one of the most revered writers in the country. The author of over 35 novels, three poetry collections, three screenplays, five television series, seven television films, and numerous impassioned essays, Ms. Brown is an intellectual force to be reckoned with. An activist extraordinaire in the early days of the civil rights, women's, and lesbian/gay liberation movements, Ms. Brown co-founded numerous organizations. Her activism and writing coalesced in the publication of her first novel, Rubyfruit Jungle [italicize], in 1973.

"An Afternoon With Rita Mae Brown" will include a silent auction and a drawing. A selection of Ms. Brown's books will also be available for purchase at the event. For more information, please call Gerber/Hart at 773-381-8030, or visit the Gerber/Hart web site at www.gerberhart.org.

Photo courtesy of the Bantam Dell Publishing Group
Photo credit © Mark Homan

Start: Saturday, Apr. 25, 2009 4:00 PM
End: Saturday, Apr. 25, 2009 6:00 PM
Location: Center on Halsted

Theater Outing-Indy

windows at the Veterans home

These Camera phone picture don't do them justice. A group of school children get to paints the windows each season. I like these the best so far of all the windows painted.

Way to go Iowa

Iowa's Supreme Court voted it was unconstitutional to not allow Gay Marriage. Iowa has a long tradition of standing up for individuate right going to slavery and women right. Great to see positive attention to the Midwest.
Here's more
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jyaVb73aNEYi91LeELnXoCv_atmw

Regatta 2009 Pittsburgh July 4.2009

Summer vacation just got more interesting

David and I are planning to be in Pittsburgh on July 4,2009 It happen the Anthrocon ???? I'm still not sure even after reading this, but I don't want to miss it. Its sounds like Halloween sorta

Anthrocon is the world's largest convention for those fascinated with anthropomorphics, which are humanlike animal characters. We are a collection of artists, animators, writers, costumers, puppeteers, and just everyday fans who enjoy cartoon animals and their kin. This Summer we will convene at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA, from July 2-5, 2009 for workshops, panel discussions, an art exhibition and a dealer room, and much more! Membership is open to any and all who like to imagine what it would be like if animals could walk and talk as we do.

Chicago 2006

chicago 2006

chicago

why we need anti-bullying laws

Eric Mohat, 17, was harassed so mercilessly in high school that when one bully said publicly in class, "Why don't you go home and shoot yourself, no one will miss you," he did.

In a federal lawsuit, the parents of Eric Mohat allege that their son committed suicide after being tormented by bullies at his Mentor, Ohio, High School. They say the school knew about the bullying and failed to protect their son.

(Courtesy Mohat Family)

Now his parents, William and Janis Mohat of Mentor, Ohio, have filed a lawsuit in federal court, saying that their son endured name-calling, teasing, constant pushing and shoving and hitting in front of school officials who should have protected him.

The lawsuit -- filed March 27, alleges that the quiet but likable boy, who was involved in theater and music, was called "gay," "fag," "queer" and "homo" and often in front of his teachers. Most of the harassment took place in math class and the teacher -- an athletic coach -- was accused of failing to protect the boy.

"When you lose a child like this it destroys you in ways you can't even describe," Eric Mohat's father told ABCNews.com.

The parents aren't seeking any compensation; rather, they are asking that Mentor High School recognize their son's death as a "bullicide" and put in place what they believe is a badly needed anti-bullying program.

Shipwreck Found

SOUTH HAVEN, MI -- The remains of the steamer the Joseph P. Farnan, which was lost in an inferno on Lake Michgian in 1889, have been discovered, a shipwreck research group announced today.
The ship, which had been abandoned 17 miles west of South Haven, was discovered last year, according to Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates, which is based in Holland, Mich.
The organization said today that it worked with noted author Clive Cussler's National Underwater and Marine Agency in making the discovery.
Courtesy of MSRAAn image of the side of the Joseph P. Farnan shipwreck on the lake floor.
The steamer was headed from St. Joseph to Escanaba on July 20, 1889 when a fire started in its engine room.
The ship's captain, Loren G. Vosburgh, his wife, Belle, and the 10 crew members abandoned the vessel 17 miles west of South Haven. All of them survived.
When the steamer was last seen, it was "engulfed from stem to stern by a roaring inferno," according to a press release from Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates.
Valerie van Heest and Craig Rich, the co-founders of the MSRA, will present the story of the Farnan as part of their annual show "Mysteries and Histories Beneath the Inland Seas."
The show is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 25 at the Knickerbocker Theater in downtown Holland.

Todd Palin - Spending on Clothes

From the May Men's Journal :
The husband of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says the Republican Party's lavish spending on her wardrobe during the presidential campaign was "out of our control."

"She never went to Saks, or any of that stuff," he said. "You come into a campaign late, you put all your trust into the team, you got people who are working on VP ops for a long time, and we're just focused on debate prep. I couldn't give a rat's (expletive) about clothes. Please. I mean these are my Sunday go-to-meeting jeans!"

Sarah Palin and Republican presidential nominee John McCain faced a storm of criticism over the tens of thousands of dollars spent at high-end stores to dress the Alaska governor and her family. Some of the purchases included a $75,062 shopping spree at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, one for $49,425 from Saks Fifth Avenue and $4,902 at Atelier, a stylish men's store.