ECU Fall Drag Show

Time

Monday, October 24 · 9:00pm - 11:00pm

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Location

Hendrix Theatre

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Created By

ECU GLBT Student Union

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More Info

Who’s ready for the show? This year we're bringing Michelle Michaels, Purina Chow, Chante Elise Cassidy, Coco Peru, and Chris E. Mistery to the stage! If you haven't already gotten your ticket you better go get it NOW they're selling like hotcakes and probably won’t last much longer. They will be $3 for part of tomorrow and then the price will go up to $5 before the show starts so make sure you take advantage of the advanced ticket price! See everyone there!

 

See Facebook page event here,

Marriage Rally against HB77 and SB106

Later this amendment was rename to SB514, The “Anti-LGBT Amendment”

The newest version of the amendment, SB 514, moves the ballot date from November 2012 to May 2012. The new bill also retains problematic language from the older Senate version, defining opposite-sex marriage as the state’s “only domestic legal union,” but adds, ”This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.”

That Man Sexual Taboo

Promoted Piece, by Leland Mellott,

The sodomy taboo among Rectumite Males (Straight Men) is (was) of a world-destroying power. This taboo has to go; therefore, it will go.

How many millions of times daily around this planet are Straight Men threatening to sodomize other Straight Men in their expletives? (Screw you, fuck you, up yours, sit on it, I'm gonna get your ass, your ass is mine, etc.) Every time this happens, it is a death threat. How many billions of times has this occurred over, say, the past eight thousand years? How many times have they called one another pricks and assholes during this same period?

In my understanding, the first "act of murder" in this world was an act of sodomy; as in: Two males were sodomizing. One died in the act. The other one concluded that the act itself was an act of murder. So that, and by this way, every murder of one Straight Man by another Straight Man is an "act of sodomy."

In a magazine article, it was written that "in war there are those who fuck (kill) and there are those who get fucked (killed)." Point made.

The taboo, which creates the expressions, also prevents their images from being seen in the mind's eye of the speaker.

Rectumite Males dress their derrieres for other Rectumite Males, yet they have to "protect their behinds" and "cover their asses." Is this why when in public places they sometimes turn their heads and look back, in case they're being stalked by a Killer Prick?

What Gay Men know through experience, Straight Men, in their deepest selves, also know, which is that their anal cavities are capable of prolonged and exquisite sexual pleasure.

Knowledgeably Yours,
Leland Mellott
Mount Vernon, Washington 98273-7289,
USA leland.mellott@yahoo.com

P. S. Based on what I have written here, how many young, well-built, hetero men with voluptuous asses do you think are being screwed against their wills by powerful Rectumite Males at all times? How often are they being put to death and replaced? If you were to try to confirm the existence of this hidden, secret, deadly world, you wouldn't survive.

The New Hetero Male

Promoted Piece, by Leland Mellott

Dear Friends, I submit that a new kind of Straight Man or Het has come into being. He is young. He is a nice person, kind-hearted and has respect for women. He is a faithful friend. He hates no one. The following thought would not bother, let alone anger, him, "What Gay Men know from experience, Straight Men, in their deepest selves, also know, which is that their anal cavities are capable of prolonged and exquisite sexual pleasure."

His sexual energy is optimal. He wants a lot of sexual intercourse. When a woman hits on him, she invariably gets him into bed. He uses condoms. He works out, tries to maintain himself in good health. He is enamored of his penis if it is large. Watching a film of a man fucking a woman while sucking off another man would be no problem to him. A three-way (two men one woman) is his preferred sexual fantasy. For his kind, sex is not dirty and sinful; it is fresh, clean and beautiful.

He is universally attractive to older women.

He can be curious about sodomizing another man and, if the opportunity presented itself, would not hesitate to do so. Giving his butt to another Het, well, he'd have to do some serious thinking about that. However, if he were emotionally attached to a good friend, fellatio would be a "normal" activity, if it were mutual. (After all, a penis is just an enlarged clitoris!)

This kind of young fellow, who is found all around this earth, will be instrumental in bringing peace to our world.

Warm Regards,
 Leland Mellott
Mount Vernon, Washington 98273-7289, USA
leland.mellott@yahoo.com

P. S. This letter is posted at Men In Touch, August 26, 2011, Vancouver, BC, Canada

PFlag Presents

Braswell Memorial Library, Rocky Mount, NC

Warner Room

Free Admission

June 25 1:30 Prayers for Bobby

3:30 For The Bible Tells Me So

July 23 1:30 For The Bible Tells Me So

3:30 Prayers for Bobby

August 27 1:30 Prayers for Bobby

3:30 For The Bible Tells Me So

Please join us for one or both

Sponsored by PFLAG Rocky Mount Chapter

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

For more information e-mail:pflagrm@aol.com

 

STOP THE BILL!

Saturday, June 18th, 2011

STOP THE BILL!

Stop by the HRC & Equality North Carolina Booth at the Juneteenth Festival, Elizabeth City, NC
click to view flyer

On April 7, 2011 House Bill 777 was introduced to amend the constitution in the "Defense of Marriage." NC State law already limits marriage to opposite-sex couples. If the constitution is amended in this regard it will deny gay and lesbian couples access to marriage or any same-sex unions or forms of recognition such as civil union or domestic partnership.

Let us call this for what it is: "the anti-LGBT amendment or "the anti-gay amendment and an attack North Carolina’s LGBTQ Community.
This movement has been used in other states to take away private benefits such as health insurance and survival rights for LGBT couples.  The amendment would not only write the current discriminatory marriage law into the constitution, it would actually take away rights and responsibilities that are currently available to some couples. 
          
This anti-gay amendment is a distraction from the voters' priorities. The legislature was sent to Raleigh to tackle jobs, the economy, and the state budget, not to advance a divisive social agenda.

What are the key arguments against the amendment?

• Marriage is already denied same-sex couples by state law. The amendment doesn't change marriage in any way. It simply attacks LGBT North Carolinians and puts their basic rights up for a vote

• Amending the constitution is an extreme act, not a conservative one. Constitutions are designed to protect rights and not to take them away. The rights of a minority should never be put to a majority vote.

• The anti-gay amendment causes real harm. It harms couples who will be denied even the most basic protections and it harms vulnerable LGBT young people by sending a terrible message that their state and their neighbors consider them second-class citizens unworthy of basic dignity and fair treatment, a message which exacerbates the epidemic of LGBT young people committing suicide.

What can YOU do?
Help us send a message to the people in your community to complete postcards and write letters to their legislators in opposition to the anti-gay amendment. These post cards will be available at the ENC booth, it only takes 5 minutes to complete one or 10 minutes to write a letter – templates will be provided to assist you.

NC LGBTQ Community and Allies, can you assist in hosting letter writing parties in Bertie, Gates, Hertford, Perquimans, Northampton, Vance or Warren County? Let us know.
 

IF YOU WISH TO VOLUNTEER WITH ENC/HRC FOR THIS EVENT PLEASE EMAIL Akil@EqualityNC.org

 

This Sunday, June 5 is the annual outdoor service at River Park North at 11 am.

An interactive/intergenerational worship service will be followed by a potluck! Please bring food to share. You’ll find us in the shelter closest to the parking lot!

 

You can always find UUCG events with descriptions by going to the website www.uugreenvillenc.org  Click on "calendar" on the left side of the page and then click on the event you are interested in learning more about. 

 

RALLY IN RALEIGH

Rally in Raleigh Against SB106!

Thursday, June 2, 12:00 – 2:00 PM

Grounds of the North Carolina General Assembly

16 W. Jones Street

Raleigh, NC

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Unite to fight SB106 (the North Carolina anti-gay super-DOMA)!   The proposed legislation would not only put an anti-gay marriage amendment on the 2012 ballot, it would also prevent private businesses and municipalities in NC from offering domestic partnership insurance benefits and make null and void Domestic Partnership Registries in the three cities in NC that offer them (Chapel Hill, Asheville and Carrboro); basically, it would end all relationship recognition outside of heterosexual marriage.

 

You’ve heard the saying “If you are not outraged you’re not paying attention”.  Outrage is easy, action is hard.  Are you willing to take action?  You’ve sent in postcards, signed petitions, sent emails to your representatives, now it is time to join together, united, and make a stand.  Will you stand with us to let our North Carolina lawmakers know that we refuse to be even further alienated from and discriminated by our government?  We are all equal, and it is time our government started treating us as such.

 

Our message to NC legislators: we are your neighbors, your doctors, your lawyers, your teachers, your child care providers, your mothers, your fathers, your sons, your daughters, your brothers, your sisters.  We are your constituents.  We are your fellow human beings.  We deserve more and will no longer settle for less.

 

Speakers so far:

 

Opening speaker:  Rep. Susan Fisher

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Contacts:

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Jonathan Green, SAGA

jsg47235@yahoo.com

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Angel Chandler, GetEQUAL NC

angel@getequalnc.org

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Check out the facebook event page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109963092422801#!/event.php?eid=109963092422801

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 http://getequalnc.org/Rally-in-Raleigh/

 

Rally in Raleigh date change

After reviewing the date and time of the rally we decided to change it to Thursday, June 2nd from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm. The legislature is out on Fridays and we felt it important to hold the rally when our representatives are present.

Please pass the information along and help get the word out.

Several anti-equality, "pro-marriage" groups gathered in Raleigh this week for a rally of their own. They had several thousand people show up to demand passage of SB106. It is our time to gather in unison for equality.

You've heard the saying "If you are not outraged you're not paying attention". Outrage is easy, action is hard. Are you willing to take action? You've sent in postcards, signed petitions, sent emails to your representatives, now it is time to join together, united, and make a stand. Will you stand with us to let our North Carolina lawmakers know that we refuse to be even further alienated from and discriminated by our government? We are all equal, and it is time our government started treating us as such.

Our message to NC legislators: we are your neighbors, your doctors, your lawyers, your teachers, your child care providers, your mothers, your fathers, your sons, your daughters, your brothers, your sisters. We are your constituents. We are your fellow human beings. We deserve more and will no longer settle for less.

Stay up to date at www.getequalnc.org/rally-in-raleigh/

Contacts us:

Jonathan Green, SAGA

jsg47235@yahoo.com

Angel Chandler, GetEQUAL NC

angel@getequalnc.org
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

PFlag Meeting

The Rocky Mount Chapter of PFlag will hold it monthly meeting, this month in the Wiley Conference room at the Braswell Memorial Library in Rocky Month, NC.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

LBGT Resource Office- Transgender Speaker

Thursday, March 31st at 7:00pm in the Mendenhall Great Rooms the LGBT Resource Office will be hosting it's first campus event, co-sponsored with the GLBTSU, called "Not Your Average Southern Gentleman: Growing up Trans in the South".  Our guest speaker's name is Loren Lemmond and he is a female to male transperson.  Loren candidly tells his story of growing up in North Carolina, of realizing his gender identity, of coming out to his family, and of the struggles and triumphs along the way.  He shows pictures of himself growing up, and shares funny, sad, touching and ultimately inspiring descriptions of what his experience has been like coming to terms with his gender identity and the range of ways those around him have responded.  After the presentation he opens the floor for questions and is generally willing to answer almost anything as he tries to help people really understand and become more comfortable interacting with Trans people.  He has been a popular speaker in the Sociology department's classes and is excited to share with the whole campus.  I've attached the flier for the event and look forward to seeing everyone.

Summer Wisdom
LGBT Resource Office
252-737-4451
Brewster B-103B
East Carolina University

PARADISE CARES- BENEFIT FOR PICASO

Time

Wednesday, March 30 at 9:00pm - March 31 at 12:00am

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Location

Club Paradise- 209 E. 5th street. Greenville, nc

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Created By

Paradise Gaynight, Aaron Lucier, Michelle Michaels

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More Info

CLUB PARADISE CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, DO YOU? We are raising money for PiCASO- The Pitt County Aids Service Organization. Doors open at 9pm, Someones Sister hits the stage @ 9:30. Two Drag King and Queen Shows. 11pm for those early birds and 12:00 for our late night people. Purina Chow will be coming to Paradise and starring in this fierce Event along with your house cast and a few surprises. $6 cover charge for this evening for everyone. Please come out help us raise money for this wonderful organization. Free HIV Testing will be provided this evening as well.

www.PiCASO.org

 

Hate Crimes Conference with the F.B.I

Time Wednesday, April 6 · 4:00pm - 7:00pm

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Location Lumina Theater-Univeristy of North Carolina Wilmington

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Created By OutReach, Amy Schlag

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More Info

Enjoy us for a fascinating and timely discussion of Hate Crimes and Hate Crimes Legislation. This event is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

INTRODUCTION: Keith H. Bethke Jr., FBI Resident Agencies Supervisor, Wilmington and Raleigh

PRESENTATION ON HATE CRIMES: The FBI's Civil Rights Program from Washington HQ will be conducting an unclassified presentation on Hate Crimes. It will include definitions of Federal Hate Crimes statutes (Ma......tthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009), nationwide statistics on Federal Hate Crimes cases, and examples of Federal Hate Crimes Cases previously worked by the FBI and other agencies.

SERVICES: Victim Specialist Kory Williford, FBI Charlotte Division, Office for Victim Assistance Rapid Deployment Team. Kory Williford will discuss services provided by the FBI’s Raleigh Resident Agency program to victims of Hate Crimes.

HATE CRIMES INTELLIGENCE: Tom Kuhl will conduct a brief presentation on Southeastern North Carolina Hate Crimes statistics and how Hate Crimes affect our local community.

HATE CRIMES PANEL DISCUSSION: Moderator Buffy Ruffin, Coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs.

SHOWING OF S.P.I.C. The Storyboard of My Life (27mins)

CLOSING REMARKS: Quynh Rcom

 

Letter From Equality NC

Dear Friend,

Hi!  My name is Josh Wynne and I’m one of Equality NC’s new organizers working against the anti-LGBT constitutional amendment.

During the past few weeks, we’ve shared scary news of the anti-LGBT amendment that was filed in the NC Senate.  Here’s something you can do about it.  We’ve also learned encouraging news about polling that says many North Carolinians are in favor of some form of same-sex relationship recognition.  With your help, we can mobilize fair-minded North Carolinians against this mean-spirited amendment. 

Whether you’re new to Equality NC or have been involved with us for years, we know you care about this issue and are dedicated to this cause.  You know the damage this amendment would do to LGBT individuals, youth, families, and allies.  Getting postcards signed by your friends, neighbors, family, and coworkers is a great way to both bring the issue to light and to let NC senators and representatives know that voters in their district care about equal rights. 

In order to make a bigger impact, we're asking that each of you gather at least 25 postcards from your social circles, families, friends, co-workers, organizations, and faith communities.  Collect the postcards as they are signed, and we'll include a return envelope with postage for you to send them back to us.  We will duplicate each postcard so that each person's representative and senator receives one.

When we provide legislators with a stack of our postcards urging them not to vote for the anti-LGBT amendment, it not only makes a powerful statement but also proves there are fair-minded North Carolinians in their district. 

Won't you help us make that statement?

Additionally, we need volunteers in our Raleigh office to help us process postcard requests, track outstanding postcard kits, do data entry as we receive completed postcards, duplicate postcards in order to reach the signer's representative and senator, and organize postcards by legislative districts!  

SIGN UP HERE to join this campaign!  Remember how much our collective voices can make a huge impact in North Carolina! 

Thank you for all that you do every day to make North Carolina a better place for LGBT people!

In solidarity,

Josh Wynne

PS:  Support Equality NC financially in our campaign against the Anti-LGBT Amendment!

 

Town Hall Meeting host by Equality NC

Please join Equality NC Executive Director Ian Palmquist for a discussion on LGBT rights in our state.

What	Advocacy Event Community Meeting Educational Program
When	Apr 06, 2011 from 07:00 PM to 09:00 PM
Where	Greenville
Add event to calendar	vCal iCal

There's so much going on with the NC Legislature these days that Equality NC is hitting the road to tell you all about it, and to enlist your help in what may be the largest campaign for LGBT rights in our state's history! We'll talk about the anti-LGBT constitutional amendment, as well as other policy that will potentially impact all of us who care about equal rights, and what you can do about it.

It's all happening on Wednesday, April 6th at 7pm at the Tipsy Teapot (409 South Evans Street, Greenville, 27858).

Please join us for this informative and empowering evening.

 

EDITORIAL: Big government in your browser

Administration officials are determined to grab hold of the Internet - for your protection. The latest scheme will be the subject of a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday on "The State of Online Consumer Privacy." Regulators claim various online nuisances such as spam, identity theft and other privacy invasions cry out for government intervention. It's a classic Washington power grab for the digital era.

Md. House effectively kills same-sex marriage bill

The Maryland House of Delegates has voted to effectively kill a bill for the year that would have allowed same-sex marriage in Maryland.

The House approved on voice vote a motion to send the bill back to the Judiciary Committee, an acknowledgment by supporters that it did not have sufficient votes to pass on the floor.

The bill cleared the Senate two weeks ago on a 25-to-21 vote, and Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) had pledged to sign it.

Advocates for the bill had hoped Maryland would join five other states and the District in allowing same-sex marriages. The bill had significant momentum coming out of the Senate but ran into resistance in the Democat-led House from African-American lawmakers from Prince George's County, who cited religious opposition in their districts, and conservative Democrats in Southern Maryland and the Baltimore suburbs.

A Message from Senator Richard Burr

From: Sen. Richard Burr [mailto:info@burr.senate.gov]
Subject: A Message from Senator Richard Burr



As many of you are aware, this week the Senate finally took up legislation that would have set a budget for the rest of the fiscal year as well as impose cuts to federal spending. On Wednesday, I voted for the House-passed plan to reduce the federal government’s spending by $57 billion and against the Democratic alternative that fell far short by cutting spending by just $4.7 billion.

I am disappointed that a majority of my colleagues in the Senate are not taking our fiscal crisis seriously. I fully supported the House-passed proposal to reduce government spending by $57 billion, and like most Americans I would like to see even more cuts. We cannot shy away from the fact that cutting spending is absolutely necessary to put us back on the track to fiscal sanity. We have to stop charging our children and grandchildren for our own excessive spending habits.

I am hopeful that both parties can come together to start to fix our fiscal mess and make the tough decisions necessary to keep our government solvent, create a strong economic environment and spur job growth.

Also this week, the Senate passed a resolution I sponsored to make March 30th “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.” On March 30, 1973, all U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. So, this March 30th, the Senate has encouraged Americans across the country to recognize Vietnam veterans for their sacrifice and demonstrate a warm welcome to these soldiers who returned from war to a politically divided country.
I’m pleased that the Senate has agreed to set aside a day to give our Vietnam veterans a warm, long-overdue welcome home. I strongly encourage communities across North Carolina and the country to observe this day with activities and events that honor these veterans for their service. It’s time they receive the recognition they earned and have deserved for so long. This day also provides our nation with an important teaching moment - never again should our men and women serving in the armed forces receive the same treatment as those who returned from Vietnam.
Yesterday, the Senate confirmed Max Cogburn, of Asheville, to serve as United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina. I believe he is an excellent choice to serve as District Judge, and I am pleased the Senate unanimously supported his confirmation. His vast experience - including serving as assistant U.S. attorney, chief assistant U.S. attorney, magistrate judge, and in private practice - makes him a well qualified nominee for this position and an excellent addition to the Court. To watch a video of a speech I gave on the floor of the Senate in support of Max’s confirmation, click here.

Stay tuned to my website and Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter for updates from Washington next week as the Senate continues to debate the budget cuts that must be made to get our fiscal house in order.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Richard Burr


*Please do not respond to this email. To contact me, please click or visit my website www.burr.senate.gov.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SenatorRichardBurr
Twitter: @SenatorBurr

Press Release Criminalization of Gay and Lesbian Kansans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jon Powell, Chapter Chair
Kansas Equality Coalition, Hutchinson Area Chapter
916-761-8984
Powell462@gmail.com

Thomas Witt, State Chair
Kansas Equality Coalition
316-683-1706
chair@kansasequalitycoalition.org

STATE REPRESENTATIVES CALL FOR CONTINUED CRIMINALIZATION OF GAY AND LESBIAN KANSANS

Topeka, Kans, March 8, 2011 -

State Representatives Jan Pauls (D, Hutchinson), and Lance Kinzer (R, Olathe) said yesterday that being gay or lesbian should remain a crime in Kansas. Pauls made, with Kinzer’s support, the successful motion in the Kansas Legislature’s Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee to keep the criminalization of gay and lesbian relationships on the books. Their action removed key language from HB2321, proposed by the Kansas Judicial Council, which would have resolved inconsistencies in Kansas criminal code, as well as remove unconstitutional laws.

“Jan Pauls was trusted to be a judge before becoming a state representative, and should know better than to support unconstitutional laws, breaking her oath to defend the Constitution,” said Jon Powell, Chair of the Hutchinson Area chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition. “We are fed up with her obvious support of harassment of gays and lesbians. We will not be bullied.”

Although one remains on Kansas’ books, all state laws criminalizing gay and lesbian relationships were struck down by the United States Supreme Court in 2003. Writing for the majority in the case of Lawrence v. Texas, Justice Anthony Kennedy said “if protected conduct is made criminal and the law which does so remains unexamined for its substantive validity, its stigma might remain even if it were not enforceable as drawn for equal protection reasons. When homosexual conduct is made criminal by the law of the State, that declaration in and of itself is an invitation to subject homosexual persons to discrimination both in the public and in the private spheres.”

Disregarding the US Supreme Court, the President of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association, John Wheeler, said in 2008 that “even to this day, homosexuality is a crime in Kansas." His warning, made to a group of adult college students and caught on video, raised questions about the ability of gay and lesbian Kansans to live free from arrest, and to receive fair trials in our courts.

“Representatives Pauls’ endorsement of an unconstitutional statute that’s used to threaten and discriminate against law-abiding Kansas citizens is an outrage,” said Thomas Witt, state Chairman for the Kansas Equality Coalition. “She took an oath as both judge and state representative to uphold the Constitution. We insist that Representative Kinzer and she be immediately removed as Chair and Ranking Minority from the House Judiciary Committee. Legislators who willfully ignore the Constitution should never be in positions of leadership and responsibility.”

The Hutchinson Chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition is organizing a peaceful demonstration to raise awareness of Representative Pauls’ actions, to take place Thursday, March 17, in downtown Hutchinson. The demonstration will begin at 6pm, and will take place at the intersections of Main and Avenues A and B.

###

PFlag Meeting Set up

PFLAG Meeting - (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meets Tuesday, Mar 15,. For meeting details, contact pflagrm@aol.com, call 252-443-0345, or visit www.pflag.org.

March 8 Call-in Day: Stop the Grand Jury Witch Hunt

NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY
to Fitzgerald, Holder and Obama

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Grand Jury is still on its witch-hunt and the FBI is still harassing activists. This must stop.

Please make these calls:

1. Call U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald at 312-353-5300. Then dial 0 (zero) for operator and ask to leave a message with the Duty Clerk.
2. Call U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder 202-353-1555
3. Call President Obama at 202-456-1111 

Suggested text: “My name is __________, I am from _______(city), in ______(state). I am calling _____ to demand he call off the Grand Jury and stop FBI repression against the anti-war and Palestine solidarity movements. I oppose U.S. government political repression and support the right to free speech and the right to assembly of the 23 activists subpoenaed. We will not be criminalized. Tell him to stop this McCarthy-type witch hunt against international solidarity activists!” 

If your call doesn’t go through, try again later.

Update: 800 anti-war and international solidarity activists participated in four regional conferences, in Chicago, IL; Oakland, CA; Chapel Hill, NC and New York City to stop U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s Grand Jury repression. 

Still, in the last few weeks, the FBI has continued to call and harass anti-war organizers, repressing free speech and the right to organize. However, all of their intimidation tactics are bringing a movement closer together to stop war and demand peace.

We demand:

• Call Off the Grand Jury Witch-hunt Against International Solidarity Activists!
• Support Free Speech!
• Support the Right to Organize!
• Stop FBI Repression!
• International Solidarity Is Not a Crime!
• Stop the Criminalization of Arab and Muslim Communities!

Background: Fitzgerald ordered FBI raids on anti-war and solidarity activists' homes and subpoenaed fourteen activists in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Michigan on September 24, 2010. All 14 refused to speak before the Grand Jury in October. Then, 9 more Palestine solidarity activists, most Arab-Americans, were subpoenaed to appear at the Grand Jury on January 25, 2011, launching renewed protests. There are now 23 who assert their right to not participate in Fitzgerald’s witch-hunt. 

The Grand Jury is a secret and closed inquisition, with no judge, and no press. The U.S. Attorney controls the entire proceedings and hand picks the jurors, and the solidarity activists are not allowed a lawyer. Even the date when the Grand Jury ends is a secret.

So please make these calls to those in charge of the repression aimed against anti-war leaders and the growing Palestine solidarity movement.

Email us to let us know your results. Send to info@StopFBI.net

**Please sign and circulate our 2011 petition at http://www.stopfbi.net/petition

 

In Struggle,

Tom Burke,

for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression

FFI: Visit www.StopFBI.net or email info@StopFBI.net or call 612-379-3585.

 

Help Support PiCASO- Eat at Chico's

Forgive any cross postings- please forward and share!

Help Support PiCASO- (Pitt County AIDS Service Organization)

Visit Chico's (downtown Greenville, NC) on March the 10th, 2011. It is an all day event and folks that want to help just need to write on their bill that they are doing this for P.I.C.A.S.O and/or Lamda Theta Alpha. Chico's will then donate some of the days checks to the agency!

Contact Brian for more info- brian_b_g@yahoo.com
This event is being supported by- Lamda Theta Alpha

PICASO.org

PiCASO offers FREE HIV testing in Pitt County

Safe Schools NC need Representation in Eastern NC

From: Safe SchoolsNC [mailto: safeschoolsnc at gmail dot com]
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 9:34 AM

Subject: Safe Schools NC

What can we do to get Safe Schools NC on your blog's list of relevant organizations?  Our website is currently down due to maintenance, however, we are a state-wide organization that works to improve public school environment on the basis of sexuality and gender identity.  I can send you more information if you desire it.

Yesterday we held our February meeting and discussed that we need representation in Eastern NC. If you know of anyone -- LGBT high school or college student, a parent of an LGBT youth, an educator or a dedicated community member -- that you would recommend as a good team player who is familiar with LGBTQ education issues, we would love to hear about them.

Best,
Kathy Staley
Safe Schools NC board president

FW: SB 106: Next Steps

Yesterday afternoon SB 106, the anti-LGBT constitutional amendment, was introduced in the North Carolina Senate. We asked you to take action in anticipation of this terrible bill, and it has already made a real difference.
Over 3,500 people emailed their senators in opposition to the bill in the last week, in addition to the nearly 200 people who met with legislators at Equality NC's Day of Action and hundreds of others who made phone calls.  Although 23 senators sponsored the bill, a majority of senators (8 Republicans and all 19 Democrats) refused to sponsor this harmful legislation. That is a powerful signal that we can fight this thing and we can win.
You probably have some questions about the bill and what it means, and I'll try to answer some of those below.
First, I want you to know that Equality NC's top priority this year is to defeat this amendment in the legislature. It's a tall order in a tough political climate, but we've beaten the odds before. Our lobbyist, Dean Plunkett, and I are working hard every day to bring legislators on both sides of the aisle to our cause. We are mobilizing and expanding our base of activists across the state and engaging the public to stand up for fairness like never before.
I'll be calling on you to take action frequently in the coming weeks. I hope you can make a commitment right now to send those emails, make those phone calls, and volunteer your time at those critical moments. And I hope you'll enlist your friends, family, and colleagues in protecting all North Carolina families.
To learn more about the anti-gay amendment and what it means, check out the Frequently Asked Questions below.
For Equality,
Ian

Anti-Gay Amendment FAQ

What does the anti-gay* amendment say?
The bill would amend the state constition to include a new section that reads "Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State." Click here to see the full text on the legislature's website.
What would the anti-gay amendment do?
The language proposed is the most extreme version of an anti-gay amendment. In addition to limiting marriage to oppositie sex couples, as state statute already does, it would prohibit any other form of relationship recognition, such as civil union or domestic partnership. This kind of language has been used in other states to take away private benefits such as health insurance for LGBT couples, unmarried opposite-sex couples, and their children. This is a not a hypothetical issue but a very real one. These amendments have also been used to challenge other private contracts between couples.
The amendment would not only write the current discriminatory marriage law into the constitution, it would actually take away rights and responsibilities that are currently available to some couples.
Who sponsored the anti-gay amendment?

Primary:	James Forrester;  Jerry W. Tillman;  Dan Soucek;
Co:	Tom Apodaca;  Harris Blake;  Andrew C. Brock;  Harry Brown;  Warren Daniel;  Jim Davis;  Don East;  Thom Goolsby;  Rick Gunn;  Kathy Harrington;  Ralph Hise;  Neal Hunt;  Brent Jackson;  Wesley Meredith;  E. S. (Buck) Newton;  Louis Pate;  Jean Preston;  David Rouzer;  Bob Rucho;  Tommy Tucker;

(Click here to look up who your senator is if you don't know.)
What is the process to amend the constitution?
The bill must pass both the House and Senate by a 3/5ths margin (that's 30 of 50 votes in the Senate and 72 of 120 votes in the House). It would then be placed on the ballot in November 2012 where it would need a simple majority of voters to become part of the constitution. The governor does not have veto authority on constitutional amendments.
What do we call it?
Call SB 106 what it is: "the anti-gay amendment." It's not about "defending" anyone's marriage. It's an attack on LGBT North Carolinians.
What are our key arguments against the amendment?

1.    The anti-gay amendment causes real harm. It harms couples who will be denied even the most basic protections and it harms vulnerable LGBT young people by sending a terrible message that their state and their neighbors consider them second-class citizens unworthy of basic dignity and fair treatment, a message which exacerbates the epidemic of LGBT young people committing suicide.

2.    The anti-gay amendment is bad for business. It intrudes on businesses' right to provide competetive benefits to their employees and it signals to major employers that our state is not welcoming of the diverse, creative workforce that is needed to compete in the global economy.

3.    The anti-gay amendment is a discraction from the voters' priorities. The legislature was sent to Raleigh to tackle jobs, the economy, and the state budget, not to advance a divisive social agenda.

4.    Marriage is already denied same-sex couples by state law. The amendment doesn't change marriage in any way. It simply attacks LGBT North Carolinians and puts their basic rights up for a vote.

5.    Amending the constitution is an extreme act, not a conservative one. Constitutions are designed to protect rights and not to take them away. The rights of a minority should never be put to a majority vote.

What can I do right now to make a difference?

·         Call you state senator (if you haven't already done so in the last week) and your state representative today and let them know you oppose Senate Bill 106, the anti-gay amendment. (You can find their phone numbers here.)

·         Make a contribution to Equality NC to fund our lobbying and community organizing to stop the anti-gay amendment.

·         Help us send a message to the legislature by volunteering to get people in your community to complete postcards to their legislators in opposition to the anti-gay amendment. We'll make it easy and send you a kit with everything you need. Just email postcards@equalitync.org for more information or to sign up to help!

·         Talk to your friends, family, and co-workers about the anti-gay amendment and why it must not pass. Tell them a story about how anti-LGBT discrimination has affected you or someone you love. Copy and post the following link on Facebook and Twitter, or email it to you friends to share this FAQ with them: http://bit.ly/eDG2Vv

* We sometimes use "gay" in our public messaging when we mean LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) because not enough people know what LGBT means. We're starting with what's familiar to most North Carolinians so we reach as many folks as possible.

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TAKE ACTION: Anti-Gay Amendment Introduced in NC Senate Today

From: Ian Palmquist, Equality NC <enc@equalitync.org>

Subject: TAKE ACTION: Anti-Gay Amendment Filed Today

Yesterday Sen. Jim Forrester filed Senate Bill 106, an anti-LGBT constitutional amendment, and it will be introduced on the Senate floor today.

So far there are a total of 23 sponsors on the bill. I need you to contact your Senator today and ask him or her not to support this mean-spirited, bill.

Take action right now to ask your senator to oppose writing bigotry and discrimination into our state constitution.

This is just the beginning of the fight. Take a stand now, before it's too late!

Your senator needs to hear from you! Let him or her know that they must stand against this harmful bill.

Together, we can stop this attack on LGBT North Carolinians.

For Equality,

Ian

 

P-Flag Meeting

PFLAG Meeting - (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meets Tuesday, Feb. 22, 6 p.m. For meeting details, contact pflagrm@aol.com, call 252-443-0345, or visit www.pflag.org.

>>PREMIER PASSPORT<< "For The Bible Tells Me So"

Time	Monday, February 21 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location	Hendrix Theatre
Created By	ECU GLBT Student Union
More Info	>>THIS IS A PREMIER PASSPORT EVENT<< Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate? Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families -- including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson -- we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.  Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBR0dq0XXk Hope to see you at this FREE screening! :)

 

FREE Event Party, HIV Education and Testing

Swagg Ball- FREE Event Party, HIV Education and Testing
Please share and forward!

This is a "mini ball" event with competitions across catagories... from "Butch Realness to Vogue Fem!"

Saturday, Feb 19, 2011
8:00 PM - 1:00 AM
City Hotel and Bistro
Greenville, NC
Price- Free!

This is being hosted by a range of local groups and organizations.

http://www.picaso.org/

Information on the Ball Culture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_culture._,___

Outer Banks Pride, Baptist Church is Outrage, Not Surprising.

The Organizers of the First ever Outer Bank Pride Fest is facing Opposition over it Family Friendly events.

The co-founder of the Group that is planning the event said they are not move by the intimidated coming from Pastor Charles Tyler of a Local Baptist Church, whom claim this event is to Corrupt the local Children of the Outer Banks.

There is no Parade, just fun in the sun, with open-mind folks, enjoying the beauty of the Outer Banks.

There will be Day time events for the whole family, while there are a few evening events aim for Adults only.

"We're just slowly trying to change those attitudes so that these folks coming to the Outer Banks won't get dirty looks from people," Miller said.

The Event is set for sunny June of 2011.

"I think people that write anonymous crap like that are chickens," said Nags Head Mayor Bob Oakes, whose Village Realty is a sponsor of the event.

For more on this event Click here

TOLERANCE WEEK 2011: Evening Program

Time	Friday, February 25 · 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location	South Central High School Auditorium 570 W. Forlines Rd
Created By	Layla Qoran, Karen Gordon Klaich
More Info	"We need to promote greater tolerance and understanding among the peoples of the world. Nothing can be more dangerous to our efforts to build peace and development than a world divided along religious, ethnic or cultural lines. In each nation, and among all nations, we must work to promote unity based on our shared humanity."  -Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General Tolerance week 2011 is a 5-day initiative during the last week of February to promote tolerance, understanding, and diversity throughout South Central High School and the greater community.  On February 25, 2011 there will be an evening program held in the South Central Auditorium including artwork, a religious panel, role playing, performance groups and much more! Date: February 25, 2011 Time: 6:30 pm Location: South Central Auditorium 570 W. Forlines rd Winterville, NC 28590 Admission is free and open to the public. Invite everyone, spread the word!

 

Vigils in support of access to education spring up around the state–Greenville’s Vigil

I recently attend a Vigil that was organize by the Adelante Education Coalition. I attend the one  in Greenville, North Carolina. Here is the Photos taken at this event.

The turnout was small but still full of high hopes and spirit.

I borrowed a digital records, which has some issues, I didn’t record the opening statement by Juvencio Rocha Peralta, which I’m truly sorry for. However he spoke with great passion and spoke of fairness for those whom where bought here against their will at a very young age. How they don’t have a true feeling of home. Torn between counties.One they don’t know and the one they love, and live in.

Juvencio Rocha Pertalta had this to say,

“They are trying to stop kids from continuing their education,” Peralta said. “It's not fair to allow them to go to school K-12 and then not allow them to continue their education.”
and
“This country benefits from undocumented workers,” he said. “Why shouldn't they get the benefits of higher education?”

Dani Martinez-Moore,

North Carolina need a more educational workforce, not less educational one, in these tough economic times we want our leaders in Raleigh to do the right thing. Don’t make our state number one in discrimination, hate, and exclusion. Let’s begin instead about the business of building an economy that works for everyone, and keeping North Carolina a state that believes in education.

There were a few interesting quotes, “Remember that about 60 years ago this happen to another group seeking education” and “if this bill is pass it will be another dark mark in our history”

Don Cavellini

I would like to bring a bit of comparison specially. We, up here on this side of the river; as they say in here Greenville. Some people refer to highway 11that goes by the airport as Bethel highway. Many you may not have been aware, I certainly wasn’t in this part of eastern NC, I been here 26 years. Prior to my arrival apparently the huge multi-national corporation known then as Burroughs-Wellcome was planning to located in the little town of Bethel, those whom own the land, who used to own slaves, chose not to welcome the huge pharmaceutical multi-national and Greenville got Burroughs-Wellcome that became Glaxo-Wellcome known now as DSM. Provide a lot of jobs. People of Bethel could have those jobs. Instead the land owner the backward people of northern part of Pitt county choose to try to keep blacks in their kitchens and in their fields they didn’t want them to get those better paying jobs at a huge pharmaceutical company, that meant Bethel stay a very small poor town, all but for the land owners that used to own slaves

Why do I tell that story it the same ignorance small minded, same kind of exclusion way of thinking that characterize this bill in Raleigh. HB11which was introduced on January 27, 2011. That is a minimal progress, minimal human rights and if anything that the coalition against racism here in Pitt County support the rights of everyone to have equal access to education all levels not just elementary and secondary but in college, it’s only fair.

The North Carolina Bill HB 11 is a nothing more than a way to keep those whom have less in state of ignorance and illiterate. keeping them at a sub-level below everyone else. Basically just like the Whites in the south try with African-Americans.

“This is a mean-spirited bill,” says Rep. Paul Luebke of Durham of HB11. “It keeps young immigrants from getting a higher education. It deprives North Carolina of the skills of talented youth who can help build our future.”

House Bill 11 – no Postsecondary educational for Illegal Aliens.

This bill bought to you by this good ole county bigot Representative George G. Cleveland, here is his info click here.

Office: 417A Legislative Office Building

Phone: 919-715-6707

Email: George.Cleveland@ncleg.net

Legislative Mailing Address:
NC House of Representatives
300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 417A
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Co bigots on this bill,
L. Brown;  Current;  Faircloth;  Folwell;  Frye;  Guice;  Hager; Horn;  Iler;  Ingle;  Jones;  Jordan;  Langdon;  McGee;  Randleman; Sanderson;  Setzer;  Torbett;  H. Warren;

However for those whom are enroll under the bill you will get a chance to finish, unless on the bigots that it out,

SECTION 4. 
This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to admissions and classes taken after that date, except that this act shall not prevent a  student enrolled in a program at a community college or constituent institution of The University of North Carolina as of that date or during the previous term or semester from completing that program

Face it folks if you are not white and rich the above could careless what happens to you.. Bigotry is still strong in the south and now in Charge of NC..

Now remember that the Bigot GOP folks are working on the budget, with a short fall in the billions, they plan to cut once again money from the educational budget, which the lottery isn’t helping since they high jacked the fund for other items. These illegals have to paid out of state tuition, which is much higher for those that live in state.

Also remember those that are here illegally that work and have state and federal taxes taken from them, can’t file for refunds, this is extra money the state has that doesn’t lawfully belong to the state..