Even Santa can have some pride

Happy Holidays everyone! 

Milk drives home a powerful point

I finally got to see the highly acclaimed film Milk last night.  This powerful film is simply a must see for every queer in town.  Harvey Duane Milk was a pioneer politician who was years ahead of his time.  I’m not a crier, but I shed two tears twice during this movie.  The first time I teared up was when the boy in the wheelchair called from Minnesota.  The second time I cried was when Milk finished recording his “political will” towards the end of the film.  Milk drove him a powerful point for me, once I had forgot since I did my graduate work analyzing his political discourse, equality will never be won or achieved by default or attrition.  Waiting for the majority to “give us” our rights will leave us wanting, demeaned, and disappointed.  If we want to be full and equal citizens in this country, in this time, we must toil, fight, and labor to take those rights.  Assimilating is not the answer.  Being invisible is not the most effective strategy for us as a community.  We must be out, we must be visible, we must not shrink back in the shadows or the closet.  Only then can we truly have hope that things will ever get better.

Day without a gay in Philly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 10, 2008

TEACHERS ORGANIZE DAY WITHOUT A GAY ACTIVITIES

CONTACT:
Scott Craig
scottcraig1210@gmail.com

Philadelphia, PA – After seeing the movie MILK with Sean Penn, teachers Scott Craig and Michael Farrell decided they, too, needed to take action. The two teachers from Independence Charter School in Philadelphia began to organize the school s teaching staff to show support for gay rights in conjunction with the grassroots organizers of Day Without a Gay coinciding with International Human Rights Day. Supporters of marriage equality are encouraged to call in gay to work and instead spend the volunteering in their local communities.

Craig and Farrell were encouraged when they received such strong support and participation from their fellow teachers and staff. Approximately 25 teachers plan to call out on Wednesday and to have their classrooms covered by substitutes. Those substitutes and the rest of the ICS teachers will present a day in observance of International Human Rights Day. Meanwhile the 25 teachers, dressed in t-shirts that say Got Milk?, as well as a host of others from the community will participate in a day full of opportunities to dialogue and volunteer.

We have been so encouraged by the supportive response of the community, Craig said. A number of parents from the school are even getting involved. One mother, unable to take the day off from work, has offered to purchase coffee at a local caf for all the teachers attending a dialogue about equality and how it relates to the classroom.

“We want to get the conversation going in the community that gay is not bad,” Craig said. “For kids to hear that in a positive light can be life-changing.”

The day s activities will begin with coffee and conversation from 9:45-11am at Brew HaHa Caf (212 South 12th Street). Teachers and staff will have the opportunity to discuss how to integrate current human rights issues into the classroom. They will also explore their own responsibility in creating a safe space for all students, particularly those dealing with coming out and who have same sex parents.

From 11:30 1:30 the teachers will attend a human rights talk at the ACLU (Bourse Building- 5th Floor, Suite 570) as well as volunteer at the center. A representative from the ACLU will host them at their Philly Headquarters where we will have an opportunity to learn about the work of the ACLU and its effects on the GLBT community.

At 1:45 they will view the film Milk at the Ritz Five Movie Theatre (214 Walnut Street).

The day will conclude with Milk & Cookies from 5-8pm at a local restaurant, providing an opportunity for people who were not able to call out to participate in the event.

Seinfeld’s Elaine offers Catholic joke

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the funny gal who played Elaine on Seinfeld, offered this joke as her response to the “Tell me the dirtiest joke you know” question in an interview with the Advocate last month.  I just had to put it out there!

What’s the difference between a priest and pimple?

A pimple doesn’t come on your face until you’re 15!

Got Milk?

The Secret Life of Bees shows the power of love

Keith Olbermann on California passing Proposition 8

Queer show coming to Philly

I received this today and thought I’d pass it along…

Hey There,

  There is a Kickass Queer Show coming to Philly this week and I was hoping to spread the word.    Here are the details:
11/15 * Philadelphia, PA * @ Black Lodge * ALL AGES * 8pm * $5-10 (slllliding) * with Athens Boys Choir, Anaturale, Lucy Bruce, and Benni E Revelution

Athens Boys Choir is a Gender-Deviant, Multi-Media, Spokenword/Homo-Hop performer. A Cougar/circus Pony hybrid with witty lyrics, Jazz Hands, the dirty truth and sensible Pants.

Anaturale is a Trans hip-hopper with Heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics and Gay-in-the-Pants Beatz.

Lucy Bruce is Daringly poppy and defiantly bass-less, the Philly trio has taken the abandoned ashes of glam rock and heightened today’s dance rock sound. The result – a rock ‘n’ pop sound with a raunchy indie feel and faint traces of punk and doo-wop.

Benni E. Revolution is a queer afro panamanian artist who has brought you one of the hottest mixtapes in Philly song titled Microphone Influenza. Benni E “puts on” for her city throught sick and clever lyrics.

Anything you could do to pass the info along about this show would be super appreciated by this bunch of Homo’s and friends of the Family.

Lee Carson to be awarded Leadership Achievement Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 11, 2008

Contact: Jamie Arehart (267-350-7699 or jarehart@phmc.org)

 

Lee Carson to be Awarded Leadership Achievement Award

The Attic Youth Center to Recognize LGBT Activist

 

PHILADELPHIA – On November 15, 2008, activist, researcher, educator and social worker Lee Carson will receive the Leadership Achievement Award at The Attic Youth Center s annual gala at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia. The Attic Youth Center is Philadelphia’s only agency exclusively serving LGBT youth and is one of only thirteen LGBT youth centers nationally.  Lee Carson is a man on a mission,  says The Attic s executive director, Carrie Jacobs.  He is an individual who already has and will continue to make a huge difference in the LGBT community, particularly in the LGBT community of color. 

 

Carson has worked in the areas of HIV prevention and substance abuse rehabilitation in the LGBT community for the past ten years.  I am grateful to be receiving an award from The Attic,  says Carson,  and at the same time I am fully aware that my work is only one small part within a larger mosaic of efforts put forth by many toward creating a better quality of life for Philadelphia s LGBT citizens.

 

Currently a research associate at Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), Carson works on several projects related to HIV prevention among men who have sex with men. “We are very proud of Lee and his recognition by The Attic,  says Lynne Kotranski, vice president of PHMC s Research and Evaluation component.  Lee brings a unique set of skills to his work and commitment to the community great clinical training blended with an understanding of conducting research on vulnerable populations.

 

In addition to his research work, Carson works part-time as a mental health therapist for the Mazzoni Center, a health center serving Philadelphia s LGBT population. Carson also serves as an adjunct instructor in the graduate social work department at Temple University.

 

Carson s work as an activist in the LGBT community began in 2000, when he became an active member of the New York-based Men of Color Health Awareness Project (MOCHA), an HIV prevention organization. While at MOCHA, Carson served as a board member for the New York State Black Gay Network. After moving to Philadelphia, Carson co-founded and became president of a local nonprofit organization called the Black Gay Men s Leadership Council, which advocates for black gay men in Philadelphia. He is also a founding member of the LGBT People of Color Coalition, which presently consists of 14 organizations that represent a broad cross section of LGBT communities across race and gender.

 

Carson s commitment to the LGBT community has garnered him both local and national recognition. This past fall, he began serving on Mayor Nutter’s advisory board on LGBT affairs. His familiarity with the LGBT community also led to his selection by the Centers for Disease Control as an expert on an advisory panel for a new HIV prevention campaign targeted towards black gay men. Carson has a bachelor s of arts degree from SUNY Brockport, a master s of social work degree from Nazareth College and is a licensed social worker in the state of Pennsylvania.

 

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About PHMC

Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that builds healthier communities through partnerships with government, foundations, business and other community-based organizations. It fulfills its mission to improve the health of the community by providing outreach, health promotion, education, research, planning, technical assistance, and direct services. Formerly the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, PHMC has served the Greater Philadelphia region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.

Shout out to the Phillies!

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to the World Series champs the Phillies!  It was fun to watch and your hat has to go off to any team or athlete that rises to the top above their contemporaries.  Outside of having the sexiest pitcher ever, they play some pretty good baseball too!  Congrats to the new champions as they are a credit to the sport of baseball and to the city.