April 2012 - MetroEast NEWS
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Statewide Lobby Day April 25th
CITIZEN LOBBYISTS TO JOIN EQUALITY ILLINOIS OUTREACH
VIA Equality Illinois
March 22,2012
(SPRINGFIELD)
With same-sex marriage, hate crimes and anti-bullying proposals on the table, Equality Illinois is sponsoring a major lobbying initiative here in the capital city to let state lawmakers know of the importance the LGBT community places on these significant initiatives.
More than 200 citizen lobbyists from all over the state will join the Equality Illinois professional staff and bipartisan advocacy team in button-holing scores of House and Senate members and representatives of Executive Branch officeholders. A full day of meetings and receptions is planned.
“We want to impress on the state’s leaders, particularly in an election year, the level of passion and commitment that LGBT voters and their allies place on these issues,” said Randy Hannig, Director of Public Policy for Equality Illinois. “It is important for officials to hear from their constituents in person and to know that the Equality Illinois citizen lobbyists represent thousands more voices in their districts and throughout Illinois.”
Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization, is following many bills in the legislature, Hannig said, but among the biggest issues is the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, which would create marriage equality in Illinois. “It may take many months to build support for marriage equality, so we have to let legislators know again and again how important this is,” Hannig said.
Also on the agenda is Equality Illinois support for adding gender identity, military status and immigration status to protected classes under the state’s hate crimes law. Another crucial bill would require all Illinois schools to develop new measures against bullying and cyberbullying.
“From the passage of LGBT anti-discrimination protections in 2005 to the civil unions bill in 2010, the Illinois legislature has broadened access to equality in the state, but each of those victories was the result of hard-fought battles,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. “There is so much more to
accomplish, which is why we have a permanent lobbying operation in Springfield and why we urge LGBT voters and our allies to join us for this special lobbying day.”
Buses will depart from Chicago, Oak Park, Bolingbrook, Carbdonale and Belleville. LGBT supporters who wish to participate in Equality Illinois Lobby Day, whether they plan to take the organization’s buses or travel on their own, are asked to sign up at http://tinyurl.com/MarriageEQILobbyday2012, where all participants can find more details.
Here is the information for supporters who wish to participate:
What: Equality Illinois Lobby Day
When: Wednesday, April 25
Bus Transportation: PURCHASE BUS TICKETS ONLINE
Chicago, Leaving 7 a.m. sharp from the Equality Illinois office, 3318 N. Halsted Street
Oak Park, Leaving 7 a.m. sharp from the Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, 405 S. Euclid Avenue
Bolingbrook, Leaving 7:45-8 a.m. from Denny's Restaurant, 126 East North Frontage Road, Exit 267 off of I-55 South (Stevenson Expressway)
Equality supporters from the entire state are welcome and encouraged to join us in Springfield!
VIA Equality Illinois
March 22,2012
With same-sex marriage, hate crimes and anti-bullying proposals on the table, Equality Illinois is sponsoring a major lobbying initiative here in the capital city to let state lawmakers know of the importance the LGBT community places on these significant initiatives.
More than 200 citizen lobbyists from all over the state will join the Equality Illinois professional staff and bipartisan advocacy team in button-holing scores of House and Senate members and representatives of Executive Branch officeholders. A full day of meetings and receptions is planned.
“We want to impress on the state’s leaders, particularly in an election year, the level of passion and commitment that LGBT voters and their allies place on these issues,” said Randy Hannig, Director of Public Policy for Equality Illinois. “It is important for officials to hear from their constituents in person and to know that the Equality Illinois citizen lobbyists represent thousands more voices in their districts and throughout Illinois.”
Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest LGBT advocacy organization, is following many bills in the legislature, Hannig said, but among the biggest issues is the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, which would create marriage equality in Illinois. “It may take many months to build support for marriage equality, so we have to let legislators know again and again how important this is,” Hannig said.
Also on the agenda is Equality Illinois support for adding gender identity, military status and immigration status to protected classes under the state’s hate crimes law. Another crucial bill would require all Illinois schools to develop new measures against bullying and cyberbullying.
“From the passage of LGBT anti-discrimination protections in 2005 to the civil unions bill in 2010, the Illinois legislature has broadened access to equality in the state, but each of those victories was the result of hard-fought battles,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. “There is so much more to
accomplish, which is why we have a permanent lobbying operation in Springfield and why we urge LGBT voters and our allies to join us for this special lobbying day.”
Buses will depart from Chicago, Oak Park, Bolingbrook, Carbdonale and Belleville. LGBT supporters who wish to participate in Equality Illinois Lobby Day, whether they plan to take the organization’s buses or travel on their own, are asked to sign up at http://tinyurl.com/MarriageEQILobbyday2012, where all participants can find more details.
Here is the information for supporters who wish to participate:
What: Equality Illinois Lobby Day
When: Wednesday, April 25
Bus Transportation: PURCHASE BUS TICKETS ONLINE
Chicago, Leaving 7 a.m. sharp from the Equality Illinois office, 3318 N. Halsted Street
Oak Park, Leaving 7 a.m. sharp from the Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, 405 S. Euclid Avenue
Bolingbrook, Leaving 7:45-8 a.m. from Denny's Restaurant, 126 East North Frontage Road, Exit 267 off of I-55 South (Stevenson Expressway)
Carbondale, Leaving 7 a.m. sharp from the Church of the Good Shepherd, 515 S. Orchard DriveSchedule:
Belleville, Leaving 8:45-9:00 a.m. from St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 115 West B St.
About 11 a.m. - All buses will drop off attendees at The Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 South 6th Street, Springfield. Supporters traveling on their own should meet the group there.5:45 p.m. – Buses depart Springfield
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Lunch and presentation on talking points and effective lobbying
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. - Reception with state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka in the State Capitol building, Room 201
1:30 – 4 p.m. - Meeting with legislators at the Illinois State Capitol building
4:15-5:45 p.m. – Debriefing and reception sponsored by Springfield Alderman Cory Jobe
Equality supporters from the entire state are welcome and encouraged to join us in Springfield!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Notable Passages: James May (65) PADUCAH
Notable Passages: James May (65) PADUCAH
By: Michael Scott
By: Michael Scott
(PADUCAH)
Mr. James A. May, 65, of Mayfield died Tuesday, March 6, 2012 in Marshall County, KY. He was a retired chemical engineer with Honeywell Inc., and a member of Trace Creek Baptist Church.
May was the owner of "JIM's PLACE" in Paducah, which closed its doors during the Summer of 2011.
Services for Mr. May will be 2:00P.M., Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Mr. May is survived by two daughters Marsha (Marty) Orr of Benton , Kentucky and Jamie (Chris) Ragan of Anna, Illinois; a brother Roy (Janice) May of Mayfield, Kentucky; a sister Ima Sue (Donnie) Weatherbee of Mayfield. He is also survived by two grandchildren Montana (Ray) McGregor of Paducah, Kentucky and Ty Prince of Anna, Illinois and three great-grandchildren Corey McGregor, Ian James McGregor and Savannah McGregor all of Paducah. He was preceded in death by his father Ned May; his mother Edna Carmen May Sanderson; step-father Charles Desiral Sanderson; a brother Edward May and was joined in death by his brother Gene May.
Brad Fennel, a performance artist explains further: " It is unimaginable what they went through, they had engine trouble, drifted into the spillway of the dam, on the river side. One brother survived, and Jim and his other brother didn't make it. It took over a week to located Jim, they found him this past Saturday."
Services for Mr. May will be 2:00P.M., Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in the Byrn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ronnie Stinson, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Trace Creek Church Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00-8:00P.M. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the funeral Home .
Services for Mr. May will be 2:00P.M., Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Mr. May is survived by two daughters Marsha (Marty) Orr of Benton , Kentucky and Jamie (Chris) Ragan of Anna, Illinois; a brother Roy (Janice) May of Mayfield, Kentucky; a sister Ima Sue (Donnie) Weatherbee of Mayfield. He is also survived by two grandchildren Montana (Ray) McGregor of Paducah, Kentucky and Ty Prince of Anna, Illinois and three great-grandchildren Corey McGregor, Ian James McGregor and Savannah McGregor all of Paducah. He was preceded in death by his father Ned May; his mother Edna Carmen May Sanderson; step-father Charles Desiral Sanderson; a brother Edward May and was joined in death by his brother Gene May.
Brad Fennel, a performance artist explains further: " It is unimaginable what they went through, they had engine trouble, drifted into the spillway of the dam, on the river side. One brother survived, and Jim and his other brother didn't make it. It took over a week to located Jim, they found him this past Saturday."
Services for Mr. May will be 2:00P.M., Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in the Byrn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ronnie Stinson, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Trace Creek Church Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00-8:00P.M. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the funeral Home .
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinois Announces New Board Members.
March 13, 2012
(BELLEVILLE)
BellevillePride~ MetroEast News via MetroEast Pride
Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinois Announces New Board Members.
"Congrats to MEPSI's newest Board Members Joshua Holmgren, Kate Baker, and Vengerflutta Smith." explained in a recent announcement.
Metro East Pride is preparing for the 5th Annual Festival in Belleville, and has been planned for the weekend of June 16th.
The mission of MEPSI is to To provide the Metro East Area of Southwestern Illinois community with various functions throughout the year, to promote and engage in educational, civic and cultural activities in order to enrich the lives of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, Questioning, & Allied people and the community as a whole, and to work together to achieve common goals.
"He was a Republican and dated me quickly." By Aaron Phillip Ruiz (FEATURE)
"He was a Republican and dated me quickly."
 |
| Artwork by: Daniel McCree Foundation |
I heard he is married and has a kid.
He was a Republican and dated me quickly. The sex was the nicest I’ve ever ridden but,
A hyena will gnaw off his own paw to escape the teeth of a metal jaw down shut.
He was a Republican and dated me quickly. The sex was the nicest I’ve ever ridden but,
A hyena will gnaw off his own paw to escape the teeth of a metal jaw down shut.
A male Beta fish will sometimes fling himself out of bowl to flop ingloriously on the flat of the tile floor and just dry there.
A pinned butterfly thinly breaks off his two wings into metallic dust in cold effort to fly once more.
And also he, my Republican boyfriend, hobbled away, leaving a shiny residue in my hand,
And a canine trail of blood to the door,
And when there, he barrel rolled swiftly under a coffee table.
Gills heaving, he was free to not be whatever he didn’t want to admit to being. And the man just stayed there.
Gills heaving, he was free to not be whatever he didn’t want to admit to being. And the man just stayed there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruiz is a resident of Swansea, Illinois and has attended Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. Aaron has also served as the Co-Editor of the McKendree Montage at McKendree University in Lebanon, IL. Aaron joined MetroEast NEWS as a contributor in January 2012 and provides freelance prose in various topics of choice. - "He was a Republican and dated me quickly." was not the original title of this article. It was adjusted for indexing.
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