Topic: Activism

David Shelton is Passion Without Compromise

By Terry McMoore | April 18, 2007 |

I will never see the story of Sodom and Gomorrah the same again and I will question any passage or written work on the subject of Gay, Lesbian or Homosexuals be it negative or positive. I came to this conclusion after hearing David Shelton speak at Austin Peay State University (APSU) about his book The Rainbow Kingdom and his lecture on clearing up a few myths about the Gay and Lesbian Community and cultural.

My whole life I was led to believe that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was cursed and destroyed because of the homosexual acts. I was also taught that were committed and that God just got feed up with their acts and destroyed the two cities with fire and brimstone. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Issues, Spirituality | No Comments

Tennessee Equality Project Foundation

By Debbie Boen | January 29, 2007 |

The Tennessee Equality Project Foundation presents the following Lobbying 101 event to prepare you to advocate for equality. We need you at these events: Lobbying 101 in Clarksville & Advancing Equality Day on the Hill!

Lobbying 101 in Clarksville

Thursday, February 1, 7-9 pm
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clarksville
3053 U.S. 41-A

Advancing Equality Day on the Hill

Tuesday, February 20 at 8:30 a.m., the Tennessee Equality Project presents the 3rd annual Advancing Equality Day On The Hill, a day in Nashville meeting with your legislators to express your views on proposed legislation affecting the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community.

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Frame Your Message

By Debbie Boen | January 22, 2007 |

You are invited to a meeting on Framing Your Message on Tuesday, Jan. 30th, 10 am to 3 pm, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 419 Woodland Street (corner of 5th Street & Woodland in East Nashville.) This is being sponsored by the Common Message Project. A description of the Project is below.

Patrick Bresette of Demos, a New York-based network for action and ideas, will lead us in a comprehensive workshop on framing messages for maximum impact. We will be looking at framing in the context of the common progressive message that we are developing to test market across the state of Tennessee but the information Patrick will share is also useful if you are trying to get a message out about your issue or your campaign. «Read the rest of this article»

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U.S. casualties in Iraq hit 3,000

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 31, 2006 |

The FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties held a Peace Vigil Sunday at Patriot’s Park in Clarksville to mark another milestone in the Iraq War: 3,000 troops lost over the duration of the war.

Coming on the last day of 2006, the 3,000th death marks a sad ending to a grim year of loss, and sets a tragic baseline from which to start the New Year.

Large signs placed facing both north and southbound traffic asked the question: “3,000 dead; how many more have to die?” They also cited statistics that included the number of non-fatal injuries (45,000+) and the high incidence of mental health issues including post-traumatic stress that according to government reports affect about 25% of returning soldiers, a number some local psychologists and therapists feel is grossly understated. Iraq civilian casualties are estimated to be between 52,000 and 57,000. (Statistics from icasualties.org)

The vigil was organized by FreeThinkers founder, artist and activist Debbie Boen and activist/writer Christine Piesyk. Boen was saddened and frustrated by today’s milestone number, which has been relatively unheralded, unnoticed in the bustle of the holiday season. «Read the rest of this article»

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One button says it all, Don’t buy war toys

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 10, 2006 |

I was rumaging through the last boxes, the little boxes packed within boxes, of things to sort in my new home, when I found this small blue button and its four word slogan, “Don’t buy war toys,” one of several given to me years ago by teacher, activist, and author Joyce Kornbluh, my inspirational first advisor at Goddard College in rural Vermont. The others had to to with the women’s labor movement, her passion.

I held it in my hand as I first considered putting it in my personal treasures box. Not good enough, I thought. I need to wear this again, now, when the frenzy of holiday shopping is at its peak and the fatalities in Iraq are skyrocketing toward the 3000 mark and the newest movies are being heralded as “bloodbaths,” each director trying to outdo competitors in graphic audio/visual detail. «Read the rest of this article»

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Day Without Art 2006

By Curtis Davis | December 1, 2006 |

On December 1, the Austin Peay State University Gay-Straight Alliance will sponsor Day Without Art 2006. The event will be held in front of Trahern Gallery in the Trahern Building at Austin Peay State University. The community at large is welcome to attend. Day Without Art coincides with World AIDS Day and launches each year on the first day of December. Day Without Art culminates in an annual observance that publicly unites individuals and organizations around the world on the impact of HIV/AIDS, while simultaneously fostering AIDS awareness. 

A day without the art work that one is used to viewing on campus on a daily basis is a silent, yet poignant vigil to those who have died, or been infected from the disease. World AIDS Day bills itself as “one of the most successful international days with activities taking place in almost all countries at the national and local levels.” The theme for 2006, according to www.worldaidsday.org, will be: “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Events | No Comments

New toy and a shocking discovery

By Bill Larson | November 27, 2006 |

On black Friday, like many other Clarksvillians, I was out and about very early. At exactly 5am I was pulling into the filled to capacity parking lot in front of Best Buy. I was there to check out some of the holiday sales.

I found a nice camera in my low price range. A Panasonic Lumix model DMC-LZ3 for $149.00. I saved roughly $30.00 on the camera which by it’s self wouldn’t have encourage me to buy that day. But Best Buy also had the SD memory cards on sale. I was able to find a 2 gig memory card for the camera for only $29, a savings of $50.00 or more. Not wanting to endure the huge line I returned the camera with plans to return in the afternoon to pick it up. «Read the rest of this article»

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Vote no on 1 Tennessee Rally

By Bill Larson | October 19, 2006 |

On October 20, the Austin Peay State University Gay-Straight Alliance (G.S.A), an ardent bastion for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender rights, also known as G.L.B.T. rights, will host a Vote No on Amendment No. 1 Rally. A panel of guest speakers will address the crowd on the implications for the G.L.B.T. community and the community at large.

Guest speakers include Dr. Marisa Richmond of the Vote NO on 1 TN Campaign Headquarters, David Shelton, Clarksville Pride Chairperson, Michael Covington, Clarksville Pride Treasurer and James Butler. Dr. Richmond will be the keynote speaker for the event. A question and answer session will be held.

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