Chocololic's Unite

If you are a chocoholic like I am you will be alarmed by the article in the Washington Post this morning. Chocolate Purists Alarmed by Proposal To Fudge Standards I read that as a direct assault on my palate. Every day I need a chocolate fix. Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and even White Chocolate. I especially like Ambrosia Blue Ribbon Dark Chocolate. I for one will be really mad if they substitute some other "fat" in my chocolate. Its bad enough that you can't get your favorite cookies with Real Chocolate but some disgusting adulterated Fudge like covering that they dare to call chocolate.

In short I call all Chocoholics to unite and write or phone the Food and Drug Administration and protest. We want pure chocolate. It is a violation of our Constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness.

To life, liberty and the pursuit of

Chocolate.

Brew City Bears Blame Game Begins

How interesting it is that after I resigned my position as Secretary (one I was not elected to but was asked to fill because of another resignation) that now I am blamed for the alleged gross mismanagement of its leaders for the impending demise of the club. Out of the kindness of my heart I even wrote a letter suggesting a way to get new members and let people know that they still existed. Essentially I suggested that they have a social night at one of the local watering holes and talk up the club as a social organization to drum up new members. This was met with resounding negative remarks. "That won't work. Nobody wants to do that." best of all they said that no one would participate. How pathetic.

Guys if you don't try, nothing is going to happen. For Pete's sake take Responsibility for what is happening.

This is one of the biggest problems in our society. No one wants to take responsibility for the mess they've gotten themselves into. It is much easier to seek out a scapegoat to blame all their problems on. It is the selfish "Me" attitude and the "I don't want to get involved" Let Joe do it that is the problem. Let us not forget "The Devil made me do it." In my opinion, pure horse dung.

Oh, by the way, what goes around comes around and it did. Don't think for one minute that I don't know what is happening out there. They don't call me The Hawk for nothing.

LGBT Communtiy Breakfast

Or everything you wanted to know about the Pride Parade

Pridefest and the Protesters

Every year it seems we go over the same things. Am I the only one who remembered to bring a tape recorder (actually a digital recorder) to record the meeting? Believe me it is much easier to review a tape later on to get all the facts straight.

the panelists were Maria Cadenas the moderator and director of the Cream City Foundation. Next was Cindy Odya-Weis aka Mama Q (Pflag), Jim Melotte (VPof the Pride Parade), Scott Gunkel (President of Pridefest) at the main table.

The first order of business was to have each person introduce themselves so that those in attendance knew who were attending and the amount of community representation we had.

A brief synopsis of the entertainment that would be performing at Pridefest during the weekend, the hours of operation and cost of tickets. Of concern was the need for cooperation between the Parade Sponsors and Pridefest organizers that we need to work together in order to provide a good experience for those patrons attending the festival and parade. Pridefest this year is making available large packets of tickets available for purchase at a good discount. Free entry will also be available each day with the donation of at least Four non-perishable food donations to the Food Pantry near the front gate. This is great for those with limited finances who would like to attend.

Several suggestions for the Pride Parade were made including shortening the route to increase or consolidate the crowd along the street. Another was to have the Parade on a different day in order to extend our Pride celebration into a week long celebration. It e idea is that the Parade would not be as much in competition with Pridefest and it may even discourage protesters or lessen the intensity.

The biggest discussion centered on the Protesters who it seems have changed their tactics and seem to be concentrating more on the parade than on protesting across from Pridefest. It was discussed that sensitivity training for the Police personnel who are assigned or volunteer to patrol at Pridefest would be necessary and help in delicate situations. Working with bar owners in obtaining permits extending the area in front for private use during the Parade would help curb the interference by protesters. Perhaps passing out flyer's about the protesters and what will and what will not be tolerated by the police. My suggestion is to ignore them like they don't exist and not say anything. Responding to them is what they want.

PFLAG is planning to have Cheerleaders and support and guidance for those people needing it during the Parade and around Pridefest.

Other topics that were discussed were the possibility of growing our celebration into a Pride Week instead of just a weekend. The impact of the Amendment on this years activities and recognition of the great work done by FORGE in their first national FTM/SOFFA conference held in Milwaukee.

Here's a Question?

How do you feel about growing our festival into a Pride Week? Think about other cities where the celebration is a week long event (or longer) and how it effected your vision. What kind of things can we come up with that can extend Pride into a week long event?

Click the comment button and tell us your suggestions.

Interweave meets tomprrow

Interweave the 1st UU LGBTIQ contingent of the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee will be meeting Tomorrow April 12th at 6:30 pm to continue their discussion of their strategic initiative and strategy for the upcoming year. I know that sounds a little uninteresting but it is not. What it really boils down to is a planning session for the upcoming year. They meet at the 1st Unitarian Society located at Astor and Ogden. If the door is locked, ring the bell and someone will let you in. Everyone from the Gay/straight community is invited to join in. With all the cruddy weather we are having, what better thing to do on a dismal Thursday evening? Come on down, have fun and meet some new friends. I plan to be there.

Happy Birthday Elton John

In case you missed it last night on TV it was Elton John's 60th Birthday. I captured some pictures off the TV. Enjoy and may I say Happy Birthday Elton.

Eldon Murray Memorial

As many may know one of our elders passed away on March 5th 2007. About a week ago there was a memorial service for Eldon for members of our community. I got to know Eldon several years back as a member of SAGE at the time. In case you weren't able to attend I have posted some pictures here. I never reealized all that he did for us. Also my prevoius blog (La Garou) has the kinks tothe editorial and obituary. We'll miss you Eldon.

Whats going on with the Bears?

Perhaps some of you know and then perhaps you don't know that I have been involved with several local gay newspapers. First and foremost The Wisconsin Light and sporadically the InStep magazine. While in high school I was the school newspaper chief photographer. To say that photography and journalism or photojournalism is a passion would be an understatement.

Since moving here with my parents to Wisconsin I have been involved with all aspects of the LGBT community from Action Wisconsin to the Bear Club. Once again the journalistic bug has bitten and I have resigned from most organizations to pursue this passion. Which brings me to the question, Whats happening with the Bears?

First they lost their home bar then many members dropped out or have not renewed their membership. Late December elections for new officers were held and several positions remained vacant. Now it looks like they have suspended the By-Laws and upon defeating a motion to disband are contemplating the club's future. With only a third of the roster remaining, will they be able to recruit new members and breathe new life into the organization? Will they be able to regain their home bar? I guess we will have to wait and see.

Seeing as they have temporarily suspended the by-laws can women join too? After all there are Mama Bears and there are Papa Bears. Besides where do you think little Bears come from? Didn't their constitution say something about being a Social Club who welcomed Bears and their Admirers? I can tell you that I know some women who consider themselves Bears. I think they will be a great asset if the club lets them join. Personally I think we should end our internalized homophobia and join together as one big happy family. Lets get rid of the Boys Club mentality, that is so old. But will they do it? That is the question.
Can they pull it off? Lets wait and see.

La Fraternitie du Loup-Garou

The Leather Club for FTMs and their supporters was held at the HARBOR ROOM with a bar night and beer bust. Although it was raining pretty hard that evening the crowd was moderate and not too crowded which made for a interesting time. There were a nice mix of locals and some who had ventured up to Milwaukee's bar scene.

I don't know about anyone else but I had a good time meeting new people and engaging in dialogue with the members.

Forge Forward update

Well I made it to the Forge conference. It is at the Four points Sheraton at the corner of Layton Ave and Howell right by the General Mitchell International Airport. The parking lot is packed and the hotel is huge. Most of the conference is down the hall next to the restaurant. It is on two floors with conferences too numerous to mention. There is a vendor section which has all kinds of information on all kinds of transgender issues. It is very interesting and there are lots of people to meet and network with. It is estimated that there are over four hundred people attending the conference. I really hope that those who attended the conference has had a really good time.