What were they thinking? Or were they?

I really hate to keep on harping about the issue but I just keep wondering what they were thinking of when the signed contract for the new LGB T Ctr. at 252 E. Highland St.? The only thing I can come up with was that they were just looking at the building in the interior and nothing else. No I can't say that the interior isn't fabulous because I really haven't seen it yet, but I am very concerned about parking and especially disabled access to the building, that being the lack of spaces for disabled parking and the appropriate and necessary sidewalk improvements. Not to mention parking in general for those people and especially groups who want to use the building.

I would strongly suggest you drive by the building and pull into what is called Market Street which happens to be a private alley which leads to a private parking garage and not public parking. And if you really want to amuse yourself as you're driving into Market Street carefully read the signs on the east side of the street. You will also note that there is a no parking sign by the City of Milwaukee facing in the wrong direction on the same side of the street. As you read this sign you will notice that there are surveillance cameras overlooking these parking spaces indicating that anyone who is not a tenant will be ticketed and towed. On the front of the building, on Highland Street again all parking in that area is metered parking. Let us not forget that directly across the street is the Milwaukee School of Engineering whose students during season tend to take up every available parking space. Kitty corner from the new LGB T Ctr. is the 1000 N. Water St. structure with eight floors of available parking, access is from the East but in order to exit you must exit from the West or you can walk down the steep incline or take eight stories worth of stairs to exit to the East. Monthly parking for this garage is approximately $100 per month and daily parking is usually about eight dollars a day if you enter before 8 AM and leave before 5 PM. All parking is automated with no attendance available.

The problem is, I have confronted to both Maggie Cage and the operations manager Dave Martin to the LGB T Ctr. and they are notoriously quiet about what is going on with the new facilities. Upon publishing the several articles such as this one I still get no response. Even the gay newspapers the Quest and the Wisconsin Gazette have failed to make any mentions concerning these problems with the new LGB T Ctr. Apparently they are only interested in politics, suicides and entertainment and not much else.

I'm afraid this is going to be one of those "I told you so" stories. Too bad everyone it is turning a deaf ear because unfortunately they have to learn the hard way, so I guess I have to say welcome to the School of Hard Knocks. It's really too bad too because they are past the point of no return and there is no way of getting out of their contract at this point in time. The idea was good but the planning sucks. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Such is life.

The reasons for my journalism

Contrary to popular belief I do not like to stir up controversy. As a journalist and semi-professional photographer ( now learning vidiography) I believe it is my duty when I am made aware of the goings on in our community that may be detrimental that those responsible be held responsible. Publicly exposing possible alleged wrong doing is necessary in order to maintain a healthy LGBT community.

It is unfortunate that the local gay media only concentrates on (besides our current political climate IE. domestic partner and DADT) only the Good News and buries its head in the sand on important issues concerning the egotistical and narcissistic proclivities of its leaders. We must remember that we elected or appointed them as spokesmen and mentors for the organizations they are responsible for. The problem is that Power sometimes goes to their heads and bad things can be the result. Truth be told, many people can not handle Power and that is the reason that we must hold them responsible for their actions.

A prime example comes to mind the New LGBT Center 252 E. Highland St. where there is almost no adequate parking (unless you want to pay a premium to a parking garage) not to mention Disabled Parking or ADA access (yes there is a ramp to the doorway but no marked vehicular space for access front or back) to the building. If my memory serves me right, if more than 30% of the interior of the building is remodeled the rest of it must also be made ADA compliant.

There is virtually no parking on the street nor any marked Disabled parking near the entrance. When MSOE in in session, forget it. Forget about Friday or Saturday evening when all the Bars a block away are loaded with people, not to mention the parking situation. No Gay person in his right mind will want to be there then. I aught to know as an assistant nighttime patrol supervisor I had to patrol that area and can relate first hand what goes on.

Things you didn't know about that new LGB T community center

As you know the LGBT community center is moving from court street. Some of you have gone to the hardhat party and have seen the interior of the building with work in progress. Unfortunately I was not able to go because of these spinal injury and because I was in the hospital getting a pacemaker. Now if you Google the address for the new LGBT Ctr. you can look at it from several angles. The new LGBT Ctr. will be located at 252 E. Highland Ave. directly across some Milwaukee school of engineering and kitty corner from one of those large major garages. The problem is I am very concerned about access to the building and A.D.A. compliance inside the building. Upon speaking with one of the representatives of the old LGBT Ctr. I was informed that instead of using the door on the Highland Avenue side they door around the corner would be used for entry and exit. I was also informed that the upstairs or I should say the second floor will be ADA compliant. According to the specifications when it a building is upgraded more than 35% that all of the building must be ADA compliant. Not just a portion of it.
For the past two years I was a assistant patrol supervisor patrolling four major garages in the downtown Milwaukee area specifically one West and South nearby or should I say kitty corner from the new LGBT Ctr. I can tell you specifically that there is no exit from this building other than from the South side of the building or the Westside from the Performing Arts Center and from the East a very steep ramp. To the east of the new center is the Milwaukee school of engineering parking lot. MSOE does not allow anyone except students to park in a parking lot and if you do you will get ticketed and towed. Most of the parking around MSOE is metered parking and there is very seldom a space available. I was informed that there would be parking on the side of the building apparently where the new entryway is located. I will we have to buzz to get into this one too? I Assume several of these spots will be for disabled parking. The street is basically a cul-de-sac and there is very little parking available.

I was informed that the center has negotiated private parking within one of the structures nearby the center. Exactly who is going to use these parking spaces is a good question. What I don't think anybody realizes is that these negotiated spaces will be used by people who run the center. This eliminates the cost of parking downtown and allows these people access to almost everything downtown (no more meters to plug remember?) because according to them it's all within walking distance. (surprise surprise)Most parking downtown cost no less than $100 per month, and don't even mention those god-awful parking meters something I don't think these people are going to have to pay for ever. This is one of the perks that you and I are going to be paying for through our donations, believe it or not. Where the funding is going to come from for these costly parking spaces is a very good question. And my question is should we be footing the bill for this parking through our donations?

The last thing I would like to point out is that parking in that area is a premium because it is within a block or so of at least 20 bars which are packed solid Friday and Saturday evenings. And I don't know of too many gay people who were going to want to be around during during that time when there are hundreds of rowdy college students in the area. Believe me I know because I had to kick a lot of them out of the garages and break up fights and other stuff like that at closing time. On summer nights the police would cordon off the area and he only way you could go was home. So there you have it, a place I would consider not a very good (think lousy) location with very limited parking and very few answers forthcoming.

Did you hear the LGBT center is moving?

Have you heard the LGBT center is moving?

I am sorry but I have a big problem with that. Actually I have several problems with it. First of all they are moving into an office building across the street from MSOE, 1000 N. Water St. with its attendant parking garage which I am afraid to say does not comply with accommodations for people who are disabled. Not only that but the parking lot east of the building cannot be used for parking because it is part of the Milwaukee school of engineering and they don't allow anyone to park there unless you are a student and have a valid MS O E. parking permit which I am sure none of us will be able to get. I spoke with Patrick Price and Maggie Cage on the telephone and he/she indicated that the first floor was going to be used for for LGB T. group's and project Q. the second floor which he indicated contains the mezzanine will be used by the Galano Club. And from what I can see looking at Google maps using their street view that the third floor will be used for offices for those running it the LGB T. Center.

One of my biggest problems number one is where the building is located, right smack dab in the middle of the entertainment district. You know the area where the performing arts Center is located and about 20 bars frequented by college types FRiday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Needless to say parking is still a premium. Metered parking is available on the street and at night for free if you can find a parking place. And they indicated that they had negotiated parking spaces with a nearby condominium development. Unfortunately these parking spaces do not comply with the Americans with disabilities act because there are no parking places within a reasonable distance of the entrance to the new center. Once again this building is also on a slight decline, or incline whichever you prefer making it difficult for anyone in a wheelchair to access the front door of the building. The bottom casement of the front door is not even with the cement sidewalk and therefore making it difficult for someone in a wheelchair to enter the building.

Unless you are part of the aging LGB T. community these inconsistencies become a very big problem when it is very difficult for you to negotiate, walk or use a wheelchair to get around. As far as I can see there are no disabled parking spaces nearby. There are also no buses within a reasonable distance of this new center. For this reason many of us will probably never visit the new center. Now if you would like to take the two-hour hardhat tour of the building in June, please be my guest. Anyway I would strongly suggest that anyone should check this out and let our leaders know what you think. Now I know one of the arguments they are going to make is that they want to be accessible to the kids who use project Q., but I ask you how many of these kids live close to the LGBT. Center? Inquiring minds would like to know. Maybe it's time that we form our own LGB T. Tea Party. Just a thought.

Why we don't need to celebrate our relationships at pridefest

If we read in gay history we find that prior to stonewall in 1969 and in prior-years being gay was considered by most people to be an aberration and was unfortunately classified as a psychological problem necessitating institutionalization and some of the most horrific therapies. We were considered to be sexual deviants subject of police raids and incarceration. Then in 1969 something happened at the stonewall inn in New York City with a bunch of female impersonators decided they weren't going to take it anymore, and the riots began and the rest is history.
Years later after the American psychiatric Association dropped homosexuality from the DSM 4 book of diagnostic criteria did we finally decide to celebrate who we are throughout the United States with gay pride celebrations. Somewhere during this time many GL BT individuals and organizations also wanted to celebrate our love for one another and our desire as same-sex couples to protest the laws restricting us from our God-given right to marriage. As a way of publicly protesting many organizations including pridefest decided to hold mass wedding ceremonies as our way to bring our plight to light.

In the meantime many individuals and organizations were pushing within the political arena within many of our capital cities and governmental agencies to push for the right to marry. This in turn caused a backlash within the organized religious communities who collectively worked to ban gay marriage through constitutional amendments starting with Hawaii and continuing across the United States until almost every state banned gay marriage. Although many gay organizations are working to over turn constitutional amendments we still cannot legally marry or be recognized as married couple where we live.

Here in Wisconsin state's constitution has been amended to ban gay marriage. The state and its municipalities no longer recognize a gay marriage. Prior to the state constitution being amended many gay people participated in mass marriage ceremonies at pridefest. After the constitutional amendment was passed a celebration of Mass. marriages celebrated at pridefest dropped dramatically from well over 100 to less than 10. Each year the number had dropped off. As an ordained minister and Deacon for the MCC it has always been my belief that we do not need the government's blessing. If we need anything from the government we can either get it from domestic partnerships or through legal documentation from gay friendly lawyers. It has also been very strongly my belief that a celebration of our partnerships and or commitments are between us and God and not the government. Therefore I highly recommend that we seek out our favorite church to privately celebrate our commitment. We really don't need to do it during the carnival atmosphere of pridefest.

Pants on the floor or your head up your ass?

American Idol song of "Pants on the ground" has really become a hit, but why do some people (pardon my French) walk around with their heads up their asses? Is it just the way they are or are they just plain dumb as hell? Now I've heard arguments for and against questioning someone's credentials. In case of ministers there are two schools of thought. Older ministers especially those from the Bible Belt who were brought up at a very young age preaching the gospel tent meetings will quote the Bible specifically John chapter 15 verse 16 "yet not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask a the father in my name, he may give it you."To validate their credentials of ministry. They sincerely believe that God called them to preach and Shepherd the masses. As we approach the 21st century the call to ministry has changed. People nowadays are much better educated and no longer accept the biblical verses quoted by old-time preachers as validity for the call to preach or being the leader of the church or other religious organization. In order to provide the liturgy and to be ordained as clergy we now insist that that person meets certain educational requirements. Ordination only occurs after satisfactory completion of the curriculum in seminary.
Unfortunately in our society in this day and age there are many dishonest people. Therefore the requirements that a person completes a religious course in seminary has become mandatory. Any person claiming to be a minister would be required to produce some sort of the diploma or other proof of training before they can be ordained by their chosen faith or religious organization. Refusal to do so of course would be reason to refuse any application to any religious order organization.
And although there may be many sincere individuals who would like to become ministers in their chosen faith lack of education and psychological evaluation has become necessary in over to prevent any bad things from happening or anyone with a criminal or psychological impairment from being allowed to practice. I cite the current problems within the Catholic Church with many priests who have not been psychologically evaluated leading to rampant pedophilia within the church's clergy. Unfortunately some people are not psychologically qualified to serve as ministers or clergy. There are also other problems which can and do occur from the self proclaimed clergy concerning the monetary abuse of state and federal tax laws. Unfortunately there are people who abuse the process for their own inurement therefore violating the tax code.
I am not the only one who has challenged certain individuals credentials of ministry. Most of those I have asked have no problem providing proof. Others on the other hand have chosen to not produce evidence here pertain to their ordination or the corporate status of their church as a religious organization as defined by IR code 501(c)(3). It is my personal opinion that anyone who bocks at producing credentials of ministry or organizational information should be in my opinion suspect. Dealing with that organization would be at your own risk.

Rainbow Community Picnic

The rainbow community picnic


Saturday, July 18 was a beautiful day to have a picnic. This was a day the rainbow community picnic was held behind the community center at Washington Park. Placing the picnic area behind the community center allowed for easy access for those with disabilities. The area directly behind the center was paved along with a concrete walk parallel to the picnic area which itself was essentially flat. This year plastic lawn chairs were put out for people to sit in along with maybe about four canvas chairs. You know the ones that once you get into you have a heck of a time getting out of. I should know I own one of them, but I don't use it very often. Picnic a tables were set up in several rows with tents covering all of them in case mother nature should decide to sprinkle on us. The weather cooperated and the temperature was perfect with very little breeze. There were the usual hot dogs and hamburgers, sausages and brat worst and veggie burgers and every kind of salad you could think of and then some. Dessert consisted of pies and cakes and cookies of every description. Enough I believe to feed an army. Conservatively my estimate of the number of people was at least 75 and perhaps more. The youngest person there was one year old and the oldest was 94. Games were set up for the kids consisting of balls on strings that would be tossed onto a stand made of plastic tubing. My guess is that the person who was able to get the most balls onto the stand would be winner. So if you didn't go you missed a wonderful time great food and great people.

Follow me on Twitter

Hey I'm now on Twitter in case you are interested. garyrh is the name to follow.
Join in the fun

Where were you Mr Witlowiak?

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/47533542.html

Where were you
Alderman Witkowiak ?

When two officers were shot yesterday in front of two gay bars on the south side. And don't tell me you were too busy to come down here along with the chief of police the mayor in the district attorney. Why is it so hard to show up in person rather than issuing a written statement which to us means nothing other than the fact that you don't care about what happens in this neighborhood.

Why isn't Mr. Witkowiak out there asking the common Council for additional resources for the addition of funds in his district which is impacted by an excessive amount of violence? In my opinion you are not doing the job you are elected to do and if it were up to me you would never be elected again. So let's stop sitting on our butts and get going and do something about what's happening. I talked to a person in your office who said that this was only an isolated incident and not to worry about it. What kind of response is that? It's obvious to me that you and the people your office don't care about what's going on in your district, and you should. Shame on you Mr. Witkowiak and shame on the people in your office and especially you at this important time for not showing up in person.

Please answer one more last question. Why does this chief of police and the mayor of Milwaukee have to be the ones that are doing the job that you should be doing? After all you're supposed to be a spokesman for this district.

Announcing pridefest celebration of our commitments

Things are changing at pridefest this year. Gone is the mass marriage ceremony instead in its place is a ceremony honoring our relationships. As we all are aware constitutional amendments were made several years ago preventing us from celebrating the institutional churches monopoly on marriage. And although we have made strides in various states throughout the union that are now recognizing gay marriage but we still have a long way to go. I personally don't believe in the institution of marriage, it is antiquated, it is restrictive and no longer relevant. Way back when I was on the board of Action Wisconsin I said that if we wanted marriage we must first get Domestic Partnerships and once we get our foot in the door then and only then do we go after the institution of marriage, because by then we will have gotten 99% of the benefits that marriage offers. We must also remember that marriage or the institution thereof is between ourselves and God and not between us and the government. Apparently most of us have forgotten that or ignored it at the worst. I know that many of you will disagree with my sentiments but unfortunately it is the truth.

I am extremely happy to present to you here Pridefests new celebration of our commitment which will be presented by the Universal Angelican Church presided by the Right Rev. Bishop Craig Berglund. I have included the YouTube announcement for your edification.