The Hate Crimes Bill has passed the House this afternoon. For more information, check our thread on the boards about it.
Mom & Pops
A very happy 55th wedding anniversary to my two fantastic parents, today. 55 years! Imagine.
1000 of Them?
For those of you who are Stevie Nicks fans, the 17th annual Night of a 1000 Stevies is happening this year on May 11th. So go put on your white-winged doves & stand in front of the wind machine, if you like.
Trans Partners Drop In Group
Tonight is the Partners’ Drop-In Group at the LGBT Center. 7:30 – 9PM. Details here.
Urgent Action from NCTE
We are down to the wire on the federal hate crimes bill (H.R.1592).
This Thursday, May 3, the federal hate crime bill is scheduled to be voted on in the U.S. House. We really have a chance to pass this life-saving law this year.
But what we are hearing today is that the radical right has turned their lie machine on force blast and turned out their followers. Members of Congress and their staff are telling us that the people who hate us, who are lying about us, are contacting Congress in greater numbers than we are. That’s not unusual, but it is very dangerous. It is not unusual because that’s what they do: they scare their followers into calling their representatives in Congress. It is very dangerous because it could work this time.
What YOU Can Do
1. Find your member of Congress and call him or her.
2. Sign our petition supporting the hate crimes bill by clicking here.
3. Support the passage of this bill by joining us for NCTE’s annual Lobby Day on May 14-15!
Maypoles, Martyrs, and Mary’s Head
Happy May Day, no matter how you celebrate it:
In the Roman Catholic tradition, May is observed as Mary’s month, and May Day is usually a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this connection, Mary’s head (in works of art, school skits, etc.) will often be adorned with flowers.
or
The maypole is a tall wooden pole (traditionally of hawthorn or birch), sometimes erected with several long colored ribbons suspended from the top, festooned with flowers, draped in greenery and strapped with large circular wreaths, depending on local and regional variances.
or (my preference):
In addition, May Day in the United States is commonly regarded — at least by certain groups* — as a commemoration of the execution of the Haymarket martyrs who were arrested after the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, which occurred on May 4, but was the culmination of labor unrest which began on May 1. The date consequently became established as an anarchist and socialist holiday during the 20th century, and in these circles it is often known as International Workers’ Day or Labor Day. In this form, May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the working class and labor movement.
*That’s Wiki code for “pinkos.”