Monthly Archives: July 2011

(Community Matters) Lori Hawkins story on HomeAway IPO, the Entrepreneurs Foundation, and hundreds of thousands for other nonprofits

(Community Matters) Seriously, Rick? and you’re running for President?

You gotta see the videos of the preachers he’s invited

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) Doug Manchester is promising to build this second hotel and his colleagues have adamantly expressed that he deserves City of Austin subsidies to do so.  If Austin subsidizes Doug Manchester’s development (even waiving fees) that’s putting money in his pocket to again fund pro LGBT discrimination campaigns. His letter of apology was remorseful about the LGBT community boycott of his San Diego hotel. He reserved the right to donate again.

“While I stand by my belief that as a private citizen I may make personal donations to causes and charitable organizations of my choosing . . . .”

(Community Matters) 15 Years After DOMA, Hearing Reveals a Nation Transformed

Nice story reminding us how far we have come. And, totally outrageous that the LGBT community is denied full equality in America – we have no federal (& few state) employment or housing protections much less equality in marriage or inheritance rights. Still, much, much progress in my life time. Hoping we wrap this second class citizenship up soon.

(Community Matters) Feels like the beginning of the end for Ms. Bachmann – which would be a good thing for America since she’s a lying, hateful woman

from Mike Allen’s Playbook: BACHMANN – TIME’s Michael Crowley: “ABC’s Brian Ross dashed after Bachmann, repeatedly asking whether she had ever missed a House vote due to a migraine. She ignored him. Ross pursued her into a parking area behind the stage. Her aides grew alarmed. When Ross made a beeline for the white SUV waiting to carry Bachmann away, two Bachmann men pounced on him, grabbing and pushing him multiple times with what looked to me like unusual force. In fact, I have never seen a reporter treated so roughly at a campaign event, especially not a presidential one Afterward, I asked Ross, a hard-nosed pro who nevertheless seemed slightly shaken, whether he had ever been treated so roughly. A few times, he told me. Mostly by Mafia people. http://ti.me/n6gbiE

@benpolitico: A fight with a broadcast network would be just terrible for Bachmann’s GOP primary campaign.

Bachmann has equated the LGBT community with Satan, her family earns a portion of their money providing “reparative therapy” to make gays and lesbians straight (a practice shown to do more harm than good and disavowed by professional psychiatric organizations), and while she rails against government spending and programs her family accepts farm subsidies and government healthcare payments.

(Community Matters) Cyrptic Productions is my nephew’s (Shaun Holifield’s) new music festival production company in Pensacola, Florida. Story in InWeekly

(Community Matters) I’d be seriously interested in David Brook’s listing of Congressmen within these categories – which aren’t unique to the GOP btw

(Community Matters) one would think there’s some line over which the group wouldn’t cross. They wouldn’t have to endorse the Democratic candidate but to support one who considers you a disciple of Satan

(Community Matters) After an exquisite meal at The Backspace (a serious contender for best new restaurant in Austin), Steven, Brent & I saw Page One: Inside the New York Times at the Violet Crown. The movie was disappointing – it was just news about the devolution of the New York Times, no real insight nor exploration of the economics & technology (internet) giving rise to the story. I had a hard time staying awake. Grade = D

(Community Matters) Just received a copy of this picture from the President’s April visit in Austin.

(Community Matters) a note I wrote in response to an email chain among national LGBT philanthropists, activists and bloggers:

Re: ACT UP – let’s not underestimate their value. It was* tremendous, critical, life-saving . . . much beyond their numbers.

Were it not for their “extreme” positions and demonstrations, those of us who were tasked with negotiating public financial support, services & research for people living with AIDS/HIV would NOT have achieved the successes we achieved in the 90s. In Austin, we didn’t have an ACT UP chapter. Friends and I had to create one when local elected officials began seeing our moderate proposals as radical.

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(Community Matters) There’s a guy at our church who’s dying. In fact, most of us thought his visit to St. James Episcopal three weeks ago would be his last. He had written a letter to all of us which the rector read aloud. James’ mom and brother attended the service, people said their goodbyes. And, I left wondering whether James might be Jesus in disguise.

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