[Editor Note: I received this email from Marlee and Tully of Sugarbeach, who have some great news to announce. Congratulations! - Editor]
Hey Sophia!
Hope you gals are doing well!
We thought we’d send you this as it might interesting to you.
We have just written and recorded this years’ theme song for Vancouver Pride 2008, “Living Out Proud”. Vancouver will be using it for the kick off of events and media liaisons as well as in the parade. So far 7 other major cities around the world have also decided to use it…some have put it on their website already. The cities include, Seattle, Ottawa, Charlotte, North Carolina (where we will be performing at their pride in July), Toronto (it looks like Proud FM may be playing it as well) , Kentucky and Cornwall, UK. We are totally jazzed by the great response we have gotten.
We have given it to them for free to use however they need it and it is also downloadable for free on our myspace page.
“Living Out Proud” is a celebration of Pride as well as an encouragement for LGBT people to come out in every aspect of their lives and we’re hoping it also reaches the ears and the hearts of those in prominent positions whose coming out, we feel, could make such a positive impact on the lives and rights of LGBT people everywhere.
So there you go!
Chat soon…thanks,
Marlee and Tully
from SUGARBEACH
Letter to LQ’s Editor from Corea Ladner:
Hello:
Perhaps you are already aware that an education guide that encourages tolerance for gay/lesbian/transgendered diversity in the schools is being compaigned against being available in BC schools.
The article states that ‘This week the Catholic Civil Rights League, a lay group, urged parents to protest against the guide over its inclusion of gay issues including same-sex marriage.’
Please see the following link for the full article. http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/03/032608school.htm
I would suggest that, since the CCRL is working to kill the guide, It would be helpful for us to send an email to the Education Minister to ensure the guide is used. Perhaps you could distribute this information if you have an elist and/or like minded friends and encourage everyone to send an email.
I’ve included below the email letter that I sent to Shirley if you would simply like to forward it with your own name.
Ms. Bond’s email address and website are as follows. Thank you for yor help.
http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/38thparl/bond.htm
shirley.bond.mla.@leg.bc.ca
Dear Shirley Bond,
Public schools must be inclusive of all minorities. Gay and lesbian people make up 10 % of the population, including school children. Particularly in high school, gays. lesbians, bisexuals, and trnasgendered teens feel as if the whole system is created by and for people unlike them. Moreover, they are likely to suffer violence simply because they are gay – or are perceived to be gay.
Positive role models and an understanding of how gay culture has influenced and contributed to mainstream culture will help eliminate the discrimination suffered by GLBT youth in school. As Education Minister, I feel that you have a golden opportunity to help eliminate violence and discrimination in school – and in society by releasing the Education Guide, “Making Space, Giving Voice.”
Please help be part of the solution that brings compassion, knowledge and understanding into a culture that has suffered immeasurably by the ignorance of centuries of religious oppression and ignorance.
Please do so immediately and give it your full support. Thank you for your time.
Corea Ladner, Human Service Worker, BA
Okay, they’re not local gals, but good on them for winning this mainstream music award. Congratulations Wicked Jezabel.
Recent email to LQ:
I am a member of Wicked Jezabel, the Baltimore-DC area’s only all-female, all-gay party band. I would like to announce that on Feb 17, 2008, we were awarded the “Wammy Award” for “Best duo/group in Hard Rock” category for 2007 by the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA). ”We’re probably not only the first all-female band to win a Wammie, but we’re the only all-lesbian band to win a Wammie in 22 years.” I hope you find this announcement is of interest to our community.
Thank you,
Mickey Dehn
www.myspace.com/wickedjezabel
www.wickedjezabel.com
