cabs’ Editor’s Note Regarding The Target Boycott:
It is Christmastime folks, the time that we all flock to the stores (any store, every store!) in order to fill stockings and cross names off our gift lists. This may seem like the most difficult time of year to continue a boycott on Target, the super store of cheap and plenty. However, this is the most important time to continue it. This is when our boycott can make the most difference. This is when they expect us all to forget the significant anti-gay candidate support and overlook their refusal to apologize for it. This is when they know our desire to shop has the possibility to trump our values and sadly, our self-respect. But on the flipside, this is the time when they are counting on our cash the most. This is when they need the numbers in order to get out of the black for the year. And this is when a collective boycott by the GLBTQIA community can make the biggest impact. Don’t give them your money so that they can continue to give it to people who actively work for anti-equality legislation. There are plenty of online shops that can provide you with whatever you need. Consider doing one better than that. Consider heading out into your own cities and towns and buying your gifts from locally-owned businesses. Those are the businesses and people who support you. This season, choose to give your money back to them; choose to make that present for your loved one a present to your community as well. I plead with you, no matter how hard it might be to drive past the giant bullseye, don’t forget that they put a bullseye on your back. Put your money where your mouth is and buy local.
March Absence (Madness)
posted Apr 5, 2010 8:02 PM by Cabby Lawry [ updated Apr 5, 2010 8:06 PM by OutLoud Columbus ]
I sincerely apologize, folks, but I must admit… March Madness has my heart. I’m sorry I haven’t said anything in a month on this blog, but I promise, after tonight, I will be back without distraction! Until then…Go Butler!
~cabs
New Page on OutLoud!
posted Mar 11, 2010 12:57 PM by Cabby Lawry [ updated Mar 11, 2010 1:02 PM by OutLoud Columbus ]
Hey everybody…
In case you didn’t notice it on the homepage… I just created a new page for you to check out (or if you have something to add, please email it to me and I’ll add it). It’s called: Why OutLoud Loves Jennifer Brunner. Please click on it under Info & Extras and see if you agree.
Plus One – Jennifer Brunner
posted Mar 11, 2010 7:19 AM by Cabby Lawry [ updated Mar 11, 2010 7:47 AM by OutLoud Columbus ]
Yesterday, I got a call from Jennifer Brunner’s office confirming that she, too, will be there this Saturday to talk about House Bill 176! She is currently the Secretary of State here in Ohio, but for those of you who don’t already know, she is running for the U.S. Senate. We are so excited! It is really inspiring that we may have an ally in the Senate if we can get her elected. Her willingness to join us at this event and speak on behalf on HB 176 feels promising that when in the Senate, she might continue to fight for our community. Here’s to Jennifer Brunner! I can’t wait to hear from her, as well as Dan Stewart and Sue Doerfer on Saturday.
rambles from a scrambled brain…
Whew! Madness! This has been a crazy and intense couple of weeks! I’ve been doing lots of stuff, most of it surrounding the exciting March 13th OutLoud. Yep, it’s true. I got State Representative Dan Stewart to come and talk about the bill he sponsored. And, I got Sue Doerfer, the new Executive Director of Equality Ohio, to come talk about what we can do to help make that bill law. I’m talking about House Bill 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act. The idea that, in Ohio, it is still legal to be fired for being gay blows my mind. The bill passed in the House by a vote of 56 to 39. 39 people voted to continue allowing discrimination in housing and employment against the LGBT community. So this isn’t just a matter of technicality, where we all realize it’s clearly wrong, but we just haven’t gotten around to passing it. 39 people still fought against it.
I’m also desperately trying to find someone who knows sign language to come and interpret for us, but that is proving a little more difficult. (If you or someone you know can help, PLEASE shoot me an email!) I spoke with Chris, who runs a monthly meeting at Stonewall for the hearing impaired, who thanked me for bothering to try getting an interpreter. Unfortunately, OutLoud can’t quite swing the price tag of paid interpreters just yet, so the couple of possibilities I’ve encountered aren’t actually possibilities. However, I feel more determined than ever to find someone after receiving the sincere appreciation.
I researched the format and sent out press releases to try to let everyone know about the speakers. I’m sure there are plenty of media folks out there chuckling a bit at my first attempt at a press release, but hey, ya gotta start somewhere, huh?
It’s been a lot of work and there are still 6 more days of work ahead to make this happen, but I’m hoping that something incredible will come out of all of this. I hope the Center is filled. I hope that people learn something new. I hope that we all find a way to better the world in our own individual ways, be it something small or something huge. I hope we all feel a sense of community. I hope somebody’s support chain grows by one more person. I hope that House Bill 176 gets closer to becoming a law because we manage to raise awareness about the issue in an honest and educational manner. And, most of all, I hope to see you there.