From the fingertips of Christopher Soden:
Queer Voltage: the theatre that produced the award-winning Queer Anarchy is pleased to announce a fundraiser : The First Annual Queer Voltage Queer Poets Competition. Any poet who self-identifies as GLBT may enter. 10-15 Finalists will be invited to read at a special event at 7PM, May 16th, 2009 at Teatro de La Muse in Plano, Texas. 1st (150.00) 2nd (75.00) and 3rd (50.00) place prizes will be awarded with three honorable mentions. All Finalists receive certificates and will be featured in a commemorative chapbook released at the Finalist's Reading. We hope to provide actors to read for finalists unable to attend, and a video tape of the event. You need not be present to win.
Entry fee is $5.00 per poem. Poets may submit three poems for $15.00 and a copy of the winning chapbook. No poem should exceed 3 pages. Contestant's name should not appear anywhere on poems. A cover sheet including contestant's full contact information (Name, address, phone number, email address) poem titles and brief bio should be enclosed. Checks and money orders should be made out to Queer Voltage. Entries must be postmarked by March 31st, 2009. Christopher S. Soden, Director : Queer Voltage, 7706 Meadow Road # 121, Dallas, Texas 75230. 469-228-1575. We accept email submissions : jlgdrd@gmail.com
Poems will be judged on craftsmanship, originality of language and subtlety. Poets must self-identify as GLBT poems submitted needn't queer issues. Judges are respected members of the literary community and represent a variety of disciplines and orientations. Top six winners will be chosen by preeminent Queer Poet and Pulitzer Prize Nominee, Cyrus Cassells. Queer Voltage is dedicated to the performance of ground-breaking, poignant and provocative drama to advance understanding and appreciation of the Queer Community as a whole.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Reinstate 4% State Sales Tax on Groceries!
I want to blog about more than Georgia politics; however, the members of the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives are keeping my attention.Representative Chuck Sims (pictured to the left) has sponsored HB 67, which would reinstate the 4% state sales tax on groceries. Too many Georgians are already hurting because of the economic crisis. Apparently, Representative Sims has no regard for them. Apparently, Representative Sims is not aware that many Georgian have to decide between paying bills, buying medications, and eating. Why make this worse? As my brother would say, I guess he's the kind of guy who would kick you in the balls when you're already down.
Besides being disappointed in Representative Sims, I am disappointed in the House Ways and Means Committee for giving HB 67 a favorable vote. Does the committee even have the best interest of Georgians in mind?
Yes, HB 67 does allow for Georgia income-tax filers to apply for a credit, every year, for the amount of state sales taxes they paid for groceries. I am sure Georgians will be excited and love to track a year's worth of grocery expenditures. I know I'd love nothing more than to become the receipt version of the cat lady. I should send Representative Sims a thank you card for looking out for us with this lovely part of the bill.
Alcohol sales do not tend to falter during hard economic times. In fact, alcohol sales often increase during hard economic times. Google it if you don't believe me. Why not propose an increase on alcohol sales? I am like the famed Gladys of The Ellen DeGeneres Show; I love Jesus, but I like to drink a little, and I would not mind an increase on the alcohol sales tax. Another idea with alcohol---our legislators could allow each county to decide whether or not there should be Sunday alcohol sales.
Another option to increase funds for the state is House Bill 39, which would increase the state tax on cigarettes. I think it seems logical to increase state taxes on alcohol and cigarettes before reinstating the sales tax on groceries. Don't you agree?
To Representative Sims: I guess you have never lived from pay check to pay check. You probably have never had to worry that you might not be able to feed your family. Four percent might not seem like a lot to you, but you need to realize the damage potential of 4%. Senator Sims, look out for all Georgians. Withdraw HB 67!
What can you do?
(1) Call Representative Chuck Sims at 404-656-3947 to demand he withdraw HB 67.
(2) Contact your House Representative to let him/her know you oppose HB 67.
(3) Contact the members of the House Ways and Means Committee via committee aid Lindsey Napier to express your frustration and disappointment of their favorable vote of HB 67. Email Lindsey Napier at lindsey.napier@house.ga.gov, or you can reach the committee via phone at 404-656-5103.
(4) Contact the House Ways and Means Committee to request support for HB 39. (Use the same way of communication as listed in #3.)
Monday, March 9, 2009
Senator Valencia Seay Answers the Question
Yesterday, I blasted Senator Valencia Seay for telling 11 Alive reporters that it wasn't any of their business if she has paid her state taxes or not. It seems that Senator Seay has come to reason, and she has reported that she has indeed paid her taxes. Why was answering yes so hard?
Better late than never.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Elected Officials Too Good to Pay Their Taxes?
A few weeks ago I heard rumblings that there are members of the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives behind on paying their state taxes. Then the AJC ran an article on the issue. Now, 11 Alive has tackled the issue.There are 16 House Representatives and 3 Senators who are not up to date on their taxes. 11 Alive has placed calls to elected officials giving them a chance to comment on whether or not their taxes are paid. Click here to see who 11 Alive is waiting to hear from and who has cooperated with 11 Alive. The elected officials won't remain nameless forever. Once they have been served papers from the Georgia Department of Revenue and given time to respond, their names will available to the public.
Senator Eric Johnson (pictured above), Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, in some circles, is receiving credit for trying to crack down on his peers who aren't paying their taxes. Before you praise Senator Eric Johnson, please note that a majority of the lawmakers who are not current on their taxes have been delinquent for a couple of years or more. Why did Senator Eric Johnson wait so long to raise the red flag? Oh, I guess his candidacy for Lt. Governor has something to do with it.
A message for Senator Eric Johnson: At first, some of the good citizens of Georgia will probably fall for your "I care routine," but it won't take them to see you treat politics like a game of poker, and sir, you play dirty. Your actions show your interest lies within your desire for power. For the sake of your own dignity, please stop the pathetic pandering for votes, and do what an elected official should do-- genuinely look out for the citizens of Georgia.
Let us turn our attention to Senator Valencia Seay (pictured to the right). When 11 Alive called Senator Valencia Seay to ask about her Georgia tax status, well, she told 11 Alive it is none of their business. Woah---I did not see that answer coming from a Senator who has been serving since 2002. Is it just me or is Senator Seay telling her constituents and the rest of Georgia that she is above public disclosure? Senator Valencia Seay serves as the Minority Caucus Vice Chair, which makes this matter even more disappointing. She is in a leadership position, and leaders should lead by example. I am happy that most of her peers are not following her example!
Contact Senator Valencia Seay to tell her to disclose whether or not she is current on her taxes. I especially urge the people of Senate District 31 to hold Senator Valencia Seay accountable. Is Senator Valencia Seay who the people of District 31 want respresenting them?
Senator Seay's Contact Information
Email: valencia.seay@senate.ga.gov
Capitol Office Phone: 404-656-5095
Capitol Office Fax: 404-657-9728
I sent my email to Senator Valencia Seay asking her to disclose whether or not she is up to date with her Georgia taxes. Of course, I will share what she has to say in I Was Born Doing Reference Work in Sin.
Remember: If we don't hold our elected officials accountable, who will?
UPDATE: Senator Seay speaks!
WHY DO I WRITE ~ Robert Pinsky
I write for the same reason a toddler, at some occasion like a wedding party, dances.
The child hears the music and observes what the elders are doing. So he or she begins grinning and bouncing around.
I can remember the feeling I got when I read certain things, heard certain music. Alice in Wonderland, Charlie Parker, Ray Charles, Mozart, Ivanhoe, "Sailing to Byzantium," "To Elsie," "Howl," "At the Fishhouses." Movies like "The Searchers" or "His Girl Friday" or "Sullivan's Travels."
I remember the feeling those works gave me. I would like to give other people that feeling. (I am paraphrasing wise remarks I heard in an interview with the great saxophonist Dexter Gordon.)
I try to shape words into poetry, into works of art, because of the feeling I have gotten from great works of art. I'd like to create that feeling for someone else.
That's maybe a bit too simpleminded and practical. (Though honest.)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Senate Bill 16 Withdrawn!
Disappointed does not begin to describe how I feel about the withdrawal of Senate Bill 16. The AJC reports that Senator Seth Harp (pictured to the left) realized SB 16 would not make it out the Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee.Rumor has it that Lt. Governor Casey Cagle pressured Senator Harper to withdraw the bill. This is a very interesting rumor because Lt. Governor Cagle used to be on the record as saying he would NOT use his influence to stop SB 16 from making it to the Senate floor. Looks like Lt Governor Cagle has given in to Sadie Fields and the Georgia Christian Alliance. The Georgia Christian Alliance has threatened all the members of the Georgia General Assembly by stating if SB 16 is released from committee, they will add the floor vote of the bill to their annual election score card.
I have this is to say to Sadie Fields and the rest of her group:
I know you see this as a win, and it is a win. I also know you were more nervous about the issue of Sunday Sales this year than you were the past two years, and you had every right to be more nervous. The good people of Georgia are starting to wake up because they want fair-minded legislation and elected officials. People want a say in their government, the withdrawal of Senate Bill 16 took away a chance for people to have a say in their government.
To the Replubicans who expressed their disapproval of SB 16:
Shame on you. The one saying I seem to repeatedly hear from Republicans is Less government. Well, SB 16 was just that, yet so many of you walked away from it. So again, shame on you. Many voters will remember how you walked away from SB 16 when they visit the polls.
After work, I called Senator Harp's office and spoke with his assistant, Martin. After my conversation with Martin, it seemed SB 16 was withdrawn because of a lack of enough support from the members of the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee. Is this the case, or does Senator Harp not want his staff to call out Lt. Governor Cagle?
I also left a message for Senator David Shafer, Chairman of the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee to see what happened at the committee meeting today. We'll see how long it takes to get a response from his office.
I ask that you hold the members of the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee responsible for the withdrawal of SB 16. Yes, it was Senator Harp who withdrew the bill; however, it would not have come to this action if the Senators on the committee would have shown their support for the bill earlier in the General Assembly. I ask that you call, email, or fax with your disappointment.
On a very personal note-- I am quite happy at the letters and emails I was able to generate among my friends. I had a number of very conserative friends who do not even drink alcohol sign letters of support of SB 16 because it is a bill that would have provided citizens a voice in their government.
As I receive any more information on SB 16, I will share it in I Was Born Doing Reference Work in Sin.
Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee Members
David Shafer (Chairman): 404-656-0048 (phone), 404-651-6768 (fax)
Eric Johnson (Vice Chairman): 404-656-5109 (phone), 404-657-9727 (fax)
Ed Harbison (Secretary): 404-656-0074 (phone), 404-463-5547 (fax)
Gloria Butler: 404-656-0075 (phone), 404-657-9728 (fax)
Steve Hensen: 404-656-0085 (phone), 404-651-7078 (fax)
Jack Hill: 404-656-5038 (phone), 404-657-7094 (fax)
Dan Moody: 404-463-8055 (phone), 404-651-6768 (fax)
Jack Murphy: 404-656-7127 (phone), 404-463-1381 (fax)
Mitch Seabaugh: 404-656-6446 (phone), 404-651-6768 (fax)
Doug Stoner: 404-463-2518 (phone), 404-651-6767 (fax)
Ross Tolleson: 404-656-0081 (phone), 404-651-6767 (fax)
Renee Unterman: 404-463-1368 (phone), 404-651-6768 (fax)
Tommie Williams: 404-656-0089 (phone), 404-463-5220 (fax)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Limp Wrist Raffle Adds Items!
Donate to Limp Wrist before 3/30/09, and you are automatically entered to win some of the items you see above. (Items will be given away in groups of three.) All donations are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE and fund the Limp Wrist scholarship.
Here's the donation breakdown:
$5 = 1 Chance
$10 = 3 Chances
$20 = 5 Chances
$45 = 10 Chances
$200 or More = You pick the three items you want. Plus, you'll receive a mention in Limp Wrist.
AND for fun:
If I raise $1,000 by 3/30/09, I will create a Youtube video of me doing Dolly drag. Silence to the peanut gallery-- even though I am crazy for Dolly, I don't spend my weekends in Dolly drag.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Senate Bill 16 Update
On Wednesday, February 26, the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities was supposed to meet. This was an important meeting because Senate Bill 16 was supposed to be discussed. If the committee had met, if the members were of fair mind, Senate Bill 16 could have been released from committee to be scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor; however, quorum was not met.
As you might have guessed, the people at the top of this entry are your State Senators who did not show for the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities. From left to right you will find the following State Senators: (First row)Ross Tolleson- District 20, Mitch Seabaugh- District 28, Jack Murphy- District 27, (Second row) Jack Hill- District 4, and Gloria Butler- District 55. I am not sure why these Senators neglected their committee duties. I am sure they have a good reason as to why they failed to represent. Maybe Senator David Shafer, the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Chairman will press them for the reasons of their lack of attendance. I was in the emergency room for eight hours on 2/26/09, and I still made the time to call Senator David Shafer to tell him to use every ounce of his influence to make sure SB 16 is released from committee!
Senators Eric Johnson, Dan Moody, Tommie Williams, and Renee Unterman were also not in attendance for the 2/26/09 Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities committee meeting. A reliable source informed me that Senator Renee Unterman has been absent from her Senatorial obligations due to a family emergency, so I want to wish her all the best. Senators Eric Johnson, Dan Moody, and Tommie Williams were not able to make to the meeting because they were already attending a Senate Education and Youth Committee meeting that started late and before the Regulated Industries and Utilities; therefore, they missed the Regulated Industries and Utilities.
This Wednesday, the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities will meet. I ask that you hold your elected officials accountable. Tell the members of the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities that you want them to uphold their duties as our elected officials and attend this committee meeting. Then, if you are so inclined, ask them be fair-minded. Remind these State Senators that supporting Senate Bill 16 is not showing support for "Sunday Sales." Support for Senate Bill 16 is a State Senator's show of support for citizens to have a voice in their government. Isn't having a voice in our government, in our laws, isn't that what our government is all about?
You might think, Well, none of these Senators represent my district. Doesn't matter! These Senators need to know the opinions of all Georgians to do their job as a committee member. State Senators and House Representatives often go on to seek state wide offices, and this is the case with Senators David Shafer and Eric Johnson; these two Senators are going to battle for the office of Lieutenant Governor. I have more to say on this topic, but Senate Bill 16 is the issue at hand!
Please, contact the members of the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities before Wednesday; since time is of essence, please contact the members via phone or fax. Here is the contact information for the committee members:
David Shafer (Chairman): 404-656-0048 (phone), 404-651-6768 (fax)
Eric Johnson (Vice Chairman): 404-656-5109 (phone), 404-657-9727 (fax)
Ed Harbison (Secretary): 404-656-0074 (phone), 404-463-5547 (fax)
Gloria Butler: 404-656-0075 (phone), 404-657-9728 (fax)
Steve Hensen: 404-656-0085 (phone), 404-651-7078 (fax)
Jack Hill: 404-656-5038 (phone), 404-657-7094 (fax)
Dan Moody: 404-463-8055 (phone), 404-651-6768 (fax)
Jack Murphy: 404-656-7127 (phone), 404-463-1381 (fax)
Mitch Seabaugh: 404-656-6446 (phone), 404-651-6768 (fax)
Doug Stoner: 404-463-2518 (phone), 404-651-6767 (fax)
Ross Tolleson: 404-656-0081 (phone), 404-651-6767 (fax)
Renee Unterman: 404-463-1368 (phone), 404-651-6768 (fax)
Tommie Williams: 404-656-0089 (phone), 404-463-5220 (fax)
If you'd like a short, sweet, and generic message to fax, well, here you go:
I request that you do everything within your power to make sure Senate Bill 16 is released from the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. I believe your support for Senate Bill 16 shows your support for allowing the citizens of Georgia to have a voice in their government.
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