Benefit Concert for Passages

Here's a news release about the upcoming benefit concert for Passages:

*Casey Stratton & Eric Himan to Play The Hollywood Room in Kansas City on April 22, 2005 *

Former Sony Music recording artist Casey Stratton and indie rocker artist, Eric Himan will be co-headlining a new 20-city tour this spring/summer. One of the first stops will be at the Hollywood Room in Kansas City on April 22, 2005 at 8 pm. This will be a benefit concert for Passages Youth Center.

Eric Himan has made a conscious decision to remain an independent artist producing and releasing four discs in as many years on his own label, ThumbCrown Records. */Dark Horse/*, Eric's most recent work was released on 3/22/05 to an eager grass roots fans base, selling 1000 copies in its first week and becoming a "Top Seller Now" at Cdbaby.com. National press features include OUT, Instinct, Genre and the Advocate. Eric was recently tapped to be among some on music's hardest hitters: Melissa Etheridge, Dixie Chicks, and Carole King on the Human Right's Campaign's latest compilation */Love Rocks/*. This Fender endorsed artist has built his loyal following by playing no less than 115 shows in 2004. Eric has become a favorite on the collegiate music scene, showcasing his talent at the 2004 NACA National Conference as well as stopping at over 75 colleges nation-wide. He breaks the mold of the soft-spoken, earnest folk troubadour. His performances are filled with electricity and power, but his lyrics betrayed a vulnerability and sadness that sharply contrast with his bad boy appearance. The combination proves irresistible to audiences.

Casey Stratton has packed a lot of music into a relatively young life. It was through the piano that he discovered a passion writing songs and singing them. After graduating from Michigan's Interlochen Arts Academy, with training in voice and composition, the budding artist left Michigan for Los Angeles. With the growing momentum and increasing popularity of his fan base, there was nation-wide label interest in Casey. The hard work paid off and he was signed to Sony Music Entertainment in 2002. His first Sony release */STANDING AT THE EDGE/* was produced by the legendary Patrick Leonard (Madonna, Elton John). Casey's performances have already resulted in a cult following, and he has received glowing reviews in magazines like People, USA Today and Billboard to name a few, and appeared on national television, including CBS Saturday Morning.

Casey's remix of '/House of Jupiter/' was recently *# 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart*. There has been an overwhelming response with this remix and with Casey in the past several months. Most recently, Casey has made a decision to take his next album */DIVIDE/* to a new level and release it independently in late Summer 2005 on his label, Sleeping Pill Music.

In a time where unique and inspiring live performances run second fiddle to pre-fab bands and lip-syncing on national television, Casey and Eric are here to reassure you that true talent is here to stay.

*Show Details:
**Friday, April 22, 2005 8 pm


Admission $17.00
Hollywood Room
100 E 20th St
Kansas City, MO
(Corner of 20th & Walnut)
Tickets available at:
Out There
205 Westport Rd
816.753.4757
&
The Planet Cafe
3535 Broadway Suite "D"
816.561.7287*

What's New

Some of the other PFLAG-KC members will be posting to our weblog in the future. Also I've enabled comments to allow our readers to give some feedback.

Straight Spouse Support Group Update

Here's an update on the straight spouse support group:

We had to cancel the last SSN meeting because of icy roads; many of us come from a number of miles away.

Yes, the word is getting out that we (SSN) have started a support group. Slowly, we are growing.

Our rescheduled meeting will be Saturday, Jan, 29th, at noon, at the Carrabba's Italian Grill, 10586 Metcalf Lane, Overland Park, KS 66212--restaurant # 913-385-7812.

If you plan on attending, let me know through email or call me at 785-221-8794.

Thanks for passing this message on.

Donna in KS
Ladybee444@aol.com

Local Straight Spouse Group

We've received the following info about a local support group for the straight spouses of lesbians and gays.

I am sending this notice to all of you to let you
know that a support group for Straight Spouses has
been formed for the greater Kansas City Area. So far,
we have had two meetings, one in Nov, and one in Dec.
We are associated with the Straight Spouse Network
(SSN).

Following is the information on our next meeting:
Our next gathering of the Greater KC area SSN will be
held at 6:00 PM on January 10, 2005, at Carrabba's
Italian Grill, 10586 Metcalf Lane, Overland Park, KS,
66212. Their phone is 913-385-7812. Special thanks to
Tammy for organizing this for us.

We will have a private dining room. The average entrée
w/salad runs around $15 but pastas are less and steaks
are more. Please email me for more info and/or to let
me know you will be attending. Ladybee444@aol.com

Jobs at Lambda Legal

Here's some info we received on jobs at Lambda Legal.

A number of employment opportunities are now available at Lambda Legal due to newly created positions. These positions, as well as currently open positions, are listed below. These are exciting times at Lambda Legal -- come join the team.

Attorney Positions

Lambda Legal always welcomes resumes from attorneys who are interested in employment in any of our offices nationwide. Please send resumes to Hayley Gorenberg, Deputy Legal Director, 120 Wall Street, Suite 1500, New York, NY 10005.

Help Desk Staff Attorney, Any of Lambda Legal's Offices (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas) (Newly Created Position)
Transgender Rights Attorney, Any of Lambda Legal's Offices (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas) (Newly Created Position)
Staff or Senior Attorney, Western Regional Office, Los Angeles

Other Job Opportunities

Community Organizer, National Headquarters, New Jersey (Newly Created Position)
Outreach Associate, National Headquarters, New York City (Newly Created Position) Starts 1/1/2005
Major Gifts Officer, Western Regional Office, California -- Bay Area (Newly Created Position)
Paralegal, Midwest Regional Office, Chicago Community Organizer, Iowa (Newly Created Position)
Major Gifts Officer, Southern Regional Office, South Florida Legal Assistant, Southern Regional Office (Atlanta)(Newly Created Position)
Outreach Associate, South Central Regional Office, Dallas (Newly Created Position) Starts 1/1/2005

For more information on all the jobs listed above please visit www.lambdalegal.org

Steve Silberman: Our Traditional Non-Traditional Wedding

Steve Silberman: Our Traditional Non-Traditional Wedding: " As I read through the post-mortems of the 2004 election speculating about whether the gay marriage issue cost John Kerry his presidency -- with many Democrats supporting this view -- I have the disoriented feeling of reading about my sweet, ordinary life with Keith distorted through funhouse mirrors. When writer Bill Bennett places gay marriage in opposition to "ethical values" and a "decent society," as he did in the National Review the day after the election, does he mean us? Apparently so. By now, the concept of marriages like ours has been twisted into such an abstract threat to so many otherwise fine and compassionate people -- and so divorced from the humble blessing of two souls caring deeply for one another -- it's time for a national reality check.

Keith and I are not political activists. His family has traditionally voted Republican, and his parents voted for Bush in the recent election. Until recently, Keith's father was the mayor of a small town in the Midwest; the first time I met him, he took me aside and said, "I know that you are very special to Keith, so that means you are very special to us." There was such simple, human, Midwestern forthrightness in that statement. No banner-waving, no Biblical injunctions, no soapboxing. Just a clear and compassionate message: We love our son and trust his ability to make the most personal decision of all. "

New Newsletter Articles

The main PFLAG-KC site has new newsletter articles and some new events in the calendar.