Things that make me giggle #3 - Geraldine McQueen

Merry Xmas everybody. I really am not a huge fan of Christmas consumerism you know. Nuns, after all, do take a vow of poverty and there's 1.44 in the coffers. People feel guilty when you give them something if they have nothing to give you, although it does provide me with the opportunity to let go and let God/dess carry that particular burden.

But there are wonderful things about this time of year. People can be so giving in December. Yesterday I received a call from a woman from AZ Trans Alliance who had donated hundreds of dollars towards making sure the girls at This is HOW got to celebrate the holidays with gifts, food, and cleaning supplies for the house. She was stuck on the east coast for work, so she called and asked if I would play Santa Clause. And I am fortunate enough to have a partner who will drive me around last minute to make sure people she doesn't know are having a happy holiday be it Christmas, Kwanza, Channuka, Solstice, or Festivus for the rest of us. I felt like cindy lou who had handed me a present as we pulled up to This is HOW and dropped off gifts from a community member who couldn't be there in person.

So although I'm a big ol' ecclectic pagan myself, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good holiday!

Things That Make Me Giggle #2 - Is it a Choice?

LUTN recap

Here in Tempe, AZ:



Studio City, CA


Boston, MA


San Fransisco, CA

Some music for you

After Light Up the Night (Dec 20, 2008) I came home and joined a few friends for a spiritual gathering. I played my HAPI drum to accompany their dance.

BINGO Before Christmas!

Joshua Tree Feeding Program has been the primary group the Grand Canyon Sisters are raising funds for this December, and you can still join in and help out at BINGO Before Christmas!!!

Wear your Nightmare before Christmas gear or somehow dress up for the theme for the special treatment.


Joshua Tree Feeding Program has been giving out plentiful food to clients with HIV/AIDS since 1998 from the place they call home, the Asbury Methodist Church. As it says on their website, they serve an average of 120 clients each week on Tuesday with a hot meal and food boxes.

And another 130 clients recieve food boxes on the 2nd & 4th Friday.

They have new clients coming in weekly in need of assistance getting a good meal, and they provide all this at no cost to their clients. So that's where fund raising events like the above come in. Come on out, and join the nightmarish good times, as we bring in good funds, for good food.

Cocktails for Marriage Equality TONIGHT!

After the LUTN vigil, festivities continue!

Join H.E.R.O and Marriage Equality AZ for a drink or two after the rally and help raise money for our fight towards human rights!

WHERE: The Door at 1126 N. Scottsdale Rd
WHEN: Immediately after the vigil.

The Door is less than 1 mile from the bridge. If you plan to come to the after event, it may be a good idea to meet at The Door and carpool with friends to the bridge, since parking will be limited on the North side.

Come support H.E.R.O and Marriage Equality AZ. There is NO cover and $1 from every drink will go to help bring civil rights to our state, and our nation. Have a good time and feel good about supporting equality while doing it, now who doesn't like that?!?

For more information email info@be-a-hero.us or call 602-754-1175

Light up the Night - Tempe Town Lake TONIGHT at 5 PM

Light Up the Night
for Equal Rights

TONIGHT, December 20th, at 5 PM we ask that you join us as we take to the streets again for another nation-wide demonstration that will make both a social and visual impact on the private sector. Massive candlelight vigils will be held at commercial centers in cities across the country in remembrance of the rights that once were for 18,000 marriages, and in honor of the rights that one day will be again - for EVERYONE. We will also stand up against the United States' refusal to support the U.N. in its recent push to decriminalize homosexuality.

Many local television stations will present so it's important that we show our numbers in support of Equal Rights here, and the U.N.'s declaration to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for the rest of the world.

New York Based, cable television channel LOGO, will participate on-air and online in the nationwide candle light vigil occurring on December 20, 2008. As members of the LGBT community and allies gather across the nation, LOGO will keep its audience up-to-date that evening with an "on-air candle" directing viewers to the latest news from 365gay.com

How does it work?

Phoenix residents are encouraged to dress warm and report to the Mill Ave Bridge at Tempe Town Lake at 5 p.m.

This will be a peaceful demonstration in the spirit of the holidays so be ready to sing.


Bring candles! (They can be purchased 10 for $1 at Dollar Tree)


Dress alike. Wear as much red as you can; scarves, hats, even pants if you have them. Be sure to wear a white ribbon in a double knot as a symbol of Marriage Equality. (The white the represent marriage, the knots to signify tying the knot)


Bring Food! Bring any canned or boxed food you have collected as part of the National Food Drive. This will be the culmination of the National Food Drive for Equality


What will we be doing?

Hosting a peaceful candlelight vigil in honor of those rights lost.
We will stay silent unless asked a question or sing, we will not yell, instigate, or bear signs. Instead, we will let our shirts and flyers do the talking and our candles pay our respects. Again, bring candles please.
Singing and/or silence encouraged...chanting is not....keep it peaceful and in the holiday spirit.
We will also be drinking coffee and hot chocolate gratefully donated by a local coffee shop. YAY!


The 5 W's of LUTN

Who: Anyone, gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, who wants to stand up and show the world that will not sit back any longer while our rights are taken away and hate and discrimination is written into our constitution
What: A Candle Light Vigil
Where: The Mill Ave Bridge at Tempe Town Lake
When: December 20th at 5 p.m.
Why: Because we have sat by, in silence, for far too long waiting for our turn at equality and freedom. And now we will stand together, united within our community and with those communities who know the pain of inequality and segregation.

If you would like to Volunteer for this event please contact Jessica @ empath@asu.edu


After the Rally Festivities!

Join H.E.R.O and Marriage Equality AZ for a drink or two after the rally and help raise money for our fight towards human rights! We will be meeting at The Door at 1126 N. Scottsdale Rd after the rally. Come support H.E.R.O and Marriage Equality Az. There is NO cover and $1 from every drink will go to help bring civil rights to our state, and our nation. Have a good time and feel good about doing it. For more information email info@be-a-hero.us or call 602-754-1175

Things that make me giggle 1 - sock puppet theatre

In the interest of spreading joy, I've decided to occasionally include entries including things that make me giggle. These are in no particular order, but I certainly hope you do enjoy them.

Sisters on the Radio? Yup Equality Arizona Radio

Listen in to Meta and myself talking about Diversity in our community on 1480KPHX.com today! And if you missed it, or any part of it, go http://equalityarizonaradio.podbean.com and you can hear it all again!

Equality Arizona Radio seeks to change hearts and open minds through education and personal stories. Every week Emmy Award winning host Donna Rossi sits down with local and national guests to enlighten the community (LGBT and allies) about important issues. Past topics have included: LGBT in the Mormon Community, ENDA updates, LGBT Parenting and Adoption, discussions with Emmy Award Winning director Cynthia Wade (Freeheld) and national LGBT blogger Bil Browning of the Bilerico project.

The show airs live from 1480KPHX Saturdays from 10 to 11 am, listen live Saturday morning at www.1480KPHX.com, or subscribe to the podcast so you can download your episode at equalityarizonaradio.podbean.com.

Specifically: http://equalityarizonaradio.podbean.com/2008/12/20/the-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-airdate-122008/

Suicide is not the answer

A few years back, a friend went to the beach, sat down, and killed himself. I was shocked, hurt, and angry. I wished he had said something so that I could have reminded him there was another way.

This week I have listened as four separate LGBT individuals talked about thoughts of suicide. Four individuals who I care for deeply, and would mourn intensely if I lost them to suicide, or in any other way. I am grateful that they told me of their thoughts so that I could be there for them, listen, and tell them how much it would hurt to live without them. I ache for them, but I know that as Sister Unity said, happiness is inevitable. I believe they will each get through their struggles and come out the other side stronger for it. And on that note, check out what Sister Unity has to say for yourself:

It's a Nightmare!!!!!!

Joshua Tree Feeding Program has been the primary group the Grand Canyon Sisters are raising funds for this December, and there are 2 big events coming up where you can still join in and help out!!!

This Sunday join the Sisters at Club Forbidden for the Sunday before Christmas. Wear your ghoulish best, or your Sunday best, we don't care just come join the fun!

Then the very next night, continue the fun at our monthly themed BINGO...

Joshua Tree Feeding Program has been giving out plentiful food to clients with HIV/AIDS since 1998 from the place they call home, the Asbury Methodist Church. As it says on their website, they serve an average of 120 clients each week on Tuesday with a hot meal and food boxes.

And another 130 clients recieve food boxes on the 2nd & 4th Friday.

They have new clients coming in weekly in need of assistance getting a good meal, and they provide all this at no cost to their clients. So that's where fund raising events like the above come in. Come on out, and join the nightmarish good times, as we bring in good funds, for good food.

Logan's Playground Toy Drive

Every year at this time, for the last 7 years, people from the phoenix leather community have worked together to gather toys for Logan's Playground.

Logan's Playground then gives those toys out to children with or affected by HIV/AIDS. They have a gift giving time with holidays from around the world represented, and this year it looks like enough toys were collected to give each child more than one. Hundreds of children and their families will be at the holiday party, and the Sisters are glad to have been able to participate. We look forward to helping with this project again next year. So keep an eye out next year for a toy box near you, for Sister Bend and friends toy bag moseying around to sell toys at a bar near you, and for Sister Bearie's bodacious Christmas parties where the entrance fee is simply a toy and a smile.

Logan's Playground (LP) was founded in 2000 in honor of Logan Shaver who was the first pediatric patient in clinical trials at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. Logan lost his battle with AIDS at the age of six in 1999. His mother, South West Center for HIV/AIDS and all who volunteer at Logan's Playground surely are being watched over by an angel to this day. You can learn more about the various programs and events provided through Logan's Playground at https://www.logansplayground.org/About___Us.html

This is How - making us proud, needing support

Regina Gazelle has been featured in ECHO magazine, and many in our community recognize her by name, face or both. But do you know where her passion truly lies? This woman has come so far in her own life, and now she chooses to give back by creating and running a facility she once only dreamed would exist, This is How.

This is How is a transitional home for Transgender people who are at risk, and so far without any funding from governmental sources. They provide a safe, consistent place for the girls that go into this house to blossom into strong, productive people who stand proud. I have heard some of these young women gratefully share their story in the hopes that This is How will continue to provide shelter, support, and education in this community for others in need.

(SOMEBODY write this place a successful grant letter PLEASE!)

In the mean time, Saturday, December 14th, 2008 at 10:00pm — Cruisin 7th there was a benefit featuring Miss Regina Gazelle and Miss Shanaya Jordan (my apologies if I'm misspelling Miss Jordan's name) raising funds for the Shanaya Jordon project and This is How. Believe you me there will be information about Miss Jordan's project coming to this blog soon, but I decided to focus on one thing at a time here so we're starting off with This is How. Pictures on this entry are from last night's performance, but you can also join in the fun and holiday giving spirit at the following locations:

Benefit, Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 10:00pm — Charlie’s

Fundraiser, Saturday, February 15th, 2009 and running all Day at Velocity

Of course you can always make donations directly to This is How either on their website at http://www.thisishowhome.org or by contacting Regina Gazelle directly to find out how to send them money to sponser something specific such as rent, a utility, etc.

Light up the Night in AZ and all over the US!

Here in Arizona you can go to Tempe Town Lake Bridge over on Mill Ave in Tempe, AZ!
BRING CANDLES
BRING CANNED FOOD
BRING YOUR FRIENDS!




WHAT IS LIGHT UP THE NIGHT FOR EQUALITY?
On December 20th, we ask that you join us again for a nation-wide demonstration that will make an impact on the private sector. Candlelight vigils will be held at commercial centers in cities across the country in vigil for the rights of 18,000 same-sex couples who married and look forward to the day when those rights are available again - for EVERYONE. <>

HOW DOES IT WORK? Please take to your local commercial district -- be it a shopping mall, outdoor financial center, you name it. Check your city page for the time and location of your event. This will be a peaceful demonstration in the spirit of the holidays. Dress alike. Wear the same t-shirts or signs pinned to your coats. You can make or buy a "2nd Class Citizen" t-shirt, but the message is optional. Learn more about why we suggest "2nd Class Citizen." This will be the culmination of our National Food Drive for Equality

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?

• Hosting peaceful candlelight vigils
  
• We will stay silent unless asked a question, we will not yell, instigate, or bear signs. Instead, we will let our shirts do the talking and our candles pay our respects. Bring candles (battery powered if you'll be huddling inside).
• Singing and/or silence encouraged...chanting is not....keep it peaceful and in the holiday spirit.

Long time no post!

If you have been wondering where Sister Mischif has run off to these days, never fear I am still here. I just have been so busy of late that I have not been blogging about it nor uploading most of the pictures. I will try to remedy this situation soon. In the mean time... Check out this video I made for http://humans4equality.blogspot.com and please go make one of your own or take a picture and send it to humans4equality@gmail.com



Then go check out the film MILK!

NEW MILK LOCATIONS!

Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 4:18pm

Hey Fans of MILK!
We have good news for you! MILK will be playing in additional theatres starting tomorrow 12/5, with increased openings through January. Check the link below to see if it's playing in a theatre near you!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/note.php?note_id=38612406508