F6 endorses Larsen and Pence for US Representatives

Mr. Montagano however is still in the running for the "Hunk of Flesh" award for this election. F6 would have notified him personally but I was blinded by the light reflecting off his teeth.

3rd District William Larsen (L)

I know Bill personally, and while he has the uncanny achievement of even putting a Baptist Church to sleep while explaining TIF Districts, he knows the material and economics well. Can you imagine what he would do in Congress. He is a proven engineer and and a dedicated retired veteran of the Navy. He is a devoted husband and father and has gone to the extreme when it comes to protecting his childrens rights and defending their freedoms and our liberty. To borrow his campaign slogan, he will truly be as frugal with our money as he is with his own. Were talking about some tight ass purse strings! He literally ran a full campaign for less than five thousand dollars.

In good consciousness I can not vote for either of the other candidates mainly because Mike Montagano failed to garner enough local experience and credentials previous to running for office. I would strongly encourage Mr. Montagano to get involved after this election cycle, in say some form of County politics, to get his name out more, maybe get appointed to a Board or two by one of the Democratic Party officials in Elkhart County, and turn things around up there. It isnt that you have to prove yourself to the people but at least take the time to get to know the people you claim to want to represent, not just smile, show up, and claim your qualified.

Then there is the 14 year incumbent Mark Souder. Your values are neither small town nor Christian. I'm sorry Mr. Souder but your failure to live up to your word and serving more than 2 years over what you agreed to originally, is what we small town Christians call a liar. If you truly were a man of your word you first wouldn't be running and second over the last 3 years would have taken the time to find a few good younger politicians to mentor so they would have been ready but you missed or screwed up that opportunity as well. I wonder if...it was.... Was it because you were to busy renaming I-469 after former President Ronald Regan to appease your small town Christian values for being exposed to "such blatant sexual innuendo", or just trying to put his image profile on the dime? Either way you missed an excellent opportunity to mentor the next potential Congressman from any party and therefore any chance for my vote as well. It is time you move back to Grabill!

6th District: 1st Michael Pence (R) and 2nd Barry Welsh (D)

This was the easier choice hands down out of all these races. I still have some disagreements with Mr. Pence and Mr. Welsh in their overall positions but at least I know what they both stand for without question. I also have reservations as to Mr. Pence's future political plans, as rumored on his Wiki page earlier this summer (that he will seek the current Senate seat currently held by Evan Bayh in 2010 and is just pursuing this election to stave through), that lead me to pause for a moment and consider an outright endorsement of his Democratic opponent but between the three candidates he was the clear choice.

Michael Pence has a reputation for honesty and a track record in Congress to prove it. He is a former radio personality and knows the importance of being not just up front with the people but also fair in listening to other pointes of view. For several reasons, among the primary reasons is stability and his overly positive actions while in office. Lastly he was one of the few Representatives who had the guts, fortitude, and grace to stand up and say no to the One Trillion Dollar bailout bill recently shoved through Congress. While I disagree in part with Domestic Drilling off the coast I am all for standing up to the status quo in Washington Politics and Mike was one of the legislators involved in the dark strike earlier this year to call the Congress back to do their job, represent the people. Mike Pence has my endorsement aside from any incumbency privilege.

However, I must also say that I find no character flaws with his Democratic opponent Barry Welsh either, except of course the whole liberal left wing thingy. He to has a very impressive work history and public communication background. Serving as both a Public School Teacher and a Radio Disc Jockey, and he is a Pastor. So listening to the heart of any issue is a skill I pray that he knows well. As a pastor I too can respectfully choose to elevate that standard over my conflicting positions on the same issues. While I can not completely endorse him based on ideological differences of fiscal matters he is actually very close to the Libertarian ideal on certain social matters. So therefore I am issuing a secondary endorsement to Barry Welsh, if you must vote for him, go ahead, he wont kill the Constitution off completely.

The next part of this pains me greatly to say this but I must, "Please do not vote for George Holland the Libertarian candidate in this race". While he may be a dedicated War hero he is not qualified to serve the people of District 6 nor has he made an attempt at proving so that I have seen. His website is sporadic at best and mostly is just tirades against the last eight years when we need to be looking ahead to the next four to twenty. I salute you sir and I thank you for your service but I can not endorse you at this time and please do know that it pains the core of my soul to have to say that.

this is worse than a divorce, I've lost half of my net worth, and I still have...

....without any further fanfare during these harsh economic times, these are my endorsements for the current general election cycle. I am going to start with the Federal side and then continue on through the State and then the Local but it will take me a few days to get them all written out so please be patient and check back every day to see this list below grow and the explanations written out. Being to the fact that this afternoon I am going to the dentist after twelve years I dont know how coherent I will be afterward so please bear with me as I separate my explanations out over the course of the next couple days. The full list and explanations will be done by Saturday. TEXT REMOVED (see below) Each of the office headers will forward to the post that explains the endorsement so you can bookmark this post to come back to in the next week.

President and Vice President of the United States
Robert Barr of Georgia (L) and Wayne Allyn Root of Nevada (L)

US Representative
3rd District William Larsen (L)
6th District Michael Pence (R) i

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
Andrew Horning of Freedom (L) and Lisa Kelly of Indianapolis (L)

Attorney General
Linda Pence (D)

Superintendent of Public Instruction
Kevin Brown (Write In)

State Representative
District 83 Herbert Jack Evans (L) recent article from the News Sentinel
District 84 Mark Wehrle (D)

County Treasurer
Maria Para (D)

County Council At Large 3
Paul Moss (R) i, Robert Armstrong (R), Susan Hoot (D)

FWCS School Board of Trustees
District 2 John Peirce or Donald Schaab
District 3 Jon Olinger i
District 5 Evert Mol

Judicial Retention Allen Co. Superior Courts
SC Civil: Dan Heath, No;
SC Civil: Stanley Levine, Yes;
SC Criminal: Fran Gull, Yes;
SC Criminal: John Surbeck, No;
SC Family: Steven Sims, Yes

Local Public Question.
Should the assessing duties of the elected township assessor
in the township be transferred to the county assessor?
Yes

Supreme Court Justice Retentions
Brent E Dickson, Theodore R Boehm, Randall T Shepard,
Yes to All of Them

Judges Retention
Carr L Darden, Thomas J. Fisher
Yes To Both

EDITOR'S APOLOGY AND CLARIFICATION: The original text that was removed read "If you have already voted early I have been told that you can nullify that by still going to the polls on election day." This was inaccurate information that was communicated to me on the fly by an Election Board employee. There was probably a failure to communicate all the way around however I still take full responsibility for the misinformation. The actual information, provided to me by another blogger whom has my heart felt gratitude, is as follows:

If a ballot (absentee or early) has already been issued to a voter, (they) cannot just show up and vote. Early Voting: Once you vote early you may not vote again period. If you went and voted on a machine, there is no way to know which ballot or vote was yours, so they couldn't rescind your vote if they wanted to. Absentee Voting: (They) either have to bring (their) voided ballot to the polling location with (them) or (they) need to come down to the Election Board and fill out paperwork that voids that ballot. That paperwork cannot be completed at the polling location.

Stay Tuned...there is more to come...including the annual Hunk of Flesh voting....

GRAB YOUR FUTURE BY THE BALLS AND CRANK THEM TILL IT COMES!

Today is going to be a random news and notes blog post. I am going to have some fun before Halloween! Everything is totally sweet and there will actual be items of interest to each of my readers. There will be more politics on Wednesday.

RECENT FAVORITE GAY QUOTES

Nothing better than getting your ass hammered

"You want to get that one big hit where you feel like you’re part of the team … not that I don’t feel like I’m part of the team, by no means, but when you get that nice celebration coming into the dugout and you’re getting your ass hammered by guys, it’s no better feeling than to have that done." ~Matt Stairs, #12 Philladelphia Phillies, Statement made after an 8th inning two run, pinch-hit homer against the Dodgers
(Source: TowleRoad 14OCT08)

Tip your waitress



"Oh baby its to late for that! Fags been breeding your cows, raisin your chickens, even brewing your beer, long before I walked my sexy ass up in this mother fucker." ~Lafayette Reynolds
(played by Nelsan Ellis) True Blood (HBO) Season One

PLEASE VOTE FOR A FELLOW DORK FOR JAY BRANNAN!

Andy J. Pulido (MySpace) from Schaumburg, Illinois, is a 21 year old tall drink of water who is a server at national chain restaurant. He has an awesome smile and a slight Cheshire cat attitude clothed into an A&F Emo Southern boy. Andy is in the middle of a primary campaign to be selected as a member of the Real World Season 22 on MTV. You can vote for AndyJ once a day in this campaign without creating an account to get cool, real people into the Real World house next season. ANDYJ besides being a fellow Dork For Jay Brannan (Refer to videos 111-114 in the player at the top of the page), is a contributor to the You Tube collaboration channel Five Awesome Gays on Mondays and lives with Amy, another DFJB, from Five Awesome Midwesterners.

Alfonso Alexander Mercado III (MySpace) a short cute and witty college graduate from Fullerton, California also is 21 years old. He is a little low in the running and needs your votes too. He is quirky and childlike in his approach to life and would also be a wonderful addition to the Real World house. You can watch his videos on Soar of the Conchords, and on Fridays on another collaboration channel, 2Guys2Girls1Canadian!!.

I will add more to this later tomorrow but I actually have to take a nap and do some other work for the standing board meetings tomorrow. Blessings and make sure to have plenty of fun this week. What were your favorite GLBT Quotes for this year?

There is a shitload of stuff going on this Saturday!

(UPDATED 2x) There is more stuff going on this weekend around town than the total amount of crap coming out of Washington D. C. this entire election cycle. Sorry for the delay I always try to double verify F6 Community Events Listings. Below is a basic schedule laid out with links provided when available.

The question for this week is, "What are you going as for Halloween festivities this year?" and then the second is "What is everyone doing for Halloween?" Leave your comment below.

My ideal choice (as depicted to the right) is to go as ELEMENT, the Queer Love Child of Captain Planet and Gia aka Mother Earth but I dont have enough time to put it together and sense no one wants to see me running around in a sheer thong leather loin cloth either, we will yet see.

Things To Do In Fort Wayne This Saturday

10a FW O&BD's GET OUT ON THE RIVERS!
Canoe and Kayak Tour @ Johnny Appleseed Park
UPDATE: has now been delayed due to weather issues.
10a-7p Spirit Fayre – Mind, Body & Spirit Expo
@ Allen Co. Fairgrounds continues Sunday 10a-6p
10a-5p Indiana Snowmobilers Association
Annual Winter Outdoor Sports Show
@ Allen Co. Fairgrounds continues Sunday 11a-4p

10a-3p Democrat Party Early Voting Picnic and Rally
@ McMillen Park Pavilion (Oxford and Hessen Cassel)

If you haven't voted early yet the Democrats will be "offering free rides" to the Election Board. Sophia said in a recent email: "we have to work extra hard on Saturday to get people to vote early so that...we can be LOCKING in hundreds of votes...while they are wasting time at a rally!" This is actually bad rhetoric on their part. Keep in mind, that the polls close 2 1/2 hours before she speaks, but what do you expect from local Democrats, as long as it sounds good to them it is right!

6:30p Governor Sarah Palin's Road To Victory Rally
@ Allen Co. War Memorial Coliseum
(Doors Open @ 4p. There are no more tickets available.)

NOW FOR THE GHOULISH STUFF

10a-3p Creature Feature @ Botanical Conservatory with 50 cent hot dogs, popcorn, and drinks.
4p-12mid DID Downtown Fright Night which includes these events of interest:
3:45p Zombie Walk @ Allen Co. Public Library
8p-12mid ARCH Costume Ball @ Masonic Temple (21+only)
9:15p-11:15p “Rocky Horror Picture Show” @ Botanical Conservatory

HAVE A BLESSED SABBATH OF SAMHIAN AND SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS EVERYONE!

Now it is official! You can get screwed up the ass by Obama!

I had started Wednesdays post and was called out due to a pastoral emergency in another county and never quite made it back in time to finish writing the post out sorry about that.

As the credit crunch has hit an all time climax and candidates are clinching down hard to get every last minute vote I invite you to sit and ponder for a moment how hard you would like to get screwed if Senator Obama is elected, since almost everyone in the GLBT Community has jumped on his bandwagon. Is seven and a half inches long enough? (right click on pic to visit site) (HT Nathan Exposed) I am tired of trying to illustrate how badly his policy and socialist/marxist leanings will bend this country over the table. Are Citizens ready to refuse the privilege of having a voice in the way they are governed?

Yes! or No!? It is time for We The People to stand up and assert our rights and swear once again to, "mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor"!

How about just listening to this young man Cody Weber from Illinois, who has it pretty darn close to right on both McCain and Obama. I am putting this video up here is because Cody makes several awesome pointes about himself and his generation's mindset on politics as usual. We need to pay attention.



While I disagree with Cody on Obama being the lesser of two evils and there not being an option for the average voter, I still can choose to not vote for either McCain or Obama. I am voting for Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root the Libertarian Party candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. I invite you to take an honest look at the Libertarian Party and all other Third Party candidates and consider making your vote count and not just follow a trend or the status quota. Cody is right about somethings the two party system is mundane, it also was never meant to exist exclusively, and it is time to bring politics as we know it to an end.

EDITOR'S STATEMENTS REGARDING POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND WOMYNS ISSUES:

Over the last week I received some hate mail for my sarcastic commentary I had made in reference to Mrs. Barack Obama's visit to Fort Wayne this past Wednesday. Here is my official response to both the hate mail and the editorial policies of this forum as well as an explanation for the use of the quote in the title from Mondays post:

F6 is not a politically correct forum. Apparently no one that has complained watched The VIEW on ABC a week or so previous. I watch the show frequently for their Hot Topics discourse. The quote in the title of our previous post "less than one menstrual cycle away" came directly from one of the hosts of the show Elisabeth Hasselbeck as a uniquely feminine valid measurement of time.

As F6 is a social political commentary, political satire uses stereotypes in order to challenge their validity while still appreciating their humour therefore this quote being recycled is still in a valid line for usage within this forum. No offense to any particular female was intended however I will apologize for the offense being rendered but will not retract the original title nor apologize for its usage. Phrases and commentary like this (see example to the left) are as equally offensive but tolerated every day when people yell out queer or faggot and tell my community members and I to "acquire a thicker skin" and that we need to hide our basic affections not just our bodily functions.

It is really time for some campaigning as we are "less than one menstrual cycle away" from the election of a lifetime

EMERGENCY UPDATE: LOCATION HAS BEEN CHANGED The new location for the rally is now Convention halls A & B of The Grand Wayne Convention Center 120 W. Jefferson Blvd. (@ Harrison Street) in Downtown Fort Wayne.

Apparently no one wanted their parade to get rained on?

If you have not heard local Democrats and the HRC FW Chapter wants everyone to take a half day off work on Wednesday, the 15th of October to attend a Change We Need Rally featuring Mrs. Barack (Michelle) Hussein Obama, Jr. Doors Open: 12:00 p.m. Program Begins: 1:00 p.m

The event is being held @ Lincoln Financial Pavilion Headwaters Park 333 South Clinton Street in Downtown Fort Wayne is free and open to the public, will be held rain or shine and tickets are not required; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged. For security reasons, do not bring bags and please limit personal items, there are NO signs or banners permitted.

As a special bonus (YEAH!) if you text "meet" to 62262, you could be selected to meet Michelle before the Fort Wayne event. Text now for this special opportunity.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Please pardon my sarcasm, then watch the video from Jib Jab below,
then vote for Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root on the 4th of November please.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Erase The Hate: Matthew Wayne Shepard December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998

Ten years ago a young man was crucified in a field and left for dead. He died; however, his legacy was found in his death and his victory is found in our freedom. Matthew was savagely beaten to death because he was gay.

He was driven to a remote area, tied to a split-rail fence, tortured, beaten and pistol-whipped by his attackers, while he begged for his life; he was then left for dead in near freezing temperatures. A cyclist who found him some 18 hours after the attack at first mistook him for a scarecrow. His face was caked with blood, except where it had been partially washed clean by tears. Matthew died at 12:53 am on Monday, the 12th of October, 1998. He was 21.

After ten years how far have we come and how much is left to do?



TEN YEARS OF CHANGE - NO PROGRESS
by his mother Judy Shepard
Matthew Shepard Foundation

It’s hard to believe that it has been ten years since Matthew’s death. So much has changed yet so much remains the same.... We need to continue talking to our friends, families and co-workers. Unless we are honest about who we are and are able to share with those who love us what our lives are like, they will not know how to help us. We need those allies in this struggle to achieve equality across the board to realize all of our civil rights....

...It is ignorance that ultimately results in hate and that may escalate into physical violence. The only way to combat the ignorance is to educate and tell our stories. We are all aware of how important this election cycle is to all of us. Please take the time to know the issues and what is at stake for the LGBT community.

Share your stories with those who care about you. It is the only way they will know how to vote to support you. The privilege of having the right to vote is also a responsibility. We must remember that we are not voting only for a new President but also for representatives at the local, county, state and national level. Please vote and encourage everyone you know to vote. Apathy is unacceptable.... We are all hoping the next ten years will be our time....

National Coming Out Day: Love IS Love

Topher Time: two for the price of one

How Not To Save The US Economy

Lesbian Republicans Need Love Too




Christopher finally had time to sit down and draw over the last week and sent me four in a row here are the first two. I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment, he likes it when you comment his work. As always too see a clearer image of each cartoon right click and open into a new tab pretty please.

Liberty And Justice got together and bore forth Freedom!?!

Connecticut Ruling Brings Us One Step Closer To Supreme Court Showdown

If you have not heard, in a 4-3 split, the same sex marriage ban in Connecticut has been overturned based on their State Constitution's Equal Protection Clause, stating, "As a quasi-suspect class, gay persons, no less than women, are entitled to a more searching judicial review of that statutory prohibition, as well as any other classification that singles them out for discriminatory treatment" They didn't rule on the validity of Civil Unions which have existed by Legislative Action in Connecticut since 2005. You can read more via TowleRoad, Human Rights Campaign. Eventually, as all of these cases are going to a head and will need to be reviewed to the Federal Courts. We are going to have two issues at play:

Full Faith And Credit Clause

Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article 4 Section 1) of the Constitution of The United States of America explicitly states that: "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof." Right now with the Defense of Marriage Act in placed limits on States and the Federal Government from recognizing Same Sex Marriage performed in other States or Countries. DOMA also limits GLBT partners from being able to both have those protections of marriage if lets say one of the partners or a child ends up in the hospital while traveling outside of their home state or even dissolve their unions at a future date if the situation warrants after they have moved to another State.

Judicial Review and the Role of Scrutiny

The issue at hand is not whether the Court has the jurisdiction but do they have the right to interpret scrutiny from one precedent to another case, in other words was the scrutiny intended by the Court to be universal or case specific. An interpretation the Supreme Court, as cited in several lower Court rulings, has been used to both maintain gay discrimination and overturn anti discrimination ordinances, laws, and workplace issues alike.

Scrutiny has also been a deciding factor in the final outcome of a case in that while the merits of the case are compelling the Courts to further consider civil protection of a class,or group, or social association, and overrule government action or legislation; but then determine, based on the level of judicial scrutiny applied by a particular Courts discretion, the bad law or action is allowed to continue because "their level of scrutiny didn't elevate to "heightened or intermediate versus a suspect classification, a stricter standard of review, namely, "that sexual orientation is liable for substantive due process violations is a suspect classification". Or as the Connecticut ruling stipulates, "infringes on a fundamental right in violation of due process and discriminates on the basis of sex in violation of equal protection"

Trying to figure out what it all means for us

Why do the Courts keep insisting on issuing small booklet rulings? I have a migraine now. I realize that there is a certain commentary that is necessary based on precedent citation in order to achieve a factual basis for a new finding of facts or stipulation or towards interpretation; however some of this is ridiculously lengthy and could be attached into appendixes rather than the actual opinion. Or maybe they could issue a summary page in order to communicate better with the common citizen. We complain about the laws not being more simple and understandable and yet we have judges who write out opinions that are more lengthy than some of the Bail Out Bills and Pork Barrel Spending floating through Congress. Now dont get me wrong, I appreciate the Courts decision in more ways than I can count my fingers and toes, but the ruling is not decisive enough to withstand Federal Court scrutiny against the Defense Of Marriage Act which is the real struggle facing GLBTIQAS partners.

Why the Libertarian Philosophy is better than the two party status quota

The Libertarian Philosophy "government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships" is pretty simple and leads directly to the pointe. The Libertarian Philosophy restores the freedom to associate oneself with whomever and however many people the individual chooses to by basic legal contract, as long as all parties are equal in the relationship.

Our Candidate for President Bob Barr of Georgia, who originally authored DOMA stated emphatically "Standing before you, looking you in the eye, the Defense of Marriage Act, insofar as it provided the federal government a club to club down the rights of law-abiding, American citizens, has been abused, misused and should be repealed," (Source: SOUTHERN VOICE), as he accepted the Libertarian Party's nomination. He also expalined, in a Wall Street Journal Opinion Editorial back in June, that he will do away with Dont Ask Dont Tell and begin to proceed with inclusion of gay and lesbian members into the Military ranks completely. You dont get either John McCain or Barack Obama to take a stand, and in fact they try to run far away, on either one of these important issues of equality for all Americans. Isnt it time to make a real choice? The choice for your liberty and your childrens freedom.

Is there another answer to the arguments against Gay Marriage?

Now there are currently four states that allow same sex marriage; with this recent decision, we are well on the way to seeing justice in action and liberty giving birth again in this country to freedom and that speaks directly to my heart. I am an avid supporter of Multiple Partner Relationships. I believe Group Marriage is stabilizing because it increases the mutual support of the children and is conducive to each individual parent to better provide for the children and each other. To read more about Group Marriage (right click the link) or consider picking up a copy of The West Bank Group by Henry Sackerman (1970)

GLSEN: 2007 NSCS & New "Think Before You Speak" Advert Campaign

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), today released the most comprehensive report ever on the experiences of LGBT students, the 2007 National School Climate Survey of 6,209 middle and high school students between the ages of 13 and 21 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report is being released in conjunction with the news that GLSEN will partner with the Ad Council on a multiyear (3 videos so far) nationwide education campaign "ThinkB4YouSpeak" that includes public service announcements starring Hilary Duff and Wanda Sykes challenging the common misnomer of "That So Gay or Your So Gay" which was even popularized by a summer hit by Katy Perry (video below). The spots will debut later this month targeting anti-LGBT language among teenagers.



Key Findings of the 2007 National School Climate Survey include:

• Nearly 9 of 10 LGBT students (86.2%) experienced harassment at school in the past year,
• three-fifths (60.8%) felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation
  
• a third (32.7%) skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe.

A Hostile School Climate and the Effects on Academic Achievement:

• 86.2% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed,
  
• 44.1% reported being physically harassed
  
• 22.1% being physically assaulted in the past year because of their sexual orientation.
• 73.6% heard derogatory remarks such as “faggot” or “dyke” frequently or often at school.
• 60.8% of students reported that they felt unsafe because of their sexual orientation,
  
• 38.4% felt unsafe because of their gender expression.
• 31.7% of LGBT students missed a class
  
• 32.7% a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe
• The reported grade point average of students who were more frequently harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression was almost half a grade lower than for students who were less often harassed (2.8 versus 2.4).

Positive Interventions and Support:

• Students in schools with a Gay-Straight Alliance reported hearing fewer homophobic remarks, experienced less harassment and assault because of their sexual orientation and gender expression, were more likely to report incidents of harassment and assault to school staff, were less likely to feel unsafe because of their sexual orientation or gender expression, were less likely to miss school because of safety concerns and reported a greater sense of belonging to their school community.
• The presence of supportive staff contributed to a range of positive indicators including fewer reports of missing school, greater academic achievement, higher educational aspirations and a greater sense of belonging to their school community.
• Students from a school with a safe school policy that included protections based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression heard fewer homophobic remarks, experienced lower levels of victimization related to their sexual orientation, were more likely to report that staff intervened when hearing homophobic remarks and were more likely to report incidents of harassment and assault to school staff.

Despite the positive benefits of these interventions,

• 36.3% reported a Gay-Straight Alliance.
  
• 36.3% identified 6 plus supportive educators
  
• 18.7% attended a school that had a comprehensive safe school policy.

The percentage of states with comprehensive safe school laws is also low. Only 11 states and the District of Columbia protect students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation, and only seven states and DC protect students on the basis of gender identity/expression. The report found that having a generic law that did not include specific categories was essentially as effective for LGBT students as having no law at all.

The survey can be downloaded (pdf 1mb) here. GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, established nationally in 1995, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. For more information, visit GLSEN.

Where did I put my wooden spoon to bang on my pot with or knock out my chicken?

You know I was skeptical. What name would they come up with, for a team that surrounds an entire community and our lore and our history? I even had my own favorite "Summit City Sandbaggers". They actually managed to pull this one off; I have to admit, "I am impressed!"

Fort Wayne, IN - When Parkview Field (Harrison Square) opens next season, Fort Wayne... will be cheering on the .... “Tin Caps” which is a moniker referencing towards the beloved pioneer Johnny Appleseed, who was known for wearing his tin cooking pot upon his head. The primary logo will be an apple wearing Johnny’s trademark "Tin Caps.” Two alternate logos will incorporate the City’s initials, “FW” with each a "Tin Cap" and an apple stem and leaf.

The team’s primary color scheme will consist of organic colors green, red and brown. This color scheme is consistent with both the Johnny Appleseed theme and the project goal of creating Parkview Field as a true park and gathering place within the center of downtown Fort Wayne.

General Manager, Mike Nutter, stated, “Johnny Appleseed, while known nationally, is a regional pioneer and folk hero. His story, and the history of this area, gives us an identity that is distinctively Fort Wayne. Johnny was a pioneer of the Midwest frontier in a time with seemingly endless opportunity...."

The Tin Caps will begin playing at Parkview Field on Thursday, the 16th of April @ 7:00pm when they take on the Dayton Dragons on Opening Day of the new ballpark. For more information on Tin Caps season tickets, group outings or corporate partnerships for the 2009 season @ Parkview Field contact the team at (260) 482-6400.

To visit the new team website or view the full press release right click on the appropriate links. It should also be mentioned candidly, because it explains his lifestyle and appearance, that Johnny Chapman was also a missionary for the Church of the New Jerusalem, or Swedenborgian Church, so named because it teaches the theological doctrines contained in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. There is a Swedenborgian Church in LaPorte Indiana. Fourth District Common Council Member Mitch Harper has a generational family connection to the man behind the lore of Johnny Appleseed and explains such over @ Fort Wayne Observed.

Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman in 1774, was a nurseryman who moved westward from Massachusetts, planting apple seeds and selling the seedlings to the settlers. He had nurseries in Pennsylvania and Ohio before coming to Indiana in 1830. Apple trees were a welcome addition to the area, providing fruit that could be stored for year-round use by pioneers. After he died in Fort Wayne in 1845, his estate papers revealed that he owned about 270 acres of land in the area, along rivers, canals and roadways. Some of the nurseries were along the Maumee River, at a point 10 miles downriver from Fort Wayne and also near the Indiana-Ohio line.

Wizards rename selves Tin Caps
Compiled by Tom Pellegrene Jr.
The Journal Gazette

The Fort Wayne Tin Caps it is!!

You do have to admit that the slight diminutive references to Pot Heads is funny as hell given to the fact that our college town is in the 420 phone prefix too! Of course, this wouldn't be Fort Wayne without the residents getting their bikinis, briefs, boxers, and jock straps or thongs in an uproar. We did back in 1992 when the Wizards were originally named. So even when a private businesses makes the decision to change their name, with a more historic (and with significant cultural) respect to our area, we still bitch, always have always will. Likewise, the age old Libertarian philosophy is applicable, if you don't like it don't go and don't promote it. The consumer citizen has the ability to control things simply by closing their wallet and going home.

Even though I am supportive of the name change, and have wanted such for a long time, I am still opposed to the way Harrison Square was carried out by both Hardball, Barry, and the City Administration, in very secretive and explosively protective mannerisms. Now I will also hold Hardball Capital accountable for releasing the new name, close enough in time, to overshadow the fact that the rest of the project has hit the gutter in half a heart beat yet again, even with the recent three million dollar (over 10 years) investiture by Parkview Memorial Hospital for exchange of naming rights and exclusive services as well as community outreach and education.

Team owners, city officials and Parkview executives Thursday announced that the non-profit health corporation bought the naming rights for Harrison Square's baseball stadium. The deal is for $3 million over 10 years. The $300,000 annual contribution will be split between the baseball team's owner, Hardball Capital, and the city. The city's portion will be put into a fund to accumulate money for future capital projects at the stadium. City officials have said this is necessary to keep taxpayers from having to finance future improvements at the ballpark.

(Parkview) will have a large presence in the stadium. It could provide blood pressure and other health screenings at the stadium, and would staff the first-aid station and provide a nursing room. Packnett said his nutritionists and dieticians would also be working with ballpark concessionaires to help provide healthy choices for food and drink. Packnett said he understood that he might get some criticism for spending money on a downtown ballpark. But he said the investment fits the corporation's goals of being a good health provider and of being a good corporate partner. He said he hoped the project would spur other investment in the area, which is important for health care.

At least now we know that there is going to be some oversight in this whole boondoggled project, as Ben Lanka continues to explain below:

As part of the deal with Parkview, the corporation will get an appointment to the advisory board that oversees the stadium's operations and appropriates money from the maintenance fund. The other five members are a Hardball representative, an appointee from the Grand Wayne Center, an appointee from the Downtown Improvement District, the City Controller and an appointment from the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Downtown stadium to be Parkview Field
by Benjamin Lanka
The Journal Gazette

Notice there are no citizen advocates on this Advisory Board. And if Fort Wayne Common Council is the one that has to approve all of this why don't they have to appoint someone to be on the Advisory Board?

Please don't expect the Citizens of Fort Wayne to take everything that Hardball, Barry Real Estate, or for that matter the City's own employees and Commission members say at face value. We are tired of being bent over the table, and asked to take it up the ass with out the benefit of lube or the common decency of a reach around, and have it all sealed away from our review. We have already been lied to on many accounts and circumstances.

This entire process needs opened up and the public should have a true understanding of the entire cost and process. On many accounts Citizens have been disregarded by both the City Administration and private industry when voicing our concerns over the intertwining of public funds into private business, all while being promised it would all work out.

Now due to the mortgage crunch and the credit crisis nationally, they are having to rewrite the playbook, for the fourth time around, as far as the condominiums are concerned to avoid an absolute disaster. We are being told yet again that everything is under control and it will all work out in the end. We don't even have the new (unnecessary) hotel being built and all the while the Citizen is the one footing the bill and holding all the receipts to this disaster when it finally decides to blow out our grandchildren bank accounts and college funds in 2034 when all the bonds come due and we have to demolish the thing because of sanitary concerns.

Jason Freier, Hardball Capital chief executive officer, said Thursday his development group remains “totally committed” to The Harrison project but that changes might be needed for it to happen. The developers are looking at redesigning the building to have larger, but fewer, condominiums.

Construction has been stalled for months at The Harrison as the developers have failed to sell enough condominiums to persuade banks to lend the necessary money for the project. Freier said the current credit crunch dominating news coverage has been affecting real estate developers for almost a year. “The issue is financing and timing,” he said.

“There are some banks, their doors are closed, quite frankly.” Freier said the market is so tough that he would be willing to consider taking a loan if a bank asked that the developer scale back The Harrison. He said if a bank gave the OK on a smaller project, he would discuss the possibility with city officials. While it would be less investment, he said it would allow the developers to get started on construction.

(Source: Fort Wayne Politics)

Not to forget to mention another couple queries that I have asked previously: How much did Hardball and Barry get in total tax abatement? Because of all the delays are they going to ask for an extension or inclusion of the Harrison Square complex into a restricted TIF and a PSDZ like the Memorial Coliseum and other "sports facilities" already are? This entire process also garners the concern of whether or not the Coliseum should hold a year around Professional Sports Development Zone since one of their primary functions has now moved Downtown. Should they be able to do so that would mean that any tax revenue generated from the location would circle back to the location rather than assisting the complete tax base and revenues of the entire Community.

There is also the issue of the Food and Beverage Tax which was technically held in trust for specifically the Memorial Coliseum and some of those funds were supposedly used for capital for the Harrison Square project which, in my opinion if that is the case, is a commingling at best if not outright fraud but even more of a reason why the FBT needs to be sunset from law. This entire process, in my opinion, needs reviewed by City and County Councils and people, corporations, and certain City employees need their asses handed to them firmly and fast, before it is too late.


LINKS RECAP: New Team Website | What's Going Down, Town? | Fort Wayne Politics |
Fort Wayne News | Fort Wayne Observed | Baseball In Fort Wayne | Johnny Appleseed Wiki |

EDITOR'S UPDATE: Stephen L. Parker @ Around Fort Wayne has additional coverage and (4 segments) video footage of the press conference by Jason Freier, Owner of the Wizards and the following question and answer session Q&A1 | Q&A2 | Q&A3 | regarding the name change to Fort Wayne Tin Caps.

I would be negligent to not give Dan Turkette @ Fort Wayne News full credit for scooping the story (original post 15th of September) about the new name at least three weeks ahead of the general media and other inside bloggers.

Because I thought it was funny: (HT Fort Wayne News) Former Fort Wayne resident T. R. Slyder had this to say on his blog Where Awesome Happens, "I just hope their motto is:
"Hide the Women and Children: We're Coming to Your Town to Spread our Seed.""

RESOURCES:
Post on F6: Harrison Square |
Support Three Rivers Athletics
F6's Links:
Support Three Rivers Athletics
Bois With Sticks In Jocks Chasing Balls

POLICY STATEMENT: Although it is nice to know that we can still think about swinging your six to nine inch piece of wood around in our hands, through showing support of the local amateur and professional sports and athletic associations, as part of the continuing editorial service of F6 to promote healthy life choices in all gay bois and gyrlz, F6 intends to prove it is possible to concentrate on more than just tight ends, wide receivers, pitchers and catchers, etc.