ASMR - Fighting for our Children and Families Rally & Vigil Held October 20 in Keene

(Keene, NH) The second annual rally intended to send a message decrying
bullying, especially teen suicides due to anti-gay bullying, will be held on
Thursday, October 20, Central Square, Keene, NH. This year, six young men
ages 13-18 and three young women ages 14-16 took their own lives when
constant harassment in their schools and communities, coupled with lack of
hope and support, converged to create circumstances beyond their capacity to
cope.

AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region will host a rally, speak-out and
candlelight vigil from 6-9p in the gazebo, downtown Keene. Participants are
asked to wear purple, the color representing spirit on the Pride Rainbow
Flag and begin gathering at 5:30, program at 6p. Candles will be provided.

Invited guests include 2011 Miss New Hampshire, Regan Elizabeth Hartley of
Dover whose focus is to speak out against bullying; Fred Karger, making
history as the first openly gay U.S. Presidential candidate; and Roberta
Barry, National PFLAG Board.

Agency Board Chair, Arne Grandell, believes that everyone must do more to
stand in unison against homophobia and bullying to ensure this tragedy does
not happen in the Monadnock Region. “These young adults chose to end their
lives because they did not feel safe. They lost hope and we lost their
contributions to the world all too soon. No one will ever know the exact
moment when it became too much for them to bear, but we do know how to
change the dynamic.”

The following individuals who committed suicide will be remembered: Justin
Dimino, age 16 of New York, died 1/9; Lance Lundsten, age 18 of Minnesota,
died 1/15; Kameron Jacobsen, age 14 of New York, died 1/18; Tiffani Maxwell,
age 16 of Pennsylvania, died 1/15; Nicholas Kelo Jr, age 13 of Ohio, died
2/23; Haylee Fentress, age 14 and Paige Moravetz, age 14 of Minnesota made
a ‘slumber party suicide pact, died 4/16; Andrew Silvers, age 17 of
Georgia, died 8/16; Jaime Rodemeyer, age 14 of New York, died 9/18.

For more information, call the agency at 357-6855. AIDS Services for the
Monadnock Region is funded in part by the Monadnock United Way, City of
Keene and Broadway Cares.

ASMR - CRAIG STOWELL, FORMER NH MARINE, TO SPEAK AT DADT REPEAL EVENT IN KEENE

On Tuesday, September 20, the 17-year-old policy that has required gay
service men and women to hide their sexual orientation, known as “Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell” will officially end. Craig Stowell, a former NH Marine who
spoke out in favor of marriage equality to the NH Legislature to support the
rights of his gay brother, will attend the event.
http://www.towleroad.com/2011/02/watch-former-nh-marine-speaks-out-for-marri
age-equality.html

He will join special guest Kayla Calkin, the regional field director for
Obama for America who will represent the President at this momentous
occasion.

The law was signed by President Bill Clinton on December 21, 1993 under the
full title, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue and was intended as a
compromise policy to allow gay and lesbian service-members to remain in the
military. The impetus for the policy was the death of Allen R. Schindler,
Jr, a Navy Radioman Petty Officer Third Class who was brutally murdered by a
fellow shipmate Japan on October 27, 1992 for being gay.

Repeal Day celebrations will be held around the country. The Monadnock Live
Free and Equal Coalition host the event at the Keene Public Library
Auditorium on by showing the film, Serving in Silence: The Margarethe
Cammermeyer Story (1995) starring Glenn Close. Cammermeyer was a Colonel in
the National Guard who was discharged for disclosing that she was a lesbian,
and went on to win a court case in 1994 that resulted in her reinstatement.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114395/

The celebration will begin at 6 with refreshments and the film will be shown
at 7p.
For more information, contact Susan MacNeil at 603-357-6855, visit Monadnock
Live Free and Equal Facebook page or email susan.macneil@asmronline.org.


Susan MacNeil, Executive Director
AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region - www.asmronline.org
The Cleve Jones Wellness House - www.asmronline.org
Live Free and Equal -www.monadnocklivefreeandequal.wordpress.com
POB 396, 16 High Street
Gilsum, NH 03448
ph: (603) 357-6855
fax: (603) 358-5091

Supported in part by the City of Keene and Monadnock United Way.

In 2011, we acknowledge that 30 years of AIDS is too long. Do your part to
stop AIDS. Join our movement to end the discrimination and stigma that fuel
the AIDS pandemic. Abolish Ignorance Demand Solutions.

ASMR - GREETINGS FROM OBAMA REPRESENTATIVE AT "DON'T ASK, DON 'T TELL" REPEAL EVENT

On Tuesday, September 20, the 17-year-old policy that has required gay
service men and women to hide their sexual orientation, known as Don’t Ask
Don’t Tell, will officially end. Kayla Calkin, the regional field director
for Obama for America will represent the President at this momentous
occasion.

The law was signed by President Bill Clinton on December 21, 1993 under the
full title, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue and was intended as a
compromise policy to allow gay and lesbian service-members to remain in the
military. The impetus for the policy was the death of Allen R. Schindler,
Jr, a Navy Radioman Petty Officer Third Class who was brutally murdered by a
fellow shipmate Japan on October 27, 1992 for being gay.

Repeal Day celebrations will be held around the country. The Monadnock Live
Free and Equal Coalition host the event at the Keene Public Library
Auditorium on by showing the film, Serving in Silence: The Margarethe
Cammermeyer Story (1995) starring Glenn Close. Cammermeyer was a Colonel in
the National Guard who was discharged for disclosing that she was a lesbian,
and went on to win a court case in 1994 that resulted in her reinstatement.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114395/

The celebration will begin at 6 with refreshments and the film will be shown
at 7p.

For more information, contact Susan MacNeil at 603-357-6855, visit Monadnock
Live Free and Equal Facebook page or email susan.macneil@asmronline.org.

Susan MacNeil, Executive Director
AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region
The Cleve Jones Wellness House
Live Free and Equal
POB 396, 16 High Street
Gilsum, NH 03448
ph: (603) 357-6855
fax: (603) 358-5091
www.asmronline.org
Supported in part by the City of Keene and Monadnock United Way.

In 2011, we acknowledge that 30 years of AIDS is too long. Do your part to
stop AIDS. Join our movement to end the discrimination and stigma that fuel
the AIDS pandemic. Abolish Ignorance Demand Solutions.

ASMR - DON'T ASK DON'T TELL REPEAL EVENT SEPT 20

CELEBRATE REPEAL DAY SEPTEMBER 20: DON’T ASK DON’T TELL TO OFFICIALLY END

On Tuesday, September 20, the 17-year-old policy that has required gay
service men and women to hide their sexual orientation, known as Don’t Ask
Don’t Tell, will officially end. The law was signed by President Bill
Clinton on December 21, 1993 under the full title, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,
Don’t Pursue and was intended as a compromise policy to allow gay and
lesbian service-members to remain in the military. The impetus for the
policy was the death of Allen R. Schindler, Jr, a Navy Radioman Petty
Officer Third Class who was brutally murdered by a fellow shipmate Japan on
October 27, 1992 for being gay.

Repeal Day celebrations will be held around the country. The Monadnock Live
Free and Equal Coalition will host an event at the Keene Public Library
Auditorium on September 20 by showing the film, Serving in Silence: The
Margarethe Cammermeyer Story (1995) starring Glenn Close. Cammermeyer was a
Colonel in the National Guard who was discharged for disclosing that she was
a lesbian, and went on to win a court case in 1994 that resulted in her
reinstatement. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114395/

The celebration will begin at 6 with refreshments and the film will be shown
at 7p.

For more information, contact Susan MacNeil at 603-357-6855, visit Monadnock
Live Free and Equal Facebook page or email susan.macneil@asmronline.org.

Susan MacNeil, Executive Director
AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region
The Cleve Jones Wellness House
Live Free and Equal
POB 396, 16 High Street
Gilsum, NH 03448
www.asmronline.org
Supported in part by the City of Keene and Monadnock United Way.

In 2011, we acknowledge that 30 years of AIDS is too long. Do your part to
stop AIDS. Join our movement to end the discrimination and stigma that fuel
the AIDS pandemic. Abolish Ignorance Demand Solutions.

ASMR - TOP TEN FINALISTS CHOSEN IN KARAOKE IDOL

The top ten adult and four youth contestants will perform at McCue’s,
Emerald St, Keene on July 29 in week four of Keene Karaoke IDOL! Karen
Bays, Tony Bourque, Shauna Crosby, Laural Ferguson, Wade Garrett, Heather
Kovacs, Haleigh Lord, Deb Pickering, Courtney Swift and Nathan Wesley will
sing a song of their choice and a selection from the fun-filled “Karaoke
Wheel of Death.”

Youth contestants will perform a song of their choice and include 8-yr-old
Brian Bedard (the only boy to compete), Nichole Forgues, Scout Landry and
Lili Shakour.

The finale for the top 6 adults and top 3 youth will be held on August 5.
Audience members vote at each elimination round to choose the adult $250
Audience Favorite Award. Grand prize $1000, second prize $750, third prize
$500. View the performance video at
http://www.keeneonline.com/idol/multimedia.html. Youth winners will
receive prize packages including a savings bond from Connecticut River Bank
and gift certificates from local merchants.

Judges Ted McGreer, Steve Pro and Jen Bond are joined each week by a Mystery
Judge, Gary Gagnon as Emcee and DJ Aime Theroux of Just For Kicks. IDOL
website provided by David Teubner, owner of Keene Online. Event televised
by Cheshire TV; air times at www.cheshiretv.org. Sponsors include Amoskeag
Distributors, Charlesworks, Cheshire Music, Clarke Distributors, Clark
Mortenson Insurance Agency, Connecticut River Bank, Days Inn, Engrave It,
Health Coach USA, HKS Bruce Murphy, Judy Fine Singers & Musicians Studio,
Keene Sentinel, McCue’s, Monadnock Radio Group, Murphy’s Auto Body, Steve
Pro Land Development Services and Ted’s Shoe and Sports.

Doors open at 6:00p, show begins at 7p. Admission $10/person; seats
reserved only if paid in advance. RESERVE TICKETS THROUGH AIDS SERVICES
ONLY. Master Card/VISA accepted at 603-357-6855. Proceeds benefit AIDS
Services for the Monadnock Region, funded in part by the Monadnock United
Way, City of Keene and Broadway Cares.