Tickets on Sale for HRC's Columbus Gala Saturday June 4th at the Ohio Union Ballroom

Be Part of Equality at the
28th Annual HRC Columbus Gala Dinner

Evening of Saturday, June 4
(please note the change of weekend)

In the stunning Archie M. Griffin Ballroom at the Ohio Union
The Ohio State University

For the 28th year, the Columbus HRC community will gather in support of equality for all, and we invite you to Be Part of Equality. Join us Saturday, June 4, at the Ohio Union as we celebrate our achievements, honor our progress and rally for the work ahead at the 2011 HRC Columbus Gala.

Special Guest Hudson Taylor Founder of Athlete Ally

HRC Speaker Ellen Kahn Director of the Family Project

We’d like to extend a special thank you to our Table Captains

Laura Benchea
David Berkley
Mark Blair & Lance Demaline
Zac Branstool
Christopher Christie
Columbus City Council
Jay Dascenzo
Steve Daley & Robert Conley
John Davis & John Graham
Joel Diaz
Candace DiGirolamo & Ellyn Castro
Bruce Dooley
Brian Endicott
Equality Ohio
Kristen Frame
Franklin County Treasurer Ed Leonard
Susan Finefrock
Mel Furhmann
Ron Guisinger & Bob Salmen
Norm Hall
HRC@OSU
Mary Jo Hudson & Lynn Wallich
Zach Klein
Brooke Large
Ray LaVoie & Brian Cole
Brock Leonti & Chris Hetzer
Jennifer Leymaster
Jeff Mackey
M. Mason
Laurie McNally
Municipal Clerk of Courts Lori Tyack
Terry Penrod
Cheryl Rose-Mack & Carol Cosler
Karla Rothan & Linda Schuler
Uwe Scharfy
Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn
Fred Sewards
Jon Shaffer & Richard Allen
Bruce Shalter
Steve Shellabarger
Andrew Stock
Stonewall Columbus
Rick Straits
Libby Villavicencio
Jack Wheeler
Ryan Wilson
Lisa Zellner & Marianne Steger

For the most up-to-date information about the dinner and to learn about becoming a Table Captain, donating to the Silent Auction, Corporate Sponsorship, or Program Book ads, please check hrccolumbusdinner.com.

Brock Leonti and Libby Villavicencio
HRC Dinner Co-Chairs

Top 10 Reasons to come to Gallery Hop this Saturday, May 7th...

Top 10 Reasons to come to Gallery Hop this Saturday, May 7th... Reason #1 Valvoline NextGen is sponsoring May Gallery Hop Valvoline NextGen is committed to educating consumers on the importance of recycling oil and the carbon footprint that is left on this planet from mass drilling is vital. Please stop by Hop Hub at 663 N High this Saturday and see how they can help you be GREEN. You will receive coupons off your next GREEN oil change. Learn more at www.valvolinenextgen.com Reason #2 AICUO Art Awards The 2011 AICUO Awards have added a brand new exhibition to the program. This May, each of the six AICUO Award finalists will be showcasing their work at Gallery Hop in the following locations: Brandt-Roberts Galleries Ken Aschliman Grid Furnishings Wendy Birchfield pm gallery Rose Hermalin Sherrie Gallerie Katherine Richards Studios on High Gallery Rachel Shelton Terra Gallery Anh Hoang Vu Reason #3 Roy G Biv Gallery Exhibit Reception: 997 N High Street Exhibit Title: Matthew Cherubini and Doo-Sung Yoo Art Media: video, robotics,dance, installation, animal organs, performance About the Exhibit: Matthew Cherubini creates videos with alternate characters and personalities. Doo-Sung Yoo explores the boundaries between art and science by exploring the technical augmentation of the human body. Reason #4 Shop Substance for Mother's Day Artisan Necklaces for Mother's Day + $15 Off Purchases of $100 or More at Substance for FASHION CONSCIOUS PEOPLE! Reason #5 Rose Bredl Flower & Garden Stop in at 664 N High St for the Herb Promotion of buy 2 get 1 free. Also, a reminder that if you buy a plant and a pot, they provide complimentary potting. For those ready for Spring, they have new hydrangeas and garden roses. Reason #6 Peace.Love.Bling Stop near Global Gallery for Genuine Jewelry- Fabulous- Affordable- Handcrafted. Empowered designs that fit everyone and can be worn differently everyday. Fairly traded and committed to supporting causes that empower women and emerging entrepreneurs. Designed in the USA. Reason #7 Bloomsbury Loft offers mother's day specials All mothers receive a free complimentary gift with any purchase! Also we will be having a mother, daughter class in the near future and if they sign up on Mother's Day they can a bogo price. Stop by 745 N High St. Reason #8 Jacob Neal Salon would like to help you celebrate Mother's Day... by offering a gift certificate promotion. For every $100 gift certificate purchased you will receive a $25 gift certificate. We invite you to stop in the salon at 650 N High St. from now until Mother's Day for the perfect gift for your special mom! We also have a new spring collection of jewelry in stock that would also make a great Mother's Day gift. We have a variety of necklaces, earrings and bracelets for all different tastes. Don't miss out on these fabulous deals to make her mother's day special! Reason #9 Bernard's Tavern Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy on tap now, stop by 630 N High St during your Gallery Hop stroll. Reason #10 Homage - Surf Ohio Gradient Stop into17 E Brickle St. and take home a new take on an old favorite, Silk screened with a beautiful, natural gradient so that no two pieces are exactly alike.

Voices of Faith to Speak Out for LGBT Equality in Washington in Late May

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 3, 2011
Paul Guequierre

Voices of Faith to Speak Out for LGBT Equality in Washington in Late May

Religious leaders from all 50 states gather through HRC’s Clergy Call for Justice and Equality May 22-24

www.hrc.org/ClergyCall

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today announced its Clergy Call for Justice and Equality 2011 will take place in Washington, DC May 23-24, 2011. Clergy Call is a biennial event of the HRC Foundation’s Religion and Faith Program, mobilizing clergy from across the country to speak up on matters of LGBT equality.

This year, over 300 religious leaders from all 50 states and representing more than 25 denominations and faith traditions will come together in the nation’s capital. They will organize and strengthen their faith voices and lobby members of Congress about why, as a matter of faith,they support full equality for LGBT people and families. Clergy will focus their advocacy on legislation to prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and to protect students from bullying, harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“America’s clergy are leading the charge in changing hearts and minds, both of the American people and our elected leaders,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Clergy Call 2011 will have a lasting impact on Capitol Hill. Diverse clergy voices speaking out for justice show our legislators that religion is NOT antagonistic to the LGBT community. ”

The theme for Clergy Call 2011, “Leadership for Justice in Complex Times,” reflects the vision and need for a faith-based movement in support of LGBT equality at this moment of great change in our country. On May 22 and 23, clergy will engage in programming designed to strengthen their diverse voices and their reach as moral agents for justice. In addition to this skill-based work, they will take part in a faith service the evening of May 23^rd(open to the public), and a morning press conference on May 24^thbefore lobbying their elected leaders.

“Religious leaders from across the spectrum of faith backgrounds and from states as diverse as Maine and Alabama are turning to the core tenets of their religious beliefs as they proclaim that justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people is a matter of deep faith,” said Dr. Sharon Groves, director of HRC’s Religion and Faith program. “They will not stand on the sidelines, but are claiming their faith as they join the struggle for LGBT equality.”

“What HRC has figured out is that the best antidote to the Religious Right is mobilized moderate and progressive faith voices,” said Rev. Susan Russell, Sr. Associate Pastor at All Saints Church in Pasadena, CA. “As faith leaders, we must demonstrate the love, compassion and yearning for equality we possess in our hearts in order to end oppression.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

# # #

Columbus Dispatch: [Franklin] County offers emergency bulletins on Twitter

The posting is here

County offers emergency bulletins on Twitter

Franklin County residents now can receive emergency updates through Twitter by following Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

The agency launched the new Twitter feed today.

“It's about warning people and preparedness,” spokesman Mark Anthony said. “It's also about sharing information about getting a community back to normal after an emergency.”

The feed will send out on local severe weather alerts and warnings as well as emergency preparedness tips and other emergency and homeland security news.

In the event of a tornado, flooding or other disaster, the Twitter feed might be used to send out instructions on how to apply for aid or warnings about scam artists offering fake repair or recovery services, Anthony said.

Users can customize their Twitter settings to have the posts sent to their cell phones as text messages or they can view them through other social media websites.

Anthony said the agency only will be using Twitter as a way to distribute information. It doesn't intend to monitor Twitter for tips and comments from other users. Anthony discouraged people from trying to use Twitter as a way to contact the agency. For emergencies, people should call 911.

Posted by Elizabeth Gibson on May 2, 2011 3:14 PM | Permalink

President Obama at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner

President Obama at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner