I really wish there hadn’t been an event so tragic in its scope that I had to put out a podcast this week. I would have preferred to continue along in a haze of holiday happiness. This podcast deals frankly (and explicitly) with the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Gun control, mental health, the heroism of teachers/admins/employees at the school, the American media, and social media response are discussed. The gunman is not named.

Newtown, Connecticut

Look for my research and resources in the next post.

Election season is upon us, and there are a lot of important issues on everyone’s minds. The presidential election has been getting a lot of attention, but there are local issues that deserve our attention too. The issue of marriage equality is very important to me, and Maryland is one of the states voting on marriage rights on November 6th. This vote is important, because among the things that it does, it also gives us the opportunity to legitimize a portion of our population that has been marginalized for too long.

In order for this law to go into effect, we need support from outside the community that typically involves itself with LGBT rights. Send this podcast to your parents, post it on Facebook, and tweet about it. We need to talk about the reasons why this legislation matters, and the very real truth that it helps protect not just the gay community, but the faith community as well.

Marriage Equality in Maryland

In the next few days, I’ll be posting resources that will help you make the most out of the two weeks before the election, and that will help you be an informed LGBT community member or ally. We can make a difference, but we need your help. Vote for 6!

Well, it finally happened, and I promise it was worth the wait – two-time Army Combat Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lance Westbrook came by to chat with me! We had a conversation about Rachel Maddow’s book “Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power” and he offered a perspective I couldn’t possibly have provided. This conversation is really informative and interesting – I hope you walk away feeling enriched, and feeling proud and protective of our troops.

Listen here to : Lance Westbrook on Rachel Maddow’s “Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power”

During this conversation we talked a little about organizations that are looking out for our veterans and troops. I encourage you to give them support. Here are Lance and my favorites:

This week on the Flaming Liberal Podcast Sarah Lynn takes on some of the more compelling/really frustrating speeches from the Republican National Convention.

The Chair Stands Alone

What do you suppose the chances are of the DNC being less frustrating this week? I’ve got my fingers crossed! And please, for the love of all things good in this world, will someone please work up a satire involving an empty chair or an imaginary Clint Eastwood?

This week we experienced a hateful event that ended the lives of six Sikhs in Oak Creek, Wisconsin when a man with a gun entered their temple and started shooting as many people as he could. This is an act of hate and intimidation, and if we don’t recognize it as domestic terrorism we are fools. My heart goes out to anyone and everyone affected by this tragedy.

In Response to the Sikh Shooting in Wisconsin

Here’s my take on the whole Chick-Fil-A situation that’s taking up so much of everyone’s attention. Enjoy!

My Beef with Chick-Fil-A

And just in case all this talk of delicious, politically-questionable chicken has you salivating for the stuff – we’ve got a solution! The Consumerist posted a copy cat recipe for Chick-Fil-A’s product that’s getting rave reviews.

If you’d like to offset some of the Chick-Fil-A support that’s happening tomorrow, here are a few great organizations that will happily take your money and use it to further equality.

Ira Gamerman stops by to chat with Sarah Lynn about playwriting, music, and movies. Predictably, he’s delightful. Enjoy!

On Writing with Ira Gamerman