Radlanta

Monday, May 25

Free Shifa! Urgently need witnesses on Tuesday in Atlanta

Dear Friends!

I need each and everyone of your presences on Tuesday, May 26, 3pm !!!

I hope you are well and in good spirits. Thanks to so many of you who have extended your emotional support around my family's situation regarding my little brother's (Shifa) case over the last three years.

Shifa is having a Bond Hearing on Tuesday, May 26 at 3 PM and we need to fill the courthouse!

He has been held for over 3 years, without a trial, under deplorable conditions of solitary confinement and endured physical violence from another inmate last October and still awaiting trial. As a result, he lives in constant fear of his life at the prison and his health has significantly deteriorated, needing medical attention. The prison staff has ignored his medical requests and both guards and other inmates continue to harass him. Please read about his prison conditions here http://freeshifa.com/images/Contents/bond%20motion%202009.pdf

We have worked very hard to get this hearing for Shifa. We want to have him with us at home so he can regain his health and help his lawyers prepare for trial. We need your support and request your attendance at the bond hearing, so the judge may allow Shifa to be released to his family.

We also request you kindly make announcements about Shifa's bond hearing to your communities, organizations, and encourage your friends and families to support us by attending the hearing.

We need 100 people to support us at the bond hearing. We would be much obliged for all your help and look forward to seeing you, your friends and families at Shifa's Bond Hearing on this Tuesday, May 26, 3 PM.

YOUR attendance can make a big difference...please come and be with us.

BOND HEARING FOR SHIFA

WHEN: TUESDAY, MAY 26,
TIME: 3 PM

Courthouse address:

Room 1705, on 17th Floor
Judge William Duffey
Richard B Russel Federal Building
75 Spring St.
Atlanta, GA 30303

Peace and Blessings,
Sharmin and Sonali Sadequee
517-505-1697

--
www.freeshifa.com
www.ipetitions.com/petition/FreeShifa
www.flickr.com/photos/freeshifa
www.myspace.com/freeshifa
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=62107787609&ref=u

Wednesday, May 20

What are YOU doing with 5 Days of Fabulous at MondoHomo?

Wow, it’s just around the corner! FIVE DAYS of FABULOUS at MondoHomo in Atlanta!
http://www.mondohomo.com

What events are YOU going to? The off-the-chain Grand Opening Art Show, Homo Spoken: Sex & Politics, dyke icon Gretchen Philips, Athens Boys Choir and “Stories from the Road” documentary about following PJ Harvey -- all for only $7?

or Friday night’s Katrina del Mar showcase of the HAWTEST lesbo short films we’ve ever seen, TUFF CHICKS, with everything from surfer girls to Brooklyn girl gangs to lesbian vampires?

or the always-magical Mondo HomoHop on Friday night with more than 10 queer MCs from across the country, including smokin’ hot DEADLEE and Pharell-picks KIN4LIFE?

or the FREE! ALL AGES! HomoCon! on Saturday afternoon with fun, smart workshops, and Community Speed-Dating game with prizes?

or Film Love’s ‘BODIES’ screening of 18+ only sexy films by 70s queer filmmakers on Saturday?

or international superstar Justin Bond (John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus, Kiki & Herb lounge act, tons of Broadway and off-Broadway shows) in the East Coast debut of his new show, Rites of Spring, that’s played to sellout crowds on the West Coast?

or hard-rocking Mondo Rock, featuring the closest thing to Joan Jett (minus 20+ years) crossed with Metallica, New York City’s dyke band GSX?

or the FREE! ALL AGES! family-friendly Mondo Day Camp in Cabbagetown Park on Sunday, fun hanging out and games with your new queer peeps?

or More Mondo Film Love with original short films by 70s genderf*ck drag troupe The Cockettes, and a rare performance by Atlanta’s own inspiration to generations of drag queens, Diamond Lil & the Naked Hearts?

or chicken-and-waffles brunch at the Mondo Finalé, with Gospel Drag Brunch featuring drag/burlesque hotties like the incomparable burlesque star Vagina Jenkins?

or Johnny Drago’s original play written to debut at MondoHomo, “Billy Budd: a Portrait in Seamen”, with Radiotron genius DJ Lil Ray spinning it down after?

or just hanging out around Eyedrum this weekend, to cruise and meet the sexiest gathering of cross-country queers the South has ever hosted? (pssst... I’m telling you, spring flings are the best with here-today, gone next week out-of-towners!)

if you’re like me, it’s just too much darn trouble to pick! Might as well get the $50 5-day VIP Pass while they’re still available!

Tuesday, May 19

What's FREE! at MondoHomo this weekend?

What’s FREE! at MondoHomo?

Well, besides the Workshops (with free catered brunch, first come, first served), there’s the Mondo Day Camp!

Every year when we ask people what their favorite MondoHomo event was, the Day Camp is always the hands-down winner! Why? Because it’s outside, in gorgeous weather, family friendly, great BBQ, FREE!, fun sporty games, and just hanging with our queer peeps!!

So come on out Sunday May 22nd, noon-6pm, at Cabbagetown Park

(intersection of Kirkwood & Tye St., just a couple blocks over from the Red Fish sign on Memorial Drive, just east of Boulevard).

MondoHomo loves our Community!

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!

MondoHomo loves our Community!
http://www.mondohomo.com/

If you haven’t noticed, MondoHomo is all about community and politics this year, in addition to some damn fine queer performance!

Beginning this year, we now have an Activist Partner (or two) for each MondoHomo event. What’s an Activist Partner? It’s a local group doing radical and/or queer work that aligns with MondoHomo's politics (see the Manifesto at http://www.mondohomo.com/section/about/manifesto). They will be featured at the event, introduce their group to our audience, and staff a table with more information during the event.

Here’s our Activist Partners for 2009:
Thursday/HomoSpoken - Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, an annual festival of queer literature and writers
and Charis Books, a feminist bookstore that hosts many social justice events
Friday/HomoHop - Southern Comfort Conference, an annual nationwide transgender conference held in Atlanta
Saturday/HomoCon & Mondo Mondo - Southerners on New Ground, a radical queer community-building group
Sunday/Mondo Day Camp - YouthPride, a community center for LGBTQ youth.
Monday/Mondo Finalé - Zami, Atlanta’s premiere organization for Lesbians of African Descent

we’ve also got Free Workshops!
on Saturday May 23rd, from noon-5pm at Eyedrum Gallery,

MondoHomo presents HomoCon!
an afternoon of creative and political workshops to bolster our spirits! It’s one of several FREE! all ages events at MondoHomo, and comes with a free catered brunch from Sun in my Belly, a tres delish eatery in Decatur. There are 2 sessions, Session A from noon-1:30pm, and Session B from 2pm-3:30pm.

Session A - noon-1:30pm

D.I.Y. Screen Printin' Workshop with Lady Jane
Basic steps to screen printing from your house or garage.âÂ€¨Basic steps to screen printing from your house or garage. Bring your shirts or material to print on.

Struggle for dignity: My experiences with the Zapatistas (EZLN), with Gerardo Tristan
This is an hour informal talk where I will be sharing my experience with the insurgent indigenous group EZLN who has developed into a larger national movement seeking autonomy and promoting sustainable way of surviving in this global economy and within the context of a TLC (North American free trade). After sharing my experience people are welcomed to ask or share their thoughts on the Zapatismo and their struggle!

Queer Southern Identity and Making Art - The business of political queer art, with Gina Mamone
join Gina Mamone President & CEO of the worlds largest LGBTQ record label, Riot Grrrl Ink as she talks about embracing her inner gender queer hillbilly and the importance of how owning your roots through your art is fundamental in shattering southern stereotypes. Also discussed: Queer Marketing & Branding on a national level to create community.

Boylesque, with Smokin' McQueen

PR and Marketing, with Ms. Bea Haven

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence in the Queer/Trans Community, with Sarah Meng & Tommy Theollyn
This workshop intends to speak to the reality of sexual assault and domestic violence within the queer and/or trans communities. We will look at the resources available to us and examine the ways that multiple isms contribute to violence and limit access to resources. We will strategize ways to confront, prevent, and heal from this violence, as well as begin to build a larger framework for action within a transformative justice context. Open to all.

Strategies for Community Safety and Better Policing, not More Police!, with Moki of BLOCS

Patent Fever, with Michael Anne Jello
How we challenge Big Pharma (in the UK, US), and how the intellectual property system seems to entrench racial, class and North/South inequalities

Session B - 2pm -3:30pm

Burlesque Basics, with Vagina Jenkins
WANT TO TEASE YOUR LOVER?!?! Learn the timeless art of the striptease from the infamous V.A.G. Named Atlanta's Best Burlesque Dancer; The Lady Ms. Vagina Jenkins is just the grrrl to show you the basics of the bump n grind!

Social Justice, anti-racism, WOC, anti-violence, with Tru Bloo

Queer Visibility, with Gina Mamone
The importance of queer visibility, telling queerâÂ€¨stories and making our voices heard with an organic Q& A

The Trans-Health Initiative
Feminist Women’s Health Center and South Comfort Conference âÂ€¨Moderator: Kathy King, FWHCâÂ€¨Panel: Jac Camp, Director of Trans Health Initiative, FWHC, Lola Cola, SCC Board Member, FWHC Board Member, another SCC representativeâÂ€¨We will show short film clips, introducing the FWHC and Robert Eads. The panel will address the importance of trans-health issues, specifically for FtM, share info & resources, talk about the Southern Comfort Conference, and discuss advocating for equality in the workplace and the doctor’s office

The True Cost of Coal, with The Beehive Collective
Your light switch is connected to a human and ecological drama playing out in the Appalachians and beyond. The Beehive Design Collective presents "The True Cost of Coal," a giant poster-in-progress with an all-animal cast! The Beehive is an all-volunteer, art-activist collective dedicated to "cross-pollinating the grassroots" by creating collaborative, anti-copyright images for use as educational and organizing tools.

DIY production of beats, homophobia in hip hop or self producing, with breakout homohop artists KIN4LIFE

Then at 4pm we’re excited to present a Community Roundup Rodeo, with prizes and games encouraging community interaction at the FREE! HomoCon. A number of community groups are participating, including:
Youth Pride
Wonderroot
Kennesaw Pride Alliance
WRFG Radio Station
Southern Comfort Conference
The TransHealth Initiative
Feminist Women’s Health Center
GA Equality
Touching up our Roots
AID Atlanta
International Action Center

So come join us, and help us build our radical queer communities stronger!