Unity Mississippi

Fondren’s March for Gay Equality

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:57:32 +0000

We are marching (or dancing) from Cups espresso cafe in fondren to the capitol building. We are advocating gay equality. We hope to inspire enough people to push for laws that allow homosexual couples in mississippi to adopt and marry.

This post was submitted by Bob Gilchrist.

Mississippi Maestroz

M.C. Walker — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:47:34 +0000

Our mission as M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I Maestroz is to initiate, activate, and partake in athletic, social, and civic opportunities that will foster unity for LGBT individuals and help us to sustain social well-being as Mississippians/Southerners.

Jackson County HOPE

jacksoncountyhope — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:47:12 +0000

We are now working on filing for Non-profit 501 (c) 3 status and we are in the middle off buying a building. We are a HIV/AIDS/STD Task-force, our goals are to educate, give support where it is need, council people that are coming off drugs, help with depression, have a safe place to come and hangout, free testing, and many other details that would take all day to write. Ultimately we want to put a end on HIV/AIDS.

Phone Number: 228-235-9958

Website: http://www.jacksoncountyhope.webs.com

This post was submitted by jacksoncountyhope.

Awareness Dinner Fundraiser

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:46:36 +0000

You have been invited to join us for our 1st annual Dinner In Moss Point, Mississippi. We are a newly formed Task-force. We provide counseling, education, friendship, soon will be having free testing for anyone that has impacted by HIV/AIDS or any other STD. Our goal is to educate and work together as a community to end this vicious cycle. Proceeds will be going to help pay for our Fee for filing for our general and building fund. For more information please contact Benjamin Hood at 288-235-9958 or by e-mail at jacksoncountyhope@live.com

$20.00 per person all you can eat!

We ask you to please RSVP by November 1st

Please pass this on our Goal for raising at this event is 2,000.00

www.jacksoncountyhope.webs.com
And check us out on Facebook!

This post was submitted by Benjamin W. Hood.

OUToberfest becomes Pride

Unity Mississippi — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:43:49 +0000

It is with excitement and sadness that we make the following announcement: OUToberfest will become Mississippi Pride. Unfortunately, due to a still struggling economy coupled with weak financial support from sponsors and the community, OUToberfest will not happen in October 2011 but will evolve into (the first annual) Mississippi Pride in June 2012.

As noted, this announcement comes with mixed emotions. We would love to continue OUToberfest, but without financial support, a $10,000+ event is next-to-impossible, especially when the goal is to make it a free event for the community.

By becoming Mississippi Pride, we will be able to do the following: secure marching permits for a parade/march; increase sponsors from national and local businesses; fundraise more; and celebrate National Pride Month.

By making this bold change, we hope to re-energize the festival and the community, and our much relied on donors and volunteers.

Our vision for Mississippi Pride takes the best from OUToberfest and expands it’s potential and reach. The Pride Festival will occur in the first week of June 2012 and serve as a kick-off for Pride Month. We hope to partner with organizations, individuals and businesses throughout the state to ensure that Pride is a success. Throughout the rest of Pride Month, we envision smaller events – from movie screenings to picnics to workshops – happening in the Jackson metro area and statewide.

It’s time for us to unify and take our state’s movement to the next level. To do so, we need your commitment. Whether you are an individual, a non-profit, a GSA, a local business, or a national corporation, there are several ways you can pledge your support:

Get involvedonline
Sponsor Mississippi Pride, early. With early resources, the festival can become bigger and better! Sponsor levels and opportunities will be announced in September on the site, Facebook, Twitter, and through our email list.
Participate – march, present, perform, vend, table, host, attend, market, etc. Look for ways to get involved very soon.
Volunteer your services, time, venues, and other opportunities to fundraise and raise awareness. Email volunteer@mississippipride.com to get involved.

This is not the end… It is a new beginning.

Now is your opportunity to help our festival evolve and grow by getting involved. Together, we will take another step towards increased visibility, growth, acceptance, and equality in Mississippi.

With Pride,

Knol Aust
Chairman, Unity Mississippi

Beyond New York, Gay Marriage Faces Hurdles

Unity Mississippi — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:04:04 +0000

After a string of defeats in recent years from California to Maine, the movement to legalize same-sex marriage is hoping its unexpected victory in New York will revive efforts to legalize gay weddings around the nation.

But the movement’s success here could prove difficult to replicate. Twenty-nine states have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage, while 12 others have laws against it. And many of those states where support for same-sex marriage is high have already acted on the issue.

Continue reading the article at NYTimes.com

Film: Incompatible With Christian Teaching

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:22:54 +0000

In 1972, the United Methodist Church adopted a phrase, “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” Since that time over 80,000 United Methodists – clergy and laity, gay and straight – have dissented from denominational policy and advocated for change, demanding that the church live into the true meaning of the Gospel. This film shares some of their stories.

The director of the film will be present for Q&A afterward. Webiste

The film will be shown at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church – 4419 Broadmeadow Dr, Jackson, MS, Sunday, June 26 at 7 p.m. This screening is sponsored by Daring to Reconcile and Embrace All in Mississippi (dreamms.wordpress.com). This event is free and open to all.

This post was submitted by Renee Sappington.

Dance Explosion

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:09:55 +0000

Dance Explosion is a performance by individuals, groups and drag queens hosted at Safe Harbor Family Church.

Date: Friday, August 12
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: 1345 Flowood Drive, Flowood, MS 39232

Facebook Event Page

This post was submitted by Sandra Grana.

The 2nd Annual RED Party

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:30:06 +0000

Location: BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar
Date: October 3, 2011
Time: 5pm

Paint the town RED this October at Mississippi HeARTS Against AIDS 2^nd Annual RED Party hosted by BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar in Jackson.

The RED Party will start at 5pm Monday, October 3^rd with a cocktail hour that includes a complimentary wine bar as well as a cash bar for those looking for something different followed by a world class dinner provided by Jeff Good, Dan Blumenthal & the staff of BRAVO!. Come and enjoy the sounds of Italy throughout the restaurant and a silent auction of great items ranging from vacation getaways to local theatre tickets.

Tickets are available online at www.mississippihearts.org or by calling 601-259-6768. An advance ticket purchase is recommended. Individual tickets are $40 or $75 a couple.

This post was submitted by Joe Williams.

OUTwordly Fabulous

Unity Mississippi — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:01:47 +0000

All proceeds benefit Unity Mississippi/OUToberfest and Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition.

OUTwordlyFabulous is a one-woman show that takes on bullying and homophobia through the power of spoken word. Pandora Scooter creates many characters to explore these issues fully with seriousness and humor. The show has been a success in the East Coast and through the Midwest on her tour.

The show is performed using spoken word, or performance poetry, and has a message of compassion and inclusivity. The show comes to Jackson from Memphis as part of Scooter’s Midwest and Southern State tour.

“I’ve been thinking about all the kids who dread going to school each day because of the culture of mean that’s pervasive in their schools because of bullying and homophobia. I’m passionate about making life a bit more tolerable for these kids and to make life a lot better for kids who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and who identify as queer. I’m compelled to do something about the tyranny of bullying and homophobia throughout our nation.”

When she returns to New York, the show is going into preproduction for an Off-Broadway Tour.

Food will be served from 6:00pm-7:00pm. Suggested donation $5.

Suggested admission of $5. Show starts at 7:00pm.

Time: Saturday, June 18 · 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location:
Safe Harbor Family Church
1345 Flowood Drive
Flowood, MS 39232

More information at www.outwordlyfabulous.com.

Visit the Facebook Event page.