KEYSTONE ALLIANCE/
GAYLIFE NEWSLETTER
HOME BASED FROM: SOUTHWESTERN & CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
Together, The Keystone Alliance/GayLife Newsletter is a Multi-State, National Gay Organization. We raise money for charity, provide monthly support meetings/educational events and write editorials in various local newspapers. We stand up for those who need protection and equal rights in our community. We provide a twice monthly news publication with various news columns and information.
OUR CONTACT INFORMATION:
September 1st marks the 9th Anniversary of the creation of the Gaylife Newsletter. Our yearly anniversary show will be at Club 231 in Uniontown on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 11 pm. We hope you can all make the show to show your support for the newsletter. Our Chief Editor and founder, Maxx, started the newsletter nine years ago as a hobby and look at how is has grown.
John A. DeBartola
President, Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter
I, as the National President, have realized the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter must take a definite stand within our political environment on the rights of the gay community, and must do things that bring to the forefront an opportunity in our nation. We are at a point of great change. We are at a point of moving forward and the Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter has realized that we must now, in a sense, begin to support bringing about this great change here, promoting individual rights just as such a promotion occurred for the civil rights movement. This movement has gained the momentum to the point now where the tides are beginning to turn into the favor of people realizing that we must not discriminate against other people not only because of the color of their skin, but also because of their sexual orientation.
And as I say once again, similar to the civil rights movement, it has taken time. The civil rights movement was not done in a year, nor in five. There were many years where the civil rights movement took its time to move forward with the agenda that it had. Our movement has done the same thing but now we are reaching that crucial point where we must move forward to bring about the great changes in this country that can allow us all the true freedom that our country is built upon. And so I, as your National president, knowing that we must move forward and with the support of so many others on our Executive Board, am doing so. I ask all of you out there to come see the film and the showing of what we will be doing as part of spreading our educational knowledge of what the gay rights movement is truly about. It’s about freedom. It’s about individual choice. It's not about whether or not you're gay or straight, it's whether or not you're allowed to be who you truly are which American was built upon. So I ask you of all, join us in moving forward on this great journey as we begin to make the great changes that are right on the tip of the iceberg as one might call it of change.
Last February, Pennsylvania Diversity Network (PDN), UUPLAN, Sen. Leach's Office and The Interfaith Alliance of PA (TIA-PA), put together a steering committee and coordinated several events during "Freedom To Marry Week", the week prior to Valentine's Day. The Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter is on the steering committee for LGBT Freedom Week PA this year. For more information please go to: http://LgbtFreedomWeekPA.org.
The purpose of LGBT Freedom Week PA is to take awareness and education regarding the LGBT plight for equality out into the general public. As part of this, The 4th Annual Psycho Spectacular Valentine’s Extravaganza~ Your Fuk Crazy in Love Drag Show at Lucille’s in Johnstown on Friday, February 12, 2011, and the Diva’s in Love Drag Show at Escapade in Altoona on Saturday, February 13, 2011, will have a petition drive for supporters to sign a statement for equality for the gay community. Any other establishment interested in sponsoring a drag show for LGBT Freedom Week PA please contact me.
As part of this program, The Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter will sponsor a showing of “Out in the Silence” at the Cambria County Library on National Coming Out Day, Monday, October 11, 2010 at 6 pm. This is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Please go to http://wpsu.org/outinthesilence for more information on the film.
Below please find a press release from the organizer of LGBT Freedom Week PA Bolton Winpenny.
Sincerely,
John A. DeBartola
President, Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter
CC: www.gaylifenewsletter.com, Tribune-Democrat, Altoona Mirror, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Tribune Review, Center Daily Times, Pittsburgh Out, Erie Gay News, Philadelphia Gay News, Senator Eichelberger, Senator Leach, Senator Wozink, Congressmen Critz, Rep. Shapiro, Representative Frankel, Representative Cohen, Bolton Winpenny, Joe Wilson, Advocate, Out Magazine, HRC, Johnstown Our Town, Johnstown Magazine, Johnstown Lift Newsletter.
Press Release: September 1, 2011: LGBT Freedom Week, PA
Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter is the newest member of the Steering Committee for LGBT Freedom Week PA, a series of events taking place within or near the week prior to Valentine's Day. For several years there have been events around Pennsylvania to promote Freedom To Marry Week, designated as the week before Valentine's day. For 2010, a few of the organizations who sponsor these events got together for cross promotion and were ecstatic with the help of Senator Daylin Leach and his Staff, coordinated primarily by Mary Pat (M.P.) Tomei. The 2010 Freedom To Marry Week PA main event was Feb 8th including:
* a press conference to announce Senator Leach's Marriage Equality Bill (SB 935);
* a lobby day during which 3000 signed postcards supporting marriage equality, coordinated by Pennsylvania Diversity Network (PDN), were distributed to their respective legislators;
* the PDN Same-Sex Photo Project was unveiled in the Lobby of the Capital where it remained for a week; and finally,
* a rally held in front of the building that denies Dauphin County citizens the ability to apply for a marriage license (UUPLAN).
Other events during 2010 Freedom To Marry PA week in Harrisburg included:
* A workshop for Marriage Equality during the PA Progressive Summit
* Drag Show
* UU Ceremony Recognizing Same-Sex Couples
* Interfaith Discussion Panel (The Interfaith Alliance - PA)
* Celebration of Faiths that affirm same-sex marriage
* Dinner & Dance
* Marriage Equality Debate between Sen. Daylin Leach v. Maggie Gallagher (HACC Allies)
In the Altoona / Johnstown area, they were doing their own thing with the annual drag shows. Other organizations across Pennsylvania sponsored events as well.
* Your Fuk Crazy in Love @ Lucille's in Johnstown
* Diva’s in Love @ Escapade in Altoona
* the Philadelphia William Way Interfaith Breakfast to discuss marriage equality;
* An Equality Dinner in Northeast Pennsylvania sponsored by The NEPA Rainbow Alliance and GayNEPA.com
* Allentown's Court House action and Same-Sex Marriage Celebration sponsored by MCC of the Lehigh Valley and PDN
* Pottsville Rally by PFLAG of Pottsville
Shortly after these events, a vote on SB 707, this session's marriage amendment bill, was defeated in it's very first vote! We can all take a great deal of pride in considering that Freedom To Marry week gave enough support to citizens and legislators to result in such a dramatic change from two years prior when the same committee passed along a similar bill.
For Feb 2011, we decided to extend the scope of Freedom To Marry Week to include all LGBT issues, hence we have changed the name to "LGBT Freedom Week PA." Since all the points made in support of marriage equality also support non-discrimination, hate-crimes, civil unions and gays in the military, we thought it a waste to only focus on one issue instead of supporting them all. We also hope that by supporting simple equality, we'll combine the momentum from all the different factions of LGBT causes.
The set of organizations committed to sponsoring at least one event are named the Steering Committee, of which Keystone Alliance/Gay Life Newsletter is a member. Supporting Organizations are those that promote the events. Currently there are 15 Steering Committee members plus 35 Supporting Organizations. Along with our annual two drag shows, for Feb 11th, Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter will be sponsoring a screening for Out in the Silence, a documentary based in Oil City about the struggles and triumphs of living openly.
Both Senator Daylin Leach and Rep. Mark Cohen have agreed to submit their respective bills for marriage equality and civil unions early in the 2011-2012 legislative session so they can be introduced on Feb 7th. Rep. Dan Frankel and Rep. Shapiro might also have their respective bills in place (Nondiscrimination and Hate Crimes) for early petitioning. For our area's three LGBT Freedom Week events, we'll have petitions at the ready for you to sign for these legislative efforts along with a petition to shoot down any oppressive, discriminatory bill, which we hope our friend Sen. Eichelberger won't be sponsoring this year.
For details including the list of steering committee members, supporting organizations and the calendar of events (all still growing), see http://LgbtFreedomWeekPa.org.
Bolton Winpenny
The News Staff
Keystone Alliance/Gaylife Newsletter Presents:
Miss Keystone Alliance Pageant
Theme: Fairy Tales
Friday, September 10, 2010, 11 pm @ Lucille's in Johnstown
Join Chrisitan Diane and Johnny, Your Snow White and Prince Charming MC's for the evening, as we crown a new Queen of the Keystone Alliance. Special Performances by Waynonna Juggs, Miss Keystone Alliance 2009-2010, Akasha Le Stat, Miss Gaylife All Star 2009-2011 and Blu, Mr. Gaylife All Star 2009-2011. Contestants for the title of Miss Keystone Alliance include: Thea Trix, Allison Wonderland, Lady Jezelle Vancartier, Buffy Hollow, Onya Asez, Georgia Bea Cummings, Audaura Lamour and Costa Lotabuckz.
Good Luck to all the contestants and see you all at the Pageant.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 http://www.ourtownonline.biz/
Organizer:
Miss Keystone Alliance Pageant to entertain, educate
By Christine Schirato
Our Town Assistant Editor
This year’s Miss Keystone Alliance Pageant will feature some of the state’s best talent, with eight vying for the title.
“In some ways, I see this as a heated competition, that many of these professionals who have entered this have been in this particular trade and working on perfecting for years their skills,” said John DeBartola, organizer of the drag pageant.
“The contestants themselves see this as a very highly skilled profession that requires great skill and grace.”
This is the third year for the pageant, which will be held at Lucille’s, 520 Washington Street, Johnstown.
“We started out our first year with two contestants, four last year and now eight,” DeBartola said of the pageant’s growth.
“By leaps and bounds, every year it gets bigger and better.”
Audience attendance has also increased, DeBartola said, and attendees represent a good cross section of the community. “We get everybody~ an equal mix right down the center.”
Competing this year are Thea Trix, Allison Wonderland, Lady Jezelle Van Cartier, Buffy Hollow, Onya Asez, Georgia Bea Cummings, Audaura Lamour and Costa Lotabuckz.
Judging this year’s pageant are Christma LA Foxx, Author Frank Bittinger, Cooter DeVille, Akasha Le stat and Catherine S. Cox, Keystone Alliance Altoona Chapter President.
There will be special performances by Christian Diane, Miss Keystone Alliance 2008-2009, Waynonna Juggs, Miss Keystone Alliance 2009-2010, Akasha Lestat, Miss Gaylife All Star 2009-2011 and Blu, Mr. Gaylife All Star 2009-2011.
There will be a $5 cover and the pageant begins at 10 pm.
The pageant will be entertaining and educational, said DeBartola.
“The Keystone Alliance represents a segment of the population that we support~ the aspect of educating the public and that we also in a sense are educating the populous of the needs and the concerns that are necessary to remain healthy, vibrant and good citizens of the community.”
Eight Contestants will be vying for the Miss Keystone Alliance crown at the annual pageant, which is set for 10 pm at Lucille’s, 520 Washington Street, Johnstown. Pictured above: They are (front row), Buffy Hollow, Onya Asez, (back row) Allison Wonderland, Georgia Bea Cummings, Audaura Lamour, and Costa Lotzbuckz. Contestants not pictured are Thea Trix and Lady Jezelle Van Cartier.
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Keystone Alliance/ Gaylife Newsletter Presents:
Shepherd Wellness Benefit 2010
Celebrating the 9th Anniversary of the Gaylife Newsletter
@ Club 231 231 E. Pittsburgh Street Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Saturday, September 18, 2010 11 pm.
Mistress of Ceremonies: Thea Trix
Special Celebrity Performances by:
Akasha Le Stat, Miss Gay Life All Star 2009-2011
Blu, Mr. Gay Life All Star 2009-2011
Waynonna Juggs, Miss Keystone Alliance 2009-2010
Christian Diane, Miss Gaylife 2010/2011
Anna Steezia, Gaylife Entertainer of The Year 2010-2011
Harry Feltersnatch, Mr. Gaylife Congenality 2010/2011
Mikee Styles, Mr. Gaylife 2010
Cayleb, Mr. Gaylife All Male 2010/2011
Jade Nite, Miss Club 231
Pandora Box
Clitorella Dou'chey
Onya Asez
Door Cover, Performers Tips, and 50/50 all being donated to Shepherd Wellness Community. See you there.
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