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“Bent” At the UU Fellowship of Amarillo

If you were following my story from a few days ago about the closing down of Avenue 10’s production of “Bent,” I’d just like to update you:

a) The anonymous complaint leading to the closing of the theatre did not, in fact, come from Repent Amarillo, although RA did include the Avenue 10 Theatre as one of its “sinful” organizations. It came from a man named Charlie Eli Chick, Executive Director of Soulcatchers Prayer Group and Outreach Center. Here’s the article that outs him, and that features my host James Doore’s visit to the City Council to ask about the motivations for the particular timing of the closing of the theatre venue.

b) The production will be presented at the UU Fellowship of Amarillo on Friday and Saturday night. Here’s a nice article in the Amarillo Globe-News about it.

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REPENT, AMARILLO!

My hosts Eileen and James and I were reading the paper over coffee just now and read this upsetting piece on the closing of a tiny local theatre which had planned to show “Bent” this weekend.

One of the members of the UU fellowship has close connections to Avenue 10 and immediately filled us in over the phone about the miserable situation.

I have written a letter to the editor and hope you might consider doing the same. This isn’t about code compliance, it’s about censorship. Letters can go to letters@amarillo.com.

The Avenue 10 group has found an alternate space for tonight’s show, but the UU fellowship leadership is in conversation about providing the venue for next weekend’s shows at the church. Lawyers from the congregation are on the phone to other lawyers within the congregation, because the show features full male nudity. The phone is ringing like crazy over here, and did you know that the UUs recently made a fundamentalist blacklist called “REPENT AMARILLO!??” Of course I congratulated the fellowship for this last Sunday morning when I spoke to them, and suggested that they host a huge party for all the other organizations that made the list.

REPENT, Amarillo, indeed.

Hey, “anonymous complainer,” thanks for this opportunity to witness to our values and to “commit news.”

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Easter Joy With Bologna Ears and a Tail

He is one year old.

He came to us already named Max. It’s a name that I love because of the character Max Bialystock in my favorite movie, “The Producers.” SweetieBang loves it for its reference to “Where The Wild Things Are.”

I have wanted a dog forever but vowed that I would never get one while I was single — too busy, away from home too often, etc.
SweetieBang is just as insane about dogs as I am and we planned to get one this summer; maybe a French bulldog or a yellow lab or some kind of labby mix. But of course that’s never how it works. Greg works right by the local shelter and as anyone hankering after a dog will do, he stopped in to have a look. And there was Max. And Greg fell in love. He came home and woke me from a nap and said, “Come with me to meet Max.” I read his mind immediately, jumped into my coat and we sped off right away, because I know how it is when your animal chooses you. I had to see this little guy. I had to see his little bologna ears. I adore beagles but SisterBang always warned me that they’re a HANDFUL so I never seriously considered trying to be a Beagle Mom until I met Max.

We know that beagles are incorrigible, willful dogs. We know he will bay and howl and dig and require lots of walks, lots of attention, and obedience training. Also an outdoor fenced in run. And a crate. We will spend weeks carefully introducing him to Ermengarde and she to him (he lived with a cat before and likes them — she, of course, will initially hate him). I’m sure he will chew shoes or furniture and pee and poop in the house until he’s potty-trained (what kind of dog owner doesn’t do this immediately with a puppy? We are disgusted! AND… it doesn’t help knowing that Max’s former owner was a local minister!). There will be times I rue the day I ever looked into his brown eyes and saw him nuzzle his whole little body hopefully against Greg even though I was the one holding the treats.

But he is a cuddly, sweet, affectionate pup who might be the tiniest bit not-so-bright but we love him and are brimming over with excitement to bring him home on Tuesday and make him a huge part of our lives.

So this is my Easter joy. At long, long last I will fulfill my heart’s desire to become a doggie mommy. May God bless you all with new life.

Max
(This really isn’t the best photo. He looks kind of funny and bow-legged here and he’s not. But you get an idea of his beautiful markings. Also, jeepers creepers, where’d he get those peepers? *thump, thump*).