Queer Equality Revolution: I.R.S.-phobia

June 21, 2009

I.R.S.-phobia

It's interesting that the Queer Community has finally learned the POWER of the Almighty Dollar; it seems that the mere MENTION of withholding money from a DNC fundraiser woke up the White House and many prominent gay organizations.

I support withholding money from EVERYONE who is not FIGHTING for what is our birthright - Federal Equality (the begging, compromising, pleading of most organizations doesn't count as "fighting"). But who really "gives" us rights? I think we need to stop PAYING for rights in general - whether it's paying gay organizations or paying another NO ON 8-type fiasco.

I still suggest that we need to withhold money from the powers that ACTUALLY give us rights - the Federal Government. It is the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT who is denying us federal equality; this state-by-state approach is bullshit, and a wonderful way to make everyone's job in politics a little easier for the next decade.

If you are afraid of the I.R.S. and what they may try to do, you may not be angry enough yet. I do know one thing - If the I.R.S. or tries to harass me for ANY tax non-compliance they better come fully-armed. I HAVE HAD IT with governmental abuse and legal exclusion from civil law based on whom I love.

DEAR I.R.S. - Until other Americans STOP being able to VOTE TO PREVENT me from seeing my husband while he is dying, I will resist taxation. It's called DIGNITY; it's called being an AMERICAN, goddammit!

Music and Me

I started playing the piano around age 6; finished "Teaching Little Fingers To Play" with a teacher, then was self-taught using the U.S. School of Music Home Study Course until I studied at the University of Michigan, where I was fortunate to be on scholarship. At age 10 I volunteered as the church organist for weekday Mass. My first paying gig was at 13 as the organist for Sunday Mass at St. Julian Catholic Church. My brother gave me his electric bass and amp at 13 after I played it for a few days; by 14 I was gigging in a band.

I taught music in some form (piano, theory, bass guitar) from age 20-43. During that time I was extraordinarily passionate about Piano Pedagogy, Music Learning Theory, and Early Childhood Music & Movement, and used to consider teaching young children music through the piano to be an awesome responsibility, privilege, and joy.

I earned a BM in Piano Performance in '93 from U of M, where I was OBSESSED with 20th century music. My biggest accomplishment at Michigan was performing Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata from memory; it's not virtuostic per se, but it's extraordinarily 'complex' music. At 20 I taught bass at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and performed with the W.C.C. Jazz Orchestra and Afromusicology Ensemble. I owe my ENTIRE musical life to Dr. Morris J. Lawrence, Jr., Lynne Bartholomew, and Arthur Greene.

Professional highlights include performing for President Reagan, opening for Dizzy Gillespie, and playing in the Montreux-Detroit International Jazz Festival. In 2002 I presented my one-man show "Wild About Rhythm" at local elementary schools, and owned and operated a Piano Studio from my home in Kirkland, WA between 1996-2004. I briefly had 24 piano students in 2008, until my P.T.S.D. was severely triggered on 11.05.08. In my lifetime I have performed at over 200 weddings and/or wedding receptions, but I have had to stop because the irony is LITERALLY killing me.