Queer Equality Revolution: Tax Revolt Murmurs

June 18, 2009

Tax Revolt Murmurs

I'll post more chatter about tax revolt as I find it online.

- JUSTIFIED ANGER -

ARE WE "THERE" YET?!

~
Ginelle had this to say on May 19th, 2009 about an Anti-Gay Amendment resurfacing in Pennsylvania.

"What Senator John Eichelberger is displaying is an outright intollerent and hateful attitude towards Gay and Lesbian people who have helped him win his senatorial seat simply by voting for him. And too, he seems to have forgotten that his wages from the taxpayers also includes Gay and Lesbian taxpayers. Is he willing to take a cut in pay should Gay and Lesbian people decide on a tax revolt - after all, why should we pay taxes for equal rights and protections if we are not receiving those very same equal rights and protections?"
GOOD QUESTION!

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.