African-American civil rights activists and would be Presidential candidate Al Sharpton called out the Christian right for obsessing on gay rights and abortion to the peril of social justice issues including poverty, education and civil rights.

Tony Perkins, official spokeswhore for the wingnuts, disagrees.  He believes that poverty and education issues are symptoms of a the breakdown of the family unit. 

So if we criminalize abortion and homosexuality, we'll end poverty.  Huh.

I'm with Al. 

Now I full anticipate that next Wednesday will be a day filled with heady delight, incoherent joy and perhaps a little big of regret over the ones that got away.  I'm putting the cart before the horse by mentioning celebrations, but its never too early to get your gloating plans organized. 

By Thursday you might be ready to come back down to earth, but continue celebrating.  Here's the event for you.

Our friend singer-songwriter Eve Goodman has brought an upcoming performance to our attention. 

Thursday November 9, Nashville based performer Amelia White rolls into town for a one-night performance at the Shadow Lounge.  Opening acts include longtime PghLesbian favorites Bill Eberle and Autumn Ayers.  The show is $10.00.

When I listened to Amelia's music, I thought "Aimee Mann meets Jewel" without Aimee Mann's endless self-absorbed rambling  with the fact that she lost the Oscar to the Tarzan theme song. 

Amelia is highly recommended by Eve.  Click on her name to go to her MySpace page.  And check her out live next week.  We need to support independent artists and voices in the entertainment industry as well as the political realm.  Plus the Shadow Lounge rocks.  Its a smoke-free venue which you know pleases me.