Matt Comer
Video & Photos: DADT press conference rally
Published March 2, 2010 | 
CRANE and the Human Rights Campaign staged a rally on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” on Feb. 26, 2010. CRANE also kicked off its March on Myrick campaign.
Friday: Eric Alva speaks in Charlotte
Published February 23, 2010 | On Friday, Feb. 26, CRANE and the Human Rights Campaign will stage a rally and awareness event on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the anti-gay law which prevents openly lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Openly gay veteran Eric Alva, a former U.S. Marine staff sergeant, will be with us and other gay vets and community members for our press conference at 4:30 p.m.
Alva, 37, a native of San Antonio, was sworn into the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 19 years old after attending community college. He graduated from Southwest High School in 1989.
Alva served in the Marine Corps for 13 years, and was a member of the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Marines. At the age of 22, he was deployed to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. Over the years he was stationed from California to Japan. He was deployed to the Middle East in January of 2003.
On March, 21, 2003, the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Marine Staff Sgt. Alva was traveling in Iraq in a convoy to Basra with his battalion – where he was in charge of 11 Marines – when he stepped on a landmine, breaking his right arm and damaging his leg so badly that it needed to be amputated. Alva was awarded a Purple Heart and received a medical discharge from the military.
Alva, the first American wounded in the war in Iraq, has been on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and various TV news shows and has appeared in People magazine and major newspapers.
Alva, is an avid scuba diver and likes to ski as well. Alva graduated from college in May of 2008, with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Currently, he is studying for a master’s degree in social work in San Antonio, where he lives with his partner, Darrell, to continue, he says, to work for social justice.
On Friday, Feb. 26, Alva will join CRANE in raising local awareness on this national issue. Learn more about our event, when CRANE will kick-off our “March on Myrick” campaign.
Photos: Valentine to Bill James
Published February 17, 2010 | 
We were able to snag a couple photos of our special, heart-shaped Valentine’s Day card to Bill James before presenting it to him at the Mecklenburg County Commission meeting on Feb. 16.
In the photo at right, CRANE organizer and card maker extraordinaire Laura Maschal holds the card open. The message reads, “Commissioner James, May you always feel loved no matter who you may love.” The front of the card read, “Gay is OK.”
Words matter
Published February 17, 2010 | CRANE organizer Lacey Williams and I had the chance to chat with Keith Larson during his show on WBT News-Talk 1110 AM on Wednesday. Larson’s invite to us was extended after CRANE presented Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James a special Valentine’s Day card saying “Gay is OK” and imploring James to lay aside his anti-gay rhetoric and begin treating all Mecklenburg County citizens with the respect and dignity they deserve.
On Larson’s show, we got into a great conversation about words, slurs and labels. Where did they come from? What do they mean? Do they matter? How confusing is all this?
It was a great educational moment for our community, Charlotte’s straight community and Larson’s listeners. Continue reading
Posted in Commentary | 
Bill James, Charlotte, Keith Larson, labels, Mecklenburg County, slurs, WBT | 
1 CommentListen: CRANE on WFAE today (Updated)
Published February 16, 2010 | 
CRANE organizer Laura Maschal had the chance to speak with WFAE 90.7 FM reporter Lisa Miller this morning, concerning CRANE’s Valentine’s card gift to anti-gay Mecklenburg Commissioner Bill James at tonight’s meeting of the County Commissioners.
Miller’s report aired at the bottom of the 5:00 hour on Feb. 16, 2010, during the station’s broadcast of “All Things Considered.”
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You can tune into WFAE at 90.7 FM or listen live online anytime.
Be sure to check out this morning’s media advisory for the details.
Posted in Media & Press | Bill James, Charlotte, Lisa Miller, Mecklenburg County, WFAE | Leave a commentCRANE on Charlotte Observer
Published February 16, 2010 | 
News of CRANE’s Valentine’s card gift to anti-gay Mecklenburg Commissioner Bill James made the front page of CharlotteObserver.com today.
Observer staffer Doug Miller took to the paper’s Paper Trail blog with a note about tonight’s presentation to James. CRANE organizers Lacey Williams and Laura Maschal will be present with other community members to remind James of the “power of love in our community.”
More details in this morning’s media advisory, and be sure to tune into WFAE 90.7 FM today between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Posted in Media & Press | Bill James, Charlotte, Charlotte Observer, Doug Miller, Mecklenburg County | Leave a comment
Simple equality
If, perhaps, a similar photo had been made and the fiancee’s name changed to a male name, this hard working soldier would be receiving a discharge.
All we ask for is simple equality. We ask that LGBT servicemembers be given the freedom for which they’ve sacrificed a safe life at home, their families and friends, and for which they continually place their lives in harm’s way. What better way is their to honor these LGBT American patriots than treating them with dignity and respect, just as their heterosexual colleagues are?