Backyard to the Universe
June 19, 2009
Event Participate in these events, a significant part of the BGLT in Maine and for UU congregations
BANGOR: 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLIE HOWARD'S DEATH July 1-12, 2009
Contact: Bill Carlin 207 945 0069; cell 207 217 8554
Charlie, who was a 23-year-old openly gay man was beaten by three teenagers and thrown from the State Street Bridge into the Kenduskeag Stream, where he drowned, July 7, 1984.
Tuesday, July 7, 6:30pm Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor (UUSB), 120 Park Street., Vesper Service be led by Rev. Dr. Susan E. Davies, Bangor Theological Seminary. After the service, there will be the dedication of the Charlie Howard Memorial at the State Street Bridge and the casting of flowers into the Kenduskeag.
Wednesday, July 8, 7pm, UU Society of Bangor: a concert featuring Women with Wings, Voices for Peace, Maine Gay Men's Chorus.
Thursday, July 9, 5:30 - 6:45pm, Bangor Public Library: reception and exhibit: Charlie Howard, 25 Years Later, How Far Has Maine Come?
Friday, July 10, 6pm, Hammond Street Congregational Church, United Church of Christ:
pizza supper ($5), followed by free film, "Inlaws and Outlaws" and discussion.
Saturday, July 11, workshops at Hammond Street, Congregational Church 9am - 1pm:
9 - 10:30am: Darlene Huntress, Equality Maine, "Marriage Equality for Maine in 2009."
11 - 12:30pm: Rev. Dr. Marvin M. Ellis, Bangor Theological Seminary, "Reading the Bible Through a Queer Lens."
--11 - 12:30 - Ugly Ducklings," documentary film with discussion. Presented by Hardy Girls, Healthy Women.
Saturday night dance, sponsored by the Bridge Alliance, time and place to be determined.
Sunday, July 12, 9am, at UUSB: 25th Annual Charlie Howard Memorial Service, led by Rev. Richard Forcier, who was the minister of the Bangor Unitarian Church when Charlie was killed. The service will be followed by a walk to the State Street Bridge and casting of flowers into the stream.
When possible, events will be interpreted in American sign language.
Sue McKay, chair of the Charlie Howard Memorial Committee, which has worked for two years on the arrangements for the activities, says, "We want to remember Charlie and what his death means to our community. We also want to honor Charlie's exuberance and humor, and that means our program should be fun. There will be singing, dancing and, we trust, laughter."
Committee members are: George Brissette (Bridge Alliance;) William Carlin, Lee Giles, and Maria Hautala (UUSB); Dr. Deborah H. Carney; Jessica Carter (Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center); Rev. Dr. Susan E. Davies (Charles O. Howard Foundation); Rev. Dr. Mark Doty (minister, Hammond Street Congregational Church); Lois Reed (president of the Bangor Unitarian Church at the time of Charlie's death), and Daniel Williams (Howard Foundation).
