TSA News December 2019 Volume 37 Issue 12

AIDS Holiday Project is in Full Swing, Needs

Additional Support

The Tri-State Alliance AIDS Holiday Project is in full swing, serving over 250 low-income households impacted by HIV / AIDS throughout the Tri-State. To succeed, we need the com-munity’s help. Here are some ways YOU can help.

• Family Sponsorship: We can give you a wish list with ages, clothing sizes, toy requests, etc. We have both large and small households that need sponsored. For more infor-mation, contact 3statealliance@gmail.com or 812-480-0204.

• Donations: We are looking for donations to help purchase gift requests and to purchase grocery store gift cards. Dona-tions can be sent to the TSA Holiday Project, PO Box 2901, Evansville, IN 47728 or online at TSAGL.org/donate.html.

• Snowmen: We are looking for businesses willing to ‘sell’ snowmen for $1 as a donation to the AIDS Holiday Project.

• We have a charity benefit at the Lucky Lady on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 7pm. We have several first-time performers, and the performers that raises the most money (online or in –person) Drag Heavensville King and Queen. Contact 3statealliance@gmail.com or 812-480-0204 if you want to perform at this fun charity event, billed as the Worst Drag Show in Evansville.

Only with the community’s help can we succeed in meeting these needs.

William Hiett Obituary 1962-2019

William A. Hiett, 57, died at home on World

AIDS Day on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. He was

born on Oct. 7, 1962 at Evansville’s St. Mary’s

Hospital, the son of Billy Joe Hiett and Sandra

(Jones) Hiett. He performed in numerous

nightclubs under the stage name of Tiffany Sex

Jones. His mother survives, along with his

siblings Kris Tina Bridges, Billy (Bennie) Hiett

Jr., Scott Hiett, Heather (Terry) Raffidy and

Stephanie Williamson; and close family friends

David Feldpausch and Carla Poindexter. He is

predeceased by his father and by his brother

Paul Curtis Hiett. William was cremated. A

memorial service will be announced at a later

date. Bill asked that memorial donations be

made to the TSA Youth Group, PO Box 2901,

Evansville, IN 47728 or online at TSAGL.org/

donate.html.

TSA Challenges School Board member Ann Ennis on her Controversial Remark TSA has engaged in a social media campaign after EVSC School Board member replied “Cry Me a River” to 10 TSA members and friends who were talking to her about LGBT and especially transgender suicide. She responded that her remarks were taken out of context, but she failed to apologize and failed to elaborate in what context she made the statement. After reading Ann's post, we have a couple of suggestions and requests (if you haven’t seen the post, go to one of these web addresses): • https://www.facebook.com/348554988510144/posts/2763720730326879?sfns=mo • https://www.tristatehomepage.com/local/outrage-after-evsc-board-member-tells-lgbtq-organization-cry-me-a-river/ 1 We were talking about LGBT, and especially Transgender, suicides. Ann claims her statement, "Cry Me a River” was taken out of context.

Ann should elaborate: how it was taken out of context and what the context should be for her statement. There were 10 TSA supporters and members present at the school board meeting. There is no doubt among us what you were referring to and what the discussion was before you made that statement.

2 We urge Ann to apologize: something she has yet to do. When an elected official really screws up and says something offensive, they should apologize. They should also clarify that said statement does not reflect their views on the top-ic. Elected officials should never respond, “Cry Me a River”. Please apologize: it is the responsi-ble thing to do. 3 Her statement: “I was not speaking about the tragedy of transgender or of any suicide.” The wording, and punctuation, of this statement is troublesome. As it is currently articulated, it seems to suggest that there is a "tragedy of transgender". We urge a rewording and/or cor-recting punctuation: so that that statement does not suggest a "tragedy of transgender" but rather clearly articulates that "Cry Me a River" was not in relation to transgender suicide.

What TSA Wants from the EVSC School Board

After an LGBT teen committed suicide in front of Central High School in January of 2017, TSA has intensified our push of the EVSC School Board. We were able to persuade EVSC to start GSAs at area middle and high schools, add sexual orientation to their employment non-discrimination policy, and send their diversity director for specific LGBTQ youth worker conference.

The following items are what we are still asking the EVSC to take action on:

(1) Discourse is the first step in addressing any issue. This issue has been a top priority for TSA over the past (3) years. If Ann is truly an ally for the LGBT community, especially in regards to Transgender, she should accomplish adding the following into EVSC Information items to start a public board discussion:

(2) We want gender identity to be added to your employment non-discrimination policy, as was done with sexual orientation. Please, add gender identity. (3) In order to create an equitable, safe environment for all students, in-cluding Transgender students, we want schools to utilize "best practic-es”. EVSC literally just lost a lawsuit because of mistreatment of a transgender student and could face further lawsuits if appropriate chang-es aren’t made.

The Tri-State Alliance sponsored successful

Transgender Day of Remembrance events in

both Evansville and Owensboro.

The Tri-State Alliance

sponsored successful

Transgender Day of

Remembrance

events in both

Evansville and

Owensboro.

The Tri-State Alliance sponsored successful Transgender Day of Remembrance Events in

both Evansville and Owensboro. The Tri-State Alliance thanks Sondra Matthews and Our

Times Newspaper for their coverage of the TSA TDOR events.

TSA is re-running the final

article written by TSA

member William Hiett.

May he Rest in Power.

Unity Fellowship 625 Allen Street, Owensboro, KY 42303

www.unityfellowshipowb.org 270-315-9028 Services are on Sunday at 10:15am

TSA Congratulates Cory Halbig for Winning the 7th Annual Mr. Heavensville Competition!

The Tri-State Alliance awarded Tonya Heim with the Myreon Taylor HIV Leadership Award for her decades of services to the HIV community, and as a founder of the Patoka Valley HIV / AIDS Community Action Group. Her

son, Brian Heim, was the runner-up of the Mr. Heavensville Competition, being named the Almost Mr. Heavensville

2019! TSA Thanks the community for supporting this event.

TSA Congratulates Cam (pictured left)

for being named a runner-up in the

TSA Mr. Heavensville Competition!

Over 250 students attended the TSA Zombie Prom!

TSA Thanks the

Community for a

Successful 2019

Owensboro AIDS

Walk!

Unity Fellowship, 625 Allen Street, Owensboro, KY 42303 www.unityfellowshipowb.org 270-315-9028

Services are on Sunday at 10:15am