Not long ago my dad, who is a pastor in Mankato, told me about this film. He said it was one of the best documentaries he’d ever seen. When he and my mom came to help us clean carpets in our new house last week, he brought the DVD with him and wanted me to watch it. So after a fresh round of rug washing we sat down around my computer monitor so that I could see it myself.

He was right. It is a truly remarkable film. What makes it unique is that rather than just continuing with the same worn out arguments for and against the church’s acceptance of gay folks, it discusses and deals intimately with what it is like for the families of those who have children, brothers and sisters who come out of the closet. Along the way it discusses Biblical understandings of homosexuality and reasons why it is worth it for us in the church community to take another look at the struggle of GLBT folks.

Regardless of your position on homosexuality, if you have the chance to see this film, please do. I don’t wish for more conservative folks to suddenly support monogamous, consenting, adult, gay relationships…though I wouldn’t mind it if they did. Rather, I wish for them to listen to the families in this film, to listen to their love and their struggling to understand and love their children—even when they’ve been told by the church that their acceptance of their gay children should only go so far.

Don’t Hug Me

A Musical Comedy
Book and Lyrics by Phil Olson
Music by Paul Olsen

It’s Fargo Meets The Music Man!

Directed by Doug Anderson
Katie Nelson (Bernice), Scott Pirsig (Kanute), Mary Wayne (Clara),
Theron Gjersvik (Gunner), Jeshua Erickson (Aarvid)

September 20-23 and 26-29
(All shows 7:30pm, except Sunday 23rd @ 2:00pm)
ACT Box Office: 507.377.4372

Monday April 23rd – ???An Inconvenient Truth???
Riverland Community College Room 124, 7-9pm
Come see & discuss the Academy-Award winning film that brought global warming into the national spotlight.

Wednesday April 25th – ???Who Killed the Electric Car????
Riverland Community College Room 124, 7-9pm
Check out this stunning film chronicling the life and mysterious death of GM???s EV1, the electric car. Can YOU guess the culprit?

Friday April 27th – Arbor Day Tree Planting
Frank Hall Park, 2-4pm
Join fellow citizens and students of all ages in this annual celebration of trees and the Earth!

Saturday April 28th – Albert Lea Community Clean-up
Meet in parking lot of Blazing Star Trail, 10:00 am
Join Mayor Erdman in cleaning up our our parks and lakeshore. Take pride helping create a clean, beautiful Albert Lea!

On Thursday March 8th, global warming is coming to Southeastern Minnesota. But don’t expect any heat waves– the Citizens’ Energy Forum, hosted from 7-9 p.m. at the Riverland-Austin Theatre by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, will be focusing on Global Warming Solutions and what we can do to help create Minnesota’s Clean Energy Future.

Steve Morse, President of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, will speak about the clean energy initiatives and possibilities at the state-wide level, and what we need to make Minnesota a leader on clean energy and global warming. Melissa Pawlisch, founder of the Clean Energy Resource Teams, will speak to what people can do to start transitioning to renewable energy in their businesses, homes, and communities. Bruce Anderson, founder of Sustainable Community Solutions in Northfield, will speak about his experience bringing wind turbines and biodiesel to his community, and how similar projects can succeed here in Southeastern Minnesota.

Local energy and environmental organizations from Albert Lea and Austin will have information booths open for browsing from 6:15-7:00 p.m. People are encouraged to come early and talk with groups such as the Clean Energy Resource Teams, the Sustainable Farming Association, Horizon Wind Energy, the Audubon Society, Izaak Walton League, Advocates for a Cleaner Environment, and others.

The message is clear: global warming could change our great state and nation forever, but we can do something about it. Southeastern Minnesota will be essential in creating a clean energy future for Minnesota, and we all need to get involved. Come to learn more, ask questions, and learn how you can make a difference.

Download forum flier (pdf).