CONFRONTING HATE IN OUR COMMUNITY
Activities surrounding Stages Repertory Theatre’s production of The Laramie Project.
Thursday, January 17, 7-8 p.m.

Live Town Hall Broadcast, Channel 8, KUHT Stages and Channel 8 will broadcast live a town hall discussion "Confronting Hate in Our Community." Facilitated by Ernie Manouse, host of WeekDay, the panel will include Judy Shepard (Matthew Shepard’s mother), the Rev. Mel White (founder of Soulforce), Louvon Harris (James Byrd Jr.’s sister), and Susanna McMahon (Houston author of The Portable Therapist). Friday, January 18, 8 p.m.

Live Town Hall Broadcast, Channel 8, KUHT
Stages and Channel 8 will broadcast live a town hall discussion "Confronting Hate in Our Community." Facilitated by Ernie Manouse, host of WeekDay, the panel will include Judy Shepard (Matthew Shepard’s mother), the Rev. Mel White (founder of Soulforce), Louvon Harris (James Byrd Jr.’s sister), and Susanna McMahon (Houston author of The Portable Therapist).
Friday, January 18, 8 p.m.

Opening Night The Laramie Project
The Laramie Project will run through February 10, playing Wed. & Thur., 7:30 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 3 p.m. Tickets are $32-$42, with discounts for seniors, students, groups, and previews. Stages Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway, 713/52-STAGE (713/527-8243).
Saturday, January 19, 2-4 p.m.

Rev. Mel White on Nonviolent Resistance/Panel Discussion Stages Theatre, free. Rev. Mel White will lead a lively presentation on nonviolent ways to challenge hate. Rev. White’s group Soulforce uses Gandhi’s methods to stage protests against the major religious denominations’ exclusion and oppression of gay people

. To be followed by a panel discussion with White and local professionals who routinely confront issues of hate and intolerance. Panelists include Steve Huey (former United Nations peacekeeper and human rights monitor); Rev. Bob Schaibly of the First Unitarian Universalist Church; Susanna McMahon (author of The Portable Therapist), and Rev. White.
Saturday, January 19, 6-7:30 p.m.

Prayer Vigil
Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue
Rev. Mel White will be the keynote speaker and Randi Driscoll will perform. Religious leaders from around the city will be invited to participate, as well as include in their services this weekend a discussion of how we can confront hate in a productive way.
Saturday, January 19, midnight

Benefit Concert for the Matthew Shepard Foundation
Location to be announced
Singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll performs original songs, including the single "What Matters." This event is open to the public. No admission will be charged, but donations made at the concert will benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation.