I accidentally posted this last week at Texas Kaos - I wanted to wait till after the Texas State convention madness. This is a cause we can all agree on - so, consider this a "unity" event & come on out for a good sci-fi time! Cross-posted today at Burnt Orange Report: http://www.burntorangereport.com/...
CSTS is a global series of screenings of the film Serenity, held to raise money and awareness for Equality Now, an international women's rights advocacy group. Can't Stop The Serenity events are held on (or around) June 23, which is writer / director Joss Whedon's birthday, through the Serenity Release Anniversary, September 30.
Texas events are: Dallas/Fort Worth June 22; Houston, July 6; Austin July 13
There's a list of global events, and more info about Equality Now below the fold. But basically, it is an evening of fun & sci-fi with your fellow geeks, for a really great cause. Here's the website for CSTS:
Equality Now was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world. Working with national human rights organizations and individual activists, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support their efforts to stop these human rights abuses.
Equality Now works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. Issues of concern to Equality Now include:
rape, domestic violence, reproductive rights, trafficking, female genital mutilation, political participation, gender discrimination
Screenings
June 19, 2008 Minneapolis, MN (US)
June 20, 2008 Arlington, VA (US)
Boston, MA (US)
Los Angeles, CA (US)
Minneapolis, MN (US)
Philadelphia, PA (US)
Portland, OR (US)
June 21, 2008 Arlington, VA (US)
Boston, MA (US)
Charlotte, NC (US)
Dayton, OH (Yellow Springs) (US)
Denver, CO (US)
Des Moines, IA (US)
Madison, WI (US)
Memphis, TN (US)
Minneapolis, MN (US)
OC, CA (US)
Ottawa, ON (CA)
Philadelphia, PA (US)
Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Portland, OR (US)
San Francisco, CA (US)
St. Louis, MO (US)
Tampa, FL (US)
Toronto, ON (CA)
Tucson, AZ (US)
June 22, 2008 Columbus, OH (US)
Dallas - Fort Worth, TX (US)
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (US)
Raleigh, NC (US)
San Diego, CA (US)
Seattle, WA (US)
Vancouver, BC (CA)
June 23, 2008 Dayton, OH (Yellow Springs) (US)
Raleigh, NC (US)
June 28, 2008 Phoenix, AZ (US)
Warwick (UK)
July 4, 2008 Adelaide, SA (AU)
July 6, 2008 Brisbane, QLD (AU)
Houston, TX (US)
Launceston, TAS (AU)
Melbourne, VIC (AU)
July 13, 2008 Austin, TX (US)
July 19, 2008 Chicago, IL (US)
Date TBA Atlanta, GA (US)
Jacksonville, FL (US)
Monroe, LA (US)
Perth, WA (AU)
Sydney, NSW (AU)
and - A few lucky cities were able to arrange to have some very special guests appear at their screenings:
BC, Vancouver: Jewel Staite
OR, Portland: Dark Horse's Scott Allie and Sierra Hahn and Amanda Sullivan Director of Equality Now's Women's Action Network
TX, Dallas - Fort Worth: Tim Minear
TX, Houston: featuring Cedric from the Bedlam Bards
TX, Austin: featuring Cedric from the Bedlam Bards
So, if there is a CSTS event near you, please go. And y'all who are in the cities with special guests, please tell about the event! It is such a great cause, and you will have fun. Here is Joss's speech at the 2006 Equlaty Now in Los Angeles (like I'd pass up an opportunity to post the youtube of my favorite speech)