Tom Rastrelli

Thank you, Senator Merkley!

Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley holds floor to “protest Trump’s threats to Democracy” Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley holds floor to “protest Trump’s threats to Democracy”Trump administration amid accusations from both Israel and Hamas that th...

Last night’s concert performance/industry reading of “Confessions” was spectacular. Here are some photos of the rehearsals and fun we had the last week. Collaborating with Jonathan Keebler and Bob Kelly on their beautiful musical adaptation of “Confessions of a Gay Priest” has been a joy. They’ve taken my memoir and that part of my story and made it something bigger. Director Joe Barros and the cast and crew gave everything, and the result was a magical, cathartic and spellbinding performance experience. It was everything a musical of substance should be. To share it with Abdel was proof that there is a better life on the other side of the clerical closet. I know this show has a bright future ahead and am eager to see it unfold.

BroadwayWorld interviewed “Confessions” composer Bob Kelly about his work on the show! He and lyricist/bookwriter Jonathan Keebler have written a powerful musical.

Interview: Bob Kelly of CONFESSIONS A New Musical at Theatre Now We’re thrilled to have the chance to speak with composer Bob Kelly, one of the creators behind Confessions: A New Musical, which is set to have a private industry reading in New York City on October 20. The musical is based on Tom Rastrelli’s memoir Confessions of a Gay Priest and explores the p...

I’m in NYC and the musical adaptation of Confessions of a Gay Priest is fabulous! We’re workshopping it with Director Joe Barros this week. Ian Miller is music director. Music and lyrics by Bob Kelly and Jonathan Keebler, who have written a relevant, powerful and beautiful musical! This is a dream come true to be working with such talented NY professionals.

Theatre Now New York thank you!

Theatre UNI at Strayer-Wood Pentacle Theatre - Salem, OR

See Who's Starring in Reading of New Musical Confessions Jonathan Keebler and Bob Kelly's musical is based on Tom Rastrelli's memoir, Confessions of a Gay Priest.

ICE shot a priest, David Black, in the head at point blank range with teargas balls, which can be lethal when shot at someone’s head. This occured in Pope Leo’s hometown, Chicago. Pope Leo, return to your hometown and confront ICE directly. Are you willing to be shot in the head by Trump’s gestapo to stand up for the refugee? Are you willing to stand up and and console the Chicago children who woke up this weekend to an ICE invasion in the middle of the night with soldiers landing on their roof and then ripping them from bed, zip tying them and separating them from their parents while trashing their home? Are you willing to stand up for justice and stand with the governor of your home state and mayor of your hometown who Trump today said belong in jail? Pope Leo, your home town needs you. Your home country needs you. Come to Chicago and stand with your fellow Americans against this tyranny!

Pastor shot in the head by ICE agents sues over First Amendment threats David Black joins journalists and protesters in lawsuit to stop ‘pattern of extreme brutality’ from federal agents

Trump/MAGA/ICE just illegally deported three US citizens ages 2,6 and 9. One child has cancer! MAGA also deported their parents, on if whom is pregnant.

Is that enough to get you to resist and fight this criminal MAGA regime?

From the ACLU: “a U.S. citizen child suffering from a rare form of metastatic cancer was deported without medication or the ability to consult with their treating physicians–despite ICE being notified in advance of the child’s urgent medical needs. In addition, one of the mothers who was deported is pregnant, and ICE proceeded with her deportation without ensuring any continuity of prenatal care or medical oversight. These actions represent a shocking – although increasingly common–abuse of power.”

ICE Deports 3 U.S. Citizen Children Held Incommunicado Prior to the Deportation | American Civil Liberties Union Families disappeared and isolated without legal access; one child with cancer deported without medication and pregnant mother deported as well

Good news! Kudos to all who protested Saturday! Thank you for standing up for democracy and civil rights and science and for all around the world who are suffering and all who are dying becasue of MAGA and Trump

Watch this video for some hope and then join is at the next nationwide protest on April 19. There will be more local protests before then. Search Indivisible for your local events or to start your own.

Fierce backlash against Trump's agenda seen in sweeping, nationwide protests From small towns to the largest cities, Rachel Maddow reports on the wide diversity of issues being protested in demonstrations across the United States on S...

Congratulations to Joel Hall!

Way to go West Salem High School and the Salem Keizer School District! Thank you for making sports accessible to all who want to play them. Thank you for embracing and practicing diversity, equity and inclusion of students who experience disabilities.

West Salem Floor Speech On the House floor, I recognized West Salem High School for its commitment to making sports accessible for students of all abilities.The Titans recently earn...

If you changed your name at any point in your life so it doesn’t match your birth certificate — if you got married or transitioned — and you don’t have a passport, the GOP is voting this week on a bill to take away your citizenship and right to vote. This is an assault on our citizenship and basic civil rights!

Call your representatives and senators; protest! Your citizenship may depend upon stopping the “SAVE” Act.

Thank you, Rep. Becca Balint!

Dear friends, please watch this report by LGBTQ+ community member and reporter Rachel Maddow.

(To my q***r friends and family: I’m devastated to share this news with you. I hope you are safe.)

The Rachel Maddow Show reports that two gay men are likely included in the group of people Trump rounded up and sent to a horrible prison in El Salvador under the guise of getting rid of gang violence. Family members, friends and legal counsel confirm one man, a makeup artist, was abducted by Trump and the government (see link below for this report). Another man’s tearful plea is reported in the story: “I’m a gay hair dresser not a gang member,” he said through tears to his captors and assaulters. (See first comment below for the link to this report.)

This is bow the reality for out-of-the-closet LGBTQ+ people like me living under Trump: We can be disappeared at any time by our government. I am less risk, at the moment, becasue I am white. I fear for my community members who are people of color.

Being disappeared by our government is now the reality for immigrants, refugees and anyone who looks like one of these groups.

Trump, Musk and the Republicans won’t stop here. This is what your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors voted for.

If you are one of those voters, you need to wake up. You’ve been conned. Do you really want to disapper us and send us to prison camps? Do you think that is liberty and justice for all?

If you are an ally, it’s time to start marching in the streets, openly challenging your elected officials to fight harder against these illegal and unconstitutional attacks on us. Please change your behavior to resist. We can fight this with our voices, votes, wallets and knowledge.

More of us will be disappeared before this is over. Please use every platformrm you can to resist.

I don’t want to be disappeared like the two gay men in Rachel’s news story. But that’s the now possible reality I live with daily. Betrayed by my own country.

You need to know that.

Tommy

'Our client has been disappeared': Lawyer seeks answers on Venezuelan imprisoned with no due process Lindsay Toczylowski, president of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, shares a photo of her client publicly for the first time and talks with Rachel Maddow about the difficulty of getting answers about her client who the Trump administration, through ICE, has accused without evidence of being a gang...

https://youtu.be/xma3ZdwtEJ4?si=4KKoW-dgHYCOuPol

We Treated President Biden Like S#*T! - Trevor Noah Thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already! http://bit.ly/SubscribeTrevorNoah 'Any Questions' from the tour here...The kid is not my so...