President of Watertown Unified School District board freaks out over LGBTQ-themed musical selection for wind symphony concert

 

Photo credits:  Watertown Unified School District

Headline:  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/8/2026

Alec Johnson reports:

The wind symphony has been preparing to play "A Mother of a Revolution," written by Omar Thomas in 2019, at its May 18 concert. The song focuses on a trans woman, Marsha Johnson, who is credited with being one of the "instigators of the famous Stonewall uprising of June 28,1969 – one of the pivotal events of the LGBTQ liberation movement of the 20th century – which is commemorated annually during the worldwide Gay Pride celebrations," according to Thomas' website. 

The School Board plans to hold a special meeting May 12 to discuss the song. An agenda for the meeting hadn't been posted on the school district's website by the afternoon of May 7. 

Watertown School Board Vice President Sam Ouweneel [top row, middle] said at a May 5 committee meeting that the board has heard from parents and others in the district with concerns about the piece. While he praised LaDew for following the district's controversial policy, Ouweneel said he did not think the policy should prevent it from being considered inappropriate for a public school.

Related posts:

73-year-old busybody Julaine Appling appointed to Watertown Unified School District board.  (7/2/2025)

Far-right school board members work to accelerate population decline of Watertown, Wisconsin.  (7/2/2025)

How the prediction markets picture Virginia GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans

 

AI-generated image:  Manus

Headline:  New York Times, 5/12/2026

Reid J. Epstein and Nick Corasaniti report on racists on the radio:

“If Hakeem Jeffries wants to be involved in Virginia politics, then I suggest he does what a bunch of New Yorkers are doing — leave New York, move down here to Virginia, and run for office down here,” Mr. Herrera said. “If not, get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia.” \ 

Ms. Kiggans replied: “That’s right. I, ditto. Yes, yes to that.”  [emphasis added]

That's an undeniably EMPHATIC statement of agreement, Jen.

District map and election results:  Ballotpedia

50 -- count' em! -- 50 cities in India were the world's hottest spots on April 27, 2026

 

AQI,

On April 27, 2026, something that has no modern precedent happened across global weather data. When AQI.in compiled its daily heat index, every single one of the world top hottest cities was located inside India. 

Not one entry from the Middle East. Not one from sub-Saharan Africa. Not one from Australia. India occupied the entire list, from rank 1 to rank 50. 

This is not a normal April. And it demands a serious, data-grounded reckoning.  [emphasis added]

Related posts:

April 2026

If right-wing parties gain control, then Europe will only get hotter (b/w Looney Tunes at the Heartland Institute).  (4/30)

Climate change forces  cities to use plastic instead of ice in new skating rink.  (4/12)

Lack of snowpack in western states raises concerns of drought and wildfires this summer.  (4/10)

United States experiences its hottest March ever.  (4/9)

Record heat puts Arctic sea ice at lowest recorded winter level.  (4/4)

2026 Southwest U.S. heat wave joins list of "most astonishing weather events" of 21st century.  (4/4)

Wyoming experiences its warmest winter in its recorded history then gets hit with a blinding spring blizzard.  (4/4)

Denver experiences its hottest March ever, breaking 14 records in the process.  (4/2)

March 2026

United States weather:  9 states experience record-warm winter, 0 states experience record cold winter.  (3/21)

Historic, unprecedented, extreme, record-smashing heat wave envelopes Western United States.  (3/21)

Hong Kong joins the list of 2025-2026 winter weather hot spots.  (3/4)

It was a extremely wet and hot summer in Australia.  (3/4)

Add Denver to the list of Western cities that experienced one of its warmest Februarys.  (3/2)

HOT HOT HOT:  Las Vegas records its warmest winter ever.  (3/3)

And the heat just keeps on comin' in Phoenix Arizona.  (3/3)

February 2026

Boogying our way to doomsday in a climate denier administration:  Phoenix Arizona is experiencing its hottest winter ever.  (2/28)

Southern Hemisphere is HOT HOT HOT.  (2/12)

Much of the rest of the world broiled while residents of Europe and North America froze their asses off.  (2/11)

Alaskans in Anchorage are having a heat wave.  A record heat wave!  (2/7)

Warmest December ever in Phoenix, Arizona:  2025.  (2/6)

They're having a heat wave in Greenland.  A record heat wave!  (2/6)

Australians just lived through their 4th hottest January on record.  (2/3)

January 2026

While the United States shivers, it's hotter than hell in Australia.  (1/31)

Climate change as a matter of fact:  That's why it's called "extreme weather".  (1/29)