On Saturday, May 18th, a group of artists put on a musical called “Spring Awakening” at The Playhouse in San Antonio, Texas. “Spring Awakening” is a musical that deals with puberty, sexuality, rape, child abuse, incest, homosexuality, and suicide. It is a vital work at this moment in time, because the fact is that regardless of where we stand politically, spiritually, or morally - these issues are harming and killing our kids at an alarming rate. (SEE BULLET POINTS OF STATISTICS BELOW.) After the show, a talk-back session was held with Child Advocates of San Antonio (CASA), The Rape Crisis Center, 2 Anthropologists from UTSA, and the cast. A dialogue began and a spotlight was bravely shone on these issues. THE DARKNESS: Prior to the show, throughout the show, and after the show - a gentleman scurried around the theatre feverishly copying the adult content warning signs that were posted throughout the building. This gentleman has a prior history of, and has been instrumental in, defunding other arts organization because of content, and was acting as though he had every intention of filing a grievance with the city of San Antonio. During the talk back, this same gentleman got up and asked if “…the gay community’s suicide rate is due to the emptiness of their promiscuous lifestyle.” The audience was filled with students from the LGBTQ community who let out a collective sigh of sadness. YOUR LIGHT This petition is being set up by Theatre for Change (http://www.theatreforchange.org) as a preemptive strike and a forum of solidarity where we may print your stories and give them to our city representatives. Make no mistake, it will come to this and we will need as much support as possible. If you have seen the show and it has touched you – please share your story below! If you are an ally from afar and have been struck by the issues listed above – please share your story below. If you live in Texas and/or the surrounding areas, please consider seeing the show and then share your story below. Please stand with us, because as a united front – love will triumph. . .EVERY TIME!!! “When I have children, I’ll let them be free. And they’ll grow strong and tall.” Copy and paste this link into your browser to see the promo video of the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHqBNs44aRs • “Every year 3.3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving nearly 6 million children (a report can include multiple children). The United States has the worst record in the industrialized nation – losing five children every day due to abuse-related deaths. “ -ChildHelp • “Suicide is the leading cause of death among Gay and Lesbian youth nationally. It has been conservatively estimated the 1,500 Gay and Lesbian youth commit suicide every year.” – SPEAK • “Suicide rates amongst youth ages 15-24 have increased more than 300% since the 1950's.” – SPEAK • “683,000 forcible rapes occur every year; which equals 56,916 per month; 1,871 per day; 78 per hour; and 1.3 per minute.” - Crime Victims Services • Texas is the second most populated foster-to-adopt system, narrowly following California. With an estimated 30,000 children from ages 0-17 running through our system each year • According to the Child Protective Services (CPS) 2012 Data Book, there were 275,961 alleged victims of child abuse in Texas last year. • CPS confirmed 6,205 of these cases in Bexar County, the largest number for any single county in the entire State. • Of the 212 child deaths from abuse and neglect last year in the State of Texas, 19 occurred in Bexar County.

Tax breaks should be given to any company that hires veterans returning home from war

disruption of democratic process

All non profit organizations should be audited by the IRS annually. The Tea Party shpuld not be an exception.

Since Congress gets paid regardless of what they do or don't do, and since the Republicans are intent on spending the salaries paid by tax dollars on such nonsense as attempting a 37th repeal of the Affordable Health Care Act rather than working together to move the country forward, they should instead be paid hourly, like most Americans, and not be paid if they do not show up and actually work. Boycotting votes by not showing up to work, would get any other American fired. Why are we, the people, allowing their behavior when we wouldn't allow it of other employees?

Drag racing for high schools , collage and others. If you can get the kids to the track , then we can almost eliminate street racing and put them into a controlled area and turn the experience into positive learning . Or we can keep turning our eyes away and saying oh good got away with another race tonight , but that other kid isn't so lucky I think he is getting man slaughter when he hit the car at the intersection.

Congress should legislate, not perpetually investigate

Barbara Rothweiler, Ph.D.,a licensed counselor and principal of St Pius X School in New Mexico, is refusing to allow a student "Damien" to walk as a "male" at his graduation because he has "female" marked on his birth certificate -- even though his teachers, friends, and family all recognize and interact with him as a male. Forcing one to express a gender identity that is contrary to what one chooses to epxress is a clear violation of the ethics and professional license she holds, and has potential for causing long-lasting, and potentially irreparable psychological damage to Damien. As such, she should be disciplined by the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board, as well as each professional organization in which she holds membership for violating ethical and professional requirements of her license by refusing to recognize a St. Pius X's student's gender identity. Even though all his classmates, teachers, and family know Damian as a male. the St Pius X administration says that because he has "female" marked on his birth certificate -- despite the fact that he is now legally Damian and not Brandi -- he still must walk in a girl's cap and gown for graduation. See Rothweiler's bio: https://www.saintpiusx.com/page.aspx?pid=417 See the Phychotherapists' oath: http://www.americanpsychotherapy.com/about/oath/ This action is clearly a violation of her professional license, the counseling field - in general, and can potentially cause irreparable harm to this student.

We support repealing the "right-to-work" law in the state of Michigan. We believe Michigan should have labor-friendly laws on their books. Once this petition is completed, it will be delivered to the governor and both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the state of Michigan.

This congress is already going down on history as the most ineffectual elected body ever elected. Tell them all it is time to accomplish something positive! If they can't truly represent us then ask them to leave...be sure they know you will NOT vote for any who are not doing their jobs!

During sequestration, the law should be changed and Sr. Exec. Staff should not receive bonuses on top of salaries salaries that range from $119,000 to $179,000.

While we are using fresh water resources to create electric energy we could in some extremely concerned areas like California create electricity with salt water. If you look at satellite pictures of the Las Vegas area through a thirty year period thirty years ago we see that lake mead is three times bigger than las Vegas. Now the city is three times bigger than lake mead. Water has become a precious resource. We should not waste it to produce electricity if we can use salt water.