ten percent. one voice.

Guerrilla Queer Bar Crawl!

2007-04-12T19:26:00.001-05:00

Hey of-agers -- join Ten Percent Society as we venture through the Madison bar scene on the oh-so-lucky Friday the 13th, as part of Out and About Month! We will be meeting at the LGBT Campus Center in the Union at 9:45pm, forming teams, and then heading out into the night.

The idea of the event is to reclaim visbility of Madison's LGBT/queer community, and above all, to have a blast. For an added sense of solidarity, feel free to stop by the Campus Center to pick up a UW Allies t-shirt to wear for the bar crawl. The shirts are in white or black and have Wisconsin printed across the chest in rainbow lettering. The shirts cost $10.

The itinerary for the night is as follows, in case you can't make it for the whole thing but would like to meet up with the group later in the evening:

10:15-11:00pm Church Key
11:15-12:00am Angelic
12:15-1:00am Plaza
1:15-bartime Genna's/Shamrock

Hope to see you out there.

Once upon a photo gallery...

2007-03-04T13:15:00.000-06:00

A gender play on Tinkerbell and Peter Pan.

So many noble steads... Seen here with Hansel?

Thumbs up from the Brothers Grimm.

A knight exchanges words with a glamorous fairy godmother.

Another knight in shining armor with his noble stead.

And that's just a taste of the magical night that was the February TPS dance, Once Upon a Time. Congratulations to all of the fantastic costume award-winners, and thanks to everyone who came out despite the frigid temperatures.

Coffee with Queers

2007-03-04T13:01:00.000-06:00

Coffee with Queers
Monday, March 12, 2007
7-10PM

Michelangelo's Coffee House (114 State St.)

Looking for a place to hang out, chat, and (perhaps) get some studying done with a bunch of fellow gays? Coffee With Queers is just what you need. Beginning Monday, March 12, TPS will host this monthly gathering of LGBTQA folk that are just looking to kick back and relax in a queer-friendly environment. Hope to see you there!

We want YOU!

2007-02-22T09:28:00.000-06:00

To give us your feedback on TPS -- the dances, the meetings, and the organization in general, as we hope to end this academic year on the highest note possible.

Click here to check out the survey, and be sure to pass it on to friends and family that may also have comments for us.

Because I know you've been waiting to show off that camel spin

2007-02-09T18:42:00.000-06:00

Gays (and Friends) on Ice

Saturday, February 24, 2007

6:30 PM

The Shell (1430 Monroe Street)

We will be getting down and dirty at the Shell for some ice skating, then sipping some hot chocolate (with mint liquor, mayhaps) afterwards. The Shell is located just near Camp Randall, and is easily accessible through a variety of bus routes, including the 3 and the 6.

Once upon a time...

2007-02-09T18:27:00.000-06:00

TPS kicks off semester with dance fit for kings, queens and everyone in between

MADISON, Wis. – UW students will be presented with a unique opportunity to revisit their youth while dancing up a storm with a fairy tale-themed extravaganza, Friday, February 16, at 10 p.m., at the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

The "Once Upon a Time" dance, hosted by the Ten Percent Society (TPS), will feature a costume contest with prizes for the most sensational fairy tale attire in addition to the inclusive and upbeat atmosphere for which TPS dances have become well known.

"We're all really looking forward to starting off the semester with some fun before we all get bogged down with finals, papers and projects," said TPS co-president Abby Churchill. "Fairy tales hold a special place in everyone's heart and it's something that we can all relate to – it brings us together as a community."

Friday's dance marks the fifth of seven TPS events held during the 2006-07 school year. Previous dances have served as fundraisers for a variety of student and community groups, such as October's Masquerade Ball benefiting Fair Wisconsin and December's dance and drag show held in association with World AIDS Day. Thanks to near-record attendance figures, TPS raised $600 for African Youth Outreach, a Madison organization that funds medical care for AIDS-infected orphans in Africa.

"Although the dances are first and foremost a fun night out for students, we've also taken steps in the past year to support and raise awareness of organizations working toward a safer and more inclusive campus for all to enjoy," said Churchill. "The dances provide a much-needed public space, not just for the area's LGBT community, but also, maybe more importantly, their friends and supporters."

Admission to the "Once Upon a Time" dance is $5 with a current UW ID card. A cash bar is also available for those who are of age.

TPS was originally founded in 1983 upon passage of Wisconsin's gay rights legislation. The UW-registered student organization, one of few on campus that receives no funding from student segregated fees, aims to provide educational, social and cultural opportunities for students, faculty and staff, guard against university-sponsored discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and to work toward a homophobia-free campus.

A thousand words..

2007-02-05T00:17:00.000-06:00

As we gear up for a new semester here at UW, the time has come to give this blog a brush-up TPS concluded the fall semester with a benefit drag show & dance held in association with World AIDS Day. Proceeds from the event benefited African Youth Outreach, a phenomenal organization that raises funds to support medical care for AIDS orphans in Africa.

The event was an incredible success, drawing near record numbers for TPS. In late January, TPS drew up a check for $600 that will benefit AYO. The highlight of the event for many was the drag show, including performances from many groups who had participated in the World AIDS Day cause. Here are a few piccies from the evening, courtesy of Charlie Gorichanaz:

Sex Out Loud: "We're All in This Together" (High School Musical)

Students for Camp Heartland: "Dirrty" (Christina Aguilera)

Campus Women's Center: "You're The One That I Want/Greased Lightning/Summer Lovin'" (Grease)

African Youth Outreach: "Go For It!" (Scott Gale & Rich Eames)

LGBT Campus Center: "Barbie Girl" (Aqua)

Ten Percent Society: "Coin-Operated Boy" (Dresden Dolls)

Grand Finale: "La Vie Boheme" (Rent)

Be on the look out for many new additions to the blog this week, including the official announcement of the February 16 dance's theme, as well as other events that TPS has lined up for the coming semester!

Write on!

2006-11-08T20:02:00.000-06:00

Pissed about the marriage amendment's passage? Need a place to dance it out? The time has come for another TPS celebration, this Friday, 10PM, at the Memorial Union's Great Hall. The theme this time is Write On!

Admission is $5, with UW ID. As usual, there will be a 21+ cash bar, plus the DJ services of Club 5's DJ Tim.

As you may have guessed from the photo, the theme of the dance is somewhat similar to a blacklight party, without the blacklight. Be sure to wear a white t-shirt and bring a marker if you can, as there may be limited quantities/color choices. See everyone there!

Fair Wisconsin canvass successful

2006-11-01T13:12:00.000-06:00

This past Sunday, October 26, a bunch of us TPS-ers headed out to the streets for a door-to-door canvass for Fair Wisconsin as a continuation of TPS's support of Fair's mission that was previously highlighted a few weeks earlier at the Masquerade Ball benefit.

Despite some problems with map awareness at first [pictured above], we were soon off and running and as a whole we talked to dozens of pleasant, logical, and fair-minded (though somewhat hungover) UW students that already seemed well-versed in the potential ramifications of the constitutional ban's passage. We encountered almost no negativity, and the weather was gorgeous. Moral of the story: Canvassing = not as scary as it may seem, and I would certainly do it again.

With six days to go, I'd venture to say it's looking pretty good with the vote on the UW campus, but it will all depend on how many students we can get out to the polls next Tuesday in order to sway the state vote. The latest poll released on the issue Monday suggested that the numbers are closer than they have been at any point in the campaign.... It's showtime!

To get involved with Fair Wisconsin during the last few days of their campaign, check out their website, or click here for the UW Students for a Fair Wisconsin site.

Masquerade Ball Pictures

2006-10-27T17:28:00.000-05:00

The marriage booth pictures are finally accessible! Thanks for your patience. Enjoy!

Check Out This Awesome Event!

2006-10-26T15:18:00.000-05:00

http://wisc.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2216382681

Hosted by the LGBTCC, Q-Law, and the Law School. You should go.

Wisconsin battle lacks national attention

2006-10-10T21:21:00.000-05:00

Shane Wealti posted a fantastic blog today on Dane101.com regarding the chilling lack of national attention that the Wisconsin marriage debate is receiving from national LGBT organizations and media. Although Wisconsin is just one of five states where this sort of legislation is being left up to ballot in November (South Carolina, Idaho, Tennessee and Virginia are the others), this battle is clearly going to be the most closely contested here.

"The absence of national coverage is also problematic because many of the important LGBT political donors live on the East and West coasts and it reinforces the stereotype of the midwest as 'flyover country.'"

Here in Madison, thanks to the efforts of the hundreds of volunteers that have been mobilized by Fair Wisconsin, it is hard to walk two feet on campus without seeing a window sign, a button, or a sidewalk chalking proclaiming "Vote No!", but it is painfully obvious that there are still many in our town that have no idea what this debate is even about. "What does 'A Fair Wisconsin vote no?' even mean anyway?" asked one friend; "What amendment?" asked another. We still have a lot of work to do in the weeks ahead, it seems.

In other news, the Tomah Journal had a quaint editorial opposing the ban published yesterday, and the Capitol Rotunda will be playing host to a beautiful Love Makes a Family exhibit on the first floor until October 21, so that is definitely worth a look-see.

And perhaps most importantly, tomorrow is National Coming Out Day. The LGBT Campus Center will be bringing the gay beginning at 11AM on Library Mall with the Breaking OUT of the Closet Obstacle Course until 2PM.

Masquerade! Every face a different shade!

2006-10-09T21:37:00.000-05:00

This is pretty much what the scene should look like this coming Friday night, for what should be an incredible event, the TPS Masquerade Ball, a Benefit for Fair Wisconsin. In case you've forgotten or somehow manage to otherwise avoid the barrage of stuffers, sidewalk chalking, and other advertising, here are the specifics on the event:

The Ten Percent Society Masquerade Ball

A Benefit for Fair Wisconsin

Friday, October 13, 2006, at 10pm

Great Hall, Memorial Union

$5 Admission with Campus or 18+ ID

$3 Admission if you sign up to volunteer for Fair Wisconsin

Appetizers, including chocolate-covered strawberries, will be served; masks will be created and worn; and many a rug will surely be cut in the name of a phenomenal organization. Additionally, the dance will feature a All-Inclusive Marriage Booth, where you can have your marriage photo taken for inclusion in a special feature on this blog to be unveiled on Monday.

See you there!

Board of Regents sends message

2006-10-09T19:30:00.000-05:00

BIG GAY NEWS today from the student papers, and I must say that it's certainly a welcome change from the Mark Foley scandal (although I would recommend checking out Jon Stewart's take on the whole situation from last week, in case you missed it).

UW system publicly opposes gay marriage ban (Daily Cardinal)

One would hope that this coverage of the Board's position on this topic will sway a few votes as voters realize the depressing vagueness of the amendment's infamous second sentence. UW has lost some outstanding instructors due to its position as the only Big 10 school that does not offer domestic partnership benefits, and this amendment would shut the door on the possibility of that ever happening.

This issue has a lot to do with an article that was published today on the State Journal's Opinion page, on the sad state of diversity on campus. Although the article focused mainly on racial diversity, I think that this is an issue that concerns all of us. Here was a particularly alarming quotation:

"In the meantime, the university languishes at the bottom of the Big 10 in diversity. Several major corporations have stopped recruiting here due to a lack of diversity among our students. Those corporations have also declared that UW-Madison's white students are so deprived of experiences with people of color that they are poorly prepared to assist with global sales initiatives."

I would argue that students on a predominately heterosexual campus and suffer similarly from a lack of contact with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgendered students and faculty. If this ban passes, it could not only deter instructors from contributing to our institution, but we would likely lose incoming students who would prefer to pursue their education in a more socially-accepting state.

Welcome!

2006-10-09T19:17:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the brand spankin' new weblog for UW-Madison's Ten Percent Society! The purpose of this blog is to bring together Madison's LGBT community by serving as a central portal for news, events, and trends, our own "community page" of sorts, if you will. To my knowledge, nothing like this has existed in Madison before, and I felt that now was the perfect time for it to happen. At a time when our community's rights are being more heavily politicized than ever before, we need to come together to fight this in any way that we can.

So, I'd like to get the ball rolling with this blog by introducing myself. My name is Joe Erbentraut, and I'm a junior here on campus. I'm originally from Lake Geneva, Wis., and am proud to now call Madison my full-time home. I am double majoring in journalism/mass communication and sociology, also pursuing a certificate in LGBT Studies.

Interested in contributing to the blog with news, opinion pieces, art, photography, or information you think that LGBT Madison needs to see? If so, then please contact me. I would love to see this blog grow into whatever it is users would like to see in the future, so let's make it happen!