Charlie Howard Remembered, Bangor, ME

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder of Charlie Howard, community members in Bangor, Maine are holding a week-long series of activities to mark the occasion, honor Charlie Howard's life, and raise awareness for hate crimes and the need for full LGBT equality. Included in the events is a special screening of Inlaws & Outlaws on Friday, July 10 at the Hammond Street Congregational Church, UCC. A pizza dinner will begin at 6 pm, followed by the movie screening and a discussion.

The event is open to the public and all are welcome!

When: Friday, July 10, 2009 6 pm
Where: Hammond Street Congregational Church UCC
. 28 High Street, Bangor, ME
How: $6 for pizza dinner and the film is FREE.

About Charlie Howard Remembered:

July 7 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Charlie Howard's murder in Bangor, Maine. As Charlie and his friend Roy Ogden walked on a downtown street, three teenagers accosted Charlie and his friend, shouted homophobic slurs, threw Charlie to the ground, and then punched and kicked him. The three youths decided to force Charlie over a bridge railing and into the Kenduskeag Stream twenty feet below. Ogden, who had initially fled from the assailants, looked back to see them throw Charlie over the railing. After sounding an alarm for help, Ogden, together with firemen and police, looked for his friend, whose body would not be found until hours later. On that same night, at a party, the three teenagers bragged about having thrown Charlie into the stream.

The untimely death of an innocent man has inspired a generation of concerned citizens to fight for hate crimes legislation, and LGBT equality throughout Maine. Author Stephen King lived just down the street from where Howard was murdered and was said to be deeply affected by the tragedy. Citizens of Bangor continue to work towards creating a permanent memorial to Charlie Howard. This year, the event is marked by a week long set of activities open to all.

Charlie Howard Remembered is sponsored by The Bridge Alliance, the Charles O. Howard Memorial Foundation, Eastern Maine AIDS Network, Eleanor Humes Haney Fund, Hammond Street Congregational Church UCC, Howard Foundation, the Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, and the Unitarian Universality Society of Bangor.

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