There's still a substantial number of people who celebrate Christmas and its 12 days ending in the Epiphany by the Julian Calendar, which runs 14 days behind  the one most of us use. And the Chinese New Year comes up at the next full moon. So we trust we're not altogether too late in wishing everybody a happy new year!

We have three items to report in this letter, two of which we've been tracking for some months.

We have referred from time to time to "The Laramie Project", a play put together from interviews with the people of Laramie in the wake of Matthew Shepard's murder. It's been very well received wherever it's been staged, not least in front of the people who took part in the events themselves, and not least in Laramie. It was filmed last spring by HBO, and had its first screening last week as part of the Sundance Festival. The reviews, so far, have been very favorable. We understand that HBO will be telecasting it on March 26.

The other television movie project, "The Matthew Shepard Story", which has been done in collaboration with Matthew's family also now has at least a tentative date for telecast. We understand NBC will air it on March 11.

Our attention was drawn to a conference which treats with several of the themes we return to on this site.  It's generally dealing with the subject of the problems boys and teenage males face in society, whether as part of the mainstream or as part of smaller groups within it. They have been under-rated in recent social work, and it's a lack which finally is receiving some attention. It's being held in Toronto on March 4 and March 5, and, even if it deals with the matter in a Canadian context, it has its universal importance.

The mailing address is:

Canadian Boys: Untold Stories
Office of Open Learning
160 Johnston Hall
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 2W1, Canada

An e-mail address is:

info@open.uoguelph.ca

Telephone information can be had at (519) 767-1114, and a website with information can be seen at:

www.open.uoguelph.ca/cdnboys

It all makes for a terse letter this month, which somehow seems appropriate for a time of the year when we are recovering from December festivities. However, we may find reason to sin at greater length next month.

Happy new Year Everybody!

The Stop Hate 2000 e-Team

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