Joey Daniel grew up down from Music Highway loving & living with country music. As a small boy he’d dress up in Sunday best to watch shows live from Billy Bob's on TV along with his mom. As a boy he was thrilled when he met Travis Tritt at a luncheon his mother was invited too and Trisha Yearwood for a breakfast he was invited too. Both were taken with his spirit and gave him a big hug. At 18 he moved to Ft.Worth. He attends scores of Country music venues and has taken several pics flashing his signature peace sign along with many of his favorite Country artist. Last yr he took his little bro and nephew to meet and celebrate Charlie Daniels birthday together. The lyrics of HonkyTonk songs speak to Joey’s life. Its rhythm beats in his heart, its vibration courses thru his veins. He is a Southern Country boy, who knows there’s more to life than just survival. He loves the light of neon nights on his eyes. Angels got him thru the hard times, he says – His Country song writÃn get him through the good times. Joey has overcome every hardship he has encountered with a song in his heart. He doesn't bemoan the hard times. He is the life of the party, upbeat and positive despite having dealt with the tragic death of his older brother in Tenn. & health problems he has had to overcome. He wants folks around him to enjoy theirselves and have the most fun they can. Joey escaped small town life determined to broaden his horizons and discover the world beyond. Small town life can often disparage the spirit, of those different or unique. He fearlessly struck out on his own with nary a penny to his name He succeeded to make new friends and carve out a life for himself. He is a joy to those willing to get to know him. On a cold windy day Joey asked what he could do for his country instead of what his country could do for him. He volunteered for an event to welcome former Pres. Clinton to town, where he met the crew hired from Billy Bob’s, who set up the production equipment for the event. They appreciated his help so much he got hired to work shows at Billy Bob's A dream come true for Joey who recently got to work under contract for Randy Travis and Rodney Atkins when they performed at Billy Bobs. He has earned respect with the staff at Billy Bob's for his hard work and great sense of humor.Serves as a Tarrant County Election Judge, He is a Deputized and active Voter Register. He served as a State Delegate to the Texas Democratic Convention 2006. He has served on the Democratic Party Rules Committee. Joey is a member of the Tejano State Democratic Caucus.
Political actions- Participated in Demonstrations to close the School of the Americas traveling twice to Fort Benning Georgia to stand in solidarity with Jesuit Preist,Nuns and thousands of critical thinking Progressive College students from all across the USA in 1999 & 2000,Joey was the main attraction at his birth state capital for a no income tax protest in TN for 12days dance'n for the cause he was ask'd to stay and was put up in one of Nashvilles finest hotels and was wine'd &dine for his time in 2001 He participated in and ..ed events of the 2004 Presidential Counter- Inaugural Protest in Washington D. C. He was the first to get folks up and dancing at the Counter Inaugural Billionaires for Bush Ball at the Palatium The most flawless ball in all DC that night. Joey worked as a volunteer for the Dean Presidential Campaign 2004. He participated in community service projects here in Fort Worth for the Dean Campaign as well. Joey is an alumni of Camp Casey. He is Crawford family member who got Ms. Cindy Sheehan up and dancing to the rythum of a Regge band for the first time since her son Casey was killed in Iraq. While In Crawford he spent time with and absorbed the wisdom of real American patriots such as Daniel Ellesberg and Ann Wright He participated in the inter faith services Sunday Thanksgiving weekend 2005 in Crawford and he cooked a delightful dinner for all at the Crawford Peace House afterward. Joey stood in solidarity with the initial Latino student walkout and protest opposing the GOP Congressional bill 4437 here in Fort Worth. He was complimented on by The Fort Worth Police Chief Mendoza for his efforts helping the students stay focused and peaceful in their protest.(unlike Dallas) He was front a center at the largest march ever in Fort Worth history advocating for humane and sensible Comprehensive Immigration policies He was one of the few to brave stormy weather in Dallas participating in the protest to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq.. Joey has lobbied for and spoke before the Ft Worth City Council to save our Parks from the intrusion of another unwanted highway and resisting greedy developers who would just as soon pave paradise and put up a parking lot. Joey has actively promoted educating the younger generation on the importance of safe sex and use of a condom to prevent the spread of STD'S. A message he feels our community has failed to effectively communicate to the up and coming generation of young people living in our community. Joey help'd lead a march of his largest ever in NYC,NY to the UN of over 100,000 also 2 marches in Washington,D .C during camp democracy in 2006 = JOEY DANIEL RETANA doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk. For Joey creating positive change is not boring It can be fun and refreshing for our soul when we are willing to make the effort to make it so.Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is
to go for a long walk. At the tender young age of 18 I began a
journey which lead me to Fort Worth, Texas up to my house on the hill.
I just started walking, stepping o ut on faith, with little more than
the clothes on my back. I knew it was time for me to go. To make my own
way out of the confines of small town so called life in Western Tenn.
I was drawn to the widening road over the horizon and away from the
familiar images you see in the rearview mirror of your mind. I dearly
love my family and have actually grown closer to them, by escaping from the place they still have to contend with.
. My old hometown, in west Tenn
just down the road of Music Highway out from the Country Music Mecca,-
Nashville Tenn –West Tenn had a hard time adjusting to the likes of
me. A vibrant inquisitive young gay southern boy. I knew I had bigger
and better things to do with my life than stay caught in the mire of
small town, small thinking attitudes and ignorant ways. Since I took
the initiative to broaden my own horizons I find I am better able to
help my little brother and sister discover their own full human
potential and hopefully see them have the opportunity to develop their
God given talents. Christ sakes, Ya can't see the light from a candle
if ya hide it under a bushel. It is one score and eight years ago that I was born , the love child of a bi-racial couple living in the Western hills of Tenn. The Elliott's and Retana's The union of two different ethnic cultures. Throw into the mix, the fact they had a darling gay son wasn't exactly widely celebrated throughout the hollards of the hills of Tenn. Not cause being gay is really so uncommon there. It is customary for most young men to hook up with a girl and make babies get a job then weld a relationship like a ball and chain.. But after going thru the pretense of being straight they are then free to hang out and go play with their buddies, so long as they keep it all on the lowdown. I digress, That would be TMI from where I come from. (scandalous)
Back to the long journey from there to here. Although 28 years is but a brief moment in the totality of time, a mere bat of the eye. Yet my life has been full and rich in memories than I could not tell of in only five minutes. So I will share with you some of the highlights of living flawless in Fort Worth and beyond over this past year.
In the days leading up to the Democratic Primary Duane and I both
attended the Dallas Obama Rally where I first heard Obama in person.
It was a huge turnout very heavily attended for north Texas. After the
rally Duane and I were interviewed by a local news program. When Barack
came to Fort Worth as a member of team Barack I worked with the media
front and center down on the convention hall floor when Obama came to
town. After his speech as he held my hand I ask him If I could take my
picture with him for myspace to which he responded.." You mean
Ourspace? Just as I snap the pic on my digital camera. This goofy girls
sticks her big hand in the middle of my shot with Obama . Fortunately
my moment with President to be was captured by a photo in the next
days Star-Telegram. One day after doing some volunteer work for The
Obama campaign I went to
volunteer Myself to help set up for a visit to town by former Pres.
Bill Clinton. Athough he came to campaign for his wife whom whose
primary oppenent I worked for, None the less Out of respect for the
good works of Pres. Clinton's foundation to provide anti-viral drugs to those in need of them and their efforts to fight
global poverty. I decided, that day, to ask what I could do for my country and
volunteered to help make his visit run smoothly
and be welcoming. Turns out that I was the only true unpaid volunteers that
showed up on a cold windy Febuary day at a public park in Northside
where Pres. Clinton was to speak. After less than a half hour helping
set things up around the pavillon The young college dude there with the National
Hillary Clinton campaign gave me the Clinton credit card to run errands for secret service, he was from Vermont and no real familiar with Fort Worth
I also stopped to gas up for The next day after
paying My respect to Bill Clinton I continued driving around town helping
out the Obama campaign on the gas paid for by the Clinton campaign
,As a consequence of my asking what I could do for my country set up for Pres. Clinton's visit to Fort Worth I met the guys hired by the Clinton campaign to set up the sound and light system also happen to set up shows for Billy Bob concerts,Americam airlines etc…. So next thing I know I'm working for good pay doing something I enjoying setting up for Randy Travis. Free run of Billy Bobs to boot. Well worth it despite risking my health to catching a cold or enduring spider bites I got off the huge Texas flag we had to keep re-adjusting to fit the frame of the media platform on that cold windy evening Bill Clinton came to town. Working the line after his speech pres Clinton was really quite gracious when he reached out to hold my hands he felt my coldness as he paused a while to warm my hands, Which he did. I could feel the warmth he was emitting to me. It was quite a moment. Leading up to the March 4th Democratic Primary I worked as a volunteer. I was a Precinct Captain for the Tarrant County Barack Obama campaign. The Obama headquarters were in the historic cowtown stockyards. in addition to helping get out the vote for Presidental candidate Barack Obama I also served as the election judge in Precinct 4202 The state of Texas Democratic Party Primary/Caucus system was ill prepared to fully handle the huge unprecedented Democratic primary voter turnout to the precinct caucus on the evening of the primarary election. I handled things best I could. I was incharge of four heavily attended voter caucus's. After taking charge of the situation I mananged to successfully herd folks into the dfferent precincts. They got together and selected their delegates. Of which I was one. Although it got a little chaotic crazy at times. Things worked out in the end and the proper delegates were allotted. I was chosen to serve as a Obama delegate to the Senatorial district Convention. Both Duane and I were Obama delegates.   ; Although Hillary Clinton won most of the primary votes on election day. Barack Obama actually walked away with more Texas State Democratic delegates in the end. Due to our effectly mobilizing turnout at the caucus's for Obama. By the time it was over at the Baptist Church where I hold the election It was so late that we were late for catching the Celebration party. Although come to learn - Most the young talented college kids with their laptops in hand that the National Obama Campaign sent to Fort Worth and with whom I became well aquainted with had missed the party due to the flu they had to contend with on election night. .This has been my mission to be able to vote for someone who actually won for all the right reasons……. November four, 2008 A.D. I went to the mouuntain top. I stood
on the highest peak high above Albuequerque, New Mexico, along with a
few close activist friends of mine. We were filled with a hopeful
Anticipation and had a panoramic birds eye view for as far as the
eye can see. This was toward the end of what felt almost like a
Mystical magical bus tour I took with a incredible diverse collection
of folks from Fort Worth into the land of enchantment, that is New
Mexico. It was the last week before Election Day. Our mission was to
turnout the vote for the next President of the United States and in the
process maybe even make New Mexico turn blue. The view from the
Mountain re-enforced my perception on just how far and wide our
Horizons really can be if we are willing to take those steps necessary
to reach our destination. As I gazed down upon the vast and awesome
Beauty of nature that laid at my feet. I thought how vast and grand
are also - the infinite possibilities for doing what is needed for and
best for the well being of our country and our planet. Once we begin to become the change which we seek we may discover that it was a walk well worth taking.
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