Michael Hatch Memorial with Melissa Etheridge Guitar

Title: Michael Hatch Memorial with Melissa Etheridge Guitar

Artist: Melissa Etheridge

Artist background: Etheridge is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and social activist. She “came out” in 1993 and has been actively fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ community since. She has received 15 Grammy Award nominations throughout her career and has sold over 27 million records worldwide. She also has a radio broadcast in Los Angeles entitled, “ The Melissa Etheridge Radio Show” where she frequently uses this forum to reach out to others about social concerns and what is happening politically in the United States.

Kathy Doe had the opportunity to speak with Melissa about Michael’s story on her radio show. Melissa was so moved to hear that Northwood Tech embraced diversity and promotes respect for all that she donated one of her guitars in memory of Michael’s life. Michael Hatch, 22 years old, died in Barron County in 1999, a victim of a hate crime.

In 2006, Etheridge received GLAAD’s Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which honors openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equal rights.

*In 2011, Etheridge received the honor of having her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On June 20th, 2016, she released a song called “Pulse”. You will find on her biography page that, “Melissa wrote this song in reaction to the mass shootings that took place in Orlando on June 12th, 2016. She told Rolling Stone Magazine that, “We want to try and make sense. We want to try and heal. We want to bring some meaning, some purpose. We also want to put it down forever in history. That’s how I’m coping.” All proceeds from the sale of “Pulse” will benefit Equality Florida, the state’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.

Northwood Tech Diversity Award recipient: Kathy Doe, Sociology, Diversity, Ethics, and Criminal Justice Instructor

Year received the award: 2010-11

Reason for the receiving the award: Kathy was nominated for this award (by her Dean, Laura Jasper) because she was working to actively bring the Diversity and Social Alliance Club to our campus so that our students would have a forum and a place where they would feel safe and accepted. Kathy had also been working with Michael’s parents (Gerald and Dodie Hatch) to keep Michael’s story and memory alive through the establishment of the Michael Hatch Diversity Scholarship.

Michael’s story should serve to raise awareness of the hatred and anger that still exists within our society. We still have a lot of work to do to bring people together rather than raise barriers to our differences.

Significance of the piece to the award recipient: Kathy had the opportunity to speak with Melissa on her talk show in Los Angeles where she shared Michael’s story. Melissa was so moved to hear that Northwood Tech embraced diversity and promotes respect for all that she donated one of her guitars.

Kathy also sent a letter that Michael wrote to Prince William (The Duke of Cambridge) and Prince Harry upon the death of their Mother, Princess Diana. Michael wrote of his sympathy for her untimely death and his admiration for the work that she had done for the oppressed around the world and her unconditional love for all. Michael’s parents received a response from Buckingham Palace thanking them for raising such a thoughtful and insightful young man on July 16th, 2012.