Spectrum LGBT Center News and Action Alerts

NEW FAIR HOUSING RULE PROTECTS LGBT RESIDENTS

2012-02-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-February 7, 2012
Contacts: Nancy Kenyon, Executive Director, 457-5025
nancy@fairhousingmarin.com
www.fairhousingmarin.com

On March 5, 2012, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) individuals will be protected from housing discrimination under a new federal Rule posted by HUD, announced Fair Housing of Marin.

The new rule “Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity” ensures that housing assisted or insured by HUD must be made available without regard to actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. The rule applies to FHA-insured loans and to HUD’s Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs, both popular programs in Marin County.

California led the nation when it included discrimination based on sexual orientation in its Fair Housing law. Accordingly, Fair Housing of Marin has assisted LGBT Marin residents for more than two decades. Some examples of the discrimination victims we have helped: the gay man evicted from an apartment with his partner after the owner learned that one of them was HIV positive. A gay couple not allowed to move to a smaller one bedroom apartment: the Manager asked how they would “manage”. An apartment complex owner said that she would not rent to 3 men, one a minister with a child, because they might give AIDS to others in the complex.

Dan Nackerman, Marin Housing Authority Director, applauded the new HUD Rule: “"Marin Housing Authority has accepted partners as the equivalent policy definition of a married couple for many years. However, this Rule gives us more power to prevent possible discrimination by the more than 1,400 private landlords we pay each month."

Paula Pilecki, Executive Director, Spectrum LGBT Center, commented: “It’s difficult for Marin residents to imagine the level of housing discrimination that occurs in this county. Thanks to our colleagues at Fair Housing of Marin, this injustice continues to be proactively addressed. And now, thanks to the leadership of HUD secretary Shaun Donovan, the federal government will no longer tolerate discrimination directed toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals who seek FHA-insured loans or public housing. Does it happen here? Yes. Will it continue to happen? Not on our watch.”

Individuals who suspect discrimination in their housing should call Fair Housing of Marin and visit their website, www.fairhousingmarin.com.

PROP 8 DAY OF DECISION GATHERING PLACES

2012-02-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

Re-Posted from Marriage Equality USA

San Francisco, CA -- Same-sex couples, friends, family and clergy will gather at the steps of the Ninth Circuit Federal Courthouse in San Francisco at 9:45 AM Tuesday, February 7th to receive the Ninth Circuit’s ruling on Proposition 8. The Court will release the ruling at 10:00 AM. Those gathered will then walk to the steps of San Francisco City Hall, where clergy will bless the unions of couples unable to marry because of Prop 8.

At 5:00 PM, a community rally will be held at Market and 17th (across from Castro & Market) in San Francisco. Similar events will be held in communities across California, including Contra Costa County, Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and Santa Clara County.

“We are very hopeful that the Ninth Circuit will rule in favor of fairness and equality, once and for all putting an end to Prop. 8’s exclusion of loving, committed couples from marriage,” said John Lewis, Marriage Equality USA’s Legal Director.

"We are a loving couple who have committed our lives to each other for the past nine years, and we will be at the courthouse in the morning to receive the decision," said Thom Watson, who shares his life and a home in Daly City with his partner Jeff Tabaco. "We are a family and we want to be married. We are on pins and needles waiting to see if the Ninth Circuit will enable us to fulfill the American dream of marrying the one you love," added Tabaco.

“Love is a blessing, and we will celebrate tomorrow’s ruling by blessing same-sex couples at San Francisco City Hall to recognize that love and commitment make a marriage,” said Rev. Roland Stringfellow, Director of Ministerial Outreach for the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies.

A diverse coalition of community organizations came together to create events statewide :

Contra Costa County
What: Community gathering at the Rainbow Community Center
Where: Rainbow Community Center
3024 Willow Pass Road, Suite 200, Concord, CA 94519
When: 6:00–7:00 PM Tuesday, February 7
Contact: Leslie Stewart (925) 765-6064

Fresno
What: Community Rally
Where: Corner of N. Blackstone Avenue and E. Shaw Avenue, Fresno, CA 93726
When: 5:00-7:00 PM Tuesday, February 7
Materials: Bring pro-equality, No on 8 signs.
Contact: Jaymi Morgan (559) 704-7683

Los Angeles
What: Community Rally, then a march down Santa Monica Blvd.
Where: West Hollywood Park on N. Robertson Blvd. (next to the Abbey Bar),West Hollywood, CA 90069
When: 6:00 PM Tuesday, February 7
Materials: Signs will be provided, but please bring your own as well.
Contact: Tristan Blaine (805) 657-4150

Sacramento
What: Informal gathering at The Cornerstone inside Headhunters in midtown Sacramento to await the posting of the decision to the 9th Circuit's website.
Where: The Cornerstone inside Headhunters, 1930 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95816
When: 9:30 AM Tuesday, February 7
Materials: Wear Marriage Equality USA, Equality Action NOW, No on 8 t-shirts and be prepared to talk with media. Bring $$ for coffee, etc.
Contact: Ken Pierce (916) 718-3464

San Diego
What: Street Protest/Celebration, then proceed to Community Center Rally
Where: Meet at 6th Avenue and University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
Then proceed to the LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre Street, San Diego, CA 92103
When: Time TBD; Tuesday, February 7
Materials: Bring signs to celebrate or protest the outcome of the case.
Contact: Fernando Lopez (619) 861-7939

San Francisco
Morning
What: Gather on the steps of the Ninth Circuit Federal Courthouse, San Francisco to receive the ruling (anticipated at 10:00 AM). Afterwards, we will proceed to San Francisco City Hall, where clergy will be available to bless couples who are not able to marry because of Prop. 8.
Where: Ninth Circuit Federal Courthouse, 95 7th Street at Mission, San Francisco, CA 94103
When: 9:30 AM Tuesday, February 7
Materials: Signs will be provided – you’re welcome to also bring your own.
Contact: Billy Bradford (415) 716-6315
Evening
What: Community Rally with music and speakers. We will either celebrate or protest the decision, and either way, re-dedicate our resolve to achieve full equality nationwide.
Where: Market Street & 17th Street (across from Castro & Market), San Francisco, CA 94114
When: 5:00 PM Tuesday, February 7
Materials: Wear your pro-equality, pro-marriage equality, or No on 8 t-shirts.
Contacts: Rev. Kelly Rivera Hart (415) 260-5704 and Billy Bradford (415) 716-6315

Santa Clara County
What: Community rally gathering to celebrate or protest the decision, and to rededicate our resolve to achieve full equality nationwide.
Where: Mountain View City Hall, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041
When: 6:00–7:00 PM Tuesday, February 7
Materials: Bring your pro-equality posters, banners, etc., wear pro-equality t-shirts
Contact: Lisa Liu 408-741-4824

Get Your RED On! LGBT Valentine's Dance, 2/11

2012-01-23T11:37:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 11
Max's Café of Corte Madera
60 Madera Blvd.

Facebook Event Page

6:00 - 7:30 PM Dinner
3-course prix fixe meal with glass of wine = $19.99, full menu also available

7:30 - 11:00 PM
V-Dancing with DJ Rosie = $20

Cupids Inka and Katharine will have icebreakers for singles & singles tables for dinner

Everyone welcome - couples and singles - all genders and identities!

Produced by Katharine Holland and Inka Von
A portion of net proceeds will be donated to Spectrum LGBT Center

RSVP, song requests and to buy advance tickets:
415-378-2697 or email marindance2012@gmail.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS ON DAY NINTH CIRCUIT ANNOUNCES PROP 8 DECISION

2012-01-10T09:11:00.001-08:00

From Marriage Equality USA - 1/10/12

Please join same-sex couples, LGBTIQ people, friends, family, and clergy for 2 events on the day that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals announces its decision regarding Proposition 8. The Ninth Circuit has completed all hearings and briefing in the case and could rule at any time.

9:45 AM COURTHOUSE PROP 8 DECISION: Gather on the steps of the Ninth Circuit Federal Courthouse, 95 7th Street (at Mission), San Francisco to receive the ruling (anticipated at 10:00 AM). Afterwards, we will proceed to San Francisco City Hall, where clergy will be available to bless couples who are not able to marry because of Prop. 8. (Even if the Ninth Circuit rules in our favor, it is highly likely that there will be a stay on the decision so that no marriages could take place immediately.)

5:00 PM COMMUNITY RALLY: Gather at Market & 17th (across from Castro & Market) San Francisco for a community rally. We will either celebrate or protest the decision, and either way, rededicate our resolve to achieve full equality nationwide.

For further information contact: Billy Bradford at bbradford@marriageequality.org or (415) 716-6315.

$34,315 and counting

2011-12-31T11:27:00.000-08:00

Thank you! We have surpassed our year-end goal. Our current balance stands at $34,315. Is it possible to reach $35,000 by midnight, PST.

If you have already responded to our year-end challenge, thank you.

Your special year-end, tax-deductible gift is the foundation for our future. And, you'll receive the satisfaction of knowing that you are part of a corner of the world where - no matter what - LGBT people of all ages can always feel safe and at home.

Now, get ready for a wonderful New Year!

--Paula Pilecki, Executive Director
Spectrum LGBT Center

Spectrum Year-End Gift Appeal UPDATE!

2011-12-27T15:57:00.000-08:00

Spectrum LGBT Center’s 2011 Year-End Gift Challenge

Invest in YOUR LGBT Community Center!

Help us accomplish our year-end fundraising goal of
$30,000 by December 31st.

Total raised as of December 27: $21,799 and counting!
Now, more than ever, we need your support to help us continue our legacy of service and inclusion, awareness and action! Over 60% of Spectrum’s annual operating budget of $350,000 comes from individuals.

Your financial gift, no matter how small or big, will provide the foundation for our future. And, you’ll receive the satisfaction of knowing that you are part of our corner of the world where – no matter what – LGBT people of all ages can always feel safe and at home.

Spectrum provides community leadership in promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Founded in 1982, we have touched the lives of over 250,000 people with a variety of education, outreach, and support programs and services.

Your Gift Will Directly Fund Our Major Programs and Services Which Include:

• Support for Youth and Seniors
• Counseling Services
• Discussion and Coming Out Groups
• Support for Parents and Families of LGBT People
• Training and Community Education
• Advocacy and Community Organizing
Make Your Pledge or Gift today by clicking on the thermometer.

Thank you for your support!

Historic speech at the UN: LGBT Rights are Human Rights

2011-12-06T13:50:00.000-08:00

Remarks in Recognition of International Human Rights Day

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Palais des Nations
Geneva, Switzerland

December 6, 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good evening, and let me express my deep honor and pleasure at being here. I want to thank Director General Tokayev and Ms. Wyden along with other ministers, ambassadors, excellencies, and UN partners. This weekend, we will celebrate Human Rights Day, the anniversary of one of the great accomplishments of the last century.

Beginning in 1947, delegates from six continents devoted themselves to drafting a declaration that would enshrine the fundamental rights and freedoms of people everywhere. In the aftermath of World War II, many nations pressed for a statement of this kind to help ensure that we would prevent future atrocities and protect the inherent humanity and dignity of all people. And so the delegates went to work. They discussed, they wrote, they revisited, revised, rewrote, for thousands of hours. And they incorporated suggestions and revisions from governments, organizations, and individuals around the world.

At three o'clock in the morning on December 10th, 1948, after nearly two years of drafting and one last long night of debate, the president of the UN General Assembly called for a vote on the final text. Forty-eight nations voted in favor; eight abstained; none dissented. And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. It proclaims a simple, powerful idea: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. And with the declaration, it was made clear that rights are not conferred by government; they are the birthright of all people. It does not matter what country we live in, who our leaders are, or even who we are. Because we are human, we therefore have rights. And because we have rights, governments are bound to protect them.

In the 63 years since the declaration was adopted, many nations have made great progress in making human rights a human reality. Step by step, barriers that once prevented people from enjoying the full measure of liberty, the full experience of dignity, and the full benefits of humanity have fallen away. In many places, racist laws have been repealed, legal and social practices that relegated women to second-class status have been abolished, the ability of religious minorities to practice their faith freely has been secured.

In most cases, this progress was not easily won. People fought and organized and campaigned in public squares and private spaces to change not only laws, but hearts and minds. And thanks to that work of generations, for millions of individuals whose lives were once narrowed by injustice, they are now able to live more freely and to participate more fully in the political, economic, and social lives of their communities.

Now, there is still, as you all know, much more to be done to secure that commitment, that reality, and progress for all people. Today, I want to talk about the work we have left to do to protect one group of people whose human rights are still denied in too many parts of the world today. In many ways, they are an invisible minority. They are arrested, beaten, terrorized, even executed. Many are treated with contempt and violence by their fellow citizens while authorities empowered to protect them look the other way or, too often, even join in the abuse. They are denied opportunities to work and learn, driven from their homes and countries, and forced to suppress or deny who they are to protect themselves from harm.

I am talking about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, human beings born free and given bestowed equality and dignity, who have a right to claim that, which is now one of the remaining human rights challenges of our time. I speak about this subject knowing that my own country's record on human rights for gay people is far from perfect. Until 2003, it was still a crime in parts of our country. Many LGBT Americans have endured violence and harassment in their own lives, and for some, including many young people, bullying and exclusion are daily experiences. So we, like all nations, have more work to do to protect human rights at home.

Now, raising this issue, I know, is sensitive for many people and that the obstacles standing in the way of protecting the human rights of LGBT people rest on deeply held personal, political, cultural, and religious beliefs. So I come here before you with respect, understanding, and humility. Even though progress on this front is not easy, we cannot delay acting. So in that spirit, I want to talk about the difficult and important issues we must address together to reach a global consensus that recognizes the human rights of LGBT citizens everywhere.

The first issue goes to the heart of the matter. Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct; but, in fact, they are one and the same. Now, of course, 60 years ago, the governments that drafted and passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were not thinking about how it applied to the LGBT community. They also weren’t thinking about how it applied to indigenous people or children or people with disabilities or other marginalized groups. Yet in the past 60 years, we have come to recognize that members of these groups are entitled to the full measure of dignity and rights, because, like all people, they share a common humanity.

This recognition did not occur all at once. It evolved over time. And as it did, we understood that we were honoring rights that people always had, rather than creating new or special rights for them. Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less human. And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.

It is violation of human rights when people are beaten or killed because of their sexual orientation, or because they do not conform to cultural norms about how men and women should look or behave. It is a violation of human rights when governments declare it illegal to be gay, or allow those who harm gay people to go unpunished. It is a violation of human rights when lesbian or transgendered women are subjected to so-called corrective rape, or forcibly subjected to hormone treatments, or when people are murdered after public calls for violence toward gays, or when they are forced to flee their nations and seek asylum in other lands to save their lives. And it is a violation of human rights when life-saving care is withheld from people because they are gay, or equal access to justice is denied to people because they are gay, or public spaces are out of bounds to people because they are gay. No matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we are, we are all equally entitled to our human rights and dignity.

The second issue is a question of whether homosexuality arises from a particular part of the world. Some seem to believe it is a Western phenomenon, and therefore people outside the West have grounds to reject it. Well, in reality, gay people are born into and belong to every society in the world. They are all ages, all races, all faiths; they are doctors and teachers, farmers and bankers, soldiers and athletes; and whether we know it, or whether we acknowledge it, they are our family, our friends, and our neighbors.

Being gay is not a Western invention; it is a human reality. And protecting the human rights of all people, gay or straight, is not something that only Western governments do. South Africa’s constitution, written in the aftermath of Apartheid, protects the equality of all citizens, including gay people. In Colombia and Argentina, the rights of gays are also legally protected. In Nepal, the supreme court has ruled that equal rights apply to LGBT citizens. The Government of Mongolia has committed to pursue new legislation that will tackle anti-gay discrimination.

Now, some worry that protecting the human rights of the LGBT community is a luxury that only wealthy nations can afford. But in fact, in all countries, there are costs to not protecting these rights, in both gay and straight lives lost to disease and violence, and the silencing of voices and views that would strengthen communities, in ideas never pursued by entrepreneurs who happen to be gay. Costs are incurred whenever any group is treated as lesser or the other, whether they are women, racial, or religious minorities, or the LGBT. Former President Mogae of Botswana pointed out recently that for as long as LGBT people are kept in the shadows, there cannot be an effective public health program to tackle HIV and AIDS. Well, that holds true for other challenges as well.

The third, and perhaps most challenging, issue arises when people cite religious or cultural values as a reason to violate or not to protect the human rights of LGBT citizens. This is not unlike the justification offered for violent practices towards women like honor killings, widow burning, or female genital mutilation. Some people still defend those practices as part of a cultural tradition. But violence toward women isn't cultural; it's criminal. Likewise with slavery, what was once justified as sanctioned by God is now properly reviled as an unconscionable violation of human rights.

In each of these cases, we came to learn that no practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us. And this holds true for inflicting violence on LGBT people, criminalizing their status or behavior, expelling them from their families and communities, or tacitly or explicitly accepting their killing.

Of course, it bears noting that rarely are cultural and religious traditions and teachings actually in conflict with the protection of human rights. Indeed, our religion and our culture are sources of compassion and inspiration toward our fellow human beings. It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it. And let us keep in mind that our commitments to protect the freedom of religion and to defend the dignity of LGBT people emanate from a common source. For many of us, religious belief and practice is a vital source of meaning and identity, and fundamental to who we are as people. And likewise, for most of us, the bonds of love and family that we forge are also vital sources of meaning and identity. And caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human. It is because the human experience is universal that human rights are universal and cut across all religions and cultures.

The fourth issue is what history teaches us about how we make progress towards rights for all. Progress starts with honest discussion. Now, there are some who say and believe that all gay people are pedophiles, that homosexuality is a disease that can be caught or cured, or that gays recruit others to become gay. Well, these notions are simply not true. They are also unlikely to disappear if those who promote or accept them are dismissed out of hand rather than invited to share their fears and concerns. No one has ever abandoned a belief because he was forced to do so.

Universal human rights include freedom of expression and freedom of belief, even if our words or beliefs denigrate the humanity of others. Yet, while we are each free to believe whatever we choose, we cannot do whatever we choose, not in a world where we protect the human rights of all.

Reaching understanding of these issues takes more than speech. It does take a conversation. In fact, it takes a constellation of conversations in places big and small. And it takes a willingness to see stark differences in belief as a reason to begin the conversation, not to avoid it.

But progress comes from changes in laws. In many places, including my own country, legal protections have preceded, not followed, broader recognition of rights. Laws have a teaching effect. Laws that discriminate validate other kinds of discrimination. Laws that require equal protections reinforce the moral imperative of equality. And practically speaking, it is often the case that laws must change before fears about change dissipate.

Many in my country thought that President Truman was making a grave error when he ordered the racial desegregation of our military. They argued that it would undermine unit cohesion. And it wasn't until he went ahead and did it that we saw how it strengthened our social fabric in ways even the supporters of the policy could not foresee. Likewise, some worried in my country that the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don’t Tell” would have a negative effect on our armed forces. Now, the Marine Corps Commandant, who was one of the strongest voices against the repeal, says that his concerns were unfounded and that the Marines have embraced the change.

Finally, progress comes from being willing to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. We need to ask ourselves, "How would it feel if it were a crime to love the person I love? How would it feel to be discriminated against for something about myself that I cannot change?" This challenge applies to all of us as we reflect upon deeply held beliefs, as we work to embrace tolerance and respect for the dignity of all persons, and as we engage humbly with those with whom we disagree in the hope of creating greater understanding.

A fifth and final question is how we do our part to bring the world to embrace human rights for all people including LGBT people. Yes, LGBT people must help lead this effort, as so many of you are. Their knowledge and experiences are invaluable and their courage inspirational. We know the names of brave LGBT activists who have literally given their lives for this cause, and there are many more whose names we will never know. But often those who are denied rights are least empowered to bring about the changes they seek. Acting alone, minorities can never achieve the majorities necessary for political change.

So when any part of humanity is sidelined, the rest of us cannot sit on the sidelines. Every time a barrier to progress has fallen, it has taken a cooperative effort from those on both sides of the barrier. In the fight for women’s rights, the support of men remains crucial. The fight for racial equality has relied on contributions from people of all races. Combating Islamaphobia or anti-Semitism is a task for people of all faiths. And the same is true with this struggle for equality.

Conversely, when we see denials and abuses of human rights and fail to act, that sends the message to those deniers and abusers that they won’t suffer any consequences for their actions, and so they carry on. But when we do act, we send a powerful moral message. Right here in Geneva, the international community acted this year to strengthen a global consensus around the human rights of LGBT people. At the Human Rights Council in March, 85 countries from all regions supported a statement calling for an end to criminalization and violence against people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

At the following session of the Council in June, South Africa took the lead on a resolution about violence against LGBT people. The delegation from South Africa spoke eloquently about their own experience and struggle for human equality and its indivisibility. When the measure passed, it became the first-ever UN resolution recognizing the human rights of gay people worldwide. In the Organization of American States this year, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights created a unit on the rights of LGBT people, a step toward what we hope will be the creation of a special rapporteur.

Now, we must go further and work here and in every region of the world to galvanize more support for the human rights of the LGBT community. To the leaders of those countries where people are jailed, beaten, or executed for being gay, I ask you to consider this: Leadership, by definition, means being out in front of your people when it is called for. It means standing up for the dignity of all your citizens and persuading your people to do the same. It also means ensuring that all citizens are treated as equals under your laws, because let me be clear – I am not saying that gay people can’t or don’t commit crimes. They can and they do, just like straight people. And when they do, they should be held accountable, but it should never be a crime to be gay.

And to people of all nations, I say supporting human rights is your responsibility too. The lives of gay people are shaped not only by laws, but by the treatment they receive every day from their families, from their neighbors. Eleanor Roosevelt, who did so much to advance human rights worldwide, said that these rights begin in the small places close to home – the streets where people live, the schools they attend, the factories, farms, and offices where they work. These places are your domain. The actions you take, the ideals that you advocate, can determine whether human rights flourish where you are.

And finally, to LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this: Wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone. People around the globe are working hard to support you and to bring an end to the injustices and dangers you face. That is certainly true for my country. And you have an ally in the United States of America and you have millions of friends among the American people.

The Obama Administration defends the human rights of LGBT people as part of our comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign policy. In our embassies, our diplomats are raising concerns about specific cases and laws, and working with a range of partners to strengthen human rights protections for all. In Washington, we have created a task force at the State Department to support and coordinate this work. And in the coming months, we will provide every embassy with a toolkit to help improve their efforts. And we have created a program that offers emergency support to defenders of human rights for LGBT people.

This morning, back in Washington, President Obama put into place the first U.S. Government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad. Building on efforts already underway at the State Department and across the government, the President has directed all U.S. Government agencies engaged overseas to combat the criminalization of LGBT status and conduct, to enhance efforts to protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, to ensure that our foreign assistance promotes the protection of LGBT rights, to enlist international organizations in the fight against discrimination, and to respond swiftly to abuses against LGBT persons.

I am also pleased to announce that we are launching a new Global Equality Fund that will support the work of civil society organizations working on these issues around the world. This fund will help them record facts so they can target their advocacy, learn how to use the law as a tool, manage their budgets, train their staffs, and forge partnerships with women’s organizations and other human rights groups. We have committed more than $3 million to start this fund, and we have hope that others will join us in supporting it.

The women and men who advocate for human rights for the LGBT community in hostile places, some of whom are here today with us, are brave and dedicated, and deserve all the help we can give them. We know the road ahead will not be easy. A great deal of work lies before us. But many of us have seen firsthand how quickly change can come. In our lifetimes, attitudes toward gay people in many places have been transformed. Many people, including myself, have experienced a deepening of our own convictions on this topic over the years, as we have devoted more thought to it, engaged in dialogues and debates, and established personal and professional relationships with people who are gay.

This evolution is evident in many places. To highlight one example, the Delhi High Court decriminalized homosexuality in India two years ago, writing, and I quote, “If there is one tenet that can be said to be an underlying theme of the Indian constitution, it is inclusiveness.” There is little doubt in my mind that support for LGBT human rights will continue to climb. Because for many young people, this is simple: All people deserve to be treated with dignity and have their human rights respected, no matter who they are or whom they love.

There is a phrase that people in the United States invoke when urging others to support human rights: “Be on the right side of history.” The story of the United States is the story of a nation that has repeatedly grappled with intolerance and inequality. We fought a brutal civil war over slavery. People from coast to coast joined in campaigns to recognize the rights of women, indigenous peoples, racial minorities, children, people with disabilities, immigrants, workers, and on and on. And the march toward equality and justice has continued. Those who advocate for expanding the circle of human rights were and are on the right side of history, and history honors them. Those who tried to constrict human rights were wrong, and history reflects that as well.

I know that the thoughts I’ve shared today involve questions on which opinions are still evolving. As it has happened so many times before, opinion will converge once again with the truth, the immutable truth, that all persons are created free and equal in dignity and rights. We are called once more to make real the words of the Universal Declaration. Let us answer that call. Let us be on the right side of history, for our people, our nations, and future generations, whose lives will be shaped by the work we do today. I come before you with great hope and confidence that no matter how long the road ahead, we will travel it successfully together. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

GEN SILENT SCREENING AT VINTAGE HOUSE, SONOMA

2011-11-30T11:50:00.000-08:00

The insightful documentary, GEN SILENT, will be screened on Friday, December 2nd, 6:30 pm at Vintage House, 264 First Street East, Sonoma.

GEN SILENT is a powerful documentary that shines a light on the difficulties faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as they grow older.

The fact of the matter is, many LGBT people who fought the first battles for equality are now facing the fear of being bullied, physically abused, and discriminated against by a system of care that is ill-prepared to accept them. In the face of this, LGBT older adults are hiding, living alone, and isolated from their community.

GEN SILENT is both a sad and joyful tribute to survival, and an eye-opening film.

Suggested donation: $5 at the door, though all are welcome and no one will be turned away. Following the film, there will be a facilitated discussion with the audience.

Sponsored by Vintage House, Sonoma Homecare, and Spectrum LGBT Center

For more information, call Gary Shepard at 707-583-2330 (24 hour voice message that is checked regularly).

Are you 55 years of age or older? Read this.

2011-11-30T11:31:00.000-08:00

ATTENTION MARIN RESIDENTS: If you are 55 years or older, OR an adult family member, neighbor, or friend who provides unpaid help to an older adult or someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, this survey is for you. For the first time, the survey provides an opportunity for LGBT people to be counted. Let's make sure our voices are included in this survey!

ONLINE SURVEY HERE.

If you can't take the survey online, send an email and we'll send you a paper version. Thanks!

A Bump in the Road for Marriage Equality - by Ruth Dell

2011-11-20T20:44:00.000-08:00

In 2008, California voters enacted Prop 8, which banned state recognition of same sex marriages through an amendment to the state’s constitution. The American Foundation for Equal Rights subsequently filed a lawsuit , Perry v. Schwarzenegger, which asserted that Prop 8 was unconstitutional, and that banning marriage equality violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which requires the equal protection of the law. Our then governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and our then attorney general, now governor, Jerry Brown, opposed Prop 8, and refused to defend the case on behalf of the state. The case proceeded with the anti-gay-marriage group that sponsored Prop 8, ProtectMarriage, representing the state to defend Prop 8.

Judge Vaughn Walker, who heard the case in federal court, ruled in 2010 that Prop 8 violated the U.S. Constitution, and that same sex couples had a constitutional right to marry. The case then went up on appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit then asked the California Supreme Court the following question - do proponents of ballot initiatives have the authority to represent the state when the state’s public officials decline to do so? If the CA Supreme Court had ruled that ProtectMarriage did not have standing, or the right to appeal the district court decision, Judge Walker’s decision would have stood, as no party would have the right to appeal it.

This is not what happened.

Instead, on November 17, 2011, the CA Supreme Court unanimously decided that proponents of ballot initiatives have the authority to represent the state of California when the state’s public officials decline to do so. The court ruled that ProtectMarriage has the right to defend the constitutionality of Prop 8 and to appeal a judgment invalidating it. Proponents of marriage equality were disappointed in the ruling. Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights called the CA Supreme Court’s decision “terrible” and “dangerous”, and that it gave “initiative proponents unprecedented and virtually unlimited power…”

Since the Ninth Circuit asked the CA Supreme Court for its opinion on the standing question, it is most likely that it will accept this ruling of the CA Supreme Court, and thus the Ninth Circuit will proceed to decide the constitutionality of Prop 8 on its merits. The Ninth Circuit is a progressive court, and advocates of marriage equality are hopeful that the court will rule in favor of the freedom to marry. Both sides generally agree that whichever way the Ninth Circuit rules, there is a strong likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court will eventually hear the case.

Ruth Dell volunteers for a number of non-profit organizations. She is Spectrum's Marriage Equality Correspondent.

White House Inaugurates LGBT Update

2011-10-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

(Reposted from an email received today)

Good morning,

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the White House LGBT Update, where you'll hear from the White House Office of Public Engagement on President Obama’s continued commitment to progress for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

We need your help to get the word out! Please encourage your friends and family to sign up for updates and don’t hesitate to drop us a line with your comments, suggestions, and ideas.

All the best,

Gautam Raghavan
Office of Public Engagement
The White House

FAIR Act opponents fail to meet signature requirement

2011-10-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

FAIR Act unchallenged - for now
By Ruth Dell

In July 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed the FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful) Act, which requires that students learn about the contributions of LGBT people and people with disabilities in social science instruction.

Opponents of the LGBT community immediately went to work opposing the FAIR Act, and vowed to gather enough signatures to qualify for a June 2012 initiative to vote on whether the FAIR Act should be repealed.

Today, the coalition fighting the FAIR Act announced that it did not have the 504,760 signatures required to get on the ballot.

While this is good news, we have no reason to assume our opponents will not fight us again. In fact, the leading organization against marriage equality, the National Organization for Marriage, announced that it was raising money for the November 2012 ballot. The Traditional Values Coalition, a virulent anti-gay group, led the fight in Sacramento opposing the FAIR Act, and shows no sign of backing down.

The FAIR Act, while not widely known, is incredibly important. As writer Adam Bink wrote, “It’s not just about history. It’s about role models. Looking up to Billie Jean King, or Walt Whitman..and finding out they were lesbian or gay means something to a child, including a potential bully…”

California is the first state to specifically include the contributions of LGBT people in public school materials, and that is a victory worth defending.

Ruth Dell is a retired attorney who volunteers for a number of organizations, including Spectrum.

Napa LGBTQ Community Forum, October 11th

2011-09-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

Napa LGBTQ Community Forum
Tuesday evening, October 11, 2011, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
McPherson Elem. School’s Multiuse Room
2670 Yajome Street, Napa

RSVP HERE

We need your voice! For the first time ever, LGBTQ people (and straight allies) from across ages, races, identities and the length of the Napa Valley will gather together for an important conversation and sharing of our experiences of living as LGBTQ in the Napa Valley--that will ultimately guide the direction of our work in support of our Valley's LGBTQ people. Have thoughts or ideas on what Napa is doing well or could to improve the safety and well being for LGBTQ people? Who will make sure your voice is included if not you?

Bringing together lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning people & straight allies:

Across ages, races & identities, from all nooks & crannies of the Napa Valley
...to answer the question, How do we create a healthier Napa Valley that is more inclusive, welcoming & safer for all of us?
For more info, please contact Ian Stanley, Program Director: 707-251-9432 or ian.voices@gmail.com

To learn more about the Napa County LGBTQ PEI Project, visit our website.

Safe Space & Hate Free Zone: Please attend even if you’re not “out”. All our voices are needed!

Co-sponsored by On The Move and Spectrum LGBT Center of the North Bay with funding from the Napa County Mental Health Division's Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Component.

Statement by the President on the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

2011-09-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2011

Today, the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is finally and formally repealed. As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love. As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service.

I was proud to sign the Repeal Act into law last December because I knew that it would enhance our national security, increase our military readiness, and bring us closer to the principles of equality and fairness that define us as Americans. Today’s achievement is a tribute to all the patriots who fought and marched for change; to Members of Congress, from both parties, who voted for repeal; to our civilian and military leaders who ensured a smooth transition; and to the professionalism of our men and women in uniform who showed that they were ready to move forward together, as one team, to meet the missions we ask of them.

For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens. Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans. Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.

LGBT Meet-Up at Max's Every Sunday, 6-9 PM

2011-09-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

The staff at Max's of Corte Madera is warmly reaching out to LGBT people and our community of friends with a weekly "happy hour".

They have a lovely cocktail lounge which is separate from their main dining room. It will be a great venue to listen to the David's ensemble, The Rainbows and Rockets Band, shmooze with locals and enjoy Max's delicious deli foods and drinks.

Max’s Deli Presents:

Meet Me @ Max’s!
60 Madera Blvd., Corte Madera, right off the 101.

Welcoming the LGBT community and friends
Every Sunday 6-9pm
Live music by The Rainbows & Rockets Band

Max’s will contribute 5% of sales to Marin AIDS Project & Spectrum LGBT Center.

See you there!

Kevin Meaney and Sue Murphy at the JCC, 9/17

2011-09-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday Night A-list Stand-up Comedy in Marin with
Kevin Meaney & Sue Murphy >>>The Dating Game

Presented by The Osher Marin JCC & The Other Café Comedy Showcase

Saturday, Sept 17 @ 8pm

SPECTRUM E-LIST MEMBERS: USE THE DISCOUNT CODE:” bigpants” when secure your ADVANCE tickets and receive the members’ discount when purchasing tickets

MORE INFO AND PURCHASE TICKETS

Two headliners in one night

This showcase brings two San Francisco A-List Comedy minds back to the Bay Area for One Night only. Plus a hilarious comedy club version of The Dating Game, hosted by Kevin and Sue

For those familiar with the SF comedy scene you know these two comedians are among the most beloved comedic minds in SF comedy history. If you have never seen them work, don’t miss this rare chance and if you have – you know that no two shows are ever the same with these two.

Since leaving SF, KEVIN has been one of the country's most popular standup comedians and has headlined clubs and theaters throughout the country, starred in the CBS sitcom Uncle Buck, and on Broadway in Hairspray.

SUE has won 2 Emmys for her work writing and producing the Ellen Degeneres Show and has performed on numerous national television shows including her own half-hour special Comedy Central Presents Sue Murphy, and is currently the Co-Executive Producer on the hit nightly show on E! Network Chelsea Lately. Both artists have made numerous appearances on David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

TICKETS:

Limited RESERVED table seating available
Advance: $30 OMJCC/Other Café Members* / $35 public
Day of: $40

GENERAL admission
Advance: $20 OMJCC/Other Café Members/ $25 public
Day of: $30

Gays Struggling to Connect in Marin: A Response

2011-08-24T15:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Paul Liberatore for shining a light on the LGBT community in Marin. Spectrum LGBT Center has been in Marin since 1982, providing programs and services for, and on behalf of, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in the North Bay.

http://www.marinij.com/lifestyles/ci_18736256?source=most_viewed

Throughout my 13 years as executive director, I’ve heard many LGBT people lament that they cannot find other gay people in Marin. I believe that many LGBT people living in Marin actually LIKE the fact that there is no gay ‘scene’. They have escaped gay culture and are quietly living among their straight neighbors, raising families and hosting backyard barbeques. Older LGBT people in their 70s and 80s often tend to be less open about who they are, much like their peers throughout the U.S. This tendency, by the way, puts older LGBT people at great risk for isolation and depression.

A sort of assimilation occurs in Marin County, not because it is such an open and accepting place for LGBT people, but because some LGBT people are reluctant to be completely out and visible here. Why?

I offer this observation: It’s not cool to be blatantly gay here in Marin. A standard of conformity compels some to remove the rainbow bumper stickers from the cars, and keep the gay flag inside the house. Marin, after all, is a well-heeled county. We can’t have our glitter falling just anywhere. We’ve learned how to pass.

We like to think of Marin as being progressive, fair-minded, and accepting of all people. But consider this: In 2008, 25% of Marin voters rejected gay marriage. The idea of incorporating gay people into middle and high school history lessons infuriates many in this county, and not just because it is now required by law. Many assisted living facilities in Marin prevent same-sex couples from occupying the same room, giving preference to married heterosexual couples. And, while there are a number of congregations that welcome LGBT people and families, Marin’s faith communities are divided on this issue. (A little-known fact: for nearly 40 years, San Rafael has been home to a prominent founder of the ex-gay movement, who advertises his ministry as ‘finding freedom from homosexuality’).

Spectrum has long been involved with educating the community about acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for LGBT people. We are making every effort to open doors among traditional communities to start dialog and raise awareness. It’s not always easy, but there have been positive shifts within our schools and community institutions since our founding in 1982.

Here’s the good news: there are, in fact, a number of events that occur on a regular basis for the LGBT community. Spectrum keeps our website calendar updated with all that we know about at www.spectrumLGBTcenter.org. If you are one of those gays struggling to find your community in Marin, don’t expect to bump in to it on the street. You’re going to have to get out and find it. And, if you are willing to be out like Vincent and Douglass, give me a call. We need you to help us create the community you’re hoping to find.

Paula Pilecki, Executive Director
Spectrum LGBT Center
(415) 472-1945, ext. 209
www.spectrumLGBTcenter.org

.

Spectrum LGBT Center Brings GEN SILENT to Marin County in September

2011-08-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Spectrum LGBT Center's SEEN THROUGH FILM Project is bringing GEN SILENT to Marin County on Thursday, September 8th

This important new documentary by filmmaker Stu Maddux highlights the challenges facing aging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

TWO SCREENINGS:Both are free and open to the public

Thursday, September 8, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Margaret Todd Senior Center
1560 Hill Road, Novato
Co-sponsored by the Marin County Division of Aging and Adult Services
A short version of the film, followed by discussion, during the regular meeting of the Marin County Commission on Aging.

Thursday, September 8, 7:15 pm – 9:00 pm
The Redwoods - A Community of Seniors
40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
Featuring the full-length film with discussion.

SPECIAL GUEST AT BOTH EVENTS: Award-winning director and filmmaker, Stu Maddux

RSVP requested to
(415) 472-1945 x209
Please state which date(s) you will attend.

GEN SILENT is a new documentary from award-winning director, documentary film¬maker, and Marin County resident, Stu Maddux. What would you do if you were old, disabled or ill ‐and the person feeding you put down the spoon and explained that you are going to hell unless you change your sexual orientation? Sound absurd? According to social workers, it’s happening every day.

This hour-long film explores the challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults who must depend on a system of care that is reluctant to recognize their needs. As we witness the challenges that these men and women face, we also see hope as each subject crosses paths with an impassioned professional trying in their own way to change an entire care industry.

For more information about the film, visit the GEN SILENT website.

Spectrum LGBT Center’s Seen Through Film Project builds community among, and raises awareness about the real lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Support for this project is provided by a grant from Marin Community Foundation, with additional funding from PG&E Corporation. For more information, visit Spectrum’s website at www.spectrumLGBTcenter.org.

"History Should Be Honest" - The FAIR Act

2011-07-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

History Repeats Itself with The FAIR Act by Ruth Dell

On July 13, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed the FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful) Education Act, authored by our state senator, Mark Leno. The law provides that the historical contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and disabled individuals be accurately and fairly portrayed in public school instructional materials. LGBT and disabled people are being added to an existing list of underrepresented cultural and ethnic groups that California already requires to be recognized in instructional materials, including Native Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans and Asian Americans. In his signing statement, Governor Brown said, “History should be honest.”

In 1966, California conservatives were outraged when our state board of education adopted a new junior high school textbook. They claimed that the book’s inclusion of a discussion of the civil rights movement and an expanded section on important African Americans would indoctrinate students undermine religious values, and politicize the curriculum. Now, of course, it is commonplace and non-controversial in California for schools to recognize the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other African Americans and to celebrate Black History Month.

Sadly, on July 15, 2011, the Capitol Resource Institute (CRI), a Sacramento-based right-wing organization that has long opposed gay rights, announced its intention to start a voter referendum to repeal the bill. Whether or not CRI can garner the 500,000 signatures required for the ballot remains to be seen. But the institute is acting within a dangerous tradition that seeks to promote to schoolchildren a vision of America that is both inaccurate and harmful.

The arguments for excluding LGBT history simply do not withstand scrutiny. The Traditional Values Coalition stated that the FAIR Act will be a “pro homosexual promotion tool” and be used to “indoctrinate children.” Teaching history, of course, is not indoctrination. How does studying the life and accomplishments of San Francisco politician Harvey Milk constitute indoctrination? How would learning that Aaron Copland, composer of such American classics as “Appalachian Spring” and “Rodeo” is gay, indoctrinate students? There is no reason for students not to learn about the Proposition 8 case, which addresses the constitutionality of prohibiting gay marriage and is currently on appeal in the 9th Circuit.

In contrast to the unpersuasive arguments against the FAIR Act, there are compelling reasons to support it. Inclusive history lessons may lead to safer outcomes for students. Our state and country has tragically seen an upsurge in the number of bullied LGBT teens who have committed suicide. Hopefully, a complete teaching of history can help these students feel a greater part of their schools and communities. Shannon Minter, legal director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, stated that the FAIR Act “is about breaking a very damaging cycle of silence and stigma… for the first time, we will have a generation of LGBT youth who are growing up seeing themselves reflected and included in public institutions.”

Opposition to acknowledging LGBT rights in instructional materials rarely stands alone as an issue; it is usually linked to an extreme right wing agenda. Texas exemplifies this. In 2010, Texas adopted the following social studies standards: Jefferson Davis (president of the Confederacy) deserves equal billing as President Abraham Lincoln; the National Rifle Association deserves praise for upholding the U.S. Constitution (no discussion of a contrary view of the Second Amendment), all references to President Obama should include his middle name, Hussein. The guidelines took out references to Thurgood Marshall (the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice) and Cesar Chavez (Hispanic farm worker and community leader) - this in a state where the majority of students are of color. The guidelines were primarily written by a dentist, and derided by conservative and liberal historians alike. Texas guidelines for health are also historically inaccurate - Texas is required to teach that marriage is only between a man and a woman; this in a country where six states and Washington, D.C. recognize marriage equality.

Californians should be proud that we are the first in the nation to specifically include the contributions of LGBT people in public school materials. We were also one of the first states, in 1948, to recognize that people of different races had the right to marry one another. The U.S. Supreme Court did not reach this conclusion until 1967; today, one in fifteen married people in this country is married to someone of a different race. Someday, hopefully soon, the inclusion of LGBT history will be the standard everywhere and seen for what it is - acknowledging ALL the people that contribute to our great nation, gay and straight.

Ruth Dell (pictured) is a retired attorney who volunteers for Spectrum and other nonprofit organizations.

Marin Youth Photovoice Campaign

2011-05-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Youth Leadership Institute is now seeking high-school age youth
participants for a summer-long project using photography to build
awareness of current social justice issues. This is a special invitation to encourage LGBTQQ*-identified youth to participate!

Orientation and Kick-Off Meeting Tuesday, May 24, 4 - 8 PM; dinner provided. San Rafael location (call for address).

To sign up or get more info, contact Kristen Law, MA, klaw@yli.org or (415) 836-9160, ext. 225.

Meeting a few hours every other week throughout the summer, Photovoice Campaign participants will:

*Advocate for social justice and accepting school environments by photographing and documenting your own experiences
*Work collaboratively with other youth
*Have an opportunity to learn social justice photography and get your work displayed in a community exhibit
*Promote positive change and acceptance in your school and community
*Gain skills in photography, research, and public speaking

Photovoice is for everyone - no experience needed.

*Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning.

DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE FLYER HERE

SB 5 Defeated; Legislative Victory for Marriage Equality in CA

2011-05-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

On May 3, SB 5, the Automatic Proposition Standing Bill, which would have required the state of California to defend ballot measures adopted by voters, including Prop 8, was defeated. The bill never made it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee; the five Democrats on the committee voted against the bill, the three Republicans voted for it. Anti-marriage equality advocates were solidly behind the bill; had it passed, it would have required the Attorney General to defend Prop 8. Former Attorney General (now governor) Jerry Brown and current Attorney General Kamala Harris refuse to defend Prop 8 on the basis that it is unconstitutional. The defeat of SB 5 was a legislative victory for the marriage equality movement in California.

Posted by Ruth Dell, Spectrum's Marriage Equality Correspondent

A Personal Invitation from Kate Clinton: Watch the Vlog!

2011-05-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

Watch this video of Kate Clinton, in her personal invitation to The Glee Party on Sunday, May 22nd.

Kate Clinton brings her Glee Party to Marin County on Sunday, May 22nd, 1 PM at Hoytt Theater, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Tickets: $45. A benefit for Spectrum, the North Bay's LGBT center.

LA MISSION - THE MOVIE at Pickleweed Community Center, 6/8

2011-05-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

Spectrum LGBT Center, in partnership with Canal Alliance, invites you to the first movie of the Seen Through Film Series: LA MISSION

Wednesday, June 8, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Pickleweed Community Center
50 Canal Street, San Rafael, CA

FREE EVENT - Food will be provided

DOWNLOAD SPANISH/ENGLISH FLYERS HERE (pdf)

Growing up in the Mission district, Che Rivera has always had to be tough to survive. He’s a powerful man respected throughout the Mission barrio for his masculinity and his strength, as well as for his hobby building beautiful lowrider cars. A reformed inmate and recovering alcoholic, Che has worked hard to redeem his life and do right by his pride and joy: his only son, Jes, whom he has raised on his own after the death of his wife. Che’s path to redemption is tested, however, when he discovers Jes is gay.

To survive his neighborhood, Che has always lived with his fists. To survive as a complete man, he’ll have to embrace a side of himself he’s never shown. Rated R. Starring Benjamin Bratt.

Film Presentation Supporters: Adopt A Family, Asian Advocacy Project, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay, Brazilian Alliance, Marin Child Care Council, Parent Voices/Parent Services Project

Media Sponsors: Univision Channel 14, Community Media Center of Marin, Nuestras Voces, Avance News, La Voz Bilingual Newspaper

Food Sponsor: Claudia Cardoza, LUSO-American Life Insurance

SEEN THROUGH FILM is a project of Spectrum LGBT Center. It explores the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. The series includes films that will educate, provoke conversation, entertain and appeal to a diverse population.

SEEN THROUGH FILM is funded by a grant from the Marin Community Foundation.

Sonoma County Gatherings for LGBT Older Aduts

2011-05-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

Join Spectrum for lively discussions, mutual support, sharing information, and all the while celebrating who we are.

Spectrum's social support groups for LGBT older adults have been meeting in Sonoma for nearly three years. Everyone is welcome; there is no charge. Whether you're in the closet or out, you are welcome!

The Santa Rosa Group: Meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Glaser Center), Santa Rosa.

The Sonoma Valley Group: Meets on the 3rd Friday of the month, 10:30 am - 12 noon, at Vintage House Senior Center, Sonoma.

For more information, call Gary Shepard, Spectrum's Sonoma Project Coordinator, at 707-583-2330 (message line, checked frequently).

A Gleeful Kate Clinton Slated to Perform at Spectrum Benefit

2011-05-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

Kate Clinton is coming to San Rafael and bringing her Glee Party with her.

In a tour that she describes as "part glee and part tea" she looks at the expectation in society that all problems can be solved in one hour minus commercial breaks with a few song and dance numbers thrown in. Her performance at the Hoytt Theater will benefit Spectrum's advocacy programs for LGBT youth.

Clinton is a wise cracking politically minded comedian whose swift wit has been entertaining audiences for over 25 years. Her shows are a mix of news of the day, commentary and observational humor covering religion, politics and LGBT issues.

Humor has long been a tool in creating political change. From court jesters and Jonathan Swift in the past to Steven Colbert and John Stewart today, comedy can say things about a society that cannot be said in other ways. Clinton is part of this tradition, asking the hard questions and as she says, ãtelling the truth no on would say.ä

Comedy also breaks down the barriers between people. "People hear each other in a light moment," Clinton said. Sometimes after a show she will be approached by a member of the audience who says, "I am a Republican but I still laughed." She laughs, "Should I congratulate them?"

According to Kate we all have the opportunity to make a difference but we need to realize that political action is sexy.

"Have you gone door to door with a friend?" She quips and continues say that we need to get out and do more then just send emails. "Moving your body around" is important, create community, have potlucks, get people together she advises starting a book club where ideas are exchanged and taken out into the world.
The creation of community is part of what Spectrum is doing in San Rafael. Their programs offer support groups for LGBTQ youth ages 14-19, GSA clubs and a new collaborative project with Youth Leadership Institute to create positive high school environments for LGBT youth.

The importance of community in creating political change is not lost on Paula Pilecki, Executive Director Spectrum LGBT Center. "We can provide support for kids who have been bullied in school; we can educate parents and guardians whose kids are gay; we can work with schools to be proactive about enforcing zero tolerance anti-bullying policies; and we can advocate for legislation that will protect all students, regardless of real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. None of these activities can stand alone; we need all of it to make a difference, and we need many voices in order to be heard", Pilecki said.
Kate will be performing on May 22 at, 1:00 PM in the Hoytt Theater, Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Tickets are available exclusively through Spectrum at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/. (415) 472-1945, ext. 209.

Reposted from Gaysonoma.com

Quinn Conklin 03 May 2011

Interfaith Freedom Seder: "The Freedom to Dream"

2011-04-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Jewish Community Relations Council presents the annual Interfaith Freedom Seder, "Freedom to Dream"

Monday, April 11, 6:30 p.m.
Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael
with Rabbi Henry Shreibman, Reconstructionist Rabbincal College and Rev. Dr. Barbara Rowe, Westminster Presbyterian Church

Download the flyer here (pdf)

We will celebrate the festival of Passover with a delicious vegetarian dinner, a gathering of old and new friends, traditional and new music by Fred Ross-Perry, Fredi Bloom and and the Interfaith Singers and we’ll hear about dreams of citizenship, marriage equality and more.

$25 adults, $20 students, $15 children 12 & under

For reservations: 415-444-8000

Questions? Contact Suzan Berns, 415-472-5128 or sberns@jcrc.org
Sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council / North Bay Region, Osher Marin JCC, Jewish Community Federation/Marin Region, Gan HaLev, Jewish Congregation of the San Geronimo Valley, Marin Interfaith Council, Congregation Rodef Sholom, Congregation Kol Shofar, Jewish Family & Children’s Services

JCRC is a beneficiary of the Jewish Community Federation

An LGBT Gathering in West Marin, 3/26

2011-03-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

Heavenly Harp with Michelle Sell
An LGBT Gathering in West Marin
Saturday, March 26, 1-3 PM
San Geronimo Valley Community Center
6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo
Includes a light lunch

Suggested donation: $5 (free for adults 60+)
RSVP to (415) 472-1945 ext. 209
or RSVP here

Join Spectrum LGBT Center for our first West Marin Event with harpist Michelle Sell. Michelle has performed with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joni Mitchell, k.d. Lang, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Krall and many more. In addition to performing original music, Michelle will share stories from her career.

All are welcome; we extend a special invitation to LGBT older adults in West Marin.

Friendly atmosphere, easy parking, heavenly music and good company!

“Seth’s Law” Proposed to Make a Safer School Environment for California Students

2011-03-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 14, 2011
Assemblymember Ammiano and LGBT Equality Organizations Co-Sponsor AB 9

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - March 14 - Today, California Assemblymember Tom Ammiano will introduce a comprehensive bill that tackles school bullying by providing California schools with specific tools to prevent and address the pervasive problem in order to create a safe school environment for all students.

AB 9, also known as “Seth’s Law,” would ensure that every school in California implements updated anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies and programs that include actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, as well as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, disability, and religion. It would also empower students and parents to know what their rights are, and how to advocate for them.

"Every day in California, many students go to school fearful of another day of harassment and intimidation with no hope of a better tomorrow," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, which is sponsoring the legislation. "Seth's Law will give all students the tools to seek the help they need to keep them safe and make sure that educators combat bullying in our schools."

AB 9 is named “Seth’s Law” in memory of Seth Walsh, a 13 year-old gay student from Tehachapi, California, who took his life in September 2010 after facing years of relentless anti-gay harassment at school that school officials effectively ignored.

“Seth was a wonderful, loving child, and I loved him for who he was. I can't bring my son back. But schools can make a difference today by taking bullying seriously when students and parents tell them about it. It’s time for change. We have to create a better schools for everyone,” said Wendy Walsh.

Schools often do not have the tools or knowledge to adequately protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and others from bullying, which remains a serious issue across California and the rest of the nation. Students, parents, and school employees often don’t know what the rules are or what to do if bullying occurs.

"As a former teacher, I know how important it is for our students to feel safe at school. Each day throughout California, LGBT youth experience harassment. I am proud to introduce this bill in honor of Seth Walsh, which will give schools the necessary tools to prevent any young person from being bullied, harassed or worse because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression,” said Assemblymember Tom Ammiano.

The bill is co-sponsored by a coalition of organizations advancing LGBT equality and justice – including the ACLU’s California Affiliates, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Gay-Straight Alliance Network.

“Public schools have tremendous power and responsibility to protect students from bullying and harassment,” said Elizabeth Gill, Staff Attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union. “Better school procedures and policies to prevent and address bullying will make a safer environment for students who are suffering, and can even save lives.”

“Bullying can have serious and tragic consequences, particularly for students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender,” said Carolyn Laub, Executive Director of Gay-Straight Alliance Network. “We must take pro-active steps to ensure that California’s schools are safe for every student. Seth’s Law will help schools protect students, and prevent and respond to bullying before a tragedy occurs.”

In a recent national survey, nine out of 10 LGBT students reported being harassed at school. The problem persists in California as well, with LGBT students reporting significant harassment. The California Safe Schools Coalition reported in 2010 that 42% of California students who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and 62% who identify as transgender reported being harassed at least once based on gender non-conformity.

What’s more, young people often face bullying and harassment based on what their peers perceive to be their sexual orientation, regardless of whether they identify as being LGBT. According to the most recent California Healthy Kids Survey 12% of 7th graders and 10% of 9th graders reported being harassed based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation.

The consequences of bullying and harassment can include falling grades, depression, and risk of suicide. LGBT youth are three times as likely to seriously consider suicide as heterosexual youth.

"No child should fear going to school, and yet that is the daily reality for thousands of California students who face relentless harassment and bullying," said National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell. "It's our responsibility to make sure schools are taking active steps to address this problem and using the tools that we know will work to create true change. It is not enough to punish students who bully. We must create a school-wide culture of inclusion and respect for difference."

Under Seth’s Law, every school district in the state would:

* Create strong and clear anti-harassment policies and programs, if they don’t have them already.
* Have a system in place to ensure that all reports of harassment are taken seriously, addressed quickly, and that parents and students understand the process of making these complaints.
* Explain the harmful impact of bullying and discrimination to students and staff.
* Provide ongoing professional development for teachers, school counselors and administrators about identifying and stopping harassment and discrimination and creating a school-wide culture of inclusion and respect for difference.

.###

Equality California is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights advocacy organization in California. Over the past decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. Equality California has passed more than 70 pieces of legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. http://www.eqca.org/

The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU-NC) is the largest affiliate of the ACLU a nationwide, nonpartisan organization with more than 550,000 members dedicated to the defense and promotion of the guarantees of individual liberty secured by state and federal Constitutions and civil rights statutes. http://www.aclunc.org/

Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network) is a national youth leadership organization that empowers youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools by training student leaders and supporting student-led Gay-Straight Alliance clubs throughout the country. In California alone, we have brought GSA clubs to 53% of public high schools, impacting more than 1.1 million students at 850 schools. GSA Network's youth advocates have played a key role in changing laws and policies that impact youth at the local and state level. GSA Network is also the founder of the Make It Better Project, which aims to stop bullying and prevent suicide. http://www.gsanetwork.org/.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. http://www.nclrrights.org/

Legal Changes and IRS Tax Filing Rules for Same-Sex Couples

2011-03-10T22:07:00.000-08:00

A free workshop presented by DLK LawGroup, PC, in association with Spectrum LGBT Center

Monday, March 14, 6-8 PM
Marin Justice Center Conference Room, 30 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael
RSVP via email to rsvp@dlklawgroup.com or call us at (415) 693-0550.

Income tax laws have changed dramatically for same-sex couples who are married and/or Registered Domestic Partners and estate and gift tax laws have changed as well.
Naomi E. Metz, of DLKLawGroupPC and Karen Stogdill, tax practitioner, will be presenting a seminar on the legal changes in effect as of January 1, 2011, including what you need to understand to comply with the new tax laws and file federal tax returns.

The seminar will cover the following topics:

1) New mandatory Federal income tax filing requirements for same-sex couples
2) Community property attributes during life and at death
3) Titling of your real property and other property
4) Protecting and providing for you and your family

MIX IT UP! LGBT Business Mixer at Sabor of Spain, 2/24

2011-02-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

Join Spectrum at our first business mixer of 2011 at Sabor of Spain in downtown San Rafael on Thursday, February 24, 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

Owner Scott Scheidt and Event Chef Jayson Valencia invite us in for a warm winter evening at Sabor of Spain Vinoteca and Alta Cucina, serving Spanish tapas and an impressive wine and beer list.

Featuring:

-Complimentary happy hour nosh, compliments of Sabor of Spain
-No-host wine and beer bar (the list for both is fabulous)
-Raffle prize drawing (bring your business card)
-No cost to attend

RSVP requested by calling (415) 472-1945 ext. 209 or click "I'm Attending" on our Facebook page.
WHY THIS MIXER? Spectrum is the North Bay's LGBT community center.
We know local businesses want to connect with the LGBT community. We also know that LGBT consumers show a very high loyalty rate to businesses that support the LGBT community.

Our goal with this event is to introduce LGBT and LGBT-friendly businesses to LGBT people who have an interest in their services. This event is not only for B2B connections; it's for the LGBT community who live and work in Marin and beyond.

Introducing our first co-sponsors of 2011:

Sabor of Spain Vinoteca and Alta Cucina Sabor's Facebook Page

Monty White Law LLP - a new Rafael-based law practice

Betty's List - Thanks to Betty for organizing her new North Bay Smart Women Business Mixers around our mixer!
Want to co-sponsor this event or donate a raffle prize (min value $25)? Call Paula at (415) 472-1945 ext. 209.
See you soon!

The $25,000 Challenge: WE DID IT!

2011-01-24T17:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks to your generous support, we raised $26,168 during our year-end giving challenge. With your help, we surpassed the $25k goal. Thank you!

On December 10th, Spectrum supporters Russ Zink and Sean Callaway issued a challenge to our community. They set a goal of raising $25,000 in year-end gifts for Spectrum, and donated the first $2,500 toward that goal. By December 31st, we were still $3,400 away from our goal, so we extended the deadline into January. Today -- just six weeks after Sean and Russ issued the challenge -- we surpassed our goal by over $1,000.

Thanks to the magic of social media and email, we didn't spend a dime on printing or postage. That means more money will go toward supporting our Youth Advocacy Project, which is promoting safer schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning middle and high school youth.

Thanks to Russ, Sean, and those of you who followed their lead in making a contribution to Spectrum. We couldn't do our work without you!

The $25,000 Challenge: Deadline Extended to January 15th, 2011

2011-01-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! If you've been following our $25,000 Year End Challenge, you know that we have just $3,400 left to raise in order to meet our goal. Thanks to Sean Callaway and Russell Zink, who called for the challenge and contributed the first $2,500 toward our goal.

Knowing that many people were away for the holidays, we are extending our deadline through January 15th, 2011. Gifts and pledges of all sizes are welcome.

You can make a donation online or by phone at (415) 472-1945, ext. 209. Or, you can donate online now.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you in 2011!

Warmly,

Paula Pilecki, Executive Director
Spectrum LGBT Center
Visit our website

Life After Loss: Grief Group Forming for LGBT Older Adults

2011-01-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

Life After Loss: A Grief Group for LGBT Older Adults
Begins Friday, January 14th

1:00 – 2:30 PM
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael, CA 94903

Facilitated by Erin Gray, Marriage and Family Therapist intern
(Sup. Nancy Gump, MFT # 25530)

To participate, call (415) 491-5700, x 2037
There is no charge to attend.

Download the flyer (pdf)

When we love and lose someone, we are overwhelmed by pain and sorrow. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, mourning the loss of a partner can encompass an additional burden if there is little or no family, or support from the community.

Perhaps you felt that some didn’t approve of your relationship. Maybe you even kept it a secret. For these reasons, it may be difficult for you to trust traditional sources of support, and could benefit from being with others who had a common experience in life.

Spectrum’s Grief Group is for older adults 60 years of age and older who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and who are grieving the loss of a significant other. The loss may be recent, or it may have been long ago.

The group will run for eight weeks beginning January 14th. Participants will be asked to commit to attending all eight sessions.

We hope you'll join us for this confidential group. If you have questions, call Erin Grey, MFTI at
(415) 491-5700, x 2037.

A Good Divorce? What the LGBTQ Community Needs to Know

2011-01-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

If you are embarking on the difficult journey of separating from your domestic partner, or divorcing your same-sex spouse, this free workshop is for you.

A GOOD DIVORCE?
What the LGBTQ Community Needs to Know

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Marin Justice Center Conference Room
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160
San Rafael, CA 94903
RSVP by January 14 to (415) 472-1945 x 209
Pilecki@spectrumLGBTcenter.org

Download event flyer (pdf)

For LGBTQ couples, divorce can be more complex and expensive, especially when children are involved. We will provide basic information about divorce and mediation process options, legal information
pertaining specifically to same-sex couples, tips on how to deal with a contentious situation, and how to talk
to children about separation and divorce.

Coordinated by Spectrum LGBT Center in conjunction with the Marin Justice Center

SPEAKERS

Suzan Barrie Aiken, JD, Collaborative Attorney & Mediator
Debra Bellings-Kee, MFT, JD, Divorce Coach and Parenting Plan Mediator
Kris Cirby, JD, Family & Children’s Law Center
Alexandria Quam Rios, Legal Self Help Services of Marin Superior Courts
Mitchell Wunsh, Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of Marin

The $25,000 Challenge: 72% and hours to go!

2010-12-30T16:34:00.000-08:00

As of today at 4 PM, Spectrum has received a total of $18,393 in gifts and pledges toward our year-end goal of $25,000. Thanks to everyone who has helped us reach our goal!

To learn more about Spectrum and the $25,000 Challenge, visit our website at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/.

Ready to make your tax-deductible gift to Spectrum? Click on the present below, which will take you to PayPal. If you wish to make your gift or pledge by phone, call (415) 472-1945, ext. 209. You may also send your check to Spectrum, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael, CA 94903. All pledges and gifts received by midnight, December 31st, will be counted toward our goal. Thank you, and Happy New Year!

The $25,000 Challenge: 64% and three days to go!

2010-12-29T07:57:00.000-08:00

Thank you! Your support will help us ring in 2011 with our new Youth Advocacy Project, which will empower LGBT youth and their allies to create safer schools and communities throughout the North Bay.

Also in store for 2011: a variety of new and continuing support, services, and activities for the LGBT community, including:

Intergenerational storytelling
Grief and loss support
Individual and family counseling
Support for parents of LGBT youth
Lunchtime gatherings for LGBT older adults
Inservice training for health and social service providers
Celebrations for LGBT people and allies

Here's how to make your year-end gift.

Thank you for standing with us. Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve Comedy Celebration with Kevin Meaney

2010-12-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

The Other Cafe Comedy Showcase's New Year's Eve Comedy Celebration
starring KEVIN MEANEY
Fun, Laughter, Easy & Relaxed - in beautiful Marin!
December 31st - 8:30 PM

Spectrum's friends at Osher Marin JCC want you to know about this special evening right here in Marin.

The Other Café Comedy Showcase Presents:
A Stand Up Comedy New Year's EVE Celebration In Marin

Say goodbye to an easy year to forget… with a spectacular comedy night to remember!

With a rare west coast appearance from comedian & star of Broadway's Hairspray and countless appearances on Jay Leno

KEVIN MEANEY!
Special guests include:
Famed comedian/juggler Michael Davis & SF Favorite Geoff Bolt and MC/host Robert Strong

Fri. Dec. 31 @ 8:30
Includes After Party & Countdown with the stars 11:15 – 12:30

NEW YEARS EVE MADE EASY
Come for the comedy~8:30
Stay for the after party~11:15 – 12:30 included with your tix

Countdown-champagne toast-desserts-fun-friends
Ample FREE parking on site and at street make this THE stress free, fun, and fabulous way to ring in 2011 with laughter and friends in beautiful Marin.

So forget the two drink minimum, bridge toll, parking fees and traffic and party with national talent right here in Marin.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS are available TO MEMBERS OF THE Other Café email list
Sign up for the discount code and get more NYE line up info at http://www.theothercafe.com/
VIP tix include champagne & reserved premier table seating

Buy Tix HERE: www.marinjcc.org
Presented in association with the Osher Marin JCC
200 N. San Pedro Rd. San Rafael
Marinjcc.org ~ 415.444.8081

The $25,000 Challenge: 60% and counting!

2010-12-27T18:17:00.000-08:00

With just four days left of Spectrum's year-end fundraising challenge, we've raised $15,600 toward our goal of $25,000.

Did you know that 30% of all gifts to charity are given during the last 48 hours of the year? It's not too late to make a tax-deductible gift, and we thank you for considering Spectrum as one of the organizations you support this year.

Stay tuned, and thank you for supporting our work.

Read more about the $25,000 year-end challenge here.

The $25,000 Challenge: 56% and counting!

2010-12-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the generous donation of new and old friends, we've raised $14,300 toward our goal of $25,000 by December 31st.

To those who celebrate the holiday, Merry Christmas! We'll be back online next Monday, December 27th.

Learn more about the $25,000 Challenge here.

The $25,000 Challenge: 52% raised with 11 days to go!

2010-12-21T15:41:00.000-08:00

We've raised a total of $13,428 in new gifts and pledges toward our $25,000 year-end goal. Thanks to all who have given! Every gift counts -- no matter how small.

Learn more about Spectrum's $25,000 Year-End Challenge here.

Thank you, one and all, for moving us closer to our year-end goal!

The $25,000 Challenge: 40% raised with 12 days to go!

2010-12-20T12:49:00.000-08:00

The $25,000 Challenge: We broke the $10k mark. $15,000 more to raise, 12 days to go. Click on the box to make your gift today, and thank you!

The $25,000 Challenge: 36% and Counting

2010-12-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

We've raised nearly $9,000 of our $25,000 year-end goal! Thank you to those who have given -- we couldn't do it without you.

You can be sure of this: after twenty-eight years, Spectrum continues to be your voice for justice on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the North Bay.

You may ask yourself: Is our work still needed, after all these years? Hasn’t the world changed? Haven’t things improved?

The answer is, yes. LGBT people have made tremendous gains toward full equality, and with the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, we've made one giant leap forward.

But you and I both know that our work is not finished.

Many people are still afraid to be out at work. Marriage equality is not entirely won, and legally married same-sex couples do not receive the federal benefits that heterosexual couples get - including those who serve in the military. Each day at school, students of all ages hear anti-gay comments. And, tragically, LGBT youth sometimes take their own lives because they just can’t take it anymore.

Your investment in Spectrum’s work ensures:

• Safety, compassion, and advocacy on behalf of LGBT youth
• Friendship, care, and support for LGBT older adults
• Visibility of LGBT people and families in the community
• Leadership in promoting safer schools and workplaces
• Advocacy on laws and policies that protect LGBT people

With your support, we will continue to make it better, right here at home. Thank you for standing with us.

Read more about the $25,000 Year-End Challenge here.

A $25,000 Year-End Challenge

2010-12-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

A $25,000 Year-End Challenge

Dear Friends,

Spectrum's work is all about standing as a beacon of light for the LGBT community in the North Bay, especially for young people who turn to Spectrum for support and guidance, and to seniors who are charting new ground for living life fully.

Russ Zink and Sean Callaway

As 2010 comes to a close, Spectrum supporters Russell Zink and Sean Callaway want to do something special to support our work. So, we've set a goal of raising $25,000 for Spectrum by December 31st. Russ and Sean have pledged a special year-end gift of $2,500 toward this goal.

Russ and Sean are inviting you to help them meet this goal any way you can. Your gift will go directly toward promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for LGBT people of all ages in the North Bay.

Help us raise $25,000 by December 31st to support Spectrum's new Youth Advocacy Project. We'll be advocating for safe schools and legislation such as the FAIR Education Act, which ensures that LGBT people are fairly and accurately included in instructional materials.

Make your year-end gift online now using PayPal

(you don't need an account to do so)

If you prefer to make a pledge or credit card contribution to Spectrum by phone, call 415-472-1945, ext. 209. Credit and debit cards, monthly pledge payments, and one-time gifts are accepted.

To send a check:
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160
San Rafael, California 94903

Because Spectrum is a non-profit organization, your gift is tax-deductible. Please consult with your tax accountant to find out what type of charitable contribution would best serve your needs.

Spectrum's Federal Tax Identification number is 94-2840016.

Thank you, and Happy Holidays!

Support group for LGBTQ Youth, December 8th

2010-12-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

The next meeting of Spectrum's support group for LGBT and questioning youth ages 14-25 will be on Wednesday, December 8th, 5:00 - 6:30 PM at Spectrum. This is a drop-in group for youth who are just coming out, or have questions about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Facilitated by Cristin Brew, MFT, the group provides a safe and supportive environment. For more information and directions to Spectrum, call Cristin Brew at (415) 472-1945, ext. 203.

This season, shop Spectrum's Amazon stores!

2010-12-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season to shop, and Spectrum has three ways for you to round out your holiday giving!

First, bookmark this page! When you click through to Amazon using the banner you see here, Spectrum will earn a percentage from the sale. It's an easy way to support your favorite LGBT Center!

Second, visit our book store, which carries hundreds of LGBT-themed books that have been donated to us over the past 28 years. There are some real finds here and most of our books are in near-perfect condition. And, after shipping costs, Spectrum keeps 100% of the profit on each book sale, which will benefit our programs and services.

Finally, shop the Spectrum aStore, which contains jewelry, clothing, housewares, dvds, cds and other gift items we've selected especially for our site.

All of our online shopping portals are maintained by our Intergenerational Volunteer Task Team. Thanks to Frances and Jourdan for your fine work on our sites.

Happy holidays, and happy shopping! Thanks for supporting Spectrum.

Make it Better, Marin

2010-10-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

Doug Williams attended public school in Marin County. In this video, he talks about how principals, superintendents, teachers, and parents can make school a better place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students.

Thanks to Lacy Atkins for volunteering her time to shoot and edit this video for us; and of course to Doug for speaking!

If you live or work in Marin County, or attend school in Marin, and would like to shoot a "Make it Better, Marin" video contact Paula Pilecki at (415) 472-1945, ext. 209.

President Obama speaks to LGBTQ Youth

2010-10-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

The White House has released this message from President Barak Obama to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Spectrum LGBT Center, along with many other organizations around the country, continues to work to make it better for all LGBTQ people right in our own community. Please join us in our work.

Support Group Forming for Marin LGBTQ Youth

2010-10-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Spectrum LGBT Center announces a new support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning young people ages 14-19. The first meeting will be on Wednesday, November 10th, 5:00 - 6:30 pm at Spectrum's offices in San Rafael.

"This group will provide a safe, supportive environment in which young people can ask questions and be themselves," says Cristin Brew, MFT, Program Director at Spectrum and facilitator of the group. "Many teens go through a period when they have questions about their sexual orientation or gender identity, and will be reluctant to speak with a parent, school counselor, or friend. This group is for them."

Parents, teachers, and school counselors are encouraged to pass the word on about this group to young people they feel would benefit from attending. Download and print the flyer here.

For more information, call Cristin Brew, MFT at (415) 472-1945, ext. 203.

October 20: Spirit Day -- Wear Purple!

2010-10-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the LGBT youth who have committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes and schools. PURPLE represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Read more here.

Rabbi Chai Levy of Congregation Kol Shofar speaks in support of gay youth

2010-10-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

Rabbi Chai Levy, Congregation Kol Shofar
Sermon on Torah portion of Noah
October 9, 2010

Noach Ish Tzadik Tamim Haya B’dorotav. “Noah was a righteous man in his generation.” (Genesis 6:9) He was relatively righteous compared to the corrupt and violent people who lived in his generation, but he wasn’t considered all that righteous…Why? He was eager to save himself and his family from the coming flood, but he wasn’t concerned with anybody else. He let the rest of the world be destroyed. He stood idly by the blood of his neighbor, as the Torah commands us in Leviticus (19:16) not to do. Noah has been described by our tradition as a “tzadik in peltz,” a righteous man in a fur coat, meaning someone who is only concerned with keeping himself warm, while others are freezing.

We’ve all heard in the last week or two about the terrible tragedies that have taken place among young people across the country - as a result of ridicule, bullying, or despair, in most cases, because the young person was thought to be gay. Tyler Clementi was the freshman at Rutgers University, the shy and talented musician who killed himself by jumping off the GW Bridge after his college roommate invaded his privacy and posted a video of him with another man on the internet. Here in California, Seth Walsh, killed himself after relentless bullying and taunting by his peers. He was 13 years old. 15 year old Billy Lucas in Indiana, and 13 year old Asher Brown in Texas also took their own lives, unable to bear the torment of bullies.

In this parasha of Noach, we consider that being truly righteous is not just taking care of ourselves, but looking out for others, not standing by while others’ blood is shed, while others are suffering, while others are being bullied.

You young people know what goes on at school, how kids are picked on, teased, tormented. Maybe you’ve been bullied yourselves. Or maybe you’ve even been the bully at times. I know I frequently heard kids use homophobic slurs that create an unsafe and isolating environment for people. For us adults, what message are we sending to kids when we allow bullying, homophobic language, when we don’t create safe spaces for kids who are struggling with their sexual identities, or with anything else for that matter? We too are standing idly by.

At the end of the portion, after the flood, after Noah and the animals are saved, and society starts over with a second chance, God says to humanity:

“Whoever sheds the blood of a person, so shall his blood be shed. For in the image of God, did God create the human.” (Gen 9:6) And the Torah commentators understand this prohibition of murder to also include a prohibition to not publicly embarrass a person. As the verse says, each person is created in the image of God, and to cause a person to feel ashamed of who they are diminishes them and diminishes the image of God. It can also lead to bloodshed, as we’ve tragically seen too often recently:

Suicide is among the top three killers of young people, and gay and lesbian kids are four times more likely to commit suicide. Last year, 9 out of 10 gay, lesbian, or transgender middle and high school students reported having experienced verbal and/or physical harassment.

The other thing that happens after the flood is that God creates a covenant with the earth, an agreement never to destroy the earth again. And the sign of the covenant is the rainbow. The rainbow is a symbol of gay pride, originating here in San Francisco in the 1970’s – the rainbow suggests the beauty of the diversity of humanity, that people come in all different colors and stripes, and all are created in God’s image.

And there’s also another interpretation of the rainbow as a symbol, found in Maimonides and other Jewish commentators over the centuries: The rainbow is a bow, like that used to shoot arrows. It’s a weapon, but it’s a sign of peace because it’s pointed away from the earth. It shines its true colors without the threat of violence or bloodshed.

This week, I signed a pledge on behalf of our Kol Shofar community on “Keshet” online, which means “rainbow” in Hebrew and is an organization that affirms a place of dignity and honor in the Jewish community for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. It’s a pledge to not stand idly by, and to commit to ending homophobic bullying and harassment and to speak out when we witness anyone being demeaned for their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s a pledge to commit ourselves to do whatever we can to ensure that every person is treated with dignity and respect.

I want to say to every young person or adult that bullying, including internet and facebook bullying, spreading rumors, threatening someone physically or emotionally is cruel, it’s wrong, it’s against Judaism, and it’s dangerous, life-threatening even. We grieve for those young people whose lives were cut short because of the pain and isolation that they felt in their schools and communities. Those who bullied them and those who did nothing to ease their pain have to live out their lives knowing the tragedy of the suffering they inflicted or ignored.

And to every young person here who might be the target of bullying, whether it’s homophobic bullying or any other kind of bullying, I want to say: you are created in the image of God. You are sacred exactly as you are. You are worthy of love, you are not alone, you have a wonderful life ahead of you, and your life will get better. If you feel alone, afraid, or hopeless, please talk to an adult you trust, a parent, a teacher, you can talk to me.

May our reading of Noach remind us to be truly righteous by concerning ourselves with those who are suffering, and may God’s rainbow covenant remind us of the beauty of God’s diverse creation, all of whom deserve to live in dignity and peace.

Spectrum welcomes blog posts from religious leaders of all faiths who wish to speak out in support of LGBT young people. Email your post here for consideration.

GroundSpark offers Streaming Videos Free Until December 1

2010-10-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

In response to the recent wave of teen suicides connected to anti-gay harassment, GroundSpark is offering four of their best documentary films for free streaming during October and November.

Their hope is that you will watch these films with your family or co-workers and make a plan to take action in your community to ensure that all youth feel safe and supported.

Use these streams as an opportunity to preview the films for your school, library, PTA, congregation, community group, or upcoming conference.

Use these films to start a dialogue with the people you care about about what’s going on in their lives and how you can help.

Let’s Get Real—about middle school name-calling, bullying, and bias

Straightlaced—How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up—how teens are confronting our culture’s ideas of “male” and “female”

It’s Elementary—Talking About Gay Issues in School—shows teachers addressing bias in K-8 classrooms

It’s STILL Elementary—a new call to action

Sign up to stream these films here.

National Coming Out Day Focuses on Youth Suicides (News Story)

2010-10-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

Spectrum, officials draw attention to bullying, teens.
from San Rafael Patch
By Nancy Isles Nation
October 11, 2010

The Spectrum LGBT Center held a rally Monday to celebrate National Coming Out Day with a focus on young people and the bullying that has caused teens to commit suicide across the country.

Paula Pilecki, Spectrum executive director, read the names and circumstances of recent suicide victims who killed themselves after bullying.

"Gay kids are not the only ones to take their lives to suicide but they are three times more likely to," Pilecki said. "Gay teens have been struggling for quite a while."

Pilecki said she hopes to reach young people from throughout the county.

"It's time for us to come out of the closet and stand together," Pilecki said at the rally on the steps of San Rafael City Hall.

Mary Jane Burke, superintendent of Marin County schools, said it is time for everyone regardless of sexual orientation to be treated with dignity.

She said young people should be looking at dreams and toward their futures.

Vice Mayor Damon Connolly said he has two daughters at Terra Linda High and he has been talking with them about a recent suicide at their school and Proposition 8, the ban on gay marriage in California.

"There's a ray of hope here," Connolly said. We are seeing young people here and their generation gets it."

Connolly referred to two recent suicides at Terra Linda High School and Miller Creek Middle School, saying this is a problem on a larger level.

The Terra Linda incident involved a 15-year-old girl. Monday, the body of a 13-year-old Miller Creek Middle School was found by another child. Neither appeared to be related to sexual orientation but they were both reminders of the vulnerability of teenagers.

"We need to teach the right values and prevent bullying," Connolly said.

Spectrum LGBT Center marks National Coming Out Day with Call to Action

2010-10-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

Marin County rallies to raise awareness about anti-gay bullying and teen suicide

SAN RAFAEL, CA -- In response to the tragic suicides by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in recent weeks, Spectrum LGBT Center has issued a call to action for Marin County residents: Come out and let our youth know they are not alone.

The rally will take place on Monday, October 11th, 6:00 – 7:00 PM on the steps of San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue (between C and D Streets). The event will feature musical performances, guest speakers, and a special open mic time for youth.

The Marin rally is among thousands of national actions that will occur on October 11th, known as National Coming Out Day, which began after half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 11th, 1987.

Paula Pilecki, Spectrum’s Executive Director, says this year it’s especially important to gather together on Coming Out Day. “LGBT young people need to see that they are not alone, and that there are people who will stand with them, support them, and love them unconditionally,” says Pilecki. “We call on parents, educators, faith communities, and the community at large to speak out openly in support of our young people, and against anti-gay bullying and the violence it ultimately causes.”

According to a study conducted by the California Safe Schools Coalition, harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation is pervasive throughout middle and high schools. These students typically feel less supported than their peers by adults, teachers, and other students, and have fewer resources for coping with problems. As a result, they are more likely to experience poor academic outcomes, substance use, depression and suicide.

It is common for middle and high school students to hear anti-gay slurs between 10 and 20 times a day while they are in school. According to Pilecki, this requires significant attention from teachers and administrators who will proactively enforce zero-tolerance policies toward bullying for any reason.

Anti-gay comments are often dismissed as harmless behavior by school personnel. They fail to realize the profoundly negative effect these comments have on students who may be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity. And, failure to address aggression toward one segment of the student population creates an unsafe learning environment for all students.”

One of the most effective ways to address this situation is to create learning environments where all young people feel safe and respected. Spectrum has created a training program that assists teachers and administrators to do just that.

“We help teachers figure out how to incorporate age-appropriate conversations about LGBT issues in the classroom, and how to talk with students about the impact of anti-gay remarks and slurs against each other,” says Pilecki.

Spectrum also manages a volunteer speakers bureau that reaches nearly 3,000 students each year. The purpose of these classroom presentations is to give students an opportunity to meet someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, a tactic that has been proven to reduce anti-gay sentiment and reduce negative stereotyping.

“All young people desperately need compassion and understanding from the adults in their lives”, says Pilecki. “We can make it better for them. Let’s not let them down.”

EVENT INFORMATION
MARIN COUNTY CALL TO ACTION:
Come out together and make it better for all youth on National Coming Out Day

*Stand against teen suicide
*Support LGBT youth
*Create safer schools and communities for everyone

Organized by Spectrum LGBT Center, with production assistance from Shelley Champine, Local Music Vibe

Monday, October 11th, 6:00 – 7:00 PM
San Rafael City Hall, 1400 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael
Music performances by Shelley Doty, with Green and Root

About Shelley Doty: Labeled "a future legend" by one reviewer and a "guitar goddess" by another, Shelley Doty is considered one the best independent performers in the business. Watching her perform is awe-inspiring due to her masterful guitar licks, soulful voice and charismatic stage presence. As a songwriter, she creates articulate songs for today by sprinkling them with respect for the music of her youth (rock, R&B, jazz, funk). Her brand new CD "Over The Line" is now out and available via CD Baby.

About Green and Root: Their music is an intimate yet spirited mix of folk, pop and rock, with acoustic guitar based songs, dazzling harmonies and award winning songs. Their first music video for their song "Marrying You" is on the front page of www.outofthecloset.tv/music and had over 1000 downloads in one week alone. The song is also being used as the theme for a documentary film seen on QTV.

Speakers (partial listing):

Cristin Brew, Spectrum LGBT Center
Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of Schools
Lilia Chavez, Youth Leadership Institute
Damon Connolly, San Rafael City Council
Rev. Carol Hovis, Marin Interfaith Council
Rabbi Chai Levy, Congregation Kol Shofar
Maureen Sedonaen, Youth Leadership Institute
Fresh! White, Whole Life Coach
Cynthia Wuthmann, Parent and Board Member, San Rafael Public Education Foundation

Community Co-Sponsors (partial and growing list):
Community Congregational Church of Tiburon-Belvedere
Community Healing Centers, Counseling and Psychotherapy
Community Institute for Psychotherapy
Epochalips.com - Lesbians & Allies
Local Music Vibe
Marin Peace and Justice Coalition
Youth Leadership Institute

MARIN COUNTY RALLY TO MAKE IT BETTER - OCT. 11

2010-10-08T04:57:00.000-07:00

Come out in Marin on October 11th to make it better for ALL youth

October 11th is National Coming Out Day. Let’s rally together to:

*Support LGBT youth*

*Raise awareness about teen suicide*

*Build communities and schools that are safe for all our youth and families*

Gather with us on the steps of San Rafael City Hall

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11th, 6-7 PM

San Rafael City Hall Plaza – 1400 Fifth Avenue (between C and D Streets)

Music TBA

Confirmed Speakers (partial listing):

Mary Jane Burke, Superintendent, Marin County Office of Education

Damon Connolly, San Rafael City Councilmember

Paula Pilecki, Spectrum LGBT Center
Maureen Sedonaen, Youth Leadership Institute

Community Co-Sponsors: Local Music Vibe

Organized by Spectrum LGBT Center

Complete this form to have your organization listed as a community co-sponsor.

LGBTQ Seniors the focus of City Visions Radio Show -- 10/4

2010-10-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

Spectrum's Executive Director Paula Pilecki, and Spectrum volunteer Thom Anderson, will be among the guests on City Visions Radio, KALW 9.1 on Monday, October 4th, 7-8 PM.

The topic is LGBTQ Seniors, a population more likely than their heterosexual peers to be living in isolation and poverty, and encounter discrimination. What issues do LGBTQ elders and aging baby boomers face? How can the Bay Area community help keep our LGBTQ seniors safe and out of the closet? How and who best to navigate their needs and build cultural competency across organizations?

Other guests include Seth Kilburn, Executive Director of openhouse, and Daniel Redman, Elder Law Attorney at National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Join us to explore these issues and more on City Visions on Monday, October 4th, at 7:00p.m. on 91.7, KALW, San Francisco. KALW is San Francisco's local public radio station.

Click here to listen live.

Call in with questions or comments during the show at (415) 841-4133 or email feedback@citivisionsradio.com anytime.

Stand Up to Youth Suicide: Rally in San Francisco October 8

2010-09-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

GSA NETWORK is co-sponsoring this Rally and March to Focus on LGBT Youth Suicide and Homelessness on Friday, Oct. 8th.

Being young and gay in much of the United States too often results in homelessness or suicide. A rally and candlelight march in San Francisco on Friday, October 8, is planned to bring awareness to what some have called an epidemic.

The rally at Civic Center will begin at 6:30 pm, followed by a candlelight march to Harvey Milk Plaza at 7:30.

The event is being organized by:

Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, and will features speakers from The Trevor Project, Soulforce, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Equality California, Affirmation, and several of the people appearing in the recent documentary film "8: The Mormon Proposition," according to Robert Moore, Director of Outreach and Advocacy for Affirmation.

Governor Schwarzenegger: Sign the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act (SB 543)

2010-09-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old from Tehachapi, California, died on September 28th after he hung himself nine days before because of years of bullying he endured for being perceived as being gay, according to his peers. This is the sixth teen suicide we’ve seen in the past month that is closely linked to anti-gay bullying and harassment.

We have to prevent future tragedies by strengthening our efforts in schools to address bullying no matter what the reason.

Governor Schwarzenegger can also do his part to help prevent future tragedies by signing a bill this week that would enable countless at-risk youth to access mental healthcare services and to receive the support and care they need to thrive.

The Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act (SB 543) would expand access to essential mental health services, especially prevention and early intervention programs, for youth ages 12-17 by allowing them to obtain counseling without parental consent. The bill is currently on the governor’s desk. SB 543 was introduced by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and is co-sponsored by Equality California, the National Association of Social Workers California Chapter, Mental Health America of Northern California, and the GSA network.

We call on Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act (SB 543). This law would give youth, like Seth Walsh, access to life-saving mental health services before it’s too late.

The Governor can be reached by phone at 916-445-2841. Tell him you want him to sign SB 543, the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act.

BODY COUNT AT SIX

2010-09-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

School has been in session for only a month, and already the news this week carries the sad stories of six gay kids who have killed themselves in the face of outrageous and unrelenting taunting. We each need to take an aggressive stand to stop this bullying today.

Seth Walsh, 13 y.o., dies today after hanging himself in a tree, when he couldn't handle the nonstop, anti-gay bullying at his middle school in Tehachapi, CA.

Asher Brown, 13 y.o., killed himself with a 9mm Beretta in Texas last week after enduring what has been described as constant, anti-gay harassment at his middle school.

Tyler Clementi, 18 y.o., plunges to his death in the Hudson River last week after his roommate at Rutgers University secretly films him having sex with another guy, and streams it on the Internet.

Justin Aaberg, 15 y.o., kills himself in Anoka, MN, in July, after bullying at his high school, compounded with a recent breakup.

Billy Lucas, 15 y.o., was perceived to be gay by students at Greensburg High School, was called a "fag" and told that he didn't "deserve to live". Two weeks ago, he went into his barn at their home in Indiana and hung himself.

Eric Mohat, 17 y.o., of Mentor, OH was harassed so mercilessly in high school that when one bully said publicly in class, "Why don't you go home and shoot yourself, no one will miss you," he did, earlier this year.

--Chris Kryzan

******************
Chris Kryzan volunteers for Spectrum's Speakers Bureau, which reaches nearly 3,000 students in Marin County schools each year. The goal of the Speakers Bureau is to create safe and inclusive classrooms for all students by shattering stereotypes about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Volunteer speakers share their personal stories and challenge students to avoid language and actions that promote bigotry, discrimination, and violence against other students. For more information, visit www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the LGBT Community: A Workshop for Service Providers

2010-09-29T09:26:00.001-07:00

Saturday, November 13
10 am - Noon
Spectrum LGBT Center
Cost: $20; $40 for continuing education credits*
RSVP to Cristin Brew, MFT, (415) 472-1945, ext. 203 or register now.

Presented by Spectrum LGBT Center, with guest speakers from Community Violence Solutions and the Center for Domestic Peace (formerly Marin Abused Women Services).

Domestic violence is not unique to the heterosexual community and in fact occurs at approximately the same rate in LGBT communities. Domestic violence can occur between intimate partners, in the home or in families and LGBT people (especially youth) are at a greater risk of experiencing violence in the home. LGBT victims of domestic violence or sexual assault face the same issues as any other survivor and also face unique challenges due to societal homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism.

This workshop provides an overview of issues related to domestic violence and sexual assault in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Learning Objectives: • Describe the dynamics within abusive same sex relationships • Cite similarities and differences between heterosexual and LGBT domestic violence and sexual assault • Recognize barriers to addressing LGBT domestic violence and sexual assault • Strengthen assessment and intervention skills in work with LGBT survivors and aggressors

About the instructor: Cristin Brew, MFT has been working with the LGBT population for the past ten years at Spectrum. Cristin received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and also has a degree in Early Childhood Education.

*All courses meet the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Provider number 4598. CE contact hours: Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP15508, for 2 contact hours.

Janie Spahr found guilty of misconduct by the Presbytery of the Redwoods

2010-08-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Today, a panel of Presbyterian commissioners ruled that Spectrum founder Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr acted "contrary to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)" when she legally married same-sex couples in California in 2008.

However, the panel also called upon the church "to reexamine our own fear and ignorance that continues to reject the inclusiveness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We say this believing that we have in our own Book of Order conflicting and even contradictory rules and regulations that are against the Gospel."

For her actions, Rev. Spahr received an official rebuke from the church, and ordered not to continue with such conduct in the future.

The text of the entire ruling can be found here.

San Francisco’s New Leaf Services for our Community to Close Oct. 15

2010-08-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

We at Spectrum are saddened to hear about the difficult decision made by New Leaf’s Board of Directors to close the venerable 35-year-old agency. Increasing expenses, decreasing revenue and the worst economic environment in more than 70 years has made it impossible for the mental health and substance abuse treatment provider to continue serving its clients.

We understand that New Leaf's leadership team is working closely with the City of San Francisco and sister LGBT agencies to ensure that the needs of these clients will continue to be addressed after the agency’s closing on October 15th, 2010.

Here in the North Bay, Spectrum provides a modest counseling program which includes sliding-scale individual counseling services, as well as therapeutic group support services. We also partner with several community agencies in Marin and Sonoma who accept referrals from us.

Those affected by New Leaf’s closure, and who live in the North Bay counties of Marin, Sonoma, or Napa may contact Cristin Brew, MFT, Spectrum’s Program Director, at (415) 472-1945, ext. 203.

To our colleagues at New Leaf, we say thank you for your years of dedicated service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of the Bay Area. You will be missed.

Paula Pilecki, Executive Director
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 472-1945
http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/

Spectrum founder Janie Spahr on trial again for marrying same-sex couples

2010-08-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

The Redwoods Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has charged Rev. Spahr for officiating at the marriages of committed same-gender couples during the period in which the State of California legally recognized these marriages, June 17, 2008 through November 3, 2008. The constitution of the P.C. (U.S.A.) mandates inclusion within the life of the church and has no express prohibition against same-gender marriage.

The trial will take place beginning August 24, 2010 and will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1226 Salvador Avenue, Napa, CA.

For more information, visit the trial Facebook page.

Gender Spectrum Family and Teen Conference, Berkeley, Labor Day Weekend

2010-08-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

Gender Spectrum Family and Teen Conference
Co-sponsored by GSA Network
September 3 - 6, 2010 -- Berkeley, CA
To learn more or register, please visit http://www.genderspectrum.org/ or call 877-809-4159.

Teen Conference: $25
Individual Family Conference: $175
Family Tickets $325
Scholarships Available!

Come join other transgender, gender bending, gender nonconforming teens, children and families for three days of celebrating individuality, making friends, and having fun.

Meet other trans and genderqueer teens and adults, hang out, and explore topics on gender: workshops about school, medical and legal issues, privacy and much more!

NCLR and Spectrum Tea Dance, 8/22

2010-08-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Don't let summer escape without enjoying the company of your favorite people. Spectrum LGBT Center and NCLR are hosting a Tea Dance on Sunday, August 22, 4:00 - 7:00 PM at The Pleasure is Mine Restaurant @Harbor Point, 475 East Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley. Enjoy lovely vistas of Strawberry Point and San Francisco Bay from the deck and dance to the tunes of DJ Dana Jae.

Our favorite local hero Kate Kendell will be on hand to share her thoughts on the recent Ninth Circuit Court Ruling on keeping the marriage stay in place. Spectrum's Executive Director Paula Pilecki will talk about how you can get involved with your local LGBT community center and make a difference, and give you a sneak preview of upcoming events.

$20 admission includes valet parking and hors d’oeuvres. No-host full bar.

For more information and to RSVP, please call Eleanor Palacios at 415.365.1309 or email epalacios@nclrights.org.

What the Ninth Circuit Ruling Means for Same-Sex Couples Who Want to Get Married

2010-08-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

From NCLR

(San Francisco, CA, August 16, 2010) — Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Proposition 8 proponents’ motion to stay U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision, which means that same-sex couples in California will not be able to marry while the case is on appeal. However, the Ninth Circuit put the appeal on a fast track and specifically directed the Prop 8 proponents to address “why the appeal should not be dismissed for lack of Article III standing” in their opening brief. That means that the Court will consider whether the decision can be appealed at the same time that it is considering whether Judge Walker’s decision that Prop 8 violates the federal constitutional is legally correct.
All the briefing must be completed by November 1, 2010 and the oral argument will take place the week of December 6, 2010.

Proponents’ opening brief is due September 17. The plaintiffs’ opposing brief is due October 18. The proponents’ reply brief is due November 1.

The Ninth Circuit is not required to issue its decision within any particular time frame after oral argument; however, when an appeal is expedited, the Court tends to issue decisions more quickly. That said, it is still likely to take at least a few weeks or months after the oral argument in December for the Court to issue a decision.

Once the Ninth Circuit rules, the losing side can ask the United States Supreme Court to hear the case. The Supreme Court then has discretion to take the case or to let the Ninth Circuit’s decision stand.

Working With Transgender Clients: A Workshop for Mental Health and Social Service Providers

2010-08-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 18
12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael

$20 per person
$85 for Continuing Education Credit (for MFTs, LCSWs & nurses)*

RSVP to Cristin Brew, MFT, (415) 472-1945, ext. 203
or register online here

Light lunch will be provided

While transgender people have been around for as long as people have been existed, the term “transgender” is relatively new and our social dialogue about gender identity is just beginning. This seminar provides an overview of clinical issues in working with transgender clients. Participants will learn relevant terminology, best practices, and hear from guest speakers. Join us in a safe environment to learn more about gender identity, gender variance, transsexuals, cross dressing, drag performance, intersex people, and more. Segments of the film Diagnosing Difference will be viewed and discussed.

Training objectives:

Providers will have the opportunity to examine their own experience and understanding of gender.
Providers will have an increased understanding of the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity and will learn about various transgender identities.
Providers will have greater knowledge of the barriers that transgender clients face in accessing services and how transphobia impacts mental health.
Providers will have greater knowledge of resource and referral information for transgender clients.

*All courses meet the qualifications for 4 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Provider number 4598. CE contact hours: Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP15508, for 4 contact hours.

BREAKING NEWS: Federal Judge Rules Prop 8 UNCONSTITUTIONAL

2010-08-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

August 4, 2010

Today in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, a federal lawsuit challenging California's Proposition 8, Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco ruled that Proposition 8 violates the United States Constitution's guarantees of due process and equal protection of the laws.

With his decision, Judge Walker has upheld the right of equality for same-sex couples under the U.S. Constitution. The ruling reflects the growing consensus in courtrooms and legislatures across the country, and around the world, that there is no good reason to exclude same-sex couples from marriage.

Marriage equality opponents built their case on discriminatory, fear-mongering arguments, and have tried over and over again to frame same-sex marriage as detrimental to our society. Judge Walker ruled that there is no substance to these or any other arguments from those who wish to deny equality to same-sex couples.

Even as this decision is a victory for same-sex couples in California, 44 states continue to deny same-sex couples the freedom to marry, and federal marriage discrimination persists. We must continue to work toward eliminating the unfairness of both state and federal laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying. Today's ruling by Judge Walker powerfully confirms the growing consensus that same-sex couples deserve basic fairness.

IF YOU LIVE IN MARIN: Join Spectrum at Jason's Restaurant, 300 Drake's Landing, Greenbrae tonight (Wednesday, August 4, 6:00 PM and raise a glass to equality!

For other events around the Bay Area: http://equalityevents.ning.com/

Let Freedom Ring!

Paula Pilecki, Executive Director
Spectrum LGBT Center
www.spectrumLGBTcenter.org

Help Us Make History Wednesday - Join Your Local Day of Decision Gathering

2010-08-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

Marriage Equality Supporters,

Judge Walker will issue his decision in the Federal Prop 8 case on Wednesday, August 3, 2010 between 1-3pm. The decision will be posted at www.cand.uscourts.gov and on our home page at www.marriageequality.org and you can watch the decision being read by an actor playing Judge Walker at marriagetrial.com.

Then, plan on joining the local community gathering near you to celebrate (hopefully) and organize our next steps on our journey to justice. Let's turn out for love, justice and equality for all - bring your family, bring your friends - be counted!

Below is the current list of over 30 organized events. If your location isn't currently listed and you'd like to organize an event, post it at www.prop8decision.com and contact us a media@marriageequality.org.

And to support Marriage Equality USA with grassroots organizing, like these Day of Decision rallies, please become a member or donate to our organization at http://www.marriageequality.org/join-now

Federal Prop 8 Trial Day of Decision Events

Below is our current list for Day of Decision events. For the latest information, go to the Day of Decision website (www.prop8decision.com)

In California:

Contra Costa County – Concord at Todos Santos Plaza at Willow Pass and Grant at 6PM. Contact ca-contracosta@marriageequality.org.

Contra Costa County – Martinez at the County Clerk’s Office at 822 Main Street at 6PM. Contact ca-contracosta@marriageequality.org.

Contra Costa County – Pittsburg at Community Presbyterian Church at 200 E. Leland Road at 7pm. Contact ca-contracosta@marriageequality.org.

Contra Costa County – Richmond at City Hall at 450 Civic Center Plaza at 6PM. Contact ca-contracosta@marriageequality.org.

Contra Costa County – Walnut Creek at City Hall on 1666 North Main Street at 6PM. Contact ca-contracosta@marriageequality.org.

Fresno County – City Hall at 2600 Fresno Street at 7:30pm. Contact ca-fresno@marriageequality.org.

Kern County – Bakersfield at the Outback corner of Stockdale and Village at 5pm. Contact ca-kern@marriageequality.org

Los Angeles County at 647 N. San Vincente Blvd, West Hollywood from 6-8pm.

Los Angeles County at Olivera Street Plaza, 845 N. Alameda Street in LA; a candlelight vigil from 8-10pm.

Mendocino County – Ukiah at Alex Thomas Plaza at 6 PM. Contact ca-mendocino@marriageequality.org

Orange County - Santa Ana at Sasscer Park at 7 PM

Riverside County – Palm Springs at the County Courthouse at 7 PM.

Riverside County/San Bernardino County - Rancho Cucamonga at Day Creek and Foothill Blvd, 6 PM

Sacramento County – Sacramento County – Two hours after the decision is released; a Sacramento press conference at the LGBT Center at 1927 L Street (off 20th Street). Contact ca-sacramento@marriageequality.org

Sacramento County – 6pm at McMartin Realty at 2031 K Street (corner of 21st Street). Contact ca-sacramento@marriageequality.org

Solano County on the Vallejo Waterfront at the Ferry Terminal at Mare Island Way and Georgia Street at 5:30-7 PM.

Sonoma County - 7:30pm, Santa Rosa City Hall at 100 Santa Rosa Ave. in Santa Rosa. Contact ca-sonoma@marriageequality.org

San Diego County – Gather at 6pm at 6th & University, march to The Center at 3909 Centre Street for a Town Hall from 7-8pm.

San Francisco County – San Francisco starting at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro at 5PM and ending with a march to Civic Center Plaza for a rally at 6:45PM. Contact media@marriageequality.org.

San Luis Obispo County at the Mission Plaza Amphitheater at 5:30pm. Contact ca-sanluisobispo@marriageequality.org.

San Mateo County/Mid-San Francisco Peninsula at the corner of 5th and El Camino Real in San Mateo from 6-8pm. Contact ca-sanmateo@marriageequality.org.

Santa Barbara County at Jill's Place, 632 Santa Barbara St at 7pm. Contact ca-santabarabara@marriageequality.org.

Santa Clara County - Mountain View CalTrain Station and City Hall at 6PM. Contact ca-santaclara@marriageequality.org.

Santa Clara County – San Jose at the Billy De Frank Community Center at 938 The Alameda at 6 PM. Contact ca-santaclara@marriageequality.org.

Tulare – Kings Counties- Porterville on sidewalk in front of SaveMart at Henderson and Port at 5PM. Contact ca-tulare@marriageequality.org.

Outside California:
Arizona – Cesar Chavez Plaza, Phoenix from 5:30-8pm. Contact events@equalityevents.ning.com

Colorado – Boulder County at 6:30pm at the Boulder Pride House (2132 14th Street, Bouder).

Colorado – Denver at the Colorado State Capitol Building at 6 PM. Contact colorado@marriageequality.org.

Texas – Austin at City Hall at 5:30 PM.

Texas – Dallas at the Center Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn at 6 PM.

Texas – Denton at Courthouse Square at 5 PM.

Texas – Houston at City Hall at 5:30 PM.

Texas – San Antonio at City Hall at 6:30 PM.

Sonoma County Defendants to Pay Clay Greene

2010-07-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

Sonoma County Defendants to Pay Clay Greene over $650,000 to Settle Case in Which County Forcefully Separated Greene from his Partner of 20 Years

From NCLR's website (http://www.nclrights.org/)

(San Francisco, CA, July 23, 2010) —Late yesterday evening, Clay Greene and the estate of Harold Scull, Greene's deceased partner of 20 years, reached a settlement resolving their lawsuit against the County of Sonoma (“County”) and other defendants.

Greene and Scull’s estate will receive well over a half a million dollars—a total of $653,000—to compensate for the damages the couple suffered due to the County’s discriminatory and unlawful conduct. The County has agreed to pay $600,000, with a smaller payment by defendant Agua Caliente Villa of $53,000.

What Clay and Harold lost can never be replaced, but this settlement brings a measure of justice to their story," said Amy Todd-Gher, Senior Staff Attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which represented Greene with The Law Office of Anne M. Dennis and Stephen O'Neill and Margaret Flynn of Tarkington, O'Neill, Barrack & Chong. "This victory sends an unmistakable message that all elders must be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their sexual orientation, and that those who mistreat elders must be held accountable. Even as we celebrate this victory, however, we are deeply troubled that the County of Sonoma continues to refuse to take responsibility for their egregious misconduct and violations of the law in this case. We urge every citizen of Sonoma County to demand more oversight of the Public Guardian’s office. They need to be watched."

Greene and Scull lived together for 20 years and had executed both mutual powers of attorney for medical and financial decisions and wills naming each other as beneficiaries. In April 2008, County employees separated the couple after Scull fell outside their shared home. In the next three months, County officials ignored the couple’s legal documentation, unlawfully auctioned their possessions, terminated their lease, and forced Greene into an assisted living facility against his will. The County did not consult Greene in Scull's medical care and prevented the two from seeing one another. In August, 2008, before the partners could be reunited, Scull passed away after completing a photo album of the couple’s life for Greene.

In August, 2009, Greene and the representative of Scull’s estate, the couple’s longtime friend Janette Biggerstaff, filed a lawsuit alleging elder abuse, elder financial abuse, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, and other claims.

In addition to agreeing to pay a substantial sum, as a result of the lawsuit, the County has changed or modified a number of important policies in its Public Guardian’s Office, including requiring County employees to follow protocols before seizing private property, preventing County employees from relocating elders or others against their will, and prohibiting County employees from backdating information in their guardianship database.

“This settlement will allow Mr. Greene to finally have the quiet retirement he deserves,” said Anne Dennis, one of Greene’s attorneys. “Although nothing can undo the harm to these gentlemen, we believe the changes made because of the lawsuit will improve services to elders and other individuals who need the assistance of the Sonoma County Public Guardian’s Office.”

Plaintiff Jannette Biggerstaff , the executor of Scull's estate and a longtime friend of the couple, added: "There is no possible justification for what happened to my friends Harold and Clay, and I still feel outraged and heartbroken that they suffered such a terrible tragedy, which was made worse by the county spreading such terrible lies about Clay," she said. "But I am pleased that their rights have been vindicated, and I'm hopeful that their story will help to prevent this from happening to other vulnerable people."

Spectrum is hiring!

2010-07-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

Senior Program Director (part time). Learn more here.

LGBT Pride on the Fourth – Sonoma Style

2010-07-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

As LGBT* people, we often refer to other LGBT people as “our community;” a cozy notion that enables us to stand our ground and apply the safety-in-numbers line of defense. For those of us who are community elders (who knew LGBT people got old?), we see a continuum of life that tells a history of changes, while acknowledging that we’re still not considered first class citizens. Our generation has proven ourselves to be resilient and adaptable. That doesn’t mean we don’t all carry our own wounds; but it does mean that we have, and continue to have, productive, creative, lives.

Of course we all play our many and various roles in the larger communities of our towns and cities. And at no time of year is community more prominent than on the 4th of July. Known for its scrubbed, clean images, this iconic holiday promotes the American story in shades of red, white and blue.

This past 4th holiday, in the City of Sonoma, several members of the Spectrum group, LGBT Seniors Getting Together in Sonoma, decided to march in the local parade. A big decision, really. The Sonoma parade, on the fourth, is a funky affair that travels around the 175 year-old Plaza to the cheers of the many citizens lining the streets. We were in a purple pick-up truck, with Pride flags flying; Gary was driving, Sally and Joan sat on the tail gate, legs swinging, as Buz and Art walked (often running) along side the truck, handing out purple and green beads.

It was a moment when we moved from “our community” to the larger community. As Buz said, we were “stepping up and stepping out.” A doctor came over to us to say she’d like to refer her LGBT patients to our group; a teenage girl asked if she could carry one of our signs because she wanted to support us. There were waves, cheers, and thumbs up. There were also, I have to admit, blank stares and disinterest; but no overly ripe fruit projectiles.

Having everyone in town looking at you, just as you’re shouting, I’m gay!, can make a guy wish he’d stayed home, arranging flowers. We all had our version of dread and sudden thoughts of retreat; however, for our small group, it was cleansing that left us feeling proud and shame-free.

*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender.

Gary Shepard (pictured above) is Spectrum’s Senior Outreach Coordinator in Sonoma County. You can reach him at gary@spectrumLGBTcenter.org or at 707-583-2330 (message line).

Prop 8 Love Stories

2010-07-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

Life, Love and Discrimination...

Actors age 10 to 17 years old interviewed 8 couples (3 mixed- and 5 same-gender) on LIFE, LOVE, and DISCRIMINATION. Now watch these young actors portray the couples (and families) word for word (with innovative, gender-blind casting!) in the most potent, moving, hilarious theatre you’ve seen! San Francisco’s own Phyllis Lyon is one of the interviewees.

Tickets can be purchased by phone at 345-7575 or online at www.fortmason.org/boxoffice.

Find out more at 8lovestories.blogspot.com.

Sunday, July 11, 8pm

NorthSide Theater
Fort Mason Center, Bldg D, 3rd Floor
San Francisco

Tea Dance with NCLR & Spectrum LGBT Center

2010-07-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Spectrum LGBT Center and NCLR are teaming up to bring our mutual North Bay friends together for a fun afternoon on the Bay.

Enjoy spectacular views, catch up with friends old and new, dance the afternoon away, and hear from Kate Kendell and Spectrum Executive Director Paula Pilecki about what NCLR and Spectrum have in store for the rest of the year.

Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Pleasure is Mine Restaurant
Harbor Point Racquet Club
475 East Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley
Admission - $20.00

Dance to the sounds of DJ Donna Jae. Admission includes hors d’oeuvres and no host bar.

For more information and to RSVP, please call Eleanor Palacios at 415.365.1309 or email epalacios@nclrights.org.

Faces of Spectrum / Las Caras de Spectrum

2010-06-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

Faces of Spectrum is a project designed to raise the visibility of LGBT community members and their straight allies in the North Bay.

Spectrum LGBT Center would like to thank the volunteers that have been instrumental in making this project a reality. Thank you to Wade for being the first Face of Spectrum and allowing us to share his story, to Nik Wilhelm for graciously taking some amazing photos, to Becks Hawkins of Dirty Hippie Feet Design for generously giving us brilliant graphic design and artwork, and Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne, PhD for her translation services.

Faces of Spectrum in English and Spanish!

Be on the lookout for the Faces of Spectrum around the North Bay!

Golden Gate Ferry adds extra service for the Pride Parade/Celebration

2010-06-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

Ply the Bay Aboard GOLDEN GATE LARKSPUR FERRY to the 40th Annual San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade takes place on Saturday, June 26 (noon to 6 pm) and Sunday, June 27, 2010 (noon to 7 pm) at the Civic Center, San Francisco. This year's theme is "40 AND FABULOUS."

On Sunday, June 27, the Pride Parade takes place on Market Street, starting at 10:30 am and ending at the Civic Center celebration area. The San Francisco Pride Celebration is packed with a wide variety of exhibitors, artists, music of all kinds, performers, dance stages and venues, and fun. There really is something for everyone. Admission is free.

GOLDEN GATE LARKSPUR FERRY – ONE ADDED TRIP - SUNDAY, JUNE 27 only
One Larkspur-San Francisco ferry trip will be added to depart the Larkspur Ferry Terminal at 8:45 am and arrive at the San Francisco Ferry Terminal, behind the Ferry Building at 9:35 am. The Larkspur Terminal is located at 101 East Sir Francis Drake, Larkspur.

More info: http://goldengate.org/news/ferry/prideferry.php

LGBT Business Mixer in Marin - June 29th

2010-06-21T23:57:00.000-07:00

Connect with other LGBT business owners at Spectrum's Business Mixer on Tuesday, June 29th, 5:30 - 7:00 PM. Find out about forming a professional network for LGBT business owners right here in Marin County. Enjoy a no-host bar, and light appetizers compliments of Dan Miller, owner of the Panama Hotel. $5.00 at the door.

For more information, contact Paula Pilecki at (415) 472-1945, ext. 209.

Caregivers: A free film and discussion

2010-06-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

A free workshop especially for LGBT caregivers, or caregivers of an LGBT person.

Two dates and locations:
Monday, June 21, 10:30 am - 12:00 noon
San Geronimo Valley Community Center
6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Geronimo
(includes lunch after the film)

Saturday, June 26, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
The Redwoods
40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
Refreshments provided

-Featuring the film CAREGIVERS, an HBO documentary telling the story of five caregivers

-Discussion with Deanna Randall, Family Care Specialist at Alzheimer's Association, Northern CA Chapter, who will answer your questions about caring for a friend or loved one who is experiencing memory loss

-Resource materials from other Bay Area agencies that provide services for caregivers.

RSVP to Lynne Teismann at Spectrum - (415) 472-1945 ext. 202.

An Open Conversation with 5th Graders

2010-06-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

On June 3rd, I had the privilege of working with four classes of 5th grade students at one of the San Rafael elementary schools. Standing in front of a sea of 10 and 11 year olds is beyond intimidating. After about five minutes of nerves at the beginning of each class, I relaxed into the brilliance of talking with them for an hour. These kids were amazing.

I had two phenomenal volunteer speakers with me from Spectrum’s Speakers Bureau program. One speaker told of his experience being the 5th grader that teased other presumably gay boys and growing up to be the "out" high schooler who was teased on a daily basis because he was gay. The other speaker told of her experience having been born and raised male, joining the Marine Corps, and eventually transitioning to female. Can any of you imagine being in 5th grade and having someone stand in front of you and say, "I was born a boy, but now I’m a girl?" Or, having someone stand in front of you and say, "I will never be able to take back the pain I caused some of the boys that I teased that did grow up to be gay men, but I can try to make better decisions now." There is no way that ever would have been my reality in 5th grade!

The young people at this school blew my mind. We had conversations about bullying, teasing, harassing, how it feels to be teased, how it feels to be the teaser, and how we can all work together to make the school safer for all students, including those who are LGBT.

I think that my favorite take-away memory is from a young person in the last group of the day. We asked the group, “How do you think someone feels when they are being teased or bullied?” One young person said, "It's just like People magazine. When someone like Brad Pitt does something kind of silly, People magazine jumps all over him. They put it all over in their magazine. A lot of Americans get really excited because they can feel better about themselves knowing that someone really famous like Brad Pitt did something silly. But, sometimes I wonder if anyone stops to think about how it makes Brad Pitt feel. It might really hurt his feelings."

It was such a great experience. Time and time again, I am so grateful that I am able to work here at Spectrum and be part of an organization that really is doing groundbreaking work. Every day, I feel like we are creating a safer community right here in Marin County for all LGBT people.

I think that the 5th grade students said it best: "It feels icky to be bullied so we should all look out for each other and take care of each other."

Casey Halcro coordinates Spectrum's Speakers Bureau and Youth programs. Her email address is casey@spectrumLGBTcenter.org

Spectrum LGBT Center

Underserved and At Risk: Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults

2010-06-08T22:19:00.000-07:00

A workshop for Mental Health and Social Service Providers

Saturday, July 10
12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael

Cost: $20 per person; $85 for Continuing Education Credit*

Lunch will be provided.

*This workshop meets the qualifications for 4 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Provider number 4598. CE contact hours: Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP15508, for 4 contact hours.

RSVP to Cristin Brew, MFT, (415) 472-1945, ext. 203 or register online at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/

OVERVIEW: An estimated 8,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults (60+) live in Marin County. They are hidden, isolated, and underserved. They do not access the services that are available to all seniors in Marin, and when they do, they do not talk about their lives. Compared to their heterosexual peers, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults are more likely to live alone, less likely to have adult children and partners, less likely to be connected to family of origin, and do not have pension, social security survivor, and other federal benefits.

This workshop provides an overview of clinical issues related to working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Participants will learn relevant terminology, best practices for working with LGBT older adults, and hear from guest panelists who are LGBT older adults. At the end of the workshop, you will:

understand basic terminology related to working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults
learn about the ten practical suggestions that will make your services more accessible to LGBT older adults, whether or not these clients “come out” as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender
recognize the factors that put LGBT older adults at greater risk than their heterosexual peers for poor physical and emotional health
learn about community resources that can assist you, and your agency, with serving LGBT older adults

Faces of Spectrum

2010-06-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

Faces of Spectrum is a new project designed to raise the visibility of LGBT community members in the North Bay.

We would like to thank the volunteers that have been instrumental in making this project a reality. Thank you to Wade Flores for being the first Face of Spectrum and allowing us to share his story, to Nik Wilhelm for graciously taking some amazing photos, to Becks Hawkins of Dirty Hippie Feet Design for generously giving us brilliant graphic design and artwork, and Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne, PhD for her translation services.

Be on the lookout for the Faces of Spectrum in the North Bay!

In English and Spanish!

Spectrum would like to highlight all of the different folks that we work with here in the North Bay and we need your help! We would love to have you be the next “Face of Spectrum.” What that entails is allowing us to use your story and a photo of you. Please call or email Casey Halcro at 415-472-1945 x 213 or casey@spectrumlgbtcenter.org if you are interested in being the next “Face of Spectrum.”

Repeal of DADT is Moving: Send This Action Today!

2010-05-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

This week, game-changing votes in the U.S. House and Senate could make or break the fate of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal efforts in 2010. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) is expected to offer an amendment to the House version of the Defense Authorization bill that would overturn DADT. Similar action is also expected in the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, May 26.

AND THIS BREAKING NEWS JUST CAME IN:
On Thursday (05/27), the Senate Armed Services Committee will vote on an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, sponsored by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and supported by Levin to repeal DADT.

The fight for repeal in 2010 hangs in the balance. A few votes could make the difference between victory and defeat. Each representative's vote will count.

And that's why we need your help right now.

Click here to find your Representative. Call today to tell him/her that waiting another year for repeal is not an option.

Ask your Member of Congress for the repeal vote on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

Call the Switchboard at: (202) 225-3121

We are on the brink of victory, but we aren't there yet.

We can make this week’s House vote a historic win if we pull out all the stops and push even harder now. We are closer to achieving repeal than ever before.

Help us get to the finish line.

Thank you.
Visit the Servicememebers Legal Defense Network

The Stephanie Teel Band at The Vibe

2010-05-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

San Rafael, CA - LocalMusicVibe.com presents The Stephanie Teel Band bringing you fun, danceable covers 'til late. Doors open at 8pm. Acoustic set 8:30 and dancing starts promptly at 9:30. Cover charge is $10 (21+) and fabulous happy hour drink specials run until 10pm. For more information visit http://localmusicvibe.com/vibe-june-4

This is event produced in partnership with Spectrum LGBT Center

The Stephanie Teel Band
Friday June 4, 2010 - Acoustic set 8:30pm/dancing 9:30pm
21+
$10 at the door
$48 reserved table (4 seats) online

The Vibe
815 W Francisco, CA 94901
415-606-7435 (cell)

Happy hour drink specials extended - 8-10pm:
$3 domestic light beer
$4 tequila & vodka shots (select varieties)
$5 Cosmos & Kamakazes

Please spread the word – San Francisco ENDA ACTION ON TUESDAY!

2010-05-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act will ban employment discrimination against LGBT people across the United States – BUT ONLY IF IT PASSES CONGRESS!

Why won’t Congress vote on this fundamental civil rights bill for LGBT people?

ENDA is stuck – and ONLY YOU can help get it moving again. We need as many people as possible to show up in front of Speaker Pelosi’s office – will you come? Will you bring friends?

Tuesday, May 18
4:30 – 6:30 pm
7th & Mission Streets
San Francisco, CA

We need to send a LOUD MESSAGE to Congress: PASS ENDA NOW!

We have been waiting for decades to pass a simple law that would ban discrimination against LGBT people at work. We were asked to be patient for more than a year while Congress focused on the financial crisis and health care. We were patient. We were told to lobby our representatives in Congress to get the votes necessary to pass the bill. We did the work.

Now we need to tell Congress: STOP STALLING!

We are ready. We have the support. We want a vote on ENDA now.

If we don’t get a vote in the House very soon, we will not have time to get ENDA passed in the Senate. The President will sign ENDA into law – but only if it passes Congress. It could be years before we have another chance to enact this most basic civil rights law.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION! JOIN US ON TUESDAY!

Equality California
Transgender Law Center
San Francisco LGBT Community Center
San Francisco Pride at Work
Equality Federation
Get Equal
National Center for Lesbian Rights
Out & Equal

P.S. Actions are being planned around the country for a National ENDA week – to find out about ENDA events in other cities, please visit www.endanow.org.

Follow @endaNOW on Twitter for more information about action alerts near you.

A Day OUT-doors at the Theatre: Guys and Dolls, The Mountain Play

2010-05-13T18:55:00.000-07:00

Stand up and say that you're proud to love musical theatre!

For 97 years, the Mountain Play has been presenting high quality performances at the beautiful, outdoor, 4000 seat Cushing Memorial Amphitheater on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County.

This season the classic, golden age Broadway musical Guys and Dolls will be presented.

Gather your friends, picnic and hike, bike, ride or free shuttle bus your way to the amphitheater on June 12th.

You don't want to miss this great outdoor adventure.

Come continue the tradition or start a new one!

Spectrum will have a booth at the event!

Purchase tickets online at http://www.MountainPlay.org

My Secret Self: A Story of Transgender Children

2010-05-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

Join us for a screening of the 20/20 documentary
My Secret Self: A Story of Transgender Children
(Followed by discussion)

Spectrum Parent Support Group
For parents and caregivers of gender variant, transgender and questioning children.

Spectrum's Parent Support Group is a therapeutic group for parents and caregivers who are seeking guidance and support as they explore their own feelings, questions, and concerns. It can be difficult and lonely to grapple with raising a child who does not easily fit society’s gender roles. We invite you to join us for this facilitated discussion group.

This is an ongoing, drop-in group and is free of charge.

Date: June 8th, 2010
Time: 5:30-7:00pm
Location: Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160
San Rafael, CA 94903

Questions? Call Cristin 415-472-1945 x 203

Senior Pride Luncheon

2010-05-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Join Spectrum for this June Pride Celebration with LGBT older adults at The Pleasure is Mine Restaurant, 475 East Strawberry Drive, Mill Valley, CA.

Lunch is $20, including tax and tip and will include main course, coffee, tea, or soft drink, and dessert.

A special welcome for our Octogenarian friends (80+ years): Your lunch is on the house! Just let us know when you RSVP that you were born on or before June 9, 1930.

And, for every person 80 years of age or older who attends, BUDWING will donate $1 to Spectrum for each birthday you have celebrated.
After the lunch, a game of BINGO! There's no entry fee to play, but bring a favorite early photo of yourself to get a playing card (keep it decent, please). Modest cash prizes will be awarded every winner.

Spectrum's Pride Luncheon is sponsored by Shubie Gulati, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, & Brandes Investment Partners.

Date: June 9, 2010

Time: 12:00 - 2:00
RSVP by June 4th to Lynne at 415-472-1945, ext. 203.

The Pleasure is Mine Restaurant

475 East Strawberry Drive

Mill Valley, CA.
For directions call the restaurant at 415-381-6400

LA MISSION starring Benjamin Bratt

2010-05-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

Please join community partners Marin Peace and Justice Coalition, Canal Alliance, Spectrum, Teens Turning Green and others for a Very Special evening...

Rarely does a film capture and champion the essence of the struggles of humanity on the personal, social and political levels so well as brothers Benjamin and Peter Bratt's newest work - La Mission - please see the trailer and read the descriptions and impacts here.

Join over 20,000 people on the La Mission Facebook page who are in community in support of the message and magic of this very important film.

Please join us Tuesday night in San Rafael with Director/Producer Peter Bratt and cast members in person for a Q and A after the film.

It is an experience you will treasure and want to share with your community!

WHERE: Century Northgate Theatre, San Rafael
WHEN: Tuesday, May 11th, 7pm

We encourage advance ticket purchase, as we expect to sell out the theater please go to: Fandango

Alice Walker on La Mission:
"It is extraordinary. A film of Now, a film for us, for the emerging consciousness of what needs to happen in the heart and conscience for humanity to evolve beyond violence. All the stars. Not five or six or ten."

Working with LGBT Youth: A Seminar for MFT and LCSW Professionals

2010-05-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 8, Noon - 4:00 PM at Spectrum LGBT Center

This seminar provides an overview of clinical issues in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Participants will learn relevant terminology, best practices, and hear from guest speakers. Participants will become familiar with how to recognize gender variance in children, identity development of gay/lesbian/bisexual youth, typical stages of 'coming out' and the impact of societal and familial homophobia/transphobia on queer youth.

Cost: $20 ($85 for CE credit).
More information at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/workshop.html
Note: you may still register online or on the day of the workshop.

Defending the Indefensible

2010-04-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

The story of Harold Scull and Clay Greene has reached tens of thousands of people, and in its telling has raised many questions. Since we announced our involvement in the case a couple of weeks ago, many readers have emailed the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). We have been touched by the outpouring of support for Clay, who literally lost everything after his partner of 25 years fell on the front porch of their home. We also have been disappointed by Sonoma County’s attacks on Clay—a deflection of the true issue in this case, which is the County’s appalling and unlawful conduct toward Harold and Clay. Clay Greene is not on trial. The County of Sonoma is, and they have yet to address the actual charges raised in this case.

{...Read More}

Kate Kendell, National Center Lesbian Rights

Suit Charges Elderly Gay Partners Were Forced Apart

2010-04-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

The New York Times, 4/20/10

Clay M. Greene’s story, as recounted in his recent lawsuit against Sonoma County, is a tale of loss, doubled and redoubled. For gay men and lesbians, the series of events outlined in the complaint hits very close to home.

Mr. Greene, a 78-year-old gay man from Sebastopol, has filed a lawsuit against Sonoma County after saying he sustained a spate of indignities at the hands of officials during a bizarre estate battle that took place when his partner, who was 88, fell and became hospitalized in 2008.

{read more}

Lawsuit ignites firestorm in gay community against Sonoma County | PressDemocrat.com

2010-04-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

Lawsuit ignites firestorm in gay community against Sonoma County PressDemocrat.com

By PAUL PAYNE

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.

In a lawsuit that has sparked a firestorm within the gay community, a Guerneville man claims that Sonoma County officials prevented him from being with his dying partner of 25 years, forced him into a nursing home and then sold all of the couple’s possessions. Read more

Sonoma County separates elderly gay couple and sells all of their worldly possessions

2010-04-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

Sonoma County CA separates elderly gay couple and sells all of their worldly possessions

http://www.bilerico.com/2010/04/sonoma_county_ca_separates_elderly_gay_couple_and.php

Clay and his partner of 20 years, Harold, lived in California. Clay and Harold made diligent efforts to protect their legal rights, and had their legal paperwork in place--wills, powers of attorney, and medical directives, all naming each other. Harold was 88 years old and in frail medical condition, but still living at home with Clay, 77, who was in good health.
One evening, Harold fell down the front steps of their home and was taken to the hospital. Based on their medical directives alone, Clay should have been consulted in Harold's care from the first moment. Tragically, county and health care workers instead refused to allow Clay to see Harold in the hospital. The county then ultimately went one step further by isolating the couple from each other, placing the men in separate nursing homes.

Ignoring Clay's significant role in Harold's life, the county continued to treat Harold like he had no family and went to court seeking the power to make financial decisions on his behalf. Outrageously, the county represented to the judge that Clay was merely Harold's "roommate." The court denied their efforts, but did grant the county limited access to one of Harold's bank accounts to pay for his care.

What happened next is even more chilling.

Without authority, without determining the value of Clay and Harold's possessions accumulated over the course of their 20 years together or making any effort to determine which items belonged to whom, the county took everything Harold and Clay owned and auctioned off all of their belongings. Adding further insult to grave injury, the county removed Clay from his home and confined him to a nursing home against his will. The county workers then terminated Clay and Harold's lease and surrendered the home they had shared for many years to the landlord.

Three months after he was hospitalized, Harold died in the nursing home. Because of the county's actions, Clay missed the final months he should have had with his partner of 20 years. Compounding this tragedy, Clay has literally nothing left of the home he had shared with Harold or the life he was living up until the day that Harold fell, because he has been unable to recover any of his property. The only memento Clay has is a photo album that Harold painstakingly put together for Clay during the last three months of his life.

With the help of a dedicated and persistent court-appointed attorney, Anne Dennis of Santa Rosa, Clay was finally released from the nursing home. Ms. Dennis, along with Stephen O'Neill and Margaret Flynn of Tarkington, O'Neill, Barrack & Chong, now represent Clay in a lawsuit against the county, the auction company, and the nursing home, with technical assistance from NCLR. A trial date has been set for July 16, 2010 in the Superior Court for the County of Sonoma.

Read more about NCLR's Elder Law Project.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you disturbed by the story of how Clay Greene was treated by the County? Please blog about this, pass it on over Facebook or Twitter, just do whatever you can to help raise the visibility of what happened to Clay. Send a letter to the local paper, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat at letters@pressdemocrat.com. Send them this link to NCLR's page.

Marin Community Foundation Grants $1.1 Million to Fund Services for Older Adults in Marin County

2010-04-14T13:24:00.000-07:00

Novato, CA (April 13, 2010)—To help Marin County's older adults benefit from a range of health and social services and have opportunities to be involved in their community, the Marin Community Foundation (MCF) is making over $1 million in grants to local organizations serving this population.

"The Foundation has a long history of supporting organizations that provide services to older adults in Marin," said MCF President Thomas Peters in announcing the grants. "Since the growth rate of the older population in Marin is the fastest of any county in the state, it's important that as a community we come together to provide coordinated and effective support to these residents."

"These services help ensure the health and independence of Marin's older adults, and as a result, everyone in the community can benefit from their immense talent and skills," he added.

Direct services being funded include health screenings for older adults living in low-income housing facilities, with nursing students at Dominican University of California overseeing their care and improving safety in their homes.

Other service providers will receive grants to provide classes, meals, and case management assistance in order to help older adults access such services as transportation and in-home support as well as public assistance programs.

Additionally, Spectrum LGBT Center of the North Bay will train organizations serving older adults to work more effectively with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender clients.

A second group of grants will encourage older adults in Marin to become involved in volunteer and employment opportunities. For example, a grant to the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin will fund its efforts to recruit and manage volunteers, some of whom will be helping at agencies that provide services to other older adults in Marin.

Grants will also provide scholarships so older adults can attend a range of community activities throughout the county, including classes, health fairs, and other gatherings.

Also, a grant to the YWCA of San Francisco & Marin's FiftyPlus Employment Program will support instruction in computer skills as well the agency’s Job Seeker Institutes, which offer training in résumé writing and interview skills.

"Not only do we want to tap into a tremendous resource in our community," said Peters of these efforts, "but it's well known that older adults who are engaged in their community are healthier and remain independent longer."

"We are fortunate in Marin to have nonprofit agencies with a strong commitment to the county's older adults," said Peters. "By supporting their efforts, we are helping ensure that our county has a compassionate and effective support system in place to meet their needs."

The complete list of grants follows:

Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin $75,000
City of Novato-Novato Independent Elders Program $70,000
Dance Palace Community Center $20,000
Dominican University of California $50,000
Jewish Family and Children’s Services $75,000
Meals of Marin $60,000
Northern CA Presbyterian Homes and Services $20,000
Novato Human Needs Center $40,000
Senior Access $75,000
Spectrum LGBT Center of the North Bay $60,000
West Marin Community Services $10,000
West Marin Senior Services $200,000
Whistlestop $275,000
YWCA of San Francisco $75,000

About the Marin Community Foundation:
The Marin Community Foundation is the primary center for philanthropy in Marin County, CA, and is one of the largest community foundations in the U.S. It manages the assets of the Leonard and Beryl H. Buck Trust and 350 funds established by individuals, families, and businesses. The Foundation makes significant improvements in communities around the world in two ways: by spearheading initiatives for long-term, sustainable change in Marin, and by distributing grants from donor-advised funds locally, across the U.S., and around the world.

Now in its 22nd year, the Marin Community Foundation has invested over $800 million in the work of nonprofit organizations. Its assets are approximately $1 billion, with annual grant distributions of approximately $50 million.

Making the Law Work for You (Sonoma County)

2010-04-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

Two Free Workshops on legal strategies for LGBT older adults

Spectrum LGBT Center announces two free workshops in Sonoma County on the legal challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults.

Monday, April 19, 2010
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
First Congregational Church
252 West Spain Street
Sonoma, CA 95476

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Monday, April 26, 2010
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Russian River Senior Resource Center
15010 Armstrong Woods Rd.
Guerneville, CA 95446

The legal landscape for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has undergone rapid and substantial changes recently. Although many of those changes have improved the legal position of LGBT people, their families, and their assets, it is still important to take action to insure full security.

The workshops, Making The Law Work For Us, focus on existing laws affecting LGBT elders, including: the California Caretaker Statute, financial powers of attorney, gifting during life or upon death, estate planning, and enhanced health care protections with appropriate documentation. In addition, The Council on Aging, Sonoma County's premier organization serving seniors, will present the array of services available to LGBT older adults.

The panel of attorneys, who are experts in the fields of LGBT and elder law, will include: Deb L. Kinney, the principal attorney of DLKLawGroup PC, an estate planning, trust administration and probate, and beneficiary representation practice with offices in Santa Rosa and San Francisco; Naomi E. Metz, the lead attorney in the Santa Rosa office of DLKLawGroup PC; and Barbara Swary, the Director of Legal Services for Sonoma County's Council on Aging.

These are free workshops with no sales solicitation. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

For more information, or to make a reservation, contact: Gary Shepard, Senior Outreach Assistant, Sonoma County at gary@spectrumlgbtcenter.org or (707) 583-2330

Spectrum provides community leadership to promote acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Pacific Sun : Upfront: The gay wedding crashers

2010-04-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Pacific Sun : Upfront: The gay wedding crashers: "Upfront: The gay wedding crashers
Presbyterian Church says legal marriages are illegal because they're legal..."

Presbyterian Charged, Officiated at Wedding for Two Women

2010-03-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

For the first time in California, a Presbyterian minister was charged by her denomination for performing legal marriages.

The Rev. Janie Spahr faced a pretrial hearing on March 3, 2010, in Rohnert Park, Calif., based on charges for an alleged disciplinary offense in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for officiating at the marriage of Sara Taylor and Sherrie Holmes in June 2008.

Janie is the founder of Spectrum LGBT Center (formerly Ministry of Light). She has a long history with charges being filed against her in various church courts. She has now been charged with church-related charges of officiating at a legal wedding under the laws of the State of California.

(Media-Newswire.com) – For the first time in California, a Presbyterian minister was charged by her denomination for performing legal marriages. The Rev. Janie Spahr, faced a pretrial hearing on March 3, 2010, in Rohnert Park, Calif., based on charges for an alleged disciplinary offense in the Presbyterian Church USA for officiating at the marriage of Sara Taylor and Sherrie Holmes in June 2008.

The charges came as a result of allegations filed with the Presbytery of the Redwoods, a regional body, made by a member of a local church. The allegations were reviewed by the Investigating Committee of the Presbytery who then charged her with a violation of her ordination vows. Rev. Spahr officiated at many legal, same gender marriages that are still legal in California, since Proposition 8 did not annul any marriages. More than 11,000 same-sex couples are legally married in California.

For the past 500 years the church and state have participated together in celebrating marriages that are authorized by the civil authority and solemnized in religious ceremonies. Should the Rev. Spahr be found guilty of the offense by her Presbytery, it would be the first time a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA would be disciplined for celebrating a marriage authorized by the State. At a pretrial hearing held March 3rd the Rev. Spahr pled not guilty. The trial before the Presbytery of the Redwoods Permanent Judicial Commission is expected to be held either the week of August 23rd or the week of September 20th. The exact date has yet to be announced.

Rev. Spahr remains in good standing within the church and is honorably retired. Rev. Spahr’s advocates in this church proceeding are Scott Clark, a former attorney who is now a candidate for Ministry in the Presbyterian Church and Beverly Brewster, a Presbyterian Minister.

In 2008, the Presbyterian Church USA national body took a step toward full equality for gay people in the denomination when it passed a constitutional amendment to eliminate all bars for membership or ordination. The amendment received historic levels of support from the 173 regional presbyteries but fell short of receiving the two-thirds vote needed for ratification. The denomination will hold its next biennial meeting July 3-10, 2010, in Minneapolis, Minn. Full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will be on the table again.

To find out more, visit http://www.revjanespahr.org/.

HUD LAUNCHES WEBSITE TO GATHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON FIRST-EVER LGBT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION STUDY

2010-03-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Online 'suggestion box' seeks to inform HUD on design of historic research

Offer your Feedback on HUD's LGBT Housing Discrimination Study Here

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today launched a new website to allow citizens to offer comment on the design of an unprecedented national study that will examine housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. While there have been no national assessments of housing discrimination targeting the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community, there is a body of evidence suggesting this sort of bias exists.

HUD recently hosted town hall meetings in Chicago, San Francisco and New York City to solicit feedback on how it might approach such ground-breaking research. This 'online suggestion box' is intended to offer the public throughout the U.S. an opportunity to comment on HUD's study.

"It is critical that as we embark on this historic discrimination study, that we hear from those who may have been denied housing based on their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Dr. Raphael Bostic, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. "The comments we received in our town hall meetings, and those we will gather from this new website, will help inform how we might test for housing discrimination in the sale or rental of housing based on LBGT status."

While there are no national assessments of LGBT housing discrimination, there are state and local studies that have shown this sort of bias. For example, Michigan's Fair Housing Centers found that nearly 30 percent of same-sex couples were treated differently when attempting to buy or rent a home (www.fhcmichigan.org/images/Arcus_web1.pdf).

HUD's new LGBT website will seek suggestions on how best to execute the study. For example, how would a 'tester' signal in a conversation with a landlord that an individual or couple was LGBT? The website is not designed for users to lodge complaints about a particular incident. However, if you believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination, you may file an online complaint, or call HUD's Housing Discrimination Hotline at 1-800-669-9777.

###
HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

We All Count: The 2010 Census is Here

2010-03-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

From Credo Action's website

The census tells the story of who we are as a nation, and that includes LGBT people — but only when we participate, and only when we're fully counted. Thanks to the collection of unmarried partner data, a more complete picture of who we are has emerged. For example, we know that:

•Same-sex couples live in 99% of all US Counties.

•LGBT parents live in 97% of all US Counties.

•Black and Latino same-sex couples are raising children at almost the same rates as their heterosexual peers, but on lower incomes ($10,000/yr less).

Still, there is no question on the 2010 census that asks individuals if they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender — and LGBT questions are not included in almost all other major federal surveys.

It's a big problem. The census, which counts everyone living in the United States every ten years, provides the data that is used to determine funding and policy priorities at the national and state level.

Being counted isn’t just a numbers game, but a question of whether the LGBT community gets access to the resources that support our health, economic well-being, safety and families. The LGBT community must be visible--and that means participating in the census, but it also means being counted fully.

That's why the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, together with CREDO Action, has launched Queer the Census. We must ensure that LGBT people are accurately counted in the next census — and we need your help to make it happen. Here's how:

1. Sign the petition to the right to pledge your support of a census that counts everyone!

2. Get the Queer the Census sticker and use it to seal the back of your census envelope.

3. Spread the word about the Queer the Census campaign.

4. Make a contribution to support the campaign.

You can get your very own FREE Queer the Census sticker at http://act.credoaction.com/sticker/queerthecensus/. CREDO Action is partnering with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to make sure the census counts everyone. Order your sticker now and use it to seal the back of your census envelope when it arrives in the mail.

The sticker is free. Stickers are 4.5" x 6" (about the size of a postcard). Make sure you order your sticker before midnight March 22nd so you get it in time to mail with your census form on April 1st!

ACTION ALERT: Tell Your Representative to Vote YES on Health Care Reform!

2010-03-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

Health Care Reform IS an LGBT Issue!
Tell Your Representative to Vote YES on Reform!

We are so close to the finish line in health care reform: the House of Representatives hopes to vote on reform THIS WEEK.

While the bill isn’t perfect, it is a huge step forward in making health care affordable and accessible for all, including the LGBT community. The bill includes:

Improved data collection on disparity factors, including “any...demographic data as deemed appropriate by the Secretary regarding health disparities” – this will likely include sexual orientation and gender identity
Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in federal grants for mental health education and training
$8.5 billion in funds for community health centers
Prohibition of insurance exclusions based on pre-existing conditions
Extension of insurance coverage to approximately 31 million uninsured people

In 2007, 50% of spending on health in the U.S. was used to treat just 5% of the population, and an estimated 45,000 people die every year in this country because they do not have insurance coverage. The status quo harms our community and our families, and we deserve better.

Tell your Representative to pass health care reform NOW.

To contact your member of Congress, dial the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121, give your zip code, and ask to speak to your Representative. When you are connected to your Representative’s office, tell them that you are a constituent who supports reform and wants your Representative to vote YES on reform. Take action today!

Take Action Today! Call your Representatives for LGBT Inclusion!

2010-03-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is currently circulating a letter in the House of Representatives, requesting funds for the addition of a question about sexual orientation and gender identity to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the federal government's most comprehensive and influential survey. This question is vitally important for gathering the information needed to understand and address the health disparities affecting the LGBT community.

Please call your representative today and urge them to sign on to Representative Baldwin’s letter. To contact your member of Congress, please dial the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121, give your zip code, and ask to speak to your Representative. When you are connected to your Representative’s office, ask to speak to the staff member who works on Health and Human Services Appropriations. Tell them you are a constituent who supports appropriating an additional $2 million for the National Health Interview Survey and that you would like them to sign on to Representative Baldwin's letter.

In order to sign on, they must contact Elizabeth Lee in Representative Baldwin’s office and enter their request in the Appropriations Committee's database. If they have any questions, please have them contact Rebecca Fox at 202-558-6828 or rebecca@lgbthealth.net.