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.
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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.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
We All Count: The 2010 Census is Here
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!
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!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
ACTION ALERT: Tell Your Representative to Vote YES on Health Care Reform!
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:
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!
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
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!
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.
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.
SF LGBT Center responds to recent media reports
NOTE: Recent news reports inaccurately reported on the financial condition of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center. This kind of 'bad news' reporting can be devastating on a hard-working institution that is, in fact, beating the odds in this rough economic climate. It's important that this misinformation is corrected. Here is a letter from the board chairs and executive director, doing just that. In solidarity, Paula Pilecki, Executive Director, Spectrum LGBT Center
The San Francisco LGBT Community Center serves over 9,000 people each month and hosts over 3,000 programs and workshops each year; we pilot groundbreaking programs, serve LGBT community members most in need, and provide information and referral services to link community members to critical services.
What we are not is in foreclosure – nor are we asking the City for a $1 million bailout.
For the last 24 months, we have been diligently working on a number of strategic financial initiatives to reduce expenses and increase revenue.
Two years ago we began a program to cut costs and have been successful at cutting a total of $300,000 a year from the annual budget of $2.1 million. While those expense reductions have been difficult, they have been strategic, allowing us to preserve our core services and programs.
We have also been pursuing strategies to increase our revenue. We are working on the permitting process to allow more commercial use of the Center, which would increase our revenue by over $120,000/year. We are expanding the board of directors; in the past seven months we have welcomed six new board members to a board that is fully engaged in activities to strengthen our financial base. Finally, we received grant funds to expand our development team and allow us to focus on further developing our individual giving program.
These efforts are being successful. We ended last year with less than a $6,000 operating loss, against revenues of $2.1 million. This year we are on track to have another break-even year. This is no small feat when non-profits and for-profits are reporting record losses throughout the country.
Media coverage of the Center has focused on these efforts, but most recently there was a significant misrepresentation of the facts and our situation.
We do have $3.2 million in outstanding debt related to the construction of the building, which has been carried in a loan with First Republic Bank. After almost a year of very difficult bargaining, we have achieved a loan modification that financially benefits the Center. This includes a reduction our interest rate, which will save $200,000 over the next five years, and a modification of principle payments to help cash flow. The bank is requiring that we create a reserve account, with a balance of $157,500 – reserves which we do not have. The City have been involved in the discussions from the beginning and Supervisors Bevan Dufty and David Campos are sponsoring legislation to provide a loan from the City to the Center. This is a loan and not a grant. It is also $157,500 – not over $1 million as is reported in some sources.
Our confidence about the future of the Center and our ability to meet the loan rests on the financial restructuring initiatives described above and on historic performance.
Over the past six years, we have paid First Republic Bank over $1.5 million in interest and principle payments. As of last May, when we began the negotiations, we had never missed or been late with a payment. We are currently in compliance with the bank’s payment schedule during the negotiation period. This year we have already paid over $100,000 in interest.
The work of the Center has been successful due to the commitment of many in our community. Our board of directors and community partners bring tremendous leadership and vision about how to ensure the long term success of the Center. The staff and volunteers work daily to provide critical programs and services, ensuring that folks most in need continue to have access to our youth meal nights, job services for the transgender community, HIV prevention, and connection to the critical safety net services offered by the Center and our many collaborative partners.
Most importantly, we could not achieve this success without all of you who donate, volunteer, attend events, visit, and come together to make the Center a true home for the LGBT community and our allies.
We will keep you updated as we move forward in our strategic efforts to strengthen the foundation of the Center and ensure that we continue to be here, creating community for the generations to come.
Sincerely,
Debbie Chaw
Co-Chair, Board of Directors
James Williamson
Co-Chair, Board of Directors
Rebecca Rolfe
Executive Director
The San Francisco LGBT Community Center serves over 9,000 people each month and hosts over 3,000 programs and workshops each year; we pilot groundbreaking programs, serve LGBT community members most in need, and provide information and referral services to link community members to critical services.
What we are not is in foreclosure – nor are we asking the City for a $1 million bailout.
For the last 24 months, we have been diligently working on a number of strategic financial initiatives to reduce expenses and increase revenue.
Two years ago we began a program to cut costs and have been successful at cutting a total of $300,000 a year from the annual budget of $2.1 million. While those expense reductions have been difficult, they have been strategic, allowing us to preserve our core services and programs.
We have also been pursuing strategies to increase our revenue. We are working on the permitting process to allow more commercial use of the Center, which would increase our revenue by over $120,000/year. We are expanding the board of directors; in the past seven months we have welcomed six new board members to a board that is fully engaged in activities to strengthen our financial base. Finally, we received grant funds to expand our development team and allow us to focus on further developing our individual giving program.
These efforts are being successful. We ended last year with less than a $6,000 operating loss, against revenues of $2.1 million. This year we are on track to have another break-even year. This is no small feat when non-profits and for-profits are reporting record losses throughout the country.
Media coverage of the Center has focused on these efforts, but most recently there was a significant misrepresentation of the facts and our situation.
We do have $3.2 million in outstanding debt related to the construction of the building, which has been carried in a loan with First Republic Bank. After almost a year of very difficult bargaining, we have achieved a loan modification that financially benefits the Center. This includes a reduction our interest rate, which will save $200,000 over the next five years, and a modification of principle payments to help cash flow. The bank is requiring that we create a reserve account, with a balance of $157,500 – reserves which we do not have. The City have been involved in the discussions from the beginning and Supervisors Bevan Dufty and David Campos are sponsoring legislation to provide a loan from the City to the Center. This is a loan and not a grant. It is also $157,500 – not over $1 million as is reported in some sources.
Our confidence about the future of the Center and our ability to meet the loan rests on the financial restructuring initiatives described above and on historic performance.
Over the past six years, we have paid First Republic Bank over $1.5 million in interest and principle payments. As of last May, when we began the negotiations, we had never missed or been late with a payment. We are currently in compliance with the bank’s payment schedule during the negotiation period. This year we have already paid over $100,000 in interest.
The work of the Center has been successful due to the commitment of many in our community. Our board of directors and community partners bring tremendous leadership and vision about how to ensure the long term success of the Center. The staff and volunteers work daily to provide critical programs and services, ensuring that folks most in need continue to have access to our youth meal nights, job services for the transgender community, HIV prevention, and connection to the critical safety net services offered by the Center and our many collaborative partners.
Most importantly, we could not achieve this success without all of you who donate, volunteer, attend events, visit, and come together to make the Center a true home for the LGBT community and our allies.
We will keep you updated as we move forward in our strategic efforts to strengthen the foundation of the Center and ensure that we continue to be here, creating community for the generations to come.
Sincerely,
Debbie Chaw
Co-Chair, Board of Directors
James Williamson
Co-Chair, Board of Directors
Rebecca Rolfe
Executive Director
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Compassion-Collaboration-Community: Strengthening our Response to Human Suffering
JCRC’s Annual Interfaith Freedom Seder
Monday, March 22, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael
With Rabbi Ted Feldman, B’nai Israel Jewish Center, Petaluma, and Reverend Veronica Goines, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Marin City.
Please join us as we celebrate the festival of Passover with a delicious vegetarian dinner, traditional and new music, a gathering of old and new friends – plus stories of how Compassion and Collaboration can build a Community.
$25 adults
$20 students
$15 children 12 and under
Please reserve by Wednesday, March 17
For reservations: 415-444-8000
Questions? Contact Suzan Berns @ JCRC: 415-472-5128
Sponsor: Jewish Community Relations Council/North Bay Region
In association with: Osher Marin JCC, Marin Interfaith Council, Gan Haleve, Jewish Congregation of the San Geronimo Valley, Congregation Rodef Sholom, Congregation Kol Shofar, Marin Organizing Committee, Jewish Family & Children’s Services/Marin Region, Jewish Community Federation/Marin Region.
Monday, March 22, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
Osher Marin JCC, 200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael
With Rabbi Ted Feldman, B’nai Israel Jewish Center, Petaluma, and Reverend Veronica Goines, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Marin City.
Please join us as we celebrate the festival of Passover with a delicious vegetarian dinner, traditional and new music, a gathering of old and new friends – plus stories of how Compassion and Collaboration can build a Community.
$25 adults
$20 students
$15 children 12 and under
Please reserve by Wednesday, March 17
For reservations: 415-444-8000
Questions? Contact Suzan Berns @ JCRC: 415-472-5128
Sponsor: Jewish Community Relations Council/North Bay Region
In association with: Osher Marin JCC, Marin Interfaith Council, Gan Haleve, Jewish Congregation of the San Geronimo Valley, Congregation Rodef Sholom, Congregation Kol Shofar, Marin Organizing Committee, Jewish Family & Children’s Services/Marin Region, Jewish Community Federation/Marin Region.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Welcome to our new website!
Welcome home!
For those of us who live north of the Golden Gate Bridge, we know we're home when we see the mountainscape that is pictured in our new website banner.
No matter where you live, being at home means being yourself. Our work at Spectrum is all about creating a community where you are free to be who you are, with no need to keep 'that part' of your life hidden from everyone else.
I invite you to check out our new website. It's a work in progress, so check back often and sign up to receive update notices. We hope you like our new home.
Paula Pilecki, Executive Director
Spectrum LGBT Center
pilecki(at)spectrumLGBTcenter.org
www.spectrumLGBTcenter.org
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival shows STRAIGHTLACED: HOW GENDER'S GOT US ALL TIED UP
The Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival is proud to present
STRAIGHTLACED: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up
Directed by Debra Chasnoff
Filmmaker Q&A following screening
Sunday, March 7th, 11:30 am at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 390 Morris Street (next to the Community Center). Tickets: $8 in advance.
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE at http://www.sebastopolfilmfestival.org/ or SEBASTOPOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 6780 Depot Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472; (707) 829-4797
This screening is generously sponsored by PFLAG North Bay
Debra Chasnoff’s compellingly presented film is a powerful and intimate look at how popular pressures around gender and sexuality are shaping the lives of American teens today. Adults and teens will want to talk about this open, honest, funny and occasionally sad film about the complex, emotion-triggering topic of gender identification.
STRAIGHTLACED: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up
Directed by Debra Chasnoff
Filmmaker Q&A following screening
Sunday, March 7th, 11:30 am at the Sebastopol Youth Annex, 390 Morris Street (next to the Community Center). Tickets: $8 in advance.
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE at http://www.sebastopolfilmfestival.org/ or SEBASTOPOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 6780 Depot Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472; (707) 829-4797
This screening is generously sponsored by PFLAG North Bay
Debra Chasnoff’s compellingly presented film is a powerful and intimate look at how popular pressures around gender and sexuality are shaping the lives of American teens today. Adults and teens will want to talk about this open, honest, funny and occasionally sad film about the complex, emotion-triggering topic of gender identification.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Working with LGBT Clients: A Seminar for MFT and LCSW Professionals
Working with LGBT Clients
Saturday, March 6, 12 Noon - 4 PM
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael
Seminar cost: $20
Cost for CEUs (available for MFTs and LCSWs): $85
Registration required: Cristin Brew, (415) 472-1945 ext. 203
Online registration available at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/
This seminar will offer an overview of issues in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients of all ages. Participants will learn relevant terminology, best practices, and have the opportunity to hear from a panel of guest speakers. This seminar is designed to help participants move from being “LGBT-friendly” to “LGBT-knowledgeable”. This seminar will include information about obstacles that LGBT people face in accessing services as well as opportunities we all have to make our community more inclusive. We welcome you to join us in a safe environment to learn more about how to serve LGBT clients in effective and sensitive ways.
About the instructor: Cristin Brew, MFT: Cristin has been working with the LGBT population for the past nine years at Spectrum. She is well-versed in the stages of identity development for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as well as best practices in serving LGBT clients. Cristin received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and also has a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Spectrum LGBT Center provides community leadership in promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. For more information visit our website at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/.
Saturday, March 6, 12 Noon - 4 PM
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael
Seminar cost: $20
Cost for CEUs (available for MFTs and LCSWs): $85
Registration required: Cristin Brew, (415) 472-1945 ext. 203
Online registration available at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/
This seminar will offer an overview of issues in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients of all ages. Participants will learn relevant terminology, best practices, and have the opportunity to hear from a panel of guest speakers. This seminar is designed to help participants move from being “LGBT-friendly” to “LGBT-knowledgeable”. This seminar will include information about obstacles that LGBT people face in accessing services as well as opportunities we all have to make our community more inclusive. We welcome you to join us in a safe environment to learn more about how to serve LGBT clients in effective and sensitive ways.
About the instructor: Cristin Brew, MFT: Cristin has been working with the LGBT population for the past nine years at Spectrum. She is well-versed in the stages of identity development for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as well as best practices in serving LGBT clients. Cristin received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and also has a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Spectrum LGBT Center provides community leadership in promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. For more information visit our website at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/.
Workplace Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People
Workplace Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People
Saturday, February 20, 10 am – 12 noon
Marin Nonprofit Resource Center
555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael
RSVP to Cristin Brew, (415) 472-1945 ext. 203
Sponsored by Spectrum LGBT Center
This is a free event; morning refreshments will be served.
Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Marin County are in the closet at work. For those who are out, they may feel they are the only identified gay staff member. Transgender people face additional challenges, such as uneducated co-workers not wanting to share bathrooms and transitioning at work. As LGBT people, we consider whether to be out at work, with whom to be out, and the possible consequences of being out. And, of course, not being out can also place a strain on us, as we try to talk about ourselves without revealing partners, friends, or participation in LGBT-identified activities. This forum will provide the opportunity to talk about our own experiences and learn from the experience of others. We hope you will join us!
Featuring a panel on creating an educated and equal workplace:
Larry Brinkin, Senior Manager (retired), San Francisco Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission works to provide leadership and advocacy to secure, protect and promote human rights for all people.
Kevin Jones, Deputy Director, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. Out & Equal educates and empowers organizations, human resource professionals, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and individual employees through programs and services that result in equal policies, opportunities, practices, and benefits in the workplace regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or characteristics.
Shane Snowdon, Director, LGBT Resource Center, University of California San Francisco. The LGBT Resource Center nurtures diversity, creates a supportive work environment, and promotes high-quality patient care at one of the finest health care, education, and research institutions in the world.
Spectrum LGBT Center provides community leadership in promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. For more information visit our website at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/.
Saturday, February 20, 10 am – 12 noon
Marin Nonprofit Resource Center
555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael
RSVP to Cristin Brew, (415) 472-1945 ext. 203
Sponsored by Spectrum LGBT Center
This is a free event; morning refreshments will be served.
Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Marin County are in the closet at work. For those who are out, they may feel they are the only identified gay staff member. Transgender people face additional challenges, such as uneducated co-workers not wanting to share bathrooms and transitioning at work. As LGBT people, we consider whether to be out at work, with whom to be out, and the possible consequences of being out. And, of course, not being out can also place a strain on us, as we try to talk about ourselves without revealing partners, friends, or participation in LGBT-identified activities. This forum will provide the opportunity to talk about our own experiences and learn from the experience of others. We hope you will join us!
Featuring a panel on creating an educated and equal workplace:
Larry Brinkin, Senior Manager (retired), San Francisco Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission works to provide leadership and advocacy to secure, protect and promote human rights for all people.
Kevin Jones, Deputy Director, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. Out & Equal educates and empowers organizations, human resource professionals, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and individual employees through programs and services that result in equal policies, opportunities, practices, and benefits in the workplace regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or characteristics.
Shane Snowdon, Director, LGBT Resource Center, University of California San Francisco. The LGBT Resource Center nurtures diversity, creates a supportive work environment, and promotes high-quality patient care at one of the finest health care, education, and research institutions in the world.
Spectrum LGBT Center provides community leadership in promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. For more information visit our website at http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Not like the other kids - they're gay - Marin-Sonoma-here.com
Parents find support in understanding and dealing with the emotions around their LGBT child
By John Dugan, HERE Magazine
Posted: 02/05/2010 01:00:00 AM PST
http://www.marin-sonoma-here.com/ci_14319024
Josie and her husband knew, from the second they saw their 3-year-old son in a princess costume, that something was different. The frilly lace and bows didn't make the boy look silly or out of place; conversely, he looked right at home.
“He just glowed from within,” said Josie, a Petaluma resident who asked to go by a pseudonym. “He was so happy — that was the ‘Aha!' moment for us.”
It's a moment many North Bay parents have experienced: the realization that their child is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Each parent learns about it differently, and each one processes it differently — even inliberal-minded Marin and Sonoma counties.
The LGBT advocacy and counseling group Spectrum has created a support group specifically for those parents of LGBT children. The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month to give parents a place to discuss their concerns, questions, fears and hopes, and to hear from other parents going through similar experiences. The first meeting was Jan. 12; the next is Feb. 9.
“This is a chance for parents to explore their feelings, to speak more freely about what they are feeling and share their experiences,” said Cristin Brew, the program director at Spectrum. “Parents (feel) like they can exhale in the group. This was a place they can express everything they are feeling without fear that they will be judged.”
The group has been a long time coming for Spectrum. Founded in 1982, the organization has held counseling and support groups for youth and seniors, hosted professional speakers and training seminars from the beginning. But this is the first time the center has formed any sort of group for the parents of LGBT children.
“We were getting a lot of calls in recent years from parents looking for help in dealing with their emotions,” Brew said. “We've wanted to do something like this for a long time, and it felt like there was a real need for this kind of group in Marin.”
Brew said parents can feel especially confused and conflicted when their children come out. No matter how liberal or open-minded they may be, parents usually feel responsible for insuring their children have a more difficult life, Brew said.
“A lot of parents just need to know the definitions of LGBT, and the terms that go with it,” said Erin Gray, a professional therapist who helps facilitate the Spectrum parent group. “They want to know how to support their children without their kids feeling like they are being put in a box, or being saddled with a label.”
In a place known for its liberal politics, Marin and Sonoma parents can feel even more guilt over the fear and confusion their child's coming out creates, Brew said. And parents will be embarrassed to share their conflicted feelings with friends, so parents of LGBT children can often feel “isolated and alone,” according to Brew.
“Marin tends to have a highly educated populace, and we like to think of ourselves as totally open-minded and giving,” Brew said. “So there's a shock when parents first learn about their children, and they don't immediately feel fine with it. They may be accepting people, but they haven't been educated about the issues. And there's a fear of, ‘My child will live a harder life now.'
“These are all common feelings, and it's exactly the sort of thing they can discuss at the support group,” Brew said.
Josie knows all too well the confusing emotions that can crop up in even the most stereotypically liberal North Bay mind. She said she has always felt total acceptance with LGBT friends and family, and never questioned her own feelings on the subject.
While she said she has never felt anything but acceptance, love and support for her son, Josie realized quickly that there is much more to it when the person in question is your own child.
“The more I got into what it means to be LGBT and the more I learned about the terminology, I realized there is so much more to know about what my son is going through,” said Josie, whose son is 6 years old now. “Just because I'm liberal and accepting of him doesn't mean I understand how to best provide the right environment for my child. … There's still a lot to learn.”
Spectrum's Parent Support Group is not the only one of its kind in the North Bay. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has hosted monthly support groups in Tiburon and Santa Rosa for years. But PFLAG is a national organization that caters to anyone with concerns about an LGBT loved one. Spectrum wanted to provide a Marin- and Sonoma-specific group just for parents to discuss their feelings.
“PFLAG does amazing work, and they are beyond helpful to everyone who attends their meetings,” Gray said. “Spectrum created this group to broaden the scope of assistance and communication out there for parents to access.”
The increasing amount of information available on LGBT issues lines up with the growing number of LGBT people around the country. Conservative estimates put the number of out gays and lesbians in Marin at 10 percent, but that does not include LGBT people still in the closet or people confused about their sexual and gender orientation.
“Among teens there is a lot more knowledge about LGBT issues, but not nearly as many teens in Marin are out as the statistics show,” Brew said.
With an expanding community of out LGBT people, especially among younger and younger children, the time was right for this parent support group, Brew said.
Josie said even three years into her son's journey, she and her husband are still learning new things. She hopes Spectrum's new group can help other parents understand the facts of their child's life.
“It isn't just an outfit they're putting on or a phase they're going through. It's a frame of mind,” Josie said. “We're three years in, and there's no change with our son. This is who he is.”
WHERE TO FIND SUPPORT
— Spectrum Parent Support Group: Second Tuesday of each month, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Spectrum Center of Marin, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael
— PFLAG Marin support meeting: Second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 240 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon
— PFLAG Santa Rosa support meeting: Fourth Monday each month at 7:30 p.m., 312 Chinn St., Santa Rosa
— Josie's LGBT blog: open.salon.com/blog/girlyboymama (Warning: some adult language)
By John Dugan, HERE Magazine
Posted: 02/05/2010 01:00:00 AM PST
http://www.marin-sonoma-here.com/ci_14319024
Josie and her husband knew, from the second they saw their 3-year-old son in a princess costume, that something was different. The frilly lace and bows didn't make the boy look silly or out of place; conversely, he looked right at home.
“He just glowed from within,” said Josie, a Petaluma resident who asked to go by a pseudonym. “He was so happy — that was the ‘Aha!' moment for us.”
It's a moment many North Bay parents have experienced: the realization that their child is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Each parent learns about it differently, and each one processes it differently — even inliberal-minded Marin and Sonoma counties.
The LGBT advocacy and counseling group Spectrum has created a support group specifically for those parents of LGBT children. The group meets on the second Tuesday of every month to give parents a place to discuss their concerns, questions, fears and hopes, and to hear from other parents going through similar experiences. The first meeting was Jan. 12; the next is Feb. 9.
“This is a chance for parents to explore their feelings, to speak more freely about what they are feeling and share their experiences,” said Cristin Brew, the program director at Spectrum. “Parents (feel) like they can exhale in the group. This was a place they can express everything they are feeling without fear that they will be judged.”
The group has been a long time coming for Spectrum. Founded in 1982, the organization has held counseling and support groups for youth and seniors, hosted professional speakers and training seminars from the beginning. But this is the first time the center has formed any sort of group for the parents of LGBT children.
“We were getting a lot of calls in recent years from parents looking for help in dealing with their emotions,” Brew said. “We've wanted to do something like this for a long time, and it felt like there was a real need for this kind of group in Marin.”
Brew said parents can feel especially confused and conflicted when their children come out. No matter how liberal or open-minded they may be, parents usually feel responsible for insuring their children have a more difficult life, Brew said.
“A lot of parents just need to know the definitions of LGBT, and the terms that go with it,” said Erin Gray, a professional therapist who helps facilitate the Spectrum parent group. “They want to know how to support their children without their kids feeling like they are being put in a box, or being saddled with a label.”
In a place known for its liberal politics, Marin and Sonoma parents can feel even more guilt over the fear and confusion their child's coming out creates, Brew said. And parents will be embarrassed to share their conflicted feelings with friends, so parents of LGBT children can often feel “isolated and alone,” according to Brew.
“Marin tends to have a highly educated populace, and we like to think of ourselves as totally open-minded and giving,” Brew said. “So there's a shock when parents first learn about their children, and they don't immediately feel fine with it. They may be accepting people, but they haven't been educated about the issues. And there's a fear of, ‘My child will live a harder life now.'
“These are all common feelings, and it's exactly the sort of thing they can discuss at the support group,” Brew said.
Josie knows all too well the confusing emotions that can crop up in even the most stereotypically liberal North Bay mind. She said she has always felt total acceptance with LGBT friends and family, and never questioned her own feelings on the subject.
While she said she has never felt anything but acceptance, love and support for her son, Josie realized quickly that there is much more to it when the person in question is your own child.
“The more I got into what it means to be LGBT and the more I learned about the terminology, I realized there is so much more to know about what my son is going through,” said Josie, whose son is 6 years old now. “Just because I'm liberal and accepting of him doesn't mean I understand how to best provide the right environment for my child. … There's still a lot to learn.”
Spectrum's Parent Support Group is not the only one of its kind in the North Bay. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has hosted monthly support groups in Tiburon and Santa Rosa for years. But PFLAG is a national organization that caters to anyone with concerns about an LGBT loved one. Spectrum wanted to provide a Marin- and Sonoma-specific group just for parents to discuss their feelings.
“PFLAG does amazing work, and they are beyond helpful to everyone who attends their meetings,” Gray said. “Spectrum created this group to broaden the scope of assistance and communication out there for parents to access.”
The increasing amount of information available on LGBT issues lines up with the growing number of LGBT people around the country. Conservative estimates put the number of out gays and lesbians in Marin at 10 percent, but that does not include LGBT people still in the closet or people confused about their sexual and gender orientation.
“Among teens there is a lot more knowledge about LGBT issues, but not nearly as many teens in Marin are out as the statistics show,” Brew said.
With an expanding community of out LGBT people, especially among younger and younger children, the time was right for this parent support group, Brew said.
Josie said even three years into her son's journey, she and her husband are still learning new things. She hopes Spectrum's new group can help other parents understand the facts of their child's life.
“It isn't just an outfit they're putting on or a phase they're going through. It's a frame of mind,” Josie said. “We're three years in, and there's no change with our son. This is who he is.”
WHERE TO FIND SUPPORT
— Spectrum Parent Support Group: Second Tuesday of each month, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Spectrum Center of Marin, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael
— PFLAG Marin support meeting: Second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 240 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon
— PFLAG Santa Rosa support meeting: Fourth Monday each month at 7:30 p.m., 312 Chinn St., Santa Rosa
— Josie's LGBT blog: open.salon.com/blog/girlyboymama (Warning: some adult language)
Friday, January 22, 2010
LGBT Workplace Issues
A forum for the LGBT CommunitySaturday, February 20, 2010
10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
(please arrive by 9:45 to register)
Marin Nonprofit Resource Center
555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael
(across from Northgate Mall)
Visit our Website for more information or download flyer here:
LGBT_Workplace_Issues_Workshop.pdf
(please arrive by 9:45 to register)
Marin Nonprofit Resource Center
555 Northgate Drive, San Rafael
(across from Northgate Mall)
Visit our Website for more information or download flyer here:
LGBT_Workplace_Issues_Workshop.pdf
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Should Prop 8 trial be televised?
U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker -- who will be overseeing a federal court challenge to Prop 8 starting this Monday (January 11) -- is considering whether or not to open the court room to TV cameras.
The court just announced that it is seeking public comment on the proposal to televise the trial -- and that all comments must be submitted to the court by a Friday deadline.
The interest in this case is unprecedented. And not surprisingly, supporters of Prop 8 -- who eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry -- do NOT want the trial to be televised.
Opponents of Prop 8 -- led by attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson -- are seeking to televise the case in the interests of full transparency. They want this historic trial to be watched by as many Americans as possible. And, of course, we agree.
We have just this one chance to make our voices heard -- thousands of Americans calling for equality, transparency and accountability. That's why we're teaming up with CREDO Action to collect as many signatures as possible asking Judge Walker to televise the case. We need your signature now:
SIGNATURE DEADLINE: FRIDAY 9 a.m.:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/TeleviseTheTrial
Together, along with our friends at CREDO, we will hand-deliver your signatures to Judge Vaughn Walker on Friday before the deadline.
This case presents issues that are very important to the public, and will affect millions of people. However, if the case is not televised, only a tiny fraction will ever be able to watch the trial in person.
By televising the trial, the public will be able to see for themselves the arguments and evidence presented by both sides, and will therefore have more confidence in the outcome of the trial.
That's why we think the Prop 8 court case should be televised and we're collecting as many signatures as possible to submit to Judge Vaughn Walker. Click here to sign now and say "YES -- the Prop 8 trial should be televised." SIGNATURE DEADLINE: FRIDAY 9 a.m.:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/TeleviseTheTrial
If you know other people who believe the Prop 8 trial should be televised as well, please forward this message to them ASAP.
Thank you so much for making your voice heard at this critical time. We will update you as soon as further news develops.
Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign Institute
The court just announced that it is seeking public comment on the proposal to televise the trial -- and that all comments must be submitted to the court by a Friday deadline.
The interest in this case is unprecedented. And not surprisingly, supporters of Prop 8 -- who eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry -- do NOT want the trial to be televised.
Opponents of Prop 8 -- led by attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson -- are seeking to televise the case in the interests of full transparency. They want this historic trial to be watched by as many Americans as possible. And, of course, we agree.
We have just this one chance to make our voices heard -- thousands of Americans calling for equality, transparency and accountability. That's why we're teaming up with CREDO Action to collect as many signatures as possible asking Judge Walker to televise the case. We need your signature now:
SIGNATURE DEADLINE: FRIDAY 9 a.m.:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/TeleviseTheTrial
Together, along with our friends at CREDO, we will hand-deliver your signatures to Judge Vaughn Walker on Friday before the deadline.
This case presents issues that are very important to the public, and will affect millions of people. However, if the case is not televised, only a tiny fraction will ever be able to watch the trial in person.
By televising the trial, the public will be able to see for themselves the arguments and evidence presented by both sides, and will therefore have more confidence in the outcome of the trial.
That's why we think the Prop 8 court case should be televised and we're collecting as many signatures as possible to submit to Judge Vaughn Walker. Click here to sign now and say "YES -- the Prop 8 trial should be televised." SIGNATURE DEADLINE: FRIDAY 9 a.m.:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/TeleviseTheTrial
If you know other people who believe the Prop 8 trial should be televised as well, please forward this message to them ASAP.
Thank you so much for making your voice heard at this critical time. We will update you as soon as further news develops.
Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign Institute
Thursday, December 17, 2009
My Child is Gay. What Do I Do?
Support group now forming for parents and caregivers of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning children of any age.
San Rafael, California – Spectrum Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Center of Marin County is offering a free support group for parents and caregivers of children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 6:30 – 8:00 PM at Spectrum, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael.
“Whether your child has been ‘out’ to you for twenty years, or their sexual orientation or gender identity is still in question, this group provides a safe space for parents and other caregivers to explore their own feelings and concerns,” says Cristin Brew, MFT, Program Director at Spectrum LGBT Center.
Based in San Rafael, Spectrum LGBT Center provides resources and services to promote acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Research conducted over the past twenty years has shown that sexual orientation – a person’s emotional connection and attraction to another person – develops early. Both gay and straight children tend to develop their first attraction to another person at around age 10. Adolescents are much more likely to be open about their identity when they are not afraid of rejection, ridicule, or negative reactions from family and friends.
However, many parents feel uncertain when they learn their child is gay. They may not know how to react or support their child. They may have conflicting feelings about whether or not they should support their child, because they do not adequately understand what it means when their child tells them they are gay.
Current research conducted by the Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University, demonstrates that LGBT young people who are rejected by their parents and caregivers are at very high risk for suicide or depression. They are also more likely than their straight peers to use illegal drugs.
“This new research from the Family Acceptance Project demonstrates the significance of parental acceptance or rejection toward a child who comes out to them as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender,” says Paula Pilecki, Executive Director of Spectrum. “Parents need a place to process their own feelings and discomfort, especially when they believe being gay or transgender is wrong.”
Since 1982, Spectrum has provided resources and support to LGBT youth through a weekly drop-in support group called Rainbow’s End. An estimated 25,000 youth ages 14-25 have found acceptance and friendship as a result of Spectrum’s work.
Parents, too, have turned to Spectrum for guidance when their children have revealed their sexual orientation or gender identity to be something other than what was assumed.
"I understand the turmoil parents might experience when they find out their child is gay," says Cynthia Wuthmann, parent of a gay son and volunteer for Spectrum's Speakers Bureau. "Parents need a safe place to process their own fears and feelings as they come to a greater understanding of how to best support their children during such a significant time."
ABOUT SPECTRUM’S PARENT SUPPORT GROUP:
Beginning in January 2010, Spectrum’s Parent Support Group will meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at Spectrum, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, in San Rafael. Facilitated by Erin Gray, M.S., MFT Intern (Supervisor Nancy Gump, MA, MFT, MFC25530). The group is open to parents and caregivers of children of any age who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. To learn more, contact Cristin Brew, MFT, at (415) 472-1945, ext. 203.
####
Spectrum provides community leadership in promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. For more information visit http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/.
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 472-1945
San Rafael, California – Spectrum Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Center of Marin County is offering a free support group for parents and caregivers of children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 6:30 – 8:00 PM at Spectrum, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, San Rafael.
“Whether your child has been ‘out’ to you for twenty years, or their sexual orientation or gender identity is still in question, this group provides a safe space for parents and other caregivers to explore their own feelings and concerns,” says Cristin Brew, MFT, Program Director at Spectrum LGBT Center.
Based in San Rafael, Spectrum LGBT Center provides resources and services to promote acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Research conducted over the past twenty years has shown that sexual orientation – a person’s emotional connection and attraction to another person – develops early. Both gay and straight children tend to develop their first attraction to another person at around age 10. Adolescents are much more likely to be open about their identity when they are not afraid of rejection, ridicule, or negative reactions from family and friends.
However, many parents feel uncertain when they learn their child is gay. They may not know how to react or support their child. They may have conflicting feelings about whether or not they should support their child, because they do not adequately understand what it means when their child tells them they are gay.
Current research conducted by the Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University, demonstrates that LGBT young people who are rejected by their parents and caregivers are at very high risk for suicide or depression. They are also more likely than their straight peers to use illegal drugs.
“This new research from the Family Acceptance Project demonstrates the significance of parental acceptance or rejection toward a child who comes out to them as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender,” says Paula Pilecki, Executive Director of Spectrum. “Parents need a place to process their own feelings and discomfort, especially when they believe being gay or transgender is wrong.”
Since 1982, Spectrum has provided resources and support to LGBT youth through a weekly drop-in support group called Rainbow’s End. An estimated 25,000 youth ages 14-25 have found acceptance and friendship as a result of Spectrum’s work.
Parents, too, have turned to Spectrum for guidance when their children have revealed their sexual orientation or gender identity to be something other than what was assumed.
"I understand the turmoil parents might experience when they find out their child is gay," says Cynthia Wuthmann, parent of a gay son and volunteer for Spectrum's Speakers Bureau. "Parents need a safe place to process their own fears and feelings as they come to a greater understanding of how to best support their children during such a significant time."
ABOUT SPECTRUM’S PARENT SUPPORT GROUP:
Beginning in January 2010, Spectrum’s Parent Support Group will meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at Spectrum, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160, in San Rafael. Facilitated by Erin Gray, M.S., MFT Intern (Supervisor Nancy Gump, MA, MFT, MFC25530). The group is open to parents and caregivers of children of any age who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. To learn more, contact Cristin Brew, MFT, at (415) 472-1945, ext. 203.
####
Spectrum provides community leadership in promoting acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. For more information visit http://www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org/.
Spectrum LGBT Center
30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 160
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 472-1945
Monday, November 23, 2009
March for Peace and Non-Violence - Hosted by Marin Academy High School
March for Peace and Non- Violence
You Are Invited!
December 2, 2009
Where: We will start on the lawn in front of the San Rafael Library (5th and E St.), march through downtown San Rafael, then gather at the Cold Stone Plaza.
When: 12:15pm (Meet at 5th and E St., San Rafael)
12:30pm (Gather at Cold Stone Plaza)
12:45pm (Send the Marchers to San Francisco)
On October 2, 2009, the World's first International March for Peace and Non-Violence began. Currently 25 marchers are traveling across six contents asking for the elimination of nuclear weapons and an end to war. As the march makes its way across the world many honorary marches are taking place.
On Wednesday, December 2, the World March for Peace and Non-Violence will be coming through the Bay Area. Marin Academy will have the honor of hosting three of the marchers, and in conjunction with their efforts, the Marin Academy Peace and Justice Coalition will be sponsoring its own march in support of Peace and Non-Violence. Our march will be led by the International Marchers and our honored special guest, Takashi Tanemori, a survivor of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb. From the San Rafael Library, we will march through downtown San Rafael to the Cold Stone Plaza for a culminating event, sending the World Marchers off on their continued journey. For more information on the March, go to www.worldmarchusa.net.
We encourage you to join us and we will be honored if you can participate. The more voices for peace and non-violence in any form, the bigger the impact we will have.
Thank You So Much!
Marin Academy Peace and Justice Coalition
For more information contact Mark at mstefanski@ma.org.
You Are Invited!
December 2, 2009
Where: We will start on the lawn in front of the San Rafael Library (5th and E St.), march through downtown San Rafael, then gather at the Cold Stone Plaza.
When: 12:15pm (Meet at 5th and E St., San Rafael)
12:30pm (Gather at Cold Stone Plaza)
12:45pm (Send the Marchers to San Francisco)
On October 2, 2009, the World's first International March for Peace and Non-Violence began. Currently 25 marchers are traveling across six contents asking for the elimination of nuclear weapons and an end to war. As the march makes its way across the world many honorary marches are taking place.
On Wednesday, December 2, the World March for Peace and Non-Violence will be coming through the Bay Area. Marin Academy will have the honor of hosting three of the marchers, and in conjunction with their efforts, the Marin Academy Peace and Justice Coalition will be sponsoring its own march in support of Peace and Non-Violence. Our march will be led by the International Marchers and our honored special guest, Takashi Tanemori, a survivor of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb. From the San Rafael Library, we will march through downtown San Rafael to the Cold Stone Plaza for a culminating event, sending the World Marchers off on their continued journey. For more information on the March, go to www.worldmarchusa.net.
We encourage you to join us and we will be honored if you can participate. The more voices for peace and non-violence in any form, the bigger the impact we will have.
Thank You So Much!
Marin Academy Peace and Justice Coalition
For more information contact Mark at mstefanski@ma.org.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
LGBT CENTERS RECEIVE INNOVATIVE GRANTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
The Johnson Family Foundation has announced that The Pacific Center for Human Growth in Berkeley, CA, and the Long Island GLBT Community Center in Bay Shore, NY have each been awarded a $150,000 grant over 3 years dedicated to increasing the variety and quality of mental health services provided by LGBT community centers and strengthening the overall organizational capacity of these institutions during a critical phase in their development.
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers is proud to be a partner in this new mental health initiative and will be working with both centers to implement yearly organizational technical assistance plans through additional funding made available from the Foundation. “CenterLink is thrilled to be part of this truly innovative program and we look forward to working with each center as they become model programs in the delivery of mental health services for the LGBT community,” said Terry Stone, Executive Director.
The grants were awarded to support specific capacity building projects of already existing mental health programs, and are the first year of a three year project during which additional LGBT centers will be eligible to apply for funding in 2010 and 2011. CenterLink reports there are currently over 180 LGBT centers in 48 states in the U.S. which serve over 40,000 people weekly through a diverse range of programs and services.
“This grant will enable our organization to improve efficiency, reach more people and provide more services relevant to our local community’s needs today. Our daily goal is to help people live confidently throughout the course of their lives and this grant will directly support those who come to us for help,’’ said the Pacific Center for Human Growth’s Executive Director, Leslie Ewing.
“The goal to provide LGBT centers the capacity to move to next level in the delivery of such services seems to be now reachable,” explains David Kilmnick, the Long Island GLBT Center’s Executive Director. ‘‘The Center’s capacity to serve clients is expected to double... [and] at the end of the three year grant period, The Center will be positioned to take its next steps toward opening the first GLBT mental health clinic on Long Island.’’
CenterLink applauds the commitment of the Johnson Family Foundation and looks forward to working with them and the centers to build a stronger, healthier LGBT community through innovative, sustainable, and effective programming at LGBT centers everywhere.
###
Founded in 1994, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers is the only national organization working to expand the organizational and advocacy capacity of LGBT community centers through direct technical assistance, leadership skills development and resource coordination. CenterLink believes LGBT centers represent the backbone of the LGBT movement, serving over 40,000 people weekly. For more information on CenterLink and its members, visit www.lgbtcenters.org.
The Johnson Family Foundation is a progressive family foundation. JFF operates national grantmaking programs in the areas of environmental health and LGBT issues, as well as place-based grantmaking programs in the State of Vermont; New York City and Long Island, NY; the City of Pittsburgh, PA; and the town of Telluride, CO. JFF made grants totaling approximately $3.6 million in 2008. Find out more by visiting www.jffnd.org.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Equality California Institute Receives $444,000 Grant from CA Department of Mental Health
Historic Grant to Assess and Improve Mental Health Services for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuals
Los Angeles - The California LGBT Health and Human Services Network of Equality California Institute (EQCAI) has been awarded a two-year, $444,000 grant by the California Department of Mental Health. This historic grant will fund a first ever statewide assessment of the mental health needs of LGBT communities.
"The impact of discrimination on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is immense, often leading to mental health issues like depression, substance abuse and even suicide," said Geoff Kors, Executive Director of EQCAI. "Never before has the state invested in research of this scope for the LGBT community. This is an important step toward ensuring equal access to culturally appropriate mental health services that can help the LGBT community overcome these challenges."
The study will collect statewide data on the harm caused by discrimination, examining such issues as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, substance abuse and suicide. It will identify the best ways to prevent and treat mental health issues in the LGBT community. The project will be guided by a statewide work group drawn from within the LGBT community, and it will work collaboratively within the multicultural and multilingual populations in California.
"This grant will literally change the face of mental health services in California and be a model for the rest of the nation," said Daniel Gould, EQCAI's Health and Human Services Network Coordinator. "The work we do will guide LGBT organizations, practitioners and policy makers in designing and implementing effective programs and policies that better address our community's mental health needs."
The California LGBT Health and Human Services Network is a coalition of organizations that directly serve the LGBT communities of California. These organizations deal with a myriad of issues including safe schools, teenage suicide prevention and elder housing. To learn more about EQCAI's Health and Human Services Network, please visit http://www.eqcai.org/health/about.
Equality California Institute educates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and the public at large about issues impacting the LGBT community and our allies. Established in 2000, EQCAI organizes and empowers individuals, communities and allied groups to work proactively for fairness, equality and justice. EQCAI coordinates the LGBT Health and Human Services Network, a statewide health coalition. www.eqcai.org
http://www.eqca.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=4869041&ct=7608481
Sunday, November 1, 2009
An Evening with Marc Adams
Present
An Evening with Marc Adams
Monday, November 23, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation Sanctuary
547 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa
Founder of HeartStrong uncovers restorative therapy & faith-based anti-GLBT bullying at religious educational institutions.
Marc Adams, Lambda Literary Award finalist and Silver Pen Award recipient for his autobiography, The Preachers Son, will share his life’s story as well as discuss HeartStrong, Inc., the non-profit organization he co-founded more than a decade ago. HeartStrong has provided hope and help to GLBT students who have endured faith-based anti-GLBT bullying in religious schools around the world since 1996.
“It can be a very serious situation for a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person who finds themselves in one of these schools,” Adams warns. “Parents enroll their kids in these schools without even considering what might happen. Sometimes they enroll their kids in these schools because of their homosexuality.”
“This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand what it is li8ke to grow up gay in such a destructive environment,” Adams says. “As serious as the subject matter is, most people who attend these forums laugh, cry and laugh again as I share about how I found freedom and how HeartStrong has helped so many others on their own journeys to self acceptance.”
We hope you will be able to join us for this very special evening with Marc.
The educational forum schedule is located on the websites below:
http://www.meetmarcadams.com
http://www.exgay.com
http://www.heartstrong.org
An Evening with Marc Adams
Monday, November 23, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation Sanctuary
547 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa
Founder of HeartStrong uncovers restorative therapy & faith-based anti-GLBT bullying at religious educational institutions.
Marc Adams, Lambda Literary Award finalist and Silver Pen Award recipient for his autobiography, The Preachers Son, will share his life’s story as well as discuss HeartStrong, Inc., the non-profit organization he co-founded more than a decade ago. HeartStrong has provided hope and help to GLBT students who have endured faith-based anti-GLBT bullying in religious schools around the world since 1996.
“It can be a very serious situation for a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person who finds themselves in one of these schools,” Adams warns. “Parents enroll their kids in these schools without even considering what might happen. Sometimes they enroll their kids in these schools because of their homosexuality.”
“This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand what it is li8ke to grow up gay in such a destructive environment,” Adams says. “As serious as the subject matter is, most people who attend these forums laugh, cry and laugh again as I share about how I found freedom and how HeartStrong has helped so many others on their own journeys to self acceptance.”
We hope you will be able to join us for this very special evening with Marc.
The educational forum schedule is located on the websites below:
http://www.meetmarcadams.com
http://www.exgay.com
http://www.heartstrong.org
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