About Giving Events Programs Other Resources Join Us Contact April 25, 2011
News of Note... Thursday, April 28 - Dine Out! Fight AIDS!
The Center's fifth annual Dining Out for Life® San Diego will take place on Thursday, April 28. Join us as restaurants across San Diego donate 25% or more of the day's sales to support The Center's HIV/AIDS programs. Call your friends and make your reservations now for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and dessert. Find out more at www.diningoutforlife.com/sandiego or www.facebook.com/DOFLSD.
Only 6 Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast Tables Left - Buy Yours Now
Tables for the 2011 Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast are going fast, so buy yours soon before the event sells out! The breakfast will be held Friday, May 20, 7:30 am at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. Visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Harvey.Milk.Diversity.Breakfast for more information and updates (and Like us while you're there). To purchase tables online, visit the HMDB website at www.harveymilkdiversitybreakfast.com.
Friday, April 29, 5 pm, Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast Student Essay Contest DeadlineThe Harvey Milk Video Essay Contest is open to all high school students ages 14-18 in San Diego County schools. Videos are due by 5 pm on April 29 and the winner of the contest will be announced on May 6. The winner will receive a $750 prize sponsored by San Diego LGBT Pride and will be featured at the Third Annual Harvey Milk Breakfast on May 20, 2011. For application and submission information, visit our website.
Save the Dates
Thursday, April 28 – Dining Out for Life
Saturday, May 7 – Women's Fest
Friday, May 20 – Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
Saturday, June 25 – Happy Birthday Frida
Sunday, Sept. 25 – AIDS Walk San Diego
Saturday, Oct. 22 – The Center's Anniversary Gala
Saturday, Oct. 29 – Nightmare on Normal StreetSpotlight Events...Tuesday, April 26, 7 pm, Twenty-Somethings Discussion Groups for Men
These groups at The Center have been created to better connect LGBT 20-somethings to The Center and the community. Aimed at participants age 18-28, the groups will address issues pertinent to young adults – such as relationships, sexual health, activism, community building and more. The women's group will meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 pm; men's group will meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7 pm. For more information, contact women@thecentersd.org.
Tuesday, April 26, 11:30 am, LGBT Creative Writers Group
Do you love to write but need a little inspiration to get going? Do you love to talk to others about your desire to be the next Hemingway? Then join 50 & Better Together's LGBT Creative Writers Group every fourth Tuesday of the month at 11:30 am for another stop on our journey to become better writers. Bring a pen, paper and an open mind! No previous writing experience necessary. For information, please contact seniors@thecentersd.org.
Wednesday, April 27, 6:30 pm, Media Workshop for 14 to 18-year-olds @ HYC
Get creative and learn how to make your voice heard! The Media Workshop meets 6:30-8:30 pm on Wednesdays at the Hillcrest Youth Center. The workshop is led by a UCSD grad student who will teach you everything you need to know about being in front of a camera, behind the camera, lighting and video editing using Final Cut Pro. For more information, contact Jess Culpepper at 619.497.2920 x101 or HYC@thecentersd.org.
Saturday, May 7, 10 am, Women's Fest Goes DIY (Do it Yourself)Join the Women's Resource Center and local LBT women for a day-long festival of workshops, entertainment and resources. Women's Fest 2011: Do It Yourself (D.I.Y.)! will take place on Saturday, May 7, from 10 am to 5 pm, at The Center. This year's festival will focus on the D.I.Y. movement, which empowers individuals to take matters into their own hands for artistic expression, home repairs, self-publication, community building, transportation and more. Last year's Women's Fest featured 15 workshops and more than 30 women-friendly vendors and community partners. For more information or to obtain a vendor application, contact Danielle Lopez at 619.692.2077 x201 or dlopez@thecentersd.org.
Monday, April 25, 2011
LGBT happenings this week!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Dooley at Diversionary
ST PAUL'S FOUNDATION FOR INTERNATIONAL RECONCILIATION
Invites you to a special performance of
DOOLEY
Saturday May 14, 2011
6.30 p.m. Cupcake and champagne Reception
Purchase your tickets by May 2 for the May 14 DOOLEY event at Diversionary to receive the group rate of $25 and to ensure your seat. Please mention The Foundation when purchasing by phone. Group rate available only by phone: 619.220.0097
Please come and support the international fight for HIV prevention and care and global human rights www.stpaulsfoundation.com
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
From PFLAG National * Policy Matters - 04.12.11
__________________________________________________
J. RHODES PERRY, MPA| Associate Director of Policy and Programs
PFLAG National | 1828 L Street NW, Suite 660 | Washington, D.C. 20036
P: (202) 467-8180 ext. 221 | F: (202) 349-0788|E: RPerry@pflag.org | W: www.PFLAG.org
Moving Equality Forward through Support, Education, and Advocacy
PFLAG Policy Matters
April 12, 2011
Front Page Headlines
Nine Million Americans Estimated to be Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual. In an attempt to encourage more research into the health and well-being of LGBT people, a California demographer has estimated that more than 9 million Americans are lesbian, gay or bisexual, a number equivalent to the population of New Jersey. Gary Gates, who studies the demographics of the LGBT community for the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, said in a report released Thursday that about 3.5 percent of Americans identify themselves in surveys as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. The percentage more than doubles, however, if it includes people who say they have engaged in same-sex, sexual behavior.
Democrats Ask House Speaker Boehner for DOMA Briefing. On April 4, the lead sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) - the bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - asked Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) for a briefing on the House defense of DOMA. On March 9, the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Committee, on a party-line 3-2 vote, passed a resolution that called on the House counsel to defend the constitutionality of DOMA in court following the Obama administration's Feb. 23 decision that it would no longer defend DOMA in court.
Twelve Senators Write on Behalf of Bi-National Same-Sex Couples. On March 31, Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) sent a letter to the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano seeking a stop on deportations of married, same-sex bi-national couples until a final judicial decision can be reached on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Following up on this correspondence, a significant group of senators joined the cause last Wednesday in support of Representative Holt's request to stop deportations stating that it was "the right thing to do."
Gates: DADT Repeal Has Little Impact on Military. Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates reassured U.S. servicemembers in Iraq that allowing lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals to serve openly in the military will have little impact on the armed forces, an argument largely echoed by the top leaders of the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy. In Washington, leaders from the four services testified before the House Armed Services Committee on the implementation of the new policy. Pressed by Republicans on the implications of the change, senior military leaders insisted the services would be able to retain talented members and it could potentially increase the pool of recruits.
Public Policy Watch
Secretary Sebelius Announces Important Health Improvements. On April 1, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a number of steps her Department was recommending to the President to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. These commitments are major advocacy wins that support PFLAG's ongoing efforts to enhance anti-bullying efforts, improve the adoption and foster care process for prospective LGBT parents, and ensure services for homeless LGBT youth are capable of meeting their specific needs.
IOM Releases Foundational LGBT Health Study. On March 31, the influential Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a groundbreaking report entitled, The Health of LGBT People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding. The report recommended that researchers collect more data about the demographics of LGBT communities, improve methods for collecting and analyzing data, and increase participation of LGBT individuals in research. Building a more solid evidence base for LGBT health concerns will help bolster our advocacy for stronger families at the local, state and federal levels.
AK High Court Rules State's 2008 Adoption Ban Unconstitutional. Last week, the Arkansas Supreme Court struck down the state's 2008 ballot initiative that prohibited unmarried, cohabitating individuals from adopting children or becoming foster parents. The opinion was published without dissent. As same-sex marriage is illegal and not recognized in Arkansas, this initiative had the effect of prohibiting same-sex couples from fostering or adopting children. Arkansas' Department of Human Services will continue to carefully consider each foster care and adoption application with the best interest of the child as its foremost concern. Additionally, the department now will have an expanded pool of potential applicants, as the Supreme Court's decision will create more opportunities to match children with loving and supportive homes.
VA Governor Weighs Proposal that Allows LGBT People to Adopt. Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell is considering whether to try to derail proposed regulations developed by his Democratic predecessor that would for the first time allow LGBT couples to adopt children in Virginia. McDonnell has less than two weeks to act on the regulations that would force state-licensed private and church-run agencies to allow unmarried couples — straight or same-sex — to adopt children.
Maryland Gender Identity Bill on the Move. The Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act, which had appeared dead for the year, was moved to a more favorable committee Tuesday morning after extended public pressure that included hundreds of constituent calls and e-mails, many of which came directly from MD PFLAG members. The state equality group, Equality Maryland, announced that the Senate Rules Committee voted to send the bill to the Judicial Proceedings Committee, where it is expected to pass and head to the full senate for consideration. The bill passed the assembly by a strong 86-52 margin last month, but in the senate it was unexpectedly assigned to the rules committee, where prospects dimmed.
A Question from the Field
Dear Policy Matters:
With all that is going on with the federal budget, I seem to be hearing less about social issues, in particular, LGBT legislation. Is this a sign that we will not only hear less, but see less action on legislation in the coming year? Do our Representatives and Senators still want to hear about these issues when they are so focused on the budget?
Sincerely,
Rosemary
//
Dear Rosemary,
Thank you for contacting Policy Matters. While it's true that Members of Congress continue to grapple with unprecedented global challenges including negotiating multiple war fronts, responding to national disasters, and yes, trying to accomplish one of their core tasks-- passing a federal budget--social issues still play a key role in the 112th Congress as evidenced by the fight over whether to fund Planned Parenthood programming. Thankfully, LGBT issues are still a top priority, thanks to the rock solid LGBT Equality Caucus. Leaders from this caucus plan to reintroduce all 33 LGBT bills from the previous Congress once again in the 112th Congress.
In terms of movement of these bills, we expect to see progress in the Senate, where the Democrats have retained control. In fact, we are likely to see certain bills like the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) and the Safe Schools Improvement Act move through committee and maybe even come to the floor for a vote, depending on the circumstances. One possible way to move these bills forward is to include them in the reauthorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA). A reauthorization simply means the process by which Congress prescribes changes, additions and deletions to a specific law to meet the changing needs for a specific issue like education. Our National Office continues to advocate for the passage of ESEA with these anti-bullying safeguards for LGBT students.
Prospects of movement for pro-LGBT legislation in the Republican-controlled House on the other hand are unlikely, especially considering Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) intentions to spend tax-payer dollars defending the Defense of Marriage Amendment (DOMA). This decision came after the Obama Administration determined that DOMA was unconstitutional, as it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Despite Republican control of the House, the strength of the LGBT Equality Caucus will continue providing leadership around LGBT equality and educate the over 100 new Congress Members on important issues that matter to our families.
Now, more than ever, we need you to pick up the phone, write a letter or schedule a visit with your Congress members and urge them to take leadership on the LGBT-specific legislation that matter most to your families and friends. If you have any questions on how to contact your members of Congress, please don't hesitate to contact our Associate Director of Policy and Programs.
Thank you for moving equality forward,
Policy Matters
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Exodus from Finnish Church Over Anti-Gay Crusade
> Exodus From Finnish Church Over Anti-Gay Crusade
> April 2, 2011 By Sheri Lawson 1 Comment
>
> http://www.goddiscussion.com/44537/exodus-from-finnish-church-over-anti-gay-crusade/
>
> About 3000 people have reportedly left a Finnish Lutheran church
> over an anti-gay campaign which was launched to convince homosexuals
> they could be cured, as reported by Pink News on March 28. One woman
> named Anni claimed to have been cured of bi-sexuality and likened
> the transformation to being a reformed murderer.
>
> In Finland, being a homosexual was illegal before 1971 and
> discrimination based on sexual orientation was legal until 1995.
> But in a 2010 poll 54% of respondents support same-sex marriage,
> while 35% oppose it. It's widely believed that after the 2011
> parliamentary elections gay marriage in Finland could be legalized.
>
> The mainstream medical association claims that homosexuality is not
> something that can be changed, and trying to do so may cause serious
> mental harm. Kari Mäkinen, Archbishop of the Finnish Evangelical Lut
> heran Church, criticized the campaign to convince homosexuals they c
> ould be cured, and said it should be stopped admitting that gay peop
> le were not sick and had been created by God the way they were.
>
> The Lutheran Evangelical Association, which is Finland's national ch
> urch, did not lead the campaign but they do subsidize the organizati
> on that did. Members pay money to support the church and thereby tho
> se it subsidizes. It may have been this that sparked the exit by so
> many from the church upon learning where some of their donations wer
> e going.
>
> The idea of gay rights has been a hot button topic for over a decade
> now as gay couples fight for their right to legally marry, and it
> doesn't appear that advocates on either side of the divide are ready
> to give in any time soon.
>
> Only a handful of states in the United States have legalized gay
> marriage, far behind many other countries. The debate on whether or
> not legalizing gay marriage will harm society has resulted in tens
> of millions of dollars on both sides of the divide being spent to
> create (or fight) legislation denying gays equality.
>
> Long held beliefs that homosexuality is a sin against God has
> resulted in many within religious communities using their
> collective power to fight the ever-growing trend to accept the gay
> community as equal in every way under the law. And on the other
> side of the divide the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and
> transgendered) individuals and their allies, consider religious
> beliefs as having no place in civil law and they base that belief on
> the idea that church and state should remain separate entities.
>
> Only time will tell if that trend results in the GLTB community
> achieving full equality in Finland, the United States or across the
> globe.
Subscribe
Posts
All Comments
