Links about Bisexuality

 

1.     Bisexual Resource Center - Supporting Bisexual Community

2.     Welcome To The American Institute Of Bisexuality

3.     Bisexuality 101: Am I bisexual? - National Bisexuality | Examiner.com

4.     WHAT IS BISEXUALITY? By Kathy Labriola

5.     Bisexuality Basics

6.     Women's bisexuality an 'identity,' not phase - USATODAY.com

 

 

Freedom to Serve!

September 19, 2011 News of Note   Follow That Blog Finally. The Freedom to Serve. On Tues., Sept. 20, 2011, after 18 years of government mandated employment discrimination and more than 14,500 discharges, the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy will officially expire. Brave and strong gay and lesbian servicemembers who help protect their nation and its citizens will no longer be subject to discharge on the basis of their sexual orientation and no longer forced to serve in silence. READ MORE...  It's Time to Celebrate! Tuesday, Sept 20, 6 pm, Freedom to Serve  On Tuesday, September 20, 2011, Don't Ask, Don't Tell will officially expire and LGB Servicemembers will no longer be subject to discharge from the military on the basis of their sexual orientation. Join us for this historic occasion at The Center at 6 pm, as we celebrate their long overdue Freedom to Serve. Join us for this historic occasion, as we celebrate their long overdue Freedom to Serve. We will hear from Eric Alva, a gay Marine who was the first American to be wounded in the war in Iraq, retired Colonel Stewart Bornhoft, former Naval Lieutenant Jenny Kopfstein, who was discharged under DADT,  and former Marine Evelyn Thomas, co-founder of Sanctuary Project Veterans. The following establishments have confirmed a Military Discount (one per person with military ID) for that evening: Gossip Grill, Baja Betty's and Urban Mo's. For more information, contact Denise Serrano at dserrano@thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077 x103. Sunday, Sept. 25, 8 am – the Event We've All Been Waiting For… AIDS Walk San Diego! Whether you're a walker, a runner or a "register to donate and raise funds but let someone else do the sweaty stuff," AIDS Walk San Diego needs you! Register online at www.aidswalksd.org then join us in Balboa Park on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8 am for the 10 K run or 8:15 am for the 5K walk (or donate extra and sleep in). More than a dozen different agencies — serving thousands of clients — rely on funds raised at the annual AIDS Walk to help provide essential prevention and care programs to thousands of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. You make a difference – join us! Christopher's Center Connection Less than one week until AIDS Walk! Hope to see you this Sunday.  We are also one month from The Center's 38th Anniversary Gala on Saturday October 22nd 2011, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront! The Center's Anniversary Gala is the premier LGBT event of the year, bringing together more than 600 hundred of our closest friends for a great evening of dinner and dancing in support of our vital programs and services.  Sign up today to host a table and join us on October 22nd for a cocktail hour, a fabulous silent auction, live entertainment and a delicious gourmet dinner, all benefiting The Center! Christopher Mills Major Gifts Officer Saturday, Oct. 29, 7 pm, Nightmare on Normal Street Nightmare on Normal Street, Hillcrest's Halloween block party, will be held on Saturday, October 29 from 7-10 pm on Normal Street at University Avenue. The Outrageous Nicole returns as emcee for the fabulous costume contest – don't miss it! Costume contest registration is limited to the first 85 entries and will close promptly at 8:30 pm. The grand prize will be $1000! Tickets are only $12.50 online (includes $5 in drink tickets), $10 at the door (with no drink tickets) or $50 for VIP (includes reserved seating and complimentary drinks – limited availability, available online only). Buy your tickets online now! Come join us for the biggest Halloween party in Hillcrest and support The Center! This is a 21+ event with adult content. ID is required. Equality Voters! Are you registered? Find out at www.sdvote.com. Every vote matters. Want to vote by mail in the comfort of your home? It's easy! Click on this link to the mail ballot application.   Save the Dates Sunday, Sept. 25 – AIDS Walk San Diego Saturday, Oct. 22 – The Center's Anniversary Gala Saturday, Oct. 29 – Nightmare on Normal Street Spotlight Events    Wednesday, Sept. 21, 12 noon, Sanctuary Project: Pit-Bulls for Benefits Join us as Corporal Evelyn Thomas and Linda Sanders of The Sanctuary Project talk about the next steps after the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT).  The Sanctuary Project assists LGBT military and their families obtain benefits they are entitled to but may not be receiving due to DADT and the Defense of Marriage Act.  RSVP by Monday, Sept. 19 to seniors@thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077, ext. 205. Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7 pm, Got Something to Discuss? Join the 20-Somethings Men's Group! Connect to The Center and the community. Join other 18-28 year olds to talk about relationships, sexual health, activism, community building and more. The men's group meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7 pm. For more information, contact Aaron Heier at 619.692.2077 x211, or aheier@thecentersd.org. Program Activities: Youth, Seniors, Families, Men, Women, HIV Community and More Volunteers Make the World Go 'Round! Get Your Gala On Friday, Sept. 30, Open Mic at Hillcrest Youth Center Wednesday, Oct. 5, 7 pm, Jewish Federation of San Diego County Wants to Hear From You   Friday, Oct. 7, 2 pm, 50 and Better Together Gallery Tour at Noel-Baza Fine Art Saturday, Oct. 15, Youth Out at the Park Saturday, October 15, 4 pm, Family Matters Halloween Carnival & Costume Contest   Thursday, Oct. 27, 6 pm, Harvest Howl to Benefit Youth Housing HIV Testing at The Center HIV tests are available at The Center Monday/Wednesday, 9 am-2 pm, Tuesday/Thursday, 9 am-3:15 pm and Friday, 9 am-1:45 pm. For more information, call 619.692.2077 x101. HIV Behavioral Health Services & Counseling (English & Spanish) Counseling services for men and women living with HIV are available FREE at The Center. Whether you just need some quick help with a specific life challenge or need a little more time to build up your coping skills, services are available to individuals, couples, and families. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 619.692.2077 x208. A Fabulous Menu of Giving Opportunities! No matter what strikes your passion and heart most deeply -- youth seniors, families, housing, equality work -- there are a menu of giving opportunities to help support the nearly 50,000 service visits for LGBT San Diegans that we provide every year! Every dollar you can give helps to support the services, projects and programs that make a difference for so many in the San Diego LGBT community. You don't have to give thousands to make a difference in lives. Give what you can and together we can all keep making a difference! Thank you for your generosity and for all you do! Community Thursday, Sept. 22, 7 pm, Pep Rally for Trevor Project Edward II at Diversionary – Epic! Gun Hill Road at Landmark Hillcrest Saturday, Oct. 15, 7 pm, Follies at the Met(ropolitan Community Church) Monday, October 24, 7:30 pm, k.d. lang at downtown's Balboa Theatre! Saturday, October 29, 6:30 pm, Trunk 'n Treat at MCC Looking for Great Restaurants That Give Back to the Community? Stellar Price: A Deal for You, A Donation for The Center!

Policy Matters - 09.19.2011

Policy Matters – 09.19.2011

Front Page Headlines

Why A Heterosexual, Married, North Carolinian Father of Three Cares About LGBT Equality: The decision to put banning same-sex marriage on the 2012 ballot in North Carolina has elicited many reactions from state residents. One father's blog describes his passionate views on the matter, and explains in detail why everyone should support marriage equality: "It pains me to know that there are people who reject the validity of these relationships…These committed, same-sex couples are North Carolinians. They contribute to the economy, they pay taxes, and they certainly do not deserve to be treated as second-class citizens by anyone." [Def Shepherd- Blog Post]

DADT Repeal Parties September 20^th  For Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Service Members: The military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy will become history on September 20^th, but for active-duty gays and lesbians planning to celebrate its demise, there are still plenty of do's and don'ts to keep in mind. In a blog post Monday, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) released guidelines on the types of parties gays in uniform may attend under Pentagon policy. SLDN and other gay rights and political groups plan to hold celebrations in locations across the country to signal the end of the 17-year-old policy that bans open service in the military by gays and lesbians.  [The Huffington Post]

Poll: Nearly Half Back Marriage Equality Ban:  Nearly half of all Americans support a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, according to a new poll. However, most feel the issue should be dealt with at the state level. 48 percent favored the constitutional amendment, which define a legal marriage as between a man and woman. 43 percent said they oppose banning same-sex marriage constitutionally. [The Associated Press]

Teen Gets Five Years for Attack on Transgender Woman at McDonald's: After a teenage girl was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for beating a transgender woman at McDonald's in Rosedale, some advocates for transgender people called the sentence too lenient. "The whole incident is unfortunate and demonstrates the lack of knowledge and understanding, and discrimination against transgender people," said Patrick Wojahn, board president of the Equality Maryland Foundation. "If anything, five years may have been too short of an amount of time for the attack and the amount of hatred that was shown in the incident."  [The Baltimore Sun]

Policy Watch

US Lawmakers Seek Delay in Lifting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives are calling for a delay in lifting the ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual people serving openly in the US military, saying new rules have not yet been made available. A letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta from House Armed Services Committee chair Buck McKeon and Joe Wilson, who chairs a subcommittee, said President Barack Obama's administration has failed to provide details about the new regulations that repeal the former Don't Ask, Don't Tellpolicy. [Google News]

Bachmann is Urged to Condemn Bullying: Tammy Aaberg, mother of a gay Anoka High School student who died by suicide, called on Rep. Michele Bachmann on Thursday to publicly denounce the kind of harassment in the Anoka-Hennepin School District that Aaberg says was a contributing factor to the death of her son. The Anoka-Hennepin district, which is in Bachmann's congressional area, is the target of a pair of lawsuits stemming from its "neutrality policy" regarding issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. It also is the subject of a federal civil rights investigation, sparked last fall by allegations of bullying over sexual orientation. Aaberg and five others met with Bachmann staffers at the congresswoman's office in Waite Park, near St. Cloud. They also delivered a box containing more than 130,000 petition signatures from around the country, calling on Bachmann to condemn harassment of gay students in her district. [The Star Tribune]

NCAA Adopts New Policy to Embrace Transgender Student Athletes, Keep Competitive Equity: The NCAA is adopting a new policy regarding transgender athletes. The NCAA says athletes who have testosterone in their systems from medical treatment will not be allowed to compete against women's teams in gender-specific sports at NCAA championships. They will be allowed, however, to compete against men. Likewise, transgender female athletes must show they have suppressed testosterone for one year in order to compete with on a women's team. This decision covers athletes who want to participate before, during, and after transition.  [Washington Post]

A Question from the Field

Dear Policy Matters,

I've heard rumors that tomorrow's repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is going to be delayed! Are these rumors true? My son is unsure if it is safe for him to come out to his unit after 09/20/2011.

Thank you,

Patricia

Dear Patricia,

Thank you for contacting Policy Matters. It is true that House Armed Services Committee chairman Rep. Bud McKeon and Rep. Joe Wilson have proposed that Don't Ask, Don't Tell stay in place. They claim that because their committee hasn't yet received a written copy of the policy changes happening due to the repeal, that the repeal itself should be delayed. Fortunately, this was a temporary scare.

A spokesman from the Pentagon confirmed that the repeal will not be delayed: "The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell will occur, in accordance with the law and after a rigorous certification process, on September 20, 2011...Senior Department of Defense officials have advised Congress of changes to regulations and policies associated with the repeal. We take that obligation seriously."

The Representatives who challenged the certification of the repeal were incorrect. Under the provisions in the repeal, new regulations must be prepared before it can take effect. The regulations are not required to be issued before the repeal can be certified. This means that the new regulations for the repeal have to be created and ready to go, but the Pentagon isn't required to distribute them in order for the repeal to be valid.

Your son will be able to speak openly about his sexuality in the military on September 20^th without any fear of repercussion. Here is what the repeal does:

·         Removes the ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members from serving openly in the military.

·         Protects lesbian, gay and bisexual service members from being discharged due to their sexual orientation or sexual behavior.

Here's what the repeal doesn't do:

·         Contain a non-discrimination policy for lesbian, gay and bisexual service members in the military.

·         Provide benefits for any partners or spouses of lesbian, gay and bisexual service members.

·         Cover transgender service members in any way. The initial law dealt with lesbian, gay and bisexual service members, and never included provisions for transgender members. Transgender members are still banned from serving because of medical regulations and mental health regulations.

Best of luck to your son!

Thank you for moving equality forward,

Policy Matters

PFLAG.org

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"And the children are free" book about the Bible and LGBT issues

For all those parents of LGBT children and the LGBT children who have a strong religious influence, this book can be such a great help in understanding the clobber passages.  For me personally it was an eye opener and I recommend it highly!!

http://lifejourneypress.cc/products/the-children-are-free