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SWC IS CELEBRATING IT'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY AND NEEDS YOUR HELP!
We are looking for Stonewall Columbus and Columbus Pride photos, video, printed materials, and memorabilia from the last 30 years to showcase our 30th anniversary in 2011.
In 1981 four young activists, frustrated with the discrimination that permeated central Ohio, staged a march to draw attention to the issues that face our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. That demonstration inspired others and by September 23rd of that year Craig Huffman, Val Thogmartin, Keith McKnight and Craig Covey created the articles of incorporation of a newly formed organization that would help people in the community. It was called Stonewall Union. At a meeting on July 14, 1983 Susan Pyle was elected president and Cindie Cyrus was elected secretary of the board of trustees and a nonprofit organization was born.
Now here we are, Stonewall Columbus, thirty years later. We owe a debt of gratitude to those individuals who stood up and did something when most people were afraid to take the chance. In 2011, Stonewall Columbus celebrates thirty years of service to central Ohio. Our marketing team has created a logo to commemorate this historic milestone. We are hoping that all of you have fond memories of Stonewall Columbus and have saved some of the memorabilia from past Prides and other special events. If so, please send them to John Herman. We are working on gathering materials that will be on display at our Pride celebration next June. This will be our 30th Pride as well and we realize that it may seem far away but gathering things from three decades takes time so please join us for this nostalgic year.
Send your Stonewall Columbus or Columbus Pride photos and video here
Email it to info@stonewallcolumbus.org with History in the subject line.
or Mail to:
Stonewall Columbus
Attn: History Materials
1160 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43201
Any questions? Email info@stonewallcolumbus.org or call 614-930-2264.
[7/28/10]
FORMATION OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO LINK STATE AND LOCAL TRANSGENDER ADVOCACY GROUPS IS ANNOUNCED
Columbus, OH -- 07/23/2010: A group of state and local transgender leaders are pleased to announce the formation of the Trans Advocacy Network. The Trans Advocacy Network held their first meeting in Memphis, Tennessee on July 10, 2010 with the purpose of defining their mission and goals for the upcoming year. > Full Story. [7/26/10]
DETROIT BLACK GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY
This weekend, Detroit will play host to one of the gay community's largest Black Pride events in the country. > Full Story. [7/23/10]
FEDERAL MONEY TO GO TO VERMONT LGBTQ YOUTH GROUP’S ANTI-BULLYING CAMPAIGN
There is an old truism to politics that what is pork to you is necessary spending to me. It is the same with earmarks. Basically, people love pork and earmarks if they are flowing into their state, but hate them if they are flowing into someone else's. Representative Peter Welch of Vermont secured some twenty-nine earmarks for Vermont, which is quite low to be honest. One of those earmarks is going to Outright Vermont, a Burlington-based queer youth advocacy organization. It is the first time that any Vermont LGBT group has been given a federal earmark. In August, the nonprofit received its first installment of a $100,000 appropriation that will be given to them over the next three years. > Full Story. [7/22/10]
PRIDELINES HOSTS VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
Pridelines Youth Services is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of South Florida's LGBTQ youth. Anyone interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with Pridelines is invited to an informal volunteer recruitment event on Saturday, July 31, from 11 a.m. to noon, in the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's LGBT Visitor Center, 1130 Washington Avenue, First Floor North, Miami Beach. > Full Story. [7/22/10]
SOUTH BEND, IND., CONSIDERS LGBT EMPLOYMENT PROTECTIONS
South Bend Common Councilmember Oliver Davis has co-sponsored a measue that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in Indiana's fourth largest city. > Full Story. [7/22/10]
8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION - OUTTAKES FILM SERIES THURSDAY AUGUST 5TH
Columbus premiere! One screening only!
Thursday, August 5 at 8pm.
Presented as part of OUTTakes, a monthly screening partnership between Gateway Film Center and Stonewall Columbus.
Director Reed Cowan initially planned on making a documentary about gay teen homelessness and suicide in Utah but soon realized that the homophobia that prompts otherwise loving parents to kick teenagers out of their homes is deep-seated in current Mormon ideology. Cowan, with his fellow filmmakers, experienced first-hand what it was like to grow up gay in Utah in the Mormon faith, then turned their attention to the historic campaign by the Mormon Church to pass Proposition 8 in California believing that it was the cornerstone of an ideology that has worked for decades "to damage gay people and their causes." The film is their emotional outcry to what they found.
WATCH THE TRAILER at http://www.stonewallcolumbus.org/outtakes
Gateway Film Center is located at 1550 N. High Street in South Campus Gateway. For more information, call 614.545.2255 or visit www.gatewayfilmcenter.com.
> Full Story. [7/21/10]
FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SCREENING OPPORTUNITY
The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina is very excited to be participating in the inaugural Triangle Black Pride.
The Alliance will be providing free and confidential HIV/STD testing during the Triangle Black Pride Expo on Saturday July 31, 2010, 9:30am-1:30pm. Please come out, get tested, and join us in welcoming the first annual Triangle Black Pride.
Triangle Black Pride takes place July 29th - August 1st in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, NC. The host hotel and location of the Triangle Black Pride Expo is the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, 4500 Marriott Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27612 (Across from the Crabtree Valley Mall)
Discounted room rates are $99/night, with group code TSPTSPA. Book your room today via http://tinyurl.com/TBPMarriott or by calling toll free (with group code). All persons registed with this group code is automatically entered into a drawing for a 1 week resort stay in Central Florida. Additional raffle tickets may be purchased to increase your chances of winning.
> Full Story. [7/21/10]
FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SCREENING OPPORTUNITY
The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina is very excited to be participating in the inaugural Triangle Black Pride.
The Alliance will be providing free and confidential HIV/STD testing during the Triangle Black Pride Expo on Saturday July 31, 2010, 9:30am-1:30pm. Please come out, get tested, and join us in welcoming the first annual Triangle Black Pride.
Triangle Black Pride takes place July 29th - August 1st in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, NC. The host hotel and location of the Triangle Black Pride Expo is the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, 4500 Marriott Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27612 (Across from the Crabtree Valley Mall)
Discounted room rates are $99/night, with group code TSPTSPA. Book your room today via http://tinyurl.com/TBPMarriott or by calling toll free (with group code). All persons registed with this group code is automatically entered into a drawing for a 1 week resort stay in Central Florida. Additional raffle tickets may be purchased to increase your chances of winning.
> Full Story. [7/21/10]
STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND PAC ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS
On July 14, 2010, members of the Stonewall Democrats of Central Maryland PAC (SDCM) met to vote on their first round of endorsed candidates for the 2010 Primary Election. > Full Story. [7/20/10]
MAINE MAN WINS $1 MILLION GAY DISCRIMINATION SUIT
A jury has awarded a Maine man more than $1 million in a discrimination case based on sexual orientation -- the largest such award to date in Maine. > Full Story. [7/16/10]
A EVENING OF THE ARTS AT THE CENTER - SATURDAY AUGUST 7TH
Stonewall Columbus is pleased to present an evening of arts on Saturday August 7th (Short North Gallery Hop Night) at the Center on High from 6-10pm
Wine & snacks provided. > Full Story. [7/14/10]
VANDALS TEAR DOWN OHIO’S FIRST GAY HISTORIC MARKER
Police are searching for vandals who tore down the only Ohio historical marker for a gay or lesbian person.
The marker recognizing Natalie Barney was knocked down in Cooper Park some time before Wednesday, July 7, said John Gantt, executive director of the Greater Dayton LGBT Center. The park is next to the downtown Dayton Metro Library.
"A friend noticed it had been torn down and told me about it," Gantt said. "I called police and they came and took a report."
Barney was a literary patron and lesbian author who was born in Dayton in 1876, but lived most of her life in Paris.
> Full Story. [7/12/10]
RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR VETOS TRANSGENDER PROTECTIONS
On 23 June, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri vetoed legislation which would have protected transpeople from harassment and violence. Carcieri vetoed House Bill 7044/Senate Bill 2055 on the grounds that the hate crime statues of Rhode Island already covered "motivated by racial, religious, sexual orientation, gender or disability prejudice," so why cover anyone else like the transpeople? > Full Story. [6/30/10]
GLBT NIGHT AT ZOOMBEZI BAY - SATURDAY AUGUST 28, 2010
Come to Zoombezi Bay for a night of fun and entertainment benefiting Stonewall Columbus. An exclusive event will be held at Crocktail Island from 6:00PM-9:00PM then move over to a private event at the Wild Tides Wave Pool from 8:30PM-11:00PM featuring Music Videos on a large inflatable screen over the Wave Pool, cash bar and live entertainment featuring Sable Coat, the
Royal Renegades, Flaggots Ohio and more.
Tickets are $20.00 with a portion of each ticket sold benefiting Stonewall Columbus. (After hours ticket good only after 5:30PM on August 28th only)
Want to experience all Zoombezi Bay and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has to offer? Buy an all day ticket online for $29.99 and have access to the Zoo and water park all day and access to the evening event with a larger portion of the ticket sales going to Stonewall Columbus.
Buy Tickets at http://ow.ly/21WbK
Event Sponsors: Experience Columbus, Torso, and Outlook Columbus, Formation Studio
Questions? Call 614-645-3521 or 1-800-MONKEYS (666-5397)
Zoombezi Bay is located at 4850 West Powell Road, Powell, Ohio 43065
Visit the website at: http://www.zoombezibay.com
> Full Story. [6/30/10]
FEDERAL JURY DECIDES IN FAVOR OF SCOUTS
A federal jury Wednesday decided that the city violated the Boy Scouts' First Amendment rights in using the organization's anti-gay policy as a reason to evict them from their city-owned Logan Square offices. > Full Story. [6/24/10]
PLEASE JOIN LGBT AND ALLY TED STRICKLAND FOR GOVERNOR FUNDRAISER
"Please join me on the Host Committee for our huge LGBT and Ally Ted Strickland for Governor Fundraiser on Wednesday, July 14th from 5:30-7:30pm. > Full Story. [6/24/10]
NAGAAA 2010 GAY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
On behalf of the Columbus Gay & Lesbian Softball Association Board of Directors, I hope that you had a fun and safe pride weekend! The weather was great and there was a large crowd everywhere, which made for an exciting and fun pride weekend.
If you enjoyed the event this past weekend, we can't wait for you to experience the week-long event that comes with 5,000 players and fans at the NAGAAA 2010 Gay Softball World Series. Imagine the crowds and events that happened this weekend every night of the week!! It's hard to describe the immensity of the event, but I can promise you that it's going to be huge for the city and guaranteed to be fun for everyone.
But…we can't pull off this big event without your help! We hope to harness the revitalized energy and pride you built up this past weekend to help us to show the visitors from across the US and Canada what Columbus has to offer! Here is how you can volunteer and be a part of something really exciting in Columbus this summer.
There are 1,200 3-4 hour shifts that need to be filled throughout the week of the world series, August 13-21. Shifts are at various times during the days from morning to night and cover a wide range of opportunities.
Register on the 2010 GSWS Volunteer website https://2010nagaaagsws.theregistrationsystem.com/en/registration/index/758 and you can see all the shifts that are currently available.
While we would love for you to take multiple shifts, covering just one shift that will help us tremendously. Contact your friends and schedule to work your shifts together! Sign-up early to be sure to get the opportunity that you want!!
Please e-mail to 2010volunteer@clgsa.net if you have questions about the volunteer opportunities.
> Full Story. [6/24/10]
AFTER 71 YEARS, OLDEST U.S. GAY BAR TO CLOSE
The Cedar Brook Café's status as the oldest gay bar in the United States will come to an end on June 26 when the 71-year-old institution closes. > Full Story. [6/21/10]
SLDN ISSUES VIRGINIA ACTION ALERT HOLDING SEN. JIM WEBB ACCOUNTABLE FOR VOTE AGAINST REPEAL
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), issued a Virginia action alert today to members and supporters urging them to write letters to the editor and opinion pieces holding Sen. Jim Webb accountable for his Senate Armed Services Committee vote against repeal on May 27. An amendment to allow for the repeal of DADT was successfully attached in committee to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The bill is expected to reach the Senate floor for a vote later this month or July.
"We hope that Virginians will not give Senator Jim Webb a pass on his vote in the Senate Armed Services Committee to keep 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' on the books," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "His vote was against equality, and fair-minded Virginians should take loud and strong exception. It is our hope that Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia will do the right thing when the defense bill is debated and voted on the Senate floor."
Earlier this month, SLDN issued a national action alert urging supporters of repeal to contact their senators ahead of a floor vote. To view the June 8 action alert visit: http://bit.ly/cNO5Tr
"We need repeal supporters to contact their senators and tell them to support repeal and follow the lead of Chairman Carl Levin who will be managing the defense bill on the floor, and will oppose any attempts to strike repeal or weaken the language," said Sarvis. "It is critical that we beat back any filibuster threat, defeat attempts to strike repeal, and defeat any crippling amendments. Senators need to hear from us now."
Full text of today's Virginia alert:
Friend,
In the recent Senate Armed Services Committee vote allowing for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) stood on the wrong side of history. Sen. Webb was the only Democrat on the Committee to vote against the path to repeal and in doing so threatened his legacy. Now, we must hold him accountable.
SLDN is working to drive letters and opinion pieces into the media, and working with our coalition partners and local groups to make sure Senator Webb knows his vote was on the wrong side of history.
As Aubrey Sarvis, executive director for SLDN, recently said: "We hope that Virginians will not give Senator Jim Webb a pass on his vote in the Senate Armed Services Committee to keep 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' on the books. His vote was against equality and fair-minded Virginians should take loud and strong exception. It is our hope that Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia will do the right thing when the defense bill is debated and voted on the Senate floor."
We need your help writing and placing letters to the editor in your local newspapers, calling Senator Webb to task for his vote against equality and demanding that he stand with us when the vote comes to the Senate floor.
Letters to the editor and opinion pieces can range in length and other requirements based on your local paper. Many letters are less than 150 words. Please focus on your personal experience and why repeal must pass the Senate.
Some key points:
--Please use a respectful tone
--Please name Senator Webb so that his office can track it
--Please add your personal story - including if you served - to your letter
--Please do NOT copy and paste the following points as form letters are never published:
• Repeal advocates have made significant progress this past year, especially over the past two weeks, but we could still lose the fight to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
• The first repeal vote on the floor of the Senate could come later this month or July.
• I urge Senator Webb to strongly support repeal and follow the lead of Senator Carl Levin on any attempts to strike repeal or weaken the language.
• Our gay and lesbian troops deserve their support.
• The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee both passed a historic roadmap to allowing open military service, but it doesn't end the discharges. We now look to the full Senate to pass DADT repeal by mid-summer and bring the defense bill to the President's desk by October 1.
• Repeal is moving forward with the support of the President and the Pentagon, including JCS Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
• The repeal provisions in the amendment allowed for Congress to act while respecting the ongoing work by the Pentagon on how to implement open service for lesbian and gay service members. Nothing would happen until the Pentagon Working Group completes its report and the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the President certifies repeal.
• Congress and the Pentagon need to stay on track to get repeal finalized, hopefully no later than first quarter 2011.
After your letter is published in your local paper, let us know about your success! Please send us an email at sldn@sldn.org with a copy of your letter.
Now is the time to put pressure on Senator Webb as we approach this momentous vote. Help us hold the Senator accountable for his vote in committee, and ensure that he will do the right thing on the Senate floor.
Thank you,
Elizabeth A. Shirey
Grassroots/Policy Advocate
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
##
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (www.sldn.org) is a national, non-profit legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A journalists' guide is available here.
> Full Story. [6/17/10]
GOVERNOR STRICKLAND DECLARES JUNE “LIVE WITH PRIDE, WITHOUT TOBACCO” MONTH
Governor Ted Strickland has declared June "Live with Pride, Without Tobacco Month" in an effort to provide a spotlight on the increase in tobacco use among Ohio's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth community. The proclamation coincides with the national "LGBT Pride Month," which kicks off a series of LGBT Pride Festivals around the U.S, including here in Columbus June 18-20.
According to the American Lung Association, today in the United States, approximately 4.5 million adolescents smoke. And with every second that passes, 14 more Americans under the age of 18 have started smoking – adding up to nearly 6,000 each day. Of those, 2,000 become regular smokers over the course of their lifetime.
The LGBT population has a higher smoking rate than any other minority population. While 28 percent of straight youth self-identify as smokers, nearly twice as many (59 percent) of LGBT youth classify themselves as smokers, according to the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.
In Northeast Ohio alone, more than 80 percent of LGBT youth self-identify as smokers, according to the 2010 ButtOut Ohio LGBT Youth and Tobacco survey.
> Full Story. [6/16/10]
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. ELECTS THIRD GAY MAYOR IN A ROW
The city of Cambridge, Mass., home to Harvard University, has its third openly gay mayor…in a row. Mayor David Maher, who was elected to the post by his city council colleagues in February, acknowledged publicly this weekend he is gay. > Full Story. [6/15/10]
COME OUT AND MARCH WITH STONEWALL DEMS
Come out and march with Stonewall Dems and your favorite candidates at Pride. We have ordered 20 shirts for the volunteers helping out with this years festival and parade. Look for the Stonewall Democrats car at the parade line up and make sure to stop by the booth. > Full Story. [6/8/10]
FERNDALE PREPARING FOR ANNUAL GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL
A Detroit suburb is gearing up for its annual gay pride festival. > Full Story. [6/3/10]
R.I. MARRIAGE ACTIVISTS LOOK TO 2011
With the current legislative session winding down, Rhode Island's marriage activists are looking to 2011 as the year nuptials for same-sex couples could become a reality in the Ocean State. > Full Story. [6/2/10]
ANNOUNCING COLUMBUS 2010 PRIDE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
The Paradiso Girls are the Headliner this year. They will be performing around 7pm on Saturday, June 19. > Full Story. [6/1/10]
AWARD-WINNING COUNTRY ARTIST, CHELY WRIGHT, TO PERFORM AT THE 2010 MICHIGAN PRIDE DIVERSITY FESTIVAL
The 2010 Michigan Pride Diversity Festival will welcome country artist Chely Wright to the Mainstage on June 12 at Burchard Park, Monique Goch, Outreach Director of Michigan Pride, announced that Wright will also be featured as the Grand Marshal of the Michigan Pride March and is to perform at the Capitol earlier in the day in downtown Lansing.
Wright, whose hits include chart-toppers "Single White Female" and "Shut Up and Drive," has recently launched her seventh album, "Lifted Off the Ground," which coincided with the release of her autobiography, "Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer." Wright appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to discuss her recent public "coming out" as a lesbian. She will also appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Thursday, May 27, 2010.
The performance is made possible by Michigan Pride, Equality Michigan, and Lansing Association for Human Rights (LAHR), along with other private donors.
About Michigan Pride:
Established in 1988, Michigan Pride aims to reunite the Michigan LGBT Community through outreach, education, and networking. It is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that serves the community by celebrating and nurturing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations, institutions, and culture. For more information, visit www.michiganpride.org .
To make a donation to Equality Michigan, click this link: http://bit.ly/b7plsJ
> Full Story. [6/1/10]
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