Cleveland Pride

source: http://dcist.com/2009/12/dc_council_affirms_vote_to_legalize.php

The D.C. Council today passed historic legislation that legalizes same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia. The bill was approved 11-2 on a second vote, and now goes to D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty’s desk for his signature. The mayor has promised to sign the bill.

Cheers erupted in the council chambers after the vote was cast.

The “Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009,” like all local legislation in the District, must be sent to Congress for a mandatory 30-day review period before it can become law.

Today’s vote mirrored the preliminary vote taken on the bill two weeks ago, with only Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) and Marion Barry (D-Ward opposing. In his opening remarks, the bill’s champion, David Catania (I-At large), made a point of thanking Alexander and Barry, remarking that this was simply a difference of opinion, but that “they are my friends and they are decent.”

While noting that he felt he could understand how proud supporters of same-sex marriage must be today, for his part, Barry politely reiterated his opposition.

“This is a democracy, and I reserve my right to disagree,” Barry said.

source: AIDS Taskforce Lifelines dated 11/21/2009

Earlier this year the AIDS Taskforce closed Gurnick Place and Abdenour House, two of our residential programs for people with AIDS, for good. And in a mid-summer issue of LifeLines, we talked about those closings as marking the beginning of a change-a positive change. This is part of what that issue of LifeLines said:

“For many people being diagnosed with HIV now, as opposed to 20 years ago, the diagnosis is the beginning of a journey-a journey of realizing goals and dreams while living with a challenging medical condition. The AIDS Taskforce’s role, therefore, should be as outfitters for the journey. Not just a safety net-though sometimes we’ll still need to provide that critical function. But more fundamentally as a kind of base camp for ‘the climb ahead’: a place where you learn skills, acquire essential resources, before setting out on ‘the journey’-knowing that if at any point you run into obstacles you can’t overcome, we’ll still be here, the place you can come back to for additional help and resources before you tackle ‘the journey’ once again.”

Since then we’ve continued to face the need for change, and the prospects and opportunities for the future. It hasn’t always been easy. It’s meant critically examining everything we do, even so-called “sacred cows” in programming, and asking: Is this or that program or service-is it still relevant? Does it serve the best long-term interests of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS? If the AIDS epidemic is slowly but surely being transformed, are we, as an agency, transforming as well?

Over the next few issues of LifeLines we’ll share our next steps, our timetable for transformation, with you all, our friends and supporters. For the moment, we’ll indicate this much: we are embarking on a deliberate process of integrating many of the services we now provide out into existing community service frameworks, and re-focusing (some would say, returning to the original AIDS service organization focus) on training, promotion of best practices, advocacy, systems monitoring, and community engagement. To put it another way: at the end of this transformation process, which we estimate will take about 3 years, the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland will be, by design, about 40% of its current budget and staffing, and highly focused on systems change, service excellence, and the engagement of people with AIDS in the world (as opposed to specialized “AIDS settings” like HIV/AIDS housing programs).

Typically, organizations project growth, expansion (choosing to grow smaller and more focused is by far the exception). What we’re planning, then, seems counter-intuitive. But the fundamental question in HIV/AIDS in recent years, in many parts of the United States, is this: what does the evolving epidemic demand that we do? And the answer is simple: we need a new vision, one based on potential, not peril. And that new vision is simple: Our job is to help unleash the extraordinary potential of people with HIV/AIDS in our community who will learn, grow, contribute, and truly live.

But . . . more details to follow. There are big changes ahead, and much to tell. It’s terrifying. It’s exciting. It’s the right path to take.

And it’s the right path to take for no other reason than this: it pushes us to do something that, frankly, we’ve stopped doing-dreaming of a world without AIDS, of the end of the epidemic. Imagine: people living their lives, preserving their health, getting the resources they need as a matter of course, so that they can achieve in the world. Imagine: as a nation, taking sexual health seriously, as a part of the fabric of society, not as a separate, incomplete activity we call “AIDS education.” Imagine: confronting stigma boldly and directly, whenever it rears its ugly head, but not allowing it stop us, individually or collectively, from pursuing our aspirations. Imagine: how a community could be transformed if we stopped viewing people with HIV/AIDS as a problem, as little more than a bottomless well of unmet needs, and started viewing them as part of the solution-utilizing their skills, passions, interests and talents to solve real community problems, like poverty and joblessness. Imagine. Imagine the end of HIV/AIDS. Imagine it in our lifetime. And then the next giant step forward-this is what we must now do: let’s build a new response to the epidemic based on out biggest dreams, not on our worst fears.

The 22nd Annual Cleveland Pride Festival will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at Voinovich Park from 12 noon - 8 p.m.

Cleveland Pride’s annual parade, rally and festival is a tradition attended by LGBT and non-LGBT community members throughout Northeast Ohio.

The Cleveland Pride Board of Directors has begun planning next year’s event at their offices located at 11100 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102. Our phone number is 216.226.0004.

Festival Planning Committee meetings occur on Wednesday’s from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. See our calendar of events at www.clevelandpride.org.

WE NEED YOU!!!!

Cleveland Pride is an all volunteer organization that needs your support and representation. Please contact us to learn about more opportunities to participate in planning, sponsorship, entertainment, fundraising, and outreach at executiveboard@clevelandpride.org.

BECOME A GENERAL MEMBER!!!!

Cleveland Pride is a members-based organization. We encourage all community members to join our organization. You may join at http://www.clevelandpride.org/home/join-pride/become-a-member-of-pride/.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR ENEWSLETTER!!!!

We have more exciting announcements planned throughout 2009 and 2010. Please take a moment to subscribe to our eNewletter at http://www.clevelandpride.org/home/join-pride/subscribe-pride-enewsletter/

BECOME A VOLUNTEER!!!! GET INVOLVED!!!

This year, the annual Cleveland Pride Parade and Festival will be even bigger and better than ever, with more sponsors, more performers and a larger outcome expected than in previous years.

We want you to come out and demonstrate your support of our community and celebrate our communities accomplishments on Saturday, June 12th.

Fill out our online volunteer application at http://www.clevelandpride.org/home/get-involved-at-pride/volunteer/volunteer-application/

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Founded in 1989, Cleveland Pride has been an integral part of the Northeastern Ohio region for the past 21 years. Cleveland’s Pride celebration is among the first half-dozen such events launched in the U.S., making our Parade and Festival among the longest continuing Pride events in the country.

On an ongoing basis, Cleveland Pride brings awareness, education and knowledge of the queer community to the general public to discourage/eliminate prejudice and discrimination on the basis of a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Cleveland Pride openly recognizes and embraces all individuals of the queer community who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning, intersex and straight allies, while understanding that each group identified exists in all ages, races, national origins and physical abilities.

source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2397832/hate_crime_gay_puerto_rican_teen_george.html
By Rose Ellen

According to CNN iReport 19 year old gay Puerto Rican teen, George Steven Lopez Mercado, was found on November 14, 2009 burned, dismembered and decapitated. Mercados arms, legs and head had been torn off before the body was dumped. Active and known in the gay community of Puerto Rico, Mercado was a victim of a brutal, disgusting and torturous hate crime. His body was left a few miles out of his home town in Caguas, literally torn limb from limb.

This grotesque crime is made worse by the response of the police. The police investigator responded to questions concerning the murder of George Steven Lopez Mercado that “people who lead this type of lifestyle need to be aware that this will happen.” The police investigator, when making a public statement, has the power to affect the community. By choosing to warn the gays in Puerto Rico instead of the murderers he is colluding with the murderers. He had the power to reinforce that these actions were illegal and justice would be served in this torture and murder hate crime case. He instead chose to warn other gays in Puerto Rico that this should be expected as though citizens who are gay are not protected under the law.

According to the Towleroad translation of local news, some Puerto Ricans are demanding that the police investigator be replaced because he is prejudiced in this case. Those requests are being made to Superintendent Figueroa Sancha.

Puerto Rico has a conservative religious climate, being strongly influenced by Roman Catholicism and socially conservative protestantism. Puerto Rico is also a United States territory. As a result the brutal murder of George Steven Lopez Mercado is a hate crime under the hate crime legislation signed into law by President Barak Obama of the United States. To date no murder has yet been classified as a hate crime in Puerto Rico. Homosexuality in Puerto Rico is not illegal and George Steven Lopez Mercado deserves as much protection under the law as any other Puerto Rican citizen.

Hate crimes differ from regular crimes in intent. When someone commits a hate crime it is not simply a personal attack. A hate crime is done for the purpose of breaking the spirit of a group of people. The police investigator confirmed that this was a hate crime in his statement that these things will happen to people who lead the gay lifestyle. By ripping off someones arms, legs, and head the murderers symbolically attempted to separate George Steven Lopez Mercado from his humanity. In pieces a person seems less human and less important. The world will remember George Steven Lopez Mercado as he was, an innocent Puerto Rican citizen who lived a lifestyle that was legal and consistent within himself.

Hate crimes are not new to the gay community around the world. No matter what one’s views on homosexuality, citizens attacking other citizens on the basis of a personal characteristic is unacceptable. I have had several of my friends attacked because they were gay or their gender representation was not what the attacker thought was appropriate. It is not appropriate for citizens to take legal matters into their own hands by causing harm to other citizens. These hate crimes must be addressed as such.

George Steven Lopez Mercado was well known in the gay community of Puerto Rico. There has been a huge response in the Puerto Rican gay community. He was loved and will be missed by his friends.

Sources:

Christopher Pagan, Brutal Hate Crime Murder in PR Not Being Covered, CNN iReport

Andy Towle, Gay Puerto Rican Teen Decapitated, Dismembered and Burned, Towleroad

Join us on July 14-18 in Cleveland for a gathering of 60+ women to share experiences and recharge out energies.

Details:: info@OLOC www.oloc.org

Were you involved in the 1960’s struggles for equality? We would like to feature a workshop with old lesbians involved in the… civil rights movement. .. sound interesting? Did you miss this American experience? You can still connect. This will be the conference for you.

We are a national network of Old Lesbians over age 60 working to make life better for Old Lesbians and to confront ageism in our communities and our country using education and public discourse as primary tools. During biennial National Gatherings hundreds of us come together to share experiences and ideas and recharge our energies for the tasks at hand.

Our national organization is directed by a Steering Committee that works with local Chapters who operate in their own communities and encourages Regional OLOC Gatherings.

We love sharing our wisdom, experience strengths and laughs with our communities as well as among ourselves.

The dinner dance on Saturday night will be for all women of any age. This will be the women’s social event of the summer.

LOCATION: Sky Line Hotel and Conference Center
5300 Rockside Road at I 77
Independence, OH 44131
(216) 524-0700

With the alarming numbers of homeless youth, Colors of Cleveland Pride, Inc. has found that it is of great importance to support these youth in whatever capacity possible. “Colors Feeding Youth of All Colors” will provide a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner and personal care items to these youth, in addition to referral resources and prospective mentors.

Colors of Cleveland Pride, Inc. requires the assistance of the community to gain success on behalf of these youth. They are in desperate need of travel size personal care items, food ingredients (call for detailed list) and cash donations, in any denominations, to accommodate 100-200 of these youth:

Special thanks to everyone who has agreed to volunteer at this event and those of that have donated to this cause.

For More Information: 216.923.1518 or 216.322.1518

source: http://www.ohioaidscoalition.org/leadership.html
November 16 -17, 2009

The 2009 World AIDS Day Leadership Conference is being produced by the Ohio AIDS Coalition, the Ohio Department of Health HIV CARE Services Section, the Ohio Department of Health HIV/STD/Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Program and the Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education & Training Center.

Workshops & Plenary Sessions:

For a current conference schedule for Monday, November 16, click here.

For a current conference schedule for Tuesday, November 17, click here.

The final conference schedule will not be available in advance since changes are often made up until a few days before the conference. Upon your arrival at the conference, you will receive the “Conference Program Packet” which will contain detailed information about the final agenda and about the content of presentations.

The National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) will host a Regional Meeting & Dinner for people living with HIV/AIDS on Sunday, November 15, preceding the Conference.

Conference Venue and Registration Information:

The 2009 World AIDS Day Leadership Conference will be held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center at 4900 Sinclair Road, just off Interstate 71 on the north side of Columbus. A reduced room rate of $79.00 plus applicable tax will be extended to all conference participants.

A limited number of free hotel rooms have been provided for consumers attending the conference. All others must reserve their own room directly with the Ramada Plaza Hotel & Conference Center. Call toll free: (877) 609-6086 or local: (614) 846-0300. Ask for the World AIDS Day Leadership Conference rate of $79. Hotel room space is limited. Please contact the hotel by October 26, 2009.

Conference Goals
Conference Brochure

Continuing Education Information:

Recognized Clock Hours (RCH) for Chemical Dependency Professionals are approved for all Conference Plenary Sessions and all Conference Workshopsfor a maximum of 10.25 hours. (PID#: 09-349-R)

Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage and Family Therapist Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits are approved for all Conference Plenary Sessions. Conference Workshops not approved for CPE are marked on the Conference agenda. Maximum available is 10.25 hours. If attending the 3-hopur Ethics Training session, the maximum available will be 10.75 hours. (Approval #: MCST110918)

PLEASE NOTE: The Ethics Training session is limited to professionals seeking certification for ethics training to fulfill Ohio state licensure requirements for counselors, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and chemical dependency professionals. This session is 3 hours and participants must attend the entire session in order to receive continuing education credits. All participants must “sign-up” in advance for this session. Advance “sign-up” will be held on Monday morning, Nov 16 in the Conference ballroom lobby area. Please have your license number with you.

Partial contact hours will be awarded to Nurses who attend individual sessions and submit an evaluation. A maximum of 10.75 contact hours will be available for nurses. The Ohio Department of Health (OH-011 0412) is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Ohio Nurses Association (OBN-001-91), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Details regarding which workshops and plenary sessions will offer Nursing CNEs will be available at the Nursing Contact Hours Information Table at the Conference. The Table will be located in the downstairs ballroom area of the Ramada Plaza and can be accessed after singing into the Conference. The Nursing Contact Hours Information Table will open on Monday morning November 16 at 8:00 AM.

For additional information, please contact Kevin Sullivan at the Ohio AIDS Coalition: 614-444-1683 / 1-800-226-5554 or sullivan@ohioaidscoalition.org

source: http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/11/breaking-committee-to-hold-vote-on-enda/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HrcBackStory+%28HRC+Back+Story%29

November 12, 2009 2:58PM
Trevor Thomas

The Human Rights Campaign can now confirm the House Education and Labor Committee will vote on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. on legislation to end the widespread practice of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  The vote was noticed moments ago.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017), introduced by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), would prohibit employment discrimination, preferential treatment, and retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by employers with 15 or more employees.

Currently, it is legal to discriminate in the workplace based on sexual orientation in 29 states and to discriminate based on gender identity in 38 states.  You can view a map of the states online:  http://www.hrc.org/documents/Employment_Laws_and_Policies.pdf

Earlier today the Human Rights Campaign announced that as Congressional action looms on the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), it is extending the grassroots “No Excuses” campaign to increase constituent contact with Congress and awareness of the comprehensive website: www.PassENDANow.org.

We launched a national action alert this week to grassroots members and supporters urging them to contact Congress and express their support for a fully-inclusive ENDA.  HRC also plans to release details next week on its participation of a national call-in day organized by a coalition of groups urging members and supporters to call the Congressional switchboard in support of ENDA.

Meanwhile, HRC members and supporters have been overwhelmingly responsive this week to the organization’s national call to action on ENDA by sending off more than 62,000 emails or letters to members of Congress and newspapers urging for swift passage.

The 22nd Annual Cleveland Pride Festival will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at Voinovich Park from 12 noon - 8 p.m. Founded in 1989, Cleveland Pride has been an integral part of the Northeastern Ohio region for the past 21 years. Cleveland’s Pride celebration is among the first half-dozen such events launched in the U.S., making our Parade and Festival among the longest continuing Pride events in the country.

On an ongoing basis, Cleveland Pride brings awareness, education and knowledge of the queer community to the general public to discourage/eliminate prejudice and discrimination on the basis of a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Cleveland Pride openly recognizes and embraces all individuals of the queer community who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning, intersex and straight allies, while understanding that each group identified exists in all ages, races, national origins and physical abilities.

Tom Goss returns to Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at the Vine and Bean Cafe located at 12796 Larchmere Blvd. Tom’s performance will is scheduled from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Clevelander’s first introduction to Tom Goss was during his visit to Cleveland in support of the local Domestic Partner Registry. At the request of Earl Pike, Executive Director of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, Tom met with the agency employees, local advocates, and community leaders to record a video for “Till the End”. The full video production can be seen at http://www.vimeo.com/4132485.

Tom’s song and eventual “‘Till The End - Tom Goss & Friends of ATGC” video captured the essence of “love is love”, regardless of the gender similarities or differences in couples.

Show your support for this exceptional artist and join the Board of Cleveland Pride at Tom’s concert on Tuesday, November 24th.

ABOUT TOM GOSS

source: www.tomgossmusic.net

Tom grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He spent his childhood in the gym with his gymnast parents and brothers, but switched to wresting in junior high—a better outlet for some serious teenage aggression—and stuck with it through college.

Music was another, more enduring passion. His mom bought him a guitar as a high-school graduation present, and he quickly taught himself to play. Inspired by Dave Matthews and David Gray, he soon started writing songs of his own.Through it all, Tom felt a strong spiritual calling.

While at the University of Central Missouri, studying to become a teacher, Tom decided that he was meant to be a priest instead. He moved to Washington, DC in 2004 to enter Catholic seminary. It didn’t go as planned and, disillusioned by the institution in which he had placed his faith, he chose to abandon religious training—but not his quest.

Back in secular life, Tom sought new ways to work toward social justice, the issue that had led him to the church in the first place. He took a job running a breakfast program for the homeless. He began to build a life with his partner Mike. And he channeled his message of love, hope and reconciliation through his music. Don’t expect hymns.

Tom offers up dynamic acoustic rock featuring muscular guitar, hooky melodies and a uniquely powerful voice. If the 26-year-old has any patron saints, they are Jack Johnson, Damien Rice, Ben Folds, and Joss Stone. Since April 2006, when he released his self-produced debut, Naked Without, Tom has played scores of coffeehouses, bars, gay pride festivals and other events—honing his skills along the way.

With the January 2008 release of his second CD, Rise, Tom demonstrates just how far he’s come. The six songs showcase his stylistic flexibility, from the urgent growl of “Morning Sun” to the sweet and unadorned “King of Something Right.” The recent music video for “Rise” barreled its way to #2 on MTV’s LOGO and stuck around 8 weeks.

On April 7, 2009, Tom released his latest album Back to Love. The album continues to build on themes of rebirth and renewal, of love and loss and what lies beyond. Tom’s music remains a playlist for anyone on a journey from darkness to light.