January, 2015 News (54 Articles with 402,266 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for January, 2015 Rev. Steve Aschmann of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie, speaking at this year’s celebration of the marriage equality ruling in Perry Square. Rev. Steve is retiring from the UUCE, where he has served since 2005. His last Sunday at the UUCE will be Jan. 18. Steve has been an ardent and loving supporter of the Erie area’s LGBTQ comnunity, and we are posting on our website a gallery of his participation in various local events over the past decade. Photo by Deb Spilko
This began publication in December 2002 after a hiatus
Category for this issueCalendar & Upcoming Events
Calendar of Local GLBT Events |
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Local and Regional News
Video Galleries for 2014
Videos for local and national news for 2014 show what a great year this has been for the Erie, PA region and LGBT community! You can see them all here
Photo Galleries for 2014
Check out all of our photo galleries for 2014. The Erie PA region had many wonderful events and major strides forward! You can see them all here.
New Folding Location for EGN
Beginning with the next issue of EGN, we’ll be folding at the Griffin Room at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, 55 West Bay Drv, Erie PA. The next issue comes out the night of Tuesday, Jan, 20, 2015, and we’ll fold at 7 PM, as usual. As always, volunteers are very much appreciated, and this is also a great way to become active in the community and meet people. Info: Michael Mahler at (814) 456-9833 (cell is 814-746-9281) or info@eriegaynews.com
Rev. Steve Aschmann of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie Announces Retirement
Rev. Steve Aschmann of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie (UUCE) has announced that he will be retiring. Rev. Steve is retiring from the UUCE, where he has served since 2005. His last Sunday at the UUCE will be Jan. 18. Steve has been an ardent and loving supporter of the Erie area's LGBTQ comnunity. He was one of the speakers at this year's celebration of the marriage equality ruling in Perry Square.
2014 Gala glitters
The 2014 Gala took place Nov 19-23 at the Avalon Hotel in Erie. The event is sponsored by Erie Sisters.
Founding of the Erie Sisters in September of 1991
Editor's note: This was originally posted to the Erie Sisters web site. We are including it here as part of our efforts to preserve and inform about local LGBT history. Erie is a small city in northwest Pennsylvania located halfway between Buffalo and Cleveland on the south shore of Lake Erie. With a population of 250,000 [including suburbs], Erie had, in 1990, most of the social amenities one would expect of a city that size, except one: a crossdressers' club. Vivian Allen, the editor-in-chief of Tapestry, asked me to write a few words about the formation of the Erie Sisters to be included with articles by other Erie Sisters members concerning personal impressions of our club and its activities. The idea for founding a CD club began with my first issue of Tapestry, which I read several times from cover to cover in absolute awe to find that there were several thousands of people just like me. I also found, in the organization listings, there was a crossdressing club in Cleveland, about 100 miles west of Erie.
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality Announces New Board Members and Officers
The Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, Inc. (GEAE) is proud to announce new members and officers of our Board of Directors in 2015. In December, 2014, GEAE welcomed Caitlyn Strohmeyer, Tyler J. Titus, and Margo Wolfe to serve on the Board of Directors, each for a two year term. In January, Will Koehler will begin serving as President, Leah Manino as Vice President, and Tyler J. Titus as Secretary of the Board. Brandon Whitten will continue to serve as Treasurer through 2015. Finally, our President from 2011 – 2014, Rich McCarty, will be assuming the position of Chair of the Advisory Council.
Entertainment and Travel
New Year's #Rusolution Marathon - New Year's Eve on Logo TV
Logo TV’s ending 2014 with a drag bang in a fan interactive, day-long marathon of "RuPaul’s Drag Race" season six. Relive all the shade, all the drama, and all the Bianca del Rio moments that made your 2014 so sickening. Adding to the fun, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queens will be spilling their “Rusolutions” on air all day long. Don’t have anyone to kiss? We’ve got you covered. Tweet your #Rusolution to @LogoTV for a chance to see your tweet on TV. And immediately following the season six rewind, we’re serving up an encore of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Top 15 Fan Favorite Queens" countdown special—just in time for the biggest countdown of all.
Ready the Runway! Logo TV Announces Seventh Season Cast of Hit Reality Competition Series Rupaul's Drag Race
NEW YORK, NY – December 8, 2014 – RuPaul is back to storm the runway with the highly anticipated seventh season of the groundbreaking series, "RuPaul's Drag Race." Logo TV revealed the eagerly awaited cast comprised of the nation's 14 drag elite tonight during the "2014 New Now Next Awards." In a nod to superfans, Logo TV also launched a social scavenger hunt earlier this week via Snapchat and Facebook that culminated in the announcement of Miss Fame and Jasmine Masters as competing queens.
Political, Activism and Legal
AMPA Statement on Reintroduction of the Respect for Marriage Act
WASHINGTON, DC- January 6, 2015 – Today, the American Military Partner Association, the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members and veterans, praised the reintroduction of the Respect for Marriage Act by Senator Feinstein in the U.S. Senate and Representatives Nadler and Ros-Lehtinen in the U.S. House of Representatives. While the U.S. Supreme Court found Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, the remaining sections were not considered by the Supreme Court. The Respect for Marriage Act would fully repeal DOMA.
Respect for Marriage Act Reintroduced in Congress to Repeal DOMA
New York - January 6, 2015 – Today Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) reintroduced the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure that the federal government respects all valid marriages across all agencies. The bill has 42 original cosponsors in the Senate, including every returning Senator to the 114th Congress who supported the bill in the past; and 78 cosponsors in the House.
Stay on Marriages in Florida to Expire at Midnight
New York - January 5, 2015 – At midnight tonight, a federal district court ruling in favor of the freedom to marry takes effect in Florida, allowing committed same-sex couples to marry throughout the state. The ruling takes effect after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to extend a stay that was put in place last year. Miami-Dade County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples earlier today, a result of a judge's order in a separate case. The 11th Circuit has yet to schedule a date to hear appellate arguments.
FDA Fails to Adequately Address Discriminatory Blood Donation Ban
WASHINGTON - December 23, 2014 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today a change in the current lifetime ban on blood donations from gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. The proposal would replace the lifetime ban with a one-year deferral, which would only permit gay and bisexual men to donate blood if they have not had sex with another man in the past year. The proposal would treat all sexual relationships between men the same way that heterosexual sex is treated when it involves a commercial sex worker or an individual who is known to be living with HIV.
ACLU Lawsuit Seeks Recognition for High School Gay-Straight Alliance Club
INDIANAPOLIS- December 23, 2014 — The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit today on behalf of three students at North Putnam High School who have been denied the right to form a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club during non-instructional time at school, claiming the school's denial violates both federal law and the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit is also brought on behalf of the GSA.
GLSEN Statement on D.C. Law Banning Conversion Therapy for Minors
NEW YORK (Dec. 23, 2014) – GLSEN Executive Director, Dr. Eliza Byard, released the following statement in response to Mayor Vincent Gray signing into law "The Conversion Therapy for Minors Prohibition Amendment Act of 2013," a ban on "conversion therapy" for minors.
4th Annual PA Youth Action Conference
The fourth annual Youth Action Conference, Pennsylvania's largest LGBTQ youth conference, will be held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, PA from February 26th to March 1st. The 2015 YAC is dedicated to "Cultivating New Possibilities for Rural LGBTQ Youth." This conference will focus on pressing issues facing young rural Pennsylvanians, and toward the empowerment of a generation of rural LGBTQ youth leaders in our state.
ACLU Files Federal Discrimination Complaint against Va. School Board for Bathroom Policy
RICHMOND, Va. - December 19, 2014 – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Virginia filed an administrative complaint with the Department of Justice and Department of Education against Gloucester County Public Schools (GCPS) for adopting a bathroom policy that segregates transgender students from using the same restrooms and locker rooms as their peers. The school board adopted the policy by a vote of 6-1 on December 9, 2014, despite warnings from the ACLU and the ACLU of Virginia that the policy violates federal law prohibiting sex discrimination by schools.
Justice at Stake: South Carolina Bill Prohibiting Judges from Taking Marriage Cases Involving Same-Sex Couples is 'Braze
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 18 – In response to a bill, HB 3022 , filed in the South Carolina legislature that would prevent state judges from recognizing or upholding marriage rights for same-sex couples, and stipulating that judges who do not dismiss cases regarding these rights will be automatically removed from the case and not be paid, Justice at Stake Director of State Affairs Debra Erenberg issued the following statement:
With Major News From Justice Department, AMPA Calls on Defense Department to End Sex Discrimination Against Transgender
WASHINGTON – Today, the Attorney General of the United States announced that the Department of Justice will treat workplace discrimination against transgender people as sex discrimination, which is illegal under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, based upon the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) decision in Macy v. Holder. The American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members and veterans, responded to the news by calling on the Defense Department to end its currently unjustified sex discrimination against transgender troops by lifting the ban against open and honest service.
List of Duty Stations Around the World Available To Same-Sex U.S. Military Couples Continues To Grow
WASHINGTON, DC - December 17, 2014 – This month, the list of countries where a same-sex military spouse can be sponsored by the Defense Department to join a U.S. service member for an accompanied assignment outside of the U.S. grew to 40 countries. Unfortunately for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military families approaching the time of year where new duty stations are often assigned, many locations remain unavailable, notably including Germany which hosts an estimated 43,000 U.S. military personnel.
New York State Acts to Remove Medicaid Ban on Transgender Health Care
New York, NY - December 16, 2014 - The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) commends Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health for proposing a new regulation to end the 16-year-old exclusion of transgender health care under New York's Medicaid program.
ACLU Disappointed with Appeals Court Ruling that Dept. of Correction can Withhold Medically Necessary Surgery from Trans
NEW YORK - December 16, 2014 – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Massachusetts today expressed deep disappointment with a ruling from the full First Circuit Court of Appeals allowing the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) to deny essential medical care recommended by its own physicians to transgender prisoner Michelle Kosilek.
New Williams Institute Data Visualization: U.S. Benefiting from $2.6 Billion Same-Sex Wedding Spending Boom
LOS ANGELES - December 11 - The Williams Institute, in partnership with Credit Suisse, has released a new, interactive resource exploring the amount of money state economies have to gain by allowing same-sex couples to marry. Based on a series of state-level studies authored by Williams Distinguished Scholar, M.V. Lee Badgett, and other Williams Institute scholars, the resource estimates that the nationwide economic boost from marriage of same-sex couples could be up to $2.6 billion in just the first three years.
New York State Issues Guidance Requiring Health Insurance Companies to Cover Transgender Health Care
New York, NY - December 10, 2014 - The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) today praised the New York State Department of Financial Services for issuing guidance requiring health insurance companies to cover transgender health care on the same terms as other care.
USA Continues to Violate LGBTQ Detainees Fundamental Human Rights in the Immigration Detention System
NEW YORK, N.Y. - December 10, 2014 – Today, the United Nations (UN) celebrated 64 years of their International Human Rights Day. The U.N. LGBTQ Core Groups, which include the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch and International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission along with many other groups, hosted an event, which supported all families and family members. Dreamers and LGBTQ Immigrants rallied outside in solidarity with the U.N. to denounce the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) use of solitary confinement tactics in immigration detention. Such tactics leave LGBTQ immigrants vulnerable to the inhumane and dysfunctional U.S. detention system.
U.S. Air Force Secretary Supports Lifting Military Transgender Ban
WASHINGTON - December 10, 2014 – Today, the American Military Partner Association, the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members and veterans, responded to the news that the Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James, supports lifting the U.S. military's current ban on service by transgender people. As reported by USA Today, Secretary James said, "From my point of view, anyone who is capable of accomplishing the job should be able to serve."
As Senator Prepares to Introduce LGBTQ Equality Bill, GetEQUAL Launches Effort to Ensure Bill is Truly Comprehensive
WASHINGTON, DC - December 10, 2014 -- Today, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) will announce at an event in Washington, DC, that he intends to introduce an LGBTQ equality bill in the next Congressional session. The event comes on the heels of an effort by GetEQUAL -- a national grassroots social justice organization fighting for full LGBTQ equality -- to survey and then directly insert the voices of LGBTQ individuals from across the country about what they actually need in such a bill.
AMPA Statement on Nomination of Ashton Carter as Secretary of Defense
WASHINGTON - December 5, 2014– Today, the American Military Partner Association, the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members and veterans, issued the following statement in response to the nomination of Ashton Carter as Secretary of Defense.
Report: LGBT Americans Still Face Wide-Spread Inequality
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 9, 2014 — Despite growing support for equality, the stakes are high for the estimated almost nine million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans whose daily lives are limited by a lack of state and federal protections. According to a new publication released today, LGBT Americans live in a two-tier system where they must navigate vastly differing state laws coupled with an ongoing lack of protections under federal law. For example, same-sex couples can now marry in 35 states, but a lack of widespread nondiscrimination protections means wearing a wedding ring to work can result in a gay worker being legally fired in 29 states. In most states, LGBT people can also still be refused service and denied housing, and there are no laws protecting LGBT students against bullying in schools.
ACLU Response to DOJ Guidance Reports
WASHINGTON - December 5, 2014 — The Washington Post and other media outlets published articles tonight that highlight some details of what is included in the U.S. Department of Justice Guidance on the Use of Race by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.
New York City Council Votes to End Discriminatory Birth Certificate Policy
New York, NY - December 8, 2014 - The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) applauds the New York City Council for passing legislation today that will end the city's discriminatory birth certificate policy. The bill – Int. 491 (2014) – introduced by Councilmember Corey Johnson, eliminates the surgery requirement for transgender people seeking to change the sex designation on their birth certificates. The new policy will require that a licensed health care provider state under oath that based on contemporary expert standards, an individual's true sex is not accurately recorded on their current birth certificate. Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign the bill into law. The Board of Health is expected to adopt regulations tomorrow that mirror this legislation.
NCLR Welcomes IOC's New Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Policy
(San Francisco, CA, December 9, 2014)—Today, during a meeting in Monaco, the 127th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to revise the IOC's nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation. The nondiscrimination proposal was part of a larger series of reforms to the Olympic charter, known as Principle Six.
PFLAG National's New Straight For Equality '...Trans Ally' Guide And Tools Help People Become Educated, Engaged Allies
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There are nearly 700,000 people who identify as transgender in the U.S., according to The Williams Institute at UCLA, yet there has not been a handy, accessible tool for the millions of other Americans, all current or prospective trans allies, to know how to engage respectfully with trans people—until now. PFLAG National—the nation's largest organization uniting families, friends, and allies with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ)—unveiled guide to being a trans ally, a new publication and training series from its signature Straight for Equality project. The guide, accompanying web resources, and training series will educate, engage, and empower more people to become active allies to people who identify as or happen to be transgender (or trans).
Health
Happy Damn New Year!
As a new year approaches, many of us feel pretty damn depressed. Whether you're partnered or alone, it's tempting to imagine that everyone else is having more fun than you are. The truth is, you have no idea how happy or miserable anyone else is behind their façade.
Focusing with Art Making for Emotional Self Healing Jan 25
When we experience trauma, grief, stress, or other emotions, those feeling are stored in our physical bodies, often causing headaches, tiredness, and body aches. Focusing is a gentle yet powerful skill for tapping into your body’s wisdom to make positive changes in your life. Focusing is a way of listening to your body with compassion, without assumptions or judgment. In this Jan 25 workshop, we will learn more about focusing, practice listening to ourselves and creating visual art and/or writing as a way to further explore what we are hearing. $30 per person, 3-5PM. Contact: Dr. Penny Orr, ATR-BC, ATCS (Expressive Therapies Center, 103 West Normal Street, Edinboro, PA 16412). (814) 873-3092. penny@expressivetherapiescenter.com. www.expressivetherapiescenter.com
AHF's Latest Advocacy Ad asks, 'What Consensus on PrEP?'
LOS ANGELES (December 11, 2014) Starting Thursday, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will expand its national ad campaign urging caution about the use of Gilead's HIV/AIDS medication Truvada by uninfected individuals as a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent possible HIV transmission.
AHF: Kaiser Permanente PrEP Study Reports 45% Increase in Condom-less Sex
LOS ANGELES (December 8, 2014) A Kaiser Permanente study on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by gay men and men who have sex with multiple men to prevent possible HIV transmission has reported an "eye-popping statistic"—a 45% increase in condom-less sex among certain study participants.
Spirituality and Religion
Theology on Tap on January 14 at Plymouth Tavern
Theology on Tap is an opportunity to discuss spiritual matters and your relationship with/to the Divine. It is a laid back discussion as we gather around a table at a local bar, drink in hand, to share our experiences, ask our questions and explore our faiths. And yes, that is plural! While the majority of those meeting have some sort of Christian background, we are welcome people of all faiths (or no faith) to come and participate in the discussion. We are not associated with any place of worship, and we are not out to convert anyone. We simply want to learn from each other and deepen our own respective faiths.The next Theology on Tap will be Wednesday, January 14 at 7 PM at the Plymouth Tavern, 1109 State St, Erie PA (probably in Garden Room or back bar. If you are new, you may want to call first to know where to look.) For more information, call 814-724-9775.
Black LGBT Religious Leaders United
LGBT Black Christians and faith leaders join tens of thousands of historically Black congregations/denominations and allies to wear black to church on Sunday, December 14, in response to police brutality: "Black LGBT bodies must matter, too!"
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Response to Pastor Jack Graham's Attempt to Repeal Plano, Texas LGBT protection ordinance
A full statement regarding this issue can be seen at SeanSala.com: December 23, 2014 - It was announced last week that the Senior Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church has chosen to be a key leader in seeking to repeal the LGBT Protection Ordinance recently passed by the Plano, City Council
The Amazon Trail: Oh, No! Not the Pradas!
In the face of the racist, puritanical, self-serving, money-mad, avaricious U.S. citizens and politicians whose votes and campaigns against fairness and reason won out in the recent midterm elections, we need to keep laughing, working to retain what we have gained, and believing in miracles.
The Amazon Trail: Santa Dyke 1998
How should a dyke or a gay man celebrate the winter holidays? 'm pretty spiritual, but I'm nowhere near religious. What if I don't observe any of the holy days this time of year, but celebrate the spirit of all of them? I've had Christmas trees with Solstice lights and a menorah burning on the mantle. I've wrapped speculums in aluminum foil and hung them from a collective Solstice tree. I spent one Christmas Day crying into my Crystal Geyser over a break up, fearing the season had been ruined forever.
Mark Segal: The LGBT welcome mat
From Philadelphia Gay News: Pope Francis, thank you for your kind words about LGBT families and LGBT childre. Last week, His Holiness said, "The Catholic Church must help parents stand by their gay children."
Contests
Win Best Gay Erotica 2015 PDF ebook by Rob Rosen!
Win Best Gay Erotica 2015 PDF ebook by Rob Rosen! To enter the contest, fill out the form her between January 16 and February 6. Best Gay Erotica 2015 is filled to the page-turning brim with fantastic tales of fire dancers and TV repairmen, of hunky painters and electricians and magicians, solo sex, duo sex, and sweat-soaked triple onslaughts. Heck, throw in an alien and a priest, and you’ll soon see why this anthology is head and shoulders — not to mention certain other body parts — above the rest, and always with the highest literary quality that readers have come to expect from this esteemed and steamy collection.
Win Two Mothers DVD from Canteen Outlaws!
Win Two Mothers DVD from Canteen Outlaws! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between January 13 and February 3.
Win Silent Youth from Ariztical Entertainment!
Win Silent Youth from Ariztical Entertainment. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between January 13 and February 3.
Enter to win Chapter One from Ella Henderson!
Enter to win Chapter One from Ella Henderson! CHAPTER ONE, the debut album from UK breakout ELLA HENDERSON. Featuring the hit single "Ghost." Available January 13: http://smarturl.it/ChapterOneDxiTunes To enter the contest, fill out the form here between January 9 and January 30.
Win Men of the Manor edited by Rob Rosen from Cleis Press!
Win Men of the Manor edited by Rob Rosen from Cleis Press! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between January 9 and January 30.
Enter For A Chance To Win A Shameless #Gallavich Prize Pack!
Enter For A Chance To Win A Shameless #Gallavich Prize Pack! If you're as big a fan of the hit Showtime Original Series Shameless as we are, you're frantically counting down the days until the Season 5 premiere on January 11 at 9 PM ET/PT - and dying to find out what's in store for our favorite couple, Ian Gallagher & Mickey Milkovich (#Gallavich)! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between January 6 and January 27.
Win Happy End DVD from Wolfe Video!
Win Happy End DVD from Wolfe Video! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between January 6 and January 27.
Win Human by Joseph Eid!
Win Human by Joseph Eid! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between January 2 and January 23.
Win Modern Sci-Fi Films FAQ by Tom DeMichael from Applause Books!
Win Modern Sci-Fi Films FAQ by Tom DeMichael from Applause Books! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 30 and January 20.
Win a signed copy of The Thing I Didn't Know I Didn't Know by Brent Hartinger!
Win a signed copy of The Thing I Didn't Know I Didn't Know, the latest book by Geography Club author Brent Hartinger! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 26 and January 16.
Win PRIDE DVD!
Win PRIDE DVD To enter the contest, fill out the form here between December 23 and Jauary 13.
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