September, 2019 News (34 Articles with 66,107 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for September, 2019 Friends having a great time talking at NW PA Pride Alliance’s Erie Pride Picnic on Aug 10. Photo by Mike Mahler.
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
GEAE Welcome Reception Held for PA Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, Mayor's LGBTQ Advisory Council
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE) hosted a Welcome Reception at Room 33 Speakeasy Cafe, 1033 State St. Erie PA on Friday, August 9 for the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, which held their quarterly meeting in Erie that day, as well as for the Mayor's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council. The event was also open to the greater community. There were appetizers and a cash bar, as well as a great chance for advocates from across the state to meet local community members.
Erie County Public Library showcases LGBTQ+ History
Erie, PA - Two LGBTQ+ exhibits have arrived at Erie County Public Library. Blasco Memorial Library, 160 E Front St, Erie PA 16507, now features two historic exhibits documenting the history of our LGBTQ+ communities and their struggle for equality in the State of Pennsylvania.
Fall TV Premieres
Check out these upcoming fall TV premieres of interest of LGBT audiences.
27th Annual Erie Pride Picnic
NW PA Pride Alliance held the 27th Annual Erie Pride Picnic on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at the Rotary Pavilion at Presque Isle. About 300 people attended. There was a delicious potluck buffet, a raffle, the annual Family Portrait, and great times! As the PA Commission on LGBTQ Affairs had met in Erie the previous day, some members of the commission stayed in town to go to the picnic and presented Erie's LGBTQ community with a proclamation from Governor Tom Wolf recognizing Pride.
PA Commission on LGBTQ Affairs meets in Erie
On Friday, August 9, the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs held their quarterly meeting at the Crime Victim Center, 125 W 18th St, Erie PA. Among the topics discussed were strategies to pass non-discrimination legislation at the state level. Pennsylvania is currently the only state in the North East part of the US that does not include sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression as protected classes for statewide non-discrimination laws. However, in August 2018, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission - the government agency that enforces the commonwealth's nondiscrimination law - announced that it will accept and hear complaints of discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations as a form of sex discrimination. Legislation is currently in committee in both the state house and senate that would make that explicit. Legislation covering sexual orientation and gender identity/expression has never made it to the floor of either chamber for a vote. Over 50 municipalities across the commonwealth have passed local non-discrimination ordinances. Erie County passed anti-discrimination that included sexual orientation in 2002, and added legislation making gender identity protection explicit in 2018.
Greater Erie Alliance Thanks for Afternoon for Equality?
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE) would like to thank everyone for another successful Afternoon for Equality. The LGBTQ community and allies enjoyed music, food, laughter and celebrated new scholarship awards for 2019 at the beautiful Erie Yacht Club. We are most thankful for all our sponsors, who are listed on our website. Special thanks to our Platinum sponsor, Highmark, for their continued support.
Southern Tier Queer Peers News
Recently the group Southern Tier Queer Peers, which meets Tuesdays from 5:30-7 at the MHA in Chautauqua County, hosted a community building game night. This event was a wonderful success and is part of an exciting move for the group.
Intersections of Equality Symposium on Nov 16
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE)'s 2019 Intersections of Equality biannual symposium will take place on Saturday, November 16, from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the Black Conference Center on the campus of Penn State Behrend. PSU will offer CEUs for the event, and will have a separate registration table and fee schedule for those credits. Topics will cover LGBTQ people and access to health care, legal rights/state of LGBTQ Affairs in the United States, stakeholder voices at the Intersections of race, ability, and economics; and LGBTQ engagement with the arts.
Deadline for September 2019 print edition (issue # 286) of Erie Gay News is Monday, August 12
For the next print edition of Erie Gay News (issue # 286, cover dated for September 2019), please send in calendar events, news items, and other info for late July 2019 and beyond by Monday, August 12. We expect that the next print edition will come out on Tuesday, August 20.
3rd Annual TransFamily Picnic on July 20
On Saturday, July 20, TransFamily of NW PA held their third annual picnic at the Wilson Picnic Grove at Penn State Behrend. The event included a yummy potluck, great friends, and a raffle.
Gay Day in Crawford County on July 13
On Saturday, July 13, organizers held Gay Day in Crawford County in Diamond Park in Meadville PA. It is believed that this was possibly the first Pride event in Crawford County. The day included info tables, voter registration, chalk drawings on the sidewalk, reading of a children's book by the author, and lots of great friends.
Entertainment and Travel
Buffalo United Artists presents "Bright Colors and Bold Patterns"
September 13 through October 5, Buffalo United Artists presents "Bright Colors and Bold Patterns" at Alleyway Cabaret, 1 Curtain Up Alley. Buffalo, NY Josh and Brennan are about to get married in Palm Springs on a lovely Saturday afternoon. However, the night before turns into a drunken, drug-fueled scream riot because one of the guests becomes more and more furious about a stipulation on the wedding invitation: “Please refrain from wearing bright colors or bold patterns.” In the struggle for equality, what do we really want? What do we lose? And, is there any cocaine left? – New York Times Critic’s Pick. Performances are Fridays and Saturday at 8pm. General Admission $25 and Students and Members $20.
On the heels of a historic 14 Emmy Award nominations, VH1 greenlights new seasons of "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars"
NEW YORK, NY - (August 19, 2019) - On the heels of a historic 14 Emmy Award nominations for the "RuPaul's Drag Race" franchise, a new record for VH1, the network announced today that both "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" have been greenlit for new seasons.
Pride Journeys: St. Louis
The last time I was in St. Louis I was still in my 20s, and I had the energy to party all night. After many shameless social media posts and ten years later, I had the opportunity to revisit The Lou with a friend of mine from Indianapolis. St. Louis is more or less centrally located, so it is easy to travel to from almost anywhere in North America. This makes St. Louis a fantastic destination for a long weekend getaway.
Local Faces and Photos
LBT Women meetings to be held at Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC)
Please note that LBT Women of Erie will now be holding their monthly planning meeting the second Sunday of the month, beginning September 8, at noon at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC), 301 Peninsula Drv, Erie PA
Political, Activism and Legal
Military Advocates Urge Court to Side With Green Card Holders Against Trump's Discriminatory Enlistment Policy
WASHINGTON - August 27, 2019 - The Modern Military Association of America (MMAA); the Center for Law and Military Policy (CLMP); the Honorable Gordon O. Tanner, former General Counsel of the U.S. Air Force and Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) filed a friend-of-the-court brief yesterday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the case of Kuang v. U.S. Department of Defense. The class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU was brought on behalf of lawful permanent residents who enlisted in the armed services but were not permitted even to attend basic training because of a policy implemented by the Trump-Pence administration requiring unspecified extra screening and significant delays. The new discriminatory policy ended the long-standing practice of treating all applicants who meet basic qualifications the same way.
Circle K Management Harassed and Fired Illinois Employee Because She is Transgender
CHICAGO, IL - August 22, 2019 - Circle K - the national convenience store chain - fired an African-American transgender woman, after she complained about the harassment and discrimination she experienced. Judi Brown today filed a federal lawsuit in response to Circle K's harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, asserting that Circle K violated state and federal law.
Lambda Legal to HHS: Health Care Discrimination Against LGBT People is Illegal
(Washington, D.C., August 14, 2019) - Yesterday, Lambda Legal submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services objecting to a proposed rule change that seeks to roll back the protections under the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) nondiscrimination provision (also known as Section 1557) that prohibit discrimination in health care on the basis of sex. The proposed rule seeks to carve-out LGBT people from the ACA's nondiscrimination protections, inviting health care workers, doctors, hospitals and health insurance companies that receive federal funding to refuse to provide or cover health care services critical to the health and wellbeing of LGBT people and people living with HIV. But this attempt to roll back protections through an agency rule change cannot change the law itself.
City of Modesto Denies Permit for Anti-LGBTQ "Straight Pride" Event; Organizers Confirm They Will Still Try to Hold Event
MODESTO - August 13, 2019 The City of Modesto has denied a permit for the National Straight Pride Coalition - an extreme anti-LGBTQ and white supremacist group - to hold a "straight pride" event in the city. However, organizers say they still plan to hold the event, with or without a permit. The so-called "straight pride" event is being promoted under the seemingly innocuous guise of being a free speech celebration, however the group's website makes it clear that the event is aimed at highlighting the "evil of the Homosexual/Sodomy Movement," the supremacy of western culture and whiteness and the "existence of only two genders." The Coalition is a small group of radical organizers who have attempted to organize hate-filled events and mobilize ahead of the 2020 election. The Proud Boys, a violent white supremacist hate group, is also expected to participate in the event. U.S. Representative Josh Harder (D-Turlock), who represents Modesto in Congress, has condemned the event.
Health
Mental Wellness and Guns
Mental illness and gun violence became a big topic recently. Let's open up that discussion. I have concerns that I will be killed by a person with a mental illness. And I have concerns that this individual will kill himself.
Erie County HIV Task Force Invites All to 3rd Annual HIV Awareness Walk on Sep 16
(Frontier Park, W 6th St, near Tennis Court, Erie, PA) 5 PM. The Erie County HIV Task Force invites everyone to participate in the 3rd Annual HIV Awareness Walk on Monday, September 16. By participating in this event, you are helping to raise community awareness and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in Erie County. There is no cost and no registration for the walk, just simply meet us at 5 PM at LEAF Education Center building at Frontier Park, near the tennis courts on W 6th St. The walk will begin at 5:30 pm. Feel free to wear red and bring your pets! If your organization would like to bring a banner, please do! On Facebook: Erie County HIV Task Force. For more info, contact Joy Henry at jhenry@eriecountypa.gov.
I Don't Want to Get Older
I don't want to get older. I look at old gay men and I don't like what I see. I don't want to die young (I'm 29) but I also don't want to age. Already I see younger guys in their early twenties and feel that I'm on my way out. Who's going to want me in ten or twenty years? The woman who cuts my hair is having a Botox party: should I go?
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
The Amazon Trail: The Good Things in Life
As disheartened as I am about all that is going on in our country and our planet, there are times when I have to appreciate the good things in life. They are often about ice cream.
Contests
Enter to win Kindred Spirits: When a Medium Befriends a Spirit by Rob Gutro!
Enter to win Kindred Spirits: When a Medium Befriends a Spirit by Rob Gutro! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, September 17 and Tuesday, October 8..
Enter to win Kingston Paradise from Ariztical Entertainment!
Enter to win a digital download of Kingston Paradise from Ariztical Entertainment. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, September 13 and Friday, October 4.
Enter to win Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures!
Enter to win Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, September 10 and Tuesday, October 1.
Enter for a chance to win Back Seat by Lisa Bell!
Enter for a chance to win Back Seat by Lisa Bell! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, September 6 and Friday, September 27.
Enter to win A Body To Dye For by Grant Michaels!
Enter to win A Body To Dye For by Grant Michaels! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, September 3 and Tuesday, September 24.
Enter to win Ceraadi's Playlist EP!
Enter to win Ceraadi's Playlist EP! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, August 30 and Friday, September 20.
Enter to win Rocketman on Blu-ray/DVD!
3...2...1...Liftoff! Enter now for your chance to win the epic musical celebration Rocketman on Blu-ray/DVD! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, August 27 and Tuesday, September 17.
Win Kygo and Whitney Houston's hit single "Higher Love!"
Enter now to win the hit single "Higher Love" from global superstar Kygo and music legend Whitney Houston! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, August 23 and Friday, September 13.
Enter to win Socrates DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures!
Enter to win Socrates DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday,August 20 and Tuesday, September 10.
Win P!NK's new album Hurts 2B Human, featuring the song "Can We Pretend" (feat. Cash Cash)!
Enter now to win a copy of P!NK's new album Hurts 2B Human, featuring the hit single "Can We Pretend" (feat. Cash Cash). Now available with remixes by MOTi, Hook N Sling, Yves V and Bart B More. Out NOW: http://smarturl.it/H2BH?iQid=yt. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, August 16 and Friday, September 6.
Miscellaneous
An American Paradise: Gay Neighborhoods of New England
Have you thought of making the big getaway? Are you feeling a bit patriotic? New England embodies the spirit of America and also has some gorgeous places where the LGBTQ community has thrived for years. Seaside properties and quaint little towns where one can forget the world for a while exist in New England. We are here to break down the area for you, find the best neighborhoods for members of the LGBTQ community, and look at what you can expect to pay for a property in New England.
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