March, 2020 News (31 Articles with 40,111 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for March, 2020 Students from Mercyhurst and Edinboro University proudly display jazz hands at Mercyhurst's Annual Flaming Hearts Dance on Feburary 13, 2020. Photo by Michael 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
LGBTQIA+ Community Needs to Be Counted in US Census 2020
In 2020 our community will have the unique opportunity to have our voice heard twice on the national level. Not only is 2020 a big election year but it is also a census year. As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census is a once every-decade count of everyone living in the United States. This count is vital to Erie County as it ensures we get our fair share of funding for programs in our schools, healthcare, and housing. Additionally, the census count determines our representation in Congress.
Local Punk Rock Ice Cream Shop Opens Second Location
[ERIE, PA, February 26] - Owner of Fat Lenny's, Scottie Freeman moved to Erie, PA to live with his partner and is an openly gay business owner. Fat Lenny's is pleased to announce the opening of Fat Lenny's second location in Wesleyville, PA. Fat Lenny's has been an Erie favorite since it opened in 2017 and has decided to open a second location. This punk rock ice cream shops serves Thai rolled ice cream, bubble tea, and much more. The current location is 443 W 8th St. and the Second location is 2926 Buffalo Road.
Michelle Michaels Birthday FACE Drag Show 2020
On Sunday, February 16, 2020, Michelle Michaels and a talented team of drag performers presented the annual birthday Face drag show at The Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th St, Erie PA.
Mercyhurst Flaming Hearts Dance
On Thursday, February 13, 2020, Mercyhurst SAGA held their annual Flaming Hearts Dance at the Student Union at Mercyhurst, 501 W 38th St, Erie PA. They were joined by students from Identity, Edinboro's LGBTQIA+ student organization. Everyone had a marvelous time
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE)'s Queer Youth Art Exhibit
GEAE is proud to present the first Queer Youth Art Exhibit! Any identifying LGBTQ+ youth 12-21 may submit to this first-of-its-kind exhibit at the Erie Art Gallery, 24 W 8th St, Erie PA. The theme is "I Am"
Mayor's LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council Meeting on Feb 6
On February 6, 2020, the Erie City Mayor's LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council held their quarterly meeting. The council is currently working on a mission/vision statement. President Tyler Titus discussed updates from the PA Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs.
Registration Now Open for E3 Summit May 8 & 9
Registration for youth and adults is open for the May 8 and 9th E3 Summit. Vendors may also apply to table the event. Schedule, performers, and speakers to be announced soon. Notice venue change: due to construction at Collegiate Academy, East Middle School, 1001 Atkins St, Erie PA will host the event.
Tables at Pride Fest on June 27
NW PA Pride Alliance invites you to participate as a table at this year's Pride Fest! The event will be held on Saturday, June 27 from 1 to 5 PM in Perry Square at W. 6th and State, Erie PA.
Erie County Council Passes Conversion Therapy Ban Resolution
On February 5, 2020, Erie County Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the use of conversion therapy for minors. Erie County Council encouraged other local municipalities to pass enforceable bans on conversion therapy. Erie City Council had passed a ban on June 5, 2019 that included fines for violations.
Drag Dinner on March 7
The Andromeda Agency, an event production company in Erie, is teaming up with Rebecca Mae (2019 Miss Erie & Erie Drag Brunch mogul) to bring you the first Rebecca Mae’s Drag Dinner at Resolution Night Club, 28 North Park Row, Erie PA on March 7th at 7 PM.
Next Jamestown Pride planning meeting is Tuesday, February 18th, at 6pm!
Join the community at our public Jamestown Pride June 13th Festival planning meeting on Tuesday, February 18 at 6 PM at Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County, 31 Water St, Suite 7, Jamestown NY. This meeting our Committee Heads will report out on progress made. This is your chance to ask questions, give some feedback, and see what has been going on so far
PA Dept of Aging Survey and LGBTQ Seniors
As a requirement of the Older Americans Act, each state is required to develop a State Plan on Aging every four years. The State Plan essentially works as a strategic plan for the state’s Department of Aging. It outlines priorities for services provided through the Department, including caregiver support programs, employment support, health and wellness programming, legal assistance, meal programs, transportation, protective services, the ombudsman program, and more.
Deadline for March 2020 print edition (issue # 292) of Erie Gay News is Saturday, February 15
For the next print edition of Erie Gay News (issue # 292, cover dated for March 2020), please send in calendar events, news items, and other info for late February 2020 and beyond by Saturday, February 15. We expect that the next print edition will come out on Tuesday, February 25.
Entertainment and Travel
All An Act Presents: Another Country March 20 through April 5
All An Act presents Another Country, a drama by Julian Mitchell, and is d?irected by J. D. Mizikowski, with assistant director Marie Glaser. The play runs Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM for March 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th, April 3rd and 4th At 7:30 and Sundays March 22nd, 29th and April 5th at 3 :00 PM.
Pride Journey: Aspen Gay Ski Week
For years I've heard about Aspen Gay Ski Week, but it wasn't until this year that I decided to take the journey out to Colorado to experience the event for myself. Now in its 43rd year, Aspen Gay Ski Week attracts guests from around the country, and possibly around the world.
Emmy Award-winning "RuPaul's Drag Race" ru-veals guest judges for 12th season premiering Friday, February 28th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on VH1
NEW YORK, NY - February 13, 2020 - Emmy award-winning host RuPaul will be joined by an epic line-up of celebrities to help show regulars Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews as they decide who will stay, lip-sync for their life or "sashay away" in the new season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" premiering Friday, February 28th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on VH1. Be there to witness the first group of queens as they join the ruvolution and kick off an electrifying premiere that will air over two consecutive Friday nights. Each episode will give the audience a more intimate look at the new queens as they pledge their allegiance to the drag.
Political, Activism and Legal
NEW SURVEY: Far Majority of Active Duty Servicemembers OPPOSE Transgender Military Ban
WASHINGTON - February 26, 2020 - Today, the Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) - the nation's largest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community - responded to new survey results released by the University of California, Los Angeles, that reveals the far majority of active duty servicemembers oppose the Trump-Pence transgender military ban. Funded by the Department of Defense, the survey of 486 active duty, non-transgender servicemembers from the four major branches of the U.S. military found an overwhelming 66% support an inclusive policy.
LGBTI Activists in Uganda Denounce Acting Intelligence Head Richard Grenell and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo For Silence as Ugandan Newspapers Incite Violence
On February 21, 2020, two prominent Ugandan newspapers, Trumpet News and Red Pepper, published inflammatory photos and video of a pro-LGBTQI church in Uganda, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM) Uganda. The church was targeted for persecution by a premeditated media campaign to silence and erase this progressive ministry
Retrospective Report Tracks Changes over the Past 10 Years, Demonstrating Remarkable Progress, Backlash
(February 11, 2020) Boulder, CO-In stark contrast to the legal progress lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people have made over the past ten years, lawmakers across the nation are moving ahead with bills that, among other things, would repeal nondiscrimination protections, permit discrimination in child welfare services, and make it a felony to provide transgender youth with medically necessary care. In a year when the Supreme Court will decide three cases that will either affirm LGBTQ people employment protections-or grant employers a right to discriminate under federal law-a new report released today by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) reveals how a patchwork of LGBTQ laws and policies over the past decade have both strengthened and undermined equality at the local, state, and federal levels.
Health
Talk Show Host Blames & Judges Victim
I am a guy. I am a survivor of domestic violence. I went on a national TV show in New York City recently to tell my story of abuse to help other men and boys in Erie and beyond feel safe coming forward to tell their stories too.
Young Men Unaware of Risks of HPV Infection and Need for HPV Vaccination
Young sexual minority men - including those who are gay, bisexual, queer or straight-identified men who have sex with men - do not fully understand their risk for human papillomavirus (HPV) due to a lack of information from health care providers, according to Rutgers researchers.
Your Sex Life Can Get Better with Age: Here's How
There is a myth that the older we are, the worse our sex life will be. Fortunately, this is bullshit.
Call for nominations for the 1st Annual Keira Kristine DeSantis Award for Transgender Advocacy in Pennsylvania - Due March 13
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is proud to announce the call for nominations for the 1st Annual Keira Kristine DeSantis Award for Transgender Advocacy in Pennsylvania. Nominations should be submitted to Jamie Magee at jamagee@phmc.org by March 13th, 2020. The award will be presented at the 2020 PA LGBTQIA Health Conference being held at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie June 2 & 3, 2020.
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
The Amazon Trail: Please Understand How Much Danger We Are In
My sailor friend e-mailed me last night. She had just gotten home from her women's group where they discussed the fears engendered by the state of our nation. Only they didn't use the term state of our nation, they used the word "coup."
Contests
Enter to win Temblores DVD!
Enter to win Temblores DVD! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, March 10 and Tuesday, March 31.
Enter to win Inside the Hollywood Closet: A book of Quotes e-book from Riverdale Avenue Books!
Enter to win Inside the Hollywood Closet: A book of Quotes e-book from Riverdale Avenue Books! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, March 6 and Friday, March 27.
Enter to win a copy of Matthew Morrison's Disney Dreamin'
Enter now for your chance to win a copy of Matthew Morrison's Disney Dreamin', a carefully curated album of Disney classics inspired as a personal dedication to his own child. The song selection was picked from Morrison's fondest Disney memories as a child himself, and will cover several eras of beloved classic films including "Pinocchio," "Dumbo," "Cinderella" and "Toy Story." To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 24.
Enter to win Salim Nourallah's Jesus of Sad EP
Enter to win a copy of Salim Nourallah's new EP, Jesus of Sad, which just came out on January 31st! When asked to sum up his 25-year career in music, singer/songwriter/producer Salim Nourallah says, "I feel like the Texas version of Nick Lowe, except I haven't entered my silver-haired crooner phase yet." When he was a kid, Nourallah looked up to Lowe, mainly because he was the best example teenage Salim could find of a musician who led a double life of sorts, making his own records while also producing other artists. It's still a relatively uncommon phenomenon. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, February 25 and Tuesday, March 17.
Enter to win Wyatt Edmondson's If I Don't Try EP
Enter for a chance to win the new EP from Wyatt Edmondson! Nashville-based Americana/roots rock singer-songwriter Wyatt Edmondson releases his third EP, If I Don't Try, on February 21, 2020 on all digital platforms, as well as on CD and vinyl. Recorded at Cathy Jo Studio and Great Hill Studio in Nashville, TN, and produced by Shawn Byrne and Ryan Youmans, the EP takes the listener on a journey of hope and maturity. From the resilient resonance of the aurally enticing opening title track "If I Don't Try" to the understated acoustic shimmer of "Amber" to the intimate-partner travelogue of "Lovers Lake," Edmondson displays an original voice that's wise beyond his years. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, February 21 and Friday, March 13.
Enter to win Paige Cora's Instant in Time CD
Enter to win Paige Cora's brand new album, Instant in Time! Written and produced by the Ft. Erie, Ontario-based singer-songwriter herself, engineered and mixed by Jae Daniel, and mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London by Christian Wright (Ed Sheeran, Franz Ferdinand, Blur, Keane), Instant in Time by Paige Cora teems with the confidence of a seasoned performer defining her voice and serves as both a bold manifesto and introduction. The heartbeat at the center of Instant in Time came together by virtue of how Cora and her core bandmates worked together live off the floor over seven days at Black Rock Studio in Buffalo, New York, intermingled with warm cello accents and everything else members of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame added to her song arrangements. "Honestly, I was lifted by all the people I worked with," Cora readily agrees. "Overall, there was great communication between everyone in the band, and I love the excitement we generated together. It all just flowed really well." To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, February 14, and Friday, March 6.
Enter to win a free download of Sir Ivan's "Happy Together" Remix EP
Enter now for your chance to win a free download of the "Happy Together" Remix EP from international pop/dance star Sir Ivan. To enter the contest, fill out the form here from Tuesday, February 11 through Tuesday, March 3.
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