September, 2021 News (43 Articles with 36,290 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for September, 2021 Journey to a Trauma-Informed Life at their 2nd anniversary on July 26 at their 3104 State St office.
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
Compton's Table offers AFFIRM - Queer Youth Support Group
Compton's Table has a new queer youth support group called AFFIRM. It is a CBT-based group to learn stress management and coping skills while connecting with other queer youth. There are two sets of online Zoom meetings being offered from August through October.
Jamestown Pride Meeting 6 PM, Wednesday, September 8!
Jamestown Pride Meeting 6 PM, Wednesday, September 8! We'll be sharing and gathering feedback about the 1st Annual Jamestown Pride Fest that was held June 12th. Your feedback will help shape the 2nd Annual Jamestown Pride Fest to be held on Saturday, June 13th! This will be a hybrid meeting that will be held in-person at the Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County (Gateway Center, 31 Water Street, Jamestown, NY) and on Zoom. Those who attend in person will be required to wear a mask.
Thirteen Weeks Until Lake Erie Gala!
From Erie Sisters Transgender Support Group: Time is flying by and we are only 13 weeks away from seeing each other again at the Lake Erie Gala to be held at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel from November 17-21.
SisTers PGH Scholarship Due Aug 28 for Training Series for Black Trans Leadership
SisTersPGH is looking for three BIPOC trans folk to go to Puerto Rico with SisTers PGH staff and leadership! The goal is to learn how to be a black trans leader in the nonprofit, social, and economic realms. We will be experiencing a series of trainings throughout the week of 10/13-10/19 that includes self care and rejuvenation time because black trans people deserve to rest and feel centered in a world of uncertainty. We are looking for applicants that are ready to take their voice and put it to action as a scholar of SisTers PGH, as trans leader that embodies the leadership mission, vison and values of SisTers PGH. Apply if interested in joining a black trans agency that fights to unite and demarginalize our black and brown trans communities of South Western Pennsylvania through advocacy, protest, housing, policy, legislation and/or city/state government.
NW PA Pride Alliance Hosts Annual Picnic at Presque Isle
On August 14th, 2021, NW PA Pride Alliance held the 28th Annual Pride Picnic at Presque Isle. The event was located at the Rotary Pavilion, next to Beach 7. The LGBTQIA community of Erie was invited for a day of fun, friends, and food provided by the Pride Alliance. The event was also a part of 814 Day. A day dedicated to the city of Erie and the communities that make it possible.
Journey to a Trauma Informed Life 2nd Anniversary on July 26
Journey to a Trauma Informed Life observed their second anniversary on Monday, July 26, at their office at 3104 State St, Erie, PA. Their other offices are at 2230 W. 8th Street, Suite#2 Erie, PA 16505, and 1001 State Street, Suite #1309 Erie, PA 16501. Journey to a Trauma Informed Life, LLC was founded in July 2019 by three dedicated clinicians who saw a need for trauma-informed, culturally competent mental health services in our community. Since then, we have grown to a staff of 12, each ready to help you on the next stage of your own journey to healing.
TransFamily Summer Picnic July 24
TransFamily of NWPA held its annual summer picnic on July 24th at Glenwood Park in Erie, PA. There were approximately 50 people in attendance, making it the largest picnic the group has held. Name tags encouraged the sharing of pronouns, vaccination status, and hug status. The main meal dishes of pulled pork, hotdogs, and veggie burgers were complimented potluck style with side dishes provided by those in attendance. The event was scheduled for 4 hours but ran slightly longer as many friends and chosen families, new and old, had their first chance to relax and enjoy each other's company since before the pandemic. We, the TransFamily of NWPA Board of Directors, feel that the event was a huge success. We also look forward to seeing many of you again soon in our monthly support group meetings and in November for Transgiving! Please refer to our website https://transfamilynwpa.org/ for our calendar of events.
Drag Queen Bingo on Sep 12
Join The Erie Drag Queens Sunday afternoon September 12, at the Zem Zem Shrine Center for a night of glitz, glamour, and good times! But be warned, this isn't your grandmother's bingo, this is a rude, crude, tipsy-time hosted by your very own Drag Queens of Erie.
Upcoming Events from the Zone Dance Club
These next few months are going to have show-stopping events at the Zone Dance Club! While a few months away, famous drag queen Tatianna will be appearing at the Zone Dance Club on October 23rd, 2021! Tatianna appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race season 2 and All Stars 2, the latter which she received runaway success. The event will be hosted by Rebecca Mae and special guests such as Luna Skye and Indie Skies. House cast queens such as Misty Michaels Kall, Priscilla Godzilla, Shea D'Heaux, and Pissi Gabune will also be performing. Tickets go on sale on August 30th at 5:00 PM.
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE) 10th Annual Afternoon for Equality on Aug 15
On Sunday, August 15, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality held their 10th Annual Afternoon for Equality at the Erie Yacht Club. President Leah Manino thanked board members and supporters for the past year. GEAE was proud to sponsor and also partner with other organizations for several initiatives including a virtual youth conference, a back to school drive, a food drive and more. GEAE also presented 4 area students with a $1.000 scholarship for continuing education at college or trade school.
LGBTQ+ Youth Programs Resumes with Art Wellness Group Sep 9
The LGBTQ+ youth programs sponsored by Greater Erie Alliance for Equality have been taking a break this summer. Monthly programming will resume soon with an Art Wellness group on September 9th. Head to: https://atraumainformedlife.com/resources/lgbtq/youth/ to register and meet our new program director and youth advocates. Sign up for the newsletter to see what else is happening
City of Erie Jobs and Careers
Three job openings for the City of Erie for Executive Secretary, General Labor, and Assistant Zoning Officer.
Deadline for September 2021 print edition (issue #310) of Erie Gay News is Sunday, August 15, comes out Tuesday, August 24
For the next Erie Gay News (issue # 310, cover-dated for September 2021), please send in online events, news items, and other info for late August 2021 and beyond by Sunday, August 15. We expect that the next edition will come out on Tuesday, August 24. Please note: if you had paused being a distributor for Erie Gay News during the pandemic, now that things are opening back up again, we would love to have you back! Just let us know and we will be happy to get you copies for distribution again!
Entertainment and Travel
Pride Journey: Chicago
Chicago is my kind of town…it really is. I've been to Chicago more times than I can count over the years, however I have never written a Pride Journeys article about the city. Well, it's about time I did!
VH1 greenlights new seasons of "RuPaul’s Drag Race", "Untucked" and "Secret Celebrity Drag Race"
New York, NY - August 23, 2021 - On the heels of an impressive 11 Emmy Award nominations across the franchise, VH1 today announced that "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked" have been greenlit for new seasons. The record breaking competition series, "RuPaul's Drag Race", will introduce a new group of talented queens for an iconic 14th season. The Emmy® nominated after-show, "RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked" also returns, airing each week after brand new episodes of "Drag Race."
Erie Art Museum Opens Future Memories, Video and Multimedia Art by John Eric Steiner
ERIE, Pa. - Future Memories, a new exhibit by multimedia artist John Eric Steiner, will be featured at the Erie Museum from Sept. 2, 2021 through Jan. 30, 2022.
Pride Journey: Colorado Springs
Did you know that Colorado Springs is also known as Olympic City U.S.A.? Neither did I. Not only is the city home to the U.S. Olympic Training Center, but Colorado Springs recently celebrated the grand opening of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, a stunning state-of-the-art building showcasing the history of the Olympic games as well as athletes that competed. The 60,000 square-foot facility focuses on the core values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements: friendship, respect and excellence, determination, equality, inspiration, and courage. The museum was voted "Best New Attraction" by USA Today and it's easy to see why.
Erie Art Museum Presents Paintings by Beatrice Lebreton and David King
Erie, PA - The Erie Art Museum continues to bring diverse and creative exhibitions to the region. August 5th, the Museum kicked off two new exhibitions by painters Beatrice Lebreton, from New York and David King, from Cleveland.
Political, Activism and Legal
VICTORY! Fourth Circuit Rules North Carolina Can Be Sued for Violating the Affordable Care Act Over Discriminatory Anti-Transgender State Employee Health Care P
(ATLANTA, GA - September 1, 2021) - Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld a district court ruling determining that the North Carolina State Health Plan for Teachers and Employees, a state entity, could be sued under the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act for denying comprehensive gender-affirming health care coverage.
OutRight, Citizen Lab and OONI Expose Censorship of LGBTIQ Websites in New Report
A new report from OutRight Action International, the Citizen Lab, and the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) documents the state of website censorship in some of the most challenging countries in the world for LGBTIQ communities. The report shows prevalent censorship of LGBTIQ website content, reflecting prevalent levels of LGBTIQ-phobia and active silencing of LGBTIQ voices by certain states. The study combines network measurement techniques with interviews from local experts, providing novel insight into the technical obstacles many users face in accessing LGBTIQ news, health, and human rights websites.
New Survey Launches to Understand Experiences, Needs, and Priorities of LGBTQ Southerners
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - August 30, 2021 - -- Today the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) and Campus Pride announced the launch of the Survey of Southern LGBTQ Experiences, a new in-depth research project dedicated to understanding the experiences, needs, and priorities of LGBTQ people living in the Southern United States.
Lambda Legal Sues Virginia Department of Corrections on Behalf of Incarcerated Transgender Man Denied Medically Necessary Health Care
(CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - August 25, 2021) -- Today, Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) on behalf of a transgender man incarcerated at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women (FCCW) who has been denied medically necessary and gender-affirming care, one of the first lawsuits in the country filed on behalf of an incarcerated transgender man.
Gloucester County School Board to Pay $1.3 Million to Resolve Gavin Grimm's Case
RICHMOND, Va. - August 26, 2021 - The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that the Gloucester County School Board will be ordered to pay over $1.3 million in attorney's fees and costs requested in Gavin Grimm's discrimination case. After six years of litigation, the Supreme Court in June 2021 declined to review lower court decisions ruling that the school board's discriminatory restroom policy for transgender students violated Title IX and the Constitution. In a court filing today, the school board informed the court it would not oppose Gavin's petition for fees and costs and would pay the entire amount requested in the fee petition.
New Report Features Five Child Welfare Agencies in Pennsylvania Working with Human Rights Campaign Foundation Toward Fully LGBTQ+ Inclusive and Affirming Care
WASHINGTON - August 26, 2021 -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released a new report, 2021 Change-Makers, highlighting the HRC Foundation All Children-All Families (ACAF) program's partnership with 119 organizations -- a 19% increase in participation from last year -- working to improve the services they provide to the LGBTQ+ community, including children in foster care, 1 in 3 of whom are LGBTQ+, and prospective foster and adoptive parents. These organizations serve more than 1 million clients annually in 35 states and employ more than 24,000 employees.
As our current struggles show, understanding our past counts - An interview with Cathy Renna (She/her/hers)
In 1973, when I was six, most states had sodomy laws, homosexuality was considered a mental illness, and it was not uncommon for youth who came out to be institutionalized. In October 1973, Dr. Howard Brown, Martin Duberman, Barbara Gittings, Ron Gold, Frank Kameny, Nathalie Rockhill, and Bruce Voeller founded The National Gay Task Force, today known as the National LGBTQ Task Force. Over the next four decades, the Task Force would play an instrumental role in establishing a new narrative in the fight for equality.
Campus Pride Reveals "Best of the Best" Colleges and Universities for LGBTQ Students
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Campus Pride, the preeminent resource for LGBTQ leadership development, diversity inclusion and advocacy within higher education, today announced the annual Best of the Best Colleges and Universities for LGBTQ students in the United States. The schools featured in this year's Best of the Best are listed in alphabetical order by state, and organized according to region.
National AIDS Memorial Releases Surviving Voices Mini-Documentary "Substance Users, the Recovery Community & AIDS"
San Francisco (August 23, 2021) - The National AIDS Memorial Surviving Voices storytelling initiative is being recognized for its powerful work in helping tell the story of AIDS through the voices of survivors of the pandemic, now in its 40th year. More than 700,000 U.S. lives have been lost since the first cases of AIDS were first reported in 1981. Today, more than 1.2 million people are living with HIV, with a disproportionate impact in communities of color and in southern U.S. states.
Federal Court Allows Lawsuit Challenging Trump "Rollback Rule" Undermining Healthcare Nondiscrimination Protections To Continue
BOSTON, Mass. -August 19, 2021 - Late Wednesday, a federal court permitted plaintiffs to continue to pursue several claims in Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (BAGLY) et al v. HHS, a lawsuit challenging the Trump-Pence Administration's rule that seeks to undermine healthcare nondiscrimination protections contained in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The federal government had filed a motion to dismiss the case, but the court allowed many of the claims to proceed, while postponing consideration of others that are part of other court cases challenging the rule, and dismissing only some limited parts of the suit.
Campus Pride Announces Awarding Of Ten Social Justice Mini Grants
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Campus Pride, the preeminent resource for LGBTQ leadership development, diversity inclusion and advocacy within higher education, today announced the awarding of ten Social Justice Mini Grants for Activism. These ten grants form the inaugural class of projects supported by Campus Pride, under a program launched in June 2021 as part of the organization's 20th anniversary celebrations. Each grant is worth up to $600.
August 2021 Updates to Equality Maps
MAP's interactive LGBTQ Equality Maps provide a comprehensive look at the current state of laws and policies impacting LGBTQ people across the United States. The Equality Maps offer a state-by-state comparison of the policy landscape and gaps in protections for LGBTQ people across the country.
Pennsylvania Equality Project Announces New Initiatives
The Pennsylvania Equality Project (PEP) has launched a new program on YouTube and Facebook called "PEP Talks Uncut." Each episode is unedited, unscripted and lasts about 30 minutes. PEP Talks Uncut features members of the LGBTQ+ community or allies, and is particularly interested in interviewing married couples in which at least one person is part of the community. We are also doing some episodes about polyamorous relationships, and would like to interview people who are in such relationships. Each new episode is published on our YouTube and Facebook channels on Sundays at 1 PM.
Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Equality Project Formally Calls on NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and HRC President Alphonso David to Resign
On Tuesday, August 3, President Joe Biden called on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign from office in light of the mounting evidence in an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the Governor. The New York Attorney General's report of the investigation released the same day lists as many as 179 different women that Governor Cuomo allegedly sexually harassed during a period spanning from 2015 to 2019. Within that time frame, Alphonso David served as Governor Cuomo's counsel in Albany and worked closely with the Governor. The same Attorney General report indicates that David attempted to cover up some of the inappropriate behavior. His actions occurred during his tenure as President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
Health
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Receives $45,000 from CDC Foundation for COVID-19 Vaccine Promotion
ALLENTOWN, PA - August 24, 2021 - Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center is honored to be awarded a $45,000 grant today from the CDC Foundation to support COVID-19 health education and vaccine promotion for the region's LGBTQ+ community. The center was one of more than 150 community-based organizations (CBOs) across the country, including eight in Pennsylvania, to receive funding from the CDC Foundation for this purpose. The grant greatly increases the center's capacity to provide direct community outreach for the COVID-19 vaccine and expands upon support from Lehigh Valley Health Network for COVID-19 health promotion for the LGBTQ+ community.
Adagio Health Addresses Vaccine Hesitancy in Rural Communities
Pittsburgh, PA (August 17, 2021)- For more than 50 years, Adagio Health has providing compassionate, inclusive care to communities in western Pennsylvania. Now, the medical team is drawing upon their strong relationships with patients and families as they administer COVID-19 vaccines in the rural areas where many of Adagio Health's medical offices are located. The organization's providers say that patience, understanding, and open conversations are the keys to addressing vaccine hesitancy expressed by some uncertain patients.
Join the Erie County HIV / AIDS Awareness Walk on Sep 27
The Erie County Department of Health and members of the Erie County HIV Task Force will host the 4th Annual Erie County HIV / AIDS Awareness Walk on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, at 6 p.m. Walkers will gather at the LEAF Education Center / Arboretum Building at Frontier Park for the approximate 1.5-mile walk. We invite all to walk and help to raise awareness about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Participants can enjoy refreshments, testing, and education opportunities. The first 50 people get a free t-shirt!
HIV & STI Testing on Aug 30
There will be free and confidential HIV and STI testing on August 30, 2021, at Liberty Plaza from 5 to 8 PM. Each person tested will receive a Central Outreach shirt, Dickey’s BBQ coupon, and a $20 Giant Eagle gift card.
Central Outreach Wellness Center offering COVID Vaccines at Erie Recovery Celebration on Sep 7 at St. Paul's Church
On Tuesday, September 7, Central Outreach Wellness Center will be offering COVID vaccinations from their mobile van from 11 AM to 2 PM at the parking lot of St. Paul’s Church, 1617 Walnut St, Erie PA. This is part of Erie Recovery Celebration.
What is a Friend and How do I Find A Good One?
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many of us spending way too long in the company of only our immediate family or closest BFFs. As the world reopens, we may want to seek out new friendships, but are unsure about where/how to start.
Erie County announces mobile COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics for the week of Aug. 9, includes Pride Picnic on Aug 14
Erie, PA - County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper and Erie County Department of Health announce that Erie County is currently categorized as having a substantial transmission rate of COVID-19, which means it has 50 to 99.99 positive cases per 100,000 people. For this category, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing masks indoors for all, including for those fully vaccinated and those who are immunocompromised. There will be a free mobile vaccination clinic organized by the Erie County Department of Health, available to the residents of Erie County at the 28th Annual Erie Pride Picnic on Saturday, August 14. No insurance is needed and walk-ups are welcome.
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
What I learned on my European Pride tour
After speaking engagements, diplomatic LGBT Pride receptions, and meetings with LGBT activists, Parliamentarians, and Deputy Prime Ministers in U.S. embassies across Europe in the last 10 days, what I learned was that the LGBT community internationally still to this day looks to the U.S. movement for inspiration, and they do so with three words, one of which surprised me and made me appreciate the need to be aware of our history and where we must go to be inclusive as a community.
Contests
Enter to win The Audacity of a Kiss by Leslie Cohen
Enter to win The Audacity of a Kiss by Leslie Cohen! To enter the contest, fill out the form below between Friday, September 17, and Friday, October 8.
Enter to win What Wasn't I Thinking? by Sebastian Stuart
Enter to win What Wasn't I Thinking? by Sebastian Stuart! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, September 3, and Friday, September 24.
Enter to win A Wake DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures!
Enter to win A Wake DVD from Breaking Glass Pictures! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 21.
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