November, 2023 News (46 Articles with 41,923 total views)
On the cover of the print edition for November, 2023 Zone Dance Club staff celebrating the bar's 25th anniversary. Photo by Gwen Elaine.
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
SisTers PGH Thanks Stonewall Sports
From SisTers PGH: We want to give a huge shout-out to Stonewall Sports Pittsburgh, whose members raised $4,000 to support our organization! We cannot do what we do without community. It truly takes a village.
18th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend raises $3,684.00
This year's Pink Party weekend was October 6-8 at The Zone Dance Club, 133 W 18th St. The benefit was a three-night event with $3,684.00 going to Linked By Pink.
Aging With Pride Trip to Andy Warhol Museum
On October 14, 2023, members from Aging With Pride took a trip to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. There was fascinating art (the exhibit called Clouds with silver mylar balloons floating in a room was a favorite for several), great fun, and lunch together at North Shore Tavern afterward.
Community Spotlight #11: Erie County HIV Task Force
The Erie County HIV Task Force is a collaboration of local organizations and individuals dedicated to educating, supporting, and advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventing the spread of infection in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2014 by Laura Beckes and Sylvia Holland at the Erie County Health Department, the group has been bringing together Erie County volunteers to increase the awareness of HIV, its treatment, and prevention for our residents. Groups involved have included Adagio Health, Central Outreach Wellness Center Erie, Community Health Net, Edinboro University, Erie Gay News, Erie VA Medical Center, Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, Guadenzia, LECOM, MidAtlantic AIDS Education Training Center, NWPA Medical Reserve Core, NWPA Pride Alliance, PA Thrive Partnership, SafeNet, TransFamily, UPMC Hamot, and Urban Ministries.
TransFamily of Erie's Annual TransGiving Potluck on November 25
Join us on November 25 for our annual "TransGiving Feast" potluck meal to show thanks for our chosen family! It will occur at Compton's Table (inside the Community Outreach Center, 3104 State St. Erie, PA) from 2-5 pm. Transfamily of NWPA will provide the turkey, stuffing, and drinks. Please bring a dish to share, and we hope to see you there
NW PA Pride and Identity in Edinboro Homecoming Parade
On September 30, 2023, NW PA Pride Alliance had a truck in the Edinboro Homecoming Parade at PennWest Edinboro. They had a wonderful time marching with their friends from Identity.
Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 in Erie
Join TransFamily of NWPA on Monday, November 20th for Transgender Day of Remembrance. We will come together to remember and honor our transgender siblings that have been lost to senseless acts of anti-transgender violence, marginalization and stigma by reading their names and short bios aloud. The vigil will be held at Journey to a Trauma-Informed Life, 201 W. 11th Street, Erie PA at 7:30 pm. It will also be live-streamed on our Facebook page for those who can't attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
Erie's Zone Dance Club: A Milestone - 25 Years of Queer Community
Erie's Zone Dance Club, a symbol of queer community and celebration, proudly marks its 25th year. This venue's enduring journey began in November 1998 as new owner Bob Regan transformed the Embers into The Zone, which continued to serve Erie's LGBTQ+ community. After six years of resounding success, The Zone moved to its present location at 133 West 18th Street, formerly "The Village," another cherished gay bar. The club is a constant presence, open 365 days a year, with only brief interruptions during COVID-19 and the unforgettable 2017 Snowmageddon snowstorm.
F-A-U-L-K-N-E-R: Erie's Unconventional Write-in Campaign
Susannah Faulkner's venture into Erie politics has been nothing short of intriguing. While she narrowly missed securing a two-year term on the City Council by just 300 votes, her return to the political scene has taken an unconventional path in her quest to keep her seat.
Hoping to empower others, one queer book at a time
Some of Erie's Queer community worked together to collect many queer books for distribution throughout the area via the Little Free Library System. In conjunction with Banned Book Week, which ran from October 1-7, books were collected at Journey to a Trauma Informed Life on the evening of Tuesday, October 3.
Monthly LGBTQ+ Gatherings at the Secret Undisclosed Location in Jamestown, NY!
Exciting news for the region's LGBTQ+ community! The Secret Undisclosed Location, located at 100 E 2nd St 2nd Floor in Jamestown, NY, is all set to host a series of monthly gatherings that promise warmth, camaraderie, and support. Get ready to mark your calendars for the second Tuesday of every month, starting at 6:30 PM, for an evening filled with meaningful connections and exciting surprises.
Voters Guide
Candidates for Erie County Council and Erie City Council were asked about their positions on LGBTQIA+ issues. The Pennsylvania Municipal Election will be held on November 7, 2023.
Local Non-Profit Supporting Animal Rescues to Hold Inaugural Fundraiser and Raffle
Jamestown, NY- Pip-skey's Foundation for Homeless Animals Inc. is proud to announce their first fundraiser supporting their mission to provide financial support to local animal shelters, rescues, and pet owners. On Sunday October 29 from 2-6pm, Pip-Skey's Foundation will be holding an event at Sneakers Bar - located at 100 Harrison Street in Jamestown - to introduce their organization and begin their fundraising efforts for animal rescues in the greater Chautauqua County Area. This event will feature music, The Taco Hut Food Truck, basket raffles, 50/50 drawing, door prizes, and a grand prize raffle of a signed Josh Allen Jersey. Pre-sale tickets for the grand prize are available for sale at Sneakers Bar, the Landmark Restaurant, and Honda of Jamestown.
The Golden Girls - The Lost Episodes Vol. 4: The Halloween Edition
O'Connell & Company in conjunction with Shady Pines 2 Productions presents, "The Golden Girls - The Lost Episodes Vol. 4: The Halloween Edition" by David Cerda. "The Golden Girls …" is onstage October 19-November 4, 2023 with a special Halloween Night performance and a Nightly Halloween Costume Contest!
Looking for a good book?!
Are you interested in reading novels written by trans or gender non-conforming authors or with trans or gender non-conforming characters? Get out your Erie County Public Library card because Sexual Wellness PA, LLC would like to recommend one of their favorite trans novels!
Deadline for November 2023 print edition (issue #336) of Erie Gay News is Sunday, October 15, comes out Tuesday, October 24 with Voters Guide for Nov 7 Election
For the next Erie Gay News (issue # 336, cover-dated for November 2023), please send in-person and online events, news items, and other info for late October 2023 and beyond by Sunday, October 15. We expect the next edition to come out on Tuesday, October 24. This issue will include our Voters Guide for the November 7 Municipal General Election!
Entertainment and Travel
Jake's Women by Neil Simon at All An Act Theatre Nov 10-Dec 3
All An Act Theatre will present Jake's Women by Neil Simon November 10 through December 3. The play is directed by David W. Mitchell and stars Lisa Simonian, Amy Welker Rowe, Jessica LaFlamme, Tori Snyder, Shantel Kay, Amanda Hill, Aubree Dick, and David W. Mitchell.
Erie Art Museum to Benefit from Art Bridges Foundation Nationwide 'Access for All' Initiative to Reduce Barriers to Museum Visits
ERIE, Pa. - Art Bridges Foundation, the national arts nonprofit founded by philanthropist Alice Walton, announced today the launch of "Access for All," providing $40 million in funding to 64 museums nationwide. The initiative aims to increase access to museums across the country and foster engagement with local communities by covering the costs of free admission days and expanded free hours as well as programming, outreach, and community partnerships that together, will eliminate many common barriers to access.
Step into the FEED! - Video Portraits at Masquerade at the Museum!
ERIE, Pa. - Erie Art Museum is pleased to announce Video Portraits by media artists from FEED.art at the 2023 Masquerade at the Museum. FEED activates the Museum's Historic Customs House with an installation featuring YOU and your masked friends on the walls of the Hagen Gallery.
Pride Journey: Brookhaven, Georgia
A short 20-minute MARTA ride from downtown Atlanta, Brookhaven stands as a testament to the perfect blend of history, modernity, and community. As a city that has grown from a small farming community to a thriving urban hub, Brookhaven offers its residents and visitors a unique experience with its tree-lined streets, diverse neighborhoods, and an array of cultural and recreational opportunities.
VisitErie Reports Summer 2023 Visitation Numbers
Erie, PA: The summer of 2023 brought about promising results in Erie's visitation numbers, as reflected in the latest statistics provided by VisitErie, Erie County's official destination marketing organization. In studying visitor traffic numbers from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, increases were seen in visitor guide requests, overnight visitation, hotel occupancy, and average daily rate (ADR) when compared to the same period in 2022. VisitErie's summer campaign targeted designated market areas in Pittsburgh, Johnstown/Altoona, Harrisburg, Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown.
Political, Activism and Legal
Ninth Circuit Temporarily Blocks Idaho Restroom Ban as Court Challenge Proceeds
(Boise, ID, October 26, 2023) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today temporarily blocked enforcement of an Idaho school facilities law that singles out transgender students for discriminatory treatment. The law was set to take effect November 2, 2023.
Creating Change 2024 Registration Opens
The National LGBTQ Task Force is pleased to announce registration for the 36th Creating Change Conference is now open. Join us in New Orleans, Louisiana, from Wednesday to Sunday, January 17-21, 2024!
Lambda Legal Appeals Court Ruling Upholding Tennessee's Discriminatory Birth Certificate Policy
(Cincinnati, OH, October 20, 2023) - Late yesterday, Lambda Legal urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to reverse a district court ruling upholding Tennessee's discriminatory birth certificate policy. Tennessee's policy does not allow transgender people born in Tennessee to correct the gender marker on their birth certificates, leaving them grappling with inconsistent government identity documents and forcibly disclosing their transgender status. Tennessee is one of only a handful of states left in the country that still categorically prohibit transgender people from correcting their birth certificates to accurately reflect their identity.
Transgender North Carolinians, Medical Providers Sue to Block Medical Care Ban
(Raleigh, North Carolina - October 11, 2023) Today, on National Coming Out Day, Lambda Legal and the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) sued the State of North Carolina to block implementation of a discriminatory law banning the provision of medically necessary care for transgender North Carolina youth. The legal advocates simultaneously filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block enforcement of the ban as the court challenge proceeds.
New Research from Out Leadership Shows 8 in 10 LGBTQ+ Employees Cite Feeling Comfortable Being Out at Work
NEW YORK CITY, NY - As our nation prepares to commemorate National Coming Out Day, Out Leadership's "Out to Succeed 2.0," a global workplace survey of LGBTQ+ employees finds historic progress for LGBTQ+ employees in the workplace with 80 percent reporting feeling comfortable being out at work, up from 36 percent in 2016. Yet challenges remain for more marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender employees, as well as LGBTQ+ women and people of color, despite this historic progress.
Has the Golden State Become the Hate State?
October 11, 2023 - California is the birthplace of the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Flag. Artist and activist Gilbert Baker created this iconic symbol in San Francisco in 1978. For almost a half-century, this banner has served as a beacon of hope - not merely in the state where it was born but across the globe. That's why it's shocking to see the wave of homophobia and censorship sweeping across California this year, as towns and school districts vote to ban public display of the Rainbow Flag. Has the Golden State become the Hate State? If so, it's a terrible way to mark National Coming Out Day on October 11.
Health
Art Therapy Sessions for World AIDS Day Event
For this year's World AIDS Day Memorial Event on December 1st, the Erie County HIV Task Force is excited to announce a collaboration with PA Thrive Partnership and Journey to a Trauma Informed Life. This collab is bringing together these great local community resources as part of a new project for the event on World AIDS Day. Erie County residents are invited to participate in the ‘More Than a Quilt' open art therapy sessions being held at Journey's office [201 W 11th St, Erie PA 16501] on Mondays October 30th and November 6th from 12pm to 2pm. The Art therapy sessions are an open space for people to process the impact that HIV / AIDS has had on their lives. Anyone who is living with HIV or has been impacted through HIV / AIDS are encouraged to attend one or both sessions. Creations from these sessions will be on display during the World AIDS Day observances and materials are provided at no cost to participants. For more information on participating, call (833)4UR-JRNY and speak with the staff at Journey to a Trauma Informed Life. For additional info on the World AIDS Day event, visit the Erie County HIV Task Force at ECHIV.ORG or contact us at 814-315-3375 or admin@echiv.org.
Getting Fit with Pridefit Founder Sam Leicht
Sam Leicht didn't always know he was going to find a career in fitness. The Wisconsin native attended school in Cleveland for music theater, and before relocating to New York City about 6 years ago. Acting in NYC was great for a few years, but he mentions he has a passion for fitness. Earlier this month, he launched the Pridefit app, which features a collection of on-demand workouts for every fitness level, an in-app global community, a recipe guide, and more. The app is now available for download for a low monthly payment of $35 per month.
Unexplainable
My partner Alan and I were guests of honor at our friend's suburban Chicago home one evening. A farewell party before we headed out West to Arizona. Our buddies shared stories with fond memories of us. One particular story, however, was not like the rest. It was chillingly extraordinary.
FREE Condoms Program Biggest To Date
Did you know that you can get free condoms at various sites around Erie County? Or that you can order a free pack of 12 to be sent privately to your home? The Erie County Department of Health began their Condom Distribution Program seven years ago. Since then, locations and ways to get both internal and external condoms have expanded. Each package includes condoms, lube, and info on testing/treatment providers in Erie County. Last year alone, this program distributed over 20,000 condoms! Would you like some FREE condoms? Check out the online map for sites where the task force's red 'picnic' totes by visiting echiv.org/map or if you'd like to order some for free to come to you, visit our online store at condoms.echiv.org. For more information give us a call at the Erie County Department of Health, 814-451-6700.
New HIV Clinical Trial Begins
In the US and South Africa, people are volunteering for a new HIV vaccine Phase 1 trial. The new vaccine, "VIR-1388", tests safety and kicking off an HIV specific immune response in folks. VIR-1388 is to tell the human immune system to create T cells. These T cells would recognize HIV, prompting an immune response. The trial goal is to prevent HIV from establishing a chronic infection. The NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) and NIH (the National Institutes of Health) have provided scientific and financial support for years in this HIV vaccine idea and is contributing money for this study. Study participants are randomly put into one of four parts. Three out of four will receive a different dose of the vaccine. One out of four will get a placebo (fake vaccine). Late 2024 is when results are expected from the trial. Then volunteers will be followed for up to three years after their first vaccine dose. Did you know the Erie County Department of Health provides routine checks for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and HIV? We can go over options for treatment here in Erie County and help get you started. Would you like some FREE condoms? We provide free condoms and lubricants to our clients during weekly Sexual Health Clinic appointments on Tuesdays 9am-11am and Wednesdays 1pm-3pm. For more information give us a call at the Erie County Department of Health, 814-451-6700.
Adagio Health is now offering PEP for HIV!
Adagio Health is now offering PEP for HIV! PEP, also known as post-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication taken after exposure to HIV to lower the chance of getting HIV. It has to be started no more than 72 hours after the exposure to work. Adagio Health has this medication stocked in the office, so it can be started right away. Appointments are available by calling the office or online at adagiohealth.org. Walk-ins are also accepted, but there may be a wait to be seen.
Thousands of additional donations needed to replenish Red Cross blood supply
[Oct. 12, 2023] - Since announcing a national blood and platelet shortage a month ago, thousands of donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to help rebuild the American Red Cross blood and platelet supply. As that generosity continues, the Red Cross is working around-the-clock to ensure patients have access to lifesaving transfusions and must collect 10,000 additional blood and platelet donations - over and above expectations - each week over the next month to sufficiently meet hospital needs. Donors of all blood types are urged to book a time to give now, especially those with type O blood or those giving platelets.
California Condom Bill Veto Has Costly Consequences, AHF Warns
LOS ANGELES (October 10, 2023) - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) sharply criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing SB 541 (Menjivar, D-Burbank), a bill that would require public schools to provide free condoms to students and prohibit retailers from refusing to sell condoms to youth. Newsom claimed the bill was too costly given the state's $30 billion deficit.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Thanks Gov. Newsom for Signing PBM Reform Bill (SB 786, Portantino)
LOS ANGELES (October 9, 2023) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) thanked California Governor Gavin Newsom for signing SB 786, a bill that will make it illegal for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to discriminate against 340B Drug Pricing Program participants. AHF also thanked Senator Anthony Portantino ( D-Burbank), who authored and successfully carried the bill. The legislation, which will now protect thousands of organizations serving low-income Californians across the state, cleared the California State Senate with unanimous support in early September.
Letters, Columnists and Opinion
Pope Francis moves forward, Archbishop Perez does not
Those of us who have been fighting for equality for any length of time can see that change does not happen overnight. The best example is some big news this week that you might not have seen, which could mark a major shift in how the Catholic Church views marriage equality, and also notes a 20-year road to religious equality in the Catholic Church. Here are some of the headlines that others around the world woke up to earlier this week.
Contests
Enter to win Girls on Film
Enter to win Girls on Film. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, November 17, and Friday, December 8.
Enter to win The Revenge Game
Enter to win The Revenge Game by Jordyn Taylor. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, November 14, and Tuesday, December 5.
Enter to win Speech Team
Enter to win Speech Team by Tim Murphy. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, November 10, and Friday, December 1.
Enter to win Love(ly) Child
Enter to win Love(ly) Child by Emanuel Xavier. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, November 7, and Tuesday, November 28.
Enter to win Robert Bannon: Rewind - Live in Concert at The Green Room 42!
Enter to win Robert Bannon: Rewind - Live in Concert at The Green Room 42! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, November 3, and Friday, November 24.
Enter to win The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg DVD!
Enter to win The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg DVD! To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Tuesday, October 31 and Tuesday, November 21.
Enter to win Ghosted by Mo Fanning
Enter to win Ghosted by Mo Fanning. To enter the contest, fill out the form here between Friday, October 27, and Friday. November 17.
Enter to win BEAUTIFUL MONSTER: A Becoming by Miles Borrero
Enter to win BEAUTIFUL MONSTER: A Becoming by Miles Borrero. To enter the contest, fill out the form below between Tuesday, October 24, and Tuesday, November 14.
Miscellaneous
"We Never Give Up the Fight": Los Angeles LGBT Center Releases the First Full Report of the National LGBTQ+ Women's Community Survey
LOS ANGELES, October 12-Today, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, in partnership with Justice Work and 120 partner organizations, released the first full report from the largest and most comprehensive survey on LGBTQ+ women who partner with women in the United States.
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