Transgender Boy Scouts Welcomed

Some good news for our LGBT community in these challenging times. The Boy Scouts of America has stated that they will begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application which will finally pave the way for transgender boys to join the organization. Michael Surbaugh, Boy Scouts of America Chief Executive stated, “After weeks of significant conversations at all levels of our organization, we realized that referring to birth certificates as the reference point is no longer sufficient.” Zach Wahls, Co-founded Scouts for Equality stated, “From our perspective, they clearly did the right thing. My team & I knew that they were considering a policy change, but we are both heartened & surprised by how quickly they moved to change the situation.” This come after last year the Boy Scouts of America removed an 8-year-old transgender boy from the Secaucus, N.J., Cub Scout pack he had joined. The new policy on Boy Scouts of America website states: “For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports & other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual’s birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-gender programs. However, that approach is no longer sufficient as communities & state laws are interpreting gender identity differently & these laws vary widely from state to state. Starting today, we will accept & register youth in the Cub and Boy Scout programs based on the gender identity indicated on the application. Our organization’s local councils will help find units that can provide for the best interest of the child.”
For More Info: scouting.org
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Boston Generational Lesbian Event

Boston OLOC (Old Lesbians Organizing For Change) will be meeting on Sunday February 5th from 2P to 4P for an important program entitled “A Conversation Between Generations”. The program consists of a panel including Bren Cole of Fenway Health, Nicole Sullivan of Boston Feminists for Liberation, Journey Joyner-Mayr, Amanda Reveles of Youth Conference HGBC, Erin Tate, Chris Joseph, a peer counselor at GLASS, The Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC) & Shaunya Thomas of LOCS Collective (Lesbians of Color Symposium). Jyl Lynn Felman & Sarah Pearlman will be moderating & questioning the panelists. Pearlman stated, “In these troubling & divisive times, solidarity between groups is more important than ever. With hopes of beginning to bridge a generational divide, Boston OLOC is hosting a cross-generational conversation between our older & primarily lesbian identified audience & people of a younger generation. Panelists will discuss such topics as what LGBTQQIA life is like today for a younger & more inclusive generation, current identity language, how they refer to themselves (& why), feminism & fears & concerns resulting from the election & new administration as well as addressing questions to the OLOC audience on why a lesbian identity & what life is like for our generation of old lesbians.” The event takes place at Brookline Senior Center, 93 Winchester Street in Brookline, MA. Following the event there will be an early dinner at Sichuan Garden, 295 Washington Street in Brookline Village, Brookline.
For More Info: spearlman@hartford.edu
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Trump Making America Unsafe

Trump signed an executive order that blocks any immigration relief to those coming to the U.S. from predominantly Muslim countries, suspending the refugee program that has saved the lives of thousands of displaced people, treats asylum seekers who are fleeing violence & persecution in their own countries as suspected threats to our national security, increases the use of costly & inhumane mandatory detention including immigrants who have no record of criminal or violent behavior & erodes state & local control of community policing. Wade Henderson, President & CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights stated, “President Trump rode a wave of bigotry into the White House & ushered in a new era of hostility against American Muslims. He campaigned as a demagogue & is now governing as a demagogue. Banning or profiling people of faith is ineffective for our national security; it fans flames of bigotry & makes us all less safe. Trump’s recent actions to build a wall around the country, to strike fear in the heart of immigrants & now toward banning refugees & religious minorities make his America look more like a police state than the republic we truly are. Our republic is stronger & more dynamic because of its refugees, immigrants & religious diversity. But this administration is governing out of baseless fear & our nation’s immigrants & people of faith are paying a dear price. The administration should immediately cancel these actions, stop the bullying & govern in a way that’s inclusive & actually makes us all safer.”
For More Info: civilrights.org

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The Center LGBT Theater Event

The View UpStairs, the provocative new musical written by Max Vernon, directed by Scott Ebersold & choreographed by Al Blackstone are teaming up with the New York LGBT Community Center at 208 West 13th Street in NYC for a special event exploring the musical next Wednesday, February 1st at 7P. The evening will include a musical sneak peek into the show with the cast & a special panel will include my good friend famed journalist Michael Musto, Robb Leigh Davis (Director of Cultural Engagement for The Center), Ross Murray (Programs Director, Global and U.S. South, GLAAD) & the show’s creator Max Vernon, moderated by the show’s director Scott Ebersold. The View UpStairs takes place inside the UpStairs Lounge, a vibrant ‘70s gay bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. This forgotten community comes to life in all its gritty, glam rock glory when a young fashion designer from 2017 buys the abandoned space, setting off an exhilarating journey of seduction & self-exploration that spans two generations of queer history. Inspired by one of the most significant yet all-but-ignored attacks against the LGBTQ community, The View UpStairs examines what has been gained & lost in the fight for equality & how the past can help guide all of us through an uncertain future The cast will be accompanied by James Dobinson, the show’s Music Supervisor & Orchestrator. Tickets are $10 & include admission, talkback & complimentary reception.
For More Info & Tix: gaycenter.org
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Trump Pens Attack On Immigrants

Trump signed two executive orders calling for the building of his $14 billion wall at the United States & Mexico border. The executive orders also increase the policing, detention & criminalization of undocumented immigrants & stripped federal funding from local governments that are welcoming to undocumented immigrants. Rea Carey, National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director stated, "President Donald Trump’s action is an egregious attack on immigrants & their families, including LGBTQ immigrants. Instead of taking steps to fix our broken immigration system, President Donald Trump is adding fuel to a fire that continues to tear families apart, deny undocumented immigrants of their human dignity & vilify Muslims. The President & Vice President are circumventing Congress by fulfilling campaign promises built on fear mongering, racism, bigotry, xenophobia & violence. Their agenda of hate is contrary to the core American values of freedom, justice & equality & downright dangerous to the lives of millions of black & brown people, LGBTQ people & allies in this country. This week alone, we’ve seen executive actions attacking women’s access to reproductive health at home & abroad; a decision to move forward with environmentally dangerous pipeline projects that disrespect indigenous people of this nation; directly attack & criminalize immigrants & Muslims & a direct attack on voting rights that is designed to strengthen arguments for voter ID & other barriers to exercising our constitutional rights. We will continue to fight back & resist President Trump’s deplorable attacks on the lives & wellbeing of the nation’s most vulnerable. We urge everyone to join us as we organize, train & push Congress to protect everyone against the devastating harm caused by President Trump & Vice President Pence administration’s agenda.”
For More Info: thetaskforce.org

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Bill To Prevent Trump Nuclear Strike

While Trump has been attempting to destroy America by signing executive orders Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-California) & Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) reintroduced the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act to Congress. The bill would prohibit President Trump from launching a nuclear first strike without a Congressional declaration of war & is endorsed by the international Global Zero movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons. Rep. Ted Lieu stated, “Our Constitution created a government based on checks & balances & gave the power to declare war solely to the people’s representatives. A nuclear first strike, which can kill hundreds of millions of people & invite a retaliatory strike that can destroy America, is war. The current nuclear launch approval process, which gives the decision to potentially end civilization as we know it to a single individual, is flatly unconstitutional.” Derek Johnson, Executive Director of Global Zero stated, “In the wake of the presidential election, the American people are more concerned than ever about the terrible prospect of nuclear war & what the next commander-in-chief will do with the proverbial ‘red button.’ One modern nuclear weapon is more destructive than all of the bombs detonated in World War II combined yet there is no check on a president’s ability to launch the thousands of nuclear weapons at his command. His power to do so is absolute. Within 5 minutes of giving the order, these civilization-ending missiles would fire from underground silos & hurtle across the Earth at roughly 22 times the speed of sound. There would be no take-backs. They would hit their target cities in 30 minutes or less. That such devastating power is concentrated in one person is an affront to America’s founding principles. The proposed legislation is an important first step to reining in this autocratic system & making the world safer from nuclear catastrophe.”
For More Info: globalzero.org

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Oscars Loving & LGBT Moonlight

 "La La Land" dominated the Oscars with fourteen nominations, LGBT themed “Moonlight” received eight nominations & newcomer Ruth Negga received Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination for “Loving.” Based on the historic legal case, “Loving V. Virginia,” “Loving” is a timely film about overcoming significant, systemic obstacles during the Civil Rights Movement telling the true story of the plaintiffs, interracial couple Richard & Mildred Loving. With everyone’s civil rights in jeopardy in the Trump administration its an important film to catch especially since the case was cited over & over again in our fight to win marriage equality. Ruth Negga stated, “I am truly humbled by the news this morning & I thank the Academy for this recognition, which I share with my co-collaborators Jeff Nichols & Joel Edgerton. It has been such an honor to have been given the opportunity to tell the incredible story of Richard & Mildred Loving, who serve as an inspiration that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. The Lovings fought quietly yet tirelessly & changed the course of American legal history. Today, to be among such extraordinary women - my fellow nominees, my peers with films this year & the legendary performers whose work of years past has long inspired me...this means a great deal to me.” The 89th Academy Awards will be announced at a live ceremony on ABC on February 26th at 8P hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
For A Complete List of Nominations…

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