Protect Transgender Students

This unacceptable repeal of crucial transgender protections in our public schools by the Trump administration restricts the civil rights of an entire group of the most vulnerable Americans. In recent years our LGBTQ community have made great strides in increasing social justice & this intolerant & ignorant executive order attempts to diminish that progress. We must continue to make our voices heard to ensure schools remain safe spaces for all children, regardless of the gender they identify with. Jennifer L. Levi, Director of GLAD's Transgender Rights Project stated, “The withdrawal of Department of Education guidance is a devastating step back for transgender students, who today are receiving the message that the federal government will not vigorously defend their right to an education. This unfortunate reversal of protections reflects crass, unprincipled political pandering. The American people support fairness & equal treatment of all students & do not think vulnerable young people should be made pawns of a political drama being played out by the current administration. The sudden reversal by the Education & the Justice departments does nothing to change the fact that the law protects transgender students’ right to an equal education. But it does mean that state & local efforts must be redoubled to ensure full and equal inclusion of transgender students in school. This guidance has provided practical & important advice to schools about how to foster positive learning environments for transgender students which has been especially critical in local communities where schools & districts have not been able to develop such policies on their own.”
For More Info: glsen.org
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FLIM-FLAM World Premiere Play

We all need a little comic relief these days & if you’re in the San Francisco Bay we have a treat for you. Theatre Rhinoceros presents FLIM-FLAM a World-Premiere comedy, written & directed by John Fisher about three desperate actors who take to the road in search of roles. Along the way they encounter highway hooligans, porno shoots, offended politically-correct youths & “all the crazies” of America. All the world's a stage & it's an actor's nightmare in this comedy about America “trying to be great again.” The run beings February 24th through March 18th with Opening Night on Thursday March 2nd at the Eureka Theatre 215 Jackson Street in San Francisco at 8P for a limited 4 week engagement with only 19 performances. It features Daniel Chung (Endin), Kevin Copps (Harrible), Donald Currie (Dobbins), Playwright/Director John Fisher Aaron), Krystel Piamonte (Zika Mom) & Jesse C. Vaughn (Hammer.) Flim-Flam replaces the previously announced play Ding-Dong because of the current changing nature of the American political landscape. John Fisher the playwright feels that FLIM-FLAM & its subject are more germane to the previously announced show. Ding-Dong will be presented in a subsequent season when & if things calm down politically. Theatre Rhinoceros was founded in 1977 & is the longest running LGBT theatre in the nation. They develop & produce works of theatre that enlighten, enrich & explore both the ordinary & the extraordinary aspects of our queer community. Their emphasis is on new works, works about under-represented members of the larger queer community & revivals of lesser known queer classics. FLIM-FLAM Tickets are $15 - $40.
For More Info & Tix: therhino.org
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GMHC To Honor Bill Clinton

The Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) announced that they will honor President Bill Clinton, Founder of the Clinton Foundation & 42nd President of the United States at their 35th Anniversary Spring Gala on Thursday March 23rd at Highline Stages, 440 West 15th Street in New York City at 6:30P. Distinguished honorees also include Jes Staley, Chief Executive Officer of Barclays and Peter Staley, HIV/AIDS & LGBT Rights Activist. Proceeds will benefit GMHC’s services for thousands of people living with & affected by HIV/AIDS. Kelsey Louie GMHC CEO stated, “It is a privilege to honor President Bill Clinton at GMHC’s 35th Anniversary Spring Gala. The Clinton Foundation has been battling the epidemic since 2002, saving the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. During this tumultuous time, it is more important than ever to honor those who are fighting & advocating for affordable, accessible healthcare, equal rights for all & an end to the epidemic.” GMHC’s history can be traced to the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic, 35 years ago. This milestone anniversary is a tribute to GMHC’s legacy as the world’s first AIDS service organization & the beginning of the agency’s next chapter of providing comprehensive life-saving services. The gala will incorporate a cocktail reception, luxury auction & dinner program featuring a presentation of the prestigious Larry Kramer Activism Award, Corporate Partner Award, & the Judith Peabody Humanitarian Award.
For Info & Tix: gmhc.org
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Boston LGBT Youth Pride Events

Boston Youth Pride is Boston Pride’s program dedicated to youth 21 & under in our LGBTQ community. On Saturday February 18th their annual Youth Valentine's Dance is taking place from 7P to 11P hosted by City Year at 287 Columbus Avenue in Boston, MA. DJ Scott Pryor will be the featured performer & there will be lots of door prizes available. Tickets are $7 before online & $10 at the door. Then on March 3rd from 7P to 9P there will be a special screening of “You’ll Never Be Alone / Nunca vas a estar solo”. The film is about LGBTQ teen homophobia. After his gay teenage son, Pablo, is badly beaten up by some homophobic youngsters, Juan, a withdrawn manager at a mannequin factory struggles between having to pay his son’s exorbitant medical bills & his last attempt at making partner at his company. As he runs into dead-ends & unexpected betrayals, he’ll discover that the world can be violent with him too. Juan has made too many mistakes, but his son can still be saved. This event is organized by the Wicked Queer Film Festival, & co-presented by HBGC Boston, The Theater Offensive & Boston Latinx Pride/Boston Pride. The screening takes place at the Emerson College’s Bright Family Screening Room at The Paramount Center 559 Washington Street in Boston.
For Info & Tix: bostonpride.org
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New LGBT Exhibition In Virginia

In Virginia The Valentine Museum & OutRVA Richmond’s LGBT tourism campaign have launched a new exhibition “One Love: LGBT Families” that runs now through September 4th. The exhibit features contemporary photographic portraits of LGBT families from the Richmond Region by photographer Michael Simon. Meg Hughes, Curator of Archives at The Valentine stated, “The concept of family within the LGBT community has historically & out of necessity, been flexible. After coming out, many LGBT individuals are ostracized from their family and friends. However, everyone needs love & the LGBT community has been actively creating support networks for decades.” Katherine O’Donnell, Vice President of community relations at Richmond Region Tourism added, “One Love: LGBT Families provides us with a great way to showcase to visitors the wonderfully diverse community that we enjoy here in the Richmond Region. Through OutRVA, we’re spreading the message that the Richmond Region is a welcoming & diverse community. This exhibit helps us tell that part of the Richmond story in a beautiful, thought-provoking way.” Rodney Lofton, who was photographed at Comfort restaurant with his husband. Lofton & his husband are a gay, interracial couple concluded, “We are proud to be included among the varying images & definitions of family in this exhibit. One Love: LGBT Families highlights families that may be different from the days of Ozzie & Harriet, but share the same values & ultimate goal, love.”
For More Info: thevalentine.org
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Trump Failing Transgender Kids

The Trump administration has begun attacking the most vulnerable members of our LGBTQ community. The Justice Department has announced that it is withdrawing its request for a stay of an injunction on enforcement of Obama-era guidelines protecting transgender students. Rick Zbur Equality California Executive Director stated, “Two weeks after pulling back on an on-again, off-again executive order that would have allowed sweeping religious exemptions to requirements protecting LGBT people from discrimination, the Trump Administration has reminded us that rollbacks of LGBT civil rights do not have to be thunderous or accompanied by great fanfare. They can happen quietly, incrementally, while the nation is otherwise distracted. In withdrawing its request for a stay on an injunction barring the federal government from enforcing President Obama’s guidelines protecting transgender students, the Justice Department has signaled – less than 48 hours after confirmation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general by the U.S. Senate – that it does indeed intend to dismantle as much of recent LGBT civil rights gains as possible. These guidelines – similar to legislation already in effect in California – protect the basic dignity & safety that transgender students deserve. Equality California will use every measure at its disposal to ensure that federal nondiscrimination protections remain safe from attack & that all students are equally protected by the U.S. Constitution."
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George Takei Rallies For Muslims

Fierce LGBT activist George Takei who I attended a fundraiser with last fall in happier times, will present over 280,000 Care2 petition signatures on Monday February 13th in support the Muslim community to leaders of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) at a ceremony at Los Angeles City Hall in the wake of Trump’s Executive Order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Takei who was forced into a Japanese American internment camp when he was just five years old started the Care2 petition to allow signers to speak out against any of Trump’s policies that would target the Muslim community. Takei stated, “During that time, fear & racism drove government policy, creating a living hell for over 120,000 innocent Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens. I have spent my life trying to ensure something like this never happens again. But dark clouds once more are gathering. National security must never again be permitted to justify wholesale denial of constitutional rights & protections. It starts with a registry, with restrictions, with irrationally ascribed guilt & with fear. But we know well where it might lead. If it is freedom & our way of life that we fight for, our first obligation is to ensure that our own government adheres to those principles. Without that, we are no better than our enemies.” The event will take place at Los Angeles City Hall, 3rd Floor Rotunda, 200 North Spring Street from 6:30P to 9P. Takei will be joined by actor Mike Farrell, Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti & leaders of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. The presentation will be followed by a reception with appetizers & refreshments.
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