The Laramie Project Historic Return

In recognition of the 20th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death the Iron Crow Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland is launching its 2018/19 “Season of Becoming” with a production of the groundbreaking & award-winning The Laramie Project written by Moisés Kaufman & the members of Tectonic Theater Project September 14th to 23rd. Sean Elias, Iron Crow Theatre’s Artistic Director stated, “The Laramie Project means so much, to so many, especially as we mark two decades since Matthew’s murder became the focus of international attention & shined a light on anti-LGBTQ hates crimes like never before. We’re honored to be able to partner with the internationally recognized Tectonic Theatre Project, the creators of The Laramie Project, along with other prominent members of the queer community at large to help us connect our production here in Baltimore to others taking place across the country & to Matthew’s legacy." In October 1998 Matthew Shepard a twenty-one-year-old openly gay student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, beaten, tortured & left to die tied to a fence in the middle of a prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming, simply for being gay. Matthew’s murder brought national & international attention to the lack of hate crime legislation across the nation & forced a small community to wrestle with its identity on both the local & national levels. There will also be additional programming throughout the run including a staged reading of the rarely performed sequel to The Laramie Project, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later benefiting the Matthew Shepard Foundation & welcoming Cathy Renna, former communications director for GLAAD, to discuss her experiences on assignment in Laramie, Wyoming at the time of Matthew’s death.
For More Info: ironcrowtheatre.org
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Fifth Annual Trans Equity Summit

The fifth annual Minneapolis Trans Equity Summit begins on Thursday, October 4th at Hennepin Theater Trust, 900 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year’s focus is on health & wellness with breakout sessions on the services available in Minnesota including overcoming barriers to care & strategies for mental health resiliency. Following the Summit the Minneapolis Transgender Equity Council will host a social event at Hennepin Theater Trust. On Friday October 5th there will be a career & health fair at Minneapolis City Hall hosted by the Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition, Twin Cities Quorum & Twin Cities Pride. The event includes professional resume review & leading employers will accept resumes & discuss available positions. The Trans Equity Summit will present a keynote panel led by Kye Allums, the first African American openly transgender athlete in sports history. There will be an update about trans equity work happening within the City of Minneapolis. There will also be presentations by local organizations leading the charge on transgender health equity with opportunities to meet members of the City’s newly appointed advisory board the Transgender Equity Council. This event is free & open to the public & lunch will be provided. Registration begins October 4th with coffee & tea at 9A & the first session beginning at 10A. The event is hosted by the City of Minneapolis in collaboration with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board & Minneapolis Public Schools. Community members & organizations interested in furthering transgender equity are encouraged to attend.
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Harbor To The Bay AIDS Ride

The 16th annual Harbor to the Bay is a one-day bike ride from Boston to Provincetown, Massachusetts & takes place on September 15th with 100% of all pledges going directly to fight HIV/AIDS. Harbor to the Bay began in 2003 with an idea by the late Michael Tye, a group of Boston’s Club Café staff & dedicated friends who shared the dream to launch the 126-mile AIDS bike ride. Their idea was simple, a one-day ride from Boston (Harbor) to Provincetown (Bay) staffed completely by volunteers & a commitment that all rider pledges go directly to defeat HIV/AIDS. With millions of dollars being raised over the last 16 years this year their goal is $500,000. So far over 200 riders & 136 crewmembers have registered for Ride 16 & they have raised almost $200,000. On Monday September 10th at 7P The Boston Sisters are back for another round of Harbor to the Bingo. Come join the Sisters as they raise money to benefit Harbor to the Bay. Prizes this year include a large TV, retro bike & a liquor basket. Harbor to the Bay, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that runs solely through volunteer efforts & have no paid employees. Harbor to the Bay is an Equal Opportunity Organization. All are welcome to participate without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification & expression, national origin, citizenship, age, HIV Status, marital or veteran status, disability or any additional characteristics protected by law.
For More Info: harbortothebay.org
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Massachusetts Transgender Equality

On election day November 6th in Massachusetts Ballot Question 3 will ask voters whether to uphold the state law that protects transgender people from discrimination in public places such as restaurants, shops & hospitals. A "yes" vote would keep in place the current law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity in places of public accommodation. We must come together & work hard on the Yes on 3 Campaign to defend the current law protecting our transgender friends & neighbors from discrimination in public spaces. There are a few important events this month to get involved. First join Freedom For All Massachusetts in Quincy, MA on September 22nd & 23rd for the Yes on 3 Weekend of Action. They need to talk to thousands of voters about why non-discrimination protections for our transgender friends & neighbors are important & must be defended. Then on September 27th Freedom For All Massachusetts & Boston Black Pride will be hosting a Community Assembly to bring together leaders from all Boston LGBTQ organizations to discuss communication strategies for strengthening our coalition of voters at the Museum of African American History on 46 Joy Street in Boston from 6P to 9P. During the assembly speakers will provide an update on the campaign, discuss strategies for building awareness, getting out the vote & opportunities for each organization to become more involved in the campaign. In addition to discussing strategies & advocating for everyone to vote there will be a special guest keynote speaker Kryzia Salgado. Food & light refreshments will be provided for the evening. For More Info: bostonpride.org
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Love Is Love In India

Finally the Supreme Court of India has made the historic decision repealing the ban on gay & lesbian relations. The colonial-era Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code made sexual behavior “against the order of nature” illegal & punishable by imprisonment & served as a model for similar laws across the British Colonial Empire. Jessica Stern, Executive Director, OutRight Action International stated, “When you work on LGBTIQ rights at an international level, your work constantly leads you back to colonialism & the penal codes that were imposed globally as instruments of control & domination. The sodomy law that became the model everywhere from Uganda to Singapore to the UK itself premiered in India, becoming the confusing & dehumanizing standard replicated around the world. Today’s decision to strike down the 377 law once & for all is a triumph. It is the culmination of years of community organizing, changing social attitudes, strategic use of the courts & an LGBITQ movement in India that refused to give up. The decision decriminalizes homosexuality in India & also affirms the rights to privacy & non-discrimination. Today's historic outcome will reverberate across India & the world.” Menaka Guruswamy who agued the case stated, “This is a wide-ranging win for LGBT Indians across constitutional rights of equality, dignity, expression & freedom. It is a win for India as a constitutional democracy & the court with this judgment had told young LGBT Indians that they are not alone. Their court, constitution & country stands with them.”
For More Info: outrightinternational.org
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Kavanaugh Threatens LGBT Rights

GLAAD is demanding transparency & accountability on LGBTQ rights from Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO of GLAAD stated, “If confirmed, Brett Kavanaugh will have a chance to ensconce President Trump & Vice President Pence’s hate-fueled anti-LGBTQ agenda on the nation’s top court for decades to come. In a nation that has only forged forward in our affirmation of rights for women, LGBTQ people, immigrants & all vulnerable people, Kavanaugh’s confirmation threatens our progress, as well as our deepest & most closely held American values.” Kavanaugh is also member of the Federalist Society which was instrumental in Chief Justice Roberts’ nomination & confirmation along with Justices Neil Gorsuch & Samuel Alito, who were all members. The Federalist Society has produced materials arguing against every major LGBTQ policy proposal including the Employment Non Discrimination Act, hate crimes legislation, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell & transgender accommodations. Since Trump has been in office he has also been busy appointing anti-LGBTQ federal judges & with the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh who is supported by the Family Research Council (FRC) a designated hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center Kavanaugh poses a total threat to our LGBTQ community, people of color & women. Should Kavanaugh be confirmed, marriage equality would not be the only Supreme Court precedent in jeopardy. As a candidate Trump stated time & again that he will only put "pro-life" judges on the court & that he wants to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
For More Info: glaad.org
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Provincetown Harbor Swim For Life

Celebrating its 31st year the Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla takes place Saturday September 8th. Since 1987 thousands of swimmers, kayakers, volunteers & the public have been participating in this fabulous Provincetown fundraising tradition presented by the Provincetown Community Compact. Swimmers across the country will swim the 1.4 mile across Provincetown Harbor to benefit the following community organizations & projects: AIDS Support Goup of Cape Cod (ASGCC), Helping Our Women (HOW), Outer Cape Health Services, Provincetown Rescue Squad Association, Lower Cape Ambulance Association, Soup Kitchen of Provincetown (SKIP), Provincetown Schools, The Compact Community Fund, Accessible Provincetown, West End Racing Club & Cape Cod Children’s Place. The 2018 Swim for Life schedule begins Friday September 7th at the Boatslip Resort beach located at 161 Commercial Street in Provincetown, Massachusetts with a swimmer orientation (optional) at 1P followed by a kayak orientation (optional) at 2P. Then there will be a Celebration of Life Concert at the UU Meeting House at 236 Commercial Street at 8P. On Saturday September 8th the 31st Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla takes place at the Boatslip Resort with swimmer registration from 9-10A on the Boatslip deck with boater & kayak registration from 8:30 to 10A on the Boatslip beach. The public is invited to greet the swimmers beginning at 11:30A & the Mermaid Brunch is open to the public from noon-2P. The Awards Ceremony takes place at 1P or after the last swimmer arrives.
For More Info: swim4life.org
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