San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Event

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is presenting Bobby Jo Valentine in a benefit concert also featuring SFGMC's two ensembles The Lollipop Guild & Homophonics with 100% of the proceeds go to the Campfire Relief Fund & the music programs of Paradise High School. The event takes place on Sunday January 27th at 170 Valencia Street in San Francisco at 5P. Bobby Jo Valentine stated, “I’m performing with the amazing San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus & their two chorales for an unforgettable evening of music raising money for the relief efforts after the Camp Fire last year, in the biggest fire in California history. Even if you’re not in the area, please consider buying tickets in advance to support – 100% goes towards helping the fire relief victims & sending a friend who is in the area.” Bobby Jo Valentine is a nationally touring singer/songwriter who grew up on the seaside of Northern California. His songs are both earthbound & mystical & speak of the gentle, everyday spiritual awakenings of an openhearted life. He’s given a Ted Talk, been awarded Song of the Year three times at the West Coast Songwriter’s Association & performed all over the globe. For 40 years, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus has served as an international standard bearer for a powerful mix of extraordinary musical excellence and mission-driven activism. Founded in 1978, SFGMC was the first choral organization to courageously proclaim its orientation in its name & is credited with helping start the LGBTQ choral movement that now spans the entire globe, galvanizing & changing the course of LGBT history.
For Info & Tix…
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Massachusetts LGBTQ Kids Unsafe

GLSEN has released state-level data from its benchmark National School Climate Survey which shows that Massachusetts schools are not safe for most LGBTQ middle & high school students. In addition many LGBTQ students in Massachusetts do not have access to important school resources such as an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum & were not protected by supportive & inclusive school policies. Trenda Loftin, Co-Chair GLSEN Massachusetts stated, “This research makes clear that many LGBTQ students in Massachusetts still face hostile school environments, many of which lack the resources to ensure their safety. In order to prioritize the safety & well-being of all students, leaders throughout the state of Massachusetts must support comprehensive policies & practices that are inclusive & affirming of LGBTQ students. ” Since 1999 GLSEN’s biennial National School Climate Survey has consistently demonstrated that specific school-based supports are related to a safer & more inclusive school climate, including supportive educators, LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, comprehensive & affirming policies & student clubs, such as Gay-Straight Alliances or Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs). Data released shows the majority of LGBTQ students in Massachusetts regularly heard anti-LGBTQ remarks with 72% of LGBTQ students reported regularly hearing homophobic remarks in school & 64% reported regularly hearing negative remarks about transgender people. Some students also regularly heard school staff make homophobic remarks (10%) & many regularly heard school staff make negative remarks about someone’s gender expression (29%). Nearly half of students (45%) experienced at least one form of anti-LGBTQ discrimination at school during the past year.
For More Info: glsen.org
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The Dinah Heats Up Palm Springs

The Dinah, the largest & most iconic girl party music festival in the world takes place from Wednesday April 3rd through Sunday April 7th in Palm Springs, California. Tens of thousands of lesbian identifying women from around the world will make the annual pilgrimage to celebrate, unite, empower & live OutLoud at the 29th year of this infamous 5 day event. Mariah Hanson stated, “I'm so excited about The Dinah 2019. The line up is one of our best with some strong contenders for the next break out artist, including Kodie Shane, Leikeli47, Bri Steves, Dorian Electra & Kiana Lede, plus a performance by Grammy Award winning artist Daya. We've got a lot of YouTube influencers coming & tickets sales are through the roof. It's gonna be another great year.” Also appearing will be several world renowned DJs spinning at The Dinah’s legendary pool & world renowned dance parties. Returning this year will feature go-go dancers, red carpet events with celebrity guests & meet & greets with your favorite celebians & so much more making 2019 shaping into one of their hottest yet. Past Dinah performers have included Snow Tha Product, Jessie Reyes, Tegan & Sara, Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, Meghan Trainor, Iggy Azalea, Eve, Chaka Khan, Salt 'N Pepa, Christina Perri & Natasha Bedingfield just to name a few. New this year at the largest girl party music festival in the world is presenting a chance for an unsigned emerging artist to join the ranks of its illustrious history of musical performers. So there's a reason The Dinah is considered the largest lesbian event in the world because there’s something for everyone at what is expected to be the biggest event to date in 2019!
For More Info & Tix: thedinah.com
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States Advancing LGBTQ Equality

Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order banning discrimination against LGBTQ state employees & Wisconsin’s Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order expanding nondiscrimination protections to transgender state employees. Ian Palmquist, Senior Director of Programs & Equality Federation stated, “In the face of one of the most hostile administrations ever, change continues to be made at the state level, where Americans of every background continue to stand up for fairness & equality. We thank these governors for doing the right thing & applaud the leadership of Equality Michigan & Fair Wisconsin!” Erin Knott, Equality Michigan’s Interim Executive Director added, “Modernizing Michigan’s policies to make it clear that discrimination against LGBTQ people will not be tolerated is long overdue. We are proud to stand alongside Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as she does everything in her power to protect Michigan’s LGBTQ community from discrimination. This is a welcome solution to a problem that our community has faced for far too long, but it is not a substitute for a legislative expansion of the state’s civil rights protections to include the LGBTQ community.” Megin McDonell, Executive Director of Fair Wisconsin, concluded, “Governor Evers heard his constituents loud & clear & took action to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in the workplace. This Executive Order modernizes our state’s internal policies to make sure Wisconsin government employees are judged solely on their job performance, not who they are or who they love. Our state is at its strongest when we’re all free to work hard, earn a decent living & go about our lives without fear of discrimination. Discrimination has no place in our state & this Executive Order is an important step towards making sure our state is a safe place for everyone to live, work & play.”
For More Info: equalityfederation.org 
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Transgender Military Ban Drags On

While Trump continues to disrupt the country with his government shutdown for his ridiculous wall demands our trans community protecting our country in the military were served a blow from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that sided with Trump & overturned a lower court’s ruling that blocked his ban on transgender people serving in the military stating, “In light of the substantial constitutional arguments & the apparent showing that the policy accommodates at least some of plaintiffs’ interests, we think that the public interest weighs in favor of dissolving the injunction.” Aaron Belkin Palm Center Director stated, "The Mattis policy that the DC Circuit upheld is a full ban on transgender troops that would have the same impact as 'don't ask, don't tell,' undermining readiness by forcing troops to live a lie, stigmatizing them & prompting the discharge of honorably serving personnel. All five military Chiefs of Staff have testified that inclusive policy has been a success, with JCS Chairman-designate Mark Milley reporting 'precisely zero' problems. Retired military Surgeons General —the senior medical officers in their services— issued a 55-page report finding that the Trump/Mattis policy is 'wholly unpersuasive' & will harm military readiness. The American Medical Association & six former Surgeons General have confirmed that the Mattis policy is based on dishonest medical assertions. Whipsaws in military personnel policy are damaging to military readiness. This is particularly true at a moment when recruitment is down & the nation lacks a Senate-confirmed Defense Secretary. Acting Secretary Shanahan should confirm what the Chiefs have already stated: inclusive policy is a success & transgender service members continue to be a welcome & successful part of the US military.” For More Info: palmcenter.org
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Historic Diverse U.S. Congress

As Trump’s brat attack government shutdown continues 10 openly LGBTQ people are being sworn in to the 116th U.S. Congress today with Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) & Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to the U.S. Senate & eight to the U.S. House historically becoming the most LGBTQ people to ever serve in either chamber. Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute stated, “A historic number of LGBTQ people will serve in the new U.S. Congress & their influence will shape the debate on equality legislation & issues moving forward. In the U.S. Senate, those opposed to the Equality Act will now need to look two openly LGBTQ Senators in the eyes & tell them their lives are not worth protecting. In the U.S. House, Speaker Pelosi will have 8 LGBTQ Representatives to consult about how various healthcare or criminal justice reform policies uniquely affect our community. The relationships these LGBTQ lawmakers will build with their colleagues on Capitol Hill are transformative & with an unprecedented number of women & people of color also joining the 116th Congress, equality issues will finally receive the attention they deserve.” Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO of GLAAD concluded, “It is a welcome relief that fair-minded, pro-equality lawmakers have returned to the majority in the U.S. House & now it’s time for them to roll up their sleeves & get to work for all marginalized communities, including LGBTQ Americans. As the Trump Administration continues to rollback equality in an effort to erase LGBTQ Americans from the nation, we need allies like Speaker Pelosi fighting for us in Congress.” Let’s hope this new Congress will finally put an end to Trump’s Wall Fantasy & get the Equality Act passed.
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Medical & Legal Lesbian Event

Boston OLOC (Old Lesbians Organizing For Change) will present a very special program entitled “Need to Know: A Medical/Legal Perspective” with Physician Elizabeth Kass & Attorney Michelle LaPointe on Sunday January 6th from 2P to 4P at the Brookline Senior Center at 93 Winchester Street in Brookline, Massachusetts. Dr. Elizabeth Kass & Attorney Michelle LaPointe will be addressing Wills, Health Care Proxies, Power of Attorney, Senior Living Contracts, Long-Term Care Eligibility & more. Sarah Pearlman Founding Member of OLOC-Boston stated, "Let's learn how to protect ourselves. Dr. Elizabeth Kass & Attorney Michelle LaPointe will walk us through what we need to do to ensure that our health & financial wishes are respected & carried out." Elizabeth Kass, MD has been a physician at Fenway Health since 2009. She specializes in Internal Medicine, LGBT Health, Women’s Health & HIV/AIDS Care. She is board certified in Internal Medicine. Attorney Michelle LaPointe was named partner of Wade Horowitz LaPointe LLC in 2011 & is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She’ll be talking about issues surrounding long-term care planning with a focus on special needs trusts. OLOC Boston programs & events are open to lesbians of all ages, including transgender lesbians. OLOC’s mission includes their commitment to creating communities of older lesbians & solidarity with allies for racial, economic & social justice. Following the event there will be an early dinner at Lemon Grass at 239 Harvard Street in Brookline, MA.
For More Info: spearlman@hartford.edu
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