Lesbian Senior Housing Dilemma

Boston OLOC (Old Lesbians Organizing For Change) presents “Telling It Like It Is & Isn’t: Older Lesbians Living in Senior (hetero) Housing” on Sunday March 4th from 2P to 4P at the Brookline Senior Center at 93 Winchester Street in Brookline, Massachusetts. Earlier this year we heard the horror story about Marsha Wetzel a senior lesbian living in a retirement community in California who was abused both physically & verbally because she is gay. Our senior LGBT elders deserve to be treated with respect & feel safe no matter who they are or who they loved. Join panelists Shari Barden, MaryAnn Cassella, Lois Johnson, Ann Kennedy & Jean Stewart with moderator Barbara Mantel to address this important issue. Sarah Pearlman Founding Member of OLOC-Boston stated, “Expect an invaluable lesson on what it’s like for older lesbians to leave their home & move into senior or assisted living housing. Included are the different financial arrangements, adjustment issues, coming out & what it’s like to be old & lesbian and live in a primarily heterosexual environment.” 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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Federal Court LGBT Workers Win

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Title VII which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, includes protections on the basis of sexual orientation in the case Zarda v. Altitude Express, Inc. This is a major victory against Jeff Sessions’ homophobic Department of Justice who filed an amicus brief to the court arguing that sexual orientation should not be protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Vanita Gupta, President & CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights stated, “We applaud this ruling by the Second Circuit, which follows a similar decision by the Seventh Circuit. These federal judges have rightly recognized that discrimination against workers on the basis of their sexual orientation violates a key civil rights law of this country. It is also a welcome rebuke of the Trump administration’s view that it’s somehow legal to discriminate against LGBT workers. All workers, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, should be protected from discrimination.” Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD concluded, "Today's court ruling is a decisive victory & a significant rejection of the Trump Administration's ongoing campaign to strip rights & protections away from LGBTQ people in the workplace. This strong affirmation that sexual orientation is protected under Title VII is a vital step forward, but it is imperative to continue to fight for the courts to affirm gender identity is also protected by denying the Trump Administration attempts to block the transgender community from having standing under the language of sex discrimination.”
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LGBTQ Oscar Night Benefit

Center on Halsted announced celebrities & LGBTQ community supporters will be joining them on the red carpet for a Night with Oscar on March 4th at the Park West at 322 W. Armitage, Chicago, IL. In Chicago a Night with Oscar has been a staple event for more than ten years & is renowned for its fun & festive party atmosphere. The event benefits Center on Halsted, the most comprehensive community center in Chicagoland dedicated to building & strengthening our LGBTQ community. Modesto Tico Valle, CEO, Center on Halsted stated, “LGBTQ visibility through the arts demonstrates a powerful statement. This year we’re celebrating the Academy Awards, but also the relevant impact our programs & services have on the LGBTQ community. In 1928, the first year of the Academy Awards, having an LGBTQ community center that provided individuals the opportunity to openly walk through the doors did not happen until 1971, more than 40 years later. Center on Halsted welcomes the 1400 individuals who walk in our doors every day & we would not be able to continue offering our essential services without our community sponsors. a Night with Oscar exemplifies how diversity, inclusion & coming together impacts change.” This is the 90th year of the Academy Awards & the Center is celebrating LGBTQ advancement in film since 1928 & the building of Center on Halsted community since it opened its doors in 2007. Celebrities, fashion icons, sponsors & supporters will arrive on the red carpet live to show their support for Center on Halsted, Chicagoland & Hollywood LGBTQ communities. Film industry individuals who have taken a stand to be out & proud opened the door to “be scene” as their authentic self on the glamorous red carpet, but there is more work to do moving forward.
For Info & Tix: centeronhalsted.org
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Georgia Breaking LGBTQ Hearts

The Georgia State Senate by a vote of 35-19 has passed Senate Bill 375 which is another discriminatory religious exemption bill that allows taxpayer-funded agencies to deny adoption requests from LGBTQ couples & refuse service to LGBTQ youth. Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD stated, “Senate Bill 375 is a dangerous step backward that would codify permission to discriminate against the LGBTQ community into Georgia state law. This bill is not about freedom of religion, which is one of our nation’s fundamental values, but rather about imposing one’s personal religious beliefs on others to discriminate against loving foster or adoptive parents simply because of their identity & deny services to LGBTQ youth.” Fran Hutchins Equality Federation Deputy Director added, “As someone who was adopted myself I find it deeply insulting that a few politicians are putting LGBTQ youth & families at risk for discrimination. Every child deserves a loving family & place the call home.” Jeff Graham, Executive Director at Equality Georgia concluded, “This legislation goes out of its way to make it harder for loving & committed gay & lesbian couples to start a family & unfortunately, it’s children in need of permanent homes who will pay the steepest price.” Georgia is one of 10 states with no child welfare non-discrimination protections for sexual orientation or gender identity. Legal protections for LGBTQ youth are essential but SB 375 only target this already vulnerable community with more discrimination.
For More Info: equalityfederation.org
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Rock The CASA Benefit Concert

Rock The CASA is the annual non-profit concert that takes place in California founded by San Francisco Bay Area ABC-7 New Anchor Dan Ashley for the purpose of benefiting charitable organizations that serve children in need. This year Rock The CASA 2018 takes place on Saturday March 3rd at Lesher Center for Performing Arts in Walnut Creek, CA & will feature rock & LGBT icon Melissa Etheridge. Ashley's new band that includes Mariah Carey's lead guitarist & music director will be opening for Melissa. The event will be supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates, Friends Of Camp Concord & Big Brothers Big Sisters. Ann Wrixon, Executive Director, CASA of Contra Costa County stated, “Rock the CASA is our highest visibility event- not only providing the organization with much needed funds, but also getting our name in front of thousands of potential volunteers, which is the lifeblood of our work with abused & neglected children. Most remarkably, Dan Ashley has created Rock the CASA so that it is truly philanthropic. We could not be more grateful for the support of Rock the CASA.” Founded in 2015 by Ashley, Rock The CASA is a labor of love combining Dan’s passions in music, philanthropy, community & helping children in need. The annual Rock The CASA benefit concert has raised over $150k to support CASA of Contra Costa County & Friends of Camp Concord. The event has sold-out 2 years in a row & will continue to grow in order to help more kids & make the world a little bit brighter.
For Info & Tix: rockthecasa.org
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LGBT Economic Summit Event

Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) will host the Western Business Alliance (WBA) LGBT Economic Summit & Conference from March 15th to 16th at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. GGBA will gather twenty-one LGBT chambers of commerce from throughout the Western United States for this important event which will focus attention on issues of critical importance to our collective business communities including LGBT homelessness, the needs of LGBT millennials, leveraging the power of disruptive technologies in order to create a new level of LGBT entrepreneurs, removing the barriers to economic prosperity for the Transgender community & ‘thinking outside the box’ in order to access capital to grow our businesses. The conference will also include GGBA’s Power Lunch series that was launched in 2015 to showcase extraordinary LGBT entrepreneurs, high performing LGBT businesses & key stakeholders who are transforming the world. Since its inception the Power Lunch has achieved national recognition for its ability to tell compelling stories of triumph over adversity, community empowerment & the commitment to economic prosperity. This year The Power Lunch IV Co-Chairs are the Honorable Mark Leno & Helen Russell. GGBA was founded in 1974 as the world’s first LGBT chamber of commerce & holds a special place in the history of the ever-changing economic landscape on the local, national & international levels. The WBA was founded in 1994 as an opportunity for LGBT chambers throughout the Western United States to advocate on behalf of the LGBT economic equality movement, share ‘best practices’ & serve as the collective voice of the LGBT business community in the West.
For Info & Tix…
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Transgender Troops Ban (AUDIO)

Since the Trump administration’s ban on transgender service members has been temporarily blocked by four federal courts we still haven’t heard about what the Department of Defense will do as we reach today’s February 21st deadline to reinstate a full ban on transgender troops. Aaron Belkin Palm Center Director sated, “On Aug. 25, 2017 President Trump directed Defense Secretary Mattis to reinstate a full ban on transgender troops, setting a Feb. 21, 2018 deadline for an implementation plan. As Sec. Mattis prepares to release the road map for implementing President Trump’s ban he should keep in mind that four federal courts have blocked the ban from going into effect & have ruled that the only constitutional option is to apply the same standards to every service member, meaning that troops who are fit for duty can serve. Applying a single standard to all service members is not only the sole legal option, but is the best way to promote military readiness. Transgender troops have been serving openly in the U.S. military for nearly two years & have been widely praised by commanders. All available research, including the military’s own extensive study of the issue & the results of a thorough study by the RAND Corporation, indicates that inclusive policy promotes readiness by ensuring equal treatment & drawing on all available talent. Eighteen foreign militaries allow transgender troops to serve openly & none have reported any compromise to readiness. The Trump administration should not politicize the evidence to score political points with its anti-LGBT base.” Last Summer in this exclusive podcast I talked to Matt Thorn, President & CEO of OutServe-SLDN about this crucial issue. LISTEN
For More Info: outserve-sldn.org
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