Focusing Our Energy

For the final blog posting, I wanted to talk about organization and community empowerment. Our team really had to find a way to communicate with one another because we don’t live near each other and we don’t have the same kind of 9-5 jobs that would allow us to regularly meet face-to-face. Getting so much of our work done by text and email really made me appreciate and acquire a respect for the monumental amount of work put in by all the different LGBTQ organizations. All of these relatively disparate communities and organization managed to find a way to band together and make history.

                Let’s sit back and really think about that for a little bit. Thousands of people from all walks of life-different races, cultures, classes, and ethnicities- were able to focus their energies on creating a life for themselves and for future Americans who do not necessarily live their lives according to the stereotypical heterosexual male/female dynamic. I wonder how they must have felt that all of their efforts have come to fruition right now.

We’re at the tipping point in history where we are seeing real change. Bruce Jenner feels comfortable enough now that he can transition to live his life as a woman. States are recognizing same-sex marriages. Celebrities who’ve entertained us for years are coming out as homosexuals. Just imagine if the whole of America could focus all of our energies towards a common goal the way the LGBTQ community were able to do so. Maybe we could learn something from the LGBTQ community in this season of police brutality, senseless rioting, and racial profiling. We could focus our energies on embracing harmony, acceptance of others, and tolerance. Because at the end of the day we’re all human and we all need each other to survive.

Best Wishes,

Dahlia, Tianna,  and Vanessa

*Disclaimer: This blog is for a class project and not an official blog

#40toNone

According to the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness,

more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year in the Unites States. Further research shows that of these 3.5 million people, it is estimated that 1.6. Million are youth. According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, family conflict is the primary cause of homelessness for all youth regardless of how they classify themselves. However, conflict over a youth’s sexual orientation or gender identity is a significant factor that leads to homelessness. More specifically, of the 1.6 million homeless youth, 40% identify as gay or transgendered.

In response to these disproportionate numbers, in 2011, The True Colors Fund created the Forty to None Project. The Forty to None Project is the first national program that focuses on youth homelessness and its impact on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender young people. The Forty to None Project has created an extensive set of programs and initiatives around the areas of education, advocacy, empowerment, capacity building, and inclusion. The program focuses primarily on raising public awareness, engaging society to be a part of the solution, and advocating on behalf of gay and transgender homeless youth.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, the Montrose Center in Houston will be joining people across the country for the first ever #40toNoneDay. #40toNoneDay is a national day focused on raising awareness about LGBT youth homelessness. The goal of The Montrose Center is to reduce the percentage LGBT homelessness from 40% to none.

Did you know that 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT? Neither did we. In order to end LGBT youth homelessness, it is important that everyone know it exists. 

     To raise awareness follow the steps as described on the #40toNone webpage:

1.    Download an “unselfie” sign.
Pick the sign that speaks to you the most. 
2. Snap a photo.
Hold the sign in front of you and snap a photo – or have a friend take the photo for you! Make sure that there’s light in front of you, rather than behind you. 
3.  Post your Unselfie on April 29 using the hashtag #40toNoneDay. 
Let the world know you’re committed to ending LGBT youth homelessness! Post your unselfie on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and all of your other favorite social networks.

To learn more visit: www.40toNoneDay.org

Best Wishes,

Vanessa Barrientos, Tianna Randle-Bean, and Dahlia Herrod.

*Disclaimer: This blog is for a class project and not an official blog

Wait…They’re Not the Same Thing? : Transgenderism and Sexual Orientation

Me before reading Joanna Herman's article

I wanted to focus on the transgendered community within the larger LGBTQ community because they are a smaller subset who are not as well-known as lesbians and gays but who still need the protection and strength of the community to thrive in American culture. I personally don’t know much about transgendered people. I know some about cross dressers but they dress in the clothes of the opposite sex. They do not make the decision to live forever as a member of the opposite sex. I find the whole process of gender identification and rea

 

ssignment fascinating. There is so much that goes into the decision to be a gender other than what you were born.

As I was reading about transgenderism, I came across an article by Joanne Herman in the Huffington Post about gender identity and sexual orientation. What blew my mind was that one has nothing to do with the other. You could be born a woman and be attracted to men. Then decide to live as a man and still be attracted to men. Or you could decide to be attracted to women now. I didn’t know that was possible. Joanna Herman wrote, “Confused? Don't be. All you have to remember is that sexual orientation is completely different from gender identity. You can't tell one from the other” in her article about transgenderism and sexual orientation. She summed my thoughts on the matter quite succinctly.

What I have discovered is that even though transgendered people are included within the LGBTQ community their inclusion has nothing to do with their sexual orientation but the world at large-and sometimes the homosexual community-don’t understand the difference. Herman, a transgendered woman herself, wrote how she has to distance herself from the lesbian and gay community a little in order to make it clear that she is straight. That actually makes me sad a little bit. Even within the supposed welcoming arms of the LGBTQ community, people still have to separate themselves. Still have to educate and bring awareness. Still have to shine a light on ignorance and assumptions.

I’m really glad that our group chose to create a campaign about the LGBTQ community. It’s only been a month and I’ve learned so much. What do you guys think about the terms gender identity and sexual orientation? Is there a difference for you? Comment and tell us your thoughts.

Best Wishes,

Dahlia Herrod, Tianna Randle-Bean, Vanessa Barrientos

*Disclaimer: This blog is for a class project and not an official blog

HB 1228 or Anti-Gay Bill?

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. This law prohibited the discrimination of individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Although this act was passed nearly 50 years ago it is evident that discrimination still exists in today’s society for example, the discrimination of gay groups. Although the issue of sexual orientation was not included in the Civil Rights Act, there are now laws known as “LGBT rights “ that prohibit the discrimination of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Americans. Unfortunately, these rights and laws vary by state.

In recent news the state of Arkansas proposed and PASSED HB 1228, a bill that allows cities and counties in Arkansas from passing ordinances to protect LGBT individuals. Although the bill does not specifically mention LGBT individuals the language contained in the bill could offer a legal defense to private businesses and other institutions to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity. As of April 1, 2015 HB 1228 has been passed and many are not pleased. Organizations such as, The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and The National Center for Lesbian Rights joined together to ask that the current governor of Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson, not sign the bill. After much backlash Governor Asa Hutchinson has publicly announced that he would not sign the bill that has been passed by legislature as he states, “discrimination is not an Arkansas value”.  The Governor has since asked legislature to revise HB 1228 to more closely mirror a federal religious-freedom law that now does not apply to individual states.

America prides itself in being the land of the free, but are we really free if the state we live in is able to pass laws that discriminate against us?  What are your thoughts? Were you aware of this bill?

To read the news story that caught our attention visit: Gov. Hutchinson to sign revised religious freedom bill

Best wishes,

Vanessa Barrientos, Tianna Randle- Bean, and Dhalia Herrod 

**Disclaimer: This blog is for a class project and not an official blog**

A Historic First

In the United States St. Patrick's Day is often celebrated by irish themed parties, dressing in green clothing, and even eating green food. However, unlike any other year, this years St. Patrick's day has been monumental to two gay groups in the city of Boston. 

The South Boston Allied War Veterans Council (SBAWVC) is a private group that has organized a popular St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the city of Boston for the last 114 years. For years the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council had legally banned gay groups from participating in the parade since 1995 after going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that council had a right to exclude gay groups claiming that it was the groups’ First Amendment right to exclude whomever it wanted. However, on Sunday March 15, 2015, the Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade made history! After decades of opposition the gay military veterans service group OutVets and gay rights group Boston Pride marched in the SBAWVC parade. 

So we must ask, what are your thoughts? Were you aware of this Supreme Court case? Let us know.

To read the news story that caught our attention visit:Boston Celebrates End of Ban as Gays March in St. Patrick's Day Parade

Best wishes,

Vanessa Barrientos, Tianna Randle-Bean, and Dahlia Herrod

*Disclaimer: This blog is for a class project and not an official blog

LGBTQ What does it mean? what does it stand for?

LGBTQ is an acronym, which stands for: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning. This term has been in use since the 1990s to replace the umbrella term gay and is used to emphasize a diversity of sexuality and gender identity-based cultures. It is also sometimes used to refer to anyone who is non-heterosexual or non-cisgender instead of exclusively to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.  As a group, none of us knew much about the LGBTQ community or even what the term meant. Did any of you even know the LGBT added Q to their community? What do you guys think of the acronym? Do you guys know much about the LGBTQ community? Comment down below with your thoughts.

*Disclaimer: This blog is for a class project and not an official blog