8/4/09

Dallas to hold candlelight vigil for LGBTQI youth murdered in Tel Aviv center shooting

North Texas stands in unity with Israeli LGBT victims

The Resource Center Dallas, the Reform synagogue Congregation Beth El Binah and the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas will hold a candlelight vigil and memorial August 5 (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. to remember the young Israeli victims of a mass shooting at a community center and pray for the wounded. The safety of LGBT youth is of utmost concern – this could happen at any center anywhere in the world.

On August 1, a masked assailant dressed in black from head to toe opened fire on a gay teen center’s support group meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, killing two members of the group: 16 year-old Liz Trubeshi, and the support group leader, 26 year-old Nir Katz. At least ten others were wounded. The gunman managed to find the secret location of the support group’s meetings, and many of the kids were not yet out to their parents before the shooting. Thousands in Tel Aviv protested the senseless murders on Sunday, and crowds gathered in other Israeli cities as well.

Several speakers will talk about the need for the safety of LGBT youth. Diane Litke, president of congregation Beth El Binah, will lead Kaddish, the traditional Jewish prayer for the dead, and Mishaberach, a prayer for healing. Congregation Beth El Binah and the Jewish Federation will announce a fund for the needs of the victims, their families and the center. Representatives from Youth First Texas and Resource Center Dallas are also expected to speak. The group will then walk in a candlelight procession from the Center to the corner of Cedar Springs and Throckmorton. Similar vigils have also been held in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

(RCD)

Resource Center Dallas operates the Nelson-Tebedo Health Resource Center and John Thomas Gay & Lesbian Community Center. Its mission is to serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and North Texas communities by providing: health, HIV, and social services; education and advocacy; and support to GLBT individuals and organizations. Last year, the Center’s programs served over 50,000 people in Dallas and north Texas. August 4, 2009
Contact: Resource Center Dallas, (214) 528-0144 office

A candlelight vigil and memorial for the gay teens murdered and wounded at a gay teen center support group meeting on Saturday in Tel Aviv, Israel.

When: August 5 (Wednesday), 7 p.m.

Where:Google Map Resource Center Dallas, 2701 Reagan St., with candlelight procession to corner of Cedar Springs Rd. and Throckmorton St. Dallas.

Resource Center Dallas

Youth First Texas

Reform synagogue Congregation Beth El Binah

Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas

Status of ENDA As of August 3, 2009

Status of ENDA as of August 3, 2009

Our calculations show that there are 204 confirmed Reps in the House, and we need at least 218 for a bare majority. 33 states have unconfirmed representatives. We're close, but not there yet.


The difference between passage in the House and not passage is people from those 33 states showing their support of ENDA with a telephone call. Here's the list of unconfirmed Reps with telephone numbers and contact info: http://bit.ly/NUFUd


The 33 states with unconfirmed Representatives are AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, GL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MS, NV, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and WV.


See http://bit.ly/NUFUd for phone numbers and contact info. If you haven't already, please call your unconfirmed Representative to ask them to support the inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, HR 3017.


Please post your call on the Facebook Inclusive ENDA wall so we know you did it, and tell us what happened. (Like, I left a message, or I confirmed their support)


Thank you.


Jillian T. Weiss
Co-Chair, Inclusive ENDA

8/2/09

Gunman Kills LGBTQI at Tel Aviv Youth Center Police ask For Help

A lone gunman entered a LGBTQI youth center in Tel Aviv, Israel and open fire. He killed 3 children and wounded 10. The police are searching for him and asking for help from anyone who was in the area.

If you know anything about this atrocity Click Here for a contact form at the bottom of the BBC article.

From kelli~ I volunteer at our local LGBTQI youth center and was there last night. I will pray for our youth in church this morning. God bless you.

7/31/09

Fort Worth Texas to Consider Transgender Protections

Source Dallas Voice FW to consider trans protections

"FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth Human Relations Commission this week voted unanimously in favor of a resolution calling for the city to amend its anti-discrimination policy to include protections for transgenders."

"The resolution now goes to the new City Manager’s Diversity Task Force, and then on to the City Council for final approval."

Original full story at Dallas Voice FW to consider trans protections

7/29/09

How The Religious Right Wing Distorts Legit Research

Found on Pam House Blend "How religious right groups distort legitimate research to demonize the gay community (+) "
by: Alvin McEwen Wed Jul 29, 2009 at 07:23:46 AM EDT

"The religious right have skillfully crafted a body of inaccuracies about the lgbt community backed by misinterpreted studies. And this body is easily transported to almost every other so-called traditional value groups across state and country lines. It can also be used by legislators who already have anti-gay biases but are looking for "justification" for their prejudices."

Read more.....at Pam's How religious right groups distort legitimate research to demonize the gay community (+)
by: Alvin McEwen

7/28/09

Nine Weeks For Equality


By Kelli Busey, planetransgender, July 28, 2009

The National Center for Transgender Equality campaign 'Nine Weeks For Equality' provides us an effective, timely roadmap for advocacy. This program will help facilitate our movement towards passage of an inclusive ENDA. One of the first of the nine actions listed is writing a blog article. Each time we place our agenda on the Internet it contributes to an understanding of who we are and what we need.

I started writing planetransgender in 2007. I was furious with Congressman Barney Frank's incomprehensible dissection of transgender people from the equality movement during the 2007 ENDA debacle and HRC's despicable acquiescence.

Early on in my rage, I was fortunate to befriended by the writer of Queers United blog. Under his tutelage, acclaim and admonishment he nurtured my raw desire for effective advocacy. I began to concentrate on attracting and integrating with the larger communities, LGBTQI and straight. Now occasionally new understandings are sometimes discovered and nurtured here. If I am successful our new allies will continue to be interested in our mutual needs as we continue finding new ways to communicate, constantly increasing our diversity and strength.

There are nine other actions listed and who knows, next week I might even try another one.

The National Center for Transgender Equality 'Nine Weeks For Equality'