While our online publishing allows so many other LGBT community members and supporters to read Options Newsmagazine, our print issue is alive and growing.  Be sure to signup for a free subscription and look for copies at any of our distribution sites!

]]> http://optionsri.org/march-issue/feed/ 0 http://optionsri.org/human-rights-campaign-appoints-new-president/ http://optionsri.org/human-rights-campaign-appoints-new-president/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:15:55 +0000 Kyle Marnane http://optionsri.org/?p=1347 keep reading]]> WASHINGTON- The HRC Board of Directors has appointed Chad Griffin as the President of the Human Rights Campaign.  Chad is known for his work in overturning the California Proposition 8 federal lawsuit.  An Arkansas native and a veteran of the Clinton White House Communications team, Griffin brings a proven track record to his new position.

Our volunteer base has dramatically grown in the past 9 months, filling the office with new energy, life and ideas.

Our social media platforms are seeing so much activity, including the new use of Issuu, an online publishing tool.  This is an added bonus to our advertisers at no additional cost, putting your ad in a digital platform for the world to see.  Check that out here: http://optionsri.org/in-this-issue/

Options has been Rhode Islands Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community newsmagazine for 30 years, serving the community with pride and dignity.

Consider purchasing an ad in our next issue to support your ongoing business efforts, and Options Newsmagazine, a non-profit, volunteer based organization to celebrate 30 years in print.

For pricing, ad sizes and other relevant information, please contact Kyle Marnane at advertising@optionsRI.org

We hope you’ll like the end product, packed full of features and information for you, our loyal followers, subscribers, and friends!

NOVEMBER

2  Trans Partners support group, 7-9 p.m. This group provides life/romantic partners of TGI people with a confidential, safe space to explore the impact of a partner’s identity on their relationships and to connect with other partners. Meeting held in Providence on first Wednesday of each month. For more information and location contact partners@tginetwork.org.

2  PFLAG of Greater Providence, 6:45 p.m. The MET School Justice Building, 325 Public St., Providence. www.pflagprovidence.org or call 751-7571 or e-mail pflagprovidence@verizon.net for more information.

3  “Behind Every Good King is a Great Queen” A fundraiser for Day One Rhode Island, hosted by Ms. Lesbian RI 2011 (as Papa Razzi) and Haley Star. Comedy Connection, East Providence. Performances by Kitty Litter, LaDiva Jonz, BB Hayes, Sabrina Blaze, Papa Razzi, Miss Gay RI Victoria Starr, and more. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m. For more information contact Lisa DeCesare at lisa.decesare@gmail.com

5  Church Supper and Drag Show, 6 p.m. St. Peter and St. Andrew Church Parish Hall, Pemberton St., Providence. $12. For tickets, call the church at 272-9649. Call early, as this sells out fast!

10  YPI Annual Event/Fundraiser: “Stepping Up, Stepping Out,” 6:30-11 p.m. The Biltmore Hotel, Providence. Cocktails, dinner, dancing, award presentations, and a silent auction. YPI is honored to be presenting awards to the following: Founders Award: Ken Fish; Lipsky/Whittaker Award: Options Newsmagazine; Luis Pagan Award: Noah Rory Mann. Visit http://youthprideinc.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets online or contact Kerri, at kerri@youthprideri.org, if you’d like to receive an official invitation in the mail.

10  Ani DeFranco and Melissa Ferrick at the Wilbur Theatre, 248 Tremont St., Boston. See www.ticketmaster.com for more information and tickets.

11-13  Transcending Boundaries Conference, Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, MA. This year’s keynote speaker is Kate Bornsteirn, author of “101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws.” Celebrate the diversity of gender, sex, sexuality and relationships with workshops, lectures and entertainment. Everyone is welcome to attend, including friends, families, allies and professionals who want to support the queer community. See www.transcendingboundaries.org or e-mail info@transcendingboundaries.org for more information.

11  COMPASS meeting. New England area female to male (FTM) trans support, information and social group. For more information e-mail compassftm@comcast.net

13  RI Prime Timers – A club to aid and support the aging gay and bisexual man. Social from 4:30-5 p.m., dinner and meeting from 5-7 p.m. $20 per person. See www.riprimetimers.org.

16  Queer Book Club, 7 p.m. Books on The Square, 241 Angell St., Providence. A discount is available if the book selection is purchased at Books on the Square. Book selection: Curious Wine by Katherine Forrest. For more information, e-mail queerbookclub@gmail.com.

17  Brokeback Mountain Gay Bingo. The Riviera Bingo Palace, 1612 Elmwood Ave., Cranston. Doors open at 6 p.m. Bingo starts at 7 p.m. sharp! $20 for all games. For more information or to be a sponsor, contact Stephen Hartley at 521-3603 or stephenh@aidscareos.org.

20  Transgender Day of Remembrance, 6-8 p.m. Bell Street Chapel, 5 Bell St., Providence. Candle light vigil and community forum to discuss the state of RI’s Transgender community. For more information contact Hailee Malo at haileemalo@gmail.com.

30  Providence Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday concert: Wishes, 7 p.m. Beneficent Congregational Church, 300 Weybosset St., Providence. $20.

DECEMBER

3  Providence Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday concert: Wishes, 7 p.m. Beneficent Congregational Church, 300 Weybosset St., Providence. $20.

4  Providence Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday concert: Wishes, 4 p.m. Beneficent Congregational Church, 300 Weybosset St., Providence. $20.

7  Trans Partners support group, 7-9 p.m. This group provides life/romantic partners of TGI people with a confidential, safe space to explore the impact of a partner’s identity on their relationships and to connect with other partners. Meeting held in Providence. For more information and location contact partners@tginetwork.org.

7  PFLAG of Greater Providence, 6:45 p.m. The MET School Justice Building, 325 Public St., Providence. www.pflagprovidence.org or call 751-7571 or e-mail pflagprovidence@verizon.net for more information.

9  COMPASS meeting. New England area female to male (FTM) trans support, information and social group. For more information e-mail compassftm@comcast.net

11  RI Prime Timers – A club to aid and support the aging gay and bisexual man. Social from 4:30-5 p.m., dinner and meeting from 5-7 p.m. $20 per person. See www.riprimetimers.org.

14  Queer Book Club, 7 p.m. Books on The Square, 241 Angell St., Providence. A discount is available if the book selection is purchased at Books on the Square. For more information and book selection, e-mail queerbookclub@gmail.com.

15  Martha Stewart Gay Bingo. The Riviera Bingo Palace, 1612 Elmwood Ave., Cranston. Doors open at 6 p.m. Bingo starts at 7 p.m. sharp! $20 for all games. For more information or to be a sponsor, contact Stephen Hartley at 521-3603 or stephenh@aidscareos.org.

Gay Minister Installed at Bell St.

On October 23, the Reverend CJ McGregor will be installed as Minister of the Bell Street Chapel. This historic church has served the Providence community since 1875 and remains a strong advocate for social justice issues. It was the first church in Rhode island to support Marriage Equality.  Please contact cjmcgregor@prodigy.net or 508-736-3361 for complete information.

Calling all Female Football Fanatics (the kinds that play)

The Northeastern Nitro Women’s Football Team (whose owner, Amy Manfred, lives in Rhode Island) will be holding its first tryouts of the 2012 season at Schenectady High School, 1445 The Plaza, Schenectady, NY 12308 on November 19 from 12 — 3pm. All female athletes 18 plus are welcome. Tryout fee is $35. Please bring ID, proof of medical insurance and water.

For more info email: toocoaches@hotmail.com, amymanfred@yahoo.com, linebackergirl56@aol.com

Good News on Gender Identity and Standards of Care

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) has released a revised edition of the Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People (the SOC). The first edition of the SOC was published in 1979 and it has undergone five revisions since. The 2011 version recognizes that “gender nonconformity in and of itself is not a disorder” and that the health and well-being of transgender individuals is negatively impacted by discrimination, stigma and prejudice. The WPATH SOC calls on health professionals to advocate for policies and legislation that encourage an inclusive environment for their patients. Additionally, the 2011 SOC reduces the rules and requirements formerly in place for transgender patients (such as living as their desired gender for one year) and instead advises “informed consent” for patients seeking treatment.

White House Names New LGBT Liaison

The Obama Administration has appointed Gautam Raghavan to the position of Associate Director of Public Engagement in the White House Office of Public Engagement. Raghavan, who is openly gay, was one of the Pentagon officials who managed the repeal process for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. In his new position, Raghavan will serve as the Administration’s point of contact with the LGBT community and advocacy organizations.

Methodists Support Marriage Equality

In October, a group of 900 members of the United Methodist Church launched the We do! Methodists Living Marriage Equality project. We Do! is a network of clergy, individual church members, and supportive congregations who disagree with their denomination’s ban on marriage equality and support full marriage rights for same-sex couples. We Do! released “A Covenant of Conscience” stating that “We refuse to discriminate against any of God’s children and pledge to make marriage equality a lived reality within the New York Annual Conference (NYAC), regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression.” The NYAC represents Methodist congregations between the areas of Long Island, NY and Southern Connecticut. We Do! is sponsored by Methodists in New Directions (MIND), a group working to end discrimination against LGBTQ people in the denomination. To date, MIND has secured pledges supporting marriage equality from 1,000 members of Methodist clergy in 19 states.

Lesbians Marry in Texas

Transgender Human Rights Campaign board member Meghan Stabler has married another woman in Texas by legally declaring her gender as male, a development that could be considered controversial because of Stabler’s national prominence as the only known trans person sitting on the HRC board. The lesbian couple could not legally marry in Texas as such. But by declaring male gender-identity, presumably by producing a birth certificate that reflected Stabler’s gender at birth, their union is recognized by the Lone Star State.

Senate Confirms Openly Gay Federal Judge

The US Senate has confirmed Alison Nathan for a seat on the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The historic appointment and confirmation make Nathan the second openly gay woman to hold a Federal judgeship and the country’s third openly gay Federal judge. There was limited opposition during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, with Chair Patrick Leahy stating that there was “no question the Senate should confirm Ms. Nathan.”

GMDVP Expands Services

The Boston-based Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project (GMDVP) has announced that they are expanding their focus to serve the entire LGBTQ community. GMDVP previously served gay, bisexual and transgender men only, providing an array of services to residents of Rhode Island and other nearby states. 
“We have made incredible progress,” says GMDVP Executive Director Curt Rogers, “in moving our society and the domestic violence movement to a place of acknowledging and serving male victims of domestic violence.” He adds that GMDVP has always served all victims of domestic violence – according to the 2010 GMDVP annual report, 13% of their safe home clients identified as lesbian women.

As part of the strategic plan, the Board of Trustees also voted to explore providing sexual assault services, and has just received a 3-year $300,000 Federal contract, in collaboration with the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC), to provide LGBTQ culturally-specific sexual assault case management services.

GMDVP expects a name change to follow in the coming months.