News Briefs

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.