Elder stories requested
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Carolyn Reeves, a Masters in Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, is collecting stories from members of the LGBT elder community who are 50-years-old and above.
Reeves asks, “At any point in your life, has the quality of your healthcare experience been affected by your identity as a member of the LGBTQ community?” This is the framework behind the educational art project that aims to raise awareness about health disparity in the LGBT community.
“Creative participation in the art project is welcome and encouraged for those interested in doing so,” she added.
She hopes to have story contributors recruited by Feb. 19, but said that she would be collecting and cultivating the submissions between now and April 8.
For more information, email Reeves at carolynalexis@gmail.com with “Story Telling” in the subject line.
Victory seeks future youth leaders
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute is receiving applications for its 2016-17 congressional fellowship.
Young professionals are placed in the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus for a year-long fellowship. There they work with congressional staff on policies affecting LGBT individuals, thus having a first-hand experience with the federal legislative process.
Program dates are July 2016-July 2017, as well as Dec. 8-11 for the LGBT Leaders 2016 Conference. Application deadline is Feb. 29.
Visit the website for full details on compensation, benefits and qualifications.
info: victoryinstitute.org.
PFLAGers to convene
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays organization will hold its North and South Carolina conference on March 12, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Rd.
Keynote speakers and breakout sessions will take place in both morning and afternoon sessions. Door prizes will be awarded.
In attendance will be: PFLAG NC State Coordinator Ginger Feimster, PFLAG South Atlantic Regional Director Linda Stroupe and PFLAG National Senior Policy & Field Manager Jamie Curtis. Keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Paula S. Williams, a transgender ministry consultant and pastoral counselor.
Joshua Burford, an historian and faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Multicultural Resource Center. He will speak on southern queen history.
Breakout sessions and presenters slated are: Curtis, “Conflict Resolution for PFLAG Chapters;” Parker Smith, Time Out Youth, “Gender Expression: We All Have One!” and panel discussion with Transparents of PFLAG Charlotte; Annie Earle, N.C. Div. of Public Health, “HIV in the South 2016;” PFLAG Rocky Mount, excerpt from original play: “Out in Left Field;” Dr. Todd Rosendahl, Time Out Youth, “Supporting LGBTQ Youth in K-12 Schools;” and Williams, minister, writer, mountain biker, and psychotherapist, “LGBTQ Inclusion Now.”
Additionally, Matt Hirschy, Equality NC’s director of advancement, and Jeff Ayers, SC Equality’s board chair, will lead “Local Advocacy in an Election Year.”
Curtis will round out the presentations with “Effectively Sharing Your Story.”
Burford’s handouts “Queer Vocabulary 101” and “Quilt Bagpipe,” as well as a tips handout from Feimster on “Building a PFLAG Chapter” will be available.
Charlotte Gay Men’s Chorus’ 7th Son ensemble will perform.
Cost to attend is $20 per person which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks. One does not have to be a PFLAG member to attend. Send checks payable to PFLAG Gaston to P.O. Box 550864, Gastonia, NC 28055. Email Ginger Feimster at ginger@designbrothers.com or Cindy Buckley at buckleys113@aol.com for further information and to secure a registration form.
info: pflaggaston.org. pflag.org.
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Share your news with us
Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.