Come to the capitol
RALEIGH — Join Equality NC (ENC) at its Day of Action on Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Be part of the solution in helping to champion pro-LGBT legislation.
This year, with the Legislature now with a Republican majority, key areas of concern are fighting back against any introduction of a Marriage Discrimination Amendment and protecting the School Violence Prevention Act and Healthy Youth Act that help to avert bullying and more. ENC is holding the yearly initiative early this year in order to get ahead of the curve on reaching legislators to tell them how important LGBT rights are to North Carolina.
Directions to the rendevouz spot will be announced closer to Feb. 15. Participants will undergo a morning orientation and issue education sessions.
Contributions are always welcome to help support its work.
For monetary support or to join in, register online at equalitync.org.
Campus Pride disappointed
CHARLOTTE — Campus Pride (CP) expressed its disappointed by the decision on Jan. 26, as reported by InsideHigherEd.com, by the Board of the Common Application to not allow LGBT students the opportunity to self-identify on their college admission application.
“The decision showed how out of touch the Common Application, as an organization, is with LGBT young people and what they face on a day-to-day basis, primarily the impact harassment has had on students while in high school and its potential impact at a student’s college or university of choice,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of CP.
It, along with other Common Application member institutions, had petitioned the organization for nearly four years to make changes with regard to LGBT options on the application.
Windmeyer continued, “The Common Application had a difficult time understanding why LGBT youth would want to come out on the college admission form, though similar questions are asked about other demographic and identity information. Frankly, what we are talking about is having colleges take responsibility for out LGBT youth who are applying to their institutions. Colleges and universities have the responsibility and role to ensure a safe, welcoming place to live, learn and grow. Right now, colleges have no clue who they are admitting in terms of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
There are seven Common Application members in North Carolina: Davidson College, Duke University, Guilford College, Meredith College, Salem College, University of North Carolina-Asheville and Wake Forest. Those in South Carolina are Converse College, Erskine College, Furman University, Presbyterian College and Wofford College.
For more information, visit commonapp.org and campuspride.org.
SONG surveys N.C.
STATEWIDE — Southerners On New Ground (SONG) is conducting a survey of LGBT people in the Tar Heel state as part of their listening work to lead up to new projects and campaigns.
Participants will help strengthen SONG’s work to build stronger and more whole LGBT communities in the Carolinas.
They are especially looking for people of color, rural people, immigrants, people with disabilities, working class and impoverished alike.
To be part of this survey, visit surveymonkey.com/s/DKSS8YL.
For more information on SONG’s initiatives or ways to support its work, visit southernersonnewground.org.
Researcher seeks Latino/a participants
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Brandon Velez, B.S., a graduate student in the University of Florida’s Psychology Department, is conducting a study that he hopes will contribute to understanding the experiences and well-being of Latina/o lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.
Participation will involve completing a survey online and will take approximately 30 minutes. Those who wish to join in this endeavor must be 18-years-old and above; reside in the U.S.; identify as Latina/o or Hispanic; and identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or some other sexual minority status (e.g., queer, questioning).
To join the study, visit surveymonkey.com/s/LBwomen (identify as women) or visit surveymonkey.com/s/GBmen (identify as men).
This research has been approved by the University of Florida’s Institutional Review Board (UFIRB#2010-U-0579).
For more information, email velezbl@gmail.com.