RU12? Community Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Vermont

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!

Many people talk about the importance of ending domestic violence, but talk doesn't do much unless you can back it up with action....pick your way of getting active from the following list of events...

As many of you probably know, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).  The theme for this year is "Walk the Walk".  During the month of October there will be four opportunities to literally "walk the walk".  The Domestic Violence Awareness Month Committee is hosting events that will focus on raising awareness and letting people know they can actively help end domestic violence in their communities.

 

The "launch" event this year will take place on Wednesday, October 1, beginning at 4:30.  The launch event is called "Steakout" Against Domestic Violence, and will be held in Battery Park, right next to the police station.  There will be a BBQ, walk, entertainment and children's activities. 

The second "walk" will be held on Tuesday, October 8th at noon at the Essex Police Department, located on Route 15 in Essex just beyond the 5 corners. 

The third gathering will take place on Saturday October 18th at 9:30 A.M. at the Williston Central School, Route 2 in the village of Williston, and the last walk event on Tuesday, October 22nd at noon at the Colchester Police Department, located on Blakely Road in Colchester. 

Each walk event will feature a law enforcement speaker, relevant art displays, information on how to get involved and a walk for awareness. 

There will also be three interactive opportunities to learn more about the effect of domestic violence, have your voice heard and support survivors. 

On October 14th from 6-9 "Born Into Brothels" will be presented by UVM Women's Center at the Living and Learning - Fireplace Lounge. 

On October 18th from 10-noon Women Writing for Change is hosting a free workshop, "Refusing Silence: The necessity of Voicing our Stories".  Participants will have time to reflect on silence and speaking out in their life; and an opportunity to write and be heard in a supportive and confidential space.  This event will be held at 12 Howard Street, Burlington

The final event will be held on Thursday, October 30th at 5:30.  This will be a Candle-lit Vigil and Survivor Speakout. This is a chance to honor the courage of victims and survivors.  It is also an opportunity to share your story and create awareness through real life experience.  This event will take place at Contois Auditorium, Burlington.

All events are free and open to the public.  If you would like more information about any of these events please call Amy at 658-3131, or amyh@whbw.org.

We hope that you will be able to make it to one of the events.  Stand up against violence! Make a difference, Walk the Walk...

Celebrate October LGBTQ History Month!

RU12?  proudly presents “The Dialogue Project: Bridging Generations of LGBTQ Vermonters”, a project of the Vermont Queer Archives.  This exhibition will be hosted at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, Vermont from October 1st through October 31st, 2008.  An opening reception from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 will include  participating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders and youth as well as the artists who have interpreted these life stories.  All are welcome to the opening reception.

In addition to The Dialogue Project, RU12? is sponsoring a variety of events at the Fletcher Free Library throughout October in celebration of LGBTQ History Month. These include;  Second and Third Wave Feminist Dialogue, Intergenerational Poetry Jam,  a talk about queer histories in Vermont, a WordStage Vermont performance, a screening/discussion of "Gay Pioneers"  and Rainbow Library storytime for families.

Event listing

Wed. October 1,  6pm-8pm

Opening reception for “The Dialogue Project: Bridging Generations of LGBTQ Vermonters”, an interpretive art, oral history and queer archive exhibition.  This exhibit will continue through Oct. 31.

Wed. October 8,  6pm-8pm

Second and Third Wave Feminist Dialogue

Saturday October 11, 2pm-4pm

LGBT/Queer  Intergenerational Poetry Jam

Come out and share your voice. Everyone is welcome.  Open mike format.  Bring poems or other short writings or just come and listen!

Wed. October 15,  6pm-8pm

"Searching for Queer Histories in Vermont": Vermont's LGBTQA past (and present) is an important part of the state's history.  How can we make sure that it is preserved, and how does it fit into larger queer histories?  Presentation and discussion with Meg Tamulonis, curator of the Vermont Queer Archives.

Wed. October 22,  6pm-8pm

WordStage Vermont performance of  "My Dear Boy" - a selection of letters, prose poetry and music written by, to, and from gay men throughout history.

Saturday October 25,  2pm-4pm

Tomboy's, Sissy's and William's Doll

Neth Urkiel-Taylor brings the Rainbow Library back out of the closet for parents and kids.  Come look through queer positive children's picture books, sing, and enjoy stories we wish we heard when we were kids.  This collection of books promotes inclusiveness, diversity and acceptance through children's literature by and about the LGBTQIA community.

Wed. October 29,  6pm-8pm

Queer Film and Discussion (co-sponsored by Outright VT and VT Freedom to Marry)

Screening of "Gay Pioneers" a film directed by PBS award-winning documentary filmmaker Glenn Holsten about the first organized annual "homosexual" civil rights demonstrations held in Philadelphia, New York and Washington, DC from 1965-1969.

Transgender Job Bank

Not too long ago the RU12? Community Center received an email from Jillian Barfield.  She wrote us because she has created a new groundbreaking website.  Jillian is the Director of Implementation of TJobBank.com - the first and only website dedicated to bringing inclusive employers together with transgender professionals. 

TJobBank is brand new, unique and not for profit.  All expenses are paid by Jillian.  After a year of preparation, the site was finally launched on July 28th, 2008.  Jillian's own experiences around being threatened and fired by her employer for being transgender in 2006 led to the creation of TJobBank. 

With RU12? Community Center being a fellow advocate for transgender rights we were asked to help "get the word out" to the transgender community and prospective employers that this resource now exists.  So you can access this resource by

• posting a link to http://tjjbbank.com.
• Advertising to your membership and other LGBT organizations.
• Telling prospective employers about us if the opportunity presents itself.
• Posting employment opportunities on TJobBank.
• Any other means!

As all of you may know, unemployment is a major problem for transgender people.  The need for a service such as ours is well overdue and we hope that you will all help make the dream of secure employment a reality for many unemployed transgender professionals. 

Please see this as a personal invitation to visit the groundbreaking site at http://www.tjbbank.com

Queer Poetry Class - starts Sept 24th!

RU12? will be hosting a queer poetry class, starting next week and going through October.
This class will be a safe non-judgmental space for LGBTQ people, and writers of all experience levels.

Class includes:
--discussing queer poets and poetry
--in-class writing exercises
--workshopping of student writing
--take-home writing prompts
--and a group writing project at the end of the six-week session

The class will be on Wednesdays 6:30-9:00pm, September 24 through October 29.

All are welcome, but space is limited, so please sign up ahead of time (e-mail Chase) if you plan to attend. This class is free of charge, but donations to the RU12? Center are gratefully accepted.

Big Gay Apple Picking Adventure!

 GLAM (Gay Leisurely Activities for Men) is back in action and ready for fall. We're going apple picking  at Shelburne Orchards! Then on the following Monday we'll turn these apples into pastries during our "Queer Eye for the Apple Pie."

Here is the info:

Who: GLAM guys and any other self-defined young gay, bi & queer men who want to join us.
When: Saturday, September 27th, 1 PM
Where: Meet at RU12?, 34 Elmwood Ave in Burlington to carpool to Shelburne.

Cost: Free!We can also reimburse drivers for their mileage.

So send us an e-mail if you have any questions!

Congrats to Outright on a successful Firetruck Pull Event!

RU12? congratulates Outright Vermont on a successful and fun Firetruck Pull event this past Saturday. The RU12? team raised over $1,500 to support queer youth in Vermont, contributing to the over $11,000 the event raised for Outright. The RU12? staff and volunteers had a great time as "The  Smokin' Hot Smores", and an added bonus this year - we actually moved the firetruck! Thank you to the volunteers who joined the staff to support Outright, thank you to the community members who donated to this great cause, and a special thanks to Precious for the costume design!