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

RU12? Announces Sabrina Matthews!

The RU12? Community Center is happy to announce comedian, Sabrina Matthews as this year's speaker for the 11th Annual Queer Community Dinner on May 30. Sabrina Matthews is an openly lesbian comic who relates the absurd in everyday life in a witty anecdotal style.

Sabrina appears regularly at clubs, colleges, cruises, and festivals around the world. Her credits include her own hilarious half-hour comedy special, "Comedy Central Presents Sabrina Matthews", a starring role in 2006's hit documentary, Laughing Matters...More!, an appearance on "Comics Unleashed" and as a semi-finalist on NBC's "Last Comic Standing."

After her television acting debut in "America's Most Wanted" (yes, really), she has moved on to appear with Laura Kightlinger in IFC's The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, and in Margaret Cho's 2007 film release, Bam Bam and Celeste.

Watch her youtube videos and check back for more details on the 11th Annual Queer Community Dinner! Make sure to save the date, May 30th 2009!

Buy tickets to the Annual Dinner...

Ticket Options

Individual Ticket (Regular Price) $45.00 Table for 10 people (Regular Price) $425.00

*Note: You do not need to have a PayPal account to buy tickets. After clicking "Buy Now," click "continue" on the left hand side of the page and enter your credit card info.

Burlington Mayoral Candidate Meet and Greet this Thursday!

Please help us spread the word about this important event this Thursday!

Not sure who you're going to vote for in this year's Burlington
mayoral race? Have the issues you care about not been addressed at
previous forums, particularly in regards to the LGBTQ community?

If you answered Yes to the previous questions or simply have an
interest in the future of the Queen City, this Thursday (Feb. 26th)
from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is a great chance to meet your mayoral
candidates and get answers in a small, personal setting at RU12?'s
Burlington Mayoral Candidate's Meet and Greet!

Democratic candidate Andy Montroll, Progressive candidate Bob Kiss,
and Independent candidate Dan Smith have confirmed their attendance
and will be at RU12? to answer your questions and hear your concerns in
one of the last campaign events before March 3rd's election.
Republican Kurt Wright has been extended an invitation as well.

The event is open to all and attendees are encouraged to ask questions
and participate.

Who: Candidates for the Burlington Mayor's Seat:
Andy Montroll (D) (http://montrollformayor.com)
Bob Kiss (P) (http://bobkissformayor.wordpress.com/) and
Dan Smith (I) (http://dansmithformayor.com/)

What: Mayoral candidates Meet and Greet at the RU12? Community Center.

Where: RU12? Community Center, 34 Elmwood Ave. Burlington, VT.

When: Thursday, February 26th, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Questions? Contact RU12? at: (802) 860-7812 or E-mail: thecenter@ru12.org

Thanks and see you Thursday!

Are you an LGBTQQ Survivor of physical, emotional, or sexual violence?

 

You are not alone. 

SafeSpace is offering free, ongoing peer led support groups for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) survivors of physical, emotional or sexual violence. SafeSpace, is a social change and social service program at RU12? working to end physical, sexual, and emotional violence in the lives of (LGBTQQ) people.

Support groups give survivors a safe and supportive environment to tell their stories, share information, and offer and receive support.  These groups also provide survivors an opportunity to gain information on how to better cope with feelings and experiences that surface because of the trauma they have experienced.  To ensure safety and confidentiality, support group members are asked to sign-up in advance.  If you are interested in joining a group or if you have questions please call Brenda or Ann at 863-0003.

Get on the Equality Bus!

To help with travel to LGBTQ VIsibility Day, Vermont Freedom to Marry Taskforce has arranged for a bus to leave Burlington at 9:30am from the round-a-bout in front of the Echo Center on the waterfront and leaving Montpelier at 1:30pm. The bus is FREE and parking by the Echo Center is FREE as well.

Depart Echo Center at 9:30am, loading at 9am
Depart State House at 1:30pm, loading at 1pm
RSVP at field_director@vtfreetomarry.org

Also, the bus will pick folks up at the PUBLIC Bus Stop on the South side of Main St. in front of Living and Learning Center at 9:30am SHARP. Because it’s a public bus stop, so we will NOT be able to wait for people. We urge you to RSVP and to arrive at the bus stop EARLY to ensure that you will be able to get on the bus. On the bus we'll provide you with a training on how to talk with your legislators and answer any questions you may have about passing the Marriage Equality Bill into law.  We need to know by Thursday at 5pm whether you will join us on the Equality Bus. It will leave at 9:30am SHARP!

Email Robyn at field_director@vtfreetomarry.org to let us know if you will get on the Equality Bus. Also, if you will have folks join you, please provide their first and last name in the email as well. 

We'll see you in Montpelier!

Visibility Day Update!

 

We need our supporters at the State House this Friday for Visibility Day! It will be an exciting day as we will be celebrating the introduction of the House bill, visiting with Governor Douglas at 11am and meeting with our legislators during the lunch hour.
 
If you support equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, this is an event where we need you to demonstrate your support! To help with travel, we've arranged for a bus to leave Burlington at 9:30am from the round-a-bout in front of the Echo Center on the waterfront and leaving Montpelier at 1:30pm. The bus is FREE and parking by the Echo Center is FREE as well.
 
Equality Bus
Depart Echo Center at 9:30am
Depart State House at 1:30pm
RSVP at field_director@vtfreetomarry.org
Directions to Echo Center

On the bus we'll provide you with a training on how to talk with your legislators and answer any questions you may have about passing the Marriage Equality Bill into law.
 
We need to know by Thursday at 5pm whether you will join us on the Equality Bus. It will leave at 9:30am SHARP!
 
Email me to let me at field_director@vtfreetomarry.org to let me know if you will get on the Equality Bus. Also, if you will have folks join you, please provide their first and last name in the email as well.
 
For more details on the day's schedule, go to our homepage at www.vtfreetomarry.org.
 
Thank you! Together we will win Equality!!!!
Robyn Maguire
Field Director

Date Change! February 9th for Burlington Police Department Focus Group

Please note that the date for the Burlington Police Department focus group has changed from Monday February 16th to Monday February 9th from 1:30 to 3:00 PM.

At the beginning of December SafeSpace was invited to the Burlington Police Department's "unveiling" of new ideas and innovations around community policing.  The Chief, Michael Shirling is interested in acquiring information from different communities regarding police services delivered within those communities.  Some of the ways that the Police Department is gathering information is through this survey as well as focus groups. 

SafeSpace is going to try and pull together a focus group.  This group will consist of individuals from the LGBTQ community interested in sharing ideas, thoughts and opinions with the chief.  The group will meet at RU12? Community Center on Monday February 9th from 1:30 to 3PM.  If you are interested in being a part of this group, call Ann Atkins at 860-7812 or email ann@ru12.org. 

This is an opportunity for the LGBTQ community to express directly to the Chief what our thoughts are about our local police department.  I am hopeful that through these conversations our community will continue to develop a healthy, communicative, and open relationship with the Burlington Police. 

We look forward to hearing from you if interested in attending, we would love to have you!  If you are interested in providing some feedback but are unable to make the meeting please take a few moments  to fill out a Burlington Police Department Community Policing Re-Assessment Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=GMOumIdvaNSvqPsjYqeCMQ_3d_3d