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

UVM's Vagina Monologues Performance Benefit SafeSpace Program

For many years students at our very own University of Vermont have been performing the "Vagina Monolgues", written  and producedby Eve Ensler. The proceeds to the show are donated to local anti-violence programs.  This year SafeSpace @ RU12? Community Center was selected as the sole beneficiary of the Vagina Monologues performance at UVM.   The Vagina Monolgues are shown in the month of February, and the event is often called" V-Day, until the violence ends".  This performance is about women but is for everyone, it is about women reclaiming their sexuality in a positive way, it is about taking words that have been used to describe women's vagina's in a negative way and making them positive again, kind of like to word Queer for a lot of people. 

On February 29th and March 1st, 2008 the Vagina Monologues was performed at UVM and both shows sold out.  This was an amazing show, with incredible attendance.  The UVM students were really able to showcase their talent, and talented they are....I was fortunate to attend a previewing of the show, the day before it was to open to the public.  I was very impressed with everyone's performance.  If you were not able to make the show this year, remember it happens every February!  Remember as well that if you purchase a ticket the money will be donated to an anti-violence program or non-profit agency. 

This year with SafeSpace being the sole beneficiary I am thrilled to report that UVM's Vagina Monologues performances contributed $8,573.66 to our anti-violence program.  That is an incredible amount of money for our small non-profit and we could not be more honored!  To be selected by UVM as the beneficiaries was such a gift.  Kara DeLeonardis, the Executive Director of RU12? Community Center, and Ann Atkins, Program Director of the SafeSpace Program @ RU12? were present at the brunch and received the check for the Center. 

Thank you UVM for thinking of us.  Thank you for such a great performance, and we look forward to next year! 

RU12? joins Lamda Legal's "Sign the Pledge" for Equality

Lamda Legal says "Sign the Pledge" on Second Annual "Clock in For Equality Day" on May 15th.  Thursday May 15th, 2008 is the second annual "Clock in for Equality" day, a national day of action to educate and mobilize people to promote workplace fairness for LGBTQ people. 

Participants are encouraged to sign a pledge agreeing to take specific actions to help increase workplace fairness for LGBTQ people and those with HIV.  That pledge form will be available at RU12? Community Center for anyone interested in signing.  If you stop into the Center ask at the front desk to sign the pledge.  Our goal is to simply collect as many signatures as possible. 

THE PLEDGE:

I believe that workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people and people living with HIV is wrong.  I pledge to support workplace equality whenever I can and will strive to do one or more of the following:

• Treat LGBT people and people living with HIV with respect in and out of the workplace.  Get educated about forms of workplace discrimination that LGBT people and people living with HIV experience.
• Help make my workplace LGBT- and HIV - friendly
• Support my co-workers (or employees') right to form an LGBT employee resource group.
• Help improve policies in my workplace that protect the rights of LGBT workers and workers living with HIV and work to carry out existing policies.
• Help improve laws protecting the rights of LGBT workers and workers living with HIV on the local, state and federal level. 
• Speak out if I witness workplace harassment or discrimination at work or in the community. 

The mission of RU12? Community Center is very much aligned with the work that Lamda Legal's "sign the pledge" is doing so making the decision to have the Center a place for people to sign was an easy one.  You can come to the Center (we of course would love to see you) and sign or you can visit http://ga4.org/campaign/clockin and sign online.

Thank You Eliza!!! Another successful RAR

The 4th annual Run Against Rape (RAR)took place on Sunday, April 27th.  It was another chilly day but there was a lot of action going on at Oakledge Park.  Eliza, our fabulous RU12? Americorps VISTA did an amazing job again this year and RAR was very successful!

This year we broke records in terms of sponsorship.  We were very excited about all of the support that we received from local businesses. 

The Chittenden Bank, Pete's RV, and the Laura Kate Winterbottom Foundation all gave $500.00 towards RAR.  Excel Physical Therapy donated $250.00, and Living Well Chiropractic kicked in $100.00! 

Eliza did a really great job assigning tasks, keeping track of what we were all doing and in the end pulled off another great event for the benefit of SafeSpace @ Ru12? Community Center. 

Eliza ROCKS!!!

Are you in....... or are you OUT?!

Have you designed your hat for the RU12? Queer Community Dinner and Auction yet?  Walk the runway, strut your stuff, and show off your mad hat skills.  Interested in designing a hat? All hats must incorporate a gay icon and something distinctly "Vermont."  The hats will be judged at the dinner.  A designer can designate themselves or a model to show the hat on the Run-Way, and a "fierce" prize will go to the top pick!  Don't bore Nina! Contact Karen to register!

Order your tickets for the dinner today!

Ann Atkins receives an Oscar for advocacy!

Please join us in congratulating our very own Ann Atkins, SafeSpace Program Director, who received the 2008 Community Based Advocate Award at the Fifteenth Annual Vermont Victims’ Rights Awards Ceremony in Montpelier on April 17^th!! This award is sponsored by The Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services.

In her acceptance speech Ann thanked her agent, personal assistant, acting teacher and all her fans who helped make this possible.......JUST KIDDING!!!!

Ann has been advocating for survivors of domestic and sexual violence for over twelve years which is a testament to her dedication and commitment to victim advocacy.  In the relatively short time that Ann has been at SafeSpace, she has developed new relationships with key stakeholders in Vermont to help raise awareness about the issues of same sex domestic violence, sexual and hate violence perpetrated against LGBTQ Vermonters.

Nominated to be the Chair of the Parallel Justice Commission, in addition to being a member of the Governor’s Council on Domestic Violence, Ann is an unwavering voice for LGBTQ survivors of violence in Vermont making a huge difference in the lives of LGBTQ survivors. Ann helps bring this often silenced voice to the table contributing to ending all forms of violence and discrimination.  Vermont is incredibly lucky to have such an advocate in our midst and we at SafeSpace and RU12? are honored to work with her!

Join Us At UVM's Rainbow Graduation!

Please join us in celebrating Hannah Hauser (Co-Director of Health & Wellness), Liz Batsford (UVM Intern, Anna Rawson (UVM Intern), and Ella Kaplan (MSW Intern) at the 7th Annual Rainbow Awards and Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, May 1st 2008!!!

LGBTQ Services hosts this event -- complete with music, food, and fun -- to celebrate UVM's LGBTQA community , its many achievements, and the LGBTQA students who are graduating -- both undergrads and grads.

For More Information check out LGBTQA Services  and RSVP!

All of us here at RU12? wish the graduates the best of luck in all their future endeavors!!  Congrats!

Trying to Rubber the Right Way

Brazil aims to protect the Amazon by using sustainably harvested rubber in condoms. Hard up for ways to preserve the Amazon rainforest, the Brazilian government has announced it's opening a condom factory that will use rubber harvested sustainably from the imperiled rainforest -- no tree-chopping required. The latex will come from the Chico Mendes reserve, named for a well-known Amazon activist gunned down by ranching interests. Conservationists hope that providing locals economic incentive to leave the forest intact will help slow deforestation. The Brazilian government is also touting the program as a buy-local initiative; the new factory aims to displace about 100 million of the roughly 500 million condoms the country imports annually and distributes for free as part of its initiative to fight HIV/AIDS. **

Of course, you don't have to head down to Brazil to pick up safer sex supplies. RU12? has a wide variety of colors, flavors, shapes and sizes of condoms for FREE! Stop by anytime and pick up any safer supplies you might need, including lube, gloves and dams. While you're at it, you could even get a free, anonymous HIV test every Tuesday or Thursday from 11-6pm. Check out our Health and Wellness Program for more details.

**Source: Weekly Grist, http://www.grist.org/?source=weekly

Sprint Into Spring

The 4th Annual Run Against Rape (RAR)is Sunday, April 27th at Oakledge Park!  Please join staff, volunteers and RU12? supporters in raising awareness for Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Bring your families, pets, work out buddies and colleagues to a FUN 5k run/walk through spring time in Burlington on a loop beginning and ending at Oakledge Park.

RAR is a community-building, fundraising event and all proceeds go directly to RU12?’s anti-violence program SafeSpace.

• Registration: 9am
• Run/Walk: 10am
• Location: Oakledge Park

• Registration Fee before April 27: $25

• Registration Fee on April 27: $30

All participants must raise a minimum of 50 dollars in pledges.

An award ceremony, with prizes for the individuals who raise the most money will follow the run/walk.  The 1st place prize is a one night stay at the Black Bear Inn.

Register Today!  Please print out form and mail it in. 

Download rar_registration.pdf

Contact RU12? with questions: 802-860-7812 or thecenter@ru12.org

 

 

Who's at your table?

The 10th Annual RU12? Queer Community Dinner & Auction is Saturday, May 31 (that's the weekend AFTER Memorial Day) at the Sheraton Hotel in Burlington. If you've never been before, you should know that this is the LGBT event of the year, so get your table of 10 together and reserve your tickets now!

What's New This Year?

• A shorter program! We heard you wanted more time to chat and we're going to "make it work."
• Dan Savage! Sex columnist, author, media pundit and all-around trouble-maker. Rumor has it, you could win breakfast with Dan if the price is right...
• A runway show? In keeping with the Project Runway theme, we're inviting you to design a fancy hat and model it in our runway for a "fierce" prize. Don't bore Nina!
• A buffet! The Sheraton is promising a scrumptious buffet to improve upon last year's plated offerings. Eat as much or little as you want!
• DJ Precious! After the program, Precious will be taking requests for all the dance tunes you love (and those sexy slow songs, too!)

Click here for info on the benefit auction, volunteering and other details about the event...

April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month!

Originally a week in October was designated for Sexual Assault Awareness and another week in October for Domestic Violence Awareness.  But as the Domestic Violence movement began doing more through out October, there was the need to have a separate time for sexual assault and time in between to give dual coalitions and agencies a chance to prepare for both.  In 1987, the membership of the National Coalition Against Sexual Violence (NCASA) voted to have Sexual Violence Awareness Month to be determined by the Board of Directors.  States were formally polled and April was the month selected.  We in Vermont observe Sexual Violence Awareness Month because we see the need for the community to come together and end all sexual violence.

For More Info Check out: stoprapevermont.org  or contact the Women's Rape Crisis Center 802.864.0555