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

6 Degrees: Innovative Testing Network

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What is 6 Degrees?

It can be hard getting through the door to get an HIV test. There are many reasons why people will put off getting tested. But when someone they know reaches out and supports them in getting tested, taking this important step becomes easier to do. Often people have thought about getting tested and just need a little outside encouragement and support to move forward. That’s where the 6 Degrees project comes in.

6 Degrees is a project where Vermonters who are connected to friends, peers and acquaintances at risk of becoming HIV positive (like having unprotected sex or sharing needles) volunteer to become Community Advocates who reach out to their circles and encourage folks to get tested. This non-judgemental peer support, and the support from a network of testers, makes it easier for people to come in for testing and find out what their HIV status is.

 

Why is it important to get tested for HIV?

HIV can have a major impact on someone’s health. Many people will not have any symptoms (like getting ill more often) for 11 years after they’ve become HIV-positive, and 1 in 5 people who are living with HIV don’t realize it. The sooner someone gets tested and knows their HIV status, the sooner they can take steps to keep themselves and their partners healthier for longer. 

 

What do I get out of it?

If you become a Community Advocate, you will receive gift cards, credit towards your bills, and other incentives of your choice worth $25 for each person at risk of becoming HIV-positive that you refer who comes in for a test. For example, you could earn up to $250 towards an iPad or an electric bill. You will also be a part of a new, exciting project that breaks down barriers for our friends and community, helping those we know and care about to stay healthier and informed. 

 

Who runs the 6 Degrees project?

The RU12? Community Center, an organization that celebrates, educates and advocates with and for LGBTQ Vermonters has partnered with the Comprehensive Care Clinics, a system of four clinics providing state-of-the-art treatment for all stages of HIV/AIDS. These two organizations work together to:

• Recruit Community Advocates
• Support the advocates in connecting with their communities
• Provide anonymous HIV testing to the people in the Community Advocates' social circles

 

How do I get involved?

If you’re interested in becoming a Community Advocate, contact Mike Bensel or Jean-Denis Couillard at the RU12? Community Center by calling (802) 860-7812 or emailing 6degrees@ru12.org. You can also contact Deb Kutzko at the Comprehensive Care Clinic by calling (802) 847-4594. We will set up an interview with you where you can learn more about the program and make sure it’s a good fit for you.

 

 

RU12? Family Program Play Group This Morning!

GLAMFlixx: Keep the Lights On: Weds. 2/20

On Wednesday, February 20th, join GLAM as we watch Keep the Lights On! Come to our weekly GLAM meeting at 6:30 and stay after for the movie! Snacks and drinks provided. It's 1997 and New York City is in a state of intense flux when documentary filmmaker Erik Rothman (Thure Lindhardt) first meets Paul Lucy (Zachary Booth), a handsome but closeted lawyer in the publishing field. What begins as a highly charged first encounter soon becomes something much more, and a relationship quickly develops. As the two men start building a home and life together, each continues to privately battle their own compulsions and addictions. A film about sex, friendship, intimacy and most of all, love, Keep the Lights On takes an honest look at the nature of relationships in our times. -- (C) Official Site GLAM is a group of young gay, bi, queer, and trans guys who are coming together, getting out, and enjoying the connections we made with one another. To get involved or for more information, contact Mike or Jean-Denis at glam@ru12.org or 802-860-7812.   Facebook Event

Franklin County: RU12?’s Rainbow Reading Hour Tonight!

*This event will be taking place every 1st and 3d Mondays 5:30 to 6:30, starting January 7th.

Come join us for RU12?’s Rainbow Reading Hour! We want to welcome children of all ages to gather and read a story, and then do an activity together. This is a chance for LGBTQA families to meet and find community at the Bent Northrop Memorial Library in Fairfield.

Feel free to bring a favorite book or friend to join the fun! If you have any ideas, would like to volunteer, or need more information, feel free to email me at Sam@ru12.org

Facebook Event

GLAMflixx: Safety Not Guaranteed

Join us for our weekly GLAM meeting followed by a showing of Safety Not Guaranteed! Food and drinks provided. (GLAM meeting begins at 6:30, movie immediately after at 7:30.)

From the producers of Little Miss Sunshine - "When an unusual classified ad inspires three cynical Seattle magazine employees to look for the story behind it, they discover a mysterious eccentric named Kenneth, a likable but paranoid supermarket clerk, who believes he's solved the riddle of time travel and intends to depart again soon. Together, they embark on a hilarious, smart, and unexpectedly heartfelt journey that reveals how far believing can take you." -- (C) Official Site

GLAM is a group of young gay, bi, queer, and trans guys who are coming together, getting out, and enjoying the connections we made with one another. To get involved or for more information, contact Mike or Jean-Denis at glam@ru12.org or 802-860-7812.

 

FACEBOOK EVENT

Big Gay Onion Thurs. 12/20 @ 6:30 PM!

Every third Thursday at the Block Gallery in Winooski, RU12? hosts an open mic night. A coffeehouse featuring 3 open mic slots and a featured performer.  To sign up for the open mic, email BigGayOnion@ru12.org All acts of music, interpretive dance, comedy and poetry are encouraged and welcomed. Live music lovers encouraged to listen and delight in the splendor of community.  Event is free but we will pass the hat for appreciation for RU12? For more information call RU12? 860-7812.   Facebook Event

GEN Silent movie about LGBT Elders available for free home screening

Last May, RU12?'s LGBT Elders Program teamed up with community partners Champlain Valley Area Health Education Cener (CVAHEC) and the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging (CVAA) to present a screening of the film GEN Silent, about several LGBT aging Americans and their struggle to feel comfortable being/remaining out in the context of getting older and accessing elders-specific services. This was one of several GEN Silent screenings statewide throughout the month of May.

Our screening was a remarkable success, with more than 100 folks coming out on a Wednesday evening for the film and following panel discussion, in order to bring attention to the issue as well as identify viable next steps, including the development of cultural competency trainings for elders service providers. RU12? will be debuting this training system this spring in the NEK, but until then, the powerful film that kickstarted our local discussions is available for free home-viewing until January 1. Check it out here: GEN Silent, or contact jean@ru12.org for more information about RU12?'s new LGBT Elders training.

Women's Pride Social Club of Vermont: Steering Committee Meeting

The Women's Pride Social Group of Vermont holds its Steering Committee Meeting at the RU12? Community Center on Thursday, November 15th. For more information or to get involved, please email miki@ru12.org  

Like the Women's Pride Social Group of Vermont on Facebook!

Family Program Halloween Potluck Rescheduled

Who says Halloween has to only be one day a year?

Due to the impending tropical storm Sandy, and the fact that winds are expected to begin peaking around the time tonight's Halloween potluck was scheduled to begin, we are postposing our LGBTQA Family Halloween Potluck celebration at the RU12? Community Center until this Saturday, November 3, from 11am-1pm. 

Bring a dish to share, enter the Champlain Mill Building through 3rd floor ramp entrance or 2nd level by the library., and come have some Halloween fun! (Prizes for best costumes, and treats for all!).

Any questions/comments/concerns, please contact mailto:jean@ru12.org or call the Center at 802.860.7812. Check out this event on RU12?'s Facebook page.

Also, please note that the Estate Planning with Pride event scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday 10/30, has been cancelled.

October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month) SafeSpace Happenings

It's DVAM (Domestic Violence Awareness Month) and our SafeSpace program interns have been busily tabling at local colleges. Community College of Vermont (Winooski), St. Michael's and Champlain College happily welcomed our program for community outreach, education, informal discussion and at two of the three sites, the showing of an impressive art exhibit produced by our commuity partners Women Helping Battered Women (WHBW) titled, "A Survivor Stands Beside Me". The exhibit consists of powerful life-size photos viewing domestic violence as an issue that crosses into all ages, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. At St. Mike's campus, we joined WHBW and HopeWorks (formerly Women's Rape Crisis Center) for the Abuse Awareness Project, a statistics and awareness event that highlighted the number of survivors served by WHBW, HopeWorks and SafeSpace with purple, white and rainbow flags. These events were a great success. Our interns were not only able to make some new friends and allies, but raise awareness out about an important issue in the LGBTQ community (and our culture at large), as well as spread the word about RU12?'s SafeSpace anti-violence program and the work it does with LGBTQ survivors.

In solidarity with local agencies working to end domestic and sexual violence, SafeSpace advocates and supporters will have a presence at WHBW's Candlelight Vigil and Survivor Speak Out at 6pm on Thursday, October 25th in front of City Hall on Church Street. This will consist of a candle-lighting ceremony in honor of those who have lost their lives as the result of domestic and intimate partner violence, followed by a silent march to the Unitarian Universalist Church at the top of the Marketplace, where survivors will be able to share their stories in a healing space. We hope you will spread the word about this incredible event, and that we will see you there!

If you or anyone you know has experienced domestic, intimate partner, sexual, transgender, hate violence or discrimination, SafeSpace advocates are available to offer support and advocacy services by calling 802.863.0003, or you can report violence anonymously to SafeSpace. If you'd like to make a donation to SafeSpace in honor of your own or a loved one's survival experience, you can donate here and make a designation for the SafeSpace Program.

 

Women's Programming and Activities Social

**This Friday, September 28th!**

A group of LBT Women of all ages is coming together in a relaxed social setting to start planning activities and events for women in Vermont! Refreshments provided.

For more information, contact miki@ru12.org

Facebook Event

Big Gay Onion is Back!! --This Thurs!

 

Thursday September 20th, 6:30pm-8:30pm

RU12? and Antara Present:

An open mic night featuring community performers. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate: musicians, comedians, puppeteers, spoken word artists, and more! Event is free but we will pass the hat for appreciation for RU12? For more information call RU12? 860-7812. Email BigGayOnion@ru12.org to sign up for a performance spot, or just show up!

Facebook Event

Thank you for a successful Field Day!

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Geography aside, community certainly does make a difference. And last Saturday, September 1, RU12? had the great fortune of hosting a strong showing of LGBTQHA-identified families at Hubbard Park in Montpelier for a successful inaugural Family Program Picnic Potluck and Field Day event, this despite a long holiday weekend and competing end-of-summer events across the state. Faces were painted, water balloons flew, eggs were dropped, sponges were bucket-brigaded, soda bottles went flying, and hoops were hulaed--not to mention all the good food! A good time, it seems, was had by all. Thank you to all our volunteers (Heather, Crystal, Cat, Hannah, Corey, Alan, Jeffrey, Geoffrey, Jamie, Ashley, Corrine, Leigh and Bianca) and all the participating families for making it an event to remember! See our Facebook page for photos from the event, and see you all next year for the Second Annual!

RU12? Family Program Potluck Picnic and Field Day Event Saturday, September 1!

Just a reminder that this Saturday is RU12?'s first annual Family Program Picnic Potluck and Field Day Event!

The weather is slated to be beautiful (77 degrees and sunny--don't forget your sunscreen!)

We are still looking for a few volunteers to run the children's events (list below). If you have any interest in helping out (10am-4pm), email jean@ru12.org or call the Center at 802.860.7812.

Tentative list of kids' events will include Balloon Pop, Hula Hoop Marathon, Water Balloon Toss, Tug o' War, Beach Ball Race, Soda Bottle Bowling, Egg on Spoon race, Egg Toss, Long Jump, Face Painting, Toe-Marble Grab, Sponge Relay, Red Light Green Light, Rest/Relaxation Station and an all-participant Scavenger Hunt! Mini-awards and prizes will be offered at the end of the day.

Event will take place at Hubbard Park's Old Shelter (by the soccer field). Plenty of nearby parking, as well as outhouse facilities (no running water). Click here for a map of the park.

Directions from 89: Go R on State Street from the highway to Elm Street. Take a L on Elm until Winter Street. Go L on Winter Street to the junction of Parkway Street/Parkway Avenue. Follow Parkway Street into the park and look for signs for parking. (~1000 feet past the frog pond is a R-turn towards the Old Shelter where the event will take place.)

Things to bring:

• Suggested donation of $10/family for RU12?'s Family Program (to defray the cost of the event and raise funds for future endeavors), but no one will be turned away for lack of donation.
• A dish to share
• Non-alcoholic beverages for you and yours
• Picnic blankets
• Sunscreen
• Overlayer in case it gets cold
• Change of clothes/shoes in case of getting eggy (egg toss, egg on spoon) or wet (water balloon toss)

For more info on any of the above, please contact jean@ru12.org.

Groups Work Together to Serve LGBTQ Seniors

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 15, 2012 / Contact: Ken Gordon
Area Agency on Aging for Northeastern Vermont
481 Summer Street, St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819
Telephone: 800-642-5119/802-748-5182

Groups Work Together to Serve LGBTQ Seniors

Imagine growing up in a world where your government legalized discrimination against you and took away your right to privacy. Imagine living in fear of being beaten in the street and having nowhere to turn to for help. And imagine living under the constant threat of losing your job, family, friends, and children, so doing whatever you could to hide who you love rather than celebrate it in public.

This is the world in which many older gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults lived their entire lives. Some bravely came out and lived the best they could, while others remained closeted. Today, these individuals are part of the fastest growing age group in the Vermont – those over the age of sixty.

Trans Support Group Meets 1st & 3rd Weds!

LGBTQ Fiber Arts Group: Sunday @ Noon

The Fiber Arts Group meets 2nd and 4th (and sometimes 5th) Sundays of every month at RU12? Community Center. Knitting, crochetting, weaving, ebroidery and more for people of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and skill levels to come together in a queer space. If you have questions or you'd like to join the group please contact RU12? at 860-RU12 (7812) or email TheCenter@RU12.org.

Join our online Fiber Arts Group!

SafeSpace Attends Milton National Night Out

National Night Out is an opportunity for local community members to come together to strengthen neighborhood spirit, support local crime prevention, build police-community partnerships and just have fun! SafeSpace attended Milton's third annual National Night Out last night.  SafeSpace partnered with the Milton police department's victim advocate to answer questions and provide information about our programs.

KUAC (Kind Understanding Adoption Circle) this Wednesday!

At RU12? on Wednesday, 8/8 at 6pm:

KUAC (Kind, Understanding Adoption Circle) is a peer support group where LGBTQ-identified or Allied adult members of the adoption triad (adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents) can come together to share stories, give and receive support, and talk about feelings/thoughts related to the adoption experience. KUAC offers an understanding, confidential community-minded environment where participants can meet and talk with others who can relate.

The name is significant of the connections that are made between and among those who share the common thread of adoption. Participation is encouraged (but not required), so that everyone gets the most out of group time, and every KUAC member has a multitude of opportunities at their disposal: to learn more about other members’ lives, to be heard, as well as to educate others about the adoption experience—and to do so without the fear of judgment!

KUAC peer support group meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month  from 6-8pm at the RU12? Community Center for LGBTQH Vermonters in Winooski. For more information, please contact RU12? at 802.860.7812 or email thecenter@ru12.org.

 

RU12? Family Program at Owl's Head Berry Farm: Thursday, August 9

Please join our RU12? Family Program at Owl's Head Blueberry Farm on Thursday, August 9 from 5-7:45pm for an evening of music and berry-picking! $12 per person, includes 2-quarts of pick-your-own berries, and kids/families are welcome! RU12? meet-up at 5:30pm, look for RU12?'s Pride Flag! For more information, see the Owl's Head website, call the Center at 802.860.7812 or contact jean@ru12.org.