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SMART WOMEN, GOOD CHOICE

The Houston women of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change will host the national OLOC 2004 Gathering October 14–17 at the Renaissance Houston. Community heroes Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon—pioneers of the lesbian-rights movement and the first couple wed in February when same-gender marriage became legal in San Francisco—will participate in the conference for women 60 and over. Deidre McCalla will give a Saturday-night concert, and folk singer Alix Dobkin will also perform. Details: www.oloc.org. 

Last month, the local host committee paused from event planning for this snapshot: (in front, l–r) Scottie Scott, Arden Eversmeyer, Barbara Williams; (standing, l–r) June Palmer, Janice Ives, Charlotte Avery, and Ellen Goodrich. Not pictured is Dusty West, also a committee member. (Photo by Tim Brookover)

National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project hosts a free forum on HIV drug resistance on Oct. 7, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at KeyStar Event Complex. Reservations: 888/26-NATAP.

Center for Consumer Law sponsors the free People’s Law School, Oct. 9, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at University of Houston Law Center. Register: 713/743-2168, www.peopleslawyer.net.

On Oct. 15, AVES (Amigos Volunteers in Education & Services) hosts El Poder de La Prueba/The Power of Testing, a National Latin AIDS Awareness Day event, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with free, anonymous HIV screening provided by Orasure Technologies, Inc., at the Mexican Consulate. Info: 713/626-2837.

Latino HIV Task Force, a group of 19 community-based organizations convened by the city health department, also offers free HIV testing on Oct. 15, noon–7 p.m., at four locations, including Almeda Mall. Info: 713/794-9020.

Baylor College of Medicine Psychiatry Clinic offers an eight-week coming-out group for women on Wednesdays, 6:30–8 p.m., beginning Oct. 20. Info:  Marki McMillan or Jennifer Swantkowski, 713/798-7988, ext. 58989. 

Lesbian Health Initiative presents the Rainbow Health Fair, Nov. 6, 8:15 a.m.–3:15 p.m., at Montrose Clinic. Info: 713/603-0023, www.lhihouston.org.

Bering Support Network offers Positive Attitudes, a group for women living with HIV on the third Monday of the month, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., at Bering Memorial United Methodist Church. Info: Beryl Kaminsky, 713/526-1017.

Lesbian Coming-Out Night, led by psychologist Lynne Shepherd, now meets at Houston GLBT Community Center on the first and third Wednesday, 6–7:30 p.m. Info: 713/524-3818, www.houstonglbtcommunitycenter.org.

HELP HURRICANE-HIT GAYS

Rev. Sandy O’Steen, the pastor of Holy Cross Metropolitan Community Church in Pensacola, recently phone in to report on the devastation left by Hurricane Ivan. O’Steen was a member of Resurrection MCC here in the late seventies and early eighties.

“We are in big trouble here. Everything’s in such a mess right now,” O’Steen said, the din of power saws whirring in the background. “There is nothing we do not need, practically. The roof caved in, so everything’s wet.”

Holy Cross is accepting monetary contributions both for the church and members of the congregation (250 lost their homes, O’Steen said). Monetary donations, designated for Ivan relief, can be sent to 415 N. Alcaniz St., Pensacola, Florida 32501. The church also accepts Pay Pal donations at www.holycross.com.

My immediate concern is for your safety. If you need medical assistance, call 911, and then call Montrose Counseling Center at 713/529-0037 or, after business hours, Gay & Lesbian Switchboard Houston at 713/529-3211. A switchboard volunteer will get in touch with the counseling center’s Anti-Violence Program advocate. The advocate can accompany you to the hospital for treatment or to the police department to fill out a report.

If you’re not safe at home and need immediate shelter services, the advocate can place you in a room of your own in an undisclosed location for as many as 14 days to give you time to meet with a professional therapist and decide what your next step will be. If you’re not ready to leave right now, the therapist can help you put together a personal safety plan so that when you are ready, you’ll have the tools you need to make the break and step out on your own. If you sense danger, leave immediately. You can always go back to get anything you may have left behind.

Local:

Nationwide:
Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project
800/832-1901
www.gmdvp.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800/799-7233
800/787-3224 TTY
www.ndvh.org

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
303/839-1852
www.nacdv.org

AVP: The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project
212/714-1141
212/714-1134 TTY
212/714-1141 24-hour Spanish/En Español
www.avp.org

Community United Against Violence (San Francisco)
415/333-HELP
www.cuav.org

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COME OUT ON OCT. 11
In this election year, the theme for National Coming Out Day is “Come Out. Speak Out. Vote.” All day and throughout the month, Human Rights Campaign, the advocacy group that spearheads the nationwide effort, encourages GLBT Americans to talk about their lives and the significance of this election for civil rights.

“This year, we need more than ‘I’m gay and it’s OK,’” HRC president Cheryl Jacques has remarked. “We must talk to and involve our families and friends. Their voices are some of the strongest in the fight for equality.”

Local groups that have scheduled National Coming Out Day events include the following:

HRC Houston. Bo Shuff, national HRC senior field officer, will moderate a panel discussion at an October 11, 7:30 p.m., town hall meeting at Stages Repertory Theatre. “We will be talking about the variety of ways the coming-out process impacts political action,” Shuff said in a recent phone interview.

GLOBAL. The student group at the University of Houston central campus, Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Alliance, has planned a week of activities. These include an October 11 rally; “Out on Greek Row and Out on the Field,” an October 12 panel discussion; an October 15 UH Gay Alumni Picnic; and the October 16 Gayla dance at Club O. Details: www.uh.edu/global.

GLASS. The student group at Texas Southern University, Gay & Lesbian American Student Society, will host a mixer/forum on October 14. “This is a fun, relaxed way for people to tell their coming-out stories,” group coordinator Tamira Augustine said. Details: tsuglass@yahoo.com.

GATHER. One of the two Rice University student organizations, GLBTQAs Advancing Towards a Harmonious Environment at Rice will present an October 18 talk by Matthew Gallagher, Dignity USA executive director, as well as a coming-out exhibit. Details: www.ruf.rice.edu/~gather.

PRIDE@Rice. The other student group at Rice plans a benefit car wash, sharing proceeds with a local AIDS organization, and other activities. “We will also be giving out ribbons to all students and faculty to show their support for LGBT students on campus,” Matt Oertli, PRIDE co-vice president, said. Details: www.ruf.rice.edu/~pride.

GLOSS. The Gay-Lesbian Organization of Students in Support at North Harris County College will distribute rainbow ribbons on October 11 and screen Trembling Before G-d on October 18. Details: Janice Hartgrove, 281/618-5526, hartgrov@nhmccd.edu.

GLOBAL/Lamar. The student organization at Lamar University in Beaumont will travel to Houston to participate in UH GLOBAL events, according to president Jackie McLain. Details: 409/466-7419.

Unity Club. The student group at University of Houston-Clear Lake will present a campus display with GLBT information and ask people to sign solidarity pledges. Details: www.geocities.com/uhclunityclub.

STUDENT MEET SET

OUT Texas will present the second Collegiate Conference of GLBT campus organizations at Texas State University-San Marcus, October 29–31. Activities will include workshops, a panel discussion, and the Saturday-night Bobcat Ball, the once-a-semester benefit drag show at Gordo’s on the Square, hosted by the local student group, Lambda.

“Fifty-five students from six or seven different schools” attended the first conference in 2003, according to Ted Ingwersen, one of the coordinators of the annual event.

For information and registration: www.lbjsc.txstate.edu/caso/otcc.