News Briefs

DATEBOOK

Tamara Jones, chief of staff for City Council member Ada Edwards, will lead a workshop on social, political, and civil justice activism on Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m., at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church. Register: Melissa Rogers, 281/531-8805 or rmccomm@yahoo.com.

Pride Committee of Houston holds voting for Pride Parade grand marshals on Feb. 7 and Feb. 21, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., at its office. Check www.pridehouston.org for the list of nominees.

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays-Houston considers the controversy over the election of openly gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson at its Feb. 8, 2 p.m., meeting at St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Details: 713/467-3524, www.pflaghouston.org.

On Feb. 11, Bering Support Network, the counseling program of Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, begins two new facilitated groups: “Recently Diagnosed HIV+” and “Long-Term Survivors of HIV.” Groups meet at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, preceded by a 6:30 p.m. potluck supper. Register: 713/526-1017.

Stonewall Law Association of Greater Houston hosts a Feb. 8, 1–6 p.m., media-training class at the Houston GLBT Community Center for couples participating in a Feb. 13, 2 p.m., marriage-equality demonstration at the county clerk’s office. Register: Christopher Bown, 713/227-1717, or MarriageEquality@slagh.org.

Conrad Hernandez chairs a silent-auction fundraiser for the Positive Art Workshop, the Houston GLBT Community Center art classes for people living with HIV/AIDS, on Feb. 21, 7 p.m., at davidlewisIMAGES/Midtown Photography studio. Details: 713/524-3818.

Longtime community organizer Bob Bouton speaks at “Fourth Sunday History Series” presented by the Gulf Coast Archive & Museum of GLBT History on Feb. 22, 3 p.m., at the museum. Details: www.gcam.org.

Miss the marathon? Meet up with FrontRunners Houston, the gay/lesbian runners group, for regular 3-mile runs, Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m., in Memorial Park. Details: http://home.swbell.net/larathon/houfr.htm.

NEW MEN’S GROUP FORMS

This month, Derrick Elliott launches a new group for men across the multicultural spectrum. Men of All Colors Together-Houston will meet for the first time on Thursday, February 5, at 7 p.m. at the Houston GLBT Community Center.

“I see the group as being social,” Elliott says. “I want to have a bar night. I want to have two nights a month at the center. I would like for us to have a bowling night.”

Elliott adds that the focus of the group (more info: 281/373-5175 or 832/228-6234) “could change as the membership wishes.”

The local organization joins a network of affiliated groups in 30 U.S. cities, including Austin and Dallas. In addition to these groups, variously identified as Black and White Men Together, Men of All Colors Together, and People of All Colors Together, there is a Pittsburgh-based National Association of Black & White Men Together.

MUSEUM SEEKS ARCHIVES HOME

Nearly five years ago, Judy and Bruce Reeves helped establish the Gulf Coast Archive & Museum of GLBT History in their residence near downtown. Even after the community museum moved to its present West Main location, the Reeveses continued to house the bulk of the archives in warehouse space adjacent to their home. Now the Reeveses plan to sell the property, and GCAM seeks storage space.

Reeves hopes an individual or firm with climate-controlled storage space or a warehouse will donate room for the archives. “To date, we have 19 shelves, each on casters and capable of holding 18 regular file boxes,” she says. “We need to find a new home for this valuable material, and we need to find it very quickly”

Reeves points out that because GCAM is a nonprofit organization, a donor could realize tax benefits. Interested persons can reach her at 713/227-5973, ext. 1.

SAFETY FIRST: TIPS FROM Q-PATROL

Since the November 28 attack on Avondale against New York dancer Alan Tibbetts, accompanied by rumors of other hate-driven assaults, many in the community remain on edge. For some ideas on personal safety, particularly in the Montrose club district, we checked in with Chris Arasin, chairman of Q-Patrol, the volunteer group that patrols the area on weekend nights. His tips:

• Parking

Pay to park. Use one of the paid parking lots or even get your vehicle valet-parked at the club. Consider that for the cost of a single drink, you have taken out an insurance policy for the night—first, that your vehicle will be secure and easily accessible to you, and, second, that it will still be there when you are finished for the evening. If you must park in the street, check for parking signs and park as close to the club as possible and near a street light. Avoid areas with bushes or shrubs or overhanging trees.

• Walking

Never walk alone. Walk with a friend and then drive him or her back to the club or vehicle. You can also ask one of the off-duty police officers or a doorman for an escort to your vehicle. It never hurts to ask. Always walk with purpose. Keep your head up and on a swivel. Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Have your keys ready. Get your keys out and in your hand as soon as you leave the club. This keeps you from fumbling for them when you get to your vehicle and also allows for them to be used for defense if necessary. Get loud. Carry a whistle or horn or something that makes a lot of noise if needed. Predators do not like to draw attention. Walk in the street. I know that this is illegal, but walking in the street while facing traffic is a lot safer than walking on most of the sidewalks in the neighborhood. Avoid greenery. Stay away from large shrubs, bushes, and overhanging trees, which make great cover for troublemakers.

• Impairment

Know your limits. Too much alcohol or other substances can limit your ability to react to a situation and make you an easy target. You might even be at the point where you should not be behind the wheel of your vehicle. Get a friend to take you home or take a taxi.

• If you are attacked

Report the attack. Give whatever information you can. Contact the Houston Police Department and file a report. The city operates a Hate Crimes Hotline at 713/529-9615. If you are in need of counseling after the attack, the Montrose Counseling Center (713/529-0037) has people trained to assist you. Contact Q-Patrol. Let us know so we can keep a closer eye on that area on our next patrol. Our number is 713/528-SAFE (7233) or e-mail QPatrolHouston@yahoo.com. Consider joining us for a patrol just once a month and see what is happening in the Montrose from a different perspective.

Remember that we patronize the bars, clubs, coffeehouses, restaurants, and bookstores to enjoy ourselves and the company of others. We have to be vigilant in making sure that we do not become a crime statistic, but we need not crawl into a shell. We need to stand up and show our pride in ourselves and in our community every day. That starts with being safe.

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES SET

The application deadline for the The PFLAG/H.A.T.C.H. Youth Scholarship Foundation isn’t until May 1, but interested students may want to start preparing now.

The program offers cash awards for GLBT students in the Houston area who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in high school or college. In 2003, the foundation awarded a total $119,000 in amounts ranging from $10,000 over four years to $2,000 over two years.

More information and the application is available at www.pflaghouston.org/scholarship.htm. To request information by mail, write PHYSF, P.O. Box 667010, Houston 77266.

In addition, the national organization of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), offers nine scholarships of $2,500 and 14 scholarships of $1,000. These awards are available to GLBT students and to non-GLBT students who demonstrate support for the community. The deadline is March 15.

Information and applications are available www.pflag.org/scholar_docs.htm or by mail by writing Dr. Roy Gilbert-Higginson, PFLAG National Scholarships Program, 1726 M Street, #400, Washington, DC 20036.

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