Human Sexuality Expert Cheryl Weill

Scientist and human sexuality expert Cheryl Weill will be speaking at the April 2 GLBT Chamber of Commerce meeting on the "Biological Origins of Sexuality." In the ongoing debate of "were we born this way?" Weill is well known for her research on when sexuality and sexual preference is determined–and she’s been speaking to university campuses and PFLAG meetings on this subject all over the country for the past nine years.

Both chamber members and non-members are welcome. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Select, 2712 Southwest Freeway near Greenway Plaza. Social/networking 6 p.m.; dinner and speaker 7 p.m. RSVP to 713/523-7576 by March 29. Guests $25.

AIDS Walk Houston

The 13th Annual AIDS Walk Houston will be held Sun., March 10. In partnership with JP Morgan Chase, the AIDS Walk Houston is a 3.5-mile walk event to increase awareness and education of HIV/AIDS. Last year’s walk raised more than $350,000 with the help of over 4,000 participants. Benefiting from this year’s walk are the AIDS Foundation Houston and five local HIV/AIDS service organizations: Brentwood Community Foundation, PWA Coalition of Houston, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, the Assistance Fund, and the Center for AIDS. Registration is 8 a.m. at Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby Street, and the walk starts at 9 a.m. For info, see www.aidshelp.org

SNAP in Trouble

We’re distressed to report that SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program), the organization that helps homeless animals, may itself soon be homeless.

As reported by SNAP’s executive director, Sean Hawkins, the news came in late January when executives from Enron notified SNAP that it would have to vacate their downtown office space previously donated to the organization by the fallen energy giant. Although SNAP staff was told they could stay if they pay rent, Hawkins says they cannot possibly afford it, especially given the top-dollar downtown parking fees.

SNAP had received more than $200,000 in cash and in-kind donations from Enron in the last two years–and had provided direct care to 39,092 animals through six clinic facilities last year. Like many Houston charities, SNAP was already doubly suffering from the June flooding and September 11, which had reduced charitable gifts to SNAP by more than a third.

"The events of the last six months have devastated SNAP financially. Our exhausted staff and volunteers who have been working to keep the organization afloat are mentally and emotionally wasted," Hawkins says. SNAP has had to cut way back on services to the community, lay off employees, and reduce employee benefits. And now the cash-strapped nonprofit is being forced into an expensive move.

"We’re now appealing to the general public for help to keep our doors open to provide critical public health services to the community," Hawkins says.

Spaying and neutering services provided by SNAP immediately impact the tragedy of dog and cat overpopulation by preventing homeless animals from being born, keeping strays off the streets, and preventing the spread of diseases such as rabies to the public. Also, SNAP provides free spay/neuter and animal wellness services to animals living with PWA and HIV families. (Just register for your Animal Aid Card at the Montrose Clinic or other neighborhood clinics.)

Donations can be sent to SNAP, P.O. Box 70286, Houston 77270. For more info, call 713/862-3863 or visit www.snaptx.org. SNAP clinics are located at 1603 Shepherd and 1801 Durham.

Healing Mental Health

The GLBT community has been turning our awareness more and more to showing support and understanding for mental health.

This year, the GLBT community has been focusing more and more on mental health issues. While a pervasive and crippling set of diseases, mental health illnesses are often surrounded with misunderstanding and stigma. You can show your interest and support in two events this month:

The Montrose Counseling Center is throwing its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration/fundraiser, "Bringing in the Green." Friday, March 15, 5:30—8 p.m., at the home of John Danielson, 502 Hawthorne. Entertainment by Jerry Atwood, featuring Kim Yvette; celebrity bartenders from EPAH (the Executive & Professional Association of Houston), $25.

The Montrose Counseling Center is a community-based organization providing services primarily for and about GLBT individuals. They offer individual and group therapy, chemical dependency programs, and HIV/AIDS counseling, support for crime survivors, and survivors of partner assault.

Also, the Mental Health Association of Greater Houston invites community leaders to a half-day symposium: "Call to Action: Stamp Out Stigma" on Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m., at the Omni Hotel, 4 Riverway (off Woodway). After brief presentations by mental health experts, the participants will work in small breakout groups to brainstorm innovative strategies for changing stigma with each respective sector. Cosponsored by the departments of psychiatry of Baylor College of Medicine and the UT Health Science Center, the symposium and luncheon are underwritten (by pharmaceutical companies) and are free of charge. For more info, write mpatel@mhahouston.org, or call713/523-8963.

Women’s Volleyball
"Bringing women together with a feminist perspective for a healthier life for all women."

The Houston Women’s Volleyball League is recruiting new members. Play is Thursday nights, 7—9 p.m., at the M.D. Anderson Branch YMCA, 705 Cavalcade (take 45 North, exit right on Cavalcade, cross light at Fulton, YMCA is on left). For more info: write wvolley@yahoo.com, or call 832/725-8267. All skill levels welcome.

Lawyer Sought

The Montrose Counseling Center is looking for an attorney who wants to give back to the community by providing pro bono legal counsel to its endowment board. Please send a letter of inquiry with your résumé/CV to: Montrose Counseling Center Endowment, Attn: Executive Director, 701 Richmond Avenue, Houston, 77006, or fax to 713/526-4367. No phone calls.

Travel

• OutBoard, World’s Largest Gay Snowboarding Event, April 4-7, Colorado–With 2264 members, one third of them women, OutBoard is expected to draw 350 attendees, from first-time riders to sponsored professionals. Copper Mountain Resort, 75 miles west of Denver. Prices for three days including lodging, lift tickets, and most meals begin under $400. www.outboard.org.

• PrideFest America Symposium and Festival, Philadelphia, April 29—May 5–Aiming to be the "pre-eminent annual international forum for the GLBT international civil rights movement," PrideFest America’s 10th-anniversary focus will be on South Africa. 215/732-FEST, www.pridefestamerica.com.

• Desert Hearts Women’s Festival, May 3—5, Texas Hill Country–"Camping, entertainment and good clean fun!" A women-only event on private property. Watch for the rainbow windsocks and  family reunion signs–adult women only, no children or pets allowed. Tickets $75 at the door (discounts up to $30 for early registration). 830/796-7001, http://members.aol.com/CowgirlJ/dhwf.

• Paradise Ride; Hawaii’s Ride to Stop AIDS, July 20-27–Five days, 390 miles, four islands. Produced collaboratively by five AIDS nonprofits in Hawaii, no funds from the Paradise Ride are paid to professional event producers–net proceeds in 2002 are expected to be 70 percent. Registration $300 (includes transport between islands), riders required to fundraise $2,500. 888/285-9866, www.paradiseridehawaii.org.

• GLBT&I Health Summit, August 21-25, Boulder, Colorado–"A major convergence of health providers, activists, policymakers, researchers, and organizers focused on the health and wellness of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender, and intersex people in the United States." www.healthsummit2002.org, 303/444-6121 x 122. Early registration.

• New Gay Travel Websites–Two excellent websites have recently premiered for GLBT travel: www.funmaps.com and www.gayoutdoors.com.

national briefs

TG Stonewall Legend Passes On
Hero of Stonewall, Sylvia Rivera, 53, passed away February 19 in a Greenwich Village hospital. The cause of her death was cancer of the liver. Her lover, Julia Murray, and Reverend Pat Bumgardner of MCC-NY were at her side as she passed on. She was 53.
Rivera was popularly credited as being the instigator of the Stonewall Riots.

Rivera was one of the collection of drag queens, transsexuals and stone butch lesbians on the scene, June 27,1969. Though the uprising is the subject of legend, Rivera has traveled the world telling (and correcting) the legend of that fateful night. Rivera’s firebrand demeanor was world-renowned and instrumental in galvanizing the transgender community to fight to further the cause of justice for all.

In 1970, less than a year after Stonewall, Rivera joined forces with another Stonewall veteran, the late Marsha P. Johnson, to form the group Street Transvestite (later changed to Transgender) Action Revolutionaries (STAR), in which Rivera worked tirelessly for the civil rights of transgendered and other queer people.

Rivera was involved in the struggle for human rights until the moment of her death. Last year, she resurrected STAR in response to the high-profile murder of transsexual prostitute, Amanda Milan. Recently, just out of the hospital, Rivera participated in the lobbying effort to include gender identity in New York State's pending Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act legislation. Rivera met with the leadership of the Empire State Pride Agenda in her hospital room just hours before her death, presenting issues of concern to the transgender community and negotiating for greater support from ESPA. She left the national GLBT community as she had begun: a true and outspoken activist who was totally committed, and who never knew the word "quit."