NEWS BRIEFS

SERIES WORKS ON COUPLES’ SKILLS

An eight-week series of workshops on relationship skills will begin April 6 at the Houston GLBT Community Center. The program, “Back on Track: Relationship Success Skills,” will continue on successive Tuesday evenings, 7–8:30 p.m.

Therapist Lisa Wannemacher (pictured in a photo by Gavyn Aaron) has organized the workshop, first presented last fall at the center.

“These classes are designed to challenge the mistaken belief that members of the GLBT community aren’t capable of successful, long-term relationships,” says Wannemacher, M.Ed., LPC, NCC.

Wannemacher says other local therapists will lead workshops on various topics. On the final evening of the series, community attorneys will make a presentation on the legal issues that surround establishing partnerships in Texas.

There is no charge for participation for the series, which is open to the public. Wannemacher says a $5 donation to the center is encouraged. More info: 713/463-9449.

AND FOR SMOKERS…

The Houston GLBT Community Center and InnerWisdom Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program will present a free stop-smoking program on April 7, April 14, and April 21. The 7–9 p.m. sessions will take place at the center. The program is free.

InnerWisdom director Amy Krieg, LCDC, will facilitate the classes. Krieg has worked in the field of tobacco prevention and cessation for four years. She received her training at the Mayo Clinic’s Nicotine Dependence Center.

More info: 713/592-9292 InnerWisdom, 713/524-3818 the center.

TRANS ADVOCATE LEADS UNITY BANQUET

Noted writer and transgender advocate Jamison Green will give the keynote address at the April 24 Houston Transgender Unity Banquet at the Hilton Southwest. Green is chairman of the board of Gender Education & Advocacy, Inc., the national organization that advocates for gender-variant people. In June, Vanderbilt University Press will publish Green’s book Becoming a Visible Man, which combines autobiography with analysis of the challenges faced by female-to-male transsexuals. Green writes a monthly column for Planetout.com.

At the 12th annual banquet, one of the major events in the local transgender community, the organizing Unity Committee will establish a scholarship fund for trans students named for activist Peggy Rudd (turn to page 64 for more on Rudd). Proceeds from the banquet will benefit the fund.

For banquet info and reservations: www.brendat.com/unity.htm, unity_tickets@hotmail.com.

MEMORY TIME

On April 15, Betty Buckley will perform in Houston in a house concert presented by Classical Action, the national performing-arts HIV/AIDS philanthropy. The evening will benefit The Center for AIDS and Classical Action, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. For the third year, Center for AIDS supporters Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Cemo will host the Classical Action benefit performance in their home. At press time, a limited number of seats for the Buckley concert remained available. More info: www.classicalaction.org, 212/997-7717.

FAITH NOTES

• For the first time, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church will host the denomination’s biennial Conference of People of African Descent. The April 15–17 event will include worship, music, and workshops that include “Justice Ministry and Spirituality“ facilitated by Resurrection member Tamara Jones. Dr. Dwight Hopkins, professor of theology at the University of Chicago Divinity School, will deliver the keynote address.

More info: www.MCCchurch.org.

• The Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Texas will host its first Dharma Conference April 16–18 at the Comfort Inn & Suites on the Southwest Freeway. The conference will offer a basic introduction to Buddhism with an emphasis on Nichiren Buddhism, which traces its origin to a 13th-century Japanese monk.

Nichiren Buddhism is GLBT positive, reports Mike Barrett of the group reports. He says a Nichiren Buddhist minister in Portland, Oregon, recently married his male partner in a Multnomah County-sanctioned ceremony. “One of our newer members is transgendered, and leaving us for Thailand soon to complete the process,” he adds.

The conference cost is $90, which includes meals. More info: Barrett at 713/741-1318 or nbstx@sbcglobal.net.

PRIDE MARSHALS NAMED

The Pride Committee of Houston has announced the grand marshals for the June 26 Pride parade:
Male: Jerry Simoneaux
Female: Sonna Alton
Organization: Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas
Honorary: Sue and Jim Null

DATE BOOK

• On April 3 the Greater Houston GLBT Chamber of Commerce, the Hollyfield Foundation, and the Houston GLBT Community Center host a free 10 a.m.–1 p.m. grant-writing seminar at the center for nonprofit organizations. Jan Hall of Houston-based Grantsformation presents. Register: 713/523-7576.

• National Leather Association: Houston holds the Spring Iniquity Run, April 16–18, including raffles benefiting local charities (not announced at press time). Register: www.nlahouston.org.

• The Center for AIDS and the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research present the by-invitation biannual Basic Science Workshop on April 16–17. Local partners: Center for AIDS Research at Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas-Houston. Details: www.centerforaids.org.

• Stop by the PFLAG Houston booth, sponsored by OutSmart, at the April 16–17 and April 24–25 Houston International Festival at Reliant Park.

• On the April 21 Day of Silence, the student-led protest against harassment of and violence against GLBT young people, the University of Houston group GLOBAL, with the high school-led group NO-HATE Houston, will present a 6:30 p.m. “Breaking the Silence” event in Lynn Eusan Park on campus.

• On April 24, Bering Memorial United Methodist Church hosts its annual Spring Festival, including the popular 7 a.m. pancake breakfast.

• Bryan Lari leads 7 p.m. Monday yoga classes at the Houston GLBT Community Center. Register: 713/524-3818.

• The Houston Professional Women’s Happy Hour takes place on the first and third Wednesday, 5–9 p.m., at Meteor.

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