Houston Public Library Includes Gay Teens

We were excited to learn that the Houston Public Library just produced a reading list for teenage readers that includes a section with books dealing for/about gay, lesbian, and bi teens. Produced as part of Teen Read Week, the library’s little brochure includes nine different sections of "greatest hits" books for teenage readers. "The Journey Out: gay, lesbian, and bi teen reads" is just one section alongside "Grrrl Power: reads for the new gurl order," "Get a Life: biographies and autobiographies," and "Fanging Around: vampire fiction."

As most Houstonians know, Mayor Lee Brown has initiated a huge push to promote reading and the library to our city’s youth with his splashy Power Card (they are no longer mere library cards) project. (See cover story interview with Mayor Brown.).

"The library is just now really focusing on serving teens," said Patrick Jones, who coordinates youth services for the library. "Since a big part of the teen experience is dealing with issues of identity, it seemed only natural to include a list like 'the journey out.’"

Designed to resemble the liner notes for a music CD, this is the first reading list of its kind done by the Houston Public Library, according to Jones. Jones is the team leader for Teen Read Week, and has written a book, Connecting Young Adults and Libraries. Jones says he was inspired to put the list together after attending a conference this summer called "Gay Teens in the 21st Century: Access for the Future."

"The speakers there talked about the need for libraries to provide materials, programs, and services for gay, lesbian, and bi teens," Jones said. "The list is just a start. But then again, the list and the programs for teen read week are just a start in serving teens. I would hope as we expand programs and services to teens generally, we can expand programs about/for gay, lesbian, and bi teens specifically."

"We hope this list will provide access to materials for gay, lesbian, and bi teens. We hope they will find books they like, they need, and they want, and that they will become avid users of the Houston Public Library."

Copies of the teen reading list are available at all library branches. For more info on teen week, look up www.hpl.lib.tx.us/trw/index.html. To learn more about the gay teen library conference, see www.ala.org/olos/gay_teens_preconference.html .

Shell Oil Shows GLBT Support

Showing what can be done when a corporation makes up its mind to support diversity, Shell Oil recently flew members of its GLBT employee organization to two high-profile GLBT events. In addition, SEA Shell’s new board includes a transgendered woman, Sara Rook.

Shell was a gold level sponsor at the National HRC Dinner held in Washington, DC, on Oct. 7. As part of that sponsorship, Shell made it possible for many members of SEA Shell, Shell’s GLBT employee network, to attend. "One of the most positive experiences was HRC’s award to Kweisi Mfume, head of the NAACP, for his support of GLBT rights," said SEA Shell co-chair John Murphy. "It is a recognition that we are all working together towards the same ends."

Later that week, Shell Oil chairman, president, and CEO Steven L. Miller addressed SEA Shell’s annual meeting, stressing the important role Shell’s GLBT employees have to play in Shell, and reasserting his commitment to Shell’s mission of inclusion for all.

Next, Shell flew three SEA Shell leaders Murphy, Eileen Donaghy, and Rick Schroder to Seattle to give a workshop at the annual Out and Equal Conference, Oct. 13-15, which was attended by 300 leaders of corporate employee groups from across the country.

"This is indeed an incredible time of opportunity for GLBT employees in many American corporations," Murphy said. "Many major companies in all industries are seeking ways to ensure their GLBT employees are able to bring their full selves to work. It is wonderful to be part of a company that is a true leader in this area."

Head Shots

Who else but Infernal Bridegroom Productions? This Beckett-enamored troupe of the hip, bleak, and obscure is now producing Happy Days, which features the tragic character of Winnie, who is buried first to her waist and later to her head in earth. The encumbered character will be portrayed by OutSmart fave Tamarie Cooper. Maybe Tamarie felt in need of something completely different from her recent singin’ dancin’ Tamalalia revue at Stages.

"There is no experience in art or life more profound and gratifying to me than working on a Beckett play," says IBP artistic director Jason Nodler. "More than any other writer, Samuel Beckett is why I work in theater and his words inform every play I direct or write.... His quote Try again... fail better hangs above my bed and is with me as I prepare to direct this play."

Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days opens Friday, Nov. 17, and runs Friday & Saturday nights, 8 p.m. at Atomic Cafe, 1320 Nance, 713/522-8443. $10.

Black Tie Dinner

The Houston Black Tie Dinner 2000 to raise money for a variety of worthy community organizations will be Saturday, November 11, 7 p.m. at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

John Michael Gonzales will be honored with the Humanitarian Award. Gonzales serves with several vital GLBT organizations. He serves as board chair of both the Montrose Clinic and the AIDS Actions Foundation in Washington, D.C. He is active in fundraising and with several PACs, including Planned Parenthood, the Gay and Lesbian Dollars PAC of Houston, and the Working Group on Funding Lesbian and Gay Issues in New York. His longstanding contributions go back to when he served as chair of the City of Houston’s Affirmative Action Commission from 1989 to 1993 under both Mayor Kathy Whitmire and Bob Lanier.

State Representative Senfronia Thompson will be presented the Political Award. Thompson is the longest-serving woman in the history of the Texas House of Representatives and the longest-serving African-American in legislative history. She represents a district of about 115,000 people in Northeast Houston and Humble. She was the lead author of the James Byrd, Jr Hate Crimes Act, which included protection for gays and lesbians.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 713/523-9611.

Tidbits

• Deborah Moncrief Bell was voted the new president of Texas NOW at their annual convention on the weekend of Oct. 7. In this parttime paid position, Deborah will be traveling around the state to the various city chapters, organizing NOW’s grassroots infrastructure.

• Out in Oregan: Alex Morua is traveling to Oregan with activists from around the country to help organize and campaign against a sweeping anti-gay ballot measure that would prohibit any positive or neutral mention of homosexuality in the public schools, including community colleges. Alex is the co-founder and executive director of the Progressive Voters in Action, and promises to be one of the shining lights in Houston’s activist community.

The national activist blitz on Oregan is organized by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, with has partnered with the No On 9 Campaign. The NGLTF’s Dave Fleisher is running an advanced training that allows nine up-and-coming campaign managers from eight different states to double the No On 9’s field staff and learn from Oregon’s experienced campaign team. Morua had already worked with Fleischer as a volunteer on the SAVEDade campaign. "The experience in Florida was a glimpse at what one-on-one interactions with voters could do," Morua said. "I have taken that experience back to Houston and will bring back what I learn in Oregon, which has a much larger infrastructure for this type of work."

• Christian art: Resurrection MCC is putting out a call to artists, writers, and performers to submit their work for an artshow the church is putting together for Pride Week in June 2001. "Whosoever..." is an art show "affirming being gay and Christian." All art forms are welcome–from visual, literary, sculpture, photography, poetry, video, dance, comedy, theater, music, etc.–and artist may be any sexual orientation or any level of professional or amateur accomplishment. Deadline is April 15, 2001. If you are interested in submitting artwork or helping with the show, call Resurrection MCC 713/861-9149.

• Screensaver is a life saver: Now even your computer can help search for a cure to HIV/AIDS. When your computer is turned on yet not doing anything other than creating psychedelic screen savers, a new program can make use of its idle power to help AIDS researchers. Created as a philanthropic project by Entropia , just go to the website www.fightaidsathome.org and download the software. So far, however, only PCs can help, not Macs.

• Hepatitis A&B: Gay and bisexual men contract hepatitis A and B at rates several times higher than heterosexual men. Both hepatitis A and B have vaccines readily available. Although this knowledge has been widespread for decades, far too many queer men polled say they haven’t gotten the vaccinations, and one quarter of them weren’t even aware of it. In a survey done by the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association in ten different cities of 2,566 gay men, more men reported getting the vaccination, but still only 35 percent had gotten the two shots necessary to fully protect against hepatitis A infection, and only 39 percent had gotten the three shots against hepatitis B.