Holiday Cards from the Community

The Lesbian and Gay Community Center is offering a set of beautiful engraved gift cards for the holidays (and beyond), drawn linotypes created by members of Patrick Palmer Positive Art Workshops. Palmer has been offering his free art classes to the HIV-positive community for 10 years, first at the Art League of Houston, and then at the Museum of Fine Arts. Palmer will no longer be teaching the workshops, but the Positive Art Workshops will continue at the community center. The money from the sale of the cards will go to the community center, with a portion going back to the Positive Art Workshops. The set of 12 is $10, and you can find them at the community center, 802 Hawthorne. Center hours are: weekdays, 6-9 p.m.; Sat., noon-4 p.m.; and Sun., 2-5 p.m.

Morua Takes Break After Prop 2 Battle

After leading a diligent and strategic fight against Proposition 2, Alejandro Morua has announced that he’s going to step down from his position as executive director of the Progressive Voters Alliance to re-energize and refocus. Although Prop 2 passed 52 to 48 percent, many see this close margin as evidence of a sea-change in Houstonians’ attitudes toward GLBT rights, brought about in significant measure by the community’s coordinated efforts through PVA and its sister organization People for a Fair Houston. Morua will remain on the PVA board.

As leader of PVA, Morua galvanized a group of more than 1,500 volunteers in block walks, phone banks, and election-day campaigning; he appeared at numerous house parties held around the community, and coordinated a national team of professional activists in the final weeks before the election.

"It has been inspiring to see hundreds of new LGBT and straight-allied volunteers take action," said Morua. "But after two years of 50-to-60-hour weeks, I’m ready for a break." After the runoff election December 1, PVA will hold a strategic planning retreat, close down for the holidays, and be up and running in January 2002. For more information, contact 713-521-7161.

1,000 Gay-Straight Student Alliances

The number of gay-straight alliances (GSAs) has been growing rapidly, with over 1,000 having been formed across the country, announced GLSEN (the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network). This marks an increase of 400 in just the past two years, since the time that California students won a lawsuit against their school district allowing them to form a GSA under the federal Equal Access Act.

"In the near absence of support from school administration and teachers, students are taking the lead to educate their peers and make schools safe places for all," said GLSEN executive director Kevin Jennings. "The challenge now is for schools to do their part to ensure that these groups are treated with fairness and equality."

However, GSAs exist only in approximately 1 of 15 high schools, and there are still no GSAs in Houston.

Any students, teachers, or administration considering starting a GSA can find all the information you need in the GLSEN Jump-Start guide, available free at www.glsen.org.

GLBT Youth Hotline

Since there still aren’t many places for queer youth to turn around the country-in small towns everywhere, not to mention Houston-a Boston GLBT community health center has opened a nationwide hotline. The Peer Line is a nationwide toll free number staffed by GLBT youth for other gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. The hotline is staffed Monday-Friday, 6-11 p.m. They also have a hotline available to people of all ages which is staffed Monday-Sunday, 5-10 p.m.

Not Out to Your Doc?

Need to find an LGBT-friendly doctor? The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association operates a physician referral program which can help you find a gay or gay-friendly doctor, dentist, psychologist, optometrist, chiropractor, or other licensed health professional.

"The LGBT public is beginning to realize how important it is to be out to their doctors and other healthcare providers," said GLMA president Christopher E. Harris. "To do that, patients must feel they are in a safe, caring place. They need to be able to find physicians who easily accept a person's sexual orientation or gender identity." 

In addition, Houston health practitioners should consider listing their services with the GLMA referral line.

"The referral program has been a remarkable benefit to everyone," Harris said. "Our physician members and now our allied professional members gain new patients and clients; and LGBT patients can now seek a fuller range of healthcare options from professionals who are able to provide friendly, appropriate, and nonjudgmental treatment."

There is no charge either to get a referral from the service, or to list your practice. You can access the referral service at www.glma.org. The largest organization of its kind, GLMA was founded in 1981 to combat homophobia in medicine and promote quality healthcare for all LGBT people.

Maryland Civil Rights Law Takes Effect

With right-wing organizers conceding defeat, on Nov. 21, Maryland became the 12th state to enact a law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Enactment of the measure had been suspended while opponents attempted and failed to place the measure on the 2002 ballot for a public vote.

"This is a tremendous victory for Maryland and the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community," said Lorri L. Jean, executive director of NGLTF. "The tide is turning against right-wing extremists who have been using the ballot box against us for too long. Fair-minded people are tired of their divisiveness and bigotry."

The law, passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Parris Glendening earlier this year, bans discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

Conservative forces within the state filed petitions that appeared to place the measure on the ballot for a 2002 statewide referendum. However, after a legal challenge, right-wing organizers today conceded that they did not have sufficient valid signatures to continue their quest to block the law. The concession was the result of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland on behalf of Free State Justice, the GLBT Community Center of Baltimore, and more than 20 individuals.

Activists: Mark Your Calendars

How better could you celebrate Pride month this year than by practicing a little nonviolent protest against some Southern Baptists?

For the third year in a row, Soulforce plans to protest the antigay policies of the Southern Baptist Convention, which will be held June 8-12 in St. Louis this year. Founded by Rev. Mel White using the principles of Gandhi, Soulforce is an interfaith movement committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. This year, Gandhi’s grandson, Arun Gandhi, will come to lead the training in civil disobedience. Civil rights leaders from the 1960s will also participate, as will other experts in the field of nonviolent resistance. For more information, see www.soulforce.org.