spotlight the centers in our lives
caused by the different treatment of different identi- ties, we collapse into divisive internal dialogue. The most available and powerful antidote is persistently aggressive efforts toward insistent inclusion. Making certain that, as a community, we are both identifying the differing identities that comprise our community and also finding ways together to develop a clear unity of purpose. That means intentionally ensuring inclusion, for
Black, Latino, Pan-Asian, Native American, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, immigrant, refugee, naturalized and American-born LGBTQ voices. That people are represented in our LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ groups and organizations, as volunteers, as staff members, as clients, as board members and in our leadership. “Intentionally ensuring inclusion” means having inclusion as the priority goal in all of our initiatives. Inclusion means honoring the tremendous diversity in community members, recognizing the disparities in social/professional treatment and the disparities in access to resources. It means creating inclusion strategies that com- municate, ‘You are seen, valued and welcome here. Your voice and view can help us all build a stronger community.’” Lorri L. Jean addressed other pressing issues,
more political in nature. “When I think about pressing issues facing our community, two major areas come to mind: Our health and wellness and our civil rights. These days, at the forefront of my mind, are the threats to both that are posed by the many anti-LGBT policies of—and zealots in—the
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Trump Administration.” She continued, opining further, “The growing influence of the alt-right and religious fundamentalists is dangerous to LGBT people, among many others. We must guard against the work of these religious political extremists, who are determined to pass laws and regulations that will enable them to use their religious or moral beliefs as an excuse to discriminate against LGBT people. President Trump recently advanced this agenda by signing the Religious Liberty Order which calls on the IRS to turn a blind eye to the partisan activities of churches and laid the groundwork for future policies permit- ting invidious discrimination against us.” “Moreover,” Jean continued, “the budget proposed by the President would be disastrous for LGBT health and wellness. Its provisions would take away healthcare from more than a million LGBT people, would cut funding for critical ser- vices for people with HIV/AIDS, would generally decimate the social services safety net that enables Centers to care for homeless youth, seniors, LGBT immigrants, people suffering from substance abuse, and others in need. California would be particularly hard hit.” Max Disposti spoke to the legal ramifications for those outside the safety of larger metropolitan
From Max Disposti
1.Tell us what you need, make us accountable. 2. Expect and demand the best, but give all you can. 3. Treat the community center as your own. 4. Talk to your elected officials and make them accountable for their support. 5. Be active, get involved as volunteer or board member: participate. Volunteer by registering at
ncresourcecenter.org.
From Mike Thompson 1. Engage: Whether by signing up for our weekly newsletter, following our social media presence, or joining as a member.
2.Amplify: Share news about programs, resources, and services at The Center, which shows care for our extended community. 3. Show Up: when we show up with large numbers, we make it clear that our com- munity is robust and not to be taken lightly. 4. Give: Be in your time, treasure or talent.
5.Serve: The more voices we have at the table, the more effective we’re able to serve our greater community.
los angeles, palm springs san diego and north county centers
areas. “While California has achieved a level of legal recognition that leads the rest of the nation, there are States where the basic and fundamental LGBTQI protections are still denied. In the past two decades however, we have learned more about our intersectionality and understand that issues of race and racism, gender discrimination, poverty and education are all included in our tension towards equitable justice.” Adding further, “We live in the social divide, where wealth is accumulated and concentrated in the hands of few while the majority equal access to education and healthcare has been challenged. After years of ‘integration’ within the hetero-normative, cisgender, patriarchal culture, our overall queerness is reaffirming itself and is becoming more than a single-issue movement. In fact, reproductive rights, immigration rights, universal healthcare and education access to all are LGBTQI needs and rights as well.”
From Lorri L. Jean 1. Donate by visiting
lalgbtcenter.org/donate 2. Volunteer by registering at
lalgbtcenter.org/ volunteer 3.Help to end HIV/AIDS—and challenge yourself to ride 545 miles—by participating in AIDS/LifeCycle:
aidslifecycle.org 4.Attend one of the Center’s many events, not just to have a good time, but to support our work. A list of them is available here:
lalgbtcenter.org/events. 5.Take a free, one-hour tour of the Center with your friends, by scheduling an appointment with Volunteer Resources at
volunteer@lalgbtcenter.org.
For much more of these fascinating conversations with the Executive Directors at each LGBT Center, who graciously volunteered their time for this story, please go
toragemonthly.com.
40
RAGE monthly | JUNE 2017
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