Sweet 16

NYAC will be celebrating its 16th birthday next week with a reception in New York City...and you're invited! The event will take place Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. DJ Shomi Noise will be spinning fierce tunes; and wine and refreshments will be provided. A suggested donation of $25 to $75 is encouraged, though no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

So if you are in the New York City area next week, join NYAC for a festive night!

To find out the location of the event and to RSVP, click here.

Health Care Fairness survey (click to enlarge)

A Chat with Tommy Gray, Winner of the You Know Different Facebook Recruitment Contest

For June, National HIV Testing Month, NYAC launched the online social networking campaign of You Know Different, to encourage LGBTQ youth and youth of color to get tested for HIV on Facebook and MySpace.

As a way to encourage youth to use the Facebook campaign, NYAC offered a prize to the young person that was able to recruit the most people to the yKNOWd Cause. And the winner is. . . Tommy Gray, who recruited 99 people in one month! I had the chance to chat with Tommy, here is our conversation, I am labeled "JB" and he is "TG."

JB: Hi Tommy, it was really great to see how quickly you were able to recruit so many new youth members to the You Know Different Facebook Cause. I see that activism is very important to you, what part does Facebook play in your activism and/or causes that you care about?

TG: Facebook is a great way to get others involved in organizations, causes, and activities because it is very youth oriented. Many teens and young adults check their Facebook pages regularly and so it's a great way to quickly relay information to others. I'm able to post information and recommend causes to friends that are like-minded.

JB: How did you find out about NYAC's You Know Different campaign?

TG: I'm signed up for the NYAC emails which explained the You Know Different campaign. I looked into the cause and it is one I definitely support.

JB: Why is raising awareness amongst youth (13-24) about HIV and AIDS important to you?

TG: I have a strong belief that through education and awareness youth will be more informed and subsequently be more likely to engage in abstinence, safe sex practices, and HIV and AIDS testing. I think raising awareness about the importance of getting tested is critical because it will hopefully increase the chances of youth actually getting tested. In general, HIV and AIDS education is important because young adults need to be aware of the consequences and effects HIV and AIDS have on the body and one's life.

JB: A lot of organizations these days are trying to find ways to reach out to youth on the Internet like Facebook and MySpace. Do you think its helpful for organizations to use the Internet to reach youth? What are ways that organizations can get your attention?

TG: I think it's extremely important and effective to use websites like Facebook and MySpace to reach out to youth. Websites like these are used by youth on a daily basis. The most important thing an organization must do to gain attention is making sure its name is out there. People need to be aware that the organization exists. In order to do this, the organization can set up a fan page, cause, or group. It might even be helpful if the organization had an event that youth could attend in order to learn more about the organization and what it does. If there's a way the organization can get the youth involved in campaigning or volunteering the youth might be more likely to learn more about the organization. Keep them updated on what you're doing and send out messages to the members of your groups or post information explaining why your organization is pertinent to them.

JB: Can you tell me a little about yourself, where you're from, your experiences within activism and issues around HIV and/or LGBTQ youth?

TG: In May, I graduated from Shawnee Mission East High in Prairie Village, Kansas. I will be attending Tulane University in the fall. Here's a few instances of activism and involvement I've done within the LGBTQ community.

In the beginning of the year, I talked with our district superintendent to incorporate sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression into our district’s nondiscrimination policy. I attended Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) 2009 Students of Color Organizing Weekend in Atlanta in January. I also attended the Empowering Queer Activists and Leaders (EQUAL) Empowerment Summit in my community this February. It empowered me to continue to be an activist for social justice because everyone there was inspirational. I am the PFLAG 2009 National Scholarship winner of the Jeanne Manford Memorial Scholarship. After a battle against my school's administration, I was able to organize my high school’s Day of Silence in April.

I also personally organized my school and community to raise $7,000 in less than three days for AIDS and Cancer research at the Kansas University Medical Center when Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church (www.godhatesfags.com) came to protest at my school. I also helped organize a counter-protest that was extremely positive and peaceful. There were over 500 people that came out in support and it has given me a drive to continue what I’m doing. Many people came up to me and said that they felt inspired to do something with their own lives after this event and I am forever grateful to everyone that participated in this event because of this. We were able to turn something so negative into something very positive.

I am currently working with my county librarians to facilitate workshops for educators and Youth Services librarians on issues concerning the LGBT community.

JB: Wow, you've been keeping yourself busy! It is great to see that youth like you are taking a stand for their rights and getting the tools you need to cause a ruckus! Thank you for the work you do and for helping to raise awareness about HIV online with NYAC! We look forward to see what you do next!

Bonnie Tinker, ED of Love Makes a Family, dies in accident

Very sad loss for our community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Tinker, Love Makes a Family and
Seriously P'Oed Grannies families.


> http://www.blueoregon.com/2009/07/bonnie-tinker-rest-in-peace.html
>
> Blue Oregon
>
> Bonnie Tinker, Rest in Peace
> Kristin Teigen
>
> Bonnie Tinker, the head of Love Makes a Family and a member of
> Seriously P'Oed Grannies, was killed today in a bike accident in
> Virginia, where she had been attending a conference. This is horrible
> news.
>
> I met Bonnie Tinker when I was a staff person with a GLBT organization
> in Portland. She didn't make much money. She'd been doing the work
> a
> lot longer than me. Her office, above the train station, was either
> really hot or really cold and always crowded. These realities seemed
> to matter little to her. She worked so very hard, and there was no
> doubt that she cared deeply, passionately and thoroughly about what
> she did. She devoted her life to the work of queer rights and peace.
>
> Her death resonates further for me – she was hit and then run over
> by
> a huge truck, just as I was nine years ago. I lived. She did not. So
> many people in Portland (and elsewhere) have experienced serious
> bicycle accidents or know someone who has. These "accidents" stay
> with
> you, and remind you that bicyclists must forever contend with
> something that is larger, more powerful and more destructive than they
> are. It is not as it should be.
>
> The loss of Bonnie Tinker is tragic, heartbreaking and will be felt by
> the progressive, radical, and queer communities for a long time to
> come. Please honor Bonnie by doing your most envelope-pushing,
> authority-challenging work to make our community a better place. She
> deserves it.

A Young Perspective on the White House Reception for the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots

This blog is written by Jennie Beeson and Ruby Dunning

On Monday, we had the opportunity to go to the White House for the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall Reception with NYAC and our Executive Director, Greg Varnum. To be able to stand in a room with so many important leaders and activists of the LGBTQ community to honor the Stonewall riots felt wonderful and exhilarating. The President of the United States was extending out his hospitality to our community to tell us that he supports us and applauds our progress in this movement. When Obama said, "Welcome to your White House," it felt exciting, a little unreal, and, maybe, a bit for show.

It was a truly amazing experience to be surrounded by so many incredible, influential people from the LGBTQ movement. Especially meeting Frank Kameny – a leader and inspiration from the beginnings of the “Homophile Movement” and the Mattachine Society. The founders of this gay rights group were so terrified at their first meeting of the Mattachine Society that they locked and bolted the door, put a pillow over the telephone in case of wire taps and, even left in shifts so as not to raise suspicion. On that winter night in the early 1950s, it was illegal to be a “homosexual” and this past Monday the White House held a reception for LGBT citizens and activists. It is a startling thing what change can come with half a century of hard work, but it’s still not enough.

When we look back to those humble beginnings of the Homophile movement and then to those summer nights of riots at the Stonewall Inn, it is hard to believe how hard it must have been. When a group of fed-up citizens became unlikely heroes to be shaken and bruised by the AIDS epidemic while an American president would not acknowledge the terrible crisis – we know that we have come a long way. With all there has been to overcome, we are not out of the water yet, not by a long ways.

While a reception at the White House is fabulous, and definitely not an event the queer community would have been invited to over the past 50 years, or, even, 8 years, the struggle unfolds out for years ahead of us. As youth who were born amidst the fight for equal LGBTQ rights, at least we can point to the different battles that have been won for the queer community.

And still, this young queer generation is also able to point to extreme instances of hate and discrimination in our own lifetimes. Unfortunately, the day before this White House Reception to honor the Stonewall raids, a gay bar in Ft. Worth, Texas was raided by the police, people were arrested, and folks were injured. It is great to get recognition from Obama's Administration, but it would be even better if this White House reception was the catalyst for some real change. Of course, this road is not something that Obama can give us in signing a law or an executive order, equity and safety are concepts that we will have to wage for ourselves step by step.


Obama did not make any grand announcements but he did call to us to hold him accountable and to continue to demand the rights we deserve. He told us not to judge him by his words but by his accomplishments as a president, and we shall do just that. In the meantime, we will continue to look back in time and find inspiration in the heroes of the fights of yester-years.

So, now that we have some one in the White House telling us that he wants to support us, let's get our job done and not wait on some one else to do it for us.

Fort Worth, Texas - Twice in One week

For the second time in two weeks, my old home town is making the news. And both times, I learned about it on Facebook. Fort Worth is a nice town and I have lots of fond memories and good friends from my years there; but for the second time in two weeks I am full of emotions - anger, sadness, disappointment, outrage - about how gays and lesbians are being treated.

Part 1 - An Expression of Faith

The church my partner and I attend was ousted from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), "simply because denominational officials perceive that the congregation is in violation of a policy prohibiting affiliation with pro-gay churches." In my days after graduating from seminary and being an outcast within my denomination, Broadway Baptist Church (BBC) was a safe and healing place.

BBC has always had gay and lesbian members and does so with respect and integrity but tried to reconcile itself with its strong Baptist roots. It has become the latest victim of the neo-conservative movement within the SBC who focus their time and talents on seeking out congregations who are loving and inclusive of their LGBT congregates. I can easily say that BBC is better off without the hypocrisy of the SBC, even though their choice had been to remain within their heritage and be a beacon of love to others.

Oddly, the message of the SBC at the convention this year was love. I am proud of Broadway Baptist Church for choosing to remain a welcoming and loving congregation to the LGBT community despite what the SBC has to say about it.

Part 2 - Rainbow Lounge Raid

On June 27th, Fort Worth Police raided the newly opened Rainbow Lounge. A Facebook group created to give people a forum to discuss the raid reports, "Last night around 1 a.m., on the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the Fort Worth Police Department raided the Rainbow Lounge and began randomly handcuffing and arresting patrons and shoving anyone who dared to ask why. It was a sobering reminder that on this pinnacle date in the history of gay rights, we still have a very long way to go."

A 26 year-old patron was hospitalized in critical condition with a head injury. Recently, his condition as been downgraded to fair. The incident has sparked outrage among the LGBT community who is demanding investigations into the police brutality.

The community quickly mobilized and held a protest at the Fort Worth City Courthouse and began contacting their elected official demanding action. Blogs, online press and mainstream media have picked up the story.

For more information and continuing coverage visit, SLOG and the Washington Post.

The irony of this incidence occurring on the 40th anniversary of the police raid on the Stonewall Inn has not gone unnoticed by people in the LGBTQ community. It is clear that no one at the Fort Worth police department was aware of the significance of 40th anniversary and that the raid wasn't timed to tarnish the celebration of the day. The fact remains that this raid has classic homophobic overtones like it was written in a police handbook of how to harass the LGBT community.

I am proud of all my gay, lesbian and transgender friends and our allies in Fort Worth for being true to themselves and standing tall for justice and equality from the pews to the bar stools!

Youth Courage Awards

The Colin Higgins Foundation has presented these three youth with the Youth Courage Awards, for demonstrating bravery in the face of discrimination, intolerance, and bigotry based on gender and/or sexual orientation. All three winners also receive $10,000 to further their leadership and activism in the LGBTQ movement. It is also really exciting to note that NYAC has had the pleasure of working with Lance, on NYAC's National Transgender Review Board and Youth Accountability Council, and Terra, who is NYAC's current Tobacco Free Youth Coordinator. Congratulations!

Courage in the Face of Discrimination

FRANCISCO "FRANK" ARMENTA, Jr, 21. Battling homophobia on a daily basis in East Los Angeles, Frank was routinely harassed and called a "faggot" throughout high school. After being kicked out of class by a teacher for "gay" artwork on his binder, Frank called a parent-teacher meeting, only to learn that his Mexican-Catholic family would not stand up for him due to their embarrassment that he was gay. This experience fueled him to become an activist, spanning from collaborating with the GSA to design a new web-based "Be An Ally" campaign to support LGBT youth at his predominantly Latino high school, to becoming the youngest certified HIV Counselor and Tester in LA county. Through his activism to increase youth HIV testing, Frank has been able to provide invaluable recommendations to key policy makers on best practices for treating queer youth of color during the testing process. Currently, Frank works at REACH LA as a Social Enterprise Assistant and Peer Health Counselor, and continues to fuse his passion for art and graphic design with his activism by creating all the electronic and print media for the Ovahness program serving queer young men of color. He also volunteers his graphic design skills to many other community groups serving LGBT youth.

>Courage in the Face of Discrimination

LANCE HICKS, 19. Born female in the Metro Detroit area to a white mother from the suburbs and a Black father from the city, Lance moved back and forth between communities divided along race and class lines, struggling intensely to come to grips with being biracial and questioning his gender identity. At age 15, Lance came out as transgender and began transitioning at his high school in a predominantly white suburban town where he was still trying to find his place. Lance organized his high school's first Transgender Day of Remembrance, which opened him up to bullying and harassment by other students. In search of a community, he began attending the youth group at Affirmations, the LGBT center serving southeast Michigan. Lance founded the center's first Trans Youth Group, and organized with staff to make the center's space and services more inclusive of trans and gender non-conforming people. Currently, Lance is one of the organizers of the Midwest Trans Youth Conference, and is working to get GenderSpark, a collectively organized, youth-run nonprofit organization, up and running. GenderSpark, the only organization dedicated to serving trans youth in southeast Michigan, provides resources and education around the acceptance, safety, and rights of transgender and gender-variant people.

Courage in the Face of Discrimination

TERRA TEMPEST MOORE, 22. Terra grew up in a large multiracial family in Maryland and DC, the middle son of five children. Labeled gay at 14 - an identity forced upon her - Terra began to feel disconnected from her family, and faced abuse from her older brother. Feeling suicidal, Terra pretended to be someone she was not in order to survive. Her life changed when a friend led her to the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), the only organization solely dedicated to supporting LGBTQ youth in the Metro DC area. With a safe space to explore who she was, Terra stopped hiding and bravely stepped into the world as a transwoman in 2005. Coming out as transgender was difficult for Terra's family to accept - they view her transition as the loss of a family member. These experiences moved Terra to become an activist with numerous social justice organizations including SMYAL, Different Avenues, DC Trans Coalition, and Advocates for Youth, to name a few. An all-around leader amongst LGBTQ youth in DC, Terra currently serves as a Peer Educator and Co-Chair of STIGMA (Spreading Truth Is Gaining Mass Appeal), a program housed at Metro Teen AIDS established to reduce HIV/AIDS amongst LGBTQ youth of color.