The DC Center

Fundraiser to Support LGBT Iraqi Refugees

2009-07-17T16:05:00.001-07:00

Join the Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch and the National LGBT Bar Association for a fundraiser to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iraqis who have fled their home country.

On Friday, July 24, spokesmen for a group of twenty LGBT Iraqi refugees undergoing their resettlement process will be in Washington, DC to bring attention to their struggle and raise money to support LGBT Iraqi refugees still in the Middle East.

Since the U.S. invasion, sectarian violence and fundamentalist religious leaders have filled a power vacuum left by the war that has made life for LGBT Iraqis increasingly unbearable. In recent months, international media have reported that LGBT Iraqis face kidnapping, torture, horrific sexual violence, death threats and murder.

Start your weekend off with a reception that may save lives. All proceeds from the fundraiser go to support Helem, a Lebanese LGBT organization that has provided food, shelter and clothing to LGBT Iraqi refugees currently undergoing their resettlement process.

The fundraiser will be on July 24th from 6-8PM, at the HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW. Please bring your checkbook or credit card and donate as you can.

For more information, contact iraqrefugeelgbt@gmail.com.

Misdemeanor Assault Indictment in Tony Hunter Killing Shows Disregard for Facts and Gravity of Hate Crimes in DC

2009-07-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON DC, July 16, 2009 ‐‐ Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) is appalled and disappointed at today’s announcement that a grand jury has indicted Robert Hannah with the charge of misdemeanor assault for the attack and death of Tony Randolph Hunter.

Today’s indictment sends an alarming message to the citizens of the District of Columbia: Violence against members of the GLBT community is not given equal weight under the law. Incredibly, Hannah’s convenient use of a “gay‐panic” defense is an affront to the facts of the case, the justice system, and the memory of Hunter.

“This is a very sad day for me personally,” said GLOV co‐chair Chris Farris. “I love my city, but I am disgusted by the institutions that have let this conclusion come to pass.”

The second victim of this violent and baseless attack made clear in his statements to the police and in his testimony before the DC City Council that the attack was unprovoked. To date, no one has been charged in his assault.

“The Department of Justice owes the citizens of DC an explanation of its actions in this case,” said Farris. “Every step of the way we have been prevented from hearing the whole story in this case: first by the police due to the ongoing investigation and then by the Department of Justice because the case was pending a review by a grand jury. The indictment decision has now been announced, and now we have a right to know the facts that led to this inconceivable determination of a misdemeanor offense.”

In a city where the percentage of hate crimes committed against members of the GLBT community is 75 percent – or five times the national average – this legal outcome sends a message that violence against gay men is acceptable.

“With this lack of justice, every citizen in DC is should fear for their safety,” said Farris.

GLOV's mission is to work to reduce violence against GLBT individuals through outreach, education, and advocacy. GLOV seeks to assist victims by monitoring cases to ensure the rights and dignity of GLBT victims are respected and protected and by providing a community of support. Find out more at: www.glovdc.org.

DC Coaltion Holds Cookout

2009-07-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

The DC Coalition, the nation's oldest LGBT African-American political/educational/cultural organizations, is holding a meet and greet cookout this Sunday at 5 pm, at 2022 31st Street, SE.

The DC Coalition invites you to come enjoy free food, and asks you to RSVP by emailing sawashington73@yahoo.com.

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) 27th Annual Conference

2009-07-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

If you are a physician, nurse, physician's assitant, nurse practitioner, researcher, educator, health administrator, or someone who is interested in advancing quality LGBT healthcare services, check out GLMA's upcoming annual conference:

The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) is hosting their 27th Annual Conference, which will take place September 30 - October 3, 2009 at the Westin in Washington, DC, City Center.

GLMA is the world's oldest and largest association of LGBT healthcare professionals, and their Annual Conference is the world's largest gathering of healthcare professionals working in the area of LGBT health.

At the conclusion of the conference, participants should be able to: identify resources and avenues for healthcare access for the LGBT population; utilize screening tools for at-risk LGBT populations; understand recent advances in healthcare delivery specific to the LGBT patient population; and develop strategies for advocacy for LGBT healthcare at a local level.

To find out more about registration fees click here.

For more information on the Annual Conference and the GLMA click here.

First Monday Volunteer Night at the DC Center!!

2009-07-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Bring your friends and join us every first Monday of the month for Volunteer Night!!!
Pizza and soda will be provided, activities include:

-Safer Sex Kit assembly
-Data Updates for DC For Marriage
- Other activities TBA

Bring your friends and meet new ones while making a difference for LGBT rights in DC!!
RSVP via Facebookfor our first event on August 10, 2009.

Volunteer Night Schedule for 2009:

Monday, August 10
Monday, September 7
Monday, October 5
Monday, November 2
Monday, December 7

Call for HIV Positive Artists

2009-07-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Are you an artist who is HIV positive or who has works about HIV/AIDS? We want to hear from you.

In observance of World AIDS Day, the DC Center will exhibit art featuring HIV positive artists and/or art exploring themes around HIV/AIDS.

If you're interested in displaying your work, please contact clare@thedccenter.org or call the DC Center at 202-682-2245.

Hope DC has monthly social at Larry's Lounge

2009-07-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hope DC is hosting their monthly Poz social at Larry's Lounge. It will take place on Saturday July 25, beginning at 7:00 pm and ending at 10:00 pm. Larry's Lounge is located at 1836 18th St. NW.

For more information, you can contact HOPE@hopedc.org or call 202-466-5783.

Wanda Alston House First Year Anniversary & Awards Reception

2009-07-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

Join The Wanda Alston House for their first year anniversary and awards reception taking place September 9th, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the True Reformer Building, 1200 U Street NW. The evening will feature a performance by Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Gordon Chambers.

The following individuals and organizations will be honored at this event: Orrick, The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, Christopher Dyer, Brother Help Thyself, Laura Zelinger.

DC Trans Coalition and Office of Human Rights Launch Bathroom Access and Safety Campaign

2009-07-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

On Friday, July 3rd, the DC Trans Coalition (DCTC) along with the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR) launched the Bathroom Access and Safety Campaign, otherwise known as the Pee in Peace Campaign – a community mobilization project designed to ensure bathroom access and safety for all residents, including transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming individuals, in the District.

Even with the District’s comprehensive Human Rights Act, which includes protections for gender identity or expression, trans and gender non-conforming people continue to experience verbal and physical harassment ranging from being attacked and thrown out to even being arrested for simply trying to use the bathroom in the District. In fact, according to a recent citywide survey for transgender and gender non-conforming people, 70 percent of respondents indicated that they had experienced problems accessing or using gender segregated bathrooms.

“Since its founding in 2005, the DCTC has organized community members to fight for the human rights of and equal access for trans and gender non-conforming people living in the District of Columbia. The Bathroom Access and Safety Campaign carries on this commitment, ensuring that the District’s laws are appropriately enforced, making certain that trans and gender non-conforming residents have equal access and appropriate safety when using restroom facilities along with other public accommodations,” said Sadie Baker, a member of the DCTC.

Regulations accompanying the Human Rights Act clarify that all residents have the right to use a bathroom consistent with their gender identity or expression, regardless of real or perceived assigned sex or gender expression. The regulations also specify that all single occupancy restrooms (i.e., any restroom intended for use by one person at a time) in any public or commercial space, like a restaurant, should use gender neutral signage only. For example, signs reading “Men” and “Women” must be replaced with signs that read “Restroom,” or another non-gendered label.

“Despite these regulations, many businesses all over DC are not in compliance with the law, which is why we created this campaign. We are developing a list of all non-compliant businesses throughout DC so that we can inform the Office of Human Rights. OHR Director Velasquez has agreed to help by sending all the businesses we identify a letter informing them of the Human Rights Act and what they need to do in order to be compliant. The businesses will then have 30 days to change their signs, at which point we will check back. It is our hope that all business will comply with OHR’s request. If they do not, we will report them to city officials who will initiate a discrimination complaint,” said Jody Herman, a member of the DCTC.

The DCTC and OHR have asked that community members help by identifying restaurants, cafes or any other public or commercial spaces that are not in compliance with the law. Residents should send the name of the business, the address and the date they noticed the establishment violating the law to DCTCBathrooms@gmail.com, or call (202) 557-1951. On Saturday, July 25th, the group will host a rally in support of bathroom safety and access at 2 pm in Adams Morgan (18th Street and Columbia). All concerned residents are urged to join in this effort to ensure appropriate enforcement of the law. For more information about the Bathroom Access and Safety Campaign, check out the DCTC website at www.dctranscoalition.org under the heading “Campaigns.”

For more information about the Transgender Community in DC, visit the The DC Center Transgender Community Page.

Register for How to Get a Job in DC

2009-07-09T14:22:00.001-07:00

The Mayor’s Office of GLBT Affairs will host a Career Readiness Training on Saturday August 15, 2008 from 11:00am – 1:00pm at the Reeves Center, located at 2000 14th Street, NW in the Edna Frazier Community Room.

This event will help participants with employment research, preparing resumes and the DC Employment 2000 Application and interviewing skills. Presenters will be representatives of government agencies, corporations and private businesses.

More details and registration will be available in coming weeks.

You can register for the event here.

Job seekers can also check out the Center's career development program.

DC Crystal Meth Working Group Expands Focus

2009-07-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will be August 4th from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The Working Group is currently planning the final two events in their health series and beginning to plan next year's activities. Next year the DC Crystal Meth Working Group will expand it's focus to include both prevention and referral to treatment for addictive substances in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community.

Mautner Project Offers Cancer Support Groups

2009-07-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

The Mautner Project is now offering two support groups, one for survivors of cancer and one for their caregivers.

The group for survivors is a safe facilitated space for LBT women to share experiences of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival.

The group for caregivers is a safe space for LBT women to share experiences and connect with other caregivers.

These groups start July 16th and continue every Thursday until September 24th.

The groups are available at no cost, and transportation may be available, but registration is required. You can register or get more information by emailing Elizabeth Ide at eide@mautnerproject.org or calling 202-332-5536.

Are you HIV Positive? Tell Us What You Think!

2009-07-03T18:50:00.001-07:00

Are you HIV positive? Have opinions about how services for people living with HIV can be improved in the District of Columbia? Then tell us what you think!

Stop by The DC Center (1111 14th St NW Suite 350) between Monday July 6th between 4:30 and 7:00 PM and fill out the Ryan White Planning Council Needs Assesment Survey. This survey is one of the tools that will be used by the District to plan HIV/AIDS services in the next fiscal year.

The mission of the Ryan White Planning Council is to plan for the comprehensive delivery of HIV/AIDS services and allocation of resources for the Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA), as mandated by the Ryan White Title I legislation. For more information, click here to visit the Ryan White Planning Council Website.

DC Coalition Announces Upcoming Events

2009-07-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

On June 10, 2009 there was a meeting to reactivate the DC Coalition – A community of African American Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals and Transgendered Persons.

At the meeting issues of interest to the community were discussed: political action, health issues, HIV/AIDS, obesity, blood pressure, cancer, coming out, group home for LGBT senior citizens, marriage equality, education, economics, youth issues, history project and membership development.

There was a consensus to use the summer of 2009 to do outreach to bring the community together to build the DC Coalition towards our anniversary in October 2009 and the future.

The DC Coalition is in process of planning for the following events and meetings: (please mark your calendars)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Planning Meeting
One Judiciary 441 4th St., NW, 950 Conference Room 6:30 pm

Saturday, July 18, 2009 Coalition Meet & Greet
Email sawashington73@yahoo.com for more info

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Planning Meeting
One Judiciary 441 4th St., NW 950 conference room 6:30 pm

Week of August 17th, A TOWN HALL MEETING
Location, Date and Time to be announced.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Planning Meeting
One Judiciary 441 4th St., NW 950 Conference room 6:30 pm

September 2009, DC Coalition Annual Labor Day Picnic
(date, time & location to be determined)

October 2009 week-end of activities that would include a conference, a performing arts event, and the annual meeting that would include election of officers for the next year.

This is the beginning and we hope that we have the support of you and many more to build an organization that will represent and support the African American LGBT. For more information contact: carlene48@msn.com.

Bisexual Men's Association hosts Bialogue at Center

2009-07-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

BiMA DC will be hosting it first meetup at the DC Center, 1111 14th St. NW Suite 350, on Friday, July 17th at 7.30PM.

"Bialogue" will be an opportunity to socialize, discuss and find support for male bisexuals, bi-friendly guys and questioning men who live and work in and around Metro DC, including MD and NoVA. Bialogue will be followed with drinks and socializing at another location.

The Bisexual Men's Association is a new group which aims to build support for bisexual men in DC.

For more information, email the group at bima.dc@gmail.com, or join the google group.

Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe on Capitol Hill

2009-07-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

The GLBT Arts Consortium and the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) will offer Gilbert & Sullivan’s wonderfully mad-cap tale of fairy love and revenge, “Iolanthe or The Peer and the Peri,” for six performances over two weekends. “Iolanthe” will be presented on: July 31-August 1 and August 7-8, 7:00 PM, with additional matinee performances on Saturday, August 1st and August 8th at 3 PM. All performances are at CHAW, 545 7th Street SE, corner of G and 7th St. SE. Tickets are $20, except for the August 1st matinee when they are $10, and are available by calling 202-547-6839, or clicking on www.chaw.org. The production is funded in part by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and the Bernard Myers Fund for the Performing Arts.

This production of Iolanthe is under the musical direction of Barbara Schelstrate. Alvin Mayes and Jill Strachan are providing stage direction, with Mayes also serving as choreographer. Costume design is by Joan Biella. Cast members hail from Capitol Hill and the community-at-large.

The GLBT Arts Consortium is a network of more than 15 glbt arts organizations and artists in the Washington, D.C. area that seeks to increase the visibility of glbt arts. CHAW is a community-based, not-for-profit organization building community through the arts. CHAW offers numerous ways and opportunities to get involved in the arts through classes, workshops, performance, music, art and private music instruction. This is the ninth collaboration between the Consortium and CHAW.

For ticket information or more information about CHAW, call 202-547-6839, www.chaw.org. For more information about the GLBT Arts Consortium, click on www.dcglbtarts.org.

HIV Working Group Meeting July 22nd

2009-06-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of The DC Center HIV Prevention Working Group will take place Wednesday July 22nd at 7:00 PM at The DC Center, 1111 14th St. NW Suite 350.

We will continue the discussion on HIV Prevention and HIV Positive Guys.

The HIV Working group safer-sex kit campaign is operating with three distribution points: The DC Center, Town Dance Boutique, and Ziegfelds/Secrets.

The group also finished up working on a coordinated National HIV Testing Day Event.

Elder Think Tank Meeting July 27th

2009-06-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

The next meeting of The DC Center Elder Think Tank will take place Monday, July 27th at 6:30 PM at The DC Center.

The meeting will include updates on planning for a senior buddy program, a review and discussion of The Elder Think Tank mission statement, and planning for The Elder Think Tank retreat, which will take place Saturday August 29th.

The Elder Tank recently submitted comments on the 2010-2012 District of District of Columbia Aging Plan. The full written comments from the Elder Think Tank are available: click here to download the full document.

My Fabulous Sex Life at the Capital Fringe Festival

2009-06-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Capital Fringe Festival will be premiering My Fabulous Sex Life an autobiographical solo piece from local artist Brent Stansell, explores love, lust, and everything in between – all in the shadow of the nation’s phallus.

This is Brent Stansell’s debut work as a solo performance artist. Brent has worked in DC with Round House Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Forum Theatre, Rorschach Theatre, Ganymede Arts, and National Players (Olney Theatre Center). Brent has taught at American University, Montgomery College, and Brooklyn College (where he completed his MFA). He is an alumnus of The George Washington University.

The 2009 Capital Fringe Festival runs July 9, 2009 – July 26, 2009. Performance times for My Fabulous Sex Life are July 9 at 7pm, July 12 at 8pm, July 16 at 5:15pm, July 19 at 9:30pm, and July 23 at 7:45pm. All performances will take place at The Shop (at Fort Fringe), 610 L St NW, Washington, DC 20001. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.capitalfringe.org or by phone at 866.811.4111 beginning Monday, June 22, 2009.

For more information about Brent Stansell or My Fabulous Sex Life, visit brentstansell.blogspot.com.

DC for Marriage Meeting July 2nd

2009-06-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

The summer is heating up and so is the fight for marriage equality in DC! We need your help as we continue to build a strong and vibrant marriage movement. At this meeting we'll get a quick update on where things currently stand. Then, we need your help planning upcoming outreach and educational activities.

The meeting takes place on Thursday July 2nd at 7:00 PM at The DC Center, 1111 14th St NW, Suite 350.

CAGLCC Networking Event July 9th

2009-06-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

The Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (formerly Potomac Executive Network) will hold their next networking event on Thursday, July 9th.

Join CAGLCC at the Hard Rock Cafe, 999 E Street, NW, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. For more information about the Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, visit www.caglcc.org.

Outwrite Presents: C.D. Kirven

2009-06-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Join us Thursday, July 23rd as C.D. Kirven reads from her book "What Goes Around Comes Back Around."

Sex, betrayal, hip-hop: "What Goes Around Comes Back Around" is a story of a teenage girl’s sexual awakening and self-discovery, set in a time when hi-top fades and KID-N-PLAY movies were hot. Nominated for “Best Lesbian Debut Fiction” by the Lambda Literary Foundation, the book follows the life of Kingsley Ross, a troubled kleptomaniac teen who comes to terms with her sexual identity.

Join us Thursday July 23rd as C.D. Kirven reads from her novel about friendship, love, and loss during the golden age of hip hop. The book, which the Dallas Morning News compares to E. Lynn Harris’ Invisible Life, is a work of art in itself: the pages are filled with the author’s beautiful collage illustrations.

C.D. Kirven recently completed a documentary about same sex intimate partner violence, and was listed as one of "25 People to Watch" by the Dallas Voice.

The event will be at the DC Center, 1111 14th St. NW Suite 350, July 23rd at 7 PM.

RSVP on Facebook

Download the flyer

Fundraiser for Area Charities

2009-06-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

The Crucible will be holding a fundraiser musical extravaganza on Saturday, July 11 to raise money for two area charities that cater to men and women living with HIV/AIDS.

The event will feature Rock, Jazz, Folk & Dixieland Jazz, among others!

It will also feature a casino, 50/50 raffles, silent auction, bikini car wash, and a special performance by Ladies of Ziegfields!

The entry is $10 a person, and all proceeds benefit two area charities. Joseph's House provides a home, nursing services, and community for formerly homeless men and women in metropolitan Washington DC who are terminally ill and in the last weeks or months of their illness. Miriam's House provides a dynamic residential community for women living with HIV disease that empowers recovery from homelessness, disease and addictions in an environment of compassion, integrity, and accountability.

Please visit the Crucible's website for more information, or donate online HERE if you can't make it.

CenterArts Presents J. Aiden Simon June 26th

2009-06-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

CenterArts is proud to present the work of Baltimore artist J. Aiden Simon, on display through the end of July at The DC Center.

Stop by the DC Center Friday June 26th between 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM for the opening reception of the exhibit and meet the artist J. Aiden Simon. The DC Center is located at 1111 14th Street NW Suite 350.

Simon's collection of photographs, "Member" developed out of the artist's frustration with monotonous photos of transsexual people: either nudes from the neck down, or clothed transsexual people doing everyday things.

"Member" is meant to portray the diversity of men's bodies in a way that dignifies the models, showing people viewers can relate to, not the faceless bodies of anonymous medical photographs.

Simon aims to increase viewers' awareness of transsexual people and illustrate that it is not always, or even often, evident if a person is transsexual.

The photographs will be in The DC Center through the end of July. The DC Center, located at 1111 14th Street NW, Suite 350, is open to the public Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 6:30 PM.

Book Reading on Gay Youth Inclusion

2009-06-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Join Gay District on Saturday June 27th from 11.30 AM to 12.30 PM as local author Linda Goldman discusses her book Coming Out, Coming In at the Reeves Center, 2000 14th st. NW, second floor community room.

In Coming Out, Coming In: Nurturing the Well-Being and Inclusion of Gay Youth in Mainstream Society, Goldman describes the process of "coming in" to a welcoming and nurturing family, from the perspective of both the teen and the parents.

Linda Goldman draws on her personal and professional experience as a school guidance counselor, child and adolescent therapist, parent, and a member of the national group PFLAG to build a common language and a new paradigm for understanding sexual orientation and gender identity as a part of mainstream culture. Through the information, exercises, anecdotes, and extensive bibliography of additional resources provided in the book, parents, school administrators & educators, community groups and counselors will find the tools needed to facilitate nurturing and safe environments for our LGBT youth.

For more information or to RSVP, email GD@GayDistrict.Org or DRichardson02@Gmail.com .