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Posted by Front Desk on September 3, 2010 5:01 PM Permanent Link
 The moment has arrived! The Board of the Imperial Court of Washington, DC has been working on our By-Laws and we are now ready to move forward and begin our General Membership meetings. The first General Membership meeting will be on Monday, September 13th at the Green Lantern, 1335 Green CT NW, Washington, DC 20005. The Meet and Greet is from 7:30pm to 8:00pm and the meeting will begin at 8:00pm. Please save the date and plan to attend so we can move forward and build our Court. Please try to bring one person who may also be interested as well so we can grow our numbers. Thank you!
Posted by Front Desk on August 31, 2010 4:53 PM Permanent Link
 Monday, September 27th is National Gay Men's HIV Awareness Day, a relatively new, HIV/AIDS awareness day sponsored by the CDC. To draw attention to the current HIV/AIDS plight of gay men in the District, the HIV Prevention Working Group will host a celebratory event at the DC Center (1318 U Street, NW) on this day, at which we will recognize four courageous HIV-positive members of our community with an award for their work in combating this disease.
DETAILS:
Event: National Gay Men's HIV Awareness Day Community Celebration (Light food and drinks will be served) When: Monday, September 27th, from 7-9pm Where: The DC Center (1318 U Street, NW - near to the U Street/Cardozo Metro Stop) Why: To raise awareness of HIV among gay men and honor community members for courageously living with HIV and for their work in combating the disease.
We are now calling for nominations, on which members of the HIV Prevention Working Group will vote. Nominees should fit the following criteria: Self-identified gay, bisexual, or transgender individual HIV-positive Comfortable with publicly disclosing HIV status and sexual orientation Local community member who has worked in HIV prevention or treatment to raise awareness/reduce stigma around this disease. Be sure to include a brief description of the nominee and why you feel this person deserves this recognition.
Please submit nominations to Dan O'Neill (danielfoneill@gmail.com), by 5pm on Tuesday, September 7th. Awardees will be notified later that week. We ask that you first check with individuals about nominating them, if you are unsure of their comfort with disclosing their status. All award recipients will be contacted prior to announcement of the awards to ensure they are comfortable to receive this public recogn ition.
Posted by Front Desk on August 31, 2010 3:48 PM Permanent Link
 Hey,
My name is Alejandro and I am honored to be the newest intern at the DC Center!
I am currently about to finish my double Bachelor's in Sociology and Biology at George Mason University. I am also really involved in the LGBTQ community in college, having been Treasurer and Co-Chair of our LGBT student organization, Pride Alliance. In addition, I also have assisted with GMU Pride Week 2010 and a series of panels that are aimed at addressing Latino LGBTQ issues.
I have had the privilege of being placed in the LGBT community center of Durban, South Africa this past summer and since then I realized I would like to continue making a difference for my community in the area where I have grown up.
I would like to see full equality and acceptance for all people, and an end to homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, classism, and many, many other types of discrimination and oppression that exist out there today.
I look forward to working with a great staff here at the Center! I will be mostly help out with GLOV and a Buddy Program we are currently setting up.
Thank you for your time, =)
-Alejandro
Posted by Front Desk on August 31, 2010 2:57 PM Permanent Link
 The next meeting of The DC Center's HIV Working Group takes place Wednesday September 22nd 7:00 PM at The DC Center, 1318 U Street, NW. The group normally meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month.
This meeting will discuss the group's plans for National Gay Men's HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day on September 27th.
The HIV Working Group focuses on HIV prevention for gay, bisexual, and transgender (GBT) men in the District of Columbia.
Posted by The DC Center on August 29, 2010 11:48 PM Permanent Link
 In light of recent incidents of violence against the LGBT community, and marking the 1 year anniversary of the murder of 'Na Na Boo' mack and the 15 year anniversary of the death of Tyra Hunter, the LGBT community came together on August 26th for a Town Hall Meeting to address violence in our community
Ten LGBT organizations came together to call for a renewed commitment to fight anti-LGBT violence and to specifically call on Mayor Fenty to fully restore the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit.
Organizations joining this call include: The DC Center for the LGBT Community, The DC Transgender Coalition, Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance, Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV), Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, The GLBT Latino History Project, Helping our Brothers and Sisters, Latinas/Latinos en Accione, SAGE Metro DC, Transgender Health Empowerment.
The letter is printed below.
Letter to Mayor Fenty
Mayor Fenty,
Members of the Districts LGBT Community gathered today to discuss both the recent increase in violence against the LGBT Community and mark the anniversaries of the deaths of Na Na Boo Mack and Tyra Hunter. In light of this continuing history of violence against members of our community, we seek your immediate attention to fully restore the staffing levels of the GLLU, to six full-time officers. Further, we ask that the unit be lead by a full-time officer devoted to these duties with the authority to report directly to Chief Lanier. It is our hope that a restored GLLU will serve as a more effective liaison between the LGBT community and MPD. This request is punctuated by the series of recent physical and sexual assaults, including the tragic homicide of Delando King, but it is by no means a reaction to it. Rather, we make this request because we believe that recent organizational changes to the GLLU have rendered it less effective as a resource to both the community it seeks to protect and MPD.
Mayor Fenty, 85 percent of all bias-related crime in our city is levied against members of the LGBT community, roughly 5 times the National average when compared with similar statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Members of DC's LGBT community, specifically gay men and transgendered individuals are being targeted for violence. These crimes - and the underlying issues within our city reinforcing the biases which lead to a culture and climate of violence - can no longer be ignored. These issues require more attention than the response that is afforded as a part-time collateral duty. This is by no means a criticism of the men and women staffing the GLLU, either core or affiliate officers, but a recognition that to address this issue dedicated staff resources are necessary. It is also clear that the nature of these violent attacks are increasingly brazen and brutal. To illustrate, Mr. King was stabbed an alarming 30 times, with 5 stab wounds inflicted to the heart. Elsewhere, a gay man was recently chased by a mob of 15 young men and women before being beaten and a transgender woman was sexually assaulted near Dupont Circle. You see, members of the District's LGBT community are being murdered and targeted for violence based solely upon innate, immutable characteristics. These deplorable acts require a strong response to acknowledge the problem and address the issue.
We applaud the work of Detectives Wise and Nasr, particularly for engaging GLLU officers and the LGBT community. Without question, it is our hope that their quick action will help bring justice in Mr. King's brutal death. Additionally, we do appreciate Chief Lanier's responsiveness when we raise concerns directly with her. However, we remain concerned that the response does not address the underlying problems with the organizational structure of the GLLU. Recently, community groups were asked to join representatives from the SLU to meet and discuss additional outreach efforts. While we appreciate the engagement, this request highlights our problems with the current incarnation of the GLLU, characterized by inconsistent, piecemeal responses and inadequate staff resources. The issues that create the culture of violence, hatred, and self loathing these crimes illustrate are complex and require more than the resources of volunteer organizations. They require the weight and authority of law enforcement engaged with the community in a focused, coordinated, and consistent effort. Having affiliate officers trained to recognize and respond to LGBT crimes in every district is admirable in intent. In practice however, not having officers dedicated to the GLLU full-time has led to, in our opinion, diminished effectiveness in recognizing and responding to bias crimes. We ask that you fully restore staffing to the GLLU and grant the officer in charge with direct reporting to Chief Lanier.
In sum, the problem is real, the needs of the community are urgent, and a solution requires your leadership and immediate action.
Thank you for your attention to our request; we eagerly await your response.
Sincerely,
The DC Center for the LGBT Community
The DC Transgender Coalition
Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance
Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV)
Gertrude Stein Democratic Club
The GLBT Latino History Project
Helping our Brothers and Sisters
Latinas/Latinos en Accione
SAGE Metro DC
Transgender Health Empowerment
Posted by The DC Center on August 29, 2010 10:50 PM Permanent Link
SAGE Metro DC invites you to LGBT & Aging in America This presentation is tailored towards LGBT professionals and those serving the aging community.
The featured speaker will be Greg Case, Services Program Specialist, Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
The presentation takes place Wednesday September 15th from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM at the Residences at Thomas Circle, 1330 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
Posted by The DC Center on August 29, 2010 9:19 PM Permanent Link
 Join Women of SAGE on Sunday September 5th for Brunch at the National Museum of Women in the Arts Cafe followed by a tour of the exhibits.
Women of SAGE is a social group for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women over fifty in our area.
The general price for brunch is $25 and includes free admission to the museum.
Join the WoS for what is sure to be a wonderful event! Eggs any style, omelets, French toast, and waffles are cooked to order; fine pastries, fruit, juices, coffees, and tea are also available.
Meet on Sunday September 5th at 11:00 AM at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue, NW. To RSVP, contact Marge. For more information about the Women of SAGE, join the Women of Sage Yahoo Group at: groups.yahoo.com/group/womenofsage
Posted by Front Desk on August 28, 2010 2:15 PM Permanent Link
 Live in DC? Pee often? Did you know that in DC a single stall bathroom must be gender neutral/unisex?
The DC Center and the DC Trans Coalition have noticed this isn't always the case. We want to make sure the transgender community is both comfortable and safe everywhere in Washington, DC; including the bathroom! If you have seen a non-compliant bathroom please email me- Renee- with the name of the business and it's location. Pictures of these bathrooms are also encourage.
If you have seen a compliant bathroom please message me as well. We want to thank those business who are making an effort to make DC a safer place for all!
Renee's email: renee.reopell@gmail.com For more information about safe places to pee in DC and around the country, please visit www.safe2pee.org
Posted by Brant on August 26, 2010 3:30 PM Permanent Link
 On Friday, August 13th, 2010, in the early morning hours, a transgender individual was sexually assaulted near the 2000 block of P Street NW. The victim reported that she was grabbed by the suspect who placed his hand over her mouth, removed her clothes, and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the area on foot. If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Gay
and Lesbian Liaison Unit ( http://www.gllu.org) at 1-877-495-5995. (If
using a cell phone, don't forget the first '1'.) GLOV, Transgender Health Empowerment, and Latinos en Accion invite you
to join us Thursday, August 24th at 7 PM to discuss recent violence
against the LGBT community. The meeting will be held at The DC Center,
1318 U Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005.
Posted by Front Desk on August 26, 2010 1:15 PM Permanent Link
The DC Center is pleased to welcome Adodi DC, which will meet at The DC Center (1318 U St NW) on Sunday,October 17th at 2:00 PM. Adodi is a community of men of color who affirm their African lineage and love of men. Adodi works to to foster and encourage the self-discovery, validation, empowerment and liberation of all members of this diverse community. Adodi, the plural of ado, is a Yoruba word that describes a man who "loves" another man. More than just a description of partners in Africa, the adodi of the tribe are thought to embody both male and female ways of being and were revered as shamans, sages and leaders. For more information, visit www.adodionline.com.
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