Advocacy

Center Global Award Nominations

by
Center Global Award Nominations

Center Global will be presenting two awards at its annual fundraising reception on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Room & Board in Logan Circle.

  • The Global Advocate Award is awarded to an individual or organization that has helped to advance global LGBT human rights and to support asylum seekers, asylees, and refugees in the United States
  • The Global Courage Award is awarded to an individual asylum seeker, asylee, or refugee who, while in the diaspora, has worked to support the cause of global LGBT human rights and supported their fellow immigrants in the US.

Please submit the name of the individual or organization whose work you believe is deserving of the Global Advocate Award and/or theGlobal Courage Award using the link below. Please include a brief explanation of the reasons why you believe the individual or organization deserves the award(s).

Please submit your nominations by April 1, 2019.  Nomination Form for Center Global Awards

Youth Working Group Mini-Grants

by
Youth Mini Grants

The Youth Working Group at the DC Center for the LGBT Community is proud to announce it has awarded $750 in grants to three LGBTQ youth groups. The recipients are the Anacostia Senior High School Gay Straight Alliance, the Paint Branch High School Gender & Sexuality Alliance, and The Future Foundation’s Six Color Support Circle.

The students at Paint Branch High School appreciate that the mini grant will enable them to plan a new event, Let’s Go Be Together! (LGBT!). Their vision for the event is a fair, designed by and for LGBTQIA+ teens, where they can celebrate diversity, and encourage companionship among middle and high school GSAs in Montgomery County.

The students at Anacostia Senior High School look forward to using the funds to create posters, flyers and badges with their new logo, to purchase snacks for their meetings, and to cover miscellaneous field trip expenses so they can attend a SMYAL or youth pride event.

The Six Color Support Circle, a group led by The Future Foundation for LGBTQI youth ages 13-21, has presented a variety of successful events, from co-hosting Youth Pride to their recent Ugly Sweater Winter Social. They are excited to use the grant to create flyers so they can enhance their outreach and serve even more youth in 2019.

Congratulations to all of the 2019 mini grant recipients!

Be an Advocate for LGBTQ Older Adults

by
Be an Advocte for LGBTQ Older Adults

Now is an important time to speak out about the needs of LGBTQ Older Adults in the District of Columbia.  The following events are important opportunities for LGBTQ older adults and their allies to share their experiences and needs.

Senior Budget Engagement Telephone Town Hall
Monday February 11th at 12:00 PM
Join with fellow DC residents at this forum to share your values, priorities, and ideas with the Bowser Administration. – to RSVP for this event call 202 442-8150.  Please note: this event is specifically for seniors.

Oversight Hearing for the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs
The Committee on Government Operations chaired by Council Member Brandon Todd, will hold an oversight hearing on Wednesday,  February 13th.   The hearing is for community affairs offices including the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.  The hearing will start at 10:00 AM in Room 412 of the Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW) .  Persons wishing to testify about the performance of any of the preceding agencies may email governmentoperations@dccouncil.us or call 202.724.6668

Oversight Hearing for the Office of Aging
The Committee on Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization, chaired by Council Member Anita Bonds will hold a hearing on Thursday February 14th beginning at 9:30 AM.  This hearing will  include the Office of Aging, Commission on Aging, and Age Friendly DC Task Force.  This is an excellent space to speak out about the lives and experiences of of LGBTQ older adults.   Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may contact: Oscar Montiel (omontiel@dccouncil.us) or by call 202.724.8198.

If you cannot attend these hearings in person, consider submitting written comments.  Also, consider sharing your written comments with the DC Center if you would like to see them posted on our website.  Thanks for your commitment to LGBTQ older adults.

You are also invited to be part of our ongoing conversation about programs and services for LGBTQ older adults in the District.  Follow Center Aging on twitter at twitter.com/centeraging, or on facebook at facebook.com/centeraging.   There is also a google group you can join by visiting our website thedccenter.org/aging.

DC Council Oversight Hearings

by
District of Columbia Oversight Hearings

The Council of the District of Columbia Oversight Hearings will begin Wednesday, February 6, 2019 and conclude on Friday, March 1, 2019 and will take place in the Council Chamber (Room 500), Room 412, Room 123, and Room 120 of the John A. Wilson Building: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.; Washington, D C 2 0 0 0 4 .

Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit written testimony in advance of each hearing to the committee at which you are testifying. If a written statement cannot be provided prior to the day of the hearing, please have at least 10 copies of your written statement available on the day of the hearing for immediate distribution to the Council. Unless otherwise stated by the Committee, the hearing record will close two business days following the conclusion of each respective hearing. Persons submitting
written statements for the record should observe this deadline. For more information about the Council’s budget performance oversight hearing schedule, please contact the committee of interest.

Hearings that may be of particular interest to the LGBTQ community are listed below.  For a complete list click here.Committee on the

Judiciary & Public Safety Chairperson Charles Allen

2/6/19; Council Chamber Rm 500,
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
  • Office of Victim Services & Justice Grants
Persons wishing to testify may email: judiciary@dccouncil.us or by calling 202.727.8275
Committee on Health Chairperson Vincent Gray
2/8/19; Rm 412
10:00 am – End
  • Department of Health
Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may contact Malcom Cameron (mcameron@dccouncil.us) or by calling 202.654.6179
Committee on Government Operations Chairperson Brandon Todd
2/13/19; Rm 412
10:00 am – End
  • Office of Veteran’s Affairs
  • Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Questioning Affairs
Persons wishing to testify about the performance of any of the preceding agencies may email governmentoperations@dccouncil.us or by calling 202.724.6668
Committee on Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Chairperson Anita Bonds
2/14/19; Council Chamber Room 500
9:30 am – End
  • District of Columbia Office on Aging
Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may contact: Oscar Montiel (omontiel@dccouncil.us) or by calling 202.724.8198
Committee on Government Operations Chairperson Brandon Todd
2/14/19; Room 120
10:00 am – End
  • Office on African Affairs
  • Office of African American Affairs
  • Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
  • Office of Latino Affairs
Persons wishing to testify about the performance of any of the preceding agencies may email governmentoperations@dccouncil.us or by calling 202.724.6668
Committee on Human Services Chairperson Brianne Nadeau
2/21/19; Council Chamber (Room 500)
10:00 am – End
  • Department of Disability Services

Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may email: humanservices@dccouncil.us or by calling 202.724.8170

Joint Hearing with Committee on Education & Committee of the Whole
Chairperson David Grosso & Chairman Phil Mendelson
2/21/19; Room 412
  • Office of the State Superintendent

Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may do so online at http://bit.do/educationhearings or by calling 202.724.8061

Committee on Facilities & Procurement Chairperson Robert C. White, Jr.
2/21/19; Room 120
10:00 am – End
  • Office of Returning Citizen Affairs

Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may email: facilities@dccouncil.us or by calling 202.741.8593

Committee on Finance & Revenue Chairperson Jack Evans
2/22/19; Room 412
10:00 am – End
  • Commission on the Arts and Humanities

Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may contact: Sarina Loy (sloy@dccouncil.us) or by calling 202.724.8058

Committee on Human Services Chairperson Brianne Nadeau
2/26/19; Room 123
11:00 am – End
  • Child and Family Services Agency

Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may email: humanservices@dccouncil.us or by calling 202.724.8170

Committee on Labor & Workforce Development Chairperson Elissa Silverman
2/27/19; Room 123
10:00 – End
  • Department of Employment Services (Public Witnesses Only)

Persons wishing to testify about the performance of the agency may contact: Charnisa Royster (croyster@dccouncil.us) or by calling 202.724.7772

Committee on Government Operations Chairperson Brandon Todd
2/28/19; Room 120
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Office of Human Rights
Persons wishing to testify about the performance of any of the preceding agencies may email governmentoperations@dccouncil.us or by calling 202.724.6668

Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety Chairperson Charles Allen

3/1/19; Room 123
1:00 pm – End
  • Department of Corrections
Persons wishing to testify may email: judiciary@dccouncil.us or by calling 202.727.8275

 

 

2019 Major Events in the DC LGBTQ Community

by
DC LGBTQ Community Events

Here is a list of major events coming up in 2019 for our local LGBTQ community in the District of Columbia.  We have included the dates we are currently aware of, but if you have more events you would like to see added to the list, please e-mail the support desk at supportdesk@thedccenter.org.

January

LGBT Contingent in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade 
January 21st, 2019
website link | facebook event page

Winter Casino Night at Buffalo Billiards
January 26th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

February

Night OUT at the Capitals vs. Vancouver Canucks
February 5th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
February 7th, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.nationalblackaidsday.org

Scarlet’s Bake Sale
February 10th, 2019
facebook event page

March

Night OUT at the Wizards vs. Orlando Magic
March 13th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

April

National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
April 10th, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.youthaidsday.org

Day of Silence
April 12th, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.dayofsilence.org

Night of Champions Awards Dinner
April 13th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

Spring Casino Night at Buffalo Billiards
April 27th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

May

Gay Day at the Zoo
May 5th, 2019
website link | facebook event link 

International Family Equality Day
May 5th, 2019
(events taking place as part of Gay Day at the Zoo)
www.internationalfamilyequalityday.org

Quarterly SportsMixer
May 15th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
May 17th, 2019
www.dayagainsthomophobia.org
(no local events taking place at this time)

Capital Trans Pride
May 17th – May 19th, 2019
www.capitaltranspride.org

Black Pride 
May 24th – May 27th, 2019
www.dcblackpride.org

National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV AIDS Awareness Day
May 19th, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.banyantreeproject.org

Foster Care & Adoption Information Night (National Foster Care Month)
May 29th, 2019
website link | facebook event link

June

Night Out at the Nationals
June 4th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

Capital Pride Parade
June 8th, 2019
www.capitalpride.org

March with the DC Center in the Capital Pride Parade
website link | facebook event page

Capital Pride Festival
June 9th, 2019

Volunteer with the DC Center in the Capital Pride Festival
website link | facebook event page

Capital Pride Interfaith Service
June 11th, 2019
website link | facebook event page

July

Night OUT at the Mystics vs. Phoenix Mercury
July 30th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

August

OutWrite LGBT Book Festival
August 2-4, 2019
website link | facebook event page

Summer Casino Night at Buffalo Billiards
August 10th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

September

Quarterly Sports Mixer
September 16th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

Bi Visibility Day
September 23, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.bivisibilityday.com

HRC National Dinner
September 28th, 2019
hrcnationaldinner.org

October

Fashion Show/Team Fundraiser
October 5th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

National Coming Out Day
October 11th, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.hrc.org/resources/entry/national-coming-out-day

National Latino HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
October 15th, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.nlaad.org

SMYAL Brunch
October 20, 2019
www.smyal.org

Reel Affirmations: Washington DC’s International LGBTQ Film Festival
October 24, 2019 – October 27, 2019
www.reelaffirmations.org

Miss Adams Morgan Pageant (32)
October 26th, 2019

November

Fall Casino Night at Buffalo Billiards
November 2nd, 2019
www.teamdc.org

Veterans Day Annual LGBT Wreath Laying Ceremony
November 11th, 2019
website link | facebook event page

Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 20th, 2019
website link | facebook event link

Thanksgiving at the DC Center
November 28th, 2019
website link | facebook event page

Small Business Saturday Pop-Up Shop
November 30th, 2019
website link | facebook event page

December

World AIDS Day
December 1st, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.un.org/en/events/aidsday

Holiday SportsMixer
December 6th, 2019
www.teamdc.org

International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
December 17th, 2019
(no local events planned at this time)
www.december17.org

LGBTQ Community Centers Support Fair Treatment for LGBTQ Asylum Seekers

by
#queertranscaravan

Across the United States, people of all backgrounds are reacting with outrage in light of the Administration’s announcement that people who attempt to seek asylum outside of ports of entry will be denied the right to this protection.

On Sunday, November 11th, an estimated 78 LGBTQ asylum seekers reached the United States border in hopes of escaping persecution in Central America. Originally traveling with a larger group from Honduras, they left the caravan after experiencing discrimination and threats from others. Many LGBTQ migrants were denied food and access to showers by caravan members or local groups providing aid. “There was no physical abuse but there was plenty of verbal abuse,” a transgender woman told reporters, although she added it was nothing compared to the reality of living as a transgender woman in her home country of Honduras.

As they await the opportunity to begin the asylum process in Tijuana, the group continues to be targeted simply for being part of the LGBTQ community. They were met with anger from locals, who said they should have been warned by authorities that LGBTQ people would be staying in their neighborhood.

Members of the group originate from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, and include a handful of children. Most plan to use their status as members of a persecuted class to request asylum in the U.S. as early as Thursday.

Unfortunately, the government reacts to their plight with armed forces and threats of denying entry to begin the asylum process, essentially signing their death orders. LGBTQ people flee to the U.S. because they cannot live safely in their home countries. They are in danger of persecution, prosecution, imprisonment, blackmail, discrimination, torture, sexual assault and in some cases, death based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

If LGBTQ asylum seekers are granted the opportunity to have their case heard, they can be detained until trial, which may take months. In detention centers, transgender women are often housed with men or placed in solitary confinement. LGBTQ immigrants report high rates of sexual assault and abuse during their time in detention, and proper medical care is often denied.

These asylum seekers have faced challenges and painful barriers in receiving equal treatment during every step of their journey. The undersigned LGBTQ Community Centers strongly support them in their quest for a better life and demand that they be treated fairly and equitably as they seek their legal right to asylum.

Adair Co. GLBT Resource Center

ALSO Youth

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center

Center on Halsted

Freedom House Detroit

Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center

GALA LGBTQ+ Center

Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center

Latino Equality Alliance

LGBT Center OC

LGBT Center of Central PA

LGBT Center of Raleigh

LGBT Detroit

LGBT Equality Alliance of Chester County

Los Angeles LGBT Center

North County LGBTQ Resource Center

Open Arms Rape Crisis Center & LGBT+ Services

Pride Center at Equality Park

Pride Center San Antonio

PRISM-Q, LGBT & Allies Resource Center

Proud Haven Inc.

Rainbow Center

Resource Center

Ruth Ellis Center

Sacramento LGBT Community Center

Safe Schools South Florida

San Francisco LGBT Center

Stonewall Coumbus

SunServe

Tacoma Older LGBT

The DC Center for the LGBT Community

The Pride Center at Equality Park

The Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico

Triangle Community Center

Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act of 2018

by
Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act of 2018

DC Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Anita Bonds have introduced legislation to the DC Council entitled the “Care for LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors with HIV Amendment Act of 2018.”   The legislation would requires the DC Office of Aging and Commission on Aging to include LGBTQ Seniors and Seniors Living with HIV as group of greatest social need under the Older Americans Act.   In addition, the bill would amend the Human Rights Act of 1977 to establish and LGBTQ HIV long-term care bill or rights.

To learn more about the bill, sign up for updates, and learn about opportunities to testify on this legislation, click here to visit the DC Council website.

The DC Center supports LGBTQ Older Adults through our Center Aging Program.  Learn more at thedccenter.org/aging.  You can also  follow Center Aging on twitter at twitter.com/centeraging or facebook at fb.com/centeraging.

Stonewall Kickball Hate Crimes Town Hall

by
Stonewall Kickball Hate Crimes Town Hall

In response to some of their players falling victim to Bias-Related and other violent crimes, the leadership of the Stonewall Kickball League held a Town Hall Style meeting and discussion to educate their nearly 800 league members, as well as share information about how to protect themselves and the community at-large.

Stefania Mahdi, of the DC Anti Violence Project, a program of the DC Center, participated in the event.  StaStefania Mahdi, of the DC LGBTQ Center’s Anti-Violence Project.  Stefania was joined by Brett Parsons from the  Special Liaison Branch (SLB) of the Metropolitan Police Department , Roger Kemp from the US Attorney’s Office (AUSA), Director Sheila Alexander-Reid, of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs,  and ANC Commissioner Randy Downs, who moderated the event.

This is part of an ongoing effort to address the issue of Bias-Related Crimes and join the community in developing ways to protect themselves and their community through awareness, communication, education, and de-escalation.

The DC Anti-Violence Project is dedicated to eradicating violence against and within the LGBTQ+ community, engaging creatively with solutions through advocacy, community organizing, and survivor support.   Connect with DCAVP on twitter at twitter.com/dcavp or on facebook at facebook.com/dcantiviolenceproject.

Responding to Violence in our Community

by
DC LGBTQ Survivors of Violence, Hate Crimes, Sexual Assault, and Intimate Partner Violence

Over the past several years, the LGBTQ community has seen a steady increase in hate crimes nationwide.   As the National Coalition of Anti-Violence reminds us people of color, transgender and gender non-conforming people continue to make up the majority of victims of LGBTQ and HIV affected related hate violence.

The DC Center strongly condemns all hate-motivated attacks: those that have garnered headlines in the news as well as those that have remained hidden. People in the LGBT community deserve to live in a safe and supportive environment and these crimes undermine the worth and dignity of the entire population.

The DC Anti-Violence Project, a program of the DC Center, works to reduce violence against LGBTQ individuals (and those perceived as LGBTQ) through community outreach, education, and monitoring cases to ensure that the rights and dignity of LGBTQ victims are respected and protected. DCAVP also seeks to assist victims of anti-LGBT violence by advocating on their behalf, encouraging reporting, and providing a community of support.

In a time where acts of violence against the LGBT community (and other communities that intersect with ours) are up, funding for supportive services for victims are scarce.   We will continue to work with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Metropolitan Police Department, and all other interested community partners to address this growing issue of concern.

We invite all interested parties to attend the next meeting of the DC Anti-Violence Project on Thursday September 27th at 7:00 PM. All of the city’s leaders and the community’s stakeholders need to be engaged to resolve this pressing problem. As a center for the LGBT and broader community at large, we open our doors to ALL victims of violence, including domestic and hate related violence, and seek solutions to promote a safe as possible environment for all.

Like the DC Anti-Violence Project on Facebook: facebook.com/dcantiviolenceproject

Follow the DC Anti-Violence Project on Twitter: twitter.com/dcavp

Join the DC Anti-Violence Project Google Group: click here to join google group

Visit the DC Anti-Violence Project Website: dcantiviolence.org

 

 

LGBT Community Centers Support Open to All Campaign

by
Open to All

Open to All is the nationwide public engagement campaign to build awareness and understanding about the importance of our nation’s nondiscrimination laws  – and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All.

Local businesses are invited to stop by the DC Center and pick up a free Open to All window decal to display at your place of business.  Or, if you sign up online at business.opentoall.com you will receive a window decal by mail.

Over the past several years, there have been increasing efforts to undermine laws that protect Americans from discrimination.  In more than half the country, our state laws still do no explicitly protect LGBT Americans from discrimination in stores and restaurants, in the workplace, or in housing.  And even when laws are in place, we know that people are often still harassed, policed, and even denied service based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion and/or disability.

That’s why fair minded Americans are joining together to support updating our nondiscrimination laws and engaging businesses in their communities to be Open to All.  To learn more and take the pledge, visit business.opentoall.com.