I think you will find Mother-Talk: Conversations with Mothers of Lesbian Daughters and FTM Transgender Children (Pearlman) makes an invaluable, contribution to current discussions of queer, transgender, sexuality, and gender issues.
Please consider ordering a copy of this title for your organization library,include this information in your newsletter, and please share widely.
Mother-Talk is a collection of stories of twenty-four mothers—twelve who found out a daughter was a lesbian and twelve who learned that a child, once a biological female, was planning to transition to male—capturing the
complexity of coming to terms with the loss of a daughter who has changed sex or an anticipated relationship with a daughter, now a lesbian, who lives in a different world and will lead a different life. This groundbreaking book will help other mothers as well as lesbian daughters and FTM transgender children to understand their own mothers, their
changed lives, and their determination to remain connected.
Sarah F. Pearlman was selected by the American Psychological Association Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues as the recipient of the 2011 Award for Distinguished
Professional Contribution. She lives in Boston and is active in LGBT elder organizations.
Order Your Copy Today at: http://www.demeterpress.org/mothertalk.html
Dear Friends:
Ever since I came on board in February, we have faced one challenge or crisis after another. Where do we move the thrift store if the building sells? Do we continue to repair the fifty- year- old boiler? There’s another plumbing leak in the building. How do we recruit more bingo volunteers?
Then, every so often, something happens that puts everything in its proper perspective. That was the case the other day when the phone rang. The caller was a very distraught woman who shared that she was struggling with her sexual orientation and did not know anyone in our community.
Thankfully, staff member Cindy Bray was here to reassure her. Cindy compassionately shared with the caller information about our women’s support groups plus other community resources. Hopefully we will meet our new
friend soon.
A few weeks ago a volunteer shared with me a bit of her personal journey. She had visited Diversity Thrift numerous times, but it took about seven trips to gather the courage to walk through the doors of the Community Center. She wanted what all of us want: acceptance, companionship, friendship, support.
That woman is now a viable part of the life at GCCR, sharing her passion, guidance and wit with us all. A happy ending.
So, no, we don’t have all our problems solved just yet. But, in the mean while, we know that the Center has touched the lives of countless numbers of people who were walking in darkness and found light on Sherwood Avenue. And that happens because before the Center is anything else, it is humans reaching out to humans. And that is
something that leaky pipes can’t take away.
Best,
Bill Harrison
Bill Harrison
Interim Executive Director
Bill.Harrison@LGBTRichmond.net
GCCR has one of the most popular bingo games in the area. Every Tuesday and Thursday night, hundreds of people gather in our event hall to try their luck. Sometimes the jackpots run into the thousands.
Our games are made possible because of the donation of time from volunteers and we are in need of more of
those good folks. The more volunteers we have, the happier we keep our customers and the more revenue we bring in to support GCCR programs.
Volunteers are needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 P.M. If you can help, please contact Bobby Philips at bobby.phillips@lgbtrichmond.net or by calling 622-4646. (Bingo is NOT a smoke free environment)
This is a live Disco event that Phillip Ramirez has produced, co-written and is presenting as a “world debut”.
The show opens with a grand introduction by Hostess LAVIENA PARIS (Starlet Knight) who welcomes OCTAVIUS (Lead singer /Phillip Ramirez), who then tells his story in song to the audience through musical numbers as well as dialogue – Dancers ADAM and STEVE mirror his life through interpretive dance.
The audience watches as OCTAVIUS’s story unfolds before their very eyes – from the struggles of finding acceptance to his first moments of fame, meeting the love of his life and the onset of the AIDS epidemic.Professional recording artist and actor Phillip Ramirez will emulate but not imitate Sylvester, singing some of his greatest hits, such as “You Make Me Feel Mighty Real” and Do You Wanna Funk?” while pleasing the audience with his comedic and dramatic character, OCTAVIUS.
Phillip is backed by three talented divas, known as the Mega Girls. Local talents Katrinah Lewis, Chloe Williams, and Jasmine Banks, bring to life the unique vocal sound of the disco era. Local dancers Andrew Etheredge (ADAM) and Julius Smith (STEVE) masterfully weave in OCTAVIUS’S storyline while catapulting the audience back to the disco era.
The theatrical experience begins from the moment guests open the doors of the Richmond Triangle Theatre. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite disco attire. Guests will have the chance to relive a time of joy, love, and freedom, and become a part of the spectacle – We are excited and honored to have the opportunity to present this exciting world debut of “Dance Disco Heat” to the Richmond Area.
Learn More about Richmond Triangle Players by visiting their website at http://www.rtriangle.org/
Roddy Barnes in Concert*Saturday, June 2 * 8 pm *Doors 7:30 pm
*Advance tickets: $7, at door: $10
Come to GCCR and experience one of the best boogie woogie and blues piano players! Roddy is known for playing with Gaye Adegbalola, but is a great singer/songwriter as well as musician in his own right.We think he is AWESOME.
Throughout the years, Roddy has given of his time, talents and treasure to support GCCR; come on out and
help us support him in return.He will be playing in the GCCR Event Hall on Saturday, June 2, at 8 pm; doors open at 7:30 pm.Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.
Blues Blast Magazine writes: “Barnes demonstrates that he is a multi-layered talent indeed, someone
from whom one desires to hear more: an able songwriter whose songs are often laced with ironic wit; an expressive vocalist with a strong, clear tenor; and a masterful piano player who can romp with the boogie and play the blues.” Andra Faye of Saffire: the Uppity Blues Women says: “With his powerful piano style, and his world-weary, yet playful, vocals, I feel as if I’m time-traveling back to a juke joint in the 20′s on the old-timey feel of his music… He’s truly a
blue-plate special in the world’s musical diner…eat him up!”
Advance Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at Diversity Thrift, DT2 and online at Save and Purchase Advanced Tickets Here!. Tickets at the door will be $10.
http://www.roddybarnes.com/reviews.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9zM1MH-kp0
When: Saturday, May 12, 2012, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Where: The Friends Meeting House, 4500 Kensington Ave., Richmond.
The workshop is free but registration is required; donations will be accepted.
Whether it is with family members, a significant other, boss, or coworker, we are all in relationships. Sometimes it can feel like there are unwritten rules that govern how we manage these relationships – or how these relationships manage us.
This workshop will help you gain confidence in setting and maintaining personal boundaries that can liberate and energize your relationships. You will also learn to recognize patterns of power and control that can keep us locked in familiar, but unproductive relationship patterns. Come prepared to challenge yourself.
Facilitated by Diane Mattingly, LCSW. For more information or to register, call 804-229-8416 or visit www.dianemattingly.com. THIS IS A LGBTQ-FRIENDLY EVENT.
When? Wednesday’s, May 16, May 23, May 30, and June 6, from 6-8 pm
Where? Gay Community Center of Richmond
Cost? Free (Limit: 12 participants)
Workshop facilitator: Wendy DeGroat – poet, teacher, librarian, editor, and writing coach
We will spend our time writing together in response to brief readings, writing prompts, or other creative sparks. Participants may write in the genre of their choice: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, plays, or a hybrid form. We’ll share what we’ve written (sharing is optional) and offer positive yet precise feedback on this fresh writing (too fresh to be critiqued in its unrefined state). Our goal is threefold: to generate several beginnings, drafts, or writing seeds; to give voice to our writing in a safe space; and to listen. Although the workshops are designed as contained, two-hour experiences rather than a series in which later workshops depend on the content of earlier sessions, participants are asked to make every effort to attend all the sessions.
To register, please contact Cindy Bray at Cindy.Bray@lgbtrichmond.net
ROSMY Launches LGBTQ Middle-School Support Group
WHEN: Wednesdays 5:30 – 6:30
WHERE: 2311 Westwood Ave. Richmond, VA
All lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and question youth Ages 12-13 are welcome!
Join us for an 8-Week long program geared toward middle-school youth, with topics including self-identity, relating to others, building trust, relationships and friendships, and getting along in society.
For more information, contact Lee Steube at (804) 644-4800 or youthprograms@rosmy.org.
Join us for our first six week educational support group for adoptive parents who identify as members of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Community. This six week group will meet every other Saturday for an hour and a half. The cost is $15 per session per person or $25 per session per couple.
Suggested Topics for Discussion:
* the strengths of GLB adoptive families
* helping your adopted child “come out”
* the impact of secrecy on family relationships and intimacy
* talking openly about adoption and sexual orientation
* Helping children manage being perceived as different, etc…. Read More…
If you haven’t yet visited DT2, you are missing out on locating and purchasing some “unique finds”
At DT2, we have selected some of the best from what our generous donors give us. Eclectic, fun stuff that you’ll love, and is very affordable.
Richmond’s Progressive Bargain Store is located in the Fan where we grew up. DT2 is located at 2219 W. Main Street, between Shields and Strawberry. Store hours are 10 to 5 Wednesday through Sunday and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Small donations will be accepted at DT2. For large donations, we ask that donors schedule a free pickup by calling (804) 353-8890, or bring donated items to Diversity Thrift, at 1407 Sherwood Ave.
For a Sneak Peak Click Here.
GCCR: Can you tell me, How and when did the Women’s Coming Out Group get started?
Vicki: Actually the OWLS group had organized and one of the first topics was women telling their coming out stories. There were more than a few women at that group who had/were coming out after 40. That group supported the need for a Women’s Comming Out Support Group.
Lorretta and I had talked about starting a CO Support group for a bit as a need for women. I knew that Lorretta had experience in conducting workshops, as I was at an event in 2006 (RLF Spring/Summer meeting) where Lorretta led the workshop.
We both finally had time and energy back in 2010 and a place GCCR. So the two of us met and discussed the format and organization. I preferred to keep the meeting to only women, as a measure of safety for women and their special needs, i.e. to create a women’s only space. I contacted Cindy Bray for a space at GCCR and Lorretta worked with MCC to sponsor the support group. Read More…
