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

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)

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 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/

*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.

http://www.roddybarnes.com/reviews.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9zM1MH-kp0

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.

They will talk about what is happening and where we are going from here and answer questions.  If you have questions, this is your opportunity to get them answered.

This is the first public “Community Conversation” so if you can’t make it at this short a notice, there will be more opportunities or you can just email Bill.Harrison@LGBTRichmond.net.   Future “Conversations” will happen after the upcoming needs assessment has been analyzed.

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

The photo shoot on SATURDAY is scheduled to begin at 2:00PM and end at 6:00PM. The NOH8 Campaign would like to thank the GAY COMMUNITY CENTER OF RICHMOND for helping to coordinate our first event in VIRGINIA!

You do not need to make reservations; it’s first come, first served – and we move quickly! When you arrive, you will receive a numbered model release to fill out, followed by receiving your NOH8 tattoo. We will call numbers throughout the day, and your corresponding release number will signal your time to line up to have your photo taken.

The costs of doing a NOH8 portrait break down as follows:

SOLO PORTRAITS ………. $40.00

COUPLE & GROUP PORTRAITS ……….. $25.00 per person

The NOH8 Campaign accepts cash, most major credit cards, and checks made out to ‘NOH8Campaign’. Fees cover services & processing for one retouched digital print only (made available through www.NOH8Campaign.com) and do not include physical prints.

The lines moves quickly, so don’t let the RSVP’s intimidate you! We always do our best to make sure that everyone in line by 6:00PM has a chance to pose for their photo – and up to this point, we haven’t ever had to turn anyone away! Anyone that would like to join the NOH8 Campaign is asked to wear a plain white shirt to match the look of the signature NOH8 photos.

Celebrity Photographer & NOH8 Co-Founder Adam Bouska will be working around the clock to photograph 5-10 frames for each person that comes through. The final selection he chooses will be retouched and made available to you in about 8 weeks through the website:

www.NOH8Campaign.com

* * * * * WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? * * * * *

ARRIVE BETWEEN 2:00PM AND 6:00PM

@

GAY COMMUNITY CENTER OF RICHMOND
1407 SHERWOOD AVENUE
RICHMOND, VA 23220

* COME CAMERA READY *

* WEAR WHITE *

* POSE & MAKE A STATEMENT! *

Once you arrive, the NOH8 Campaign will apply the NOH8 temporary tattoo to your face, and we will also supply you with the silver duct tape for the photo.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? E-mail info@noh8campaign.com with your contact information and make sure to note which shoot you’d like to volunteer for!

Funds raised by the NOH8 Campaign will be used to continue promoting and raising awareness for marriage equality and anti-discrimination through NOH8’s interactive media campaign. This includes bringing the campaign to other cities around the country, as well as compiling the images for a large-scale media campaign. Under consideration is the expansion of our campaign to other media, including television and radio broadcast, billboards, and magazines. Contributions are also used to cover the daily operations and maintenance necessary to run this rapidly growing campaign.

The NOH8 Campaign is an approved 501(c)(3), donations will be tax-deductible up to the amount allowable by law.

Learn more about the NO H8 Campaign at their website.

Sat. April 14th | 5 pm | Greater Richmond Convention Center

The Annual Commonwealth Dinner is Equality Virginia’s signature annual event and Virginia’s largest black-tie gala gathering for the Commonwealth’s GLBT community and their supporters. Each year, the dinner has attracted over 1,000 guests and is promoted through electronic and print media to the many thousands of GLBT and straight ally Virginians living across the Commonwealth.

Held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, this year’s dinner will be bigger and better. You and your guests will enjoy live entertainment from noted invitees, a silent auction with chances to win one-of-a-kind prizes while bidding for weekend getaways, dinners out and more.

Equality Virginia’s 9th Annual Commonwealth Dinner will take place on April 14, 2012 Virginia in celebrating their OUTstanding Virginians for 2012 (soon to be announced!) along with our special guests for the evening David McFarland from The Trevor Project and Emmy-nominated actress Dot-Marie Jones, known for her role as Coach Beiste on the hit TV series Glee!

For Details and To Purchase Your Tickets.