The Announcements on this page are updated once a month. lbgt@mit coordinates a monthly e-mail newsletter through which these Announcements are distributed. To subscribe to the monthly e-mail, please submit a request to lbgt@mit.

• In the News-- Gay Marriage Decreed for Massachusetts!
• Home for the Holidays Discussion
• Rainbow Lounge Updates
• QWILLTS Sushi Study Break 12/11
• Student Support Groups 12/16
• GABLES Holiday Lunch 12/18
• Graduate Resident Tutors Recruitment/ Information Sesssion 12/11
• Public Service Center Giving Tree
• LBGT Spirit: Walk the Labyrinth 1/15/04
• IAP LBGT Events
• Meet Boston Episcopal Bishop- Spirituality Discussion February 5, 2004
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Gay Spring Break
• Other Announcements and Activism

Also Check Out the Online Web Calendar to Find Out What's Going on with LBGT@MIT!

LBGT@MIT's online calendar is an excellent way to publicize and learn about activities taking place on campus. Check out the newly updated version today and frequently at web.mit.edu/lbgt/events.

From the Web:

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that "barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution." The court stayed the entry of judgment for 180 days "to permit the Legislature to take such action as it may deem appropriate in light of this opinion."

"Marriage is a vital social institution," wrote Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall for the majority of the Justices. "The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. For those who choose to marry, and for their children, marriage provides an abundance of legal, financial, and social benefits. In return it imposes weighty legal, financial, and social obligations." The question before the court was "whether, consistent with the Massachusetts Constitution," the Commonwealth could deny those protections, benefits, and obligations to two individuals of the same sex who wish to marry.

In ruling that the Commonwealth could not do so, the court observed that the Massachusetts Constitution "affirms the dignity and equality of all individuals," and "forbids the creation of second-class citizens." It reached its conclusion, the court said, giving "full deference to the arguments made by the Commonwealth." The Commonwealth, the court ruled, "has failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason for denying civil marriage to same-sex couples."

Yet, a group of legislators at both the state and national levels are mobilizing in defense of this judgement, attempting to add an amendment to the state and federal constitution which bans gay marriages. To prevent this setback from occurring, please write your state and national legislators immediately-- and encourage your friends to do so as well. The Human Rights Campaign and Massachusetts Freedom to Marry Coalition websites have links directly to your representative and form letters that you can click and send instantly. It only takes seconds and can make a world of difference. Check out the sites at www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/home.html and www.ftmmass.org.

Are you anxious about heading home and being out (or not being able to be out) for the holidays? Are you thinking about coming out to your family over the break? Have you and your family been on the outs since you decided to come out to them? If so, come to this discussion to get some tips on making the most of this holiday season-- or at least surviving it.

This workshop, sponsored by LBGT@MIT, will take place on Tuesday, December 9, at 7pm and again on Friday, December 12 from noon- 2pm in the Rainbow Lounge. For more information, email lbgt@mit.edu.

The Rainbow Lounge will be open and available to students and staff through Tuesday, December 16. Regular Resource Center hours will be observed: Tuesdays 4:30-9pm, Thursdays 1-7pm, and Fridays 12-3pm. The Lounge will re-open on this regular schedule beginning Tuesday, January 6 during IAP. Spring semester hours will be posted in the January lbgt@mit newsletter.

A wide selection of hot drinks and and snacks are always in the lounge. Be sure to stop in on cold winter days and warm-up.

December 11, 2003, 7:00pm Rainbow Lounge (50-306)

Chat, play games, chill, eat, relax with great queer women and friends in a friendly, relaxing, positive, open environment. For more information, email lbgt@mit.edu.

Students: Are you bisexual, questioning, transgender, gay, or lesbian? MIT can be a busy place where students sometimes feel alone with the things that concern them. Come to NEW support and discussion groups, a safe and confidential space where you'll meet other people who are similar to you, hear how others have dealt with similar situations (like personal and family relationships), and get some help with finding resources at MIT and beyond.
Groups meet on the first Monday from 12-1:30 pm and third Tuesday of each month from 7-8:30pm in Room 5-104. For more information, jmcollin@mit.edu or come to the first meeting.

If you are faculty, staff, or a student who knows someone who might benefit from participation in these groups, please assist us in spreading the word.

Sponsored by LBGT@MIT, Counseling and Support Services, and MIT Medical.

December 18, 2003, 12:10pm - 1:10pm
Location: Pho Lemon, located at 228 Broadway, near Kendall Square
GABLES is the M.I.T. glbt staff & faculty group. The lunch is an opportunity to gather in a social environment to meet and greet one another. It is also a venue to talk about issues of interest to the M.I.T. and larger communities. Colleagues from the wider community are invited to join in the fun.

For more information or to RSVP, please email dfitz@mit.edu.

The job of Graduate Resident Tutor (GRT's) is to foster a supportive, safe, and positive living environment and to build a community atmosphere among undergraduates in MIT residence halls. This responsibility includes encouraging personal growth, providing outlets for managing stress, and facilitating positive interpersonal relationships. GRTs are also responsible for implementing community standards, enhancing security, and promoting mutual respect between and among the residents they serve. In undertaking this position, GRTs become part of a residence team led by the Housemasters and including other GRTs.

Eligibility: Full time graduate students registered at MIT, or in a combined program with MIT and another institution, may apply. Students must be registered in a multi-year program and be at a point in their studies where they will likely be staying at MIT for several more years. An international student on any type of visa who already has a Research Assistantship or a Teaching Assistantship at MIT requiring over ten hours of work per week should not apply because acceptance of a position would result in over twenty hours of employment, in violation of U.S. law.

For more information, including the application and program description, please visit web.mit.edu/residence/grt.html or contact Lauren Wojtkun at 617.452.4280, laurenw@mit.edu, or attend the information session on December 11 at 5 PM in the Rainbow Lounge.

The MIT Giving Tree allows students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends to provide gifts to needy children in the Cambridge and Boston area each holiday season. The MIT Public Service Center and Panhellenic Association work with 16 local agencies to collect gift requests from hundreds of children. Each gift request is then individually matched to a Giving Tree participant, making the Giving Tree a more personalized experience for everyone.
To Participate, pick up a gift label(s) -- Now - December 12: Public Service Center, 4-104
December 1 - 5: Lobby 10. DEADLINE MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 AT 5:00 PM
Gifts may be dropped off Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM, at:
Public Service Center, 4-104
Community Services Office (Walker), 50-005

For more information, email psc@mit.edu or call 617-253-0742.

January 15, 2004; 7pm; Morss Hall, Walker Memorial

Labyrinths are tools for meditation, insight, prayer, and stress relief which appear in many civilizations. We will talk briefly about the history and use of labyrinths and then you will be invited to walk a 36 ft. Chartres pattern canvas labyrinth. This is a meditative event, and the walk will take place in silence. Open to people of all faiths, philosophies, or mindsets.

For more information, contact: Amy McCreath, W11.007, x3-2983, mccreath@mit.edu

GAMIT LBGT Film Series
Series of popular films focusing on relating to lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender people. Topics include religion, bisexuality, transgenderism, adn hate crimes. Films will include "Kissing Jessica Stein," "Anatomy of a hate Crime," "Trembling before G-d," and "The Brandon Teena Story and Boys Don't Cry." For more information and a complete shcedule, check out the web at http://web.mit.edu/gamit/www/ or email gamit-admin@mit.edu.

ULC Winter Party
Saturday, January 31, 10-12pm, Room TBD
Celebrate a happy IAP and kick off the new term with ULC. Join other lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender students and their friends at our Winter Party. It might be cold outside, but hot apple cider and cocoa will be served to keep the party HOT! For more information, check out the web at http://web.mit.edu/ulc/www/events.html or email ulc-officers@mit.edu.

For an up to date list of activities, check out web.mit.edu/iap/

Save the date!!! February 5; 5:30pm; Rainbow Lounge (50-306)

Boston's Epsicopal Bishop will be on campus to visit with LBGT students and discuss issues of spirituality and current events taking place in the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal church recently ordained its first openly gay bishop, challenging the church around the world to address lbgt issues. This is an important opportunity to think about the intersection between spirituality and sexuality -- please make it a point to attend!

For more informattion, check out the January LBGT newsletter or email lbgt@mit.edu.

The GLBT Helpline and the Peer Listening Line of Fenway Community Health provide information, referral, and support to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender callers through our toll-free nationwide lines and we are in need of help. If you self identify as GLBT, have 5 hours per month to spare, and are looking for a way to help our community, email program coordinator Jim Maynard at jmaynard@fenwayhealth.org or call 617-927-6242. A new volunteer training begins in February. Come be the voice that answers our community's call!

(We received this announcement and thought many of you might be interested. Enjoy!)

Do you have any idea what you are doing for spring break? Although it is only the middle of November, its about time to be thinking about Spring Break in March, 2004. We're a couple of friends from the University of Wisconsin who are organizing spring break trips for LGBT groups across the country. We've found that our age group (18-25 y.o. gay travelers) has been ignored by both gay-travel and youth tour providers. We've decided to do something about it and we've reserved a block of rooms for the last week of February and the month of March at a sweet hotel right across the street from the beach in hip and very (very) gay-positive South Beach, Miami.

We're organizing our trips over the web since we're trying to reach students in colleges across the country, and we've been lucky to get a great deal on a spot in the Nov/Dec issue of XY. However, we wanted to personally extend the invitation to you in hopes of fostering the idea of a national, social, all-encompassing LGBT community. We would also be able to discount multiple rooms for groups such as yours.

We've called ourselves BreakOUT because we're trying to break out of the norm and offer something unique and positive for our community. Check out our website at www.breakouttravel.com. Please feel free to contact me at steve.curtis@breakouttravel.com to get more information about this trip, the first organized gay spring break!!!

First Fridays at Club Café: A social/networking event for: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Students in graduate programs in the Greater Boston/Cambridge area (and their friends).

When: TONIGHT!!! FIRST FRIDAY of every month PROMPTLY from 7pm until exactly 9pm. (At 9pm, the social ends, name tags come off, and doors open to the general
public)

(FREE ADMISSION)
Where: Sunset Lounge at CLUB CAFE (the bar way in the back)

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