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| >> Back to most recent newsletter February 2004 LBGT@MIT Newsletter 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.
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. In the News BOSTON (AP) -- The Massachusetts high court ruled Wednesday that only full, equal marriage rights for gay couples -- rather than civil unions -- would be constitutional, erasing any doubts that the nation's first same-sex marriages could take place in the state beginning in mid-May. The court issued the opinion in response to a request from the state Senate about whether Vermont-style civil unions, which convey the state benefits of marriage -- but not the title -- would meet constitutional muster. The much-anticipated opinion sets the stage for next Wednesday's constitutional convention, where the Legislature will consider an amendment that would legally define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Without the opinion, Senate President Robert Travaglini had said the vote would be delayed. The soonest a constitutional amendment could end up on the ballot would be 2006, meaning that until then, the high court's decision will be Massachusetts law no matter what is decided at the constitutional convention. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled in November that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, and gave the Legislature six months to change state laws to make it happen. But almost immediately, the vague wording of the ruling left lawmakers -- and advocates on both side of the issue -- uncertain if Vermont-style civil unions would satisfy the court's decision. The state Senate asked for more guidance from the court and sought the advisory opinion, which was made public Wednesday morning when it was read into the Senate record.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Senate has approved one of the most far-reaching
gay marriage bans in the nation despite charges from some lawmakers
that the legislation was mean-spirited and discriminatory. The measure says same-sex marriages are "against the strong public policy of the state," and would prohibit state employees from getting benefits for domestic partners, whether they were gay or unmarried heterosexual couples. The bill permits exceptions to the benefits ban, including cities, villages, townships, schools and private companies. However, universities are included in the ban. MIT ADDS SEXUAL ORIENTATION TO ITS NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY After two years of work by the LBGT Issues group and a number of concerned allies and individuals, MIT has officially added sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy. This is an exciting and much welcomed commitment from the University that will ensure that individuals at MIT will not be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Though protection against gender expression was included in the LBGT Issue group's initial proposal, the faculty senate decided that it should not be included in the nondiscrimination policy, indicating their belief that gender expression was inherently protected by other components of the clause. In celebration of this victory (and that MIT has just become more welcoming), LBGT@MIT will be re-launching its successful You Are Welcome Here campaign later in the spring. Stay tuned! To view MIT's current nondiscrimination policy online, visit http://web.mit.edu/referencepubs/nondiscrimination/. Meet Boston Episcopal Bishop- Spirituality Discussion TOMORROW NIGHT! February 5; 7:30pm; Rainbow Lounge (50-306) (PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A TIME CHANGE!) Tom Shaw, who is the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts, will be coming to MIT to talk with LGBT students. Tom will answer any questions students have about the recent ordination of an openly gay man as an Episcopal bishop, share his thoughts about the intersection of spirituality and sexuality, but most importantly, will listen to whatever the students want to share about their experiences and hopes as spiritual people. The goal of this visit is NOT evangelical; Bishop Shaw's hope is to strengthen and encourage the students for their own spiritual journeys. If you have ever met or heard Tom speak, you know that he is a listener, deeply pastoral, respectful of all faiths, and not on a crusade to convert people. Please make it a point to take advantage of this exciting opportunity! For more information, email Amy McCreath, MIT's Episcopal Chaplain, at mccreath@mit.edu. Bishop Follow-up Discussion Tuesday February 10th, 7-8pm, Rainbow Lounge (50-306) Following
the visit to MIT by the Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts, the Episcopal
ministry at MIT would 'Tute Ice Cream Social! FRIDAY!!!!! February 6 from 4-5:30pm in the Rainbow Lounge The sixth annual TGIF ('tute Gay Ice Cream Friday) Ice Cream Social hosted by LBGT@MIT will take place Friday, February 6, from 4:00-5:30 pm in the Rainbow Lounge (50-306). Come by for fun, fellowship, free ice cream, and to hear about all of the exciting activities that will be taking place this semester. For more information, email lbgt@mit.edu. This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff. Rainbow Lounge: New Spring Semester Schedule/ Volunteers Needed The Rainbow Lounge will be open during the following
NEW hours this semester: Tuesdays from 5-9pm We are currently looking for a few volunteers (Staff or Students) to assist with staffing the Rainbow Lounge. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Rick Gresh at rgresh@mit.edu. Located on the 3rd floor of Walker Memorial (50-306), the Rainbow Lounge provides meeting and office space for all LBGT groups on MIT's campus and serves as the hub for MIT's LBGT campus life. Huge, Fun Friday Night Event-- February 20! Friday Night Coffee House, hosted by LBGT@MIT Friday, February
20, 2004, 7:00pm - 10:00pm FUN WORKSHOP AND MUSIC: Please join us for a fun evening starting with a great workshop offered by Dorian Solot (see below) and followed up by a performance by a Gregory Douglass, a bisexual singer/song writer from Burlington, Vermont. This event is co-sponsored by LBGT@MIT Issues Group, the Rainbow Student Coffee House and QWiLLTS. Refreshments provided. Workshop from 7pm to 8:30pm and Gregory Douglass from 9pm to 10pm. Workshop details: New Format: Bi-weekly Support and Discussion Group Bi-weekly discussions on topics YOU want to talk about. Support and discussions for all LBGT and questioning undergraduate and graduate students - not just for coming out. Safe and confidential! The Spring 2004 schedule is: * 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 4-5:30 PM in 5-104, Emily Meghan Morrow Howe from Women's Studies and James Collins from Counseling and Support Services will facilitate. It is asked that individuals attending this group plan to stay for the full session, though it is understood that some may have to leave for a 5 PM commitment (such as athletic teams). For more information, please contact James Collins (staff in Counseling and Support Services) at jmcollin@mit.edu or x8-5482. * Monthly Discussion
Lunches Check out the http://web.mit.edu/lbgt/support/ for more information. Rainbow Coffee House Pool Night Join the Rainbow Coffeehouse for another great Pool Night. The last was a huge success! Date: February 12, 2004, 7:00pm - 10:00pm Location: Flat Top
Johnny's For more information: Contact
Ajit Dash, glb-coffee-officers@mit.edu LBGT Issues Group Meeting February 11, 3:30pm - 5:00pm Rainbow Lounge (50-306) Agenda items include creating a working definition of "welcoming community," safety/ security at LBGT events, and comittee updates. The Issues Group is a committee of faculty, staff, and students committed to ensuring that LBGT individuals are welcomed and affirmed by MIT and its community. All interested individuals are welcome to attend! For more information, contact lbgt@mit.edu GABLES UPDATE!!! GABLES (Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, and Transgender Employees and Staff) recently moved its e-mail list to a different server. If you have had problems in the past with getting on the gables@mit.edu list or if you haven't heard from GABLES in a while, please visit http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/gables to subscribe. GABLES coordinates a monthly luncheon - on the last working day of each month. The next luncheon will be on February, 27. For more information, contact David Fitzgerald at dfitz@mit.edu. Help Plan MIT's first LBGT South Asian Film Festival! Between The Lines - Negotiating
South Asian LBGT Identity Parmesh Shahani is organizing a south Asian LGBT film festival at MIT along with a host of supporting activities, and would greatly appreciate help of any kind in its organization and implementation. Parmesh would appreciate help on all fronts: financial, organizational, publicity, etc. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Parmesh via email at parmesh@mit.edu or via phone at 617.225.6638. Volunteers Needed for the Freedom to Marry's Annual Gala and Silent Auction Help the Freedom to Marry Coalition with this important Community event and Fundraiser. That happens to be a holiday weekend in the middle of February, so you might have some free time (what's that?) and piece of mind to help out at the Silent Auction. Who: YOU!!! This is a great way for students to get in free as well. Tickets are $100 per person, so volunteer for a few hours and enjoy the evening!! Check out the website for more info: http://www.equalmarriage.org/auction.php The LGBT Center at Tufts University presents SAFE COLLEGES 2004 New England's Largest Collegiate Conference for the LGBT & Ally Community Saturday, April 3, 2004 @ Tufts University (Medford, MA) Several individuals at MIT have expressed an interest in gathering a group to attend this great conference. Several students and staff have attended in previous years and thought the conference to be really great! If interested in attending, please contact lbgt@mit.edu * Keynote address
from renowned scholar and activist Barbara Smith about * Over 30 workshops
on everything from Same-Sex Marriage to Transgender * Now with THREE workshop sessions (thanks to your feedback!) * Screening of the award-winning film "Jim In Bold" from Young Gay America * Tentative screening of independent LGBT short films * Queer Café,
Poetry Slam, and of course, our annual DANCE & DRAG SHOW to (Students from other
New England schools have already begun to register so For more information
and to REGISTER for this FREE conference, please Questions? E-mail safecolleges@tufts.edu or call 617-627-3771. 2B Diversity Project Essay Contest To
BE _______.
Fill in the blank. Black. Male. White. Latino. Female. Asian. French.
Iranian. Gay. Jewish. Muslim. Whatever. In these difficult times particular
groups may join together to weather the storms of The 2B Diversity Project is a diversity-themed writing competition designed to promote cross-cultural sharing. It is rare that we stop and have a conversation with those "different" from us about what it is to be different. Prose can be a safe and uninhibited way to share personal celebrations of identity and perhaps spark conversations. The contest has a $1000 cash prize and winners will be announced in late April. For more information, check out the website at:http://web.mit.edu/ccrr/grants/2Be.html GLSEN CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT MIT! GLSEN is the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educators Network and is a national organization working to make schools safer for LBGT individuals. GLSEN Boston, in collaboration with Boston Public Schools, JRI Health, Project 10 East, MAP for Health, Health Care for Southeastern MA, Boston Centers for Youth and Families and our sponsors the Multicultural AIDS Coalition and the Grass Roots Gay Rights Fund are excited to announce GLSEN Boston's 14th Annual Conference - Beyond Boundaries. The conference will be held on Saturday, April 3, 2004, at MIT. Workshop proposals are currently being accepted. For more information on presenting or attending, please contact lbgt@mit.edu. New England Power Summit Training March
25-28th Leaders
in the LGBT community need to know how to prepare for these struggles
in their cities and states, as well as learn from what is happening
in Massachusetts and around the country. Leaders also need to know how
to find, ask, and recruit others to act with them so that they can do
their work on a larger scale.Since the landmark 2003 decision by the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirming For more information on how to participate, please email Elias Rojas at erojas@ngltf.org or call (202) 841-1783. Enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis. More information: Save the Date! Queer
Art a Decade After Identity Politics May 4, 2004, 6:00pm - 7:30pm A reception to honor graduate and undergraduate LBGT students who have (almost) made it through MIT successfully! We also celebrate the accomplishments of the past year. If you or someone you know is LBGT and graduating, please e-mail us lbgt@MIT so we can be sure they get invited! General Announcements Renowned activists URVASHI VAID and JOO-HYUN KANG will give keynote address at QUEER ASIAN PACIFIC LEGACY - a historic regional conference LGBT pan-Asian Pacific Americans to network, organize, agitate, educate, and build capacity New
York University, NYC HIGHLIGHTS: |
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