Home services

Within the Information 11.4.21 – San Francisco Bay Occasions

By Joanie Juster –

Transgender awareness week

Every year between November 13th and 19th, people and organizations from all over the country accept Transgender awareness week to help increase the visibility of transgender people and address issues that members of the community face, including discrimination, violence and inadequate opportunities for housing and economic opportunities. There are several great online resources (GLAAD, HRC, NCTE, Trevor Project, and more) on how to be a good ally for transgender people and also transgender youth especially. Another option is to support trans-owning companies and organizations that support the trans community. This year, the Transgender District is partnering with The Okra Project (a collective trying to tackle food insecurity in the Black Trans community) in partnership with DoorDash to offer delivery and takeaway food from August 16 to December 16, 2021 . Would you like to help?

You can donate here: https://tinyurl.com/d2u58pj4

Openhouse and SAGE present a virtual symposium on housing for LGBT older people

Save the date for the LGBTQ + Senior Housing Virtual Symposium, jointly hosted by Openhouse and SAGE, on Thursday November 4th and Friday November 5th Housing services necessary to serve our aging LGBTQ + population support with affordable housing.

Tickets and information: https://openhousesymposium.org/

Speaking of seniors: bridging the digital divide

The digital divide is real, creating ever widening gaps in terms of equity and access, especially for communities that are already marginalized. Even in the tech-savvy Bay Area, many are left behind because they lack access to affordable and reliable internet connections or devices. According to a 2018 digital divide survey, while 86% of San Franciscans have internet and basic digital skills, only 60% of people over 65 and over 100,000 San Franciscans have either no broadband at home or basic digital Skills. Fortunately, there are resources out there to help. The SF Community Living Campaign offers a wide range of courses, help desks (in multiple languages) and resources, including links for applying for an affordable internet. Check them out: https://tinyurl.com/2wpuwe6e

Valencia Street Lesbian History

At this time when queer meeting rooms are disappearing at an alarming rate, Manny’s offers an opportunity to explore the rich history of lesbian rooms in Mission. On November 9th, Manny’s will introduce renowned educator and activist Ruth Mahaney in a discussion on “The Lesbian History of Valencia Street”. Mahaney, who left her conservative upbringing in the Midwest to become a teacher, professor and member of the Modern Times Bookstore Collective, will discuss how Valencia Street became an alternative to Castro as a place for the in the 1970s and 80s lesbian community, and how visionary lesbians seeking a countercultural movement formed a community on Valencia Street.

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/8xrd46pp

Create a panel for the AIDS quilt

In preparation for World AIDS Day on December 1st, workshops will be held on November 10th and 17th at the AIDS Quilting Workshop in San Leandro (one previously held on November 3rd) to help all who a Want to create a panel for the AIDS quilt to commemorate someone who died of AIDS. Sewing experience is not required, but it helps to have an idea of ​​what you are trying to create. Trips to the workshop can be arranged. Information: Contact Gregg Cassin at gcassin@shanti.org

Panel manufacturing information: https://tinyurl.com/ywwmfz4z

Queer Healing Arts Center presents Pride Mural Paint Party

On November 14th (10 am-12pm), volunteers will be asked to bring “dirt-friendly clothes and shoes” to this ongoing community drive to freshen up the ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER / OAKLAND PRIDE MURAL at the Lake Merritt Boating Center in Oakland. No previous knowledge required! This art-in-action continues Oakland’s legacy as one of the most recognized communities in the country for progressive action. In 2020, Kin Folkz (The Queer Healing Arts Center) partnered with Janetta Johnson (TGIJP), Guerrilla Davis (We Are The Ones), Endeavor and 13 other Black + Indigenous QT artists to create the massive stencil and over 250 community -Create members came to fill it out. As the largest + longest mural in Oakland to date, the mural has garnered worldwide attention.

https://tinyurl.com/82pcdknh

Sexual orientation and gender identity data

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed law introduced by Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to repeal Chapter 12E of the Administrative Code and allow Human Resources to voluntarily and confidential demographic information about the sexual orientation of employees and applicants City to rise. Mandelman said, “By collecting this data, we can better track our citywide employment equity goals, fill gaps, and identify strategies for recruiting LGBTQ employees who are interested in public service.” He continued, “The LGBTQ City employees drive our buses, fight our fires and clean our streets. This legislation will help us identify and address the needs of these employees and ensure that we support and expand the LGBTQ workforce in San Francisco. “

Frameline Senior Programmer appears at Jeopardy

The long-running TV game show Jeopardy received some frameline star power on October 28th when the senior programmer of the film festival, Peter Stein, appeared as a candidate. Stein was smiling but admitted to The Jewish News of Northern California that the lights were glaring, the studio was incredibly loud, and tensions were high. “It’s pretty stressful right now,” he says. Even so, he was excited to appear on the show with new host Mayim Bialik and ended up finishing third. For his work, he receives a check for $ 1,000 within 180 days.

The sisters are giving it away: Deadline November 15th

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence not only proclaim joy and atone for guilt, but also financially support many grassroots projects and organizations that have only limited access to funds. Application forms are now available for the Saturnalia 2021 scholarship cycle. Applications are due by November 15th at 11:59 p.m. Grants typically range from $ 250 to $ 1,000, giving preference to underfunded small organizations and projects that provide direct services to underserved communities. They said, “We have a vision that encompasses diverse communities and groups that share a common interest in human rights, people of every gender, gender identity, race, class, age and sexual orientation.” The list of their recent fellows confirms their commitment to this vision.

Application: https://www.thesisters.org/grants

And the award goes to …

It’s gala season – both virtual and in person – and many leaders in our community are being honored for their services. This list is far from complete at the time of going to press, but here is a selection of people who have been recognized for their outstanding work: Honey Mahogany (PRC); Jewelle Gomez, Daniel Nicoletta, Frances Franco Stevens, and Tiny Valentin Aguirre (GLBT Historical Society); and Nina Turner, Laura Thomas, Gary McCoy, Bishop Megan Rohrer, Sasha Perigo, Stephen Torres, and Paul Aguilar (Harvey Milk Democratic Club). The organizations honored include the SF AIDS Foundation, GAPA, Castro Community on Patrol, BAAHS, Eviction Defense Collaborative, and the Trans Advisory Committee of the SF Office of Transgender Initiatives. And a special shoutout to the Bare Chest Calendar who is honored for raising over $ 2 million for the PRC and AIDS Emergency Fund (now part of the PRC) over the past 38 years. Well done everyone!

Every little bit helps

Just when we thought the phrase “whirling bomb cyclone” was an exaggeration created by meteorologists hungry for attention, the October 24th Flood taught us that it was the real deal. If you were lucky enough to get through the storm safe and dry, please consider passing it on to those who have faced the storm in the elements. Clean, dry socks are always needed by street dwellers, as well as other items, to improve their comfort and safety, especially when winter approaches. Project Homeless Connect has a page with useful items that you can donate and an Amazon wish list where you can have items sent directly to you.

https://tinyurl.com/3dzmchaj

Volunteer opportunities in the age of COVID

During the pandemic, when offices were closed and events canceled, many of us missed out on volunteering for our favorite organizations and causes. As the Bay Area reopens, we’d like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, including those that can be done remotely or safely. Contact me at jjbaytimes@gmail.com

Joanie Juster is a longtime volunteer, activist, and ally.

Published on November 4, 2021

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button