Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Rainbow Report - September 10


Rainbow Report
University of Maryland, College Park

Please don't forget to "like" and “follow” us:
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/equitycenter

LGBT Equity Programs:     
* Queer Lunch
o   Wednesdays 11:30am to 1pm, 2218 Marie Mount Hall. Bring your lunch; we’ll bring the conversation and fun! This week’s lunch will be an informal discussion about LGBTQ international human rights movements.

* Safe Space
o   Thursdays 7pm, 2308 Marie Mount Hall. Safe Space is a peer-facilitated supportive environment for any student navigating identity, coming out, or transitioning. Even if you consider yourself already “out,” this is a space to decompress, share what’s on your mind, and find support. This Safe Space is for you!

* Queer Camp 2013 Applications
o   Freshman applications will be accepted on a first come, first served rolling basis until September 16th, 2013. Participants will be notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis and no later than September 20th, 2013.

* Rainbow Terrapin Network
o   Sign up now for Rainbow Terrapin Network trainings along with our new Trans* Advocacy Trainings! http://www.rainbowterps.umd.edu.

* Queers Across Borders
o  The University of Maryland will host a group of international youth leaders from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, who are working on human rights and sexual and gender diversity and inclusion on Tuesday, Oct. 1st, 2013 at 7pm in 6137 McKeldin Library (Special Events Room).
o   Join us for powerful stories of international guests and their experiences with LGBTQ movements abroad, and cross-cultural dialogue about the true meaning of “solidarity” and a discussion of how our learning can be applied locally!
o   Presented by: The LGBT Equity Center in collaboration with Advocates for Youth. Contact: lgbt@umd.edu or 301-405-8720.
o   Co-sponsored by: Nyumburu Cultural Center; CARE to Stop Violence; School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures; Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy; Department of Spanish and Portuguese; The One Project; Consortium of Race, Gender, and Ethnicity; Leadership and Community Service Learning; Education Abroad; International Student and Scholar Services; and MSPP Policy Pride Council

Co-Sponsored Programs:

* Congressional Internship Opportunities for UMD Students
o   Are you interested in an internship with Congress? Please come on Friday, October 18th 2013 from 12:00 – 2:00 PM in the University Career Center – Resource Room to hear about the benefits of congressional internships and gain valuable tips for how to find and apply for these opportunities. Scott M. R. Baker, an UMD Alum and former Congressional Staff member, will share valuable information on the steps needed to successfully obtain one of these coveted internship opportunities. You can RVSP for this event by going to this site: http://www.careers.umd.edu/events_description.cfm?event_id=4223. For additional information, contact Pamela Allen at pallen@umd.edu


Additional Announcements:
* Words of Engagement Intergroup Dialogue Program
o   The Office of Diversity and Inclusion offers the Words of Engagement Intergroup Dialogue Program for interested undergraduate students who are interested in engaging with other students on difficult, but rewarding, topics. Classes are taught by trained and experienced facilitators. Participants can expect a rich and rewarding experience as well as an opportunity to develop skills in cultural competence.  All dialogues are 7-week, 1-credit courses that are held in the first and second halves of each semester and WEIDP courses satisfy the new General Education Cultural Competence. Dialogues with remaining seats are as follows:
o   EDHI338N (0101) Sexual Identity (LGBT/Heterosexual)
§  Thursday 4:30pm-6:30pm
§  9/12-10/24 (first half of the semester)
o   EDHI338N (0201) Sexual Identity (LGBT/Heterosexual)
§  Thursday 4:30pm-6:30pm
§  10/29-12/10 (second half of the semester)

* LGBT Staff/Faculty Association Lunch @ The Dairy
o   Members of the LGBT Staff/Faculty Association will be meeting informally for lunch for the first time of the Fall 2013 semester on the “first” Thursday of September (Actually the second Thursday for this month on Sept. 12th) in the Dairy. Please join for good food and great conversation!


* OUT IN THE CHURCH: Affirming LGBTA Spiritual Community
o   Out in the Church is a unique spiritual community on campus that provides an affirming conversational and spiritually supportive space for LGBT students and their friends to engage their Christian spirituality while also being hospitable for persons of diverse faith traditions. This community is a great place for students interested in integrating their spirituality and sexuality can do so in a way that helps them produce a generative and mutually reinforcing expansion of their spirituality and sexuality. It occurs on Mondays, 5:30 – 7:00 PM at the Lounge of the Memorial Chapel. Contact: Rev. Gaddis ogaddis@umd.edu.

* Spirituality through the Context of Sexuality
o   Gay? Lesbian? Straight? Other? None of these means your spiritual self stops existing or has to go lacking. If anything, your spiritual connection can be challenged and empowered. Explore/study the origins and approaches faced by individuals searching for and building their spiritual self-realization, in the context of being gay/lesbian. Lead by Rabbi Martin Siegel, the class will address:
o   Biblical bases for alternative sexualities or lack there-of;
o   Locate guides establishing the importance of self-confidence on a path of spiritual strength; and
o   Question the underlying human capability to be connected to oneself despite the many roles we each have.
o   The class will also invite student’s questions.
o   Open to all adults of all ages interested in a safe, friendly, learned environment. Held in three Sunday afternoon sessions this Fall, the class will be small with 5-10 people. Free-of-charge with donations welcomed, dates/locations will be determined based on students’ schedules. The class is open to people of any religion/theology and is guided towards LGBTQQIA individuals (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and allies).
o   Interested? Please e-mail or call organizer, Justin Fair, at jorlandofair@gmail.com or call (410) 645-0474. He will happily get back to you. 

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact us at 301-405-8720, by e-mail at lgbt@umd.edu, or come to our office. We are located in 2218 Marie Mount Hall.



Monday, May 6, 2013

Rainbow Report


Rainbow Report
University of Maryland, College Park
“The unstoppable & QUEER.”

"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."

-William Faulkner

Please don't forget to "like" our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/equitycenter


LGBT Equity Programs:     
* Queer Lunch!
o   Bring your lunch this Thursday at 12:30 in the LGBT Equity Center to the LAST Queer Lunch of the semester!!!
o   It’s like lunch in your high school cafeteria except WAY better. Come sit with the cool kids J
* Lavender Graduation
o   It’s that time again! This year, Lavender Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 18th from 3-5PM in the Memorial Chapel.
o   If you are a graduate, family member, or community member interested in attending RSVP here.
o   Come for the graduates, stay for the rainbow tassels J
Co-Sponsored Programs:
* Safe Space
o   Wednesdays 7:30 PM in 2308 Marie Mount Hall
*  Queer Camp 2013 Applications
o   Leader applications are due no later than next Thursday, May 9th, 2013.  Leaders will have the opportunity to assist in the planning and development of the retreat and programming, and Leaders are not required to have participated in Queer Camp 2012.  
o   Returning/Upperclassmen applications will be accepted on a first come, first served rolling basis until September 6th, 2013.  Participants will be notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis and no later than September 16th, 2013.
* LGBT Staff/Faculty Association Lunch @ The Dairy
o   Members of the LGBT Staff/Faculty Association will be meeting informally for lunch on the first Thursday of every month during the spring semester in the Dairy. Please join for good food and great conversation!
*  “Rise Above” Request for Proposals
o   The Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) seeks proposals (up to $750.00 per awardee) from the campus community for events and other endeavors that further the overall goals of the “Rise Above” campaign.
o   The campaign calls on us to "Rise Above" racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of bias and, instead, to “embrace” unity, respect, and diversity.  Through this grant program, ODI seeks to offer campus community members opportunities to engage actively around issues of diversity, culture, identity, bias, and difference.
o   Proposals will be accepted on a rolling process. Download the Request for Proposals document and template at www.diversity.umd.edu. For more information, contact Mark Brimhall-Vargas, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, at brimhall@umd.edu or x56810.

Student Group Meetings:
* HAMSA
o   A group for those who want to make the Jewish community a more comfortable and accepting place for LGBTQ students. Tuesdays at 4:00PM in the LGBT Equity Center.

* Bro to Bro
o   A group for LGBTQQIA- identified men. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM at the LGBT Equity Center.
* Bisexuals at Maryland (BAM)
o   A discussion group for those who inhabit the wide expanse that lay between gay and straight. Wednesdays at 6:00 PM in the LGBT Equity Center.
* TCOM
o   A group for LGBTQQIA people of all colors. Thursdays at 5:00PM in the LGBT Equity Center.
* TransU
o   A discussion and safe space for those who identify as transgender, genderqueer, or otherwise feel restricted by conventional definitions of "man" and "woman". Thursdays at 6:00PM 2218 Marie Mount Hall
* Women2Women (W2W)
o   A discussion group for LGBTQQIA- identified women. Thursdays at 7:00 PM in the LGBT Equity Center.

Additional Announcements:
* Lambda Pride Rooftop Happy Hour
o   Celebrate the end of the spring semester and a beautiful May evening by enjoying complimentary cocktails and a gorgeous view of Washington, DC along fellow UMD alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends.
o   Friday, May 10, 2013 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. 1010 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 
o   Cocktails are complimentary though this is a 21 and over event. The official event sign-up webpage is coming very soon so please save the date! Space is limited!
o   This event is free for UMD Alumni Association members. A$10 donation is asked of non-members

* USLT 498L/AMST 328R: Exploring Latin@ Gender & Sexuality in Popular Culture
o   The objective of this class is to examine how race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class are represented by and in relation to Latin@s in US popular culture. We will read and apply theory to the work of musicians like Selena, Shakira, and Ricky Martin. We will consider the depictions of Latin@s in film by watching the likes of Desi Arnaz, Edward James Olmos, Jennifer Lopez, and Lupe Ontiveros. We will also read fiction by and about Latin@ authors, including Junot Diaz' latest novel, This is How You Lose Her.

* Safer Sex Study
o   Are you a female? Are you 18-35 years old? Do you identify as lesbian or bisexual, or have you had sex with a woman in the last two years? We are looking for participants who meet the above criteria to be involved in a study of same-gender safe sex knowledge in the lesbian and bisexual community. The findings will be used to design better sexual health campaigns for lesbian and bisexual women.
o   Participation will include 1 one-hour phone or in-person interview. For more information, contact the graduate researcher of the study, Lauren Crook, at lcrook@umd.edu.

* FREE Testing
o   The University Health Center will offer free STI (results in two weeks) testing on Thursday, May 16 from 11-2:30pm.
o   There will be more free testing days in May. Check here for more information on the dates and types of testing being offered.
* Peer Leadership Council Applications
o   The Peer Leadership Council (PLC) is a trained group of undergraduate and graduate students who deliver leadership experiences to other students through a series of workshops, institutes, and conferences. PLC participation provides an opportunity to serve the campus community, apply personal leadership skills, and develop an awareness of self.
o   To apply, visit the website
* Program Assistant for The Safe Spaces Project
o   The Safe Spaces Project supports organizations and networks that provide welcoming spaces and resources for LGBTQ youth.
o   They are looking for a part-time program assistant for their virtual team.
o   If interested, please contact Alex Carter at agcarter@safespacesproject.org with “program assistant” in the subject line.

Would you like your announcement or program to appear in Rainbow Report? The Report is typically sent out on Mondays. To ensure your announcement’s consideration for publication, submit it via this form at least one week in advance: http://lgbt.umd.edu/newsletteritem.html

Would you like the LGBT Equity Center to consider co-sponsoring one of your events by lending our name, resources, or outreach support? Please submit all co-sponsorship requests through this web form at least one week prior to requesting a decision on your co-sponsorship request. Resources are limited. http://lgbt.umd.edu/cosponsorship.html If you wish to engage in a deeper collaboration beyond event co-sponsorship, please talk and meet with us directly.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact us at 301-405-8720, by e-mail at lgbt@umd.edu, or come to our office. We are located in 2218 Marie Mount Hall.