Community Compass
Community Compass is a service of OITM. GLBT organizations from around the state are invited to provide brief — 200 words or less — descriptions of recent or upcoming activities and events. Send your submissions to us by email by the 15th of the month.
Rainbow Graduation
at UVM is May 4th
BURLINGTON - The annual UVM Rainbow Graduation Ceremony will honor LGBTTQA
students, faculty and staff at the event from 4 to 6 PM, Thursday, May
4th, at Billings Student Center on campus.
Admission is free. Please RSVP by calling
802-656-1762, or by emailing Eli Clare at eclare@uvm.edu
Northeast Kingdom Rainbow Film Festival
ST. JOHNSBURY - Running from May 5-11, the Northeast Kingdom Rainbow Film
Festival will present nine films over seven nights exploring a variety
of alternative lifestyle issues and experiences.
Films featured in the series include Transamerica,
Breakfast on Pluto, Summer Storm, Unveiled, Floored by Love, and
Loggerheads. A series of shorts entitled The Ultimate Lesbian
Short Film Festival will also play.
Two acclaimed documentaries are scheduled.
On opening night, May 5th, Vermont director, John Scagliotti will present
his documentary Dangerous Living and lead a discussion after
the screening. Michael Horvat's acclaimed We Are Dad tells the
struggle of 2 white HIV negative gay men and their family of 5 kids as
they try for adoption.
The festival is made possible by a generous
grant from The Samara Foundation and sponsorship of here! Network. Tickets
to the films are $5. FMI call Catamount Arts at (802) 748-2600.
Clarina
Howard Nichols Center Volunteer Training
MORRISVILLE - This training is free and open to the public, and is a wonderful
opportunity to learn more about domestic violence and sexual assault.
There are many volunteer opportunities here and we will do our best to
match your interests with the needs of the shelter. We are looking for
compassionate individuals of all backgrounds and abilities who are willing
to give their time to support a great cause!
WHEN: May 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and 25 from 6-9 PM. Trainees must attend
all sessions to receive a "crisis worker" certificate.
WHERE: People's Academy High School, Morrisville
For more information or to sign up, please contact Shannon at 888-2584.
4th Annual Walk for Love
WILLIAMSTOWN - Help raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and funds for Chrysalis
Community at the 4th Annual Walk for Love. The benefit will take place
at noon on Saturday, May 6th on the Williams College Campus. To register
for the walk or for more information visit www.chrysaliscommunity.org
or call 802-823-9309.
Chrysalis is an environment for people living
with HIV/AIDS to learn and practice holistic methods for healing the mind,
body and spirit. This annual walkathon hopes to unite local community
members in solidarity with those living with HIV/AIDS.
Registration begins at Noon at Poker Flats
on the Williams College Campus in Williamstown, followed by a kickoff
ceremony at 12:30 pm. There will be a minimum entrance fee of $5, or $15
to receive a commemorative t-shirt.
Walkers are encouraged to raise donations
ahead of time from family and friends by downloading a walker form from
the Chrysalis website (www.chrysaliscommunity.
org) or picking one up from select Williamstown and North Adams businesses.
Prizes will be given by open drawing and to the top fundraisers. Food
and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
Directions to Poker Flats: From Route 2
in Williamstown, turn right onto Southworth Street. Turn left onto Lynde
Lane and make a right onto Mission Park Drive. Security officers will
direct walkers to parking.
Diana Jones at 135 Pearl on May 11th
BURLINGTON & MONTPELIER - Come by 135 Pearl in Burlington to hear
singer/songwriter Diana Jones, who will perform at 8 PM on Thursday, May
11th. Cover charge is $10. Jones, who is on tour from her home in Nashville,
is listed as #4 on Folk Radio List charts with her song Pretty Girl at
#1 on the chart.
Jones will also play the following evening,
Friday, May 12th, in Montpelier, at the Langdon Street Cafe at 8 pm.
Volunteers Wanted for Women Helping Battered Women
BURLINGTON - Do you believe women and children should live a life free
from violence and abuse? If so, please consider working as a volunteer
and help make a difference in your community!
Women Helping Battered Women is currently
seeking community volunteers for all programs. Applications are now being
accepted for our May Volunteer Training. The deadline for registration
is Friday, May 12th. For an application or for more information, please
call 658 3131 or go to our website at www.whbw.org
Rosie O'Donnell Hosts "In the Life"
PUBLIC TELEVISION - Rosie O'Donnell, Emmy-award winning talk show host
and mother of four, just completed taping an episode for America's monthly
Gay and Lesbian newsmagazine on public television, In the Life.
Ms. O'Donnell hosts Family Ties,
this month's episode that explores the diverse and complex world of family
within the LGBT community.
O’Donnell says of her own family experience,
"Kelly and I are constantly reminded as we raise our two sons and
two daughters that the joys, challenges and frustrations of family life
are universal."
For night owls, seeing In the Life
is not a problem. It airs on Ch. 33 VPT in Burlington at 11:35 p.m. on
Sunday, May 14th.
The show will also air on Durham, New Hampshire's
public television station WENH at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 7th.
AIDS Project of Southern Vermont to hold
19th Annual Walk for Life
BRATTLEBORO - Please join us on Saturday, May 20th for the AIDS Project
of Southern Vermont's 19th Annual Walk for Life. To honor and support
our community's actions in fighting the worldwide AIDS epidemic, we will
gather at the Centre Congregational Church on Main Street at 10:00 am
and walk up Main Street to the Brattleboro Town Common in remembrance
of all those whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS. The program on the
Common will include music, speakers, and a welcoming noontime meal.
The AIDS Project is privileged this year
to welcome Sondra E. Solomon, Ph.D, as speaker for the Walk. Professor
Solomon, from theUniversity of Vermont's Department of Psychology, recently
has completed a study of HIV-related stigma in Vermont.
The program will conclude with the reading
of the names of loved ones from our community who have died from AIDS
in the last 19 years. A free lunch will be served at noon after the program.
Come and be part of this event by collecting
pledges and walking, by sponsoring a walker, or by joining in on Saturday
morning. The AIDS Walk is an opportunity for you to show support for our
vigorous fight against AIDS. The Project encourages those who participate
in the Walk to seek pledge sponsors for their effort. Pledge sheets are
available online at our website, www.AIDSProjectSouthernVermont.org
or call (802) 254- 8263 or e-mail mff@sover.net
for more information.
Sign Up for Equal Marriage
ON THE WEB - The Massachusetts Supreme Court decision in the Cote Whitacre
case reaffirms the importance of our work to attain full, civil marriage
equality right here in Vermont, and throughout the country. The court's
decision reminds us that we cannot rely on courts or legislatures of other
states to eliminate the remaining discrimination against gay and lesbian
couples in Vermont's laws; that’s something we must do for ourselves.
And we CAN do it. We know from recent polling
that forty-two percent of Vermonters support civil marriage equality for
same-sex couples and 11% are leaning that direction. We must reach these
supporters to achieve civil marriage equality.
Many say, "I only know the choir, you
don't need them."
The truth is, they are exactly who we need
to reach. You know who supports this issue and you can help us connect
with them.
Please, go to www.vtfreetomarry.org
to sign on in support of civil marriage equality. You can also send a
message to your supportive family, friends and co-worker to ask for their
support as well.
Support civil marriage equality today at www.vtfreetomarry.
org or call 802.388.2633.
Champ Ride is June 3rd
FERRISBURGH - Join Vermont CARES for our 6th annual Champ Ride on Saturday,
June 3rd. This bicycling fundraiser starts and ends at Kingsland Bay State
Park in Ferrisburg, Vermont.
Champ Ride is a well-established, popular
benefit for Vermont CARES that brings the community together for a good
cause. Bike enthusiasts cycle a beautiful 12, 25, 50, or 100-mile route
along Lake Champlain. All funds raised stay local, and are used to fund
our programs for people living with, or at risk of, HIV and AIDS. As a
result, your donation goes directly to people affected by this illness.
Please contact Peter Jacobsen at 800/649-2437 for more information, or
access our website at www.vtcares.org/fundraising/champ.htm
SafeSpace & WRCC Need Support Line Volunteers!
BURLINGTON - Are you looking for a unique ongoing volunteer opportunity?
Are you passionate about anti-violence? Sign up today to become a direct
service volunteer with SafeSpace or the Women’s Rape Crisis Center.
Starting June 11th, SafeSpace and WRCC will be holding a joint volunteer
training.
SafeSpace is a social change and social
service organization working to end physical, sexual, emotional, and hate
violence in the lives of LGBTQQ Vermonters.
The Women’s Rape Crisis Center works
to end all forms of sexual violence.
For more information about volunteer opportunities,
the upcoming training, or how to be involve - please contact Connie at
SafeSpace, 802-863-0003 or Elle at WRCC, 802-864-0555.
"Just knowing someone was on the phone,
listening, made all the difference" - you can make the difference!
Spring Cleaning is Here!!
BURLINGTON - SafeSpace is accepting donations of gently used items for
the annual "Clean OUT Your CLOSET" Yard Sale, scheduled for
Saturday, June 10 at the Universalist Unitarian Church lawn in Burlington
(9-5pm). All proceeds go to SafeSpace programs and services.
Please contact SafeSpace at 802-863-0003
or connie@safespacevt.org
to set up a drop-off/pick-up time. Donations will be accepted through
June 9th. Thank you for your
support!
Items Needed: Furniture, Clothes, Knick-Knacks,
Exercise Equipment, Electronics, Toys, Household Materials, Etc...
Lavender Country and Folk Dance
WOODSTOCK, CT - Anyone who loves to socialize with congenial folks but
doesn't like spending time in a bar should hasten on down to the Lavender
Country and Folk Dance (LCFD) spring camp on May 12-14 in Woodstock, Connecticut.
The camp offers contradancing and selected other community dances in a
'gender-role-free environment.' No partner or previous experience is required.
The LCFD welcomes fun seeking lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and our straight
friends.
Dance camp is the perfect place to learn
to dance. The atmosphere shares the clean and sometimes rather crunchy
granola feel of any contradance (functional shoes are a must), with that
special edge of joy that flows from a queer event where people are enjoying
strutting their real selves.
The weekend in May features the trio Spank
Me, known for their zippy tunes and irresistible, driving rhythm as well
as for their fascination with leopardprint attire. Three different callers
will guide dancers through New England contras and squares, English country
dances, and Modern Western squares.
For details, visit the website (www.lcfd.org/lcfd/camp),
email camp@lcfd.org, or call 413-548-1097.