Updates and Local Events

Don't miss the Transgender Law Center's birthday party tonight, and AC4A's reception
on Thursday. In the meantime, see below for news about queer women's programming at
the Center, and hotel workers marching for a contract.

Horizons Foundation Reception Reminder:
Thurs. Sept. 7 @ 5:30, Castro Bank of America



Don’t forget to join us for the community reception to announce the Horizons
Foundation’s groundbreaking new PEOPLE OF COLOR "LEADER FELLOWSHIPS"!



What:
Horizons Foundation People of Color "Leader Fellowships" Inaugural Reception
(Light food and drink provided!)



When & Where:
Thursday, September 7, 5:30-7:00 pm; Bank of America, 501 Castro Street (2nd floor)



Who: Roger Doughty, Executive Director, Horizons Foundation
• Jewelle Gomez, Program Officer, Horizons Foundation
• John Newsome, And Castro for All



Additional information:
The deadline for the Fellowship is October 27, 2006. Organizations and/or
individuals who are interested in applying should contact Jewelle Gomez, Program
Officer at Horizon’s Foundation, 398.2333 X116 for additional information and to
receive the formal application.



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Transgender Law Center event and legislation!



Upcoming event:

Please join us for the Transgender Law Center’s Birthday Party! Tuesday, September
5, 6:30-8pm at Crash Nightclub at 34 Mason Street (b/w Eddy & Market). TLC
continues to do fantastic work, and deserves every dime of support we can muster.
For more information about Tuesday’s event, check out
http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org/event2006/



Legislative Update:

Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act on Way to Governor. Anti-bias bill clears
California Senate in landmark vote.

The nation’s first bill to address use of panic strategies, the Gwen Araujo Justice
for Victims Act (AB 1160), was voted out of the California Senate this afternoon.
Authored by Assemblymember Sally Lieber and Sponsored by Equality California, the
bill puts California firmly on record as opposing a defendant’s use of societal bias
against their victim in order to decrease their own culpability for a crime.



"Passage of this bill is a strong step forward in fighting the bias and hatred
that have unfortunately crept into our courtrooms," said Assemblymember Lieber
of her bill that also modifies an existing jury instruction and mandates the
creation of practice materials for District Attorney’s offices. "It will give
prosecutors the tools they need to effectively combat the increasing use of these
harmful strategies."



The bill now goes back to the Assembly floor, which it has already cleared once, and
is then expected to go on to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “Once again, the
California Legislature demonstrates that our state is one in which every person is
valued," said Sylvia Guerrero, mother of Gwen Araujo. "I'm hopeful that
the Governor will follow their lead by signing this bill into law and making sure
that our courts are free of bias."



Gwen Araujo, the bill’s namesake, was a 17 year old Newark, CA transgender teen when
she was murdered by four men in 2002. Three of the men utilized panic strategies
when on trial for her murder in 2004. "This bill ensures that those who commit
heinous acts of violence, like those inflicted upon Gwen, will no longer gain the
sympathy of a jury by appealing to bias and prejudice as a way to avoid punishment
for their crimes," stated EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors.



A similar bill is currently pending in New York State in response to the savage
beating of artist, Kevin Aviance.



The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating for
transgender communities throughout California through direct legal services,
community organizing, media and public policy advocacy, and educational
opportunities. TLC was an early supporter of the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victim’s
Act. For more information, go to: http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org.



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Queer Women’s Programming Initiative at the Center!!!



The SF LGBT Community Center is launching a new queer women's programming
initiative! This program intends to address community issues through volunteer-led
projects. We ask you to fill out a short survey in order to help us to plan and
develop future events addressed to lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer women
members of the community. The survey is anonymous and will be used for purposes of
program development and fundraising only. Your response would be much appreciated.



Here is a link to the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=179652497221

Also, if you are interested in participating on the initiative’s steering committee
– which will plan and implement our program - or to sign up for the first meeting on
September 7th, please contact Anna Stojak for more information.

Anna Stojak, Community Projects Intern
SF LGBT Community Center
1800 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415.865.5632

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Media Training for LGBT African Americans (FREE!)


When:
Saturday, September 30th from 11am-1:30pm?
Location: The Museum of African Diaspora (MOAD),

685 Mission Street (at Third)
San Francisco, California 94105



The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is partnering with GLAAD to conduct a
series of nationwide Black LGBT media trainings. These trainings will be conducted
in every corridor of the country and will provide coaching and other types of
training to every day Black LGBT non-activists and gay-affirming clergy alike. The
focus of the trainings is to teach individuals on how to tell their own stories and
their personal truths through the media as it relates to the intersection of being
both African American and LGBT.



These informative, interactive, and friendly trainings will also explore very
specific Black LGBT issues and the individual strategies used in forming a media
message around them. In addition, the trainings will provide a vast array of
information concerning important tips, dos and don'ts in responding to print,
television, radio, and online news media outlets concerning LGBT issues.



Additional cities are being scheduled. For more information contact
hedavis [at] nbjc.org or contact Herndon Davis at 202-349-3755.





Local 2 Takes to the Streets!


Hotel workers march for contract in S.F.

With contract talks stalled, hotel workers hit S.F. streets


"Frustrated by stalled labor negotiations, members of the hotel workers union
gather at the Four Seasons Hotel before marching down Market Street to protest in
front of the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. More than 1,000 members of Unite Here
Local 2 jammed the streets Thursday and forced the closure of New Montgomery from
Market to Jessie Street in what union officials said would be the first of many
actions taken should contract talks with 13 hotels continue to go nowhere. Police
said 62 people, including Supervisor Chris Daly, were cited for trespassing and
released after they held a sit-in at the hotel's entrance."

- San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 1, 2006
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/01/BAGSRKTIRI1.DTL


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To join the movement for greater inclusion in the Bay Area, visit
http://www.andcastroforall.org