GBLSU hosts Gay and Lesbian Conference
Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians, and Supporters United at LSU is hosting this Spring's LEGAL Gay and Lesbian Student Groups Conference.
On Friday night, April 11, the welcome and the anniversary party will be held. Many of their original officers from 1977 will be attending and speaking about the beginnings of GBLSU. They will meet at 7:00 in the LSU Student Union, Atchafalaya Room and will move to the piano bar at Traditions.
Saturday morning at 10:00 the educational workshops will begin; the following experts will be speaking: Robin Roberts, LSU Assoc. Prof. - Lesbian Pop Culture; Pastor Don Clark - Homosexuality and Religion; Luoluo Hong - Starting and Maintaining an Organization; Luoluo Hong - Discrimination on Campus; Chad Ham - Family Law PFLAG - Coming Out to Family and Friends; Skip Ward - A History of Louisiana's Fight Against Discrimination; Friends for Life - Men's Health Issues; Planned Parenthood - Women's Health Issues; Leinweber & Associates - Maintaining Relationships
On Saturday night, the Lavender Ball will be held at Desiree's on 450 Main St. Sunday lunch will be held in the Faculty Club of LSU at 12:00 noon. Speakers will be Yvonne Welsh, Representative in the Louisiana Legislature, and Brian Hartig, Executive Director of LEGAL.
All are invited to attend the events of the conference. For more information or to contribute contact Kristy Price at 766-8624 or Email at: glsapres@unixl.sncc.lsu.edu.
GBLSU Celebrates a Decade at LSU
Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians, and Supporters United at LSU is celebrating their twentieth year anniversary.
They began in 1977 as "Students for Gay Awareness." Through the years they have gone through controversies with Student Government and through bashing at Student Organization Fairs. However, they are still going strong: this past semester, they had over 60 dues-payed members and even more attending their meetings.
To celebrate, the group is holding an anniversary party on the first night of this Spring's LEGAL Gay and Lesbian Student Groups Conference.
On Friday, April 11, at 7:00 pm many of GBLSU's original members and officers will be speaking about the origins of the student organization. They will meet at the LSU Student Union's Atchafalaya Room. Afterwards, the celebration will move to the piano bar at Traditions. All are invited to attend the speakers and the party.
GBLSU and GLBSA Sponsors the
Lavender Ball
On Saturday, April 12, GBLSU of LSU and GLBSA of SLU will be sponsoring the Lavender Ball.
This will be a formal dance, reminiscent of the Lavender Ball that the gay and lesbian student group at LSU held every April, from 1977-1981.
Tickets for the ball will be $15.00 which includes an open beer and wine bar and hors d'oeuvres with a cash bar for hard liquor. A photographer will be set up to take pictures of couples or of groups. Also, Squire's tuxedo rentals in Baton Rouge is giving us a special rate on a tux or tails, and various Baton Rouge restaurants are giving special rates and private banquet rooms for dining before the ball.
Tickets are available at Hibiscus Bookstore in Baton Rouge, Acadiana Cares in Lafayette, and Gay Mart in New Orleans.
For reservations or more information, please call Kristy Price at 504.766.8624or Email: glsapres@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu.
Annual NO/AIDS Walk Sets Date
The NO/AIDS Task Force has scheduled 1997's WALK for Sunday, Sept. 21. The WALK, which begins and ends in Audobon Park, is the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the Gulf South.
According to co-chairpersons Helen Siegel and Charlie Khoury, the organization is hoping to raise $400,000 this year. Longtime corporate supporter, Bank One, has already committed to helping the WALK achieve this goal. Last year's proceeds totaled approximately $350,000.
For more information contact Mark McKeown at 504.945.4000.
New Orleans City Council
Passes Protective Ordinances
The New Orleans City Council unanimously passed two ordinances at its March 6th meeting at City Hall. The two ordinances were proposed by the city's Human Rights Commission and make municipal offenses of "institutional vandalism" and "intimidation" and may lead to the Council passing a stronger Hate Crimes Bill in coming months.
The first ordinance, #21277, prohibits "institutional vandalism." It makes it unlawful to deface, destroy or otherwise damage places of worship or other places used for religious purposes, any cemetery, mortuary or other facility memorializing the deceased, any school, educational facility or community center, as well as property within or adjacent to them. Persons convicted of this crime can be fined $500 and imprisoned for six months or, if the sentence is suspended, provide restitution for the damages and participate in an anti-bias educational program or some other community service program.
The second ordinance, #21278, outlaws the act of "intimidation," which is defined as an offense or commission against person or property when the motive is the actual or perceived race, age, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, gender or sexual orientation of another person or persons. This ordinance is intriguing as it seems to protect members of the transgender community for the first time. The penalties for violating this law are similar to those described above.
Chris Daigle, Co-chair of the Louisiana Lesbian & Gay Political Action Caucus (LAGPAC), and Robert Udick, Chair of the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, both spoke before the Council prior to the vote. Most members of the Human Rights Commission were also in attendance to offer support for the ordinances.
"When a cross is burned on a family's front lawn, all African-Americans shudder. When a swastika is painted on a synagogue, all Jews feel the pain. When a gay-bashing occurs, the entire gay and lesbian community lives in terror," Daigle said in his remarks.
Making a reference to St. Patrick and his upcoming feast day, Udick asked the Council to "help us drive out the snakes of bigotry, hatred and intolerance from the City of New Orleans by voting for these two ordinances."
For more information about LAGPAC, visit their website, http://www.lagpac.com or leave a message at 504.836.9086 requesting a return call or brochure.
Do Bears Hop?
Yes, they do! That is, if they're New Orleans Bears. This month The New Orleans Bear & Bear Trapper Social Club is taking its roving policy very seriously.
On Friday, March 21st, they are going to go bar hopping and we do mean hopping! They are going to "do" the Quarter from one end to the other, and not stop there. This night should offer something for everyone. Perhaps they will manage to pickup a few lost cubs along the way and lead them onto the right path.
Be sure to keep a copy of this list so you can jump in and join them at your convenience or favorite pit stop.
The club will stop at the following bars at the following times: 6: 00 to 6:30-The Corner Pocket; 6:45 to 7:15-The Round Up; 7:30 to 8:00 -The Rawhide 2010; 8:15 to 8:45-Good Friends; 9:00 to 9:30-The Corral/Laffittes; 9:45 to 10:15-The Golden Lantern; and, 10:3 0 until...-The Phoenix.
The parade will end at the Phoenix, to show support for, and party with the Knight d'Orleans. This will be the first of what is hoped will be many more such events by the new bear club which has a homepage on the Internet at: http://members.aol.com/nobbtsc/index.htm.
