Newsletter of the Rainbow Alliance at the University of Florida
November 2002
Next RA Dinner Meeting
Wednesday, November 13, 2002
– 6:30 pm at Texas Road House (on Archer Road)
Special Rainbow Alliance Event!
We are working with Pride Student
Union to cosponsor a special presentation by Geoffrey Giles on
the evening of Friday, November 22. Geoffrey will screen a BBC
documentary in which he appeared about homosexuals in the Holocaust.
After the viewing, Geoffrey will answer questions and moderate
the discussion.
First Words
Sarasota Passes Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
A Thanksgiving Invitation to All Rainbow Alliance Members
Rainbow Alliance Fund On Track For January
Contributing to the Rainbow Alliance Fund
Trembling before G-d Screens in Gainesville
Gay Games in Sydney, Australia This Week
Resources
How To Join Rainbow Alliance
Contributors
One of the many reasons that the lgbt community is exciting is that it is made up of many different cultures, born out of the many solutions individuals have had to find to integrate their sexuality and their lives in the larger culture. That community has evolved dramatically in the last 25 years or so. It was once defined by code words, furtive signs, secret liaisons, and, above all, isolation. Now acceptance is growing in mainstream institutions, and there is an increasingly rich system of lgbt institutions.
LGBT "institutions" might once have simply meant bars or clubs. Those places still play an important role, but they exist alongside other kinds of social and athletic organizations, community centers, political groups and religious organizations. In Gainesville, we are fortunate to have a range of religious, social, and political groups for lgbt people to participate in freely and openly. These institutions are vitally important. They are the means by which we secure our advances and pass them on to the future generations. Whatever our level of participation in or support for these institutions, everyone in the lgbt community benefits from their efforts. In fact, even though they may not know it, the larger society is greatly enriched by gay and lesbian institutions.
However tolerant our society may eventually become, for the forseeable future, children will discover that they are "different" in the same way we did, and with similar complications. The younger generation will encounter many of the same obstacles and intolerance that previous generations suffered. In many cases, they will develop a plan for their lives without the aid of parents or teachers or clergy -- in too many cases, they will be opposed all the way in their efforts to become mature, happy gay and lesbian people. Where they (and we) will often find identity, support and guidance is in the institutions of the lgbt community.
What we're talking about is legacy. We reach that point in life where we begin to wonder how to pass on what we've earned and learned. In our various jobs, we've worked to make life better, and we want to ensure that these improvements will be enjoyed by those coming along after us. It's a form of gratitude -- our own struggle and growth have resulted in a rich, fulfilling life, and it's only natural to want others to share in our solutions.
It's often called "giving back" these days. Champion athletes and rock stars return to the city of their birth or nurture and create institutions to benefit the community, especially its children. A friend told me recently that he was going to Sydney to participate in the Gay Games (Go DC Federal Triangles!). It struck me that the games are a great celebration not of athletic achievement but of the individual and community achievement. Each time the games are held lays down another milestone on the path of overcoming the obstacles and finding our voice. In that sense, all lgbt people are champions, and have an important legacy to share.
Sarasota Passes Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
Voters in Sarasota, Florida overwhelmingly approved the addition of "sexual orientation" to the city's antidiscrimination ordinance in Tuesday's election. Seventy-three percent of voters approved the measure over the opposition of a group called Save Our Civil Rights. The ordinance covers discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.
The Sarasota victory was one of several for gays and lesbians in various cities around the country. In Ypsilanti, Michigan, voters defended the inclusion of "sexual orientation" in the city's charter, rejecting with a 64% majority efforts to remove the language. Similarly, in Tacoma, Washington, rejected the third attempt in 12 years to remove "sexual orientation and gender identity" language from the city charter. By a vote of 51% to 49%, citizens in Westbrook, Maine, upheld the gay rights ordinance approved only a few months ago.
One set back occurred in Nevada, where a ballot initiative defining marriage as a legal union of one man and one woman was passed.
For more information> Human Rights Campaign
A Thanksgiving Invitation to All Rainbow Alliance Members
All RA members are invited to join with the Gainesville Community Alliance for their annual pre-Thanksgiving brunch. It will be at the Doubletree Hotel on SW 34th Street on Sunday, November 24th at noon.
The cost for this fabulous brunch is $14 for GCA members and $24 for guests. The cost includes tax and tip. We hope that many RA members will join us for this event.
If any RA members are thinking of joining GCA, it's best to do that before the brunch in order to save money on the brunch. For further information contact Stu Schwartz at stufl@bellsouth.net.
Rainbow Alliance Fund on Track for January
The creation of a Rainbow Alliance Fund at the University of Florida Foundation was announced at our September dinner/meeting and in our October newsletter. We are now receiving contributions needed to establish the fund, which requires a minimum of $2000. Happily, we are well on our way. Many, many thanks to those of you have already contributed. I'm proud to say that among the contributors is one of our distinguished alumni, Ronni Sanlo, currently director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Campus Resource Center at UCLA.
In the last issue of this newsletter, we presented some of the reasons that the Fund is so important, but I'd like to repeat some of them.
"First, as 10% of the population, LGBT people have every right to take their place at the table, to have a voice, to share in the rewards of work well done, to add their special perspective. The Fund is an important statement and an important tool in taking that place.
"Second, the fund will act as a focal point for supporting the LGBT community at the University. Those who wish to make sure that their gift to the University will serve goals appropriate to LGBT people can contribute to the Fund and they will have the security of knowing that money will be handled professionally and fund the programs that are important to them. How the money will be used and where it will go will be spelled out.
"Third, the Fund gives us a mechanism for building for the future. Like other minorities, LGBT people are used to accommodating oppression, but we still have dreams. We've scraped together just enough money to put on a show, have a dinner, print a few brochures. All those things are wonderful, but what would happen if we truly started to pool our resources? LGBT people could have a powerful presence at the University of Florida.
"Fourth, money talks. Individually, we are outstanding professors, clerks, communicators, administrators, technicians, and so on. But when the time comes, where is our solidarity and our ability to make things happen? Solidarity is something we've begun to acheive over the the last two years or so just by having meetings and dinners and getting to know each other. But making things happen? That's where the Fund comes in. It's a powerful symbol of our solidarity. When LGBT alumni get involved, the pace will really pick up.
"An organization grows through accepting challenges and meeting them. The Fund is this kind of challenge for Rainbow Alliance. Let's take this thing to the next level. We'll surprise and delight ourselves with what can happen."
Please make a contribution to this Fund. A complete explanation of the contribution levels is given below.
Get in on the ground floor of an exciting chapter in the LGBT history of the University of Florida!
Contributing to the Rainbow Alliance Fund
We will happily accept whatever you wish to give. Contributions will be gratefully accepted from anyone; non-UF individuals who contribute $50 or more will become honorary members of the Rainbow Alliance for one year.
We have established the following contribution levels:
Under $50 – Friend of the Rainbow
Alliance
$50 to $99 – Patron of the Rainbow Alliance
$100 to $199 – Benefactor of the Rainbow Alliance
$200 and above – President's Circle
Those contributing $200 or more before December 31, 2002 will be permanently designated "Founding Contributors of the Rainbow Alliance Fund" and identified as such on our Web site (at their discretion).
To contribute, send a personal check made out to Charles M. Brown to the following address:
Charles Brown
PO Box 110570
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 326110570
If you prefer not to use the mail, we will be happy to arrange to collect the contribution in person.
The contributions will be acknowledged in writing, and these contributions are tax deductible.
Your contribution will fund the following:
- Competitive LGBT Research/Service Awards to be given in Spring semester 2003.
- Purchase of materials for the collection of LGBT resources currently housed in the Dean of Students office.
- Rainbow Alliance makes a contribution annually to LGBT student groups to support specific programs.
- Lay the financial foundation for the University of Florida LGBT Resource Center.
If you have any questions about the Fund or for more information > Charles Brown: cbrown@agen.ufl.edu
Trembling before G-d Screens in Gainesville
The movie Trembling before G-d was screened in Gainesville this week. To quote from the Web site: "Trembling Before G-d is an unprecedented feature documentary that shatters assumptions about faith, sexuality, and religious fundamentalism. Built around intimately-told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian, the film portrays a group of people who face a profound dilemma - how to reconcile their passionate love of Judaism and the Divine with the drastic Biblical prohibitions that forbid homosexuality. As the film unfolds, we meet a range of complex individuals - some hidden, some out - from the world's first openly gay Orthodox rabbi to closeted, married Hasidic gays and lesbians to those abandoned by religious families to Orthodox lesbian high-school sweethearts."
The Jewish Student Union sponsored the showing in the New Engineering Building, Room 100. Although the movie has already been shown, it's well worth knowing about. It is available on video and DVD.
For more information> http://www.tremblingbeforeg-d.com/synopsis.html
Gay Games in Sydney, Australia This Week
The sixth Gay Games is taking place this week in Sydney, Australia. The Gay Games describes itself as a cultural and sports festival. The cultural festical began on October 25 and continues through November 9. The sports festival is the more well known aspect of the games. Opening ceremonies for the sports festival are November 2, and closing ceremonies November 9.
The Games are also the occasion for a number of conferences of international and Australian national groups. Conferences which will occur during this year's games are (click on the name to see their Web site and learn more):
Amnesty International Australia
Australian Homosexual Histories
First Cultures: Race, Sexuality and Identity
Health in Difference 4
Queer Studies: Out from Centre
7th International Conference on Bisexuality
Workers Out: 2nd World Conference of Lesbian and Gay Trade Unionists
The Gay Games were started in San Francisco in 1982 and are held every four years. Previous sites for the games were San Francisco, Vancouver, New York, and Amsterdam.
For more information> Gay Games
About Ronni Sanlo> http://www.today.ucla.edu/html/021022staff_awareness.html
RAonline > coming soon!
Pride Community Center of Gainesville > http://www.pridecommunitycenter.org/
Gainesville Community Alliance (GCA) > http://www.gcaonline.org/
Pride Student Union > http://sg.ufl.edu/pride/
Gator Gay Straight Alliance > http://www.gatorgsa.org
Many more links > http://sg.ufl.edu/pride/links2.html
Membership in Rainbow Alliance is available to all staff and faculty at the University of Florida. Graduate students will be considered for membership. Health Science Center staff and faculty are also welcome to join Rainbow Alliance. Individuals not associated with the University may become honorary members of Rainbow Alliance through an annual contribution to the Rainbow Alliance Fund of $50 or more.
To become a member, send an email to Charles Brown > cbrown@agen.ufl.edu
Charles Brown, editor
Greg Allen
Linda Lamme
Stu Schwartz
Corrections, comments, copy > Charles Brown: cbrown@agen.ufl.edu
RAnews, newsletter of the Rainbow Alliance at the University of Florida, copyright 2002