Thursday, April 26, 2007

This week's Bay Area Reporter is on newstands!

This week in the Bay Area Reporter I covered a homophobic incident at City College of San Francisco: “Anti-gay incident at CCSF”; I covered queer on queer censoring: “Queers complain of censorship at SF event”; I announce a gay Catholic broadcast: “BBC to broadcast gay Catholic service”; I covered JROTC getting an award: “DignitySF to honor JROTC.”

For more news and entertainment visit the Bay Area Reporter online or pick up an issue at your local independent or queer bookstore.

Sunday, April 22, 2007



I'm working on an article for the EdenFantasys web site. I'm looking for gay, lesbian, bi, and trans people to tell me about the kinds of sex toys they enjoy. I also would like to know if your sexual orientation influences the kinds of sex toys you use.


Please write to me at elizabethablack AT aol DOT com if you are interested in contacting me. Also feel free to send this message around to people you think may be interested.

Thank you!Lizzie Black

Thursday, April 19, 2007

This week's Bay Area Reporter is on newstands!

This week in the Bay Area Reporter I covered the dropping of an important off-label drug used to treat AIDS-related wasting: “AIDS activists upset by dropped wasting drug”; I covered Ruby OrdeƱana’s viewing: “Body of trans woman dressed as boy at viewing”; I interviewed Roberto Hernandez: “Once outed, man hosts gay Spanish-language radio show”; I covered the Spanish version of “faggot” that was heard around the world: “GLAAD gives Latin media homophobia lesson” and I covered a decade of free vegetarian meals in the Castro: “Simply Supper marks 10 years.”

For more news and entertainment visit the Bay Area Reporter online or pick up an issue at your local independent or queer bookstore.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Employment Opportunity

Lavender Seniors of the East Bay
A Project of the Tides Center

Management Job Description
Title: Outreach Specialist Job Status: Exempt
Reports to: Project Director Salary Range: $20 per hour
Dept.: n/a Work Schedule: 20 hours per week

POSITION SUMMARY
Lavender Seniors of the East Bay is seeking an Outreach Specialist who will work as part of our staff and volunteer team. The role of the Outreach Specialist is to enhance Lavender Seniors’ cultural competency in working with the East Bay’s diverse LGBT senior population and increasing access to effective and culturally competent senior services and facilities for Oakland’s LGBT seniors, especially those in communities of color.

Major Responsibilities
The Outreach Specialist will act as the Lavender Seniors point person for outreach to the East Bay LGBT community. (S)he establishes relationships with LGBT seniors in the East Bay’s priority populations of the African-American, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American communities and reports on gaps and barriers to needed services. The Outreach Specialist manages the Lavender Seniors Speaker’s Panel and Cultural Competency Training Program that educates mainstream service providers and urges them to change policies and practices to make services more accessible to LGBT seniors. The Outreach Specialist also manages the Lunch Bunch developing programs for seniors residing in Oakland to reduce isolation and provide a means of creating natural support networks among peers. (S)he will assist with Lavender Juniors an group of younger LGBT’s who support Lavender Seniors activities.

Specific Responsibilities
Specific tasks are as follows:
• Works independently, as a member of the Lavender Seniors staff and volunteer team under supervision from the Project Director.
• With Project Director, organizes and plans to ensure compliance with the goals and administrative requirements of grants that provide funding for the Outreach Specialist position.
• Makes and documents contact with key individuals and organizations LGBT populations, as well as their allies.
• Establishes sustainable connections between Lavender Seniors and at least one agency or group of organizations in the priority populations.
• Collects, documents and communicates information about gaps and barriers to needed health and human services and to participation in Lavender Seniors’ programs.
• Manages the Lunch Bunch for the agency, coordinating the monthly lunches funded by the City of Oakland. (S)he designs each month’s program activities to meet the interests and culture of the group.
• Manages the Speakers Bureau and Cultural Competency Training Program which educates mainstream service providers and urges them to change policies and practices to make services more accessible to LGBT seniors.
• Manages other outreach projects as developed, such as the Lavender Scrolls Project.
• Prepares written reports and makes oral reports to Lavender Seniors staff and volunteers, City of Oakland officials and others.

Organizational Relationships
The Outreach Specialist will make contact and develop working relationships with organizations and key individuals who will assist in accomplishing the tasks described above.

Qualifications
• Experience
- Prior experience in community organizing.
- Prior experience working with any or all of the identified populations.
- Prior experience working independently and as part of a team.
- Prior experience setting up new projects.

• Education
- Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent, Bachelor’s degree preferable.

• Knowledge
- Knowledge of the LGBT community
- Knowledge of any or all of the priority populations.

• Skills and Abilities
- Good written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent people skills – ability to quickly establish working relationships with diverse people.
- Ability to travel to various locations in the East Bay.
- Computer competence to document the work and prepare reports.
- Commitment, reliability, good judgment, flexibility, enthusiasm, and humor.
- Self-starter.

• Physical Requirements of the Job
- Requires sitting, talking, and listening for five or more hours per day; standing or walking for up to three hours per day; reaching with hands and arms and keying for up to three hours per day; and lifting up to 15 pounds.

The Outreach Specialist position is funded by foundation grants. Funding renewal beyond one year is not guaranteed but might be sought based on successful completion of the one-year project.

The mission of Lavender Seniors of the East Bay is to improve the quality of life of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) seniors in Alameda and western Contra Costa counties through community outreach, advocacy, and education.

Lavender Seniors of the East Bay, a project of the Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities.

Please submit cover letters and resumes by May 2, 2007, to Christina Cappelletti, Outreach Specialist, Lavender Seniors of the East Bay, 1395 Bancroft Ave., San Leandro, CA 94577.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

The Center for Sex and Culture Community Survey

This is a survey put together by Nikole Pagan and her colleagues at SF State, who is using CSC as a class project in non-profit administration, and this is part of that large project. From it, we will get a case statement for our use in fundraising and other public representation, which should be very valuable to us. Your thoughts about CSC will be useful as she develops it.

Please try to get this to her this week if you are able. As of next week she will be trying to pull elements together, so she will still find it useful to receive, but sooner is better for her.

Thank you! And stay tuned for more CSC news and events calendar soon. xox--CQ

The Center for Sex and Culture treasures the community of people who attend our events and utilize our programming and services. Your support makes our mission possible. We would like to gather stories for inclusion with fund raising materials that talk about the events and services we are providing to/for you, our community. This will help us be a more effective voice for Sex-Positivism in our community and beyond. In capturing your stories and suggestions, we will also be able to better honor you and your contributions, record and learn from our 13-year-old history, and plan more wisely for the future. We don’t want this to feel cumbersome for you, so please just answer the questions below that resonate with you and return your responses by email to cscvolunteersurvey@gmail.com. Your answers mean a lot to us. Feel free to write as little or as much as you like. ________________________________________________________________

1. Your name and phone/email (please indicate how you wish to be credited if your responses are included in published materials, i.e.: first name only, first and last initial, etc.):
2. What city do you live in?
3. Have you utilized CSC library materials? If yes, for what purpose?
4. Have you donated money or volunteer time to CSC?
5. Have you participated in any of the following at CSC ? (please indicate yes or no):
· Special Events:
· Classes:
· Workshops:
· The Masturbate-a-Thon:
· Cultural Events:
· House Parties:
6. Please indicate the titles of any of the above you have attended.
7. What does “Sex Positive” mean to you?
8. When did you first learn about CSC?
9. Why do you participate in CSC events/programs/services?
10. Do you have a special moment you remember about your experiences with CSC?
11. Is there a “back in the day” story about CSC, Robert or Carol, or some Sex Positive sex education/activism issue/organization that has always stuck with you?
12. Is there any other story that you’d like to tell?
13. Please tell us a little of your autobiography.
14. Do you have any suggestions for CSC?

Thank you so much for your thoughts, commitment to The Center for Sex and Culture, talents and precious time. We value your voice and contribution. Please email your responses to
cscvolunteersurvey@gmail.com.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

This week's Bay Area Reporter is on newstands!

This week in the Bay Area Reporter I covered the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ victory to sue Adoption.com for discrimination: “Gay couple can sue adoption site”; I cover Page Hodel’s split with Velvet: “All is not smooth at Velvet”; I announced the second of 2007’s individual Pride grand marshals: “Newsome named marshal”; and I followed up on the Baker’s Dozen case: “Suspect pleads not guilty in choir case.”

For more news and entertainment visit the Bay Area Reporter online or pick up an issue at your local independent or queer bookstore.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

This week's Bay Area Reporter is on newstands!

This week in the Bay Area Reporter I covered the National Center for Lesbian Rights 30th anniversary: “NCLR still has an edge at 30”; I announced the first round of 2007’s Pride grand marshals: “First Pride marshals named”; and I investigated a possible eviction of a man with AIDS: “HIVer fights to save home."

For more news and entertainment visit the Bay Area Reporter online or pick up an issue at your local independent or queer bookstore.