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November 13, 2010 Dear Champion for Equality, I’m honored to welcome you to the 2010 Equality Conference & Gala. Equality NC Foundation’s signature annual event turns four today and we couldn’t have made it so far without you! Even as we chart our path in this difficult new environment following the elections, it’s still appropriate to take time today to cheer our successes. We’re so proud of our work together this year to stop the marriage discrimination constitutional amendment for the seventh year in row, secure funding to address the crisis in the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, and advance executive branch policies that provide additional protections. We’ve also seen our past victories provide momentum across the country. Earlier this year, President Obama directly quoted the hospital visitations policy we won in North Carolina in his memo extending those protections to nearly every hospital nationwide. And, as the nation rightly turns its attention to anti-LGBT bullying in the wake of the tragic suicides in recent weeks, our School Violence Prevention Act is cited as a model for other states to emulate. Today's conference is all about how we can defend our successes in this new environment and—yes—keep moving our state forward. Our conference keynote speaker Houston Mayor Annise Parker is proof positive that we continue to blaze important trails, and so are the out elected officials right here in our own state, including our new openly gay, African-American state Representative Marcus Brandon. Embrace this opportunity to learn not only from them, but from our talented workshop speakers as well! Tonight, we come together to honor North Carolina House Speaker Joe Hackney for his courage in casting the tiebreaking vote for the School Violence Prevention Act. And, for the very first time, we will honor our own Equality Champions, people like you who have made a critical difference for equality in five regions across the state: Roberta Dunn from the Charlotte region, Ellen W. “Lennie” Gerber from the Triad region, Reverend Joe Hoffman and Noel Nickle from the Western region, Aaron Lucier from the Eastern region, and Joshua Lee Weaver from the Triangle region. We are fortunate indeed to have such extraordinary champions for equality and I hope you’ll join me in showing them our appreciation! We’re proud to thank our many sponsors and table captains who have worked so hard to make this event a success, our speakers who have donated their time to create an illuminating experience for you, and the board members, staff, interns, and volunteers who support us every day. We are also grateful to the UNCG Women’s and Gender Studies Program for hosting the conference and welcoming us to the Triad. Thank you for being one of our partners for equality. You are the reason we are here. Toward our brighter future,
Ian Palmquist, Executive Director
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2010 Equality Conference & Gala Sponsors Platinum Sponsor Replacements, Ltd. Gold Sponsors Freeman Foundation GlaxoSmithKline Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Snider Charitable Trust Silver Sponsors Food Lion Haas & Associates, PA IBM Lasting Printing UNCG Women’s & Gender Studies
Bronze Sponsors The Adam Foundation American Express David Bohnett Foundation PFLAG North Carolina Raleigh Consulting Group Triad and Triangle Financial Advisors
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1-800-REPLACE (1-800-737-5223) www.replacements.com ®
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Lasting Printing & Graphics
The Adam Foundation
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Nonprofit Sponsors AARP North Carolina Guilford Green Foundation Triad Health Project
2010 Equality Gala Table Captains John Arrowood in Support of Interns for Equality Allen Broach & Bob Weston BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Roberta Dunn Greg Fitch & John Sweet GlaxoSmithKline Rod Goins & Dave Rogers Ellen Greaves Dan Gurley David Hammond in Support of Students for Equality Human Rights Campaign Lorraine Johnson & Beverly Branaman John Lalonde Rebecca Lula & Scott MacLeod in Support of Students for Equality Elaine Martin Jack McKinney Mary Nations Addison Ore PFLAG North Carolina / Mike Clawson Replacements, Ltd. Kelvin Sanborn Kimball Sargent Eric Smith & Greg Dozier Scott Taylor Anna Voytek & Chanda Fausphoul Ken Wittenauer & Russ Leciejewski Workplace Options
2010 Equality Conference & Gala Program Designed by Daniel C. Wiggins dcwdesign.com
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About Equality NC Foundation Founded in 1979 as the North Carolina Human Rights Fund, Equality NC Foundation is part of the Equality North Carolina family of organizations, along with Equality NC, which lobbies and engages the political process, and Equality NC PAC, which supports pro-equality candidates in North Carolina. Equality North Carolina is nationally recognized as one of the most effective state equality groups in the country, made possible by our talented team of board members, staff members, interns, and volunteers. Please get involved in our work if you aren’t already. Our website at equalitync.org is the portal through which you can join our 13,000 informed and dedicated online advocates to help us achieve more critical victories for North Carolina’s LGBT community. You can also become a donor for an organization that will use your hard-earned dollars effectively and whose staff and board members will be continually responsive to your questions and concerns. We take very seriously our commitment to working in partnership with all our supporters because truly, we can’t do it without you. Together, we are building a state of equality!
2009 Equality Council Members of our Equality Council make sustaining annual gifts of $600 or more to help accelerate our efforts. To find out about the benefits of joining the Equality Council, please go to our website at equalitync.org. (Number in parentheses indicates year joined) Governor’s Circle ($50,000+) Tides Foundation's State Equality Fund, a Philanthropic Partnership That Includes the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr Fund, the Gill Foundation, and Anonymous Donors (07) Lieutenant Governor’s Circle ($25,000-$49,999) Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (07) Council of State Circle ($10,000-$24,999) Community Grantmaking Program Fund of Triangle Community Foundation (07) Michael Edwards in memory of Harold Frye (07) Gill Action (09) Mandel Family Foundation (09) Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (07) Bob Page & Dale Frederiksen (04) Replacements, Ltd. (04) Speaker’s Circle ($5,000-$9,999) Freeman Foundation (07) GlaxoSmithKline (08) Steve Tanis & Rich Garraputa (07) Senate Circle ($2,400-$4,999) Tim Alwran & Dennis Hayes (09) Frank Benedetti & Gary Trowbridge in memory of Abigail (07) Crape Myrtle Festival (09) Food Lion (07) Guilford Green Foundation (09) Angela Haas of Haas & Associates, PA (05) Zachary W. Howell & Garrett G. Hall (06) IBM (08) Lorraine Johnson of Triad and Triangle Financial Advisors (04) & Beverly Branaman (08) Lasting Printing (10) 4 | 2010 Equality Conference & Gala Program
Joni Madison (09) Snider Charitable Trust (09) Strawvalley Foundation (09) The 300 Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (09) Anna Voytek & Chanda Fausphoul (05) Tom Warshauer (05) & Andy Dews (07) Chris Whelan & John Conaboy (10) House Circle ($1,200-$2,399) George Alwon (06) John Arrowood (10) BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (09) Larry Brady (07) Allen Broach & Bob Weston (09) Pamela Bruns & Chrys Browne (08) Jason Burgess (10) Burning Coal Theatre (09) Brian Caldwell & Robert Shore (09) Lee Carter & Greg Bradley (08) Joe Cimaglia (08) Hunter Corn (07) Robert Costello (09) Luck Davidson (09) Frank Deaton (09) Phillip Eckhardt (09) Rod Goins & Dave Rogers (06) Ken Gray (09) Dan Gurley (07) Mark Gurley (10) Kristine Herfkens & Betty Rider (04) Michael Horney (09) Ray & Brenda Hughes (07) Heath Knott & Adam Schooler (09) Marcia Meekins (08) Rick Myracle & John Taylor (06) Mary Nations (09) Brad Oaks & Ian Palmquist (07) J. Wayne Riggins, MD, OD, and Mark Sullivan (09) Cris Rivera & Beth Stringfield (08) Mike Roberts & Steve Thompson (09) Bob Rossier (09) Kimball Sargent & Geoffrey Avery-Foy (09) Skanska USA Building (09) Martin Smith (08)
Robbie Tart (08) Scott Taylor (09) Jim Turner & Chris Keitofski (09) UNCG Women's & Gender Studies (10) Jesse White (07) Kenneth Wittenauer & Russell Leciejewski (07) Workplace Options (10) Legislative Circle ($600-$1,199) The Adam Foundation (09) American Express (10) Ameriprise Financial (08) Mike Barringer & Jeff Everette (09) Tim Bice & Walter Kearns (09) Coleman Billingsley (07) David Bohnett Foundation (10) Norman Brame (09) Mike Britt (08) Susan Brittain (07) Phil Burton (09) Shane Burton & Jim Bumgardner (09) Lela Chesson (10) Win Chesson (09) Benjamin Collins (09) Bo Dean & Michael Freeze (07) Stephen DerMargosian & Matthew Clark (09) Selena Dewitya (09) Robert Dogens (09) Greg Dozier (09) Meredith Elkins (08) Seth Fornea & Garrett Kimball (09) Jerri Goldberg & Susan MacMurchy (08) Clark Goodin (09) Grove Park Inn (09) Haas McNeil & Associates PA (09) Tony Hall of Tony Hall & Associates (09) David Hammond (09) Les Harrell (09) Joel Henner (09) Julia Hersberger (09) James Hock (09) Marilyn Jody (07) Will Jones and Barry Pate (10) Rollin Kibbe (05) Colleen Kochanek & Stephanie Norris (09) John Lalonde (09) Kara Larson (09) Sam Lasris & Larry Wright (10) Lydia Lavelle & Alicia Stemper (06) Joel Leander & Perry Patterson (07) T. Shawn Long & Craig Johnson (07) Joseph Lupton (09) Fred Martin (07) Glen Medders (07) Matthew Menne (09) Julia Merricks (09) Rob Miller (10) David Neal (08) Michelle Osenbach (10) PFLAG North Carolina (10) Frederick Price (09)
Q-Notes (09) Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (09) Patsy Scherer and Sylvia Pardo (09) Russell Snipes (09) Andrew Spainhour (09) Pam Spaulding (09) Linda Stephens (09) Tim Stephenson (10) Steve Tanis & Rich Garraputa in memory of Senator Jesse Helms for bringing together the LGBT community (07) Tim Toney & Scott Woosley (09) Diana Travis (09) Ron Tucceri (09) W. Randolph Umberger (09) Umstead Park United Church of Christ (10) Howard Upchurch (09) Wendy Visscher & Cindy Prabst (05) Lori White (09) Ken Wilkinson & Allen Wood (07) Bob Williams (04) Douglas Williams (09) Nan Williamson & Beth Thompson (06) Stephen Wiseman (09)
Equality NC Foundation Board Rod Goins, Chair, Salisbury Mary Nations, Vice Chair, Raleigh Kelvin Sanborn, Secretary, Durham Kenneth Wittenauer, Treasurer, Charlotte Mike Clawson, Salisbury Chanda Fausphoul, Greensboro Jerri Goldberg, Asheville Pamela Jones, Charlotte Jack McKinney, Raleigh Addison Ore, Immediate Past Chair, Greensboro Michael Woods, Raleigh
Equality NC Foundation Staff Ian Palmquist, Executive Director Kay Flaminio, Director of Development Shawn Long, Administrative Coordinator Rebecca Mann, Director of Community Organizing and Outreach
Acknowledgments For the gala, Kay Flaminio would like to thank all our sponsors and table captains along with all our generous donors. Big or small, each and every gift helps build a state of equality. Kay would also like to thank Michael Edwards, Lorraine Johnson, and Elaine Martin for their steady inspiration; Devin Post, our extraordinary development intern; and Addison Ore for her mad skills as our diva emcee! For the conference, Rebecca Mann would like to thank Carole Lindsey-Potter with UNCG Women's and Gender Studies for her invaluable assistance. Also, a huge thanks to all of Equality NC Foundation's wonderful interns, volunteers, and staff, and to our fantastic workshop presenters. 2010 Equality Conference & Gala Program | 5
2010 Equality Conference Schedule UNCG Elliott University Center 8:45-5:30 8:45-9:30
Registration and Continental Breakfast (Pre-Auditorium Area, First Floor) Exhibit Setup (Ground Floor)
9:30-10:30
Opening Session (Auditorium, First Floor) Welcome Annual State of Equality Report Ian Palmquist, Equality NC Foundation Executive Director
10:30-10:50
Networking Break in Exhibitor Area
10:50-Noon
Breakout Session One •
•
• • •
Intersecting Identities: Considerations Among LGBT People of African Descent (Kirkland Room, Ground Floor) GLBT Issues in the Classroom: What Educators can do to Stop Bullying and Harassment (Claxton Room, Ground Floor) Shaping Dialogue for Change in Our Community (Joyner Room, Ground Floor) Body Politics: Surgery and the Transgender Experience (Alexander Room, Ground Floor) HIV Policy in NC: Successes and Challenges (Maple Room, First Floor)
Noon-1:30
Lunch and Caucusing Sessions
1:30-2:40
Breakout Session Two • • •
• •
Love and Laws: A Legal Perspective on Marrying Outside NC (Alexander Room, Ground Floor) A Matter of Opinion (Kirkland Room, Ground Floor) When You Gotta Go, Come Here: An Ally-Building Approach to Creating More Gender-Neutral Bathrooms in Your Community (Claxton Room, Ground Floor) Understanding and Addressing LGBTQ Health Disparities (Maple Room, First Floor) Communities in the Classroom: Empowering Individuals to Provide Anti-Bullying Training for Educators (Joyner Room, Ground Floor)
2:40-3:00
Coffee and Tea Break in Pre-Auditorium Area
3:00-4:10
Breakout Session Three • • • • •
Helping Our Youth Find Their Voice (Kirkland Room, Ground Floor) Improving Syringe Access for People of Transgender Experience (Joyner Room, Ground Floor) LGBT Oppression in the Western Tradition (Alexander Room, Ground Floor) Planning the Perfect LGBT Lobby Day for College Students: It Doesn’t Have to be Scary! (Claxton Room, Ground Floor) Out to Win: LGBT Elected Officials Share their Stories (Maple Room, First Floor)
4:20-5:20
Keynote with Houston Mayor Annise Parker (Auditorium, First Floor)
5:20-5:30
Closing (Auditorium, First Floor)
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2010 Equality Gala Schedule The Empire Room in Downtown Greensboro 6:30-9:00 6:00-6:30
Registration (No Earlybirds, Please!)
6:30-7:15
Reception With Passed Appetizers and Complimentary Wine and Beer (Plus Cash Bar)
7:15-8:00
Dinner Including Vegetarian and Vegan Options Followed by Coffee and Cupcakes From Delicious!
8:00-9:00
Program Welcome Addison Ore, Our Host Since 2007! Presentation of Equality NC Foundation’s 2010 Legislative Leadership Award to House Speaker Joe Hackney Ian Palmquist Presentation of Our Very First Equality Champion Awards! Jack McKinney & Elaine Martin • • • • •
Roberta Dunn, Charlotte Region Ellen W. "Lennie" Gerber, Triad Region Reverend Joe Hoffman & Noel Nickle, Western Region Aaron Lucier, Eastern Region Joshua Lee Weaver, Triangle Region
A Few Words from Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt 9:30-?
Takeover at Print Works Bistro Next to the Proximity Hotel!
2010 Equality Conference Keynote Speaker Houston Mayor Annise Parker, the keynote speaker for the 2010 Equality Conference, will share her experience as the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. city with over a million residents and a powerful voice for LGBT equality. Prior to her groundbreaking election in 2009, she served three terms as the city's controller and three terms as an at-large member of the city council. Earlier this year she was named one of Time Magazine's 2010 Time 100. Mayor Parker has been open and honest about her sexual orientation throughout her political career. She and her partner, Kathy Hubbard, have been together since 1990 and have two children. Her experience working for change and for the good of all her constituents in a tough political environment has valuable lessons for us here in North Carolina, and we can't wait to see her!
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2010 Legislative Leader of the Year House Speaker Joe Hackney will receive our 2010 Legislative Leadership Award at the 2010 Equality Gala for his courageous tie-breaking vote in support of the School Violence Prevention Act. As speaker, Joe Hackney has demonstrated real leadership time and time again. Every year the right wing pushes the marriage discrimination constitutional amendment, and every year Joe Hackney works to stop it. It's thanks to his leadership in the House and Senator Marc Basnight's leadership in the Senate that we proudly remain the only Southern state that has not written this kind of discrimination into our constitution. He's also been a critical ally on HIV/AIDS prevention and care. In 2009, he helped win passage of the Healthy Youth Act, finally tossing out the failed abstinence-only sex education curriculum and replacing it with a comprehensive, medically accurate program. This year, at a time when legislators were looking high and low for places to cut programs to balance the state budget, he fought to secure an additional $14.1 million in funding to provide low-income people living with HIV with life-saving medications, more than doubling the state contribution to this critical program to ensure that those most in need were served. Over the last three years, the speaker worked closely with Equality NC and its coalition partners to finally do something to make our schools safer for all students. When it came time to vote on the School Violence Prevention Act last year, Joe Hackney personally secured the last few votes needed for passage, and then cast the tie-breaking vote that secured this historic victory. With anti-LGBT bullying once again in the news, we’re fortunate to have a leader who stood on the side of our children instead of political expedience.
2010 Equality Champions! Also at the 2010 Equality Gala, Equality NC Foundation will be presenting its very first Equality Champion Awards to extraordinary community leaders from five regions across the state. Roberta Dunn, Equality Champion for the Charlotte Region Roberta is being recognized for her outstanding leadership and work with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on behalf of Charlotte's LGBT community. She has led the effort to open communication with CMPD officials and successfully encouraged CMPD and its chief to hold an open forum with the LGBT community. As a result of her efforts, CMPD may now also create an LGBT community liaison position. Roberta is a transgender woman. She has been married for 27 years and has four children. Since her retirement five years ago, she has been living her life as the person she always felt she was, a woman. She is active in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg area in several organizations including HRC, MeckPAC, and Carolina Transgender Society. Her goal in working through these organizations is to promote greater understanding and acceptance of the LGBT community and its needs. Ellen W. Gerber, Equality Champion for the Triad Region Despite her "retirement" at the end of 1991, Ellen W. "Lennie" Gerber has continued to practice law on a volunteer basis by assisting on cases, doing research, and drafting documents for various civil rights organizations including the ACLU of North Carolina, the North Carolina Gay Advocacy Legal Alliance (NCGALA), the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. That work led, in 1997, to the privilege of arguing the case of Pulliam v. Smith to the Supreme Court of North Carolina. From 1992 through 2001, Lennie worked extensively as a volunteer with Summit House, a community corrections program designed to keep families together. In 1994, she realized a long-term goal when, with two other attorneys, she co-founded NCGALA. Lennie's long-time partner of 44 years and counting is Pearl Berlin.
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Reverend Joe Hoffman and Noel Nickle, Equality Champions for the Western Region When Noel and Joe were married, they had a religious wedding in North Carolina and a legal wedding in Vermont, acknowledging that their gay and lesbian friends and family members could not (yet) be legally married in North Carolina. Noel is a capital mitigation specialist and works with individuals facing the death penalty. Joe is Senior Pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville, where he has served since 1996. They live in Asheville with their children. Both Noel and Joe have been involved in LGBTQ advocacy for many years. In 2001, Noel advocated for and led a year-long process for First Congregational to become an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation. Together, with Rev. Mahan Siler, they helped found a local, grassroots organization, "People of Faith for Just Relationships," which advocates for marriage equality. In 2005 this group partnerned with other LGBTQ supportive groups to form The Coalition for Equality. Noel and Joe also co-chaired with Laurey Masterton "Love Makes a Family," a program of the Center for Diversity Education at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. In 2006, Joe received national attention when he preached a sermon entitled "It is Time for This to Change." He declared to the congregation, which gave him a standing ovation, that he would no longer legalize heterosexual marriages until he could legalize the loving, just, and mutual relationships of all the members of his church. Joe provides ongoing leadership to clergy advocating for LGBTQ issues in the community and most recently generated widespread clergy support for Asheville City Council's vote to provide domestic partner benefits for all city employees. He also serves on the advisory board for YouthOutRight and is on the Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Law Enforcement Committee helping to provide a safer community for the full diversity of people who live in the area. Aaron Lucier, Equality NC Foundation 2010 Equality Champion for the Eastern Region Aaron Lucier is the current faculty/staff advisor for the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered Student Union (GLBTSU) at East Carolina University, and has worked with the student group in this role for fourteen years. He is active in the Greenville community working with issues related to social justice, HIV/AIDS, and creating social outlets/connections for the local GLBT community. Aaron is the current president of the board of the Pitt County AIDS Service Organization, and also volunteers on a disaster action team with the Pitt County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Aaron is employed as the director of housing operations in the Campus Living department at ECU. As a college housing professional, he has served as the chair of the Association of College and University Housing Officers International's GLBT Concerns Committee, and in 2008 was awarded the association's Judy Spain Award for his work with GLBT issues and students. Joshua Lee Weaver, Equality NC Foundation 2010 Equality Champion for the Triangle Region Joshua is a native of North Carolina. Since Proposition 8 passed in California in November of 2008, he has become an activist for LGBT rights. Joshua's accomplishments are many, but what points best to his work for LGBT equality in North Carolina is his work to persuade the city of Durham to adopt a same-sex marriage resolution. His proposal to the city was accepted, and was featured on local news and in local papers, blogs, and even The Advocate. Not content with just getting one city to accept same-sex marriage, Joshua has expanded his efforts to other North Carolina cities. Joshua is one of many younger activists to have become involved in LGBT equality work over the past few years. His dedication speaks for itself, and clearly he already inspires many people. He received thirteen nominations to be our 2010 Equality Champion for the Triangle Region!
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2010 EQUALITY CONFERENCE BREAKOUT SESSIONS Breakout Session One Intersecting Identities: Considerations Among LGBT People of African Descent Michele K. Lewis Focused discussion about the gendered life experience of black men and women is needed to understand culturally defined ideas of black womanhood and black manhood. In addition, the intersections of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and other oppressions will be critically examined during this workshop via exercises that demonstrate how the personal becomes political, and the implications for healthy living, activism, and utilization of services. (Kirkland Room)
the “WPATH Standards” (World Professional Association of Transgender Healthcare’s Standards of Care) and DSM IVTR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder. The effect on documentation, employment, Social Security, travel, and access to care will be outlined in this workshop, as well as the different surgical options available for transgender people. (Alexander Room) HIV Policy in NC: Successes and Challenges Carolyn McAllaster, Addison Ore The North Carolina AIDS Action Network’s (NCAAN’s) policy agenda will give detail to participants about key HIV/AIDS policy issues specific to our state. Learn how North Carolina became the state with the longest waiting list for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and what you can do to ensure such a public health crisis doesn’t happen in the future. Handouts of the NCAAN policy agenda will be given along with key tips for talking to legislators and how to be a successful advocate for those living with HIV. (Maple Room)
GLBT Issues in the Classroom: What Educators Can Do to Stop Bullying and Harassment Elic Senter In classrooms across North Carolina, students and teachers face harassment and bullying based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Educators have the responsibility to teach every child. We also have a responsibility to ensure a safe learning environment for those children we teach. In this session, we will discuss methods of creating “safe spaces” for everyone (students and teachers) and what this means for educators in the classroom. We will also cover current laws requiring educators and administrators to protect students and teachers from harassment, as defined by North Carolina’s School Violence Prevention Act. Resources will be provided from the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and the National Education Association (NEA). (Claxton Room)
Love and Laws: A Legal Perspective on Marrying Outside NC Corye Dunn, Connie Vetter The patchwork of state marriage laws presents new challenges for families in North Carolina. North Carolina attorneys whose practices focus on serving LGBT clients discuss the potential pitfalls and how to protect your family whether or not you choose to marry. (Alexander Room)
Shaping Dialogue for Change in Our Community Dana Donaldson, Brandon Mathis, Ann Steldt, Kathryn S. Wilson This interactive workshop will provide an overview of several approaches to addressing conflict, fear, and stereotypes in families, organizations, and communities at large. The workshop will explore approaches to getting people to rethink their opinions through the principles of restorative dialogue and grassroots advocacy techniques. Skills will be demonstrated in role plays, and participants will leave with a handbook. (Joyner Room)
A Matter of Opinion Margot Carmichael Lester, Steve Peha Editorial and op-ed pages, broadcast commentaries and social media often are overlooked opportunities to convey key messages, manage public opinion, or shape a debate. Few vehicles offer such a solid means of taking a stand, defending a position, or promoting a particular point of view. In this workshop, we’ll learn a pre-writing strategy to help you write quickly and effectively with sensitivity to your audience and the right details to drive results. If time permits, we’ll also begin writing a piece. (Kirkland Room)
Body Politics: Surgery and the Transgender Experience Kimball Sargent When people hear that someone is transgender, they often wonder, “Has that person had the surgery?” There are actually a number of different surgeries that transgender people may choose, but surgery doesn’t define a person as transgender. This workshop will begin with a brief “Transgender 101” to educate people on what is meant by the word “transition” in the gender community. Additionally, we will discuss why using surgery as a benchmark for transition is problematic for transgender people in many areas, and issues surrounding
When You Gotta Go, Come Here: An Ally-Building Approach to Creating More Gender-Neutral Bathrooms in Your Community Luke Hirst, Alba Onofrio, Dawn K. Dreyer Restrooms are notorious in our transgender communities for being unsafe, but simple changes can make a difference for all kinds of folks and benefit businesses. Members of Durham Unstalled, a grassroots initiative dedicated to making restrooms more accessible and comfortable for everyone, will bring you up to speed, share their group’s philosophy, and direct you to resources to help you get started on your own initiative in your hometown! (Claxton Room)
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Breakout Session Two
Understanding and Addressing LGBTQ Health Disparities Justin Smith Mounting scientific evidence shows that members of LGBTQ communities experience worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts across a variety of health topics. These health disparities are compounded by and coexist alongside gender, race, and class lines. Organized by queer graduate students from the UNC Gillings School of Public Health, this workshop will present an intersectional analysis of LGBTQ health disparities, with a particular emphasis on those faced by LGBTQ people of color. Health topics will include HIV/AIDS, alcohol abuse, tobacco and illicit drug use, cancer, intimate partner and other types of violence, and mental health. Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of some of the reasons why LGBTQ health disparities exist, and will participate in an exercise to devise strategies to address them. (Maple Room) Communities in the Classroom: Empowering Individuals to Provide Anti-Bullying Training for Educators Justine Hollingshead, Greer Cook With the recent teen suicides after endless bullying the climate in our schools has become of paramount concern. Research shows that there is a direct correlation between student safety, school attendance, and safe school laws (GLSEN, 2007). It is time that our community help ensure that ALL young people are safe in schools. Currently there is not a system in place to make sure that school districts, administrators, and teachers are adhering to the new antibullying policies created by the School Violence Prevention Act. This includes lack of training and continuing education for faculty and staff regarding the needs of, and issues facing the GLBT community. This workshop will provide a venue for people to share concerns about what is happening in school districts across North Carolina, will identify resources available, and propose ways to start addressing the problems, including educating staff in schools. (Joyner Room) Breakout Session Three
Improving Syringe Access for People of Transgender Experience Robert Childs, Loftin Wilson, Jen Przewoznik, Corey Davis In this workshop, participants will learn about the history of syringe access in NC and how it relates to the Transgender Community. We will address how current syringe access law leads to increased Hepatitis, HIV, STD, AXIS 3 Disorders and Overdose incidences, financial costs to society and UNempowered people of transgender experience. This workshop will address what we can do to change the current law and what we can do to help people under the current law. (Joyner Room) LGBT Oppression in the Western Tradition James Dye Groups like the Alliance Defense Fund and the Family Research Council have tapped into a long tradition of oppression of the LGBT community. This workshop will examine how those tactics, largely without popular support, have been used to promote a political agenda and how they often--or at least eventually--fail. (Alexander Room) Planning the Perfect LGBT Lobby Day for College Students: It Doesn’t Have to be Scary! Sara Isaacson, Lee Storrow This interactive workshop will focus on how to engage in political activism on LGBTQ issues, with a focus on college campus organizing. While examining UNC-CH’s student-led lobby day on ENDA and DADT, attendees will brainstorm building effective coalitions, learn successful techniques for training advocates in sharing their stories with policy-makers, and discuss the logistical requirements of getting students together with their legislators, whether on campus, in their districts, in Raleigh or in DC! (Claxton Room) Out to Win: LGBT Elected Officials Share their Stories Mike Nelson, Mark Kleinschmidt, Elic Senter, Doug Arbogast Public officials from across North Carolina will discuss running for, winning, and serving in office as out LGBT candidates and elected officials. Hear their success stories—and challenges along the way—and maybe even be inspired to run for office, yourself! (Maple Room)
Helping Our Youth Find Their Voice Laurie Pitts, Loan Tran, Ean Woods, Michael Johnson Time Out Youth’s most powerful venue for advocacy efforts is their Speakers Bureau. Their youth are trained to speak to local agencies, schools, civic organizations, houses of worship, and other area organizations about their experiences being LGBTQ in the Charlotte region. By telling their stories firsthand, youth are empowered and begin to see their own ability to affect change by changing attitudes one person at a time. This panel discussion will begin with youth telling their personal stories, followed by a Q&A session. (Kirkland Room)
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BIOGRAPHIES Doug Arbogast serves on the Tryon Town Council. Robert Childs, MPH, is a veteran harm reductionist and a syringe access and transgender rights advocate. Robert has run these type of programs throughout the US and Tanzania. Robert currently is the Executive Director of North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition and on the Board of Directors of Africa Bridge in Tanzania. Greer B. Cook, MPH, is a Research Associate with the Department of Public Health Education at UNC Greensboro, chair on the Safe Schools Committee with PFLAG Rocky Mount, and former Equality NC intern. After enjoying the sweet victory of the SVPA becoming law, she has continued to stay involved to ensure safer schools for LGBT youth. Corey Davis is a Staff Attorney at the National Health Law Program (NHeLP). Prior to joining NHeLP Corey served as Employment Rights Attorney at Equality Advocates Pennsylvania where he represented lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and provided education, outreach and strategic support to the LGBT community. Dana Donaldson is an MA candidate in Program in Conflict Studies and Dispute Resolution at The University of North Carolina Greensboro and holds a BS in Community and Justice Studies with a minor in Psychology from Guilford College. Dawn K. Dreyer is a mixed-media artist, storylistener and storyteller, teacher, and a queer femme committed to learning how to be a strong ally to her transgender and gender queer family. Her art projects explore connections between the sacred and the sensual, creativity, mental illness, social justice, and the Spirit. Corye Dunn was born and raised in Durham. She started her career in non-profits focusing on education policy, civil rights, and community development. Now she uses her advocacy and dispute resolution skills to help North Carolinians
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build and protect their families as an attorney with Sharon Thompson Law Group. James Dye is a philologist, historian, and contributor to Lambda Legal’s Impact magazine. He has written for numerous LGBT newsletters and, most recently, has had a humour column, “A Queen in Exile,” in Asheville’s LGBT newsletter stereotypd. He serves on the board of CLOSER, western North Carolina’s oldest, continuous-running LGBT support group. Luke Hirst has worked in the nonprofit sector for the past four years, done community organizing for the past 10, and used public bathrooms for the past 28. In August, Luke became a founder of Durham Unstalled, a community initiative working to get more genderneutral bathrooms in Durham. Justine Hollingshead has twenty-plus years of success working as an administrator in Higher Education on college campuses and in the business sector. She currently serves as the Director of the GLBT Center at NC State University, where she has coordinated an educational ally training program called Project SAFE. Sara Isaacson is a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill. After being disenrolled from Army ROTC because of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, she became a vocal advocate for the policy’s repeal. She has been featured on NPR and MSNBC, as well as in articles in The Advocate and The Huffington Post. Michael Johnson, a volunteer with Time Out Youth, lives in Charlotte and attends Central Piedmont Community College. Mark Kleinschmidt is the first openly gay Mayor of Chapel Hill. He first came to Chapel Hill in 1988 as a Teaching Fellow and returned to Carolina to pursue law in 1997. The Mayor also works as executive director of the Fair Trial Initiative, grooming attorneys for the capital bar. Margot Carmichael Lester possesses an understanding of the art, craft, and business of producing professional
prose. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Business Journal, The International Cinematographers Guild Magazine, MSN.com and Monster.com, among others. She is the co-author of Be A Better Writer, which won the Independent Publisher Association’s gold medal in 2007 for non-fiction. Michele K. Lewis is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Winston Salem State University. She is author of the book Multicultural Health Psychology: Special Topics Acknowledging Diversity and the forthcoming book, Black Issues in LGBT Psychology. She currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Psychological Association’s LGBT Division. Brandon Mathis is a graduate student in the UNCG Conflict Studies and Dispute Resolution program, and works as the Director of Sales and Marketing for a property management firm where his responsibilities include dealing with resident disputes. His other interests include the accessibility of affordable housing for GLBT seniors. Carolyn McAllaster is the Founder and Director of the AIDS Legal Project and a Clinical Professor of Law at Duke Law School where she also teaches a course on AIDS and the Law. She is currently the co-chair of the NC AIDS Action Network. She was appointed by the Governor to the North Carolina AIDS Advisory Council in 1996 and chaired the Council in 2005. She received her B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1972 and her J.D. from UNC Law School in 1976. Michael R. “Mike” Nelson currently serves on the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Nelson is a former mayor of Carrboro and the first openly gay person to be elected as a mayor of a North Carolina city. He served five consecutive terms as mayor from 1995 to 2005, after serving two years on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. alba onofrio: radical queer brown non-monogamous English-teaching Appalachian mother activist missionary. old-school femme lover of gender non-
conformists and a founding member of Durham Unstalled. Addison Ore holds a B.A. from James Madison University and has served as the Executive Director of Triad Health Project, Guilford County’s largest provider of HIV/AIDS services, since 2004. She is a founding board member of the North Carolina AIDS Action Network and is completing her second threeyear term as a board member of Equality NC. Steve Peha is the Founder and President of Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. He has given hundreds of workshops across the United States and Canada, is a weekly contributor to the National Journal Education Experts Blog and has a monthly column in the Carrboro Citizen. He is the co-author of Be A Better Writer. Laurie Pitts holds a B.A. in English and a Master’s Degree in Social Work, both from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Laurie first became involved with Time Out Youth as a social work intern in 2007, was hired in February 2009, and now serves as the Programs and Services Director. Laurie has lived in Charlotte for five years and tries to spend as much time as possible with her partner and daughter. Jen Przewoznik is a Licensed Social Worker who has worked on LGBTQQI health issues for over 10 years, including 5 years at Philadelphia’s Mazzoni Center for LGBT Health and Well-Being as an outpatient mental health therapist and Women’s Health Program Coordinator. She currently works on sexual violence prevention with the NC Division of Public Health. Kimball Sargent MSN, PMHCNS-BC is a nurse psychotherapist working with the transgender community since 1996. Kimball enjoys being a guide for the gender journey. She precepts graduate students from UNC-CH who want to work with clients from the LGBT community. Kimball co-chairs the Wake County GSA Booster club. Elic Senter is an Education Consultant with the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) Center
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BIOGRAPHIES cont. for Teaching and Learning, where he works with professional development for educators on such topics as closing achievement gaps and bullying and harassment issues in the classroom. In 2007, he became the second openly gay mayor in North Carolina when he was elected to serve as the Mayor of Franklinton. Justin Smith is a PhD student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. His primary interests lie in understanding and addressing HIV infection among Black gay and bisexual men, and in designing interventions to promote overall health and wellness within our community. Justin has been involved with HIV research and advocacy for over ten years. Ann Steldt is a graduate student in The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Conflict Studies and Dispute Resolution program. Ann has a strong interest in cultural and gender diversity, and hopes to ultimately work in a faith-based environment. Ann has 39 years of experience in the apparel industry in design and product development. She received her undergraduate degree in Religious Studies and English from UNCG. Lee Storrow is a senior at UNC-CH where he serves as President of Young Democrats as well as vice chair of the LGBTQ Caucus for the College Democrats of America. He currently sits on the American Heart Association’s NC Advocacy Committee and has planned both state and federal lobby days. Loan Tran is a 15-year-old sophomore at the Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology and a lifelong Charlotte resident. Loan is an out queer youth in the Charlotte community and actively works for LGBT youth visibility and LGBT rights. She has been with Time Out Youth for almost a year and is currently serving as a Youth Board Member. Connie Vetter is an attorney and mediator. Her legal practice has focused on the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender clients for over 16 years. Ms. Vetter graduated from Ohio State University and
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Northeastern University School of Law. Her practice is based in Charlotte and serves clients from across North Carolina. Kathryn S. Wilson is working on a Master’s degree in the Conflict Studies and Dispute Resolution program at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a certified community mediator and performs intake for the City of Greensboro’s Landlord Tenant Dispute Program. Kathryn has 20 years of editorial experience at various media organizations and financial service firms. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (BS) and Northwestern University (MS). Loftin Wilson is an intern at the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, doing work focused on expanding the organization’s services to NC’s transgender community. Born and raised in the Piedmont, Loftin attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio Ean Woods, a volunteer with Time Out Youth, lives in Charlotte and attends Central Piedmont Community College.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION Our Diversity of skills, knowledge, abilities, and life experiences are leveraged through creating an Inclusive environment.
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on cati ve o L New tter ser ty i e to b ommun c our
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The Adam Foundation The Mission
The Adam Foundation promotes the identity, strength, and well-being of the local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and supports organizations serving persons living with HIV and AIDS.
Valuing Diversity. Practicing Inclusion. Providing Outstanding Service. Our team members are encouraged to share their distinct perspectives and ideas to help us reach our goal of becoming the world's most respected service brand. It's this competitive
The Philanthropy
Since its inception, The Adam Foundation has awarded more than 1/4 million dollars through over 90 organizational grants.
www.adamfoundation.org PO Box 21113, Winston-Salem NC 27120
advantage that enables us to make big things happen! To learn more, visit us at careers.americanexpress.com/working/diversity.
Superior Service to Customers & Communities
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Equality NC Foundation Congratulates Our 2010 Award Winners! House Speaker Joe Hackney Roberta Dunn Ellen W. Gerber Reverend Joe Hoffman & Noel Nickle Aaron Lucier Joshua Lee Weaver
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Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Triad Financial Advisors, Inc., a registered investment advisor. Triad Financial Advisors, Inc. and Triangle Financial Advisors are not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
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Congratulations to enC foundation for being a 2010 GGf grant recipient! www.ggfnc.org 2010 Equality Conference & Gala Program | 19
S
haron ThompSon Law Group
Sharon A. Thompson
Attorney
Corye B. Dunn
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Denise B. Dunn Paralegal
Serving North Carolina’s LGBT community for 34 years.
Thank you, Speaker Hackney, for all you do for everyone in North Carolina. Congratulations to all the 2010 award recipients! Roberta Dunn, Ellen W. Gerber, Reverend Joe Hoffman and Noel Nickle, Aaron Lucier, Joshua Lee Weaver
Protecting You and The Family You Choose Wills & Trusts Powers of Attorney Estate Planning & Probate Domestic Partnership Agreements & Disputes Second Parent Adoptions Custody Disputes Donor and Surrogacy Agreements ■
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a t p t h i l s l d e y. ty. h ild a buil equa ual q f i u p e l l o b e ua help ty. h state te of ity a l i . t a a l s y u t equa uild ld a f eq te o b i o f a u t o e p s b t e . hel elp a a t t i s l d l a h a i y u t u . ali uality p build help b e of eq f eq eq . hel lity. a stat state o al y u a d t a q i l u i e l ua e of eq elp bu build te of sta a t a p t h a l s t d e . s lity y. h ld a buil equ i t a i u u l q equa elp b . help tate of e o t y s h f t a i . t o e ality equal uild a ld a s f eq equ ate of help b lp bui state o a t d e . s l h a i y d a qualit ality. build elp bu of e e h u p t l q f . a e e t o UNITED y s h f t a WE STAND AND SIT i . t o a l s UNITED WE STAND AND SIT y e a d t t a i l u a i l q t d u s equa of e lp b buil te o e f e a t p t o h a l s t e e . s h a i y a t u . d i b l l y d i t l a i u i p bu of equ equal help b y. hel state ate tate of ality. equalit uild a d a s l PLEASE JOIN OUR MISSION TO MAKE THE WORLD A MORE PLEASE JOIN OUR MISSION TO MAKE THE WORLD A MORE COMFORTABLE PLACE: FOR EVERYONE. COMFORTABLE PLACE: FOR EVERYONE.
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