CHURCHES THAT WELCOME US: LGBT persons and Christianity
Rainbow Alert
Episcopal Church on Guam and throughout the USA has long since welcomed LGBT persons in fellowship and worship. Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 9:30 a.m at St. John’s in Upper Tumon, 7:45 at St. Michael’s in Dededo and 10:45 at St. Andrew’s in Agat. For the last two years, Mass has been celebrated at St. John’s to kick-off Pride Month in June.
Resources & Services: HIV/AIDS: A long time champion in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the GUAHAN Project provides FREE risk reduction counseling and HIV/AIDS testing. The agency at its Pacific Resource and Training Center in Tamuning has a growing resource of LGBT materials. For more info contact 646-2437 or visit guahanproject.org DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and need help contact VARO’s 24-hr hotline at 477-5552 or 647-8833. MEDIATION: for conflict mediation contact Inafa’Maolek at 475-1977. LEGAL SERVICES: Contact Guam Legal Services Corporation at 477-9811 for more information. Online Resources:
Guam’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Newsletter
Legislate Love: Supporters WAVE for Bill 185
For the Bible Tells Me So: A Study Guide and Advocacy Training Curriculum. Curriculum available online at http://www.hrc.org/issues/ religion/10750.htm.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group Support group is open to youth and adult survivors of suicide. Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Prevention, & Training Branch PEACE office in Hagatna Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Human Rights Campaign: hrc.org American Civil Liberties Union on LGBT civil rights. visit aclu.org/lgbt/index.html Get Busy. Get Equal. “You have a right to be yourself.” Tools to help organize LGBT equality. visit: gbge.aclu.org
Supporters of Bill 185, formerly Bill 138, (proposed legislation to recognize same gender domestic partnerships) were at the ITC Intersection in Tamuning in a show of solidarity for fairness and equality. The Wave was organized by the Guam Youth Congress, led by Speaker Derick Baza Hills, and GALA. The wave was part of a growing supporters of LGBT and straight allies united through the Movement to Legislate Love, challenging the current denial of basic and fundamental human rights to same gender couples. (Visit us on for more photos.)
For more info call Barbara Benavente or Patricia Mafnas at 477-9079 thru 83. peaceguam.org
Guam’s Alternative Lifestyle (GALA) Board Officers: Tim de La Cruz, president; BinaRose Lujan, vice-president; Glenda Hall, secretary; Eileen Escelera, treasurer; and DeeDee Babauta, public relations officer. For more information contact (671) 687-0666/488-6025 or galaguam@gmail.com Follow us on: Myspace, Twitter and Facebook. Search galaguam.
INSIDE: Town Hall Meetings & Public Hearing Rainbow Connection Coming Out as a Straight Supporter
Guam’s Alternative Lifestyle Association
Aug 2009 Volume 1, Issue 2
RAINBOW CONNECTION GALA Activity Highlights: Advocacy, Education & Support
PARTNERSHIP: On June 17, HIV/AIDS certified risk reduction counselors from GALA partnered with the GUAHAN Project in providing free & confidential HIV/AIDS testing during National HIV/AIDS Testing Day. GALA assisted Ina’fa Maolek in identifying LGBT youth to participate in a focus group to fulfill grant requirements for its mediation program. CELEBRATING PRIDE: Over 300 people attended GALA’s Pride Party with the Untouchables House of Diosa at Club Euphoria on June 27. The Pride Party concluded GALA’s observance of Pride month in June. Pride month began with a Mass and fellowship at St. John’s Church, the screening of the film Tying the Know Film Forum co-sponsored by the University of Guam, Social Work Division and the L-Word at Club Denial. Special Thanks to: St. John’s Episcopal Church, Zaij Enterprise, the Untouchables, Club Euphoria, Club Denial, GUAHAN Project, UOG Social Work Division, GTA Teleguam, Cold Stone Creamery, BCBG, Ocean Jet Club, Rasan Acho Latte, Talofofo Falls Resort, Paradise Imaging, Ocean’s Salon, IT&E Overseas, Brown Bag Cafe, Proa Restaurant, House of Brutus, Carmen’s Cha Cha Cha Restaurant, Derick Hills, Trinity Hufana, April San Nicolas, Michele Blas, Carla Lugo, Steven Torres, Rese Marley, Rayna Camacho, Eileen JaoDador and Lisa Baza. LGBT TRAINING: GALA’s Tim de La Cruz and DeeDee Babauta will present with Guam Legal Services and VARO to members of the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition in Aug. regarding LGBT sensitivity and sexual assault. AWARENESS: The Rotary Club of Tumon Bay invited GALA to discuss its support of Bill 185 and its continued support of equality for same gender couples at its regular meeting. Derick Hills and GALA was also invited by the Rotary Club to discuss Bill 185 during its general assembly meeting. BOARD: The GALA board of officers recently approved standing committees: Fundraising & Finance, Marketing, Community Engagement, Advocacy, Board Development and Archives. VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION: For those interested in becoming a volunteer for GALA, a volunteer orientation is scheduled for Aug. 08, 2009 at the GUAHAN Project Office in Tamuning from 10:00-Noon. Call or email for more information. For regular updates on GALA activities, follow us on twitter. Search galaguam.
Be the change you want to see in the world. Mahatma Gandhi Help us be your voice for change. Your monetary contribution will help us achieve our mission of improving the quality of lives of LGBT on Guam. To become a volunteer contact 687-0666.
Making a difference to!"er YES, I will make a difference!
When you give as little as $20, GALA can move quickly toward improving the lives of Guam’s LGBT community. Your support will help us continue to champion issues important to YOU like same gender equality and offer innovative social events and LGBT sensitivity training and build community partnerships. PLEASE send check or money order to: Guam’s Alternative Lifestyle Association (GALA) P.O. Box 326174, Hagatna, Guam 96932
We are Family: An Open Letter for Equality and Fairness Bill 185 opponents have made strong claims that that equality and fairness to domestic partners of same sex partners, is a threat to society and, most especially the Family. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends can no longer sit quietly and be publicly demonized by the personally held religious convictions of others. Under the guise of protecting the family, negative stereotyping and gross generalizations have repeatedly bore false witness against the LGBT community. We too, are part of Guam’s family. During the recent public hearing on bill 185, some of the deeply hurtful rhetoric was spat out in the form of testimony by opponents of the proposed legislation. Our loved ones were often referred to “them” or “those people”. Such language of exclusion is a politically divisive ploy to keep us separate and unequal and to appeal only to people’s fears to justify and perpetuate discrimination rooted in bias and prejudice. As a community we know better to believe such hurtful statements. Let us draw from the spirit of inafa’maolek, our shared connectedness. The negative stereotyping of homosexuality as unnatural and perverse does more harm than good by turning LGBT persons away from a place of acceptance and, negatively toward a place of denial. Suggestions that homosexuality is merely a lifestyle choice and can be corrected through therapy and other conversion methods are untrue. In fact, the American Psychological Association and the National Association of Social Workers have supported statements that such corrective treatment is damaging to the human person, since it often involves shaming and stigmatization processes. Where is the dignity in this? Signed by LGBT, family and friends. To sign the petition and to join the Movement to Legislate Love, contact a GALA supporter or representative. Or Call Public Relations Officer DeeDee Babauta at 687‐0666 or email galaguam@gmail.com. The petition will also be available online. Notifications will be sent via email.
STRAIGHT ALLY About Coming Out as a Straight Supporter A straight ally is someone who is not gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT) but personally advocates for GLBT equal rights and fair treatment. Straight allies are some of the most effective and powerful advocates for the GLBT movement. These allies have proven invaluable personally and politically, and are increasingly important in the fight for GLBT equality. Indeed, their voices often have been heard while those of GLBT people have been ignored. Coming out as a straight ally may be an extremely challenging experience, but many find that it is unexpectedly rewarding. Some may think that advocating on behalf of GLBT equality is solely the responsibility of those who are affected by the inequality. But as straight ally Caleb Baker has put it: "U.S. Representative John Lewis once said that the next great movement in America would be the gay rights movement. His words make me remember there are white people fighting for black people’s rights in the civil rights movement. There are men fighting for women’s rights in the feminist movement. I would be greatly ashamed if there were no straight people fighting for gay rights in our movement." (GLSEN’s Students and GSA’s Yearbook) Like GLBT people, straight allies will find that coming out is not a one-time event, but rather a lifelong journey. Opinion polls show that people who know someone who is gay or lesbian are more likely to support equal rights for all gay and lesbian people. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that the same is true for people who know someone who is bisexual or transgender. Taken from http://www.hrc.org/issues/coming_out/5891.htm
Toward a more perfect union: equality for same gender couples The fight for equality and fairness for same gender couples began with the Guam Youth Congress’ passage of Bill 138 to legalize same gender civil unions on Guam. Guam Legislature Vice Speaker BJ Cruz introduced the bill in early June. Within hours of the bill’s introduction, the Roman Catholic Church Archbishop Anthony Apuron issued a statement condemning the proposed legislation. With support from GALA, Guam Youth Congress Speaker Derick Hills launched a series of village town hall meetings in Agat, Yigo, Mangilao and Dededo to educate the community about Bill 138. According to the General Accounting Office, over 1040 rights, privileges and benefits are contingent on marital status. On Guam and most states, marriage is recognized as between one man and one woman.
As a result of the town hall meetings, Bill 138 was substituted and introduced for public hearing as Bill 185 to recognize and grant benefits through domestic partnerships to same and opposite gender couples. The Case for Domestic Partnerships Supporters for Bill 185 testified before the committee on health at the Legislative hearing room in Hagatna on Jul. 28. Many supporters held signs that read Legislate Love and calling for the senators to approve domestic partnerships. Over 150 supporters and opponents were present during the hearing. Longtime partners Dr. Ellen Bez and Dr. Annie Bordallo testified during the public hearing along with many other LGBT members demanding for fairness and equal treatment of same gender couples.
The two doctors, who are owners of Sagua Managu, were joined by immediate and extended family. Dr. Bordallo said that the intention of the bill was not to revise church doctrine nor prove the legality of homosexuality, but to extend rights, privileges and benefits denied to same gender couples. A second public hearing is planned sometime in Aug and will include joint discussions on Bill 185 and Bill 158. Bill 158 was introduced by Sen. Frank Blas, Jr. and Tina Muna Barnes and cites the Defense of Marriage Act and seeks to clarify that marriage is between a man and a woman. The bill has angered many in the LGBT community and their families as many see it as counter legislation to the original Bill 138 to legalize same gender civil unions.
A HISTORY OF PROGRESS AND INCLUSION The Gay Rights Movement is a Human Rights Movement that seeks to end decades old discrimination practices toward lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons. The Gay Rights Movement follows a history of progress and inclusion following in the footsteps of other minorities, like women and blacks, who stood up for inequality and oppression in all its form. Join the Movement to Legislate Love, support Bill 185. Call your senators and let them know that same gender relationships matter too and are deserving of legal recognition & protection.
“A prime part of the history of our constitution...is the story of the extension of constitutional rights and protections to people once ignored or excluded.” US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Photography by: Vince Aguon