Daniel Barkowitz | October 01, 2008

"You Are Welcome Here -- Out @ MIT"

Happy October to all!

In a few days or so, MIT will join with many others in observing National Coming Out Week. As part of this effort, I thought I would round out the events with a post on LGBT issues at MIT.

MIT has a long history of having a group on campus for Gay and Lesbian students, faculty and staff. The group is noted as having unofficially begun as far back as 1969, although official support recognition from the Institute occurred in 1996.

The LBGT issues group on campus, also known as GaMIT, serves to support Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Trans and questioning members of the MIT community, as well as supporters, allies and families. Their web page is full of information about services on-campus, including the Rainbow Lounge, the Lavender Guide, and other great resources. The LBGT group also is responsible for producing postcards which serve as an on-campus visibility campaign: entitled "you are welcome here", the cards indicate that students who are LBGT will find a welcoming environment within the office.

One of the most important things LBGT does, in my mind at least, is publish a calendar of events on a monthly basis. Below you will find the October event emal (which just came today).

If you are an LBGT student (or questioning), feel free to comment on your experience at MIT. If you are a prospective student who is LBGT or questioning, please know that MIT is a welcoming community.

October LBGT Newsletter:

1) Intro Letter
2) This Month's Events
3) Support Meetings
4) Opportunities for Students, Faculty, and Staff
_______________________________________________

Hello Everyone -

The trees that live amongst us have begun their beautiful shift into blazing colorfulness. In addition to this being a sure sign of fall, it also means that it's time again for the many brilliant colors of our LBGTQ & Ally community to shine during National Coming Out week!

This month, we are proud to feature many great ways to celebrate the vibrancy of our community, including:

- A discussion on Family & Coming Out (7th)
- Bring a Friend to the Rainbow Lounge: Annual Rainbow Reception! (15th)
- Film Screening and Discussion - 'For the Bible Tells Me So' (16th)

Of course, wonderful events are happening throughout the entire month of October. You won't want to miss:
- QPOC Brunch (20th) and Women's Lunch (23rd)
- In honor of Women's Week, natural healing workshop 'Plants in your Pants' (23rd)

We would love to see you at these events, and any of the others listed below. And don't forget to invite your friends and join us for the "Bring a Friend to the Rainbow Lounge" Rainbow Reception on the 15th!

- The staff of lbgt@mit
_______________________________________________

October Events

Tues 10/7

'Coming Out to Family' discussion and film screening, 5-6:30 pm, in 5-104 Join us for a film screening of 'Anyone and Everyone' and a discussion with the Exec. Director of Boston PFLAG abut what issues arise when we consider coming out (or not coming out) to our families.

Tues 10/7,14,21,28

LBGT First Year Group
Calling the class of 2012! You are invited to attend these social and supportive gatherings of LBGTQA First Years. We'll meet in the Rainbow Lounge for support, resources, and social time. Come hear from upperclassmen about how to survive MIT without losing yourself. All LBGTQ and Ally first-year students are welcome!

*********************National Coming Out Week!!!************************

October is GLBT History Month!
Each day in October 2008, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, images and other resources. The redesigned and enhanced GLBT History Month 2008 Web site is now complete and ready for viewing. Check it out at: http://www.glbthistorymonth.com

Tues 10/14

Special NCOW - LBGT Issues Group meeting, 4:30 Social, 5-6pm Meeting, 50-005 Come hear about the issues that are of current importance to fellow members of the LBGT and Ally community at MIT, including our participation in the upcoming President's Diversity Leadership Congress. Anyone affiliated with MIT and LBGT-friendly is welcome to join and to participate.

Wed 10/15

Rainbow Reception: Bring a Friend to the Rainbow Lounge!
4-6pm, Rainbow Lounge, 50-005, Do you know someone who has never been to the Rainbow Lounge? Do you have a friend you could invite to check it out? Invite your friends for this fun, casual event to celebrate the LBGT and Ally community at MIT. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome!

Thurs 10/16

"For the Bible Tells Me So" - Film Screening and Discussion, 7pm in 32-141 Students, faculty, staff, and parents/families welcome!
"An extremely powerful and intelligent look at the Bible, what it really says, and the impact various interpretations can have on members of our community."
The film includes former Rep. Richard Gephardt, Harvard's Rev. Peter Gomes, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Gene Robinson, the first openly Gay bishop to be consecrated by the Episcopal Church. http://www.forthebibletellsmeso.org/

Coming Out Party! - 10pm, Date: TBA, at Fenway House Shake your groove thang at this annual Coming Out Party Celebration!!

********************************************************************************

Mon 10/20

Queer People of Color Brunch
12:00p-2:00p (drop in anytime) 50-005, Rainbow Lounge All self-identified queer people of color from the MIT community are welcome at this Bi-Monthly Queer People Of Color Lunch Series. Come by your self, or bring your crew. QPOC lunches are casual, friendly, community-building for everybody.

Thurs 10/23

L4Q: Lunch for Queer Women and Friends
12:00p-2:00p in the Rainbow Lounge (50-005) Join us for a relaxed lunch in the lounge. Meet other LBTQA women from MIT. ****BYO Lunch. Drinks and Dessert will be provided.

Date TBA (10/27-30)

QWiLLTS Event for Women's Week - Stay tuned for more details.

_______________________________________________

Support Meetings

BATS meeting
Boston Area Trans Support (BATS) is a peer-run support group for college-age/twenty-something transgender people. The group is inclusive of people who are questioning their gender, are FTM, MTF, gender-queer, and those who prefer any other gender descriptor. For more information, including the exact meeting time and location, please contact: Sean Delmore, sdelmore@mit.edu, x 2-1612.
_______________________________________________

Opportunities for Students, Faculty, and Staff

OUTSPOKEN! - LGBT Student Leadership Conference October 24-26, 2008 @ Syracuse University http://lgbt.syr.edu/outspoken/

GSA Internship at Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School Intern will work closely with Coordinator on GLBT program and curriculum development in a local, culturally diverse urban high school to facilitate weekly group meetings of the GSA, organize special initiatives and archival projects, and assist with planning and organization of various events. lease send letter of interest to Coordinator Kathy Keegan at kathy.keegan@gmail.com

Volunteer for GLAD's Legal Info Line

GLAD is New England's leading legal organization fighting for full equality and justice for LGBT and HIV+ people through impact litigation and education. Through the Legal InfoLine, which operates 1:30 - 4:30, Monday - Friday, in English and Spanish, callers from all over New England can find out about their legal rights. They can access GLAD's series of publications, and get referrals to other agencies and to knowledgeable, sensitive attorneys should they need legal advice. We provide these critical services with the assistance of a dedicated team of volunteers. GLAD's infoline volunteers get extensive training. The next training is October 16, 18 and 20. No prior legal experience is needed. If you have questions about the training or about GLAD, give me a call (617) 426-1350 or email me at bbell@glad.org.

Life After Trauma: An Identity Building Group for Women Attracted to Women Tuesdays, Beginning November 4th, 6:15-7:30pm, at The Trauma Center in Brookline, MA. If you have questions or are interested in enrolling, please
call: Ilya Yacevich at (617) 232-1303 x321

Looking for a Christian Church that is LBGT friendly?
Check out: http://www.gaychurch.org

MASALA Mela, Saturday 10/10, 9p-2a, @ Machine This year Mela coincides with National Coming Out Day, which is an internationally observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues. Join MASALA as we celebrate an evening of FABULOSITY that is sure to bring out the DIVA in you! Come mingle with MASALA members, their friends and allies, enjoy delicious South Asian snacks from our Mela buffet, and get ready to dance the night away with throbbing Bollywood mixed music courtesy of DJKris along with show stopping performances by your very own Masalans!!! Tickets $20 in advance.
for more info: e-mail bostonmasala@gmail.com

_______________________________________________
Lbgtnews mailing list
Lbgtnews@mit.edu
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/lbgtnews

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