On Saturday June 4th, Center members met to review the past year and to elect 3 Center members to join the Board of Directors. Congratulations to re-elected Chris Guin and to newly elected Jason Rogers and Jeremy Whisenhunt.
At the June Board meeting, the new Board organized themselves and selected Board members to serve as officers. The entire Board slate is listed.
Kyle Smith, President James K Rector, Vice-President Chris Guinn, Secretary Jeremy Whisenhunt, Treasurer VACANT, Board Member for Communications & Public Relations Jordan Garcia, Board Member for Development Jason Rogers, Board Member for Advocacy & Awareness Art Beeghly, Board Member for Principle Events VACANT, Board Member for Youth Services Jeff Patrick, Board Member for Health & Outreach Services VACANT, Board Member for Community Programs & Services
(Contact information on the Center’s website)
The Center would like to thank the following people for their help with our Annual Meeting and Election: The NWACC GSA, for helping us secure and organize the space for our meeting. Toby Jenkins, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Equality, for bringing his wisdom and funny stories of the development of a world-class LGBT center in Tulsa, OK. Eventures Party Rentals, for donated supplies.
Thanks again to all members who served on the Board during the past year. Those finishing their terms next summer and those who have graduated to other community opportunities are much appreciated for their passion, dedication, and hard work.
The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
Arkansas Times reports on the new statement by Benton County State Representative Donna Hutchinson from Bella Vista. Residents of House District 98 (Bella Vista, Pea Ridge) are encouraged to call or write her about her careless and offensive statement.
Here is the NWA Center for Equality’s response to Rep. Hutchinson’s statement. Below you will find her full statement.
Contact: Kyle Smith FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE President, Board of Directors
NWA Center for Equality
479.966.9014 ksmith@nwaequality.org
Center responds to anti-LGBT statement from Rep. Hutchinson Benton County Representative Asked To Apologize
Fayetteville, Ark. (June 24, 2011) – The NWA Center for Equality condemns the recent statement from Rep. Donna Hutchinson of Bella Vista vilifying gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Arkansans. In Rep. Hutchinson’s attempt to protect funding for the worthy cause of therapeutic foster homes, she attacked make-believe programs within the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Her statements incorrectly referred to “the most wasteful of all programs — those that help gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual feel better about themselves.”
DHS has clearly stated that there are no such programs in Arkansas. Rep. Hutchinson admitted she had done no research in developing a list of programs that she would cut in order to maintain funding for therapeutic foster care homes. Her use of LGBT Arkansans as scapegoats is not even based on any real government actions. Rep. Hutchinson’s comments amount to an attack on the LGBT people of Arkansas by setting up an “us” versus “them” situation. Ignoring real possible solutions, she created a fake problem to fight instead.
Her statement also suggests that LGBT Arkansans have made a decision to be in what she describes as a “sad situation.” Beyond the offensiveness of suggesting that the lives of thousands of LGBT Arkansans are “sad”, her assertion that people choose their sexual orientation or gender identity is false and dangerous. The scientific community and the American Psychological Association has long agreed that sexual orientation is not a choice and all efforts to change one’s sexuality have been debunked as bad science and possibly even harmful.
Rep. Hutchinson needed a group of Arkansans to vilify and the LGBT community is too easy a target for some to resist. Her choice to pit the LGBT community against foster children is untenable. Her hypocrisy of claiming to defend the most vulnerable while her comments alienate very vulnerable LGBT youth in Arkansas is despicable.
In Gov. Beebe’s words, this is demagoguery. Her comments do not serve her LGBT constituents who need full equality under the law, nor does it help the children of Arkansas who struggle with bullying in schools. Neither do they attempt to fix the funding issue of therapeutic foster homes. Rep. Hutchinson owes the LGBT community of Arkansas an apology and her district a better effort to solve problems like an adult rather than blaming someone else.
The NWA Center for Equality is a grassroots support and advocacy movement to achieve equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community in NWA.
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Rep. Donna Hutchinson’s full statement:
There he goes again playing the “Scrooge game”. Governor Beebe just cut in half the funds for therapeutic foster care. As long as I have been in politics I should not be surprised when politicians use the most innocent and vulnerable as pawns in political games. Governors and presidents tend to use the “Scrooge game” whenever they want more funds or to complain about tax cuts. I predicted this would happen when I introduced HB1768 which declared the state couldn’t dismiss employees who have direct contact with the public if funds become tight. That’s how the game is played. Governments never cut management or politically powerful but always those dealing with the public directly so voters will feel the pain directly and demand more funds/tax increase. OR governors cut those who have little political power as foster care.
Democrats may give speeches about caring for the poor and down trodden, but Governor Beebe doesn’t mind cutting funds if it helps his cause which is “See, I told you we shouldn’t have passed so many tax cuts.” Beebe is a #1 Scrooge. Foster care children are wards of the state; they have no place to go for funds. They should be the very last program to cut—but in a Beebe administration, foster children are the first.
Without doing any research I can think of numerous programs that could have been cut in the DHS budget. These are programs which are supposed to help adults overcome negative lifestyles. Gambling, alcohol & drug use, and the most wasteful of all programs—those that help Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual feel better about themselves.
Adults may go to outlets other than government to get help—foster children can not.
Adults made decisions which landed them in these sad situations—foster children did not. They are in foster care because parents made bad decisions.
If Governor Beebe doesn’t restore funds to the foster care therapeutic families, I will put a hold on the entire department and just sit there until he does. Thank God for the Fiscal Session.
Governor Beebe’s approach is shameful and an embarrassment to the entire state.
All these statements are on the record.
Donna Hutchinson
State Representative
District 98
The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
$10 gets you your pass to HAPPINESS and HYDRATION at the All Out June Festival this Saturday, June 25th.
All-you-can-drink draft beer, wine, WATER, or soda. Stay HYDRATED and HAPPY during what should be a less than scorching (only 88 degrees) but still HOT party. Purchase at entrance to the Walton Arts Center Rose Garden on Dickson Street as soon as the parade ends. STAY SAFE BY DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER AND BY DRINKING RESPONSIBLY!
It’s collectible and for the cause: this is All Out June’s fundraiser to cover the costs of the Festival and the whole month of activities. The Festival will feature live music, a special proclamation by Fayetteville Mayor Jordan, and a historic drag performance by Arkansas’ reigning royalty of drag.
The Festival is FREE and open to all ages. You will be carded for adult beverages. Please drink responsibly. NOPETS in the WAC Rose Garden.
Available TONIGHT at ALL OUT DRAG BINGO! Free T-shirt if you purchase tonight (S or M only).
Complete schedule of events at AllOutJune.com or you can download your 2011 Pride Guide here.
All Out June is a program of the NWA Center for Equality, celebrating a month of Pride in Northwest Arkansas. Through hosting, planning, coordinating or advertising events during the month of June, All Out June works to promote, educate, celebrate, and advocate the advancement to be ones true self in Northwest Arkansas.
The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
Have you seen the All Out June Banner flying over Dickson Street in Fayetteville?
Also included below is today’s press release inviting NWA to the big weekend, including the NWA Pride Parade by NWA Pride and the All Out June Festival. Other event announcements like All Out Drag Bingo (Thursday) and the White Party (Saturday) are available in the Pride Guide or on the All Out June website.
Photo by Kevin Fitzgerald
Contact: James K. Rector, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Event Director, All Out June
NWA Center for Equality
479.790.4235 jrector@nwaequality.org
JUNE HEATS UP WITH PRIDE WEEKEND PARADE AND FESTIVAL Northwest Arkansas LGBTQ organizations invite the entire community to celebrate their true selves with weekend of events
Fayetteville, Ark. (June 20, 2011) – The NWA Center for Equality is proud to invite the Northwest Arkansas community to the final weekend of All Out June this Thursday through Sunday, June 23-26, 2011. This month-long celebration of pride for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer (LGBTQ) community culminates with the All Out June Festival shortly after the NWA Pride Parade on Saturday June 25 in downtown Fayetteville.
All Out June, an umbrella organizing effort of the NWA Center for Equality, has a goal to promote, educate, celebrate, and advocate the advancement to be ones true self in Northwest Arkansas. While some of the over 30 events in June were more educational or directed at specific portions of the community, as Center President Kyle Smith expresses, “pride activities, and the Festival specifically, are times for all people to celebrate the diversity of their neighbors and themselves.”
“The month of activities is truly a collaboration of a diverse community” said Smith. “The parade is the work of the grassroots group NWA Pride, individual events were hosted by businesses, and the Festival wouldn’t be possible without the City of Fayetteville. This demonstrates that Northwest Arkansas can be the kind of place that attracts and retains the sort of diversity so often cited as integral to a successful community.”
Randal Wright and Randy Northam, owners of Eventures Party Rentals, echoed this sentiment: “As small business owners we are proud to be part of a community that is speaking out about respecting everyone. The LGBT members of our community share an entrepreneurial spirit that drives much of the business in NWA, and the strong ties and friendships we have made here drive us to continue working for and supporting our community.”
The parade begins at 10:00am and spectators are encouraged to line the route down Church Ave and Dickson Street. The fun continues at the All Out June Festival at the Walton Arts Center immediately following the parade. For a complete list of sponsors, event hosts, entertainment and advertisers, or for more information about any All Out June event, visit alloutjune.com or contact James K. Rector at 479.790.4243 or jrector@nwaequality.org.
The NWA Center for Equality is a grassroots support and advocacy movement to achieve equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community in NWA.
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The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
When does the Festival start? Where is the White Party? Is there anything family friendly? Fun daytime events? Who puts on All OUT June?All these questions and more, answered inside the 2011 Pride Guide. Download your copy by clicking on the image or pick one up at our business sponsors.
The center fold is a must-see……where else can you find the whole calendar of All OUT June events? Be sure to take a look at Page 18 for the list of sponsors and special thanks. How will you get your Pride on? At All OUT Drag Bingo? At the NWA HOPE BBQ? At the NWA Pride Parade? At the All OUT June Festival (mid-day, Saturday June 25th)? See you there.
All OUT June is a program of the NWA Center for Equality, celebrating a month of Pride in Northwest Arkansas. Through hosting, planning, coordinating or advertising events during the month of June, All OUT June works to promote, educate, celebrate, and advocate the advancement to be ones true self in Northwest Arkansas.
The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
The NWA Center for Equality is proud to announce its newest program, Peer Community. The mission of Peer Community is to provide LGBTQ individuals, friends and families with similar experiences a safe and structured space to support and encourage one another in healing and wellness. (Please scroll toward the bottom to read our most recent press release!)
Peer Community
free LGBTQ support groups offering help and encouragement in healing, wellness and everyday life
Peer support is founded on the principle that people who share an experience have something to offer which may not be provided by psychological professionals. Through such groups, individuals gain a sense of community and affiliation, receive resources and tools for wellness, healing and self-exploration, and have the empowering opportunity to share their own experiences and provide support to others.
How to Join a Group:
There is no charge to join any peer support group at the NWA Center for Equality. Current groups are listed below. To find out more or join, simply contact the facilitator by e-mail, or call the Center for Equality at 1-800-391-9222. (If you’ve never attended before, be sure to contact the facilitator of the group you are interested in to make sure the group is planning to meet at its regularly scheduled time.)
Current Support Groups
Bisexual / Bi-curious Support Group
Meets every other Wednesday, 7:30p-8:30p.
Facilitator: Maggie Laigaie, laigaie@gmail.com
Young Adult’s (18-25 yrs) Support Group
Meeting time TBA
Facilitator: Jonathan Carlsmith, joncarl@uark.edu
New support groups in various areas of need will be added as new facilitators are trained. If there is a specific type of group you’d like to see offered, let us know!
All peer group facilitators have been trained by a licensed mental health professional, and strive for the utmost in safety and confidentiality for all members.The Center occasionally offers classes for those interested in becoming a trained peer support group facilitator.
NWA Center for Equality Statement regarding the murder of Marcal Camero Tye
NWA Center for Equality joins others in expressing sympathy to the family and friends of Marcal Camero Tye. Tye’s body was found Tuesday morning near Forrest City after having been shot and dragged behind a vehicle. This horrendous incident has come to our attention because of the hateful act itself as well as the way initial reports of the incident were handled by media.
Memphis television station WREG originally reported the story as “Man Dressed as Woman Shot and Dragged in Forrest City.” The station’s website at www.wreg.com has since changed some of the language of the report to refer to Tye as a transgender woman. We thank WREG for their quick correction of the headline to “Transgender Woman Shot & Dragged in Arkansas” yet the report still uses incorrect gender pronouns. The Associated Press carelessly referred to Tye as a “man in women’s clothing.” If a person’s gender identity is not clear, address them as they present or even better; ask them or their friends and family.
How the media reports on news stories concerning the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community matters. Use of generalized, incorrect, and out-dated terminology is reporting with bias. People are influenced by the tone which a story is conveyed. We urge the media to provide accurate information allowing individuals to form their own judgments. We urge all people to not let ignorance or personal bias influence the reporting of facts.
We insist authorities investigate this crime as a possible hate crime motivated by the victim’s gender identity under the federal hate crimes statute. Arkansas is one of 5 states with no hate state level crime law. This incident reminds us that Arkansas needs a fully inclusive hate crimes law in order to protect all Arkansans.
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The NWA Center for Equality is a grassroots support and advocacy movement working to achieve full equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Northwest Arkansas.
The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
(Pictures and Bio’s of our Dream Date dolls below!)
This Thursday February 10th, Dickson Theater, 227 W. Dickson St, Fayetteville
Join hostess Taylor Madison Monroe & Olivia Larue, Stefanie Paige and Miss Gay Arkansas, Shawn Tyler Andrews, for bingo fun and the Valentine’s Dream Date Auction, benefiting NWA HOPE – the NWA Center for Equality’s free HIV Testing program.
$10 entry fee includes 3 bingo cards; additional cards are $1 each.
Dickson Theater opens at 6:30. Events begin at 7:30.
Don’t forget to bring your dolla’s for our dream date dolls!
The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
What’s Creating Change? Only the premier annual organizing and skills-building event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and their allies. The conference is run by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and attracts more than 2,500 people from all over the country every year. Presenters and participants come from all walks of life and include members of the business community, elected officials, students, faith leaders and staff and volunteers of non-profit organizations.
Creating Change is next week in Minneapolis, MN. Several Center members have attended in the past and some will be participating again this year. Our friends at Center for Artistic Revolution are sending youth members like they did last year as well. First, comedienne Kate Clinton on Creating Change, and then what local attendees have to say about the conference.
Shehan Welihindha
Shehan is a graduate student at the UofA and a Center member. He has attended 5 Creating Changes…he is our resident expert! His attendance started in 2004 and will continue this year at his 6th conference.
If there is a “gay heaven”, the Creating Change conference (CC) would be it! Hosted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), CC completely changed my view of LGBT activism. It is a gathering place for over 2500 LGBT activists from around the country (and even the world), who come together to share best practices and learn from each other. But not only is CC an environment to learn and develop as an activist, it is also a LOT of fun! There are plenty of opportunities to socialize and build lasting friendships throughout the conference, and each day has quite a few social activities to choose from. I have been to five CC’s and each time I come back re-energized, inspired, and ready to make a difference in my community. This conference is extra special to me because I met my partner, Ryan, an LGBT activist from South Carolina, at CC in Detroit in 2008. This year he and I will be presenting at CC in Minneapolis and celebrating our 3rd anniversary.
Jon Cox
Jon is an undergraduate student at the UofA and a current Board member. Last year he attended Creating Change in Dallas on behalf of the Center. Jon brought back much to share with the Center about the word “Queer.” This summer the Center will vote to amend our mission statement to add the “Q” to the existing LGBT focus.
From his article “Creating Change (in me)” When I went to Creating Change, I had a pretty standard LGBT view of sexuality. I didn’t use the word ‘Queer,’ which you will now notice me using. The change? Queer isn’t really found much in Fayetteville yet, because most of us didn’t know too much about it. My experience at Creating Change has shown me what queer is, and I’ve come to realize queer aspects of my own personality
Raymond Sweet
Raymond is the current President of the Board of Directors of the NWA Center for Equality. He attended Creating Change 2010 on behalf of Interweave of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville and brought back his experience to the Center as well.
As I went through my day I was embraced by a diversity of people. Affectional/sexual orientation ranged widely with people who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual and I hypothesize as asexual. Yet I was most impressed with the diversity of gender presentation and identity represented: Feminine men, masculine women, masculine men, feminine women, androgynous persons, and transsexual people (both FTM & MTF). In is a society that is sometimes so restrained by the gender binary it was a breath of fresh air to see so many expressions of gender.
The energy of the conference was incredible. No matter where one turned you would find a smiling face that was ready to engage in conversation about what they are involved with and/or how they hoped to make the world a better place. Though there was so many points of view and diversity it seemed that we could all find a common language. The space created encouraged openness and active listening. The conference experience has shaped the way that I interact with others. It is so important that we each have a voice that can be heard; no matter our personality style.
Casey Willits Casey has attended three Creating Change conferences spanning from 2004 to 2010. He is a current member of the Board of Directors of the Center.
I launched my experience in organizing with the skills I learned at my first Creating Change. It’s a place for first time activists and for seasoned veterans of LGBT centers, youth groups, political organizations, and the media. Creating Change has an amazing power to rejuvenate you after years of hard work or recent defeats. The talent and experience assembled in one place is unmatched anywhere in the LGBTQ movement. You will rub shoulders with big wigs from successful organizations and create memories with grassroots activists working all over the country. I most appreciate the focus on sharing best practices rather than making assumptions about how we should be doing the work of achieving equality. And nothing sums up the purpose of Creating Change better than their slogan: Power is Sexy!!
The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
The NWA Center for Equality remembers all the work Carolyn Wagner did to make sure the world was a safe place for all people, especially youth. We mourn her passing, but vow to continue her mission. Countless youth have stories to share about Carolyn. Here is one of them. This “It Gets Better” video came from a man who was directly impacted by the work of Carolyn.
The opinions expressed by our Contributors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the NWA Center for Equality, its Members, or any employee thereof. The NWA Center for Equality is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Contributors.
