AUGUST 2006 I out In the mountain: 5 /I PHILANTHROPY Samara Announces 2006 Gifts Foundation Awards $21,500 to Nine Organizations, Two Students BURLINGTON — Samara Foundation of Vermont has awarded scholarships and grants totaling $21,500 to two high school seniors and nine organizations serving the Vermont LGBT community. Samara first awarded grants in 1998 and now has awarded over $2 l9,000,throughout the state. Two graduating high school seniors, one from South Burlington and the other from Rutland, have been awarded year 2006 Samara Foundation Scholarships of $2,000. The Samara Scholarship was established as an invest- ment in the future of Vermont students who oppose dis- crimination and prejudice and who stand for the elimina- tion of homophobia in our society. Organizations funded in Samara Foundation’s Year 2006 granting cycle benefit the Vermont gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in a wide range of areas including HIV prevention, youth services, education, media develop- ment, health and community ‘service, social service and initia- tives to address same sex domestic violence. 6 HIV prevention outreach to men in Bennington County was the focus of a $1,500 grant awarded to the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont. Easter Seals Vermont, as lead agency for the Vermont adoption consortium, received $1,300 to support the Northwestern Vermont Gay and Lesbian Fos- ter and Adoptive Parent Group. Expanded youth services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth throughout Vermont was supported by a $6,000 grant to Outright Vermont. Pride Vermont received $1,700 to support publication of a “Pride Guide and Directory” to be distributed at this year’s Pride Celebration. A $2,750 grant was awarded to SafeSpace, a social change and social service organization working to end physical, sexu- al and emotional violence in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning people. Transgender Day of Remembrance received $1,250 to support its goal of building community awareness around transgender issues, creating.opportunities to recognize and mourn transgender people lost to violence and discrimina- tion, and to empower transgender community members and other members of the LGBT and general communities in drawing common linkages in fighting injustice and build- ing a stronger community for everyone. The R.U.1.2‘? Queer Community Center received $3,000 to support its general operations with a focus on LGBTQ elders. It also was awarded an additional $500 to help with transition expenses in its merger with SafeSpace. Vermont PWA (People with AIDS) Coalition received $2,500 to provide scholarships to a retreat/conference for people living with HIV, as well as scholarships for Vermont PWA’s Buyers’ Coop. WGDR 91.1 FM, Goddard College's radio station, received $1,000 in sup- port of its “Woman-Stirred Radio” program. ‘ Also, an award to OITM of up to $4,000 in a matching funds campaign is pending. Samara has extended the cam- paign to August 31st.V Press release from the Samara Foundation, which has 5 offices in Burlington and is one of a network of gay and lesbian community foundations across the county. Samara Foundation is a charitable foundation whose mis- sion is "to support and strengthen Vermont's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities today and build an endowment for-tomorrow." For further information about giving or granting oppor- tunities, contact Suzanne D. Stofflet, President, Samara Foundation of Vermont, P.O. Box 1263, Burlington, Vermont 05402, call 802.860.6236, or email suzanne@ samarafoundation.org. ’ , 6 and scope of this commitment was immense and unwavering. Deaflls. E - 7i.'ffIi‘. Equal Rights Activist ERIC Rorsss ore; I WASHINGTON - Human‘Rightsicampaigrimresident3Jee Solmonese made the following statement on the passing of Eric Rofes, a longtime leader in the movomengifor gay. lesbi- an, bisexual and transgender equality. Rofes, 51, died in June of an apparent heart attack in Provlncetown,Massachusetts. "Eric Rofes was a Ieaderin the best sense ofthe word and his loss will be deeply felt by the gay. ‘lesbiambisexuel and trans- gender movement," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Our profound sympathy goes to Eric's partner, family and friends. The mark Eric left on this world made us all better activists and his contributions will be remembered for their enormous impact on the movement." ' Rofes was a prolific author, an organizer for more than 30 I years and a political pioneer on HIV/AIDS and GLBT issues.V LGBT Community Leaders Mourn Death of RIC WEILAND NEW YORK - Leaders of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organizations today mourned the death on June 24 of Seattle-based philanthropist and Microsoft pioneer Ric Wei- land. "Ric was an exceptionally generous man who made extraor- dinary contributions to ourwork, " said Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director of Lambda Legal. "We are grateful for the significant impact his philanthropy made in Lambda Legals mission and in the broader LGBT movement. His quiet commitment made the work of so manyorganizations possible - and our community is better off for it." ‘ Matt Foreman, Executive Director; Nationelfiey and Lesbian Task Force, said ”We are profoundly saddenedloy the death of Ric Welland. Ric is someone who quietly, and with great humility, supported the work of many organizations dedicated to advanc- ing lesbian, gay, bisexual and tiansgender equality. The breadth Our community has lost a wonderful friend and leader, and the Task Force extends its deepest sympathies to Ride partner Mike Schaeier and all those who knew and loved Ric.”V QUEER SOCIAL SPACE IN THE MAKING I (- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 about the impact of having a queer social space in Vermont and thoughts about the community in- tegrating into the larger nightclub scene in Burlington: “Integration is bullshit. We are already integrated. We need a place where it's cool to be your- self.” ’ “Integration should be a choice.” “Assimilation is bad. The uniqueness of the queer commu- nity will be lost.” ’ “There needs to be a queer cul- ture in Burlington.” _ “We need substance-free spac- es‘ as well as bars/other social venues, just like any other com- munity.” _ “Queer spaces provide safety for multiple alternative-minded people.” “While I’m not a B-town resi- dent, I feel that knowing that EVERY night of EVERY WEEK there's a dedicated queer space available is INVALUABLE. La- dies’ nights/mens’ nights can fill the gap but are not enough.” “Although I think outreach and IL political work are really important, it’s good to have a space where that’s not the major piece of it.” “We are a fractured commu- nity.” “It helps people connect and come out.” “Maybe when trans folk and GLB folks can dance and be sexy without noticing anything odd - then we don’t need it. A safe space is crucial.” “I, as a femme, feel unsafe in straight bars, as men often get overly affectionate with me as I ‘pass’ for straight.” . ' “Support, solidarity, and love.” There was a strong feeling among respondents that the com- munity wants more out of a new space than a typical nightclub of- fers. Many expressed interest in a space that increases visibility and provides a safe space for all sexu- alities, genders, and generations to come together. Most recently, folks gathered. at the Langdon Street Café in Montpelier at an event called Stitch & Flicks (held every 3rd Tuesday of the month). About 25 people came to the event, and watched the film Afler Stonewall. Following the film, we all partici- pated in an open dialogue about the lack of queer social space in Vermont. __ People agreed with those sur- veyed in Burlington, and added their concern over the following points: lack of visibility, publicity, and a sense of community (as one woman said, “it's like you need a secret password to find the lesbi- ans”). Participants also expressed the need to have sbcial spaces scattered throughout the state, including spaces accessible for those who are disabled or who don’t drive. The difficulty in building numer- ous spaces spread throughout the state is clear, but as one individual expressed, “If we get one place started, it will be inspirational for everyone.” The need for these spaces is equally clear. As one of the hosts of the Stitch & Flicks said, “Our lack of space is affecting our ability to organize.” Building a new social space will take time. In the interim, the potential in the queer com- munity in’ Vermont is enor- mous. We encourage everyone to cultivate the excitement and ideas expressed by the crowd at Pride and the discussion at Langdon St. Café by organizing events in your own local com- munities. For example, a pro- fessor at Goddard College of- fered the school as a space for a queer event, a student at the New England Culinary Institute was excited about the formation of a new gay-straight alliance, and the new groups’ potential to cater or host events; and many people identified the possibility of utilizing spaces, such as bars and cafes, to bring the commu- nitytogether for queer events at least once a month. By encouraging dialogue and providing mediums for discus- sion (such as the new blog space at qssvermont.blogspot.com and the email list at qssvermont@ gmailcom), we hope local com- munities will take ownership of this project, and feel empowered to begin creating the social space you envision.V Jen Berger is a community activist and student at Burl- ington College, Liz Blocker is a playwright and community activist, and Connie Beal is a queer community/anti-vio- lence activist. 5 For those of you who would like to stay connected, the next Burlington-based Queer Social Space meeting will be on Thursday, August 24th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Peace and Justice Center, 21 Church Street in Burlington. Light refreshments will be provided. Also, thank you to all of you who filled out the community surveys at Pride and for those who attended Stitch 8: Flicks at Langdon Street Café. To receive regular updates, please email qssver- mont@gmai|.org, ~31.’