April/May 2007 Vol.19, No. 3
TCC BIDS ADIEU TO A TRIO OF OUTSTANDING BOARD OFFICERS Over our 16 years, the Triangle Community Center has been blessed with visionary, dynamic, committed, get-it-done representatives to our Board of Directors. Now we are saying farewell to three distinguished contemporary members, David Frishkorn, Joe Guttadauro, and Maureen Mollahan. No, we have not seen the last of them - all three will remain members of the Center, though sadly, one is relocating and so we see less and less of Maureen. All three have made their mark on the TCC, and left it a better place than they found it. Each has contributed their unique voice. Maureen Mollahan served as Vice President for a term, and she contributed so much more. Most of you know her as one of the primary movers of Festivus (along with Joe), but MaureenÕs behindthe- scenes work was a factor in countless other Center activities and programs. She and Joe were the meet and greet team at most events, making everyone, especially new people, feel welcome. Along with her partner, Margaret OÕConnell, she facilitated the WomynÕs Social, contributing many new ideas for the monthly events. Perhaps Maureen is at her best when soliciting donations from local businesses, whether securing silent auction items for Festivus or refreshments for Pride. David Frishkorn has served multiple terms, during which time he served more than his fair share as Treasurer. During that time, he has been the conscience of the Center, always insisting that we maintained the highest business integrity. He was instrumental in negotiating our lease and developing a solid relationship with our landlord. Always a summer favorite has been David and his husband, Jack HellabyÕs pool party bbqs to help raise funds for the Center. David and Jack are fixtures at all of TCCÕs social events, lending a hand and making people feel welcome. Joe Guttadauro has also served multiple terms, including holding the office of President for the past three Save These Dates June 16 TCC’s 6th Annual Fairfield County Pride with special guest Josh Zuckerman. June 22 & 23 “ When I Knew,” presented by the Carriage House Arts Center. Director Frank Gaffney creates another memorable production of readings from Robert TrachtenbergÕs celebrated book. Show Your Pride, Get Involved! Planning meetings for TCCÕs 2007 Fairfield County Pride are scheduled for: Sat,April 14, 4:00 PM Sun,April 29, 400 PM Sat, May 12, 4:00 PM Thurs, May 24, 7:30 PM Thurs, May 31, 7:30 PM Sat, June 9, 4:00 PM Anyone with the desire to help create our best Pride ever is invited to attend. All meetings are at TCC. Details on page 5. TCC Scholarship Applications are Now Available.
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SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD By Jen Abbott In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, in the West Village section of NYC the police raided a small bar called the Stonewall Inn.The fact that homosexuals frequented Stonewall was the only excuse that police needed to raid it. Police raids on gay bars were not an unusual occurrence. However, because the customers resisted this invasion, the raid and subsequent riot sparked a movement in gay and lesbian liberation that had never been seen before. LetÕs conjure up an image of the Stonewall on that night thirty-eight years ago. Picture two small and dark rooms where the air is smoky and stale perhaps because there is only one window at the front of the bar. Imagine people hanging out with friends, some holding their girlfriendÕs hand or kissing their boyfriend hello without fear of persecution. Everyone in the bar appears happy and relaxed and yet something secretive seems to permeate the atmosphere. A group of policemen walk into the bar and proceed to order all the patrons to line up outside and produce identification. Some people would be arrested for not having the correct ID but usually in a short time the police would leave and business at the bar would go back to normal. Not the case for this night however. Anger seemed to consume those that had to stand by and watch their friends and lovers being arrested. Those gathered outside the bar started yelling their frustrations at the cops. Verbal assaults soon became physical when bottles, cans and whatever garbage lay on the street were thrown at the policemen. Police reinforcements were immediately called in and soon the streets were teaming with a tactical force of policemen, complete with batons and helmets, beating back the crowds of over four hundred people. People with no considerable differences from the policemen, except that having endured years of submission and frustration were now fighting for equality. People that demanded the right to live peacefully, without judgment or intrusion of their private lives. In the years before Stonewall gay people lived very secretive, closeted lives. Following Stonewall many put themselves on display and thus risked ridicule or worse in order for the GLBT community to stride forward towards a unified society. As a result of the riot and in remembrance of Stonewall and the hurdles that gays and lesbians have overcome the LGBT community worldwide celebrates Pride each June. In NYC the parade marches from Washington Square to the Stonewall Inn where it all began. The word Stonewall has become synonymous with gay liberation. On Saturday, June 16, 2007, the Triangle Community Center will host its 6th Fairfield County Gay Pride Celebration. A time when we all come together to pay tribute to those who stood forth on that June night at Stonewall for the right to live openly and honorably.
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TCC UPCOMING EVENTS Unless otherwise noted, all events are held at the Triangle Community Center, 16 River St., Norwalk, CT (enter on Mechanic St. from Wall St.). Detailed directions are available at www.ctgay.org/directions.htm. GROUP SOCIAL EVENTS AND SUPPORT MEETINGS TRIANGLE TRANSGENDER SOCIETY. A relaxed, safe place where transgender individuals, their families and supporters, can meet and just be ourselves. Please respect the privacy wishes of this group. First time attendees are encouraged to contact TtriangleTGS@yahoo.com in advance. Tuesday,April 3, 7:30 PM Tuesday, May 1, 7:30 PM WOMYN’S SOCIAL A group for women of any age seeking to make friends and connect with the community. Ml3017@hotmail.com Friday,April 6: No Womyn’s Social (Good Friday) Friday, May 4, 7:00 PM: Dinner and a Movie The group will be going to dinner in Norwalk, and then to the cinema for a Òlateshow. Ó More details on the location of the restaurant & movie will follow. Contact JanisTCC@sbcglobal.net with questions or suggestions. MY PRIDE MY SOUL A social and discussion group for lesbian women of color, their friends, admirers, and partners. The focus is on social, political and aesthetic issues in our community. Celebrating and supporting spoken word and other artistic endeavors. mypridemysoul@yahoo.com Saturday,April 8, 7:30 PM Saturday, May 5, 7:30 PM FRIDAY NIGHT HANGOUT Nothing to do? Come on down to the Center. We will be playing cards, watching a great movie or just hanging around talking about life. All are welcome! jenabbott@ optonline.net Friday,April 13, 8:00 PM A Special Evening of Horror! Email your favorite horror movie title to jenabbott@optonline.net. The movie with the most votes will be shown. Also Friday,April 27, May 11 and 25, 8:00 PM. LESBIAN LIT GROUP Join the fun and lively discussion. Reading the book is not a requirement - showing up ready to socialize with a great group of women is! tinag73@gmail.com Wednesday,April 18, 7:30 PM HunterÕs Way Ó by Gerri Hill. Wednesday, May 18, 7:30 PM Under the Witness TreeÓ by Marianne K. Martin EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS BANKING BASICS A four part practical look at the ins and outs of successful banking presented by TCC member Eric Burkhart, Sr. Personal Financial Rep,Washington Mutual Bank. (Each session is a stand-alone unit, so if you have not been able to attend the first two, weeks three and four are open to all.) Thursday,April 19, 7:00 PM Week 3, Credit Card Basics. Learn the various types of credit, the advantages and drawbacks of using a credit card and understanding some important terms used when discussing credit cards. Thursday, May 17, 7:00 PM Week 4, Lending and Loans. Understand what lending is and how it works, why lenders lend money, when is it smart to borrow, parts of a loan and terminology.There will also be some basic information on how to shop for a loan, apply for one, payment information and being late on payments. david.burkhart@wamu.net GAY SPIRITUALITY IN MAINLINE RELIGIONS Tuesday April 24h, 7:30 PM An educational forum examining just how welcome LGBTs are in the pews of churches. Religious leaders from local churches are being invited to describe their own church’s stance. seggerman@aol.com FAMILY PLANNING SEMINAR June 14,Watch for Details OUTSPOKEN YOUTH GROUP KEEPS GOING STRONG Every Sunday, 4 - 6 PM TCC’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth support group, has not missed a single Sunday meeting since its formation way back in 1993. Through blizzards, Christmases, Easters and Super Bowls -- and everything in between -- OutSpoken has been there for teenagers from Fairfield County, and beyond. Discussions range from coming out and relationships to the latest movies and gay celebrity news. For further information,
please call 203-227-1755.
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IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LGBTQ Resources, Activities and Events Beyond TCC NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS Bar & Gay (B&G) gay nudists PeterM21@juno.com Bread & Roses (203) 855-1485 Connecticut Freedom to Marry Coalition 203) 791-9553 Connecticut Kids (203) 256-8414 Gay FatherÕs Group (203) 938-2881 GLSEN <www.glsen.org> (203) 332-1480 Hartford Community Center (860) 724-5542 The Loft (White Plains,NY) <www.loftgaycenter.org> (914) 948-2932 Love Makes a Family <www.lmf-ct.org> (860) 525-7777 Married Lesbian Support Grouptrucolur@aol.com, (203) 430-9227 Married MenÕs Bisexual Support Group of Hartford 860) 264-5605 Metropolitan Community Church of New Haven (203) 397-2312 National Runaway Switchboard (773) 880-9860 New Haven Gay & Lesbian Center <www.nhglcc.org> (203) 387-2252 PFLAG (Danbury) <www.pflag.org> (203) 797-4743 QEvents (Danbury) qevents1@aol.com RainbowTask Force (Unitarian Church of Westport) (203) 222-1441 Senior Lesbians Happily at Play (SLAPHAPS) katskew@aol.com (Kathy) (203)929-8113 lceeroady@comast.net (Linda) (203)606-2640 True Colors CT< www.ourtruecolors.org> (888) 565-5551 Transgender Friendly Nightclubs from the Transgender Guide Online Backstreet, 81 Pope Park Hwy., Hartford, CT (203) 951-0500 Be arristers , 601 Broad St., Hartford, CT (203) 525-2553 Chez Est, 238 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT (203) 247-3224 Choices, 8 N. Turnpike Rd., Wal lingford, CT (203) 949-9380 Club ONE @ The Bar With No Name, 115 Asylum St., Hartford, CT (203) 522-4646 Maxies, 2627Waterbury Rd., Waterbury, CT (203) 574-1629 Rumors, 379 E. Main St ., Waterbury, CT (203) 574-3077 Til Dawn, 495 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT (860) 305-9695
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GET INVOLVED AT TCC TCC has any number of ways for its members and the community to get involved. Please email tccenter@aol.com to lend a hand as a TCC volunteer. No prior experience is needed. We will tailor the opportunities to match your skills, availability and interests. Whether itÕs working on special events and programming, communications, membership/member relations, fundraising, or any other area of your choosing, come join the fun and help keep TCC the hub of activity for the LBGTQ community. WANTED: PRIDE VOLUNTEERS We have begun planning for the 6th Fairfield County Pride celebration on June 16.Volunteers are needed to help plan, set up, clean up, solicit table vendors and sponsors, put up signs, make signs, help with the food area, direct traffic, work in the childrenÕs area, and perform a variety of other tasks. Pride has been growing each year; in 2007 we are looking forward to another great celebration. Please get involved! It takes people to make each TCC event special. Contact tccenter@aol.com and lend your voice and energy to this yearÕs Pride! 2007-08 TCC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE One way in which the Triangle Community Center fulfills its educational mission is by awarding two college scholarships each year. College students must complete an application packet. These applications are reviewed by the scholarship committee, which consists of 6 volunteers representing various aspects of the LBGT community. Applications must be RECEIVED (not mailed by) this year’s deadline of Friday April 20, 2007. Applicants will be notified in May if awarded. If interested the application can be found on the TCC website. years. He has been a stellar leader. Always calm, finding the good in every situation. His flair for theatrical set decoration has made him and partner Todd Wagner a two-man decorating committee for all of our major events, from Pride to Festivus to Irish Wake. JoeÕs passion for theater has made a huge contribution to the Center. For the past several years he has worked with Elliott Arluck and Steven Marchese to produce a play to raise funds for TCC. His contribution to Festivus has helped solidify it as a major annual source of funds, and a celebration that is appreciated for all who attend. The leadership brought to the board by these three friends will be sorely missed. Our new board members and officers have some very large shoes to fill (but we know they are up to the task!). We bid David, Joe and Maureen a fond farewell, and are happy that we will continue seeing them around the Center. Revelers enjoyed a night of good cheer, celebrating the green at TCC’s Annual Irish Wake festivities. For the first time in its history,TCC was forced to move an event to another date due to weather, after the colossal snow and ice storm on March 16, 2007.
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PFLAG MONTHLY MEETINGS We invite you to come to our monthly support meetings. We share our stories in a safe welcoming environment and promise strict confidentiality. We meet the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 PM at the Triangle Community Center, 16 River St., Norwalk. For directions, go to www.ctgay.org/directions.htm. Sandy, 203-226-0257 or email pflagswct@yahoo.com. PFLAG Mission Promote the health & well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families & friends; Provide support to cope with an adverse society; Provide education to enlighten an ill-informed public; Provide advocacy to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights; Provide an opportunity for dialog about sexual orientation, and work to create a society that is healthy and respectful of all human beings. GLSEN’S 10TH NATIONAL DAY OF SILENCE On Wednesday, April 18, 2007, campuses all over the country will be a little quieter, as students nationwide will be commemorating the national Day of Silence. They will be quiet all day to protest the discrimination, harassment and abuseÑin effect, the silencingÑ faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and their allies in schools. The Day of Silence will be held during school hours. Over 6,000 participants are expected to be silent on April 18, wearing stickers and passing out Ôspeaking cardsÕ that read: "Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices.Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?" GLSENÕs 2005 National School Climate Survey found that more than 64% of LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and 29% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety.The Day of Silence is one way students and their allies are making anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and name-calling unacceptable in AmericaÕs schools. TRAINING OF TRAINERS (TOT) PROGRAM Hosted by GLSEN-Hudson Valley Friday, April 20th 3pm - 7 pm Saturday, April 21st - 9am - 4 PM Ulster BOCES, Rt. 9W, Port Ewen, NY The GLSEN Training of Trainers (ToT) Program is a training workshop offered to educators and community- based organizers interested in gaining additional tools and resources to assist them in effectively developing trainings or education initiatives in their schools or local communities to make schools safer and more affirming places for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students. Cost: $20. Rob Conlon, 845-795-5201 or glsenulster@hotmail.com
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News & Views is published bimonthly. To make an addition to the newsletter or calendar, send an e-mail to tcceditor@aol.com
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