Concientizate 16 de Octubre, 2014

CONCIENTÍZATE

A CELEBRATION OF LATIN@ ART, CULTURE AND MUSIC

Please join us this year for our 5th Annual Concientízate, a family-friendly celebration of Latino art, culture and music from 5:30pm – 11pm at Refuge PDX (116 SE Yamhill). Entertainment will begin with a ceremonial blessing of the event by Danza Azteca Mexica Tiahui followed by a dance performance from Chinelos Orgullo Morelense and musical performances from Bajo Salario and the Edna Vazquez Quintet.  The evening will conclude with a first-time Portland performance by Los Angeles’ modern day torch singer songwriter Irene Diaz. NPR’s Don Gonyea says “anyone who hears your voice will wonder where you have been all this time”. The event will also feature the art of several Latino artists including Christian Barrios, Hector Hernandez, JJ Parra, Jorge Rodriguez and Yuri Figueroa. Free Latin-American inspired cuisine from local Mexican restaurants La Carreta and La Bonita will be available, as well as activities for younger attendees. CAP staff will be on-hand to provide free rapid HIV testing.

Ven al quinto evento anual ¡Concientízate!, una celebración para toda la familia con arte, cultura y música Latina de 5:30 pm a 11 pm en Refuge PDX(116 SE Yamhill).  El entretenimiento comenzará con una bendición ceremonial por Danza Azteca Mexica Tiahui seguido por una danza de Chinelos Orgullo Morelense. Además habrá música de los grupos Bajo Salario y el Quinteto de Edna Vázquez.  La noche concluirá con el primer show en Portland por la artista de Los Ángeles, Irene Díaz, una cantautora contemporánea reconocida nacionalmente.  Jasmine Garsd de NPR dijo “no se puede fingir el alma… la emoción de Irene es tan creíble”. El evento también incluirá arte visual de varios artistas Latinos como Christian Barrios, Héctor Hernández, JJ Parra, Jorge Rodriguez y Yuri Figueroa. Habrá comida gratis de los restaurantes La Carreta Mexican Restaurant y La Bonita, además de actividades para los jóvenes. Personal de Cascade AIDS Project ofrecerán pruebas rápidas de VIH gratis.

http://www.pruebate.org/concientizate/

Discriminada: Una historia laboral

GLAAD 

Publicado: 22/08/2014 15:38 EDT Actualizado: 22/08/2014 15:38 EDT

 

 

 

Soy originaria de Usulután, El Salvador. Llegué a los Estados Unidos en el 2009 huyendo de la discriminación, la transfobia y la violencia de las autoridades policiales en mi ciudad natal y en todo El Salvador. Cuando me otorgaron asilo, pensé en seguir mi labor como activista. Las experiencias que tuve buscando un trabajo pueden llenar un résumé alternativo que cuenta todo un historial de discriminación.

Yo era una mujer trans sin documentos que concordaban con mi identidad. Fue difícil encontrar trabajo, por eso parte del résumé enseñaría todas las oportunidades que no me dieron porque no aceptaron mi derecho a mi identidad como mujer trans. Una vez respondí a un anuncio en el periódico donde buscaban una pupusería, la dueña me dijo que le urgía cubrir el puesto. Cuando llegué, la señora me vio y se dio cuenta que era una mujer trans. Me pidió mis documentos de trabajo (para confirmar sus sospechas) y me veía una y otra vez. Al fin me dijo que le mandara una copia a su email y que me llamaría para avisarme si el puesto era mío. Cinco años después sigo esperando.

Hasta cuando pude encontrar algunos trabajos en limpieza y servicio de mesera, no podía empeñar mis responsabilidades sin sufrir la discriminación. Por ejemplo, tenía que utilizar el baño para chicos en vez que el de las chicas. Muchas veces lloré al verme obligada al salir de los baños de las chicas y/o por las miradas de susto cuando a fuerza tenía que usar el baño de los chicos. Entonces el résumé tendría datos de los trabajos que sí pude agarrar pero con asterisco marcando la discriminación que tuve que sufrir, las cuales ningún sueldo podía pagar.

Una amiga me recomendó con su jefa pues sabía de mi necesidad de trabajo y también de mi experiencia en limpieza. La jefa me pidió mis documentos legales para trabajar y aunque en mi ID tenía una apariencia femenina, mi nombre aún seguía siendo masculino. Ella me dijo que no podía emplearme a pesar de mis buenas referencias. Aunque yo le expliqué que el hecho de que yo era una mujer trans no cambiaba mis habilidades para trabajar, ella no lo entendió así. Pienso en todas las personas trans que pueden llenar páginas como ésta con sus historias de rechazo cuando patrones potenciales descartan lo que pueden ofrecer como trabajadora solo por su identidad de género.

Ocho meses después, la misma jefa necesitaba contratar a alguien para un cliente importante. Para ese tiempo ya me había cambiado el nombre y aunque estaba molesta con ella, necesitaba dinero, y en el fondo también necesitaba demostrarle lo bueno que era mi trabajo. Acepté no solo por el sueldo, sino también porque en esta posición podía ayudar a personas de mi comunidad que estaban en la misma situación. Pude contratar a las personas que necesitaba entre mis amigas trans. Gracias a este punto en mi résumé puedo decir que pude ayudar algunas amigas transa llenar los espacios vacíos en su historiales de trabajo. Fui dichosa, pero sería mejor para todas nosotras si hubiera leyes y prácticas generales que combatan la discriminación.

Actualmente soy activista y consejera y manejo casos de personas con VIH. Lo más importante es que sigo aprendiendo y creciendo, ayudando a crear líderes y esperando que un día todas las comunidades lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgénero, intersex yqueer no solo seamos una fila de letras, sino un grupo unido trabajando por LA ACEPTACIÓN, para que podamos todas y todos ser juzgadas y contratadas por nuestras habilidades como personas y trabajadoras sin importar nuestra identidad de género. 

Alexa Rodriguez es una mujer trans que trabaja por su comunidad en DC, originaria de El Salvador. Alexa cree que ya es tiempo que pasen leyes para proteger la comunidad LGBT de discriminación en el campo laboral.

Seguir a GLAAD en Twitter: www.twitter.com/glaad

Credit: http://voces.huffingtonpost.com/glaad/discriminada-historia-laboral_b_5699408.html

SAFE ROADS: INTERSECTING IDENTITIES AND INTERSECTING ISSUES

Safe Roads: Intersecting Identities and Intersecting Issues
by Christian Baeff
Our Families member – Basic Rights Oregon
LGBT Program Coordinator – Causa

 

My name is Christian; I am an immigrant from Argentina, who also happens to be gay.

 

There are many other people in Oregon and in the U.S. who share the same or similar identities. We struggle every day with discrimination and oppression, which makes the work of non-profit organizations such Basic Rights Oregon (fighting for the rights of LGBT Oregonians) and Causa (fighting for the rights of immigrant Oregonians) so valuable. Both organizations believe in the importance of working on areas where our issues intersect, because many in our communities, like me, carry multiple identities. When a group recognizes you as a whole person, it makes a great difference in people’s lives and it helps in broadening the movement of social justice overall.

 

These two organizations have collaborated for many years to defend the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, as well as the rights of Latino immigrants in this state. And, in 2011, Causa, was able to formalize support for the LGBT community by starting their own LGBT program. I am currently the LGBT Program Coordinator at Causa.

 

Together, we are celebrating the recent victory on marriage equality, after many years of struggle and sharing our stories about why marriage matters:  love, commitment and family. Our partnership grew stronger through the successful campaign led by Basic Rights Oregon.

 

Now we face a new challenge at Causa, and are thrilled that our partners at Basic Rights Oregon are supporting our efforts. Right now, too many Oregonians are unable to safely and legally drive to work, church and school because they can’t produce the documents they need to get a driver’s license. The Safe Roads campaign (on the ballot this November) would create a limited driver’s card for qualified residents, and it will make our communities safer.

 

 

Voting “Yes” allows the DMV to issue driver cards to any Oregon resident who passed the State’s written driver knowledge test, passed the State’s behind-the-wheel driver test, provided proof of residence in Oregon for more than one year, and provided proof of identity and date of birth. Seniors and immigrant families and workers are among the thousands of Oregonians who need this option.

 

Once more, the strong partnership between Causa and Basic Rights Oregon is at work. The Safe Roads measure will be on your ballot this November and we urge all our supporters to vote yes, and to tell their friends and neighbors. We look forward to many more years of working together and supporting each other to make sure all Oregonians experience equality.

http://www.basicrights.org/featured/safe-roads-intersecting-identities-and-intersecting-issues/

 

Yes on Measure 88 for Safe Roads

88 Full Page

We are the youth

http://www.wearetheyouth.org

ABOUT THE PROJECT:
We Are the Youth is an ongoing photographic journalism project chronicling the individual stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth in the United States. Through photographic portraits and “as told to” interviews in the participants’ own voices, We Are the Youth captures the incredible diversity and uniqueness among the LGBTQ youth population. We Are the Youth addresses the lack of visibility of LGBTQ young people by providing a space to share stories in an honest and respectful way. As We Are the Youth expands, we aim to be even more geographically diverse.

Since June 2010, We Are the Youth has profiled more than 80 young people across the United States. We Are the Youth work has been displayed at the Brooklyn Museum, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art and the Silver Eye Center for Photography. We Are the Youth has been featured in media including The Advocate, The British Journal of Photography, The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed and The Pittsburgh Gazette. Check out our Press page for more news clippings.

We Are the Youth’s first book was published by Space-Made in June 2014 and has been listed as a recommended title for the American Library Association’s Rainbow Book List. Order your copy today!

WHO WE ARE:
We Are the Youth was created by Laurel Golio and Diana Scholl, childhood friends and Brooklyn-based artists. Diana and Laurel were named to the Daily Dot’s list of Top 10 Online LGBT Activists in 2012 and included in the GO Magazine’s 100 Women We Love list in 2013. Diana and Laurel have lectured nationally and are available for exhibition opportunities, artist talks and school visits. Email hello@wearetheyouth.org for further information

Another resource for our youth

Red Ribbon Show in Salem August 9th, 2014

On August 9, 2014, the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Willamette Empire (a 37 year Salem old non-profit GLBT organization), will host the “7th Annual Red Ribbon Show” in Salem at the Red Lion Hotel. This annual event, the mid-Willamette valley’s largest annual HIV/AIDS charity event, established in 2008 has raised tens of thousands of dollars for a variety of local HIV/AIDS organizations across the northwest from as far as Tijuana and all over Oregon.

The annual “Red Ribbon Show” includes a variety show featuring drag queens from as far as Seattle, live singers and dance troupes, as well as a live auction & silent auction featuring vacation packages, original artwork, gift baskets, winery tours, hotel stays and “Nights on the Town” packages and much more. This years event will also feature information tables from many HIV/AIDS organizations throughout Oregon including the Marion County Health Department, Portland AIDS Walk and Oregon AIDS Memorial.

This year’s beneficiaries are HIV Day Center of Portland and Valley AIDS Information Network of Corvallis.

The HIV Day Center is a drop in center for low income people living with HIV/AIDS. The Day Center provides hot breakfasts and lunches four days each week, a full time social worker for counseling, information and referral, and help with problem solving. Day Center clients have access to phones, a mail drop, computers with internet access, wifi, washer and dryer, clothing, a shower and hygiene supplies. The Day Center also provides therapeutic and recreational activities. Massage, haircuts, foot care and acupuncture are provided by volunteer practitioners.
Valley AIDS Information Network, Inc. (VAIN) is a community based all volunteer HIV/AIDS service organization serving Linn and Benton Counties in Oregon. Their mission is two-fold; to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis-C by providing community education programs and to provide support to persons living with HIV/AIDS, their families and caregivers.

This year’s event has already raised over $15,000 for the beneficiaries through online fundraising, sponsorships and online auctions.

“I’m very proud to say that our event grows by the year, our entertainment line-up gets better and better and our charities go home with more money than the previous year. However, our fight is not over. We still do not have a cure for this disease. Our young people are still testing HIV positive and our older generation of AIDS survivors are still dying. The Red Ribbon Show is about entertainment and fundraising, but it’s also about educating the community about HIV, supporting those living with it, and remembering those no longer with us”, says Jonathan Reitan, founder and producer of the annual Red Ribbon Show.

The public is invited to attend the all ages show & auction on Saturday, August 9 at the Red Lion Hotel (3301 Market St. NE) with a $10 cover. Doors open at 5pm, silent auction starts at 5pm, and entertainment starts at 6pm.

TRANSVISIBLE Movie

QUEER & TRANS IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEES LISTENING SESSION

TUESDAY JULY 15th 6:30pm-9pm
Q Center, 4115 N Mississippi Ave, Portland

This summer, we’re holding community-specific listening sessions to increase transparency, accountability, feedback and engagement with queer and trans immigrant and refugees of color, queer and trans women of color, and queer and trans people of color communities.

Join us and tell us what you think of the work of the Racial Justice Program: what’s working? What isn’t? What can we do to improve? How can you get involved?

These sessions will include a meal and transportation assistance is available.

PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE July 10th at http://bit.ly/1z64Ygc

Para la gente que necesita ayuda de inscribirse, por favor llame a Nico para ayuda en español en (503)222-6151 x108.

Transvisible Screening

As a part of Portland Latino Gay Pride, LADO will be partnering with Causa and Lambda Legal in sponsoring a screening of Transvisible: Bamby Salcedo’s Story. Visit the film’s Facebook for more information.

 

Love Wins!

On Monday, Judge Michael McShane issued a ruling in the historic case challenging Oregon’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex couples from marrying: he has declared the amendment UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 

This means that ALL couples in Oregon now have the freedom to marry, making Oregon the 18th state to pass marriage equality. Let us celebrate!