Hello Family and Friends of the Ocala/Marion County LGBT Community
Here is the 1st edition of Around Ocala for 2012.

January 19, 2012                               Volume 2   Number 1

Take a moment to check out the new Rainbow Ocala Youth Club Web Site at www.rainbowocala.org

Rainbow Ocala Youth Club for ages 15 to 25

Saturday January 14, 2012 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Jervey Gant Park Ocala, FL 34471  Go to Rainbow Ocala Calendar for future events.

12:30 PM -1:30PM  Social Hour Meet & Greet  FREE beverages and snacks

1:30 PM - ??  Discussion on social issues that effect LGBT youth here is Ocala

To view a slide show of pictures  In Ocala, Click Here!

Thank you Louise!

Hope to see you back for Pride In Ocala 2012

Picnic in the Park

Thank you to the Copa

and the Pub of Ocala for

their support!

Dear Son, We Love You

Patrick Wallace and Michael Volpat started the website A Note to My Kid as a place for parents to proudly share memories, thoughts, worries, and — ultimately — love for their LGBT children.

The site, which launched in May, is also as a means of supporting youth who are pondering ways to come out to their parents.

“The love and support of our parents has been a treasured blessing in our lives,” says Wallace. “But many people we’ve been fortunate enough to meet throughout our lives have not been so lucky. We’ve heard stories firsthand of LGBT youth being ridiculed, disowned. and physically beaten for being gay.”

Wallace wants A Note to My Kid to help parents learn “how to express his or her love.” Read some of the most compelling submissions to the site on the following pages.

Read many more beginning in May 2011 here

Hillary Clinton: New York Gay Marriage Vote Gives 'Momentum' to Global Movement
ABC News (blog)  June 28, 2011
In December 2010 Secretary Clinton made one of the first celebrity “It Gets Better” videos, providing hope to LGBT youth after a spate of high-profile suicides raised the profile of bullying victims. More recently, the US helped usher in statements of ...
See all stories on this topic »

           Just In !

New York is the newest state to legalize Same Sex Marriage!

Well, it's about freakin' time!

After days of waiting, which followed months of pressure and years of groundwork, New York State has embraced marriage equality -- just in time for NYC Pride this weekend. It'll be quite the celebration, I'm sure!

Congrats definitely go out to all the groups and individuals who have worked so hard to get this done, who are too numerous to name. With this vote, we have now doubled the number of LGBT Americans who can legally marry in this country.

And our friends at Queer Rising also deserve a huge congratulations -- over the past several months they've held Governor Cuomo to his promise to pass marriage equality in New York. Utilizing nonviolent civil disobedience, they organized street closures, banner drops, and public pressure through the press...and this week they've kept up the pressure in Albany to counter the lies of the opposition, speaking truth to power, and ensuring that the legislators there knew there would be consequences to not holding this vote.

Let us be clear, though -- marriage is not the "end all, be all" of the movement for LGBT civil rights. While we're thrilled that marriage is now on the books in New York, we're pained that the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) has been shoved to the side by the Republican state legislature despite broad public support.

And New York isn't the only place where important legislation is pending. Across the country, states are taking up legislation to both add more rights and protections for LGBT Americans and, unfortunately, to try and strip rights away.

We're doing everything we can to add outside pressure to those fights in strategic ways -- to bolster the power of those doing "inside" work by creating "outside" crisis points that force resolution. We're also continuing to challenge our elected leaders at all levels -- from school boards to the President -- to stand up for our collective equality so that those living in states intent to keep LGBT folks unequal will have no choice but to respond to federal leadership. And we won't stop until all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer folks in this country are fully equal.

Today, we're celebrating Pride with a bit more dignity and a bit more equality -- but tomorrow, we have more work to do. We hope you're up for it, because we definitely are!

Get Out! Get Active! GetEQUAL!

Robin McGehee, Director

Education Department affirms students’ right to form GSAs

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 01:24 PM PDT

The Obama administration has issued guidance to public schools throughout the country reaffirming the right of students to form gay-straight alliances to assist LGBT students.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter accompanying the guidance, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan explains the Obama administration’s backs gay-straight alliances, or GSAs, because they promote safe schools and foster affirming learning environments.

“Nationwide, students are forming these groups in part to combat bullying and harassment of LGBT students and to promote understanding and respect in the school community,” the letter states. “Although the efforts of these groups focus primarily on the needs of LGBT students, students who have LGBT family members and friends, and students who are perceived to be LGBT, messages of respect, tolerance, and inclusion benefit all our students.”

GSAs are student-run extracurricular clubs that bring together LGBT and straight students to support each other and promote acceptance. Around 4,000 GSAs are registered with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, an organization that focuses on LGBT student welfare.

The letter notes that despite these positive benefits of GSAs, schools often prohibit them from forming, unlawfully exclude them from school grounds or deny them access to school resources. According to the ACLU, school districts in New Mexico and Texas in recent months had tried to block GSAs from forming, but these districts were ultimately directed by their school boards to allow the GSAs to form.

According to the letter, Equal Access Act of 1984 requires schools to treat GSAs equal to other regardless of the subject matters discussed at meetings, including sexual orientation and gender identity. The letter states that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution also offers some protections.

“Officials need not endorse any particular student organization, but federal law requires that they afford all student groups the same opportunities to form, to convene on school grounds, and to have access to the same resources available to other student groups,” the letter states.

Should schools violate this guidance and prohibit a GSA from forming on campus, they could could face suit under the Equal Access Act. If the case worked its way through the litigation process to a judgment — and the school lost — it could be required to pay attorneys’ fees.

Duncan announced he would issue the letter last week during remarks at a federal LGBT youth summit in D.C. The letter was made public only this week.

Laura Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office, called the guidance a “welcome and much-reminded” to schools that students have the right to be free from exclusion.

“Those attempting to create a safe haven where all students — LGBT and otherwise — can come together to discuss acceptance and provide each other with mutual support should not be stymied by their schools,” Murphy said. “Gay-straight alliances can play a crucial role in improving students’ lives. Just as with other extra-curricular groups and clubs, students have a federal legal right to form GSAs.”

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human RIghts Campaign, said the letter from Duncan reinforces the importance of GSAs in public schools as a means to cultivate an affirming learning environment.

“This is a clarion call to teachers and school administrators that they must welcome and respect LGBT students and their allies and create an environment conducive to learning for all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,” Solmonese said.

Hayley Gorenberg, deputy legal director for Lambda Legal, also praised the guidance as she recalled her organization’s previous wins in requiring schools to recognize GSAs through court order.

Lambda’s 2000 victory in Colín v. Orange Unified School District marked the first time a school was ordered under the Equal Access Act to allow a GSA to meet on campus.

“With today’s directive from the Department of Education, we hope that every administration in every school district across the country gets the message loud and clear: If you allow student clubs on campus, then you must allow gay-straight alliances equally,” Gorenberg said.

LGBT Ocala 5th Annual Gala A Great Success

I had the best time at this years Gala. It was the best ever. Food was awesome, staff was wonderful and got to spend a great night singing and dancing with my friends, well maybe not the dancing part but I did have a great time. It was awesome to watch all of our committed couples dancing together on the dance floor. When I saw that I thought - look how far Ocala has come. Love all you people who put together the night and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Great job.

"Thomas Leonbruno" Vice President, Ocala Pride, Inc.

 Click here to see a gallery of photos from the Gayla.  Be sure to watch it in slide screen mode and in full screen.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

May 31, 2011

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2011

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The story of America’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Since taking office, my Administration has made significant progress towards achieving equality for LGBT Americans. Last December, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. With this repeal, gay and lesbian Americans will be able to serve openly in our Armed Forces for the first time in our Nation’s history. Our national security will be strengthened and the heroic contributions these Americans make to our military, and have made throughout our history, will be fully recognized.

My Administration has also taken steps to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans in Federal housing programs and to give LGBT Americans the right to visit their loved ones in the hospital. We have made clear through executive branch nondiscrimination policies that discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the Federal workplace will not be tolerated. I have continued to nominate and appoint highly qualified, openly LGBT individuals to executive branch and judicial positions. Because we recognize that LGBT rights are human rights, my Administration stands with advocates of equality around the world in leading the fight against pernicious laws targeting LGBT persons and malicious attempts to exclude LGBT organizations from full participation in the international system. We led a global campaign to ensure “sexual orientation” was included in the United Nations resolution on extrajudicial execution — the only United Nations resolution that specifically mentions LGBT people — to send the unequivocal message that no matter where it occurs, state-sanctioned killing of gays and lesbians is indefensible. No one should be harmed because of who they are or who they love, and my Administration has mobilized unprecedented public commitments from countries around the world to join in the fight against hate and homophobia.

At home, we are working to address and eliminate violence against LGBT individuals through our enforcement and implementation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We are also working to reduce the threat of bullying against young people, including LGBT youth. My Administration is actively engaged with educators and community leaders across America to reduce violence and discrimination in schools. To help dispel the myth that bullying is a harmless or inevitable part of growing up, the First Lady and I hosted the first White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in March. Many senior Administration officials have also joined me in reaching out to LGBT youth who have been bullied by recording “It Gets Better” video messages to assure them they are not alone.

This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has had a profound impact on the LGBT community. Though we have made strides in combating this devastating disease, more work remains to be done, and I am committed to expanding access to HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Last year, I announced the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States. This strategy focuses on combinations of evidence-based approaches to decrease new HIV infections in high risk communities, improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and reduce health disparities. My Administration also increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and HIV prevention, and to invest in HIV/AIDS-related research. However, government cannot take on this disease alone. This landmark anniversary is an opportunity for the LGBT community and allies to recommit to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and continuing the fight against this deadly pandemic.

Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation closer to fulfilling its promise of equality. While progress has taken time, our achievements in advancing the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that history is on our side, and that the American people will never stop striving toward liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

_______________________________________________

In conjunction with this proclamation,  President Obama has launched a webpage from The White House.gov dedicated to issues affecting LGBT Americans — by all accounts an increasingly key donor constituency for Obama's 2012 reelection campaign — the webpage features a laundry list of administration accomplishments: signing "don't ask, don't tell" repeal into law, declaring Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, as well as inviting LGBT families to the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House and awarding the Medal of Freedom to LGBT trailblazers Billie Jean King and the late Harvey Milk.   Take a look at  this new website.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/lgbt 

Ocala Pride is Proud to support the St. Pete Pride Day

St. Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade

April 21, 2011

Welcome to the "NEW" Ocala Pride web site. It is with great pride that we continue to develop and grow with the LGBT community, and in that effort, the new  web site allows us to communicate with you more efficiently and on a regular basis.

The web site will be updated on a regular basis and You will be able to sign up for our newsletter that will be published monthly.

The mission of Ocala Pride is to enhance and sustain the health and well being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV communities. Follow the link on our web site to read the entire mission statement.

2010 was a great year for Ocala Pride and we hope to make 2011 and the future even brighter. If you are not a member of Ocala Pride, please follow the links on the web site and complete the membership application online. The cost for basic membership is $10.00 for the year, and we welcome all who wish to join us as members. Also listed on the web site are different levels of membership that are available to everyone.

We have developed many goals for 2011. Some of them are continued support for "Ocala Journey of Hope", Family Reunion's, monthly newsletters', monthly fund raisers, and continued support for needy families during the Holiday season.

Please keep in mind that Ocala Pride, Inc. is YOUR organization and the Board is open and welcoming to suggestions/community involvement. Feel free to email us, or contact any of the board members with your input.

Welcome again to our new web site, and please don't forget to join Ocala Pride, Inc.

Sincerely

Doug Reed

President, 2011