Five LGBT organizations that are making a difference

Although we may suffer hostility from the pervasive culture individually, it is by organizing ourselves against this oppression that social progress is achieved. In our Pride issue, we focus on five organizations actively working to bridge the disparity between the gay and straight communities. At Culver City High School, students have recently founded a Gay-Straight Alliance to educate their peers about the presence and plights of LGBT youth. TransYouth Family Allies is a group dedicated to developing supportive environments for youth where gender may safely be expressed and respected. JQ Youth provides assistance and guidance to young LGBT individuals of traditional Jewish backgrounds who might not otherwise have access to such resources. The David Bohnett Foundation is committed to improving society through social activism by providing funding and technical support to organizations that share the same vision of equality. Delta Lambda Phi, UCLA's gay fraternity, brings homosexual visibility to the college scene. The work of these organizations not only deserves immense respect and pride, but is also invaluable to the social advancement of the LGBT community. —BRIAN PADGETT

Foundation Father

David Bohnett's Bohnett Foundation supports LGBT advocacy groups working to secure marriage equality in California

“It starts with our mission statement, 'improving society through social activism,'” explains David Bohnett, the founder of the Beverly Hills-based Bohnett Foundation. The Internet mogul behind GeoCities (which was later bought in a billion-dollar deal by Yahoo!), Bohnett has been one of the leading voices in social philanthropy and LGBT equality in California since he established his foundation in 1999. In the past nine years, the Foundation has given out $25.7 million in grants to help increase handgun control awareness, advocate for new forms of mass transportation, encourage voter registration, protect rare animals, and of course help support the organization building of various LGBT community groups.

A participant in the “No on Knight” marriage equality campaign almost a decade ago, Bohnett is gearing up for the marriage initiative that will play out in a possible constitutional amendment on the November ballot, which would negate the May State Supreme Court decision legalizing full marriage rights for same-sex couples. “I will be quite active personally with my time and with significant political contributions,” Bohnett says, “and the Foundation will provide grants to nonprofit groups that do voter education and issue-based research.” Both Bohnett and the Foundation's executive director Michael Fleming are quick to point out there is a difference between Bohnett the individual's involvement on the issue and the nonprofit Foundation's work in supporting LGBT equality. “What we bring to the table is resources,” Fleming said. “Other groups bring staffing, they bring expertise. Our job really is to be a partner.“

In a world where large, well-organized social conservative groups are gearing up to spend millions to beat back marriage equality in the Golden State, the Foundation's role is “crucial in [terms] of addressing social issues and effecting real change and improvements in people's lives,” Bohnett says. But anyone who is passionate about marriage equality should not be lulled into thinking a few wealthy individuals or organizations can defeat the pending voter initiative, Fleming is quick to point out. “The challenge is, this is a battle we need to take on, whether its issue advocacy groups, whether its funders, or wealthy individuals—everyone has a stake in this,” Fleming argues. “This demands incredible community involvement.”

For Bohnett, increasing that community involvement goes back to an initiative he cites as one of the Foundation's biggest achievements. “I am most proud of our cyber center program,” Bohnett says. The program has built computer centers in 30 cities to offer free Internet access and computer classes to traditionally underserved members of the LGBT community. It is that kind of involvement that may work out to be a long-term investment in defeating the November anti-marriage initiative.

“There's always a tendency to think that money can solve all problems and if that were true we wouldn't have any societal problems left,” Fleming says. “But even enormous infusions of cash don't solve systemic problems overnight. You always need a combination of resources, political will and courage, [and] grassroots support. You need everyone at the table to make societal change.”
—CHRISTOPHER LISOTTA

That’s So Taco

Students at Culver City High School open up about their Gay-Straight Alliance and the LGBT youth experience

The murder of Lawrence King on February 12 was a violent reminder that the plight of the LGBT community hasn't advanced as far as perhaps believed in the decade since Matthew Shepard's untimely death. So long as intolerance is reflected in violence against LGBT youth, the need exists for groups to support both them and their allies. Culver City High School is an anomaly in the sense that two such groups exist on its campus, the newest of which is the Gay-Straight Alliance, which was founded and entirely run by the students themselves.

Dr. Tony Spano, the faculty sponsor for the Culver High GSA, asserts it exists “for, about, and from the students,” while noting “it's amazing that one high school can have enough active participation that two LGBT groups can exist.” Co-founder Brandon Storm confirms that the acceptance level for expressing sexual orientation at Culver High is the exception, not the norm. “There are some horror stories about other parts of the state,” he observes, while stating, “there are a couple of students I know that have been physically assaulted.”

“It's really important to have GSAs in high school because that's when a lot of the harassment starts,” says 17-year-old GSA President Ariel Harvey. “In high school, you have to be with these people seven hours a day…. They look at you under a microscope.”

It is this magnified scrutiny, endured daily by LGBT youth in high school settings, which necessitates raising awareness of the LGBT existence in these environments. It was this magnified scrutiny that contributed to King's murder. Despite the recent California Supreme Court's decision to lift on the same-sex marriage ban, our fight, as a community, is far from over. King's murder, in this age of paradoxical progression and regression, illustrates this.

The Day of Silence event was held on April 25 in King's memory. Harvey expresses that she included the silence to reflect the suppression of ethnic and religious minorities in addition to that of LGBT individuals, and was more successful as a result. “There was not one class I went to where at least one person wasn't silent, which was really good.” She also made a short film about her experience with the silent protest. Dr. Spano insists, “there is nothing silent about this kind of demonstration,” as the resounding hush, uncommon in the classroom backdrop, demonstrates the support of young people in the fight against homophobia. Dr. Spano continues, “being visible gives others hope, and shows those with homophobic tendencies that the LGBT community is larger than they thought. It also reminds everyone that what happened to Lawrence King and countless other LGBT youth is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” Storm describes the visual queues employed by the students that day. “We did surgical masks this year,” he recounts, “people duct taped their mouths last year. Just to raise visibility for the most part.”

Increased visibility of the LGBT presence at Culver High was one of the goals the GSA strove to achieve when they formed last year. On October 29, the GSA hosted an assembly where out professional basketball player John Amaechi spoke to the student body. “I think it was good for students to see people like John Amaechi,” Storm says, “to see that LGBT people aren't always what they perceive them as.” Dr. Spano maintains, “this was the first time that such a diverse audience of Culver High students were confronted with LGBT issues, and it makes a huge impact to have such a prominent figure be able to speak to them.”

Harvey notes the subtle change in student behavior after the meeting, referencing a common phrase uttered in high schools. “There was a lot less 'that's so gay,' because I remember that Amaechi was telling them to really think about what they were saying.” Harvey also reveals that she told her fellow classmates, should they feel the need to express disdain, to do so in a less homophobic manner. “Just use another word for gay. I know at one school, they started saying 'that's so taco.' It sounds absurd, but so does ‘gay.’”

Harvey is hopeful about the positive ideological changes reflected in her peers. “I had an activity… where I interacted with the freshman class and they are pretty accepting.” Dr. Spano concurs. “In my 10 years at Culver High, I have seen the changes in society happen within the school. Kids are more accepting, more out, and more knowledgeable. And finally to have a group of students willing to take on the responsibility of running a group on their own is evidence that times have changed and the identity of LGBT youth has moved on to a higher level.” —BRIAN PADGETT

The Greeks Had a Word For It

Queer Fraternity Delta Lambda Phi Returns to UCLA

For many men, college is a time when self-realization and development of self-image can be as important as mid-terms and final exams. While countless men discover themselves during this four-year period, the youth of today sometimes begin college life as self-recognized, out-and-proud homosexual or bisexual men. Despite the fact that most colleges and universities around the country allow and embrace gay student groups and organizations, Greek life is often an emblem of exclusion for gays. It is no secret that gay men exist within nearly every fraternity house, whether they are out to their fellow brothers or not. One fraternity, the Delta Lambda Phi colony at UCLA, has a few more gay men than most.

Delta Lambda Phi is the largest national fraternity intended for gay, bisexual, and “progressive” men—referring to those straight men that support the rights and advancement of gay and bi men. The fraternity is of course open to all men, regardless of sexual orientation, and DLP prides itself on the striking diversity of its membership. Founded in Washington, D.C. in 1986, the UCLA chapter of DLP began a few years later, but faded out soon after due to lack of membership. The fraternity is currently being rebuilt and is as strong as ever, still working toward its goal, “to present a strong and positive image which respects the diversity of all individuals, irrespective of sexual orientation.”

Delta Lambda Phi is able to provide a home for UCLA men who might otherwise feel excluded from Greek life. Many gay men feel uncomfortable joining the ranks of fraternities whose membership is comprised solely of straight men. And the thought of coming out of the closet to a group of straight frat boys sends shivers down the collective gay spine. Members of Delta Lambda Phi are able to be completely open and forthcoming with each other in terms of their sexuality, all the while enjoying the traditional Greek experience.

Few things encourage the concept of brotherhood as much as social fraternities, wherein members refer to each other as “brothers” and form lasting bonds that often extend past the college years. While many gay and bisexual students are content with membership in gay activist and social groups during their college career, there are those who desire the fraternity experience. More than gay student groups, Delta Lambda Phi “fills a niche that had been unfulfilled … providing a place for gay men to have purposeful and dignified social, service, and recreational activities.” —STEPHAN HORBELT

Pairing Gay and Religious Pride

A new nonprofit caters to Jewish LGBTs

It's no secret that spirituality and sexuality often don't mix—there's nothing like being the only gay at religious functions. And many LGBT churchgoers keep these sides of themselves separate.

JQ International, which caters to Jewish LGBTs, aims for something different—integration. “When you're gay and Jewish, you have the gay world and the Jewish world,” explains Asher Gellis, the executive director of JQ International. “We want to combine these two worlds, creating a whole identity.”

The nonprofit, with 1,000 members worldwide but predominately New York and Los Angeles-based, offers “much-needed LGBT Jewish programming to support the 20s and 30s demographic,” Gellis says. “We have many amazing programs that have been developed,” he adds, “and we want to get the word out.”

The mostly volunteer-run nonprofit was founded in 2004, but this year, received a $120,000 grant from Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, which provides funds to a range of organizations in the Jewish community—from orthodox to secular. “It's amazing, Gellis says, “[the Foundation] recognized how important this project is and wants to take care of its gay and lesbian members.”

JQ International programs run the gamut from events keeping with tradition, like Ros Hashanah dinner in September, to fundraisers, including the popular “Jew-b-que” on Saturday, June 28 (with funds benefiting the organization), paired with philanthropy. “In the Jewish community, activism is a central part of our identity,” Gellis says, adding that the organization is involved in toy and food drives, as well as providing food to homebound individuals with HIV.

Secular, social events are also on the menu. This year, JQ International is collaborating with Outfest, a nonprofit that showcases and preserves GLBT film and artistry, to offer a screening on Wednesday, July 16, of Israeli gay film Antarctica, with an after party at Canter's Deli and Restaurant. “It's a fun, very retro venue,” Gellis adds.

JQ International is also making special efforts to reach out to the lesbian community. The organization recently launched a new lesbian programming taskforce to provide services “to a formerly neglected demographic of the Jewish community,” Gellis says.

JQ International offers women-specific programs ranging from the informal, like wine tasting, to religious and educational events, including relevant guest speakers. And women are now a part of all levels of the organization—even on the board of directors. “That's a first in the organization,” Gellis says, “and we're hoping [women's involvement] will increase.”

While the Jewish community has been supportive of its LGBT members, Gellis says he thinks that building this sect of the community will strengthen the religion at large.

Plus, you might meet a nice Jewish partner to take home to mom. —JAMIE WETHERBE

For more information, visit www.jqinternational.org.

A Family Affair

TYFA wants all children to be respected and celebrated

The proverbial closet: a safe haven for LGBT youth. Proudly venturing out and staking claim to our rightful place in society has become a rite of passage and the very virtue of the L, the G, the B and even the often misunderstood letter in our community: the T.

Evidence strongly supports transgender prevalence in approximately 1 in 500 natal male births according to studies detailed by Lynn Conway, professor emerita of electrical engineering and computer science and transgender activist. If this data is accurate, the finding suggests every elementary school within the state of California enrolls at least one transgender student every academic year.

In the fall of '06, an online family support group whose children were gender variant or transgender evolved into Trans Youth Family Allies to meet the needs of an invisible and underserved community says TYFA executive director Kim Pearson, whose then 14-year-old daughter expressed his true gender identity earlier that year. “As we worked through what all our children were going through, we realized the resources we were looking for were not there,” Pearson remembers. “Other people could benefit from the knowledge we were gaining. Other parents [should not] have to struggle like we did.”

TYFA works with health practitioners, schools, and other LGBT organizations to provide services and programs for families and their gender variant and transgender children, which include Web-based and printed resources, telephone consulting, an online support group, education programs, seminars, and workshops. TYFA also performs field advocacy work, helping parents cope with media attention as advisors or family representatives and assists organizations in writing policies and curriculum that are more gender-expression inclusive.

In less than two years, TYFA has grown into full nonprofit status with board members spanning the nation, among them such LGBT notables as: Jamison Green, long-standing TG activist and author of “Becoming a Visible Man,” and Andrea James, producer, screenwriter, actress, and LGBT rights activist.

To date, TYFA has helped more than 70 families and that number continues to grow with increasing media coverage.

“I've been working at this for 15 years,” says TYFA director Evelyn Lindenmuth, who authored “Mom, I need to be a girl,” a book about her own experience as the parent of a transgender daughter. “This was the information I needed in the middle of the night when my child told me…. Knowing what other people were doing would've been so helpful. You're wondering around in the dark and this just gives you hope.”

Offering hope is a motivating factor for Shawn, Pearson's transgender son and active member in the TYFA mission. “I go to conferences and presentations,” Shawn says. “People seem to get more out of a presentation if they actually meet a trans kid. It's much more effective.”

Once diagnosed with severe depression and social anxiety disorder, Shawn laughs at the irony of his eagerness to attend speaking engagements with his mother. “I can speak in front of big groups of people with no problems,” Shawn adds. “Everything has improved… no regrets.” —JOCELYN LOREN

All proceeds from “Mom, I need to be a girl” go to TYFA. For more information, visit the TYFA Web site at www.imatyfa.org.