The National LGBTQ Task Force's popular Creating Change conference will be held in San Francisco early next year, as the queer rights organization prepares to mark its 50th anniversary.
Organizers stated in a news release that the milestone year will recognize and celebrate the task force's "rich history of driving progress within the LGBTQ community, from its early days lobbying the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality as a mental illness and advocating for AIDS funding" to long-standing campaigns such Queer the Census and Queer the Vote and bringing an intersectional approach to the LGBTQ movement.
"Our anniversary comes at a time when those in power threaten to undo our 50 years of progress — but we're meeting those threats with more strength, unity, and support than ever before," stated Kierra Johnson, a bisexual Black woman who is executive director of the task force. "We take an intersectional, proactive approach to our advocacy, underscoring our fundamental interconnectedness. The task force is everywhere because queer people are everywhere. As we look toward the next 50 years, we will evolve and expand our work to positively impact LGBTQ folks' ability to thrive."
Creating Change will take place from Friday, February 17 through Tuesday, February 21, over Presidents Day weekend. The host hotel is the Hilton Hotel Union Square, 333 O'Farrell Street. Special guests will include trans activist and "Pose" star Angelica Ross; "Jeopardy!" champion Amy Schneider; and gun violence prevention activist and LGBTQ rights advocate X Gonzalez. This year's theme is "The State of the Movement: Our Past. Our Present. Our Future."
Daylong institutes will be held February 17-18, followed by workshops and caucuses the next two days, and then the closing ceremony.
Registration is now open and costs $600, though financial assistance is available. The Hilton has a discounted room rate of $189 until January 29, according to the task force's website. Meals are not included, though the task force does have a meal assistance program that includes four meals.
For more information, click here.
Christmas dinners for those in need
Tenderloin Tessie will provide free Christmas dinners to those in need Sunday, December 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin Street (at Geary) in San Francisco. According to the nonprofit's Facebook page, attendees will be served individually. They will also receive a gift bag and clothes. Free haircuts will be available through the San Francisco Pop-up Barbershop, the Facebook page stated. Entertainment will be provided by Vanessa Bousay.
For more information, visit the Facebook page.
Rainbow World Fund supports trans program in India
Rainbow World Fund, an LGBTQ humanitarian organization based in San Francisco, is providing financial support to the Rainbow Home of the Seven Sisters in India. The shelter and community center serves the marginalized Hijira/kinner (transgender) community in the Joypur area of Guwahati, Assam. According to an email to supporters, in India, most transgender people endure deep prejudice and open hostility.
"Many are rejected by family and are forced to leave home," RWF officials stated. "Transgender women face severe employment discrimination and in desperation many beg or are forced into survival sex work."
At Seven Sisters, the women are able to bond, support one another, organize, and begin to heal, RWF stated. The women receive emergency housing, psychological support, and vocational skills training. The home was opened 18 months ago and has already served over 400 women. Many of the women have been able to leave survival sex work and become self-sufficient, the email stated.
To help the Seven Sisters home, donors to RWF should select "Transgender Aid Fund" when asked how to designate their donation online or when people mail a donation to Rainbow World Fund, 4111 18th Street #5, San Francisco, CA 94114. One hundred percent of the donation will go to the Seven Sisters program, the email stated. To donate online, click here.
RWF is also marking its 22nd anniversary this month and is welcoming end of the year general donations, which can also be made at the above website.
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