NYU Langone Medical Center just launched a new online research study called “Project Rewind.”  Anyone can go fill out the survey.

From the Project Rewind Site:

Project Rewind is an anonymous online research survey. The purpose of this study is to help us better understand the relationship between pornography, drug and alcohol use, and the sexual practices of men who have sex with men.

This survey is being conducted by NYU School of Medicine. Participation is voluntary. All information in this survey will be recorded anonymously, so names and contact information will not be attached to survey responses. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete.

At the end of the survey, you will have an opportunity to enter a raffle for a $200 gift certificate to iTunes. Entering the raffle will not link your name to your survey responses.

Click over to Project Rewind to take the survey!

Gay Research Study, Safe Sex Study, Gay Porn

Dear Friends, Colleagues, Fellow Activists:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear
friend and community activist, Gay Catholic Priest, Rev. Dr. Paul E.
Murray.

Rev. Dr. Murray, Chairperson of the God &
Sexuality Conference, Catholic Chaplain and Visiting Assistant
Professor of Religion at Bard College passed away on On
January 31st in his home in
Tivoli, NY.

Dr. Murray was an author, teacher, scholar, and activist. 
He touched thousands of lives and devoted his spiritual and intellectual
energies to creating a more dynamic, welcoming, and safe Catholic
church and understanding of religion in general.  Paul was the founder
and executive director of Among Friends, Inc.,
which provides transitional housing, counseling, and job-search support
to persons in crisis. 

Paul was a great and quiet man.  He changed the lives of thousands and
offered a vision of compassion, spirituality, and promise to Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer people of all ages and faiths.  
His work was confident, his beliefs deep, his patience endless.  He
is greatly missed.

He most recently published his memoir Life in Paradox, The Story of a Gay Catholic Priest
(2008, O Books). Other publications include: “A Cultural Reading of Literature on the Catholic Church in the South,” Culture of Bible Belt
Catholics; “The ‘International Outlook’,” Place of the Person in Social Life; and articles, interviews, and book reviews in
Anthropos; Technology and Disability; National Catholic Reporter; Charities, U.S.A.; Washington
Blade. 

He is survived by his mother Verna H. Murray, sister
Rebecca Burns, nieces Julia Warga and Jennifer Glynn, and many friends, students, and colleagues.

Friends may call at the Arlington Funeral Home, 3901 N. Fairfax Dr.,
Arlington, VA on Friday, February 13, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. A mass of
Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 14, 2009 at
10:30 a.m. in St. Stephen-Martyr Catholic Church, 2436 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW, Washington DC. Interment to follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Falls
Church, VA.

Memorial contributions maybe made to the
The God and Sexuality Conference at Bard College, PO Box 5000,
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504.  Please let us know if you would like to make a contribution in Paul’s memory.

In Sorrow,

Gabriel Blau

Director, The God & Sexuality Conference

Gay Catholic Priest, Paul Murray, Bard College,

Nehirim just sent out a newsletter with info on a slew of upcoming events.  You’ll be seeing more info on the Calendar.

Register Now for Nehirim’s First Annual Women’s Retreat.  Slated for March 20-22, 2009 at Isabella Freedman Retreat Center in Falls Village, CT, the Women’s Retreat welcomes all self-identified women to build a vibrant, diverse community in a beautiful natural setting.  Also, children’s programming will be available, so bring along those smaller members of the family.

Also, Super-Early Bird Registration is now open for this year’s Nehirim West and Nehirim East retreats.  Register by March 1 (by clicking here for Nehirim West and here for Nehirim East) to get a double discount!  Nehirim West will be held at Walker Creek Ranch, in Petaluma, CA, on May 8-10, 2009.  Nehirim East will take place at Isabella Freedman Retreat Center in Falls Village, CT, on May 15-17, 2009.

We also have some exciting upcoming local events in the New York City metro area:
We hope to see you at Ma’agal, our monthly Nehirim women’s group, facilitated by Chani Getter, or at Social Networking for Couples, Parents, & Prospective Parents, an event for LGBT Jews who are considering marriage, parenting, and other forms of family-building, run by Marlene Rachelle, whom you may have met at Queer Shabbaton New York or the Nehirim Gathering.

nehirim, gay, jewish, events