If you’ve been out for a while and living in a supportive community, it can be easy to forget that some people are just beginning the process.  Here’s a rant by an 18 year old that hasn’t found gaygevalt.com and all the other resources for LGBTQ Jews.

Hello! - JustUsBoys.com Gay Community:

I came looking for info on gay jews.. I am one.. and I have never met another..

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed or Newsletter. Thanks for visiting!

Every year I seem to get into the same conversation about the Pride March here in New York City.  It’s always about the scantily clad boys, the music, the question of the point of the parade, the lament that a sense of urgency even today seems to be forgotten.  Here is a well written letter about these issues to the March Committee and a well written and thoughtful response.  I recommend checking it out, and asking yourself what Pride will mean for you this year.

Also, this year, the religious groups are at the front of the parade, and the Marshal is CBST’s (The NYC LGBT Synagogue) Rabbi Sharron Kleinbaum.  So there is an all around effort to bring out more off the diversity in the parade.

Miri on myspace is excited about finding a Gay Synagogue in Dallas, Texas. Living in NY, with CBST and so many open and welcoming shuls, it’s easy to forget how great it was to first discover these places. Thanks for reminding us Miri. Perhaps, Miri, you will share your experience with us?

blog.myspace.com/mirizworld:

Oh this is SO COOL!!! I found a gay synagogue in Dallas!! Congregation El Binah– they are apparently tiny– but I think the next time I’m in Dallas I’m gonna try to hit a service. That is just so cool…

We received this from our friend Gabe while he was in Israel for Pesach:

spotted this on the sidewalk in Tel Aviv yesterday!

(For those of you who don’t get the reference, there’s a show on Israeli TV these days that’s something like Dancing with the Stars and it’s called נולד לרקוד.  So this is a take-off…)

Cheers,
Gabe

As we find our freedom during this Pesach and Easter season, we also
remember the imperative to work for the freedom of others wherever oppression is found.  I thought many of you would be both interested and able to help with the need for donations to a new 24-hour shelter for LGBT youth in NYC.  I know you all have extended networks of generous friends and colleagues.  Please pass this on to as many folks as you think might be able to lend a hand.  It is AMAZING what people will give when asked personally. Thanks and joyous holidays to all!  Kate
************************
Spring Cleaning?? Don’t Dump – Donate!
Help Homeless LGBT youth at Sylvia’s Place

Sylvia’s Place @ Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is an emergency overnight shelter for homeless LGBT youth that have been thrown out by their parents because they are gay.  MCC Homeless Youth Services (Sylvia’s Place)  is opening up a 24-hour drop-in center for homeless LGBTQ youth and desperately need your help!  Tooth brushes, pastes, deodorant, soap, shampoo, socks, used clean clothes, pillows, comforters and bed linens are always in need. Any help you can give us is greatly needed and appreciated!  Sylvia’s Place is housed downstairs at: Metropolitan Community Church 446 W. 36th St. NYC NY 10018

Donated items can be dropped off any evening after 8pm or  Donations at other times can  be done by arrangement.

Tel:  212-629-7440.

Volunteers also needed – especially group leaders, cooks, and mental
health professionals.  Kate Barnhart is Director cell: 718-300-0133 .  For
more information, see www.sylviasplace.org, email:
manager@sylviasplace.org (Donations are tax deductible).

The building under renovation  ( Marsha P. Johnson Center ) will be a
24-hour facility; so that more kids can be housed safely and for 24 hours nstead of 12 hours. Basics like flooring and paint are at the top of the list.  If you have either of these items to donate please contact us as  soon as possible.  Or if you’d like to donate money so that they can go buy the paint and flooring from Build it Green that would be great, too!

There is so much office furniture in NYC for the taking if anyone out there has a way to help us transport the furniture we would be so grateful!   Donations of every item will be needed for the new space. Some examples are office, lounge, and living space furniture as well as office supplies. Tel:  212-629-7440

It is not a new thing that Homosexuality was taken off the list of diagnosable disorders in the DSM manuals (the diagnostic guidlines for psychiatric diagnoses). In the current version DSM-4 I believe that Transgendered ppl can still be diagnosed as having a disorder. The American Psych. Association is revising the DSM, with DSM 5 scheduled to come out in 2011, though the debates for change have already begun, and well, it is not so easy to find out where they are going with Diagnoses related to Sexual Orientation and Gender Issues.

My first instict is to say that sexual orientation and/or gender issues should not be seen as a psychological dysfunction. But of course, this is not so simple. Insurance companies will mostly only pay back therapists for Diagnosed disorders. This especially for longer term treatment. I am wondering if it is worth “playing sick” in order to ensure proper coverage for needed psychological help in dealing with LGBTQ issues.

I am wondering if other people have thoughts/knowledge about this issue? You can learn some more, at http://www.dsm5.org/.

This is more a “test” blog for me to see if I can successfully post. Here goes nothing.

Last night I went to my first Same-Sex couple engagement party. It was very helpful for me to see a huge crowd of people celebrating the union of two souls which happen to occupy two male bodies. Bless it be. Perhaps if more conservative people saw this type of celebration they would warm up to the idea of Love in the form of Marriage for all. I learned that AIPAC funds trips of Politicians to go to Israel. Perhaps LGBT Advocacy groups can sponsor busses to take Politicians to Same-Sex family celebrations.

Action Point: Invite your local politicians to your LGBTQQI engagement party and wedding. Oh…and invite me too!