Shenandoah County Library Archives

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File #51725: "SVGLA.Newsletter.June.2016.pdf"

Text

A+ Pet Siting
Volume 19, Issue 2, June 2016
Website: www.svgla.org

THE VALLEY
CONNECTSHEN
T HE VALLEY CON NECTS HEN

Mission Statement:
The new mission statement
for Shenandoah Valley
Equality will appear in the
September newsletter.
———————–

Community Events (inside)
 Shenandoah Valley Pride
 SVE Potlucks
 “Trails for Tails” Benefit
for Valley AIDS Network
———————–

EMPOWER YOUR
COMMUNITY!

Join SVE
(Membership Form pg. 17)
———————–

“Valley Connectshen”
is published quarterly
(March, June, September,
and December).
———————–

Contact the editor,
Christine Robinson, to
advertise and/or submit event information:
ShenandoahValleyEquality
@gmail.com

Mail:
P.O. Box 1023
Harrisonburg, VA 22803
NEW e-mail address:
ShenandoahValleyEquality
@gmail.com

A new name for SVGLA:
Shenandoah Valley Equality
At the May 2016 SVGLA Board meeting, the Board
of Directors in attendance voted unanimously (with
two Board members absent) to change the name of
the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association to
Shenandoah Valley Equality (SVE).
The Board decided to create a name that would be
more inclusive of our diverse community in the Valley and that would reflect a slightly more expansive
mission for the organization, including community
advocacy. A revised mission statement and new logos
for SVE will appear in the September newsletter.
Please note our new email address (our former email
address will work during a transition period).
Shenandoah Valley Equality is an independent organization from both the Shenandoah Valley YES! Alliance and the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance.

SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Volunteers & Sponsors Needed
E-mail ShenandoahValleyPride@gmail.com

This event is sponsored by
Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance

PFLAG Blue Ridge
Serving Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and
Surrounding Central Virginia Areas
We are parents, families, friends, and allies uniting with
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender loved ones to
promote support, education, and advocacy.
www.pflagblueridge.org
PFLAGBR@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/pflagblueridge
https://twitter.com/PFLAGBR

PFLAG Blue Ridge offers free monthly support groups for parents, family, friends, and allies.
of the LGBT community. If you are a parent, family member, friend, or ally of a gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and/or transgender individual looking to increase your support, or if your loved one
has recently come out to you and you are struggling to process your own feelings as well as
looking for resources to help understand — we are here for you. Join us as we share our experiences, joys, concerns, and resources in a confidential and non-judgmental environment.

Meeting Information
Harrisonburg PFLAG support group for parents, families, friends, and allies of the LGBT Community
When:
Where:
Contact:
Note:

Once a month, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. (See website for meeting information.)
Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, 601 University Blvd, JMU campus, Harrisonburg
Facilitator Mark at mitchmarke@aol.com or 540-405-1227
Meetings coincide with Shenandoah Valley YES! Alliance Youth Group

Charlottesville Trans* Families Group Meetings
When:
Where:
Contact:

3rd Saturday of each month, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
ASG, 315 Tenth St. NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902 (corner of 10th & Jefferson)
Facilitator Karen at karenmeandering@gmail.com or 434-882-3453

Shenandoah Valley YES! Alliance Meetings
The Shenandoah Valley YES! Alliance Youth Group holds a meeting once a
month for LGBTQ+ and questioning folks between 14-20 years old from 6:30 to
8:00pm at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 326, 601 University Blvd. on the campus of
JMU. Check the website and/or Facebook page for meeting dates.
We aim to provide a safe and confidential space for youth to talk, listen, laugh,
share, and reflect on what it's like for us to live in the Shenandoah Valley.
PFLAG Blue Ridge (www.pflagblueridge.org/harrisonburg.html) also holds
meetings on the first Thursday of each month in the same building.
Visit our website at http://www.svyesalliance.org/index.html or Facebook
page (www.facebook.com/SVYesAlliance). Please like us and share with your
friends!

YOUR ADVERTISEMENT HERE!
$15/issue or $50/year (4 issues): Business Card
$25 per issue or $80/year: Quarter Page
$50/issue or $175/year: Half Page
$100 for a Full Page ad per issue
ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com
Deadline for September newsletter is Aug. 15

Help us be good neighbors in our community.
SVE has adopted a section of highway near Harrisonburg through VDOT.
It’s fun. It’s good exercise. It’s great for our planet.

Join us—our next outing is Saturday, June 11.
Meet us for breakfast at the Little Grill at 8am, then we’ll tidy up the highway. Volunteer on June 11 and get a FREE wine tasting (see next page).

Our vineyard and winery are located on 58 acres of
beautiful rolling pastoral land. The tasting room is a
converted modern horse barn. Relax in our winery
and enjoy wine, cider or sangria with friends.

3575 Conicville Rd, Mt. Jackson VA 22842

www.kindredpointe.com

Help SVE with Adopt-a-Highway on June 11
and receive a gift card for a FREE wine-tasting
at The Winery at Kindred Pointe

The first 5 NEW volunteers who join us at the Little Grill in
Harrisonburg for breakfast and help with the highway cleanup
after will receive a gift card for a wine tasting at the Winery at
Kindred Pointe in Mount Jackson (donated by the owners).
Contact ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com if questions.

www.facebook.com/TheWineryAtKindredPointe

www.kindredpointe.com
Wine

Hard Cider Sangria Events Weddings

Community Organizations
American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia

acluva.org/tag/equal-rights/

Bi Gay Lesbian & Allies Against Discrimination (Blue Ridge Community College)
catalog.blueridgectc.edu/
BC Allies (Bridgewater College)
www.bridgewater.edu/student-life/activitiesand-organizations/clubs-organizations-and-honor-societies
Coalition for Transgender Rights in Virginia

transgenderrightsva.org/

Equality Virginia

www.equalityvirginia.org

EMU Safe Space

www.emu.edu/studentlife/clubs/safe-space/

JMU LGBTQ Employee Group

www.jmu.edu/lgbtfacultystaff

JMU LGBT & Ally Education Program

www.jmu.edu/lgbta/

LGBT Democrats of Virginia

lgbtvadem.org/

Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia

www.virginialogcabin.org/

Madison Equality JMU

www.facebook.com/madisonequality

PFLAG Blue Ridge

www.pflagblueridge.org and pflagbr@gmail.com

Safe Zone JMU

www.jmu.edu/safezone/

Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly SVGLA) ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com
& www.svgla.org
Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance
Shenandoah Valley YES! Alliance

www.shenandoahvalleypride.org
www.svyesalliance.org

Students Out Understanding & Loving Sisters (SOULS) at Mary Baldwin College
www.mbc.edu/student_activities/clubsandorgs/#cultural
Southerners on New Ground—Harrisonburg

southernersonnewground.org/harrisonburg/

Virginia Anti-Violence Project

1.866.356.6998 (helpline) & virginiaavp.org/

Virginia Organizing

www.virginia-organizing.org/issues

Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club
People of Faith for Equality in Virginia
Volume 19, Issue 2, June 2016

www.vapartisans.org/

www.faith4equality.org/
Page 7

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS FOR SHENANDOAH VALLEY PRIDE
(Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance)
Platinum Sponsor ($1000+)
Top billing on Banner at the event and multiple mentions throughout the day.
Booth at event
Listing on T-Shirt
Online promotion as well as active link from our website to yours.
Gold Sponsor ($500-$999)
2nd from top billing on Banner at event and multiple mentions throughout the day.
Booth at event
Listing on T-Shirt
Online promotion as well as active link from our website to yours.
Silver Sponsor ($250-$499)
3rd from top billing on Banner at event and mentions throughout the day.
Booth at event
Listing on T-Shirt
Online promotion as well as active link from our website to yours.
Bronze Sponsor ($150-$249)
4th from top billing on Banner at event
Booth at event
Listing on T-Shirt
Online promotion as well as active link from our website to yours.
Small Business Supporter/Vendor ($100)
Booth at event
Online promotion as well as active link from our website to yours.
Non-Profit Sponsor ($50)
Religious organizations and various Non-profit groups
Booth at event
Online promotion as well as active link from our website to yours.
T-Shirt Only ($50)

Listing on T-Shirt Only

To donate and secure a spot at the festival go to ... http://www.shenandoahvalleypride.org/vendors.html
Fill out the online form which will register you and mail your payment (registration isn't complete until payment is received) to...
Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance c/o Rob Johnson, 13598 Hupp Road, Timberville, VA 22853
Remember the following...
TAX DEDUCTIBLE CHECKS TO BE MADE OUT TO EQUALITY VIRGINIA
NON-TAX DEDUCTIBLE CHECKS TO BE MADE OUT TO SHENANDOAH VALLEY PRIDE ALLIANCE
I really want to thank you for your support in the past and sincerely hope you can continue this year and
help make this the biggest and best Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival ever. If anyone has questions or ideas,
please contact me directly. Thank you.
Rob Johnson, President, Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance
540-578-0399
shenandoahvalleypride@gmail.com

“Trails for Tails”
Dog Walk/Run
September 24 at 8am, JMU Festival Patio
Fundraiser for the

Valley AIDS Network
For more information, contact VAN

www.valleyaidsnetwork.org
Contact us
Main Phone:
Testing:
Español:

(540) 568-8838
(540) 568-8832
(540) 568-8834

Visit in person:
601 University Blvd., 3rd Floor, Suites
322/323/324, Harrisonburg, VA
Mailing Address:
VAN, JMU/IIHHS MCS 9108, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Website:
www.valleyaidsnetwork.org

EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach,
& advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians.

EV’s 3rd annual Transgender Information
and Empowerment Summit
WHEN:

Saturday, October 22, 2016

WHERE:

VCU Student Commons (907 Floyd Ave., Richmond, VA 23284)

WHAT:

A full day full of workshops, resources, and
community building.

Registration is OPEN and FREE. For more information or
to register, go to http://www.equalityvirginia.org/ties/

Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives

SHENANDOAH VALLEY EQUALITY
is proud to be listed as a “Community
Voice” in support of this event.

We are a lay-led, religious community offering a unique spiritual and moral witness in the
Shenandoah Valley.

HARRISONBURG
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS

One Journey, Many Paths

We invite all who search for
truth and meaning with open
hearts and open minds to join us
in worship, in mutual support,
and in shared ministry to each
other and to the world.
For more information, contact
us at: http://huuweb.org and
(540) 867-0073

HUU is a UUA-Certified Welcoming Congregation. We declare our intention to be inclusive and expressive of the concerns of bisexual, gay,
lesbian, and transgender persons at every level of congregational life and
to support the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people.

YOUR ADVERTISEMENT HERE!

$15/issue or $50/year (4 issues): Business Card
$25 per issue or $80/year: Quarter Page
$50/issue or $175/year: Half Page
$100 for a Full Page ad per issue
Contact ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com
Deadline for September newsletter is August 15

SVE’s First Friday Community Potluck
First Friday is a monthly community potluck hosted by SVE in Harrisonburg/
Rockingham County/Staunton/Augusta County (occasionally Mount Jackson)
for the LGBTQA+ community. Every month (usually, but not always, the
first Friday) the event rotates to a different location, thanks to generous volunteers who offer to host. Bring a dish to share.
Because the event is usually held in private homes or on private property, we
send location information ONLY to our email list of SVE members and do not
post it through social media or public email lists. To receive emails about FF
and other local SVE events, you can join as a Level 2 member (for free) or as
a Level 1 member (for $15). See page 17 for details on how to join.
If you want to join for free, send an email with your first and last name and
state that you are at least 18 years of age (SVE’s membership requirement)
to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com – we will add you to our email list.

See upcoming potlucks on pages 14-15.

Volunteer to host the potluck.
Email us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE
Please Full
visit www.pflagblueridge.org
www.svyesalliance.org
information
page ad for Truthand
Wins
Out/UgandaforStory
about Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meetings and Shenandoah Valley YES!
Alliance Youth Group Meetings during the summer months.
 Friday, June 3:

First Friday Potluck, 6:30-9:00 PM, Augusta & Rockingham Counties, Harrisonburg,
Staunton, and Waynesboro . Potluck for the LGBTQA community sponsored each
month by Shenandoah Valley Equality. For info, join SVE as a Level I or II member
(See page 17 for details).

 Monday, June 6:

TOMBOI (queer Indie electronic band), 9:00 PM, at the Golden Pony, 181 North Main
Street in Harrisonburg. Co-sponsored by the Old Furnace Artist Residency and the Gold
en Pony. For more information, go to the Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/
events/222838894768139/

 Saturday, June 11:

SVE Adopt-A-Highway Service Project, 8:00 AM We gather at the Little Grill for
breakfast at 8am and then head out for 45 minutes of clean-up work. Join us! We provide
safety vests, gloves, and bags. In case of inclement weather, the clean-up will be rescheduled. See page
6 for how you can get a free wine-tasting from The Winery at Kindred Pointe.

 Friday, July 8

First Friday Potluck, 6:30-9:00 PM, Augusta & Rockingham Counties, Harrisonburg,
Staunton, and Waynesboro . Potluck for the LGBTQA community sponsored each
month by Shenandoah Valley Equality. For information about the potluck, join SVE as
a Level I or II member (See page 17 for how to join ).

 Saturday, July 23:

Shenandoah Valley Pride, 2:00-8:00PM at Court Square in Harrisonburg. Sponsored
by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance. See pages 8-9 of this newsletter or go to
www.shenandoahvalleypride.org and shenandoahvalleypride@gmail.com.

 Friday, August 5:

First Friday Potluck, 6:30-9:00 PM, Augusta & Rockingham Counties, Harrisonburg,
Staunton, and Waynesboro . Potluck for the LGBTQA community sponsored each
month by Shenandoah Valley Equality. For information about the potluck, join SVE as
a Level I or II member (See page 17 for how to join ).

Volume 19, Issue 2, June 2016

Page 14

COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE
 Monday, August 15:

DEADLINE, SVE newsletter submissions to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com

Full page ad for Truth Wins Out/Uganda Story
 Friday, Sept. 2:

First Friday Potluck, 6:30-9:00 PM, Augusta & Rockingham Counties, Harrisonburg,
Staunton, and Waynesboro . Potluck for the LGBTQA community sponsored each
month by Shenandoah Valley Equality. For information about the potluck, join SVE as
a Level I or II member (See page 17 for how to join ).

 Wednesday, Sept. 14:

Lecture by Dr. Susan R. Rankin, “The State of Higher Education for LGBTQ People:
Implications for Campus Policies and Programs,” at 7:00pm in the Madison Union Ball
room (Warren Hall) at James Madison University. FREE event. Co-sponsored by the
Madison Caucus for Gender Equality, The Department of Justice Studies, the Office for
Access & Inclusion, the College of Arts and Letters Visiting Scholar Program, and the
LGBTQ & Ally Education Program.

 Saturday, Sept. 24:

Trails for Tails Dog Walk/Run Fundraiser for the Valley AIDS Network. Beginning at 8:00am at JMU Festival Patio. For more information, visit VAN’s website
for contact information at www.valleyaidsnetwork.org

 Saturday, October 22

3rd Annual Equality Virginia Transgender Information and Empowerment Summit.
Held at VCU Student Commons (907 Floyd Ave., Richmond). For more information and
to register (FREE), go to www.equalityvirginia.org/ties/

Submit items for the monthly SVE e-mail events schedule by the 25th of
each month to lanedj@jmu.edu
Submit ads and events for the September issue of the Valley Connectshen
by August 15 to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com

Volume 19, Issue 2, June 2016

Page 15

"Out in the Boondocks"
LGBTQ Valley Meet-up Group

If you're a member of the
LGBTQ community living in the
boondocks in or around the
Shenandoah Valley, come meet
up with us.
This is a casual group where
members get together or in smaller groups for meals, movies, live
performances and other events.
www.meetup.com/Out-in-the-Boondocks/

Support our Advertisers,
Empower your Community.

SVE wishes to thank
local businesses and
organizations that
advertise in our
newsletter.

EMPOWER YOUR
COMMUNITY!
We need your support to continue as a viable and evolving community presence working on your behalf. The goals of SVE are:


To gather and communicate important community information.



To collaborate with allies and inclusive community organizations.



To organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational
networking with LGBTQ people.

Level 1 Support—$15 per person
Level 1 support helps SVE with mailing and administrative costs throughout the year.
A level 1 commitment of support gets you the following:





An e-mailed version of the newsletter
A vote for members of the SVLGA Board of Directors (MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS DUE
BY DECEMBER 1 TO VOTE FOR AND/OR SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS).
Advance information about SVE events
Level I membership is from July—July

Level 2 Support — FREE
Level 2 support keeps you in the loop. A level 2 commitment of support gets you an emailed version of the newsletter and advanced information about all SVE events.
CHECK ONE of the following levels of support and complete the form below:



Level 1 Support (please include a check for $15 for each person and please send
this form to: Shenandoah Valley Equality, P.O. Box 1023, Harrisonburg, VA 22803
Name #1

Name #2

Address #1:
Address #2:
E-mail #1:




E-mail #2:

I/we verify that I am/we are at least 18 years of age.

Level 2 Support - email your name and state that you are at least 18 years of age or
older to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com

All SVE members must be at least 18 years of age to join.

President Obama’s Statement on the International Day
against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
IDAHOT started in 2004 to draw national attention to the violence and discrimination
experienced by LGBTQ people internationally. President Obama’s May 2016 statement recognizing this annual event is below:

On May 17, Americans and people around the world mark the International
Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia by reaffirming the dignity and inherent worth of all people, regardless of who they love or their gender identity.
Our nation is committed to the principle that all people should be treated
fairly and with respect. Advancing this goal has long been a cornerstone of
American diplomacy, and I am proud that my Administration has made advancing the human rights of LGBT individuals a specific focus of our engagement around the world. I am also proud of the great strides that our nation
has made at home in recent years, including that we now have marriage
equality as a result of last year’s landmark Supreme Court decision.
At the same time, there is much work to be done to combat homophobia and
transphobia, both at home and abroad.‎In too many places, LGBT individuals
grow up forced to conceal or deny who they truly are for fear of persecution,
discrimination, and violence. All nations and all communities can, and must,
do better. Fortunately, human rights champions and good citizens around the
world continue to strive towards this goal every day by lifting up the simple
truth that LGBT rights are human rights. The United States honors their work
and will continue to support them in their struggle for human dignity.

2016 Shenandoah Valley Equality Board of Directors
JoAnn Benjamin

Rob Johnson

David Lane

Vickie Lynn

Christine Robinson

Grayson Sless

Jackie Walker

Teresa Whitesell

What is SVE’s
“Conversation & Cuisine”?

Once a month, Shenandoah Valley Equality
members are invited to meet at a local restaurant in the Valley to share a meal together
and enjoy each other’s company. Join SVE
(see page 17 for details) to receive information about C&C events by e-mail.

The Virginia Anti-Violence Project
works to address and end violence,
with a specific focus on LGBTQ
communities across Virginia.

Call our LGBTQ Partner Abuse and Sexual Assault Helpline:
1.866.356.6998
Monday-Friday 8am-8pm

Quotable:

“All human beings
are born free and
equal in dignity
and rights.”