1314 25 35718 https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/c572d964cd126fdf6c33e20d7e40b942.jpg 29b179a45b784bb00653176f021b6b7c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photographic Postcard Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial (CC-BY-NC) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Conestoga Wagon, Zirkledale Museum Subject The topic of the resource Zirkledale Museum (New Market VA) Galleries & Museums-Virginia-New Market Covered Wagons-Virginia-New Market Description An account of the resource Postcard showing a Conestoga Wagon on display at the Zirkledale Museum. The museum was located at an unknown site near New Market Virginia, The wagon was supposedly constructed in that town. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1961 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 769 Museums New Market Postcards Virginia Wagons https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/29d003d25ba9a47948156e8009aad094.jpg d3c051d0b6533a2566707ed54ef55da6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Shell Struck Post, New Market VA Subject The topic of the resource New Market VA Description An account of the resource Postcard showing the Shell Struck Post near what is now Reformation Lutheran Church in New Market Virginia Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 789 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 789 Churches Civil War Lutheran New Market Postcards Posts Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/b4e39b307fa5d3665a6614aa4212019b.jpg c3eff1540af2ccd9fc0f0df0e6dd3ab0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Shenvalee Hotel, New Market, Virginia Subject The topic of the resource Shenvalee (New Market Va.) Jones, Bobby Description An account of the resource Postcard showing Bobby Jones exhibiting his skills in front of the Shenvalee Hotel in New Market Virginia. Includes description of the hotel. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 827 Hotels New Market Postcards Shenvalee Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/42c9e9c7afc5e575d46a9d7338d4ec3f.jpg 925178f53ec1b35e0bffc008683d2f0c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah River, New Market, VA Subject The topic of the resource Shenandoah River Description An account of the resource Postcard showing the Shenandoah River near New Market Virginia. Includes description of the river and its history. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1932 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 837 New Market Postcards Shenandoah River Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/e7aff6b46510ee8ee50a6182c46388f7.jpg f33e72fd5769128b82cf1ca16c54e193 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Brock's Gap, Rockingham County Virginia Subject The topic of the resource Brock's Gap, Virginia Description An account of the resource Postcard showing Brock's Gap in Rockingham County Virginia. Includes description of the gap and its history. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 844 Brock's Gap Postcards Rockingham County Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/341d3e70a8fae8b19888bd24ffd92509.jpg 2c4c16e5a2b5a0e8dd7be99cdcac99b7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Main Street, Luray VA Subject The topic of the resource Luray Virginia Description An account of the resource Postcard showing buildings on Main Street in Luray Virginia, Page County Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 866 Downtown Luray Postcards Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/1b81458f7bbcc6b19177e954ad2eba9f.jpg 0971a772dca18c7f45465d08c51dc032 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Luray Public Schools, Luray VA Subject The topic of the resource Luray Virginia School Description An account of the resource Postcard showing Luray Public Schools and a description of their history. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 867 Luray Postcards Schools Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/7cb2a8d6d40755a53ae0d27cef3f2350.jpg 3c291c6c1ce4f01ddf71b43e134b533f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Birdseye View Luray VA Subject The topic of the resource Luray Virginia Description An account of the resource Postcard showing an aerial view of Luray Virginia with description of the town. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 874 Luray Postcards Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/f3d0b7de97da2816c1c3bcddbc9b61c8.jpg a81e78403120a39562641253a7202813 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah River and Strickler's Knob Near Luray VA Subject The topic of the resource Shenandoah River Description An account of the resource Postcard showing the Shenandoah River and Strickler's Knob in the background. Includes description of the Knob and local landmarks. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 881 Luray Mountains Postcards Shenandoah River Strickler's Knob Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/be3cba0ddc1b33eedbda4bda3c949318.jpg a2a295b14b80a8625fb055fc3a0e1d45 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Mountain and Stream, Shenandoah National Park Subject The topic of the resource Shenandoah National Park Description An account of the resource Postcard showing a Mountain and Steam in the Shenandoah National Park near the Stony Man Peak in Page County Virginia Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 895 Massanutten Mountains Page County Postcards Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/1dfd6d75ea0900a8602918bf7f76eb77.jpg d006e6565e2061b32f09ea7d755d7d86 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Rhodes Fort Near Luray VA Subject The topic of the resource Luray VA Description An account of the resource Postcard showing the interior of the cellar-fort called Rhodes Fort near Luray Virginia. Includes decription of the site. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 899 Forts Luray Postcards Rhodes Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/629f588518fd4dcb5607f78c4d3401ab.jpg a5c02a92a2af9d345561175969d7aa6c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Lee Highway Neary Luray VA Subject The topic of the resource Luray Virginia Description An account of the resource Postcard showing the Lee Highway near Luray Virginia. Includes description of the route. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 906 Postcards https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/cc9ef99d2051a3c6ee40b4fb27909b58.jpg 4d665f363e27c4f031e86121dc931bba Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource Bloody Ford Near Luray Virginia Subject The topic of the resource Shenandoah River Description An account of the resource Postcard showing the "Bloody" Ford on the Shenandoah River near Luray. Includes description of how it received its name. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 907 Postcards https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/c64f0108326ff399d1d6089f421fdb12.jpg e677f58b51e1a2b793640ce669043455 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herb Parker Postcard Collection Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Postcard Collection Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Not to be republished without permission Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Language A language of the resource English Title A name given to the resource "Egypt" House Near Luray Virginia Subject The topic of the resource Luray Virginia Description An account of the resource Postcard of the "Egypt" House near Luray Virginia with description of its use as a fort and construction Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg Virginia Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 908 Historic Houses Luray Postcards Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/a57a966d25b6ecbef0328b3065722935.jpg ca1a2790b1b18965e551d92a4f377804 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Ephemera Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shentel Notice Subject The topic of the resource Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Telephone companies - Virginia - Edinburg Description An account of the resource Notice sent from Warren B. French Jr., President and General Manager of the Shenandoah Telephone Company to subscribers notifying them of a change to dialing procedures for station to station calls. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Telephone Company (Edinburg Va) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Folder 2.15: Shenandoah Telephone Company Notice, 1974, Valley Business Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Notice is effective November 1, 1974 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial (CC-BY-NC) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 8cm x 15cm Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 22-1108-001 Business Edinburg Shenandoah County Shentel Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/8cf962ff9fe05367c64dde33f8ce94b7.jpg f79ca1b42395a894d62f3665d85b732e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Woman Photographer Subject The topic of the resource Shenandoah Valley Academy (New Market Va) Description An account of the resource Photograph showing a woman photographer. Taken from the Shenandoah Valley Academy's 1946 Yearbook on a page labeled Annual Staff. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Academy Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Shenandoah 1947, Shenandoah Valley Academy Yearbook Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1947 https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/1f9b9f820999bfb47f00f6b1f1e034ae.JPG 7c5176f948550a6090681dff86920241 https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/56f00856e1a0eee09f9a97e9d0d83f27.JPG 01c3a212cf7418b155d87230d0544d58 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Promotional materials Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Drive In Pamphlet Subject The topic of the resource Shenandoah Valley Drive In (Woodstock Va) Woodstock (Va) Drive-in theaters-Virginia-Woodstock Description An account of the resource In 1949 the Shenandoah Valley Drive In Theatre opened just south of Woodstock Virginia. The theater had a single screen, large concession stand, and could accommodate 300 cars. This operation opened at the time when Drive-In Theatres were becoming exceedingly popular. All across the country individuals flocked to these theatres where they could enjoy movies from inside their own car. Families enjoyed the fact they could view a film while taking care of babies and small children without disturbing other patrons. Teenagers found them to be ideal date sites. During the 1970s the popularity of these sites began to decline. Competition from televisions, VCRs, and video rentals increased. Rising fuel prices, the introduction of daylights savings time, and growing operating costs reduced profit margins for these seasonal businesses. Shenandoah Valley Drive In fell victim to these factors and closed in 1983. During the almost 40 years it was in operation, the theater built quite a following. Locals retain many strong memories of watching movies at the site, visiting the concession stand, and enjoying the social aspects of the theatre. In 2000 a self-storage company purchased the land and demolished the screen and remaining buildings. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Drive In Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Herb Parker Shenandoah County History Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1955 Shenandoah County Theater Virginia Woodstock https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/14d7c058ecbeddd19f8a35cfdefc2147.pdf eb44cea57fc5e593aafa67e2e4565228 PDF Text Text Volume 19, Issue 4, December 2016 Website: www.svgla.org TH E VALL EY C O N N EC TSH EN THE VALLEY CONNECTSHEN Mission Statement: The mission of Shenandoah Valley Equality is to build inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley. ———————– Community Events (inside)  EV Day of Action  SVE Potlucks  Madison Equality’s Annual Charity Ball ———————– EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY! Join SVE (Membership Form pg. 13) Mail: P.O. Box 1023 Harrisonburg, VA 22803 NEW e-mail address: ShenandoahValleyEquality @gmail.com What Next? Shifting our Gaze to State-Level Legislation & 2017 State Elections Presidential elections generate intense citizen engagement; however, it is VITAL that we focus our attention also on state-level politics, so that we are informed and engaged in two specific areas: 1. Proposed legislation affecting our community will be considered in the 2017 General Assembly session (starting in January) 2. There are extremely important state-wide and state-level elections in 2017. In November, Virginia will elect a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. In addition, all 100 seats of the House of Delegates are up for election. Delegates serve 2-year terms. Virginia will not hold any state Senate elections in 2017. ———————– “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 In 2016, legislators in the Virginia General Assembly considered 17 bills and resolutions that were favorable to our community and an unprecedented 9 anti-LGBT bills. None of the proposed legislation (pro or con) passed into law. How can you be informed and engaged in 2017? See pages 6-7 about how to stay informed about legislation affecting our community and ways you can advocate for equality and support fair-minded candidates. �SAVE THE DATE: Madison Equality’s annual Charity Ball WHAT: Charity Ball dance/concert/fundraiser WHEN: February 3, 2017 from 7:00-10:00PM WHERE: Madison Union Ballroom (5th floor of Warren Hall), on campus at James Madison University ADMISSION: $10 DRESS: Casual or Semiformal 2017 DESIGNATED CHARITY: CONTACT: To be Decided www.facebook.com/madisonequality or madisonequality@gmail.org �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 Meeting Information : The location of Harrisonburg PFLAG meetings will be changing in the future; please visit www.pflagblueridge.org for current information Contact: Facilitator Mark at mitchmarke@aol.com or 540-405-1227 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 �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 March newsletter is Feb. 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, April 22. Meet us for breakfast at the Little Grill at 8am, then we’ll tidy up the highway afterward. We’ll provide vests, bags, and gloves. Renew Your Level I Membership SVE Level I Membership renewals were sent to all of Level I members in July. Please renew (or join) as a Level I member by December 1, 2016 to vote for (or serve on) the 2017 SVE Board of Directors. See page 13 for our membership form. �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 https://www.facebook.com/michellemarie51/ 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.logcabin.org/chapter/virginia-northern-virginia/ Madison Equality JMU PFLAG Blue Ridge www.facebook.com/madisonequality 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 www.shenandoahvalleypride.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 4, December 2016 www.vapartisans.org/ www.faith4equality.org/ Page 5 �EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach, & advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians. Did you know that:  it is still legal to fire and not hire someone based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Virginia?  it is still legal to deny housing to people based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Virginia? Make Your Voice Heard on EV’s Day of Action Join LGBT and allied folks from across the state ion EV’s Day of Action at the Library of Virginia on 800 East Broad St. in Richmond, on Tuesday, February 7, 2016. Lobby for important bills that will help improve the state of equality in Virginia, and participate in a day filled with networking and workshops. For the detailed schedule of events and to register for EV’s Day of Action, go to http://www.equalityvirginia.org/dayofaction/ Find EV on the web at www.equalityvirginia.org Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives �Could Virginia become the next North Carolina for LGBT People? Governor Terry McAuliffe warns that his successor could sign legislation similar to North Carolina’s HB2. Read the article here: thinkprogress.org/ virginia-next-north-carolina-mcauliffe-hb2-73ceb2727384#.19u15eqil HOW TO BE INFORMED AND ENGAGED IN ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY IN VIRGINIA Every year, Equality Virginia monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBTQ community, helping to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Stay informed about legislation affecting our community, and voice your support or opposition to specific bills by joining Equality Virginia’s email list for their monthly newsletter, action alerts, and events. Provide your email address to EV here: www.equalityvirginia.org/resources/ RESOURCES FOR THE 2017 VIRGINIA ELECTIONS FOR GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES Equality Virginia equalityvirginia.org LGBT Democrats of Virginia lgbtvadem.org/ Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia logcabin.org/chapter/virginia-northern-virginia/ People of Faith for Equality in Virginia http://pofev.org Virginia Organizing virginia-organizing.org/ �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 March newsletter is February 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 the event rotates to a different location. 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 13 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 10-11. Volunteer to host in 2017. Email us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Please visit www.pflagblueridge.org for information about Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meetings.  Thurs., December 1: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org  Friday, December 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 info, join SVE as a Level I or II member (See page 13 for details).  Saturday, Dec. 3: Benefit Drag Show, Fundraiser for the Valley AIDS Network. 7:00pm at The Artful Dodger Coffeehouse & Cocktail Lounge, 47 Court Square, Harrisonburg.  Tuesday, Dec. 6 World AIDS Day Speaker Andrew Frasier, “HIV/AIDS Trends and Treatment.” 8:00-9:00 PM at the Student Success Center, Room 4044 at James Madison University. Sponsored by the LGTBQ and Ally Education Program. Andrew Frasier is an HIV Testing counselor and phlebotomist and has extensive experience working in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy.  Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Please join us at Capital Ale House at 41 Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg. RSVP to David Lane at lanedj@jmu.edu if you plan to join us so he can make a reservation. Join SVE for updated information about C&C events (See pg.13 for how to join). Thursday, Dec. 15:  Friday, January 6 or 13: 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 date and location of the potluck, join SVE as a Level I or II member (See page 13 for how to join).  Monday, Jan. 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Please join us at Cracker Barrel on 121 Pleasant Valley Road. RSVP to lanedj@jmu.edu if you plan to join us so we can make a reservation. Join SVE for updated information about C&C events by email (See page 13 for how to join). Thursday, Jan. 19: Volume 19, Issue 4, December 2016 Page 10 �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE  Friday, February 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 information about the potluck, join SVE as a Level I or II member (See page 13 for how to join ). Full page ad for Truth Wins Out/Uganda Story  Friday, February 3: Annual Charity Ball, sponsored by Madison Equality at JMU; see details on page 2  Tuesday, February 7: Equality Virginia Day of Action, See page 6 for details and contact information.  February 14 Happy Valentine’s Day  Wednesday, Feb. 15: DEADLINE, SVE newsletter submissions to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com. Submit events for the March issue of the newsletter (events for March, April, and May)  Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Please join us at Pano’s, 3190 South Main Street in Harrisonburg. RSVP to lanedj@jmu.edu if you plan to join us so we can make a reservation. Join SVE for updated information about C&C events by email (See page 13 for how to join). Thursday, Feb 16:  Saturday, April 1 14th Annual Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner is EV’s signature event and the state’s largest black-tie gala gathering for the LGBT community and our supporters. Held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Reservation information will be available in January at www.equalityvirginia.org/dinner/  Saturday, April 22 : SVE Adopt-A-Highway Service Project, 8:00 AM We gather at the Little Grill for breakfast and then head out for 45 minutes of clean-up work afterward. Join us! We provide safety vests, gloves, and bags. In case of inclement weather, the clean-up will be rescheduled.  Saturday, April 22 : “Trails 4 Tails” Dog Walk/Run Fundraiser for the Valley AIDS Network. See page 15 for details. The Valley ConnectShen invites you to submit information about community resources for the newsletter and events that would be of interest to our community for the calendar. This is a vital service; it helps to make our community stronger and improves the quality of life for individual members. Send information to us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com 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 March issue (covering March, April, and May) of The Valley ConnectShen by February 15 to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Volume 19, Issue 4, December 2016 Page 11 �"Out in the Boondocks" Support our Advertisers, Empower your Community. 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 informal group where members get together or in smaller groups for meals, hiking movies, live performances, kayaking, and other events. SVE wishes to thank local businesses and organizations that advertise in our newsletter. If you would like to be on the e-mail list for events, send your name and e-mail address to Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com Date me! Book a Tupperware party today and earn FREE TUPPERWARE! The higher your party’s sales, the more you earn FREE! Partying since 1948! Shannon Huffman Independent Tupperware Consultant Bwaterguy05@gmail.com shannonhuffman.my.tupperware.com 540-421-7017 �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 LGBTQ-friendly organizations to organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational networking with LGBTQ people, and to advocate for full LGBTQ equality, dignity, and inclusion in the Valley, state, and national communities. 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 first and last name and state that you are at least 18 years of age to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com You must be at least 18 years of age to join SVE. �People of Faith for Equality in Virginia is interested in finding or forming a network of faith-based social justice advocates, congregational representatives and clergy in the Shenandoah Valley. We need this group to be ready to provide supportive testimony,, letters, and your presence during the 2017 Virginia General Assembly session in January. Please contact Paula Prettyman, Director, POFEV at paula.prettyman@pofev.org or (703) 867-7560. POFEV is an interfaith network of clergy and lay people who have been working together since 2006 for equality for LGBT Virginians. Our mission is to:  Achieve equality for all Virginians regardless of sexuality, gender, and gender identity and expression  Insure all individuals and families are honored, and  Work together to create and sustain open and welcoming communities of faith To fulfill our mission, we:  Build and maintain an interfaith network of laypersons and clergy working for equality and inclusion of all LGBT Virginians in our social, political and religious life;  Challenge religiously-based intolerance by offering an alternative vision of what Virginia can be - “the beloved community” that includes and celebrates all and heals injuries based on sexuality, gender, gender identity and expression, and related forms of oppression;  Organize congregations, advocate for change, offer educational and devotional resources, sponsor workshops and forums, host interfaith worship services and other events, and maintain an active online presence to provide regular faithbased messaging for equality and justice. http://www.pofev.org/ �What is SVE’s “Conversation & Cuisine”? Once a month, Shenandoah Valley Equality members (and friends) are invited to meet at a local restaurant in the Valley to share a meal together. Join SVE (see page 13 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: “If you want to change the world, start with your own neighborhood.” Need Support? Trevor Crisis Intervention Line (LGBT+): www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7) Trans Lifeline: www.translifeline.org 1-877-565-8860 (staffed by trans* people for trans* people in crisis) I'm alive support chat: www.imalive.org Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741 —Harvey Milk— National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 �“Trails 4 Tails” Dog Walk/Run APRIL 22, 2017 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 �Vote for the 2017 SVE Board of Directors  Ballots for the 2017 SVE Board of Directors will be sent in the new year to Level I members who renewed their membership by December 1, 2016. Results will be announced at the Annual SVE Membership Meeting (which will coincide with the February First Friday potluck).  Thank you for supporting us!  �Peace, Love, and Equality � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection Description An account of the resource This collection contains materials produced by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association). Among other items is the organization's newsletter. Shenandoah Valley Equality is dedicated to building an inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded as the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association in 1995, it changed its name to Shenandoah Valley Equality in 2016. The organization regularly held events designed to build strong community including potlucks, breakfasts, and forums. It also published a regular newsletter and maintained a website with resources for the Valley community. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright Not Evaluated The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Shenandoah County Library. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Digital File, PDF Periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "The Valley ConnectShen," December 2016 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Gays - Virginia Lesbians - Virginia Transgender people - Virginia Bisexuals - Virginia Sexual minority community Description An account of the resource December 2016 newsletter "The Valley ConnectShen" published by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital Folder: 2016, Newsletter Series, Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 2016 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context SVE.Newsletter.December.2016 Volume 19, Issue 4, December 2016 LGBTQ Shenandoah Valley Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/2e02b9c350286958927787940c67ff23.pdf 1dc169383ceaaf7aa9a0f3efcadf3a67 PDF Text Text Volume 19, Issue 3, September 2016 Website: www.svgla.org TH E VALL EY C O N N EC TSH EN THE VALLEY CONNECTSHEN Mission Statement: The mission of Shenandoah Valley Equality is to build inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley. ———————– Community Events (inside)  Town Hall Forum  SVE Potlucks  Dr. Sue Rankin Lecture at JMU ———————– EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY! Join SVE (Membership Form pg. 13) ———————– “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 Empowering Our Community: Town Forum in Harrisonburg On Thursday, October 6, from 7:00-8:30pm, Shenandoah Valley Equality and Equality Virginia will co-host a town forum called “Empowering our Community” at the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center (620 Simms Ave.) in Harrisonburg for the LGBTQ community and our allies in the Valley. This forum is designed to help our community prepare for the November elections and the 2017 Virginia General Assembly session, and learn how members of our community can best advocate for equality. The primary focus of the forum is the 2017 General Assembly session and the main speaker is James Parrish, Executive Director of Equality Virginia. Every year, EV monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBTQ community, helping to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Please join us for this important event. �“The State of Higher Education for LGBTQ People: Implications for Campus Policies and Programs” The Madison Caucus for Gender Equality’s annual Dominion Lecture Dr. Sue Rankin Wednesday, September 14, 7:00pm, JMU Madison Union Ballroom (Warren Hall, 5th floor) Dominion Lecture description: Dr. Rankin will review several of the challenges facing LGBT faculty, staff, and students. The foundation of the discussion is based on Dr. Rankin’s 30 years of LGBT research and over 170 campus climate assessments. She will suggest actions that can promote social justice interventions and policies to critically transform higher education environments. Dr. Sue Rankin is the Senior Research Associate of Rankin & Associates Consulting and recently retired as Associate Professor of Education in the College Student Affairs Program at Penn State. She served as a faculty member and researcher at Penn State for nearly 30 years and also served the administration overseeing Diversity efforts. She has published widely on the impact of sexism, racism, heterosexism, and transgender oppression in the academy. Dr. Rankin is a pioneer in campus climate research and is best known for her research assessing institutional climate and providing program planners and policy makers with recommendations and strategies for improving the campus climate for underserved communities. Her life’s work has led to meaningful, measurable differences in the quality of campus life, especially for gender minority and sexual minority faculty, staff, and students in higher education in the U.S. Contact: Kristi McDonnell, (540) 568-7998 or madisoncaucus@jmu.edu. Parking will be available in the Grace Street Parking Deck (258 E. Grace St.) Thank you to our sponsors at JMU: Office of the Provost Office of Access and Inclusion Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Development Office of Cross Disciplinary Studies and Diversity Engagement Justice Studies Department Madison Equality Visiting Scholars Program LGBTQ & Ally Education Program �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 December newsletter is Nov. 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, November 5. Meet us for breakfast at the Little Grill at 8am, then we’ll tidy up the highway afterward. We’ll provide vests, bags, and gloves. Membership renewals were sent to all Level I members in July. Please remember to renew (or join) prior to December 1, 2016 to vote for (or serve on) the 2017 Board of Directors. See page 13 for our membership form. �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 3, September 2016 www.vapartisans.org/ www.faith4equality.org/ Page 6 �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 December newsletter is November 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 13 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 10-11. Volunteer to host the potluck. Email us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Please visit www.pflagblueridge.org and www.svyesalliance.org for information about Harrisonburg Support Group Meetings and Shenandoah Valley YES! Full pagePFLAG ad for Truth Wins Out/Uganda Story Alliance Youth Group Meetings.  Friday, September 9: 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 13 for details).  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, 5th floor) at James Madison University. FREE event. The Madison Caucus for Gender Equality at JMU. Parking will be available in the Grace Street Parking Deck (258 E. Grace Street). If questions, contact Kristi McDonnell at 540.568.7998 or madisoncaucus@jmu.edu.  Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Location TBA. Join SVE for updated information about C&C events (See pg.13 for how to join). Thursday, Sept. 22:  Thursday, October 6: Empowering our Community: Town Hall Forum, 7 PM. At Lucy Simms School in Harrisonburg. Sponsored by Shenandoah Valley Equality and Equality Virginia (EV). Every year, Equality Virginia monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia Gen eral Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBTQ community. EV works to in troduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Join us for this forum to prepare for November elections and the 2017 General Assembly session and learn how members of our community can best advocate for equality.  Friday, October 14: 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 13 for how to join ).  Saturday, October 15: Blue Toad Central Virginia Pride Day, 1-8:00 PM. At Blue Toad Cidery, 462 Winery Lane, Roseland, VA. For more information, go to CiderFarm@BlueToadHARDCider.com or 434-760-9200  Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. This date is tentative. Location TBA. Join SVE for updated information about C&C events (See pg.13 for how to join). Thursday, Oct. 20:  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/ Volume 19, Issue 3, September 2016 Page 10 �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE  Friday, November 4 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 13 for how to join ). Full page ad for Truth Wins Out/Uganda Story  Saturday, Nov. 5:  SVE Adopt-A-Highway Service Project, 8:00 AM We gather at the Little Grill for breakfast and then head out for 45 minutes of clean-up work afterward. Join us! We pro vide safety vests, gloves, and bags. In case of inclement weather, the clean-up will be rescheduled. Tuesday, Nov. 8: ELECTION DAY. Make your vote count.  Friday, Nov. 11: Comic Emma Willman, 8:00 PM. At Court Square Theatre in downtown Harrisonburg. $15 in advance/$18 at the door . For more information, go to http://www.valleyarts.org/performances/unitednationsofcomedy/emmawillmann  Tuesday, Nov. 15: DEADLINE, SVE newsletter submissions to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com  Thursday, Nov. 17: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. This date is tentative. Location TBA. Join SVE for updated information about C&C events (See pg.13 to join).  Thursday, Dec. 1: DEADLINE to renew your Level I membership with Shenandoah Valley Equality in order to vote for or serve on the 2017 Board of Directors (See pg.13 to join). 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 December issue of the Valley Connectshen by November 15 to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Volume 19, Issue 3, September 2016 Page 11 �"Out in the Boondocks" Support our Advertisers, Empower your Community. 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 informal group where members get together or in smaller groups for meals, hiking movies, live performances, kayaking, and other events. SVE wishes to thank local businesses and organizations that advertise in our newsletter. If you would like to be on the e-mail list for events, send your name and e-mail address to Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com Date me! Book a Tupperware party today and earn FREE TUPPERWARE! The higher your party’s sales, the more you earn FREE! Partying since 1948! Shannon Huffman Independent Tupperware Consultant Bwaterguy05@gmail.com shannonhuffman.my.tupperware.com 540-421-7017 �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 LGBTQ-friendly organizations to organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational networking with LGBTQ people, and to advocate for full LGBTQ equality, dignity, and inclusion in the Valley, state, and national communities. 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 first and last name and state that you are at least 18 years of age to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com All SVE members must be at least 18 years of age to join. �Blue Toad Central Virginia Pride Day October 15, 2016, 1:00pm - 8:00pm At the beautiful High View Farm 462 Winery Lane, Roseland, Virginia (Just off Route 664) Questions? Contact us at CiderFarm@BlueToadHARDCider.com or 434-760-9200 Www.BlueToadHARDCider.com �People of Faith for Equality in Virginia is interested in finding or forming a network of faith-based social justice advocates, congregational representatives and clergy in the Shenandoah Valley. We need this group to be ready to provide supportive testimony,, letters, and your presence during the 2017 Virginia General Assembly session in January. Please contact Paula Prettyman, Director, POFEV at paula.prettyman@pofev.org or (703) 867-7560. POFEV is an interfaith network of clergy and lay people who have been working together since 2006 for equality for LGBT Virginians. Our mission is to:  Achieve equality for all Virginians regardless of sexuality, gender, and gender identity and expression  Insure all individuals and families are honored, and  Work together to create and sustain open and welcoming communities of faith To fulfill our mission, we:  Build and maintain an interfaith network of laypersons and clergy working for equality and inclusion of all LGBT Virginians in our social, political and religious life;  Challenge religiously-based intolerance by offering an alternative vision of what Virginia can be - “the beloved community” that includes and celebrates all and heals injuries based on sexuality, gender, gender identity and expression, and related forms of oppression;  Organize congregations, advocate for change, offer educational and devotional resources, sponsor workshops and forums, host interfaith worship services and other events, and maintain an active online presence to provide regular faithbased messaging for equality and justice. http://www.pofev.org/ � Call for 2017 SVE Board Member Nominations SVE wants your ideas and energy. Would you like to serve on the 2015 SVE Board of Directors? Nominate yourself by December 1.* Name: ________________________________________ Address ________________________________________ Phone: (____)___________________________________ Email: ________________________________________ E-mail self-nominations to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com *To serve on or vote for the 2017 SVGLA Board, make sure you have renewed your Level I Membership by December 1 (see pg. 13 for membership form).  Date me! Book a Tupperware party today and earn FREE TUPPERWARE! The higher your party’s sales, the more you earn FREE! Partying since 1948! Shannon Huffman Independent Tupperware Consultant Bwaterguy05@gmail.com shannonhuffman.my.tupperware.com 540-421-7017 �Lesbian comic Emma Willmann in Harrisonburg in November On November 11th you won't want to miss a United Nations of Comedy Series and Tour production, featuring national comic Emma Willmann at the Court Square Theater in Harriosonburg at 8pm. For more information about show, go to: http://www.valleyarts.org/performances/unitednationsofcomedy/emmawillmann $15 in advance/$18 at the door One of the top comedians coming out of NYC, Emma Willmann has a variety of projects, including her own comedy show, The Check Spot, on SiriusXM starting in March. Recently selected to perform at the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, she’s also appeared at The Glasgow International Comedy, the SiriusXM South Beach Comedy Festival, and the New York Comedy Festival. Willmann has been named one of the “10 Funniest Comics in NYC” in the New York’s Funniest Competition by Caroline’s on Broadway and was named by Time Out NY as one of the “10 Funniest Woman in NYC.” She was also listed as one of the “100 Woman We Love,” by GO Magazine. Emma is a crowd favorite at the Pride Festivals. �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.” �“Trails 4 Tails” Dog Walk/Run APRIL 22, 2017 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 � In Memory of Dr. Justin Ross Brown We are sad to share the news that we have lost a beloved member of our community. Dr. Justin Brown passed away on August 11, 2016. Justin was a visiting assistant professor of Geophysics in the Department of Geology and Environmental Science at James Madison University during the 2014-2015 academic year. More recently, he was employed at Kate's Natural Foods. Justin was an active member of the JMU LGBTQ Employee Group and the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association (now Shenandoah Valley Equality), and frequently attended social events and gatherings for both organizations. He was a good friend to his friends, a witty conversationalist, a fantastic cook, and played a mean game of tag. For those who are able and would like to make a contribution in memory of Justin, please consider making a donation to The Trevor Project (http://www. thetrevorproject.org/). Click on “Donate,” then “Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone” and enter his name in the "In memory of . . ." box on the website.) Shenandoah Valley Equality has donated $100 to The Trevor Project in memory of Justin. Justin's family would also like us to encourage those who knew him to become an organ donor. In the state of Virginia, organ donation is linked to your driver's license. Go to Donate Life Virginia (https://www.donatelifevirginia.org/) to register as an organ donor.  � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection Description An account of the resource This collection contains materials produced by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association). Among other items is the organization's newsletter. Shenandoah Valley Equality is dedicated to building an inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded as the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association in 1995, it changed its name to Shenandoah Valley Equality in 2016. The organization regularly held events designed to build strong community including potlucks, breakfasts, and forums. It also published a regular newsletter and maintained a website with resources for the Valley community. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright Not Evaluated The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Shenandoah County Library. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Digital File, PDF Periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "The Valley ConnectShen," September 2016 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Gays - Virginia Lesbians - Virginia Transgender people - Virginia Bisexuals - Virginia Sexual minority community Description An account of the resource September 2016 newsletter "The Valley ConnectShen" published by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital Folder: 2016, Newsletter Series, Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 2016 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context SVE.Newsletter.September.2016 Volume 19, Issue 3, September 2016 LGBTQ Shenandoah Valley Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/e221b65e25fe0684e34fee4015764414.pdf bb53fd0f5353368d2cf946ac150bfdd7 PDF Text Text Volume 20, Issue 1, March 2017 Website: www.svgla.org TH E VALL EY C O N N EC TSH EN THE VALLEY CONNECTSHEN Mission Statement: The mission of Shenandoah Valley Equality is to build inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley. ———————– Community Events (inside)  DC Gay Men’s Chorus  Chili’s Benefit for Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance  INDIGO Women’s Dance ———————– EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY! Join SVE (Membership Form pg. 15) ———————– “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 Trump Admin. Rescinds Transgender Student Guidance: Gavin Grimm of Virginia to Supreme Court in March The Trump Administration withdrew the Obama Administration’s legal guidance protecting transgender students under Title IX. The guidance provided clarity on obligations to students —schools:  may not prohibit transgender students from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity;  may not exclude transgender students from school activities;  may not punish students for not conforming to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity;  must give current and former students an opportunity to update their records with accurate name and gender information; and  may not violate a current or former students’s privacy by disclosing their transgender identity to others. The Administration’s letter stated "...withdrawal of these guidance documents does not leave students without protections… All schools must ensure that all students, including LGBT students, are able to learn and thrive in a safe environment." Gavin Grimm, the transgender teen from Virginia whose school bathroom access case will be heard by the Supreme Court, said, "Thinking about transgender students everywhere, hearing that your presidential administration has gone out of its way just to further discriminate against you... is very upsetting..."   The letter did not and could not repeal Title IX. The letter did not and could not require schools to discriminate or stop complying with the guidance. Local school districts and states can still follow it, and do more to support trans students. The letter invited those who have questions or comments on this letter to contact the Department of Education at ocr@ed.gov or 800 -421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339); or the Department of Justice at education@usdoj.gov or 877-292-3804 (TTY: 800-514-0383)." We urge our members to take the opportunity to share your views. �Private party for women only. Must be 21 to enter. All women 21 and older welcome. �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 Meeting Information : The location of Harrisonburg PFLAG meetings will be changing in the future; please visit www.pflagblueridge.org for current information Contact: Facilitator Mark at mitchmarke@aol.com or 540-405-1227 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 �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 June newsletter is May 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, April 22. Meet us for breakfast at the Little Grill at 8am, then we’ll tidy up the highway afterward. We’ll provide vests, bags, and gloves. Local and Vocal in Staunton, Virginia A new group that meets twice a month to write letters to elected officials and other leaders. A starting point for political action, as well as a place for people to connect. At least once a month, we visit with YOUR group in YOUR location (house of worship, community center, school). localandvocalstaunton@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/localandvocalstaunton �EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach, & advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians. EV’s 14th annual Commonwealth Dinner is the state’s largest black tie gathering for our community. Enjoy live entertainment, a silent auction, a dance, and meet/network with others. Every year at the dinner, EV also recognizes OUTstanding Virginians who have represented our community with distinction and have contributed to the equality movement. We hope you can join us for this special event. For more information or to make reservations, go to http://www.equalityvirginia.org/14th-annual-commonwealthdinner/commonwealth-dinner-2017/ Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives �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 https://www.facebook.com/michellemarie51/ Equality Virginia www.equalityvirginia.org EMU Safe Space www.emu.edu/studentlife/clubs/safe-space/ JMU LGBTQ Employee Group www.jmu.edu/lgbtfacultystaff JMU LGBTQ & Ally Education Program www.jmu.edu/lgbta/ JMU Madison Caucus for Gender Equality www.jmu.edu/caucusgenderequality/ LGBT Democrats of Virginia lgbtvadem.org/ Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia logcabin.org/chapter/virginia-northern-virginia/ Madison Equality JMU www.facebook.com/madisonequality PFLAG Blue Ridge pflagblueridge.org and pflagbr@gmail.com Safe Zone JMU www.jmu.edu/safezone/ Shenandoah Valley Equality ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com & www.svgla.org Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance www.shenandoahvalleypride.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 www.vapartisans.org/ www.faith4equality.org/ �Could Virginia become the next North Carolina for LGBT People? Governor Terry McAuliffe warns that his successor could sign legislation similar to North Carolina’s HB2. Read the article here: thinkprogress.org/ virginia-next-north-carolina-mcauliffe-hb2-73ceb2727384#.19u15eqil HOW TO BE INFORMED AND ENGAGED IN ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY IN VIRGINIA Every year, Equality Virginia monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBTQ community, helping to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Stay informed about legislation affecting our community, and voice your support or opposition to specific bills by joining Equality Virginia’s email list for their monthly newsletter, action alerts, and events. Provide your email address to EV here: www.equalityvirginia.org/resources/ RESOURCES FOR THE 2017 VIRGINIA ELECTIONS FOR GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES Equality Virginia equalityvirginia.org LGBT Democrats of Virginia lgbtvadem.org/ Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia logcabin.org/chapter/virginia-northern-virginia/ People of Faith for Equality in Virginia http://pofev.org Virginia Organizing virginia-organizing.org/ Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club www.vapartisans.org/ �“Trails 4 Tails” Dog Walk/Run APRIL 22, 2017 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 �We are a lay-led, religious community offering a unique spiritual and moral witness in the Shenandoah Valley. “Standing on the Side of Love” 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 June newsletter is May 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 the event rotates to a different location. 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 15 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 12-13. Volunteer to host. Email us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com �God Save the Queens: A Salute to Rock Royalty GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON, D.C. SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 8:00pm, Forbes Center TICKETS Two vocal ensembles will sing music by American & British rock legends Elvis, Queen, Prince, Madonna, Adele & more! Regular & Subscribers $25 Seniors & JMU Fac./ Staff $24 JMU Students $18 (Purchase in person only. One per ID. Cash only, 90 minutes before show) Online: www.jmu.edu/forbescenter/tickets/tickets.shtml Box Office: In person at 147 Warsaw Ave, Harrisonburg Phone: 540.568.7000 A benefit performance for the Valley AIDS Network �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Thurs., March 2:   Friday, March 3: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org 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 15 for details). Thursday, March 16: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Chili’s on 1752 E. Market Street in Harrisonburg. 10% of all of the proceeds from Chili’s sales on March 16 will go to the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance (see details on page 14).  March 26-29 Virginia Women’s Music Festival. Held at Camp Out, a secluded natural getaway for women, located just off Interstate 64, in Kents Store, VA. Music, dancing, a 5k run, bon fires and more. Camping, cabin and RV spaces sell out early. Go to campoutva.com for details and ticket information. Note: The business office is not located at the campground.  Saturday, April 1 INDIGO Women’s Dance Party (Private party for women only). Upstairs at the Mill Street Grill in Staunton, 8PM, $15 Cover, Cash Bar, MUST BE 21 TO ENTER. For ques tions, contact indigoparty@hotmail.com   Saturday, April 1 14th Annual Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner is EV’s signature event and the state’s largest black-tie gala gathering for the LGBT community and our supporters. Held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Reservation information will be available in January at www.equalityvirginia.org/dinner/  Saturday, April 1 Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC. “God Save the Queens!”: music by American and British rock legends Elvis, Queen, Prince, Madonna, Adele, & more. 8:00 PM at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts at JMU in Harrisonburg. Benefit Concert for the Valley AIDS Network. Ticket information at www.jmu.edu/forbescenter/tickets. Thurs., April 6: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org  Friday, April 7: 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 date and location of the potluck, join SVE as a Level I or II member (See page 15 for how to join). Volume 20, Issue 1, March 2017 Page 12 �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Thursday, April 20: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE for updated information about C&C events (See pg.15 for how to join). Full page ad for Truth Wins Out/Uganda Story  Saturday, April 22 : SVE Adopt-A-Highway Service Project, 8:00 AM We gather at the Little Grill for breakfast and then head out for 45 minutes of clean-up work afterward. Join us! We provide safety vests, gloves, and bags. In case of inclement weather, the clean-up will be rescheduled.  Saturday, April 22 :  Thurs., May 4:  Friday, May 5:  Monday, May 15: “Trails 4 Tails” Dog Walk/Run Fundraiser for the Valley AIDS Network. See page 8 for details. Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org 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 date and location of the potluck, join SVE as a Level I or II member (See page 15 for how to join). DEADLINE, SVE newsletter submissions to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com. Submit events for the June issue of the newsletter (events for June, July, & August)  Thursday, May 18: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE for updated information about C&C events (See pg.15 for how to join). Saturday, July 22: Shenandoah Valley Pride. 2:00-8:00PM, Court Square in Harrisonburg. Volunteers and Sponsors Needed. Contact ShenandoahValleyPride@gmail.com and visit www.shenandoahvalleypride.org. Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance. The Valley ConnectShen invites you to submit information about community resources for the newsletter and events that would be of interest to our community for the calendar. This is a vital service; it helps to make our community stronger and improves the quality of life for individual members. Send information to us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com 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 June issue (covering March, April, and May) of The Valley ConnectShen by May 15 to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Volume 20, Issue 1, March 2017 Page 13 �"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 informal group where members get together or in smaller groups for meals, hiking movies, live performances, kayaking, and other events. If you would like to be on the e-mail list for events, send your name and e-mail address to Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com 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 LGBTQ-friendly organizations to organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational networking with LGBTQ people, and to advocate for full LGBTQ equality, dignity, and inclusion in the Valley, state, and national communities. 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 first and last name and state that you are at least 18 years of age to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com You must be at least 18 years of age to join SVE.  �What is SVE’s “Conversation & Cuisine”? Once a month, Shenandoah Valley Equality members (and friends) are invited to meet at a local restaurant in the Valley to share a meal together. Join SVE (see page 13 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: “Let each person do [their] part. If one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer. For the American idea, though it is shared by all of us, is realized in each one of us.” —June Jordan— Need Support? Trevor Crisis Intervention Line (LGBT+): www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7) Trans Lifeline: www.translifeline.org 1-877-565-8860 (staffed by trans* people for trans* people in crisis) I'm alive support chat: www.imalive.org Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741 National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 �In the News...  Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (JMU alum, class of 2004) supported LGBTQ issues on the campaign trail, and now he hopes to see Richmond designated as a top tourist destination in the Nat West British LGBT awards. The annual British LGBT awards ceremony supports causes in the UK and around the world, honoring people, organizations and places in almost 90 categories with about 100,000 votes submitted every year. “In 2014 we did something no other city ever did, we came out of the closet,” said Stoney. “OutRVA represents more than just a marketing campaign, it’s a welcoming way of life.” Stoney was invited to be a part of the video in connection with the city’s LGBTQ tourism campaign, OutRVA. Created by VCU students in 2014, the Richmond Region Tourism has used the campaign to help show RVA is a great place to be no matter who you love. “Richmond, VA, is truly for all lovers… now is the time to let the world know how welcoming Richmond is.” Cast your vote here: http://britishlgbtawards.com/vote_now/  �SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, July 22, 2017 Shenandoah Valley Pride, 2-8pm Courthouse Square Harrisonburg, VA Volunteers & Sponsors Needed ShenandoahValleyPride@gmail.com www.ShenandoahValleyPride.org Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection Description An account of the resource This collection contains materials produced by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association). Among other items is the organization's newsletter. Shenandoah Valley Equality is dedicated to building an inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded as the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association in 1995, it changed its name to Shenandoah Valley Equality in 2016. The organization regularly held events designed to build strong community including potlucks, breakfasts, and forums. It also published a regular newsletter and maintained a website with resources for the Valley community. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright Not Evaluated The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Shenandoah County Library. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Digital File, PDF Periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "The Valley ConnectShen," March 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Gays - Virginia Lesbians - Virginia Transgender people - Virginia Bisexuals - Virginia Sexual minority community Description An account of the resource March 2017 newsletter "The Valley ConnectShen" published by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital Folder: 2017, Newsletter Series, Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 2017 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context SVE.Newsletter.March.2017.pdf Volume 20, Issue 1, March 2017 LGBTQ Shenandoah Valley Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/65c3f98ba5724001dba13c0b5f9b12db.pdf 11d0b462a76bcb80a0d282f429b8bf3a PDF Text Text Volume 20, Issue 2, June 2017 Website: www.svgla.org THE VALLEY CO NNECTSHEN THE VALLEY CONNECTSHEN Mission Statement: The mission of Shenandoah Valley Equality is to build inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley. ———————– Community Events (inside)  First Friday Potlucks  National Equality March  Shenandoah Valley Pride ———————– EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY! Join SVE (Membership Form pg. 12) ———————– “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 7 Ways to Empower Your Community 1. JOIN SVE (or renew) as a Level I member (only $15/ year). We rely on your support to cover administrative costs and sponsor events, such as our annual Shenandoah Valley Equality Forum. 2. CONNECT. SVE organizes the monthly First Friday potluck and Conversation & Cuisine dinner in the Valley. 3. HOST the potluck. You provide the space, plates, utensils, soft drinks, ice, & cups — guests bring the rest. 4. ADVERTISE in our newsletter. SUPPORT our advertisers with your business. 5. SHARE information with us about events of particular relevance to our community and we will include them in our monthly e-calendar and newsletter free. 6. NOMINATE yourself for SVE’s Board of Directors (nominations are due Dec. 1). All nominees must be Level I members. 7. READ the newsletter and stay informed about local organizations and events that support our community. �Join the National Equality March June 11, 2017 On June 11, 2017, we will gather in Washington DC from all across our country. We will march. We will leave empowered to do the work that needs to be done in every community across this nation. Our single demand: Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states. www.facebook.com/National-Equality-March-88564194359/ �SAVE THE DATE! Sponsors & Volunteers Needed Saturday, July 22, 2017 Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival 2-8pm, Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA Parking Park in any of the downtown parking lots on Water St., Wolf St., and the lot beside Turner Pavilion/Farmer’s Market. Sponsored by Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance http://www.shenandoahvalleypride.org/ shenandoahvalleypride@gmail.com �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 Meeting Information : The location of Harrisonburg PFLAG meetings will be changing in the future; please visit www.pflagblueridge.org for current information Contact: Facilitator Mark at mitchmarke@aol.com or 540-405-1227 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 �EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach, & advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians. ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE 2017 ELECTIONS? Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General & all 100 seats of the Virginia House of Delegates WILL YOU SUPPORT EQUALITY on November 7? Every year, EV monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBTQ community, helping to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Stay informed about legislation affecting our community, and voice your support or opposition to specific bills by joining EV’s email list for their monthly newsletter, action alerts, and events: www.equalityvirginia.org/resources/ Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives www.equalityvirginia.org �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 Local and Vocal in Staunton, Virginia A new group that meets twice a month to write letters to elected officials and other leaders. A starting point for political action, as well as a place for people to connect. At least once a month, we visit with YOUR group in YOUR location (house of worship, community center, school). localandvocalstaunton@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/localandvocalstaunton �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 https://www.facebook.com/michellemarie51/ Equality Virginia www.equalityvirginia.org EMU Safe Space www.emu.edu/studentlife/clubs/safe-space/ JMU LGBTQ Employee Group www.jmu.edu/lgbtfacultystaff JMU LGBTQ & Ally Education Program www.jmu.edu/lgbta/ JMU Madison Caucus for Gender Equality www.jmu.edu/caucusgenderequality/ LGBT Democrats of Virginia lgbtvadem.org/ Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia logcabin.org/chapter/virginia-northern-virginia/ Madison Equality JMU www.facebook.com/madisonequality PFLAG Blue Ridge pflagblueridge.org and pflagbr@gmail.com Safe Zone JMU www.jmu.edu/safezone/ Shenandoah Valley Equality ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com & www.svgla.org Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance www.shenandoahvalleypride.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 www.vapartisans.org/ www.faith4equality.org/ �We are a lay-led, religious community offering a unique spiritual and moral witness in the Shenandoah Valley. “Standing on the Side of Love” 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 organized by SVE in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Staunton, and Augusta County for the LGBTQA+ community. Every month the event rotates to a different location. 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 12 for details on how to join. See upcoming potlucks on page 9. We need more hosts! Email David to host the potluck: lanedj@jmu.edu �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Contact PFLAG directly to find out about monthly PFLAG meetings during the summer months (See page 4).   Friday, June 2:   Sunday, June 11 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 (See page 12 for details). National Equality March in Washington, DC. For details, go to www.facebook.com/ National-Equality-March-88564194359/ Thursday, June 22 Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Taj of India, 34 S. Main St. (downtown) in Harrisonburg. RSVP by 6/21 to lanedj@jmu.edu.  Friday, July 7: 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, join SVE (See page 12). Thursday, July 20: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Brothers Pizza, Pasta, and Subs, 1059 S. High St. in Harrisonburg. RSVP by 7/19 to lanedj@jmu.edu.  Saturday, July 22: “When We Rise.” Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival, 2-8 PM, At Court Square in Harrisonburg sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance. Volunteers and sponsors needed. For more information go to www.shenandoahvalleypride.org  Friday, August 4 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, join SVE (See page 12).  August 15: DEADLINE, SVE newsletter submissions to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com. Submit events for the September issue (events happening in Sept., Oct. and Nov.)  Thursday, August 24: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Olive Garden at 45 Burgess Rd. in Harrisonburg. RSVP by 8/23 to lanedj@jmu.edu.  Thursday, Sept. 14: Shenandoah Valley Equality Forum, Location (in Harrisonburg) and Time TBA. Tuesday, Nov. 7 VIRGINIA ELECTIONS FOR GOVEROR, LIEUT. GOV., ATTORNEY GENERAL, & ALL 100 SEATS OF THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES. The Valley ConnectShen invites you to submit information about community resources and events. Empower your community. Submit ads for the September issue (covering September, October, and November) by August 15 to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Submit items for the monthly SVE e-mail events schedule by the 25th of each month to lanedj@jmu.edu Volume 20, Issue 2, June 2017 Page 10 �"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 informal group where members get together or in smaller groups for meals, hiking movies, live performances, kayaking, and other events. Support our Advertisers, Empower your Community. SVE thanks businesses & organizations that advertise in our newsletter. If you would like to be on the e-mail list for events, send your name and e-mail address to Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com Contact VAN Main Phone: Testing: Español: (540) 568-8838 (540) 568-8832 (540) 568-8834 Visit: 601 University Blvd., 3rd Floor, Suites 322/323/324, Harrisonburg Mailing Address: VAN, JMU/IIHHS MCS 9108, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 Website: www.valleyaidsnetwork.org �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 LGBTQ-friendly organizations to organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational networking with LGBTQ people, and to advocate for full LGBTQ equality, dignity, and inclusion in the Valley, state, and national communities. 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 first and last name and state that you are at least 18 years of age to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com You must be at least 18 years of age to join SVE.  �What is SVE’s “Conversa on & Cuisine”? Once a month, Shenandoah Valley Equality members (and friends) are invited to meet at a local restaurant in the Valley to share a meal together. Join SVE (see page 13 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: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” —Desmond Tutu— Need Support? Trevor Crisis Intervention Line (LGBT+): www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7) Trans Lifeline: www.translifeline.org 1-877-565-8860 (staffed by trans* people for trans* people in crisis) I'm alive support chat: www.imalive.org Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741 National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 �SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, July 22, 2017 Shenandoah Valley Pride, 2-8pm Courthouse Square Harrisonburg, VA Volunteers & Sponsors Needed ShenandoahValleyPride@gmail.com www.ShenandoahValleyPride.org Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance �Thank you to our Level I Members . We rely on your annual dues to keep SVE operating. Renewal forms for current Level I members will be mailed during the month of June. Renew by December 1 to vote for the 2018 SVE Board of Directors. If you are a Level II member, please consider a Level I membership.  2017 Shenandoah Valley Equality Board of Directors JoAnn Benjamin Rob Johnson David Lane Vickie Lynn Christine Robinson Grayson Sless Jackie Walker Teresa Whitesell � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection Description An account of the resource This collection contains materials produced by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association). Among other items is the organization's newsletter. Shenandoah Valley Equality is dedicated to building an inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded as the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association in 1995, it changed its name to Shenandoah Valley Equality in 2016. The organization regularly held events designed to build strong community including potlucks, breakfasts, and forums. It also published a regular newsletter and maintained a website with resources for the Valley community. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright Not Evaluated The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Shenandoah County Library. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Digital Format, PDF Periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "The Valley ConnectShen," June 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Gays - Virginia Lesbians - Virginia Transgender people - Virginia Bisexuals - Virginia Sexual minority community Description An account of the resource June 2017 newsletter "The Valley ConnectShen" published by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital Folder: 2017, Newsletter Series, Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2017 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context SVE.Newsletter.June.2017.pdf Volume 20, Issue 2, June 2017 LGBTQ Shenandoah Valley Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/b1a6d400a69fc4afd025bf41f9d80894.pdf ef061a2f80965f986291ad9564ca8702 PDF Text Text Volume 20, Issue 3, September 2017 Website: www.svgla.org TH E VALL EY C O N N EC TSH EN THE VALLEY CONNECTSHEN Mission Statement: The mission of Shenandoah Valley Equality is to build inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley. ———————– Community Events (inside)  Miss Gay Harrisonburg Pageant Free Film Screening of “Training Rules”  Transgender Information & Education Summit ———————– EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY! Join SVE Mail: P.O. Box 1023 Harrisonburg, VA 22803 NEW e-mail address: ShenandoahValleyEquality @gmail.com Equipping Our Community: Town Hall Equality Forum in Harrisonburg Thursday, September 28, 6:30-8pm, Shenandoah Valley Equality, Equality Virginia, and Shenandoah Valley Pride will co-host a forum called “Equipping our Community” at the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center (620 Simms Ave.) in Harrisonburg, for the LGBTQ community and our allies in the Valley. This forum is designed to better prepare our community to advocate for equality in Virginia in anticipation of the November 7 elections (for Governor, Lieut. Governor, Attorney General, and members of the Virginia House of Delegates) and proposed legislation affecting our community in the 2018 Virginia General Assembly. (Membership Form pg. 15) ———————– “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 The primary focus of the forum is two-fold: candidates’ positions on LGBT equality and discussion of the bills that are likely to be introduced to the Virginia General Assembly in 2018. Learn how to support pro-equality candidates and legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Please join us for this important event. ��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 Meeting Information : The location of Harrisonburg PFLAG meetings will be changing in the future; please visit www.pflagblueridge.org for current information Contact: Facilitator Mark at mitchmarke@aol.com or 540-405-1227 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 �EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach, & advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians. ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE 2017 ELECTIONS? Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General & all 100 seats of the Virginia House of Delegates WILL YOU SUPPORT EQUALITY on November 7? Every year, EV monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBTQ community, helping to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Stay informed about legislation affecting our community, and voice your support or opposition to specific bills by joining EV’s email list for their monthly newsletter, action alerts, and events: www.equalityvirginia.org/resources/ Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives www.equalityvirginia.org �Film Screening: “Training Rules: No Drinking, No Drugging, No Lesbians” Monday, October 9, 6:00pm, Grafton-Stovall Theatre, JMU Free and Open to the Public This film examines how women's collegiate sports, caught in a web of homophobic practices, collude in the destruction of the lives and dreams of many of its most talented athletes. Jennifer Harris, featured in the film, later transferred to JMU to play basketball. She will be present for a discussion after the film. Sponsored by the Madison Caucus for Gender Equality at JMU www.jmu.edu/caucusgenderequality �Sponsors of the 2017 Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA__________________________ Harrisonburg Unitarian Universalists Sara Festivals, Inc LGBT Democrats of Virginia Trevor Project Human Rights Campaign H.C. LoveCrafts PFLAG Blue Ridge RISE United Methodist Faith Community BB&T Mama's Caboose The annual pride festival is organized by Shenandoah Valley Pride. Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association KB&T Services Litt'l TLC Antiques Rocktown Rollers Walmart #1344 Rainbows & Stuff LuLaRoe Martha Kent Thank you for supporting our community. Cricket Wireless Prism Learning Community NOVA Pride Equality Virginia_______________________________________ Shenandoah Valley Equality American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Rainbows & Stuff Anicira Trinity Presbyterian Church Renew Rocktown Planet Fitness Harrisonburg Democratic Party Blue Toad Hard Cider BoBoKo Indonesian Cafe Nerdy Dogs Rescue Dans Concessions Orange Gerberas Valley Subaru MillerCoors Sentara RMH Medical Center St. Stephen's United Church of Christ Rotary Club of Harrisonburg Valley AIDS Network LGBT Virginians for Vogel Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing Harrisonburg Indivisible The Gay United States Pageantry System, LLC Please support these organizations. �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 December newsletter is Nov. 15  Call for 2018 SVE Board Member Nominations Shenandoah Valley Equality Needs YOU. Will you volunteer to serve on the 2018 SVE Board of Directors? Nominate yourself by December 1.* Send your name, phone number, and email address to us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com *To serve on or vote for the 2018 SVE Board, make sure you have joined or renewed SVE as a Level I Member by December 1 (see pg. 15 for membership form)  Membership renewals were sent to all Level I members in July. Please remember to renew (or join) prior to December 1, 2017 to vote for (or serve on) the 2018 Board of Directors. See page 15 for our membership form. �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 https://www.facebook.com/michellemarie51/ Equality Virginia www.equalityvirginia.org EMU Safe Space www.emu.edu/studentlife/clubs/safe-space/ JMU LGBTQ Employee Group www.jmu.edu/lgbtfacultystaff JMU LGBTQ & Ally Education Program www.jmu.edu/lgbta/ JMU Madison Caucus for Gender Equality www.jmu.edu/caucusgenderequality/ LGBT Democrats of Virginia lgbtvadem.org/ Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia logcabin.org/chapter/virginia-northern-virginia/ Madison Equality JMU www.facebook.com/madisonequality PFLAG Blue Ridge pflagblueridge.org and pflagbr@gmail.com Safe Zone JMU www.jmu.edu/safezone/ Shenandoah Valley Equality ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com & www.svgla.org Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance www.shenandoahvalleypride.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 www.vapartisans.org/ www.faith4equality.org/ �Every October, transgender and gender nonconforming folks are joined by friends, family, and allies for TIES. The most important aspect of the Transgender Information and Empowerment Summit is community. To us, community means trust, solidarity, and a shared respect for people who are transgender and gender diverse. The summit is an opportunity to build that community – to learn from and with each other in an intentional and empowering space. TIES offers information that is designed to meet the interests and needs of transgender individuals, partners, parents, youth, and allies to strengthen the transgender community across Virginia! EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach, & advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians. EV’s 4th annual Transgender Information & Empowerment Summit WHERE: VCU Student Commons (907 Floyd Ave., Richmond) 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. “Standing on the Side of Love” 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 December newsletter is November 15 �SVE’s “First Friday” Community Potluck First Friday is a monthly community potluck organized by SVE in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Staunton, and Augusta County for the LGBTQA+ community. Every month the event rotates to a different location. 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 15 for details on how to join. See upcoming potlucks on pages 12-13. We need hosts! Email David to host the potluck: lanedj@jmu.edu �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Thurs., Sept. 7: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. For parents, family, friends, and all ies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more info. contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org   Friday, Sept. 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 info, join SVE (See page 15 for details).  Saturday, Sept. 16 Miss Gay Harrisonburg Pageant, 8-11 PM. At Court Square Theatre in downtown Harrisonburg. Sponsored by Rhinestone Productions. $5.00 Admission. For more infor mation and to purchase tickets, go to www.valleyarts.org/performances/2017/9/16/missgay-harrisonburg-pageant-2017-2018 Thursday, Sept 21 Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Pano’s Restaurant & Lounge, 3190 S. Main St. in Harrisonburg. RSVP by the day before to lanedj@jmu.edu  Thursday, Sept. 28 Equipping our Community: Equality Forum, 6:30-8:00 PM. At Lucy Simms Center, 620 Simms Ave., Harrisonburg. Sponsored by Shenandoah Valley Equality and Equality Virginia, and Shenandoah Valley Pride. Forum is designed to equip our community to advocate for equality in Virginia ahead of the November 7 elections (for Governor, Lieut. Governor, Attorney General, and Virginia House of Delegates) and the 2018 Virginia General Assembly. Help us support pro-equality candidates and legislation in Virginia.  Thurs., Oct. 5: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org  Friday, Oct. 6: 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, join SVE (See page 15).  Monday, Oct. 9: Film Screening of Training Rules, 6:00-9:00 PM, at Grafton-Stovall Theatre at JMU; Free and Open to the Public. Sponsored by the Madison Caucus for Gender Equality, JMU. This film examines how women's collegiate sports, caught in a web of homophobic practices, collude in the destruction of the lives and dreams of many of its most talented athletes. Jennifer Harris, featured in the film, later transferred to JMU to play basketball. Ms. Harris will be present for a discussion after the film. Mon., Oct. 16 DEADLINE to register to VOTE on November 7. Are you registered? Volume 20, Issue 3, September 2017 Page 12 �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Thursday, Oct. 19:   Saturday, October 21: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join us at Jimmy Madison’s Southern Kitchen and Bourbon Bar, 121 S. Main St. in downtown Harrisonburg. RSVP by 10/18 to lanedj@jmu.edu 4th 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/  Thurs., November 2: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. For parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the JMU campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more info. contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227, mitchmarke@aol.com, or go to www.pflagblueridge.org  Friday, November 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 information, join SVE (See page 15).  Tuesday, Nov. 7 ELECTION DAY—VIRGINIA ELECTIONS FOR GOVEROR, LIEUT. GOV., ATTORNEY GENERAL, & ALL 100 SEATS OF THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES. Nov. 15:  Thursday, Nov. 16 : DEADLINE, SVE newsletter submissions to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Dec. 1: DEADLINE to renew your Level I membership with Shenandoah Valley Equality in order to vote for or serve on the 2018 Board of Directors (See pg.13 to join). Dec. 1: 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, join SVE (See page 15).  Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Capital Ale House at 41 Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg. RSVP by 11/15 to lanedj@jmu.edu The Valley ConnectShen invites you to submit information about community resources and events. Empower your community. Submit ads for the December issue (covering December, January, and February) by November 15 to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Submit items for the monthly SVE e-mail events schedule by the 25th of each month to lanedj@jmu.edu Volume 20, Issue 3, September 2017 Page 13 �"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 informal group where members get together or in smaller groups for meals, hiking movies, live performances, kayaking, and other events. Support our Advertisers, Empower your Community. SVE thanks businesses & organizations that advertise in our newsletter. If you would like to be on the e-mail list for events, send your name and e-mail address to Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com Contact VAN Main Phone: Testing: Español: (540) 568-8838 (540) 568-8832 (540) 568-8834 Visit: 601 University Blvd., 3rd Floor, Suites 322/323/324, Harrisonburg Mailing Address: VAN, JMU/IIHHS MCS 9108, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 Website: www.valleyaidsnetwork.org �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 LGBTQ-friendly organizations to organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational networking with LGBTQ people, and to advocate for full LGBTQ equality, dignity, and inclusion in the Valley, state, and national communities. 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 first and last name and state that you are at least 18 years of age to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com You must be at least 18 years of age to join SVE.  �What is SVE’s “Conversation & Cuisine”? Once a month, Shenandoah Valley Equality members (and friends) are invited to meet at a local restaurant in the Valley to share a meal together. Join SVE (see page 15 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: Need Support? Trevor Crisis Intervention Line (LGBT+): www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7) Trans Lifeline: www.translifeline.org 1-877-565-8860 (staffed by trans* people for trans* people in crisis) I'm alive support chat: www.imalive.org Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741 National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 �People of Faith for Equality in Virginia is interested in finding or forming a network of faith-based social justice advocates, congregational representatives and clergy in the Shenandoah Valley. We need this group to be ready to provide supportive testimony,, letters, and your presence during the 2018 Virginia General Assembly session in January. Please contact Paula Prettyman, Director, POFEV at paula.prettyman@pofev.org or (703) 867-7560. POFEV is an interfaith network of clergy and lay people who have been working together since 2006 for equality for LGBT Virginians. Our mission is to:  Achieve equality for all Virginians regardless of sexuality, gender, and gender identity and expression  Insure all individuals and families are honored, and  Work together to create and sustain open and welcoming communities of faith To fulfill our mission, we:  Build and maintain an interfaith network of laypersons and clergy working for equality and inclusion of all LGBT Virginians in our social, political and religious life;  Challenge religiously-based intolerance by offering an alternative vision of what Virginia can be - “the beloved community” that includes and celebrates all and heals injuries based on sexuality, gender, gender identity and expression, and related forms of oppression;  Organize congregations, advocate for change, offer educational and devotional resources, sponsor workshops and forums, host interfaith worship services and other events, and maintain an active online presence to provide regular faithbased messaging for equality and justice. http://www.pofev.org/ �The Shenandoah Valley Equality Board of Directors sends our love and gratitude to Vickie Lynn, who served on our Board last year and has moved from the area. Best wishes to you, Vickie Lynn! Thank you to our Level I Members . We rely on your annual dues to keep SVE operating. Renewal forms for current Level I members were mailed in July. Renew by December 1 to vote for the 2018 SVE Board of Directors. If you are a Level II member, please consider a Level I membership. See page 15 for details. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection Description An account of the resource This collection contains materials produced by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association). Among other items is the organization's newsletter. Shenandoah Valley Equality is dedicated to building an inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded as the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association in 1995, it changed its name to Shenandoah Valley Equality in 2016. The organization regularly held events designed to build strong community including potlucks, breakfasts, and forums. It also published a regular newsletter and maintained a website with resources for the Valley community. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright Not Evaluated The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Shenandoah County Library. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Digital File, PDF Periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "The Valley ConnectShen," September 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Gays - Virginia Lesbians - Virginia Transgender people - Virginia Bisexuals - Virginia Sexual minority community Description An account of the resource September 2017 newsletter "The Valley ConnectShen" published by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital Folder: 2017, Newsletter Series, Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 2017 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context SVE.Newsletter.September.2017.pdf Volume 20, Issue 3, September 2017 LGBTQ Shenandoah Valley Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/b2ba344d786340dabbdee8fda348a870.pdf ce9b6b361c7eb8b08a965d73bda1a3e9 PDF Text Text Volume 20, Issue 4, December 2017 Website: www.svgla.org TH E VALL EY C O N N EC TSH EN THE VALLEY CONNECTSHEN Mission Statement: The mission of Shenandoah Valley Equality is to build inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley. ———————– Community Events (inside)  Equality in the Valley  SVE Friday Potlucks  Madison Equality’s Annual Charity Ball ———————– EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY! Join SVE (Membership Form pg. 13) ———————– “Valley Connectshen” is published quarterly (March, June, September, and December). ———————– Contact the editor, Christine, 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 Historic Victories in Virginia’s Elections, “Equality in the Valley,” & the 2018 General Assembly Session The November 2017 elections yielded historic electoral victories for Virginia’s General Assembly, including the first openly transgender person, Danica Roem, and the first openly lesbian person, Dawn Adams, in the House of Delegates. Equality Virginia’s Executive Director, James Parrish, has been appointed to Governor-elect Ralph Northam’s transition team. Looking ahead: it is important to communicate with your elected representatives in Virginia (the Senate, House of Delegates, and Governor) about bills/proposed legislation during the Virginia General Assembly in 2018. Who are your representatives and how can you contact them? virginiageneralassembly.gov/ Join EV for “Equality in the Valley” on Dec. 12 in Staunton and Dec. 13 in Waynesboro. Every year, Equality Virginia monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBTQ community, helping to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Stay informed about legislation affecting our community, and voice your support or opposition to specific bills by joining EV’s email list for their monthly newsletter, action alerts, and events. You can sign up to receive information from EV here: www.equalityvirginia.org/resources/ �“EQUALITY IN THE VALLEY” Tuesday, Dec. 12, 6pm at Staunton Public Library (1 Churchville Road, Staunton, VA) and Wednesday, Dec. 13, 6pm at the Waynesboro Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (565 Pine Ave., Waynesboro, VA) hosted by Equality Virginia Join EV, your neighbors and friends who support equality for our communities to take action to pass nondiscrimination protections in Virginia’s General Assembly. The November elections provide an opportunity like we have never had to move equality forward. However, Delegate Dickie Bell, who represents Staunton and Waynesboro, stands in our way. Last year, only 8 of Delegate Bell’s constituents used EV’s action platform to let him know they support equality for LGBT Virginians. We need to change that, and with you, we can. The majority of Virginians support equality for our community. Staunton’s daily newspaper’s Editorial Board at The News Leader wrote “Virginia needs to catch up in guaranteeing LGBT rights” and called on local legislators to sign EV's nondiscrimination statement. www.newsleader.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/09/29/virginia-needs-catch-upguaranteeing-lgbt-rights/714246001/ Join us Dec. 12 in Staunton and Dec. 13 in Waynesboro Together we will call on Delegate Bell to sign the legislative office nondiscrimination statement and strategize on ways to bring more voices together. You know Staunton and Waynesboro better than we do and we need your help expanding our outreach and meeting folks in the community. Remember, when we are visible — we win! Together, we will seize this moment and win in 2018. Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives www.equalityvirginia.org ��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 Meeting Information : The location of Harrisonburg PFLAG meetings will be changing in the future; please visit www.pflagblueridge.org for current information Contact: Facilitator Mark at mitchmarke@aol.com or 540-405-1227 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 �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 March newsletter is Feb. 15 Shenandoah Valley Equality Needs YOU. 1. JOIN SVE (or renew) as a voting member (only $15/year). We rely on your support to cover administrative and event costs, such as our annual Shenandoah Valley Equality Forum. 2. CONNECT. SVE organizes the monthly SVE Friday potluck and Conversation & Cuisine dinner in the Valley (and join us for our new “Breakfast & Cuisine” event). 3. HOST SVE’s Friday Potluck (1st or 2nd Friday) at your home, workplace, house of worship, park... You provide space, plates, utensils, soft drinks, ice, & cups — guests bring the rest. 4. ADVERTISE in our newsletter. SUPPORT our advertisers with your business. 5. SHARE information with us about (non-commercial) events of particular relevance to our community and we will include them in our monthly e-calendar and newsletter free. 6. NOMINATE yourself to serve on SVE’s Board of Directors (nominations are due Dec. 1 every year). All nominees must be voting (Level I) members of SVE. 7. READ the newsletter and stay informed about local organizations and events that sup- Connect with Our Community Voting membership is $15 a year. Non-voting membership is FREE. You must be at least 18 to join. See page 13 for our membership form. �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 https://www.facebook.com/michellemarie51/ Equality Virginia www.equalityvirginia.org EMU Safe Space www.emu.edu/studentlife/clubs/safe-space/ JMU LGBTQ Employee Group www.jmu.edu/lgbtfacultystaff JMU LGBTQ & Ally Education Program www.jmu.edu/lgbta/ JMU Madison Caucus for Gender Equality www.jmu.edu/caucusgenderequality/ LGBT Democrats of Virginia lgbtvadem.org/ Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia logcabin.org/chapter/virginia-northern-virginia/ Madison Equality JMU www.facebook.com/madisonequality PFLAG Blue Ridge pflagblueridge.org and pflagbr@gmail.com Safe Zone JMU www.jmu.edu/safezone/ Shenandoah Valley Equality ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com & www.svgla.org Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance www.shenandoahvalleypride.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 www.vapartisans.org/ www.faith4equality.org/ Do you know of a local organization that should be listed here? Tell us. �EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach, & advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians. Did you know that... it is still legal to fire and not hire someone based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Virginia?  it is still legal to deny housing and public accommodations to people based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Virginia?  every year, Virginia lawmakers introduce several bills that could harm our communities?  every year, Virginia lawmakers introduce several bills that could help our communities?  Make Your Voice Heard on EV’s Day of Action and throughout the 2018 General Assembly session. Join folks from across Virginia for EV’s Day of Action at the Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad St. in Richmond, on Monday, February 5, 2018. Lobby your elected representatives for bills that will help improve the state of equality in Virginia, and participate in a day filled with networking and workshops. For the detailed event schedule and to register, go to http://www.equalityvirginia.org/dayofaction/ Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives www.equalityvirginia.org �We are a lay-led, religious community offering a unique spiritual and moral witness in the Shenandoah Valley. “Standing on the Side of Love” 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 March newsletter is February 15 �SVE’s Friday Potluck Every month, usually on either the First or the Second Friday, SVE organizes a potluck in the Valley (usually in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Staunton, or Augusta County) for the LGBTQA+ community. The event rotates to a different location each month and is scheduled to accommodate the volunteer host’s preference). Please bring a dish to share. No RSVP needed. 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 the potluck and other local SVE events, you can join as a non-voting member (for FREE) or as a voting member (for $15). See page 13 for details on how to join. �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Thurs., Dec. 7: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. For parents, family, friends, and all allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the JMU campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more info. contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org Tuesday, Dec. 12: Fundraiser supporting the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance (see pg. 3 for details)  Dec. 12 & Dec. 13 “Equality in the Valley,” 6:00 PM at the Staunton Public Library, 1 Churchville Ave. on Dec. 12 in Staunton and Wednesday, Dec. 13, 6pm at the Waynesboro Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (565 Pine Ave, Waynesboro). Sponsored by Equality Virginia. Join EV, your neighbors and friends who support equality for our communities to take ac tion to pass nondiscrimination protections in Virginia’s General Assembly. The November elections provide an opportunity like we have never had to move equality forward. Togeth er, we will seize this moment and win in 2018. Light refreshments will be provided.  Thursday, Dec. 14:  Saturday, Dec. 16: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at El Charro, 1580 S. Main St. in Harrisonburg. RSVP by the day before to lanedj@jmu.edu Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453  Thurs., January 4 Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org  Friday, January 12: SVE 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, join SVE (See page 12). Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Thursday, Jan. 18: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Dragon Palace, 129 South Carlton Street in Harrisonburg. RSVP by the day before to lanedj@jmu.edu Saturday, Jan. 20 Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM, At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact f facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453  Thurs., February 1: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org Volume 20, Issue 4, December 2017 Page 10 �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE  Friday, February 2: SVE 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, join SVE (See page 12).  Friday, February 2: Annual Charity Ball, sponsored by Madison Equality at JMU; see details on pg. 14 Monday, February 5: Equality Virginia Day of Action, See page 7 for details and contact information.  February 14  February 15:  Thursday, Feb. 15: Happy Valentine’s Day Saturday, Feb. 17 Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453 Saturday, Feb. 24 SVE’s Breakfast & Conversation, 8:00 AM At The Little Grill, 621 N. Main St. in Harrisonburg. Meet up with Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends for breakfast. RSVP by noon on the day before to lanedj@jmu.edu.   Saturday, April DEADLINE, SVE newsletter submissions to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Ruby Tuesday at 111 Burgess Rd. in Harrisonburg. RSVP by the day before to lanedj@jmu.edu 15th Annual Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner is EV’s signature event and the state’s largest black-tie gala gathering for the LGBT community and our supporters. Held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Reservation information will be available in January at www.equalityvirginia.org/dinner/  The Valley ConnectShen invites you to submit information about community resources and events for the calendar. This is a vital service; it helps to make our community stronger and improves the quality of life for individual members. Empower your community. Send information to us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Submit ads for the March issue (covering March, April, and May) by February 15 to Christine at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Submit items for the monthly SVE e-mail events schedule by the 25th of each month to David at lanedj@jmu.edu Volume 20, Issue 4, December 2017 Page 11 �"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 informal group where members get together or in smaller groups for meals, hiking movies, live performances, kayaking, and other events. Support our Advertisers, Empower your Community. SVE thanks businesses & organizations that advertise in our newsletter. If you would like to be on the e-mail list for events, send your name and e-mail address to Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com Contact VAN Main Phone: (540) 432-3308 Testing: (540) 432-3308 Español: (540) 908-1889 NEW LOCATION: 963 Reservoir Street, Second Floor, Harrisonburg Website: www.valleyaidsnetwork.org �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 LGBTQ-friendly organizations; to organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational networking with LGBTQ people; and to advocate for full LGBTQ equality, dignity, and inclusion in the Valley, state, and national communities. Level 1 Membership $15 per person (from July-July) Your support helps with administrative costs through the year. Members receive:  An e-mailed version of the newsletter and advance information about SVE events  A vote for members of the SVE Board of Directors (MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS DUE BY DECEMBER 1 TO VOTE FOR AND/OR SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS). Level 1 Membership: Please include a check for $15 for each person and 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: [Check Box] E-mail #2: I/we verify that I am/we are at least 18 years of age. Level 2 Membership— FREE Level 2 members receive an e-mailed version of the newsletter and advance information about all SVE events. To join as a non-voting member, email your first and last name and state that you are at least 18 years of age to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com �SAVE THE DATE: Madison Equality’s annual Charity Ball raises funds for local non-profits working to support the LGBTQ local community. WHEN: Friday, February 2, 2018 WHERE: Madison Union Ballroom (5th floor of Warren Hall), on campus at James Madison University ADMISSION: To be Decided DRESS: Casual or Semiformal 2018 DESIGNATED CHARITY: CONTACT: To be Decided www.facebook.com/madisonequality or madisonequality@gmail.org �What is SVE’s “Conversation & Cuisine”? Once a month, Shenandoah Valley Equality members (and friends) are invited to meet at a local restaurant in the Valley to share a meal together. Join SVE (see page 15 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: “To every person who’s ever been singled out, who’s ever been stigmatized, who’s ever been the misfit, who’s ever been the kid in the corner, who’s ever needed someone to stand up for them when they didn’t have a voice of their own, this one is for you.” —Danica Roem— Need Support? Trevor Crisis Intervention Line (LGBT+): www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7) Trans Lifeline: www.translifeline.org 1-877-565-8860 (staffed by trans* people for trans* people in crisis) I'm alive support chat: www.imalive.org Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741 National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 �People of Faith for Equality in Virginia is interested in finding or forming a network of faith-based social justice advocates, congregational representatives and clergy in the Shenandoah Valley. We need this group to be ready to provide supportive testimony,, letters, and your presence during the 2018 Virginia General Assembly session in January. Please contact Paula Prettyman, Director, POFEV at paula.prettyman@pofev.org or (703) 867-7560. POFEV is an interfaith network of clergy and lay people who have been working together since 2006 for equality for LGBT Virginians. Our mission is to:  Achieve equality for all Virginians regardless of sexuality, gender, and gender identity and expression  Insure all individuals and families are honored, and  Work together to create and sustain open and welcoming communities of faith To fulfill our mission, we:  Build and maintain an interfaith network of laypersons and clergy working for equality and inclusion of all LGBT Virginians in our social, political and religious life;  Challenge religiously-based intolerance by offering an alternative vision of what Virginia can be - “the beloved community” that includes and celebrates all and heals injuries based on sexuality, gender, gender identity and expression, and related forms of oppression;  Organize congregations, advocate for change, offer educational and devotional resources, sponsor workshops and forums, host interfaith worship services and other events, and maintain an active online presence to provide regular faithbased messaging for equality and justice. http://www.pofev.org/ �Vote for the 2018 SVE Board of Directors  Ballots for the 2018 SVE Board of Directors will be sent in the new year to Level I (voting) members who renewed their membership by December 1, 2017. Results will be announced at the Annual SVE Membership Meeting (which will coincide with February’s SVE Friday Potluck).  Thank you for supporting us!  �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection Description An account of the resource This collection contains materials produced by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association). Among other items is the organization's newsletter. Shenandoah Valley Equality is dedicated to building an inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded as the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association in 1995, it changed its name to Shenandoah Valley Equality in 2016. The organization regularly held events designed to build strong community including potlucks, breakfasts, and forums. It also published a regular newsletter and maintained a website with resources for the Valley community. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright Not Evaluated The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Shenandoah County Library. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Digital File, PDF Periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "The Valley ConnectShen," December 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Gays - Virginia Lesbians - Virginia Transgender people - Virginia Bisexuals - Virginia Sexual minority community Description An account of the resource December 2017 newsletter "The Valley ConnectShen" published by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital Folder: 2017, Newsletter Series, Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 2017 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context SVE.Newsletter.September.2017.pdf Volume 20, Issue 4, December 2017 LGBTQ Shenandoah Valley Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/f346c427aa65833298dd82e7531e82c4.pdf d5a6dc6ab3699e7e2f39417e4f2ae6aa PDF Text Text Volume 21, Issue 1, March 2018 Website: www.svgla.org TH E VALL EY C O N N EC TSH EN THE VALLEY CONNECTSHEN Mission Statement: The mission of Shenandoah Valley Equality is to build inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley. ———————– Community Events (inside)  Indigo Women’s Dance  SVE Friday Potlucks  Transgender Visibility Day Mail: P.O. Box 1023 Harrisonburg, VA 22803 NEW e-mail address: ShenandoahValleyEquality @gmail.com Federal Court rules Sexual Orientation Discrimination violates Civil Rights Act The Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled in February that the 1964 Civil Rights Act bans workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. The decision contrasts with the Trump administration, which argued against a gay employee. The Court ruled, “We now hold that sexual orientation discrimination constitutes a form of discrimination ‘because of . . . sex,’ in violation of Title VII,” overturning a lower court ruling. The decision could have nation-wide impact. The Supreme Court is the remaining appellate court. ———————– EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY! Join SVE (Membership Form pg. 13) ———————– “Valley Connectshen” is published quarterly (March, June, September, and December). ———————– Contact the editor, Christine, to advertise and/or submit event information: ShenandoahValleyEquality @gmail.com Meanwhile, in the 2018 General Assembly Session: No Legislative Gains or Losses Thus Far… For the first time in years, there were no anti-LGBT equality bills. However, despite increasing bipartisan support for some pro-equality bills in the Virginia Senate, most of these have been killed by committees in the House of Delegates. The session is winding down, but not yet over. Every year, Equality Virginia monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBT community. EV works to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Stay informed about legislation affecting our community by joining EV’s email list for their monthly newsletter, action alerts, and events. You can find details of all bills EV is following in 2018 at this link: www.equalityvirginia.org/equality-virginia-at-the-general-assembly/ �Canvas for the Cause: Transgender Visibility Day The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, 209 Monticello Rd., Charlottesville Contact: info@thebridgepai.org or (434) 984-5669 Join Planned Parenthood, Bridge PAI, and local artist Golara Haghtalab as we create a community canvas to raise awareness for Transgender Visibility Day. TDOV is a day to show your support for the trans community. It brings attention to the accomplishments of trans people around the globe while fighting cissexism and transphobia by spreading knowledge of the trans community. Trans activists Mia Mason and Donna Price will speak about why the day is important to them and how allies can stand with the trans community. We will then contribute to a community canvas, expressing through art why we stand with #TransThriving. All are welcome to contribute. Canvas and paint supplies will be provided. �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 Meeting Information : The location of Harrisonburg PFLAG meetings will be changing in the future; please visit www.pflagblueridge.org for current information Contact: Facilitator Mark at mitchmarke@aol.com or 540-405-1227 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 �Private party for women only. Must be 21 to enter. All women 21 and older welcome. �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 June newsletter is May 15 Shenandoah Valley Equality Needs YOU. 1. JOIN SVE (or renew) as a voting member (only $15/year). We rely on your support to cover administrative/event costs, such as our annual Shenandoah Valley Equality Forum. 2. CONNECT. SVE organizes the monthly SVE Friday potluck and Conversation & Cuisine dinner in the Valley (and join us for our new “Breakfast & Conversation” event). 3. HOST SVE’s Friday Potluck (1st or 2nd Friday) at your home, workplace, house of worship, park...You provide space, plates, utensils, soft drinks, ice, & cups — guests bring the rest. 4. ADVERTISE in our newsletter. SUPPORT our advertisers with your business. 5. SHARE information with us about (non-commercial) events of particular relevance to our community and we will include them in our monthly e-calendar and newsletter free. 6. NOMINATE yourself to serve on SVE’s Board of Directors (nominations are due Dec. 1 every year). All nominees must be voting (Level I) members of SVE. 7. READ the newsletter and stay informed about local organizations and events that sup- Connect with Our Community Voting membership is $15 a year. Non-voting membership is FREE. You must be at least 18 to join. See page 13 for our membership form. �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 https://www.facebook.com/michellemarie51/ Equality Virginia www.equalityvirginia.org EMU Safe Space www.emu.edu/studentlife/clubs/safe-space/ JMU LGBTQ Employee Group www.jmu.edu/lgbtfacultystaff JMU LGBTQ & Ally Education Program www.jmu.edu/lgbta/ JMU Madison Caucus for Gender Equality www.jmu.edu/caucusgenderequality/ LGBT Democrats of Virginia lgbtvadem.org/ Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia logcabin.org/chapter/virginia-northern-virginia/ Madison Equality JMU www.facebook.com/madisonequality PFLAG Blue Ridge pflagblueridge.org and pflagbr@gmail.com Safe Zone JMU www.jmu.edu/safezone/ Shenandoah Valley Equality ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com & www.svgla.org Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance www.shenandoahvalleypride.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 www.vapartisans.org/ www.faith4equality.org/ Do you know of a local organization that should be listed here? Tell us. �EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach, & advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians. EV’s 15th annual Commonwealth Dinner is the state’s largest black tie gathering for our community. Enjoy live entertainment, a silent auction, a dance, and network with others. At the dinner, EV also recognizes OUTstanding Virginians who have contributed to the equality movement and represented our community with distinction. We hope you can join us for this special event. For more information or to make reservations, go to: https://www.equalityvirginia.org/dinner2018/ Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives Find EV on the web at www.equalityvirginia.org �We are a lay-led, religious community offering a unique spiritual and moral witness in the Shenandoah Valley. “Standing on the Side of Love” 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 June newsletter is May 15 �SVE’s Friday Potluck Every month, usually on either the First or Second Friday, SVE organizes a potluck in the Valley (usually in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Staunton, or Augusta County) for the LGBTQA+ community. The event rotates to a different location each month and is scheduled to accommodate the volunteer host’s preference). Please bring a dish to share. No RSVP needed. Because the event is usually held in private homes or on private property, we email location information to SVE members ONLY and do not publicly share or post it through social media. To receive emails about the potluck and other local events, join as a non-voting member (for FREE) or as a voting member (for $15). See page 13 for membership information and pages 10-11 for events schedule. We need potluck hosts for September and October. Please let us know if you can host on the 1st or 2nd Friday of either month. �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Friday, March 9:  Saturday, March 10:  Thursday, March 22: SVE 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, join SVE (See page 13). Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453 Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Vito’s Italian Kitchen, 1047 Port Republic Rd. in Harrisonburg. RSVP by the day before to lanedj@jmu.edu  Thurs., April 5: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org  Friday, April 6: SVE 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, join SVE (See page 13).  Saturday, April 14: 15th Annual Equality Virginia Commonwealth Dinner is EV’s signature event and the state’s largest black-tie gala gathering for the LGBT community and our supporters. Held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Reservation information will be available in January at www.equalityvirginia.org/dinner/  Saturday, April 14: INDIGO Women’s Dance Party (Private party for women only). Upstairs at the Mill Street Grill in Staunton, 8PM, $15 Cover, Cash Bar, MUST BE 21 TO ENTER. For ques tions, contact indigoparty@hotmail.com Saturday, April 14: Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM, At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact f facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453 Thursday, April 19: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Wood Grill Bufffet, 1711 Reservoir St. in Harrisonburg. RSVP by the day before to lanedj@jmu.edu Thurs., May 3: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM at Blue Ridge Hall, Room 325, on the James Madison University campus, 601 University Blvd in Harrisonburg. For more information contact facilitator Mark at 540-405-1227 or mitchmarke@aol.com or go to www.pflagblueridge.org Volume 21, Issue 1, March 2018 Page 10 �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE  Friday, May 4: SVE 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, join SVE (See page 13).  Saturday, May 12: Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453  Tuesday, May 15:  Thursday, May 24:   May 25-28: Saturday, July 21: DEADLINE, SVE newsletter submissions to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Join SVE at Chili’s Grill &Bar at 1752 East Market St. in Harrisonburg. RSVP by the day before to lanedj@jmu.edu Virginia Women’s Music Festival. Held at Camp Out, a secluded natural getaway for women, located just off Interstate 64, in Kents Store, VA. Music, dancing, a 5k run, bon fires and more. Camping, cabin and RV spaces sell out early. Go to campoutva.com for details and ticket information. Note: The business office is not located at the campground. Shenandoah Valley Pride. 2:00-8:00PM, Court Square in Harrisonburg. Volunteers and Sponsors Needed. Contact ShenandoahValleyPride@gmail.com and visit www.shenandoahvalleypride.org. Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance. The Valley ConnectShen invites you to submit information about community resources and events for the calendar. This is a vital service; it helps to make our community stronger and improves the quality of life for individual members. Empower your community. Send information to us at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Send ads for the June issue (covering June, July, and August) by May 15 to Christine at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Send items for the monthly SVE e-mail events schedule by the 25th of each month to David at lanedj@jmu.edu We’re on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/60282410939/ Volume 21, Issue 1, March 2018 Page 11 �"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 informal group where members get together or in smaller groups for meals, hiking movies, live performances, kayaking, and other events. Support our Advertisers, Empower your Community. SVE thanks businesses & organizations that advertise in our newsletter. If you would like to be on the e-mail list for events, send your name and e-mail address to Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com Contact VAN Main Phone: (540) 432-3308 Testing: (540) 432-3308 Español: (540) 908-1889 NEW LOCATION: 963 Reservoir Street, Second Floor, Harrisonburg Website: www.valleyaidsnetwork.org �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 LGBTQ-friendly organizations; to organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational networking with LGBTQ people; and to advocate for full LGBTQ equality, dignity, and inclusion in the Valley, state, and national communities. Level 1 Membership $15 per person (from July-July) Your support helps with administrative costs through the year. Members receive:  An e-mailed version of the newsletter and advance information about SVE events  A vote for members of the SVE Board of Directors (MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS DUE BY DECEMBER 1 TO VOTE FOR AND/OR SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS). Level 1 Membership: Please include a check for $15 for each person and 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: [Check Box] E-mail #2: I/we verify that I am/we are at least 18 years of age. Level 2 Membership— FREE Level 2 members receive an e-mailed version of the newsletter and advance information about all SVE events. To join as a non-voting member, email your first and last name and state that you are at least 18 years of age to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com �What is SVE’s “Conversation & Cuisine”? Once a month, Shenandoah Valley Equality members (and friends) are invited to meet at a local restaurant in the Valley to share a meal together. Join SVE (see page 15 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: “If you wish to heal your sadness or anger, seek to heal the sadness or anger of others. They are looking to you for guidance, help, courage, strength, understanding, and for assurance. Most of all, they are looking to you for love.” —Ana Castillo— Need Support? Trevor Crisis Intervention Line (LGBT+): www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7) Trans Lifeline: www.translifeline.org 1-877-565-8860 (staffed by trans* people for trans* people in crisis) I'm alive support chat: www.imalive.org Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741 National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 �May 25-28 Held at Camp Out, a secluded natural getaway for women, located in Kents Store. Music, dancing, a 5k run, bonfires and more. Camping, cabin and RV spaces sell out early. 2018 MUSIC LINEUP Jamie Anderson • Crys Matthews • Mama's Black Sheep • Christine Havrilla • Someone's Sister • Kristen Ford • Sharon Katz & the Peace Train • Bele Bele Rhythm Collective • Wicked Jezabel • Sister Funk • Alma Hesson Indigie Femme • Christy Snow • One Third Wish • SONiA disappear fear See website for information about tickets, map, worker registration & vendor registration Group campsites are available for groups of 8 or more. Contact us via email or send in all tickets at the same time to reserve yours. Tent Rentals: Set up and take down provided by CampOut Staff. Sleeps up to 4 for $100 and includes 2 chairs at the site. Request a tent on the ticket order form at http://www.campoutva.com/music-festival.html Other items available for rent (applies to tent rental campers only): Hammock - $15 • Ice Chest - $5 � The 2018 SVE Board of Directors Eleanor Baker Aaron Hagmaier David Lane Grayson Sless Jackie Walker  Thank you for supporting us!  �SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, July 21, 2018 Shenandoah Valley Pride, 2-8pm Courthouse Square Harrisonburg, VA Volunteers & Sponsors Needed ShenandoahValleyPride@gmail.com www.ShenandoahValleyPride.org Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection Description An account of the resource This collection contains materials produced by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association). Among other items is the organization's newsletter. Shenandoah Valley Equality is dedicated to building an inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded as the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association in 1995, it changed its name to Shenandoah Valley Equality in 2016. The organization regularly held events designed to build strong community including potlucks, breakfasts, and forums. It also published a regular newsletter and maintained a website with resources for the Valley community. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright Not Evaluated The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Shenandoah County Library. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Digital File, PDF Periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "The Valley ConnectShen," March 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Gays - Virginia Lesbians - Virginia Transgender people - Virginia Bisexuals - Virginia Sexual minority community Description An account of the resource March 2018 newsletter "The Valley ConnectShen" published by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital Folder: 2018, Newsletter Series, Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context SVE.Newsletter.March.2018.pdf Volume 21, Issue 1, March 2018 LGBTQ Shenandoah Valley Virginia https://archives.countylib.org/files/original/afb8c1623178dcc687caaa47f854a077.pdf d0e44ea90ad8cf8d477357ac1acb0242 PDF Text Text Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2018 www.svgla.org TH E VALL EY C O N N EC TSH EN THE VALLEY CONNECTSHEN P.O. Box 1023 Harrisonburg, VA 22803 ShenandoahValleyEquality @gmail.com www.facebook.com/groups/60282410939/ Mission Statement: The mission of Shenandoah Valley Equality is to build inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley. Transgender Students Win in Two Federal Court Cases in Late May In late May, a federal judge in Virginia denied a motion by the Gloucester County (Virginia) School Board to dismiss ———————– Gavin Grimm’s lawsuit against it. Grimm is an 18-year-old Community Events (inside) transgender man who, while in high school, sued his district  TIES Pop-Up in Winchester for the right to use the boys’ bathroom. In 2014, in response  SVE Friday Potlucks to a complaint from parents, school officials prohibited  Pride Events in the Valley Grimm from using the boys’ bathroom and required him to ———————– use a unisex bathroom. The ruling means that Grimm’s lawEMPOWER YOUR suit may now proceed to a district court. COMMUNITY! Join SVE (Membership Form pg. 14) ———————– “Valley ConnectShen” is published quarterly (March, June, September, and December) Also in May, a federal appeals court (the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals) ruled in favor of the right of transgender students to use facilities that align with their gender identities. The court rejected a lawsuit brought by a non-transgender student and their parents in Boyertown, PA, who alleged that school policies allowing trans students to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identities infringe on their right to privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms. ———————– Contact the editor, Christine, to advertise and/or submit event information: ShenandoahValleyEquality @gmail.com Boyertown’s school district implemented a policy to comply with the Obama administration’s legal guidance which directed schools to allow students to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity. The Trump administration reversed that guidance in February 2017. �Transgender Information & Empowerment Summit Pop-Up in Winchester Virginia is a big state, and we know it’s not always convenient for folks to join Equality Virginia in Richmond for our annual TIES conference. That’s why EV is taking TIES on the road this summer to Norfolk, Roanoke, and Winchester. TIES Pop-ups will provide the best of what TIES has to offer, including:  trans-affirming mental health and medical consultations  a name and gender marker change clinic  employment readiness resources  how-to-tell-your-story advocacy workshops  tabling and community-building opportunities This event is FREE—REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: https://www.equalityvirginia.org/tiespopup/ Shenandoah University, 1460 University Drive, Winchester Saturday, July 14 from 4:00-9:00pm We hope to see you there! �SAVE THE DATE! Sponsors & Volunteers Needed Saturday, July 21, 2017 Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival 2-8pm, Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA Parking Park in the downtown parking lots on Water St., Wolf St., or the lot beside Turner Pavilion/Farmer’s Market. Sponsored by Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance http://www.shenandoahvalleypride.org/ shenandoahvalleypride@gmail.com �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 Meeting Information : The first Thursday of the month from 6:30-8:00PM at the Campbell Building (formerly Emergicare) in Room 1120, 755 Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway. 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 �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 EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY. 1. JOIN SVE (or renew) as a voting member (only $15/year). We rely on your support to cover administrative/event costs, such as our annual Shenandoah Valley Equality Forum. 2. CONNECT. SVE organizes a monthly Potluck and a “ Conversation & Cuisine” dinner at a local restaurant in the Valley. 3. HOST SVE’s Friday Potluck (1st or 2nd Friday) at your home, workplace, house of worship, park...You provide space, plates, utensils, soft drinks, ice, & cups — guests bring the rest. 4. ADVERTISE in our newsletter. SUPPORT our advertisers with your business and referrals. 5. SHARE information with SVE about (non-commercial) events of particular relevance to our community and we will include them in our monthly e-calendar and newsletter FREE. 6. NOMINATE yourself to serve on SVE’s Board of Directors (nominations due Dec. 1 every year). All nominees must be voting (Level I) members of SVE. 7. READ the newsletter and stay informed about organizations and events that support and empower our community. Connect with SVE Voting membership is $15 a year. Non-voting membership is FREE. You must be at least 18 to join. See page 14 for membership information. �Community Organizations Alliance for A Progressive Virginia apvonline.org 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 https://www.facebook.com/michellemarie51/ Equality Virginia www.equalityvirginia.org EMU Safe Space www.emu.edu/studentlife/clubs/safe-space/ JMU LGBTQ Employee Group www.jmu.edu/lgbtfacultystaff JMU LGBTQ & Ally Education Program www.jmu.edu/lgbta/ JMU Madison Caucus for Gender Equality www.jmu.edu/caucusgenderequality/ LGBT Democrats of Virginia lgbtvadem.org/ Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia http://www.logcabinrepublicansva.org/index.html Madison Equality JMU www.facebook.com/madisonequality PFLAG Blue Ridge pflagblueridge.org and pflagbr@gmail.com Safe Zone JMU www.jmu.edu/safezone/ Shenandoah Valley Equality www.svgla.org Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance www.shenandoahvalleypride.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 Department of Health—Transgender Health Services and Support www.vdh.virginia.gov/disease-prevention/diseaseprevention/transgender-health-services-support/ Virginia NOW http://vanow.org/ Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club People of Faith for Equality in Virginia www.vapartisans.org/ www.faith4equality.org/ Do you know of a local or state-wide organization that should be listed here? Tell us. �EV is Virginia’s state-wide, non-partisan education, outreach, & advocacy organization seeking equality for LGBT Virginians. ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE 2018 ELECTIONS? WILL YOU SUPPORT EQUALITY on November 6? Every year, EV monitors all legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s LGBTQ community, helping to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backwards. Stay informed about legislation affecting our community, and voice your support or opposition to specific bills by joining EV’s email list for their monthly newsletter, action alerts, and events: www.equalityvirginia.org/resources/ Equality Virginia: Changing Laws, Changing Lives www.equalityvirginia.org �How can you help EV’s work in Virginia?    Phone bank. Help us connect with more supporters of LGBT people. We’ll provide a quick and fun tutorial on phone banking before it happens – the best part is that you can do this from the comfort of your home. Donate to support our organizing efforts – even $5 goes a long way! Pledge to make your neighborhood more LGBT-inclusive. Here are two ways: Equality Means Business: EMB is an opportunity for locally-owned businesses to publicly state that they don’t discriminate against customers or employees who are gay or transgender. EMB members make a promise that their business is a safe and welcoming place for LGBT people to work and shop. Ask your favorite locally-owned business to join EMB. Here’s a link to the online membership form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexJZhNlh5yWN4DcCioa0r-fZG-t58BORTW4niPUKkpE6gj2w/view You can print and mail a PDF version of the form: virginiafairness.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Updated-EMB-Form-8-24-17.pdf To see who’s already a member, go to this link to view the directory: virginiafairness.org/equality-means-business-2/emb-online-directory/ Reach out to Local Leaders: These elected officials have signed EV’s statement supporting legislation and policies that include adding sexual orientation and gender identity in workplace, housing, and public accommodation policies: http://www.equalityvirginia.org/what-we-do/connecting-with-elected-officials/resources-for-connecting-with-localleaders/local-leaders-for-fairness/ You can ask any locally-elected official in your area to sign the statement of support http://www.equalityvirginia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Local-Leaders-for-Fairness-Statement-of-Support.pdf (Remember, this only applies to locally-elected leaders, not state-level representatives). �We are a lay-led, religious community offering a unique spiritual and moral witness in the Shenandoah Valley. “Standing on the Side of Love” 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 monthly Friday Potluck Every month, usually on the First or Second Friday, SVE organizes a potluck in the Valley (usually in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Staunton, or Augusta County) for the LGBTQA+ community. Volunteer members of SVE rotate hosting the event. Guests bring a dish to share. No RSVP needed. Because the event is usually held in private homes or on private property, we email location information to SVE members ONLY and do not publicly share or post this through social media. To receive emails about the potluck and other events, join as a non-voting member (for FREE) or as a voting member (for $15. See pg. 14 to join SVE and pgs. 11-12 for the schedule of events. Would you like to host the potluck in your home, workplace, house of worship, or other setting? Hosts provide paper plates, eating utensils, soft dr inks, & cups. Guests bring a dish to share (BYOB if you prefer wine or beer). Email David to volunteer to host: lanedj@jmu.edu �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Thurs., June 7: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM. At the Campbell Building in Room 1120 (formerly Emergicare), 755 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Harrisonburg. For more information, visit www.pflagblueridge.org/ or contact pflagbr@gmail.com. Friday, June 8: SVE 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, join SVE (See page 14). Saturday, June 9: Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453  Thursday, June 14: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. THIS DATE IS TENTATIVE; LOCATION TBA. Join SVE (see pg. 14) to receive updated event information.  Saturday June 23 Winchester Pride. Visit www.facebook.com/Winchester-Pride-882419518630234/ for details. Saturday, June 23 Lost River Pride (West Virginia). Visit www.facebook.com/events/357845618022356/ for details.  Thurs., July 5: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM. At the Campbell Building in Room 1120 (formerly Emergicare), 755 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Harrisonburg. For more information, visit www.pflagblueridge.org/ or contact pflagbr@gmail.com  Friday, July 13: SVE 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, join SVE (See page 14).  Saturday, July 14 : Transgender Information & Empowerment Summit Pop-Up in Winchester, 4:009:00pm at Shenandoah University in Winchester. (1460 University Drive) Join Equality Virginia for workshops, including: trans-affirming mental health and medical consultations, a name and gender marker change clinic, employment readiness resources, advocacy work shops, community-building and networking. This event is FREE, registration required. For more information, go to www.equalityvirginia.org/tiespopup/ Saturday, July 14: Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM, At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact f facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453  Friday, July 20: Miss Shenandoah Valley Pride Pageant., sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance. Visit www.facebook.com/events/582152972159383/ for details.  Saturday, July 21: Shenandoah Valley Pride. 2:00-8:00PM, Court Square in Harrisonburg. Volunteers and Sponsors Needed. Contact ShenandoahValleyPride@gmail.com and visit www.shenandoahvalleypride.org. Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance. Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2018 Page 11 �COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULE Thursday, July 26: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. THIS DATE IS TENTATIVE; LOCATION TBA. Join SVE (see pg. 14) to receive updated event information.  Thurs., Aug. 2: Harrisonburg PFLAG Support Group Meeting. Support Group for parents, family, friends, and allies of the LGBT community. 6:30-8:00 PM. At the Campbell Building in Room 1120 (formerly Emergicare), 755 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Harrisonburg. For more information, visit www.pflagblueridge.org/ or contact pflagbr@gmail.com   Friday, August 3: SVE 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, join SVE (See page 14). Saturday, Aug. 11: Charlottesville Trans Families Meeting, 5:30-7:00 PM At ASG, 315 Tenth St., NE, Charlottesville (at the corner of 10th and Jefferson). For more information, contact facilitator Karen by email at karenmeandering@gmail.com or by phone at 434-882-3453 Wed., August 15: SVE NEWSLETTER DEADLINE. We invite you to send information for our quarterly (September-November) issue of "The Valley ConnectShen" about local LGBTQA community organizations and free events and we'll include this information free. This is a vital service; it helps to make our community stronger and improves the quality of life for individual members. Send information to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com August 17-19 Annual Twin Oaks Women´s Gathering (Louisa, VA). The Gathering is a celebration of empowerment, healing and sisterhood. The weekend includes workshops, free time to net work, drum, dance, meditate, strategize, walk in the forest, and generally live it up with new and old friends. You can offer to lead morning yoga, set up a collaborative art project, host a spiritual retreat space, share a zine on political organizing-whatever you can imagine, you can create and share! Together, we refuel our collective spirit in preparation for the next task: changing the world. Cooperative childcare is available, and registration fees are on a sliding scale. Find out more, including how to register, at www.womensgathering.org Thursday, August 23: Conversation & Cuisine, 6:30-8:30pm. Once a month Shenandoah Valley Equality members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant. THIS DATE IS TENTATIVE; LOCATION TBA. Join SVE (see pg. 14) to receive updated event information.  Tuesday, Nov. 6 ELECTION DAY Send ads for the September issue (covering Sept., Oct., and Nov.) by August 15 to Christine at ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com Send items for the monthly SVE e-mail events schedule by the 25th of each month to David at lanedj@jmu.edu Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2018 Page 12 �"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 informal group where members get together or in smaller groups for meals, hiking movies, live performances, kayaking, and other events. Support our Advertisers, Empower your Community. SVE thanks businesses & organizations that advertise in our newsletter. If you would like to be on the e-mail list for events, send your name and e-mail address to Claire Hollady at clhollady@gmail.com Contact VAN Main Phone: (540) 432-3308 Testing: (540) 432-3308 Español: (540) 908-1889 LOCATION: 963 Reservoir Street, Second Floor, Harrisonburg www.valleyaidsnetwork.org �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 LGBTQ-friendly organizations; to organize events within the greater Valley area for social and educational networking with LGBTQ people; and to advocate for full LGBTQ equality, dignity, and inclusion in the Valley, state, and national communities. Level 1 (voting) Membership $15 per person (from July-July) Your support helps with administrative costs through the year. Members receive:  An e-mailed version of the newsletter and advance information about SVE events  A vote for members of the SVE Board of Directors (MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS DUE BY DECEMBER 1 TO VOTE FOR AND/OR SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS). Level 1 Membership: Please include a check for $15 for each person and 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: [Check Box] I/we verify that I am/we are at least 18 years of age. Level 2 (non-voting) Membership— FREE Level 2 members receive an e-mailed version of the newsletter and advance information about all SVE events. To join as a non-voting member, email your first and last name and state that you are at least 18 years of age to ShenandoahValleyEquality@gmail.com �What is SVE’s “Conversation & Cuisine”? Once a month, Shenandoah Valley Equality members (and friends) are invited to meet at a local restaurant in the Valley to share a meal together. Join SVE (see page 15 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: “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.— Need Support? Trevor Crisis Intervention Line (LGBT+): www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7) Trans Lifeline: www.translifeline.org 1-877-565-8860 (staffed by trans* people for trans* people in crisis) I'm alive support chat: www.imalive.org Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741 National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 � Thank you for supporting SVE. We rely on donations and dues-paying memberships to keep SVE operating. Renewal forms for current Level 1 (voting) SVE members will be mailed in early July. Renew by December 1 to vote for and/or nominate yourself to serve on the 2019 Shenandoah Valley Equality Board of Directors. If you are a non-voting member, we hope you will consider a voting membership or donation if you are able to contribute.  � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection Description An account of the resource This collection contains materials produced by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay & Lesbian Association). Among other items is the organization's newsletter. Shenandoah Valley Equality is dedicated to building an inclusive community for LGBTQ people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded as the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association in 1995, it changed its name to Shenandoah Valley Equality in 2016. The organization regularly held events designed to build strong community including potlucks, breakfasts, and forums. It also published a regular newsletter and maintained a website with resources for the Valley community. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright Not Evaluated The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Shenandoah County Library. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Digital File, PDF Periodical Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "The Valley ConnectShen," June 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual minorities Gays - Virginia Lesbians - Virginia Transgender people - Virginia Bisexuals - Virginia Sexual minority community Description An account of the resource June 2018 newsletter "The Valley ConnectShen" published by Shenandoah Valley Equality (formerly the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Association). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shenandoah Valley Equality Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital Folder: 2018, Newsletter Series, Shenandoah Valley Equality Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Shenandoah County Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context SVE.Newsletter.June.2018.pdf Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2018 LGBTQ Shenandoah Valley Virginia