Magnitude: LGBT

Saturday, November 27, 2010

World AIDS Day

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Started in 1988, World AIDS Day is essentially about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education about HIV/AIDS.

2010 Theme: Universal Access and Human Rights

Currently, there are 3.3 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2009, some 2.6 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2.6 million people became infected with the virus and an estimated 1.8 million people died from AIDS.

These statistics may be hard to swallow and may not mean much, despite the large numbers-- one way to think about the epidemic is by listening to stories. HIV/AIDS is not a crime or a punishment. HIV/AIDS is a serious, yet preventable disease. December 1 is a great day to tear down the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and learn the facts.

How can you help?

Learn the facts and spread the word. Tell people about what you know and break down people's stereotypes and negative stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS

Wear a red ribbon. The red ribbon is an international symbol for HIV/AIDS awareness that is worn by people to show care, concern and support for people with HIV/AIDS.

Attend events in Boston and other places in MA about World AIDS day. There's lots of opportunities to get tested, watch films, and get educated about HIV/AIDS all other Boston and MA on December 1.

If you are a Boston University student, support & sign up for Dance Marathon in the spring. (Check out their blog: http://budancemarathon.blogspot.com/) For the past eight years, Dance Marathon has been the largest annual fundraiser at BU. Dance Marathon is able to donate thousands of dollars each year to two organizations that assist children and their families who are combating pediatric HIV/AIDS and fund research efforts to find a cure! (I wish I could do this this year, but I will be in Sydney, Australia studying abroad. Dance for me!!)

Take AVERT (an international HIV and AIDS charity, based in the UK, working to avert HIV/AIDS worldwide, through education, treatment, & care) quizzes and games to test your knowledge about HIV/AIDS, sex, pregnancy & condoms.

This is an important day and it's important we all show our support. In what ways will you support people with HIV/AIDS?

Monday, October 18, 2010

Our Civil Rights Movement

The Women's Rights Movement.

The African-American Civil Rights Movement.

Wake up. Our Generation's Civil Rights Movement is here.

History has a way of repeating itself. Women and African-Americans, to just name two groups of people who experienced a huge struggle for their rights, fought for years and years for their basic rights-- like the right to vote or the right to sit where they wanted on the bus. America denied these groups of people their freedom, and yet again we see "the land of the free" denying the LGBT community their basic rights.

Recent news of the numerous gay teens committing suicide across the US should be a huge realization that America needs to get a grip and realize what message they are sending by not treating the LGBT community as equals. Comedian Sarah Silverman, in her all of 28 second video reaction to the gay suicides, could not have summed up better exactly how I've felt about this issue.

As Silverman states, Why are we so shocked? As a general population, we send the message that being gay is not okay. We deny the LGBT community the right to marry the person they love and the right to serve in the military as an openly homosexual person. Phrases in conversations such as "that's so gay" and "no homo" are common and rampant. Young kids feed off these messages they hear on the news, through the media, from their parents, through adults and other kids and begin to view kids who identify with the LGBT community as different, fueling bullying. It was the bullying, the name calling, and the being looked at as an outsider that led most of the recent teens to take their lives.

So, what can we do to change this cycle? One easy way to show your support of the LGBT community is to wear purple on Wed, October 20, 2010. Purple represents spirit on the LGBT flag, and that's exactly the message we want to send: spirit and support.

Another way, is to volunteer, donate or just learn more about the following local organizations that provide support for young members of the LGBT community:

BAGLY, or Boston Alliance of Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth, a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs, policies, and services for GLBT youth 22 and under.

The Home for Little Wanderers' Waltham House group home program designed to provide a safe and supportive living environment for up to 12 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) youth ages 14-18. The program also serves youth who may be questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Many young people have previously experienced difficulty (at home or in placement) due to their gender expression or sexuality identities. Waltham House offers residents a safe environment to live while they prepare for family reunification, independent living and future self-sufficiency.

Great Boston PFLAG, or Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays works to create environments of understanding so that all people can live with dignity and respect through support: to cope with an adverse society, education: to enlighten the public, and advocacy: to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

I end today's blog posting with faces and links to stories of some of the tragic young gay suicides that have happened in recent months. I know in our lifetime, the LGBT community, will have equal rights-- even if it is a long struggle.