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Rainbow Glitter Kids at the 2024 Rainbow Conference

RAINBOW GLITTER KIDS

Shine Bright: How to Be an Affirming Parent

by Rainbow Glitter Kids Planning Committee

Raising a child is a journey filled with countless questions, deep joy, and unexpected twists. What if the most important gift we could give our children wasn’t the right school or the latest gadget, but the unwavering affirmation of their true selves? Imagine a future where every child knows they are valued and loved for exactly who they are.

Children blossom when they feel supported and accepted. Affirming parents and guardians play a pivotal role in nurturing their children’s self-esteem and sense of belonging, providing a safe space for children to express their true selves without fear of judgment. Being an affirming parent means listening with an open heart, embracing your child’s uniqueness, and standing by their side with unwavering support. This unconditional acceptance helps children build a positive self-image and fosters resilience.

Teaching children about acceptance and kindness from a young age fosters a culture of understanding and respect, benefiting everyone by reducing discrimination and promoting social harmony. Inclusive communities are stronger and more resilient, leveraging the strengths and perspectives of all their members.

Research from the Family Acceptance Project® highlights that families play a critical role in both risk and well-being for LGBTQ+ young people. LGBTQ+ children often face unique challenges from society such as discrimination, bullying, and a lack of acceptance, impacting their mental health. Studies show that due to this discrimination, LGBTQ+ youth are at a higher risk for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to their heterosexual peers. However, when these children are supported and affirmed, their mental health is protected and their outcomes improve significantly. Children who feel supported and affirmed by their parents are more likely to thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.  For LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse children, having affirming parents can be life-saving.

Every child deserves to feel proud of who they are. Affirmation helps children develop a positive self-identity, strong self-esteem, and to grow into healthy adults, navigating life with greater confidence and resilience.

Supporting and caring for LGBTQ+ childrennot only enriches their lives but also builds a more compassionate, equitable, and understanding society. Communities flourish when diversity is embraced, inclusion is prioritized, and individual identities are celebrated.

Rainbow Glitter Kids celebrates individuality and creativity, ensuring every child’s unique spirit and gifts are not just accepted but celebrated. Our upcoming Rainbow Glitter Kids event, designed for elementary school students and their families, aims to create a supportive network by fostering relationships and building community in our own backyard. It’s more than just a fun event; it’s a vital opportunity to affirm and support our children on their journey of self-discovery, acceptance, celebration, and to connect with families on a similar journey.

When was the last time you saw your child truly shine—not just a fleeting glow of happiness, but a deep, radiant light from being wholly and authentically loved? This kind of shine is the cornerstone of Rainbow Glitter Kids! In a world that often tries to tell us who we are or should be, it’s vital to encourage our children to shine with their own true colors.

Rainbow Glitter Kids is a community of loving and affirming parents and their children. Our day-long event is filled with play, connection, and discovery in an environment brimming with community, joy, and acceptance. We offer a variety of activities for both children and parents, including interactive playshops, storytelling sessions, and art projects that encourage self-expression and connection.

Parents will be invited to share experiences advocating for their child at school and to practice self care to stay resilient themselves. We understand that parenting a child exploring their identity can come with unique challenges, and having a community to lean on, learn from, and find solutions together can make a world of difference.

Join us to connect with like-minded families, share experiences, and build lasting friendships!

Learn more about Rainbow Glitter Kids at SafeSchoolsProject.org/glitter/

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Federal Pardon to LGBTQ+ Veterans

News Release

Date: July 9, 2024

Contact: Adam Spickler

Adam.Spickler@santacruzcountyca.gov | (831) 588-0692

FEDERAL PARDON TO LGBTQ+ VETERANS CONVICTED UNDER FORMER ARTICLE 125

Santa Cruz Veterans Service Office Can Help With Petitions, Benefits

On June 26, 2024, President Biden issued a pardon to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and

questioning (LGBTQ+) military service members who were forced out of the military and subject

to a court-martial because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. While the federal

government had already acted in 2014 to repeal Article 125, the Uniform Code of Military Justice

article that criminalized certain acts of homosexuality, this new presidential pardon allows those

veterans who were convicted under Article 125 prior to 2014 to apply for a certificate of pardon.

“Making sure all former service members, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender

identity, can access the benefits and services earned and afforded them through their military

services is our priority,” says Dean Kaufman, Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for the County of

Santa Cruz Human Services Department. “This pardon makes it easier for us to do our job locally

supporting LGBTQ+ former service members, and we feel confident that we can successfully

assist anyone needing our help moving forward.”

Those LGBTQ+ former military members affected by the pardon may seek assistance from the

County’s VSO for support applying for a certificate of pardon, which serves as the documented

proof that their conviction has been erased. The local VSO can also support pardoned veterans

to apply for an upgrade of military discharge, as well as to recover lost pay and benefits.

One such benefit critical to veterans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is

access to health benefits and medical services, including mental health support. “The timing of

this news couldn’t be better,” says Kaufman, who wants to make sure local LGBTQ+ veterans

become aware of an LGBTQ+ Veteran Mental Health Webinar hosted virtually by the Minority

and Underrepresented Veterans Division of the California Department of Veterans Affairs

(CalVet) on July 10. The webinar will cover mental health during active duty, ongoing struggles

after transitioning to civilian life, and available support services for LGBTQ+ veterans' well-being.

“Our hope is the news of this presidential pardon not only helps LGBTQ+ veterans reach out for

support if needed to apply for a pardon, but that it also motivates them to get engaged with

webinar opportunities like this.”

If you need assistance of any kind as a former service member of any identity, you can reach

out to the County’s Veterans Service Office for support:

https://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/AdultLongTermCare/VeteransServices/ContactUs

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Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil

By Jessica A. York

jyork@santacruzsentinel.com

SANTA CRUZ >>

Months ago, when Maddox Flagg started planning Monday night’s solemn vigil, he knew that he was organizing an event honoring people who were yet to die.

“That’s a hard realization to have,” Flagg told an audience of more than 60 attendees with battery-powered candles and small rainbow flags in hand at the Resource Center for Nonviolence.

Flagg, a UC Santa Cruz intern working with the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz, was among those who helped organize the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, providing a safe place to gather and honor dead transgender and nonbinary people. In 2023 alone, there were 26 known trans people killed in the United States through violence, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s “An Epidemic of Violence 2023” publication. An additional seven people died between last year’s day of remembrance and the end of 2022. The agency estimates those numbers as just a starting tally, as they said such deaths go unreported — or are misreported.

In their opening remarks, Flagg described the widely publicized and nationally discussed homicide of gay college student Matthew Shepard in 1999. Just two months later, when Boston resident Rita Hester was killed, stabbed 20 times in the chest, her murder went mostly unnoticed and ultimately unsolved, Flagg said. Friends gathering a year later to honor her memory created the first Transgender Day of Remembrance.

“At some point in the next two and a half hours, you will feel grief and pain and sadness and anger and I urge you to embrace those feelings. Feel them, sit with them, welcome them. This is a safe place for those emotions,” Flagg said.

Later, event speaker Sean Rodriguez, his voice cracking with emotion, urged the audience to speak up on transgender issues, “so our children’s children can have an easier go at it.”

“Be a voice for somebody. Be a shoulder for somebody. Hold somebody, lift them up,” Rodriguez said. “Keep showing up, because sometimes that is the hardest thing to do.”

Paraphrasing a quote borrowed from the film “Independence Day,” speaker Selina De Vestige told the audience, “We’re fighting for our right to live. To exist.”

“Life is precious and it has been taken by so many that want us eradicated from their distorted view of the world,” De Vestige said. “My heart breaks for the beautiful souls that have departed from our lives. The injustice that has been done will never fade from our memory. It is our honor and duty to make sure that they are remembered and to make sure we also look after each other.”

The evening’s ceremony also was attended by state Sen. John Laird and Santa Cruz City Councilmember Sonja Brunner. Laird shared some information on his work in the state Legislature, particularly as a member of its LGBT caucus whose members were working “day-in and day-out to make sure you are not standing alone.” Laird also told of work to ensure the failure of three separate bills attempting to codify a requirement that parental consent was needed prior to their children obtaining reproductive services.

“We, as an LGBT caucus, are doing polling to try to figure out what the right messaging is for us to successfully stand with trans people across the state in this onslaught,” Laird said.

Speaker Zak Keith, a Diversity Center program coordinator, said it meant a lot, as a trans person, to live in a state where “we can really celebrate and be our authentic self.”

“And to feel, where it’s not just a hardship or a barrier, it’s not just a box that I have to check off on a form,” Keith said. “This is our lives and experiences and we get to honor not only our current selves, but we get to honor those that have paved the way, and walked with us, hand-in-hand, though we may not have been able to see them, we can feel them tonight.”

For more information on the Diversity Center, visit diversitycenter.org, or partner Resource Center for Nonviolence at rcnv.org.

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U.S. Supreme Court Ruling June 30, 2023

When a business opens its doors to the public, it should be open to everyone, period. The U.S. Supreme Court on June 30, 2023, issued a ruling granting a narrow exemption from nondiscrimination law to a Colorado website design business allowing them to deny services to same-sex couples. Denying service to anyone because of who they are and who they love is abhorrent. As a nation we continue to wrestle with historic and current dynamics of systemic oppression and violent discrimination. We must actively reject the false notion that the marginalization of LGBTQIA2S+ people is constitutionally permissible. 

Transfamilies of Santa Cruz County, Pajaro Valley Pride, The Diversity Center, The Lionel Cantú Queer Resource Center, Santa Cruz Pride and Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County would like to continue to establish partnerships with local businesses, organizations and educational institutions that are committed to inclusivity and non-discrimination. We are committed to collaborating to develop community events, best practices, policies, and training programs that openly support LGBTQIA2S+ rights. Let us work together to ensure equality and equity for all.

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Petition for a Santa Cruz AIDS Memorial

The early years of the AIDS epidemic were marked by fear, stigma, and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. However, the response in Santa Cruz was extraordinary. This was the moment when the barriers of mistrust, that had separated gay men from lesbians, fell. This was when the Santa Cruz queer community and our allies came together.

Sign today! Petition to the Santa Cruz City Council for an AIDS Memorial in San Lorenzo Park

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Meggie Pina at MTLC on Juneteenth

On Juneteenth, June 19, 2023, The Diversity Center Manager of Programs and Impact Meggie Pina gave the following address at the March Towards Love & Courage, to the people gathered at Santa Cruz City Hall:

Love as a Practice of Freedom

Bell Hooks writes, "The moment we choose to love, we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love, we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom."

Love is not just a passive emotion but a radical force that compels us to take action and work towards liberation for ourselves and others. To fully love ourselves is an act of freedom! 

Thank you, Thairie Ritchie, for inviting the LGBTQ+ community to join the March Towards Love and Courage. I am grateful for your leadership and vision! 

My name is Meggie Pina, I am a bisexual chicana, artist, advocate and community organizer. I am passionate about centering and elevating the voices of BIPOC and Queer people. I am the Manager of Programs and Impact at The Diversity Center. 

The Diversity Center in Midtown Santa Cruz is a LGBTQ+ community space, offering support groups, workshops, social events, and LGBTQ+ cultural awareness training. With 34 years of history, we are dedicated to uplifting the LGBTQ+ community.  If you face adversity regarding your gender, identity, or sexuality, seek support. Don't bear the weight alone. The Diversity Center provides free mental health counseling to LGBTQ+ community members. Our mission is to inspire and support every member of the LGBTQ+ community by creating a culture of well-being.

We recognize the historical connections between the civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter, and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. We actively listen, learn, and reflect on our power and privilege. To explore LGBTQ+ history requires we acknowledge and pay homage to the significant contributions of Black Queer Activists. Despite their generosity, they face ongoing discrimination within their communities.

The LGBTQ+ community is intersectional, including diverse ages, races, ethnicities, and religions. We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, combating discrimination and oppression while challenging white supremacy. We hold a shared belief that all forms of violence - whether physical, emotional, or psychological - are unacceptable and must be stopped.  

As we gather to celebrate Juneteenth and honor the 3 year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder I would like to send love and strength to his family especially his daughter Gianna and her mother Roxie. May they know that we honor Geroge’s memory today and through our activism. 

Dehumanizing rhetoric toward underrepresented communities has real-life consequences. I ask that we also remember the 32 transgender and gender-nonconforming people killed in the United States last year. Trans women are disproportionately targeted. Transgender people of color account for 81 percent of lives taken, and 59 percent of those killed were Black.

The fight for Black Lives and LGBTQ+ rights remains urgent. On June 6th The Human Rights Campaign Officially Declared ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans. 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been signed into law this year alone, more than doubling last year’s number.These bills have attacked transgender people’s right to health care, right to exist in public, and right to live openly, right to express themselves in Drag, on stage, and with a microphone. The ultimate goal is to erase trans lives and experiences. 

Political participation is vital for our liberation. We must vote and attend school board meetings to ensure policies address community needs. Teachers must speak up against racist, homophobic, and transphobic slurs, protecting youth. We want every student in Santa Cruz County to have access to a gender neutral bathroom, now. Two thirds of transgender and gender-nonconforming students will avoid school bathrooms all together out of fear of both verbal and physical harassment. There are many ways to support the community through advocacy, education, and volunteerism. Pajaro Valley Pride will take place on August 20th in Watsonville! If you are a parent looking for support, reach out to Transfamilies of Santa Cruz.   

Being anti-racist means learning how to speak up when people are contributing to a culture of prejudice and oppression or causing harm to others. Being an ally means tapping into unconditional love and using our power and privilege to help support people who are facing oppressions that we may not experience myself. As an ally, I commit to speaking up when I hear and see ableism, ageism, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, biphobia. 

My purpose here is to unite with allies and BIPOC Queer community members, creating a vibrant hub at the Diversity Center. With your support, we can mobilize, celebrate, learn, and build meaningful connections. The Diversity Center is available if you want to host an event or workshop. Please reach out. I want to collaborate with you. 

Liberation looks like a society where we can experience safety and security while we fully express our identities. Where we are free to love and live without fear of discrimination, violence, or oppression. Fostering inclusive interactions means honoring people’s pronouns and validating gender diversity. 

I urge each of you to stand up as advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. We need your support, understanding, and love. Let us stand in solidarity with transgender individuals, advocating for their rights and dignity. Educate yourself, challenge stereotypes, and create spaces of inclusion and affirmation in your heart, home, churches, schools and workplaces.

Are you a member of the BIPOC Queer community? Your story holds power. Become a Triangle Speaker and raise awareness and foster understanding for the LGBTQ+ community.  Black Lives Matter, we value your experiences. We are looking for the next generation of Triangle Speakers who will use storytelling to dismantle prejudice and discrimination.  Your voice matters in the fight for justice and equality. The Diversity Center will be providing comprehensive training sessions in July and August that will encourage you to speak your truth and inspire change. Please visit our website or information table to learn more about becoming a Triangle Speaker.Together, we can dismantle barriers and foster a world where black, queer and trans people are celebrated and respected. Let us create a society where all can thrive authentically and unapologetically.

We March Toward Love and Courage, united in our determination. The struggle for Black Lives Matter intertwines with LGBTQ+ rights. Let love guide us and courage be our compass. Let’s Celebrate our diversity, choose love over division, and build an inclusive and compassionate community. Let your voice pave the way for a brighter future.

Resources and Links

HRC: For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans

HRC: 2021 Becomes Deadliest Year on Record for Transgender and Non-Binary People

HRC’s “Activate and Elevate” Skill-Building Fellowship Program

PBS: At Least 32 Transgender People Were Killed in the US in 2022

OutVoices: How Black LGBTQ+ Activism Shapes Black History

Lambda Legal: What Black Queer Liberation Means This Juneteenth

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We Will Not Forget

We will not forget.

On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed and 53 were wounded at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in the deadliest act of violence against LGBTQ+ people in the history of the United States. Today we remember and honor the dead, their families and friends, and all those affected by this horrible tragedy.

This seven-year anniversary is a stark reminder of the ongoing discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people, that sadly happened again with the Club Q mass shooting in November 2022, and continues with the spread of anti-trans bills in legislatures across the US. In the past three years almost 1000 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced by radical right-wing US politicians, almost 500 in the first half of 2023 alone. These attempts at restricting rights and legislating hate are definitely related to the high rate of violence experienced by trans youth, trans women, and LGBTQ+ people every day.

LGBTQ+ people deserve safety, respect, and equality. As a community, let us continue to work together against hatred and discrimination in all its forms, towards a world where inclusivity, acceptance, and equity are the norm. We can do this by living our lives proudly, gaining strength by coming together and caring for each other, and striving to inspire and support every member of the LGBTQ+ community.

We will not forget. We will not disappear.

Resources:
- Lambda Legal advocates for the legal rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and those living with HIV. They provide resources, legal support, and advocacy efforts towards equal rights: lambdalegal.org
- The National Center for Transgender Equality is dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people in the United States. They provide resources, policy updates, and tools for trans individuals and allies: transequality.org
- The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth. They offer a 24/7 helpline, online chat, and resources for LGBTQ+ individuals in crisis: thetrevorproject.org

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Respect for Marriage Act

Today President Biden signed into law a bipartisan bill that will codify same-sex and interracial marriages across the nation. He hosted a large celebration at the White House that included many LGBTQ+ community center leaders.

The Respect for Marriage Act is an important bipartisan law that does two primary things. First, it repeals DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) and gets that anti-marriage federal law off the books. It requires the federal government to recognize a marriage between two individuals if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed. Second, the law guarantees that valid marriages between two individuals are given full faith and credit, regardless of the couple’s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. The law will not require a state to issue a marriage license contrary to state law.

Passing the Respect for Marriage Act is an important step to protect LGBTQ+ couples and ensure the dignity, stability and ongoing protection that marriage affords to families and children. Like the freedom to marry, a majority of Americans support measures that protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in all aspects of daily life.


[Graphic reposted from #respectformarriageact on instagram.]

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Club Q

We were awakened this morning to news of a mass shooting, with multiple fatalities, at an LGBTQ+ club.

Again.

This time it was in Colorado Springs, CO, at Club Q. Five human lives ended forever. Eighteen more human lives were wounded. Countless more human lives were plunged into grief and disbelief.

Again.

Our hearts, broken as they are, go out to the victims' families and friends, as well as to the greater LGBTQ+ community in Colorado Springs.

Club Q had a reputation as a safe space. Tragically, that was not the case.

Violence against any of us, anywhere, is violence against all of us, everywhere. No space is safe until there's no longer a need for safe spaces. We must double down in our efforts to educate, organize and support our communities and, above all, share the love - not just because those who oppose us have also doubled down in recent months and years, but because it's why we're here, and it's the right thing to do.

Again, and always.

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Midtown Vax Clinic 11/9/22

Vaccine Clinic at The Diversity Center November 9

Walk-ins welcome for all vaccines!

Santa Cruz County Public Health will be offering Monkeypox (MPX), Flu, and updated COVID-19 booster shots at The Diversity Center on Wednesday, November 9 from 3-6pm.

Date: Wednesday November 9

Time: 3pm-6pm

Location: 1117 Soquel Ave., inside The Diversity Center

Pre-registration for updated Covid-19 boosters and Flu vaccines for ages 5+ at: bit.ly/3NqYPam


Eligible individuals may pre-register for JYNNEOS appointments (first or second doses) at: bit.ly/3WhPvJE

Eligibility for Monkeypox (MPX) JYNNEOS vaccine:

- Gay or bisexual men, or any man or trans person who has sex with men or trans people

- Sex workers of any sexual orientation or gender identity

- Persons of any age or gender who feel they are at risk of coming in close contact with someone with MPX in the future

- Persons who had close contact with others at an event, venue, or social group within the past 14 days where there was a suspected or confirmed MPX case

- Laboratory workers or clinicians who have occupational exposure to MPX

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Midtown Friday Party 10/7

Join Santa Cruz Pride and The Diversity Center for LGBTQ+ History Month!

Friday October 7

  • 10am - LGBTQ+ Posters unveiling and reception (with cake!), outside next to The Diversity Center

  • 4-8pm - MPX, Covid and Flu Vaccine Clinic, 1117 Soquel, inside The Diversity Center

  • 4-8pm - SC Pride Midtown: booths, food, and entertainment! Outside next to TDC

Saturday October 8

Sunday October 9

  • 2:30-4:30 - LGBTQ+ Film Shorts at the SC Film Festival, Vets Hall. For details and free tickets: santacruzpride.org

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Information about Monkeypox

Vaccine Clinic at The Diversity Center October 7

Santa Cruz County Public Health is hosting a vaccine clinic on October 7, in partnership with the Diversity Center and Santa Cruz Pride, offering Monkeypox (MPX), Flu, and updated COVID-19 booster shots.

Pre-register for JYNNEOS appointments at https://bit.ly/3LAyRjH.

Walk-ins welcome for all vaccines and the Flu shot!

Date: Friday October 7

Time: 4pm-8pm

Location: 1117 Soquel Ave., inside The Diversity Center

Updated eligibility for Monkeypox (MPX) JYNNEOS vaccine:

-NEW! All men or trans people who have sex with men or trans people, including gay or bisexual men

-Sex workers or anyone who engages in transactional or survival sex

-Individuals who had direct physical contact with someone with MPX

-Individuals who attended an event/venue where a person with MPX had direct physical contact with other people there

Monkeypox/MPX Town Hall Recording Available

You may now view the recording of the town hall hosted by Santa Cruz Public Health on August 11:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOObxBrJ5NU

Monkeypox/MPX Vaccination Clinic

Sunday, August 21, 11am - 3pm

Pajaro Valley Pride Festival
YWCA Community Home, 340 East Beach St., Watsonville

Free, regardless of immigration or insurance status. No appointment needed for your first dose. A guardian must be present if you're under 18.

Clínica de Vacunación contra la Viruela del Mono

domingo, 21 de agosto, 11am - 3pm

Pajaro Valley Pride Festival
YWCA Community Home, 340 East Beach St., Watsonville

Gratis, sin importar el estado migratorio o seguro médico. Primera dosis no necesita cita previa. El tutor debe estar presente para menores de 18 años.

Monkeypox Town Hall August 11 at 6pm

Santa Cruz County Public Health is hosting this town hall to encourage an open discussion and share information. The flyers are below. Everyone is welcome!

Thursday, August 11, 2022, 6-7pm

Join us on Microsoft Teams: https://bit.ly/3A0iyIJ

Anyone can be infected with Monkeypox. And, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) would like to invite Community Based Organizations (CBOs) serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Californians, local health department sexual health programs, and community advocates to participate in a briefing about monkeypox in California. CDPH has been preparing, tracking, and responding to monkeypox cases reported in California.

Although anyone can be infected by monkeypox, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, or community affiliation, there have been infections diagnosed in gay and bisexual men, transgender men and women, and non-binary and other queer people across the United States. CDPH wants to ensure that organizations have the information and tools to support LGBTQ+ communities.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Aug 2, 2022, 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Topic: Monkeypox LGBTQ Community Stakeholder Meeting

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cF81KL--RTyPnm6pGdf5tg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

This webinar will be recorded and available on the CDPH website shortly thereafter.

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The Supreme Court Ruling

A Statement from our Executive Director, Cheryl Fraenzl

Dear Community,

We should all be able to make the personal health care decisions that impact our lives, health, and futures. But today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a shattering blow to the right to access abortion in the U.S., leaving even more people struggling to access the essential health care they need. Never before has this Court rolled back a right the American people have relied on for half a century.

The Court’s opinion is impactful in the worst way possible. The repercussions will be deadly. Pregnant people will be forced to carry pregnancies against their will, risking their health and their lives. Nearly half of the women of reproductive age in the United States, and more people who can become pregnant, live in the 26 states that will likely move to ban abortion, meaning more than 36 million people will feel the effects of this decision.

The effects will also be disproportionate, felt most acutely by Black, Latino, and Indigenous people, immigrants, people living with low incomes, and people in rural areas — communities that historically already face barriers to abortion access due to systemic racism and discrimination.

Reproductive rights are LGBTQ+ rights. This decision will have devastating consequences for LGBTQ+ people – including queer people, non-binary people, and transgender men, who all need safe access to reproductive care.

Abortion access is just one of several fundamental rights currently under attack, including our right to privacy and body autonomy guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, intertwined with our right to liberty in which Roe v. Wade was grounded. It raises concerns about the Court’s ability to dismantle other rights related to LGBTQ+ families, because this is also the Amendment upon which the rights gained by LGBTQ+ people rest, including the right to marry.

“The court’s opinion is appalling and unprecedented and is a dangerous assault to not only the right to terminate a pregnancy, but also to other constitutional rights involving privacy, liberty, and autonomy, ” said CenterLink CEO Denise Spivak. “At a time when there are hundreds of pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation that have been introduced, or in some cases passed, in states across the country, we need to ensure that every person has access to the care they need, and the power to control their own body and life. We as a nation, and as human beings, deserve judges and elected officials - at all levels of government - who believe that as well.”

Decades of attacks have left abortion rights in the U.S hanging by a thread.  Today that thread was cut, but we are not defeated. We will keep working until every person, no matter where they live, how much money they make, or what they look like, has the freedom to make their own decisions about their lives and futures.



In community,

Cheryl Fraenzl

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Sharing an exciting update

A Letter From Our Executive Director, Cheryl Fraenzl

Dear Community,

As we come out of the deepest part of COVID and emerge into the next phase of life, so too is The Diversity Center! After taking the last six months to do some internal review, asking questions, and evaluating opportunities, the leadership of The Diversity Center is pleased to communicate over the coming weeks some exciting news and continuous evolution.


We’re slowly opening our in person programs once again! We are building a calendar of activities to offer the community. Every Saturday we’ll be hosting a youth day, and every Monday will be dedicated to seniors, including yoga, snacks, and community chat. Peer-led support groups are invited to do in-person meetings, while senior socials will also have the opportunity to meet at TDC if they desire. This is just the beginning as we have big plans for what is possible in this space. We’ll be adding more and more to our calendar of events and meeting the needs of a broader range of individuals, so please keep an eye on our website and newsletter for updates.


TDC will also be polishing itself up! After purchasing the building, there was a lot of work to be done to rehabilitate it. The walls have been painted, the roof sealed, new flooring has been laid and the backyard has been turned into a mini sanctuary thanks to the efforts of many volunteers. Soon you’ll be able to spend time comfortably hanging out at TDC. Meanwhile, we’re busy making plans to finish the internal design and decor and with the help of the City of Santa Cruz we’ll be redoing the facade in the next month. With luck and a grant, our parking lot wall will have a beautiful new mural that is being imagined as you read this.


This communication is the first in a series to kick off the beginning of an exciting new chapter for TDC and as we gather more feedback, you’ll see other community initiated possibilities unfold in the next months such as rebuilding staff and announcing new positions in development, community engagement and programming. We will also open the center to community organizations and invite collaborators to consider a satellite office at TDC and/or host meetings, activities, and events. And much more! The Diversity Center is in deeply inspiring discussions, has big vision, and we are seeking new and creative ways to serve the LGBTQ+ community. Stay tuned as things unfold.



In community,

Cheryl Fraenzl, Executive Director

TDC Staff and Board Leadership

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Our next phase, together.

A Letter From Our Executive Director, Cheryl Fraenzl

To Our Beloved Community,

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on the old but on building the new. - Socrates

For me, the last 90 days have been a deep dive into the commitment and resiliency of The Diversity Center community and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the warm welcome and to share my reflections on where I believe we are and where we might go together.

I recently accepted the Executive Director position of The Diversity Center and in my short time with all of you, I can see both the grit and enduring nature of The Center along with the committed community that supports it. The dedication I have seen from all contributors who have decades of history showing up for The Center is profound. My career has been all in medium to large nonprofits, most of whom deliver their mission through volunteers, so I really understand what volunteer dedication means, what it looks like and how it feels.

The thing that stands out the most to me is the deep loyalty and commitment many, many people have to the well-being of The Center, and all who wish to see it thrive once again. The pandemic was not an easy time for most of us, The Center included. The pandemic brought great change to the way we can support the community, volunteers and even the staff. Kudos to the team that brought programming into the virtual space and kept connection going with those that could participate.

I will say frankly that the impact of the past year and a half has brought the center to an important and potentially historical crossroad, not to be ignored or minimized. As employees move on and the workforce undergoes its own transformation, the staff is down to a minimal skeleton crew who will not have the bandwidth to conduct business as usual. The challenges of finding contractors, ordering equipment, and navigating several iterations of COVID best practices has slowed the transformation of the recently purchased building and delayed its opening. The universal exhaustion for all that we as a community are processing in the world has hit home and impacted the bandwidth of even the most effective and energetic volunteers whose efforts are essential to the success and well-being of The Center.

What I know to be true is that The Diversity Center is resilient. “It has seen many moments.” as Bob Correa, the original Executive Director and early community builder shared with me. It is impossible to ignore that this moment is demanding us to take an organizational pause and reexamine ourselves and our direction. We now own our space (with plenty of free parking!)—a resource that can be transformed into so many things.

I believe that we are at the beginning of a necessary shared exploration. What are we supposed to be actioning in this moment? What priorities and values do we most want to focus on? What are the possibilities and innovations we have not thought of for The Center? What do we mean by “diversity” and who do we serve? Where do we find the most relevancy today?  How do we more closely align with our allies to better provide support for the most vulnerable of us? How do we build a stronger internal foundation and infrastructure? And last but not least, who needs to be involved in these discussions?

To answer one of these questions, YOU need to be involved in these discussions.

Additionally, those in our community who don’t know about nor find themselves using The Diversity Center need to be involved in these discussions. Leadership, staff, donors, volunteers, community organizations, participants, and allies need to be involved in these discussions. So during this necessary pause, we will work on creating in person, virtual and electronic opportunities to collect your thoughts. Not every need can be met—but what are the common themes? Is there a revolutionary idea of what The Center could offer and how it might evolve? Can we uplift our collective spirits and create a true experience of belonging in community?

The queer community and its allies are immensely generous, heartful and compassionate people. If we build a compelling vision, you will show up in support, I am confident of it. So I hope you will help us build this compelling vision. It will take a moment to get our feet under us but please walk by our side as we transform ourselves. And in the meanwhile, please keep your eyes open for more announcements and invitations to share your thoughts.

One of the first opportunities will be October 30, 2021 3-5pm where we’ll open the doors for you to peek at the remodel of the building as it currently stands. We’ll create an opportunity for thought contributions there as well as at many other times and places.

Thank you once again for being beacons of light representing historical progress and actively holding the vision for future possibility both for The Diversity Center and for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. I look forward to discovering this next phase of our history, together.

In solidarity,

Cheryl Fraenzl

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#InternationalNonBinaryDay

Celebrating our Non-binary community

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Every year since 2012, we celebrate our diverse non-binary communities on International Non-Binary People's Day, July 14th and all week long during Non-Binary Awareness Week, July 11th-17th. Not only does Non-Binary People's Day and Non-Binary Awareness Week celebrate all non-binary people around the world but they also raise awareness on the issues that the non-binary communities face.

What does it mean to be non-binary? Non-binary is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.

How you can better support non-binary people?

There are many ways to be inclusive of everyone, regardless of their gender identity. Our language and the way we speak is often embedded with hidden gendered cues.

Once we start to notice them, we can move towards using language that’s inclusive for all. Here are 10 tips you can start using right away!

  1. Introduce yourself with your name and pronoun. Stating your pronouns reminds people that it might not always be immediately obvious what pronoun someone uses

  2. Put your pronouns in your email signature or social media profile

  3. Instead of addressing groups of people with binary language such as ‘ladies and gentlemen’, try more inclusive alternatives such as ‘folks’, ‘pals’ or ‘everyone’

  4. Use words that define the relationship instead of the relationship and gender. For example, use ‘parents’, ‘partner’, ‘children’ or ‘siblings’

  5. Not everyone is comfortable with gendered titles such as ‘Ms’ or ‘Mr’. Titles are not always necessary, but if they must be used it’s good to provide alternative ones such as ‘Mx’ (pronounced mix or mux)

  6. Use the singular ‘their’ instead of ‘his/her’ in letters and other forms of writing, i.e. ‘when a colleague finishes their work’ as opposed to ‘when a colleague finishes his/her work’

  7. Not everyone necessarily uses ‘he’ or ‘she’ pronouns and it’s important to be respectful of people who use different pronouns. The most common gender-neutral pronoun is the singular ‘they’ (they/them/theirs). Using people’s correct pronouns shows that you respect them and who they are

  8. Using the pronoun ‘they’ is very useful when someone’s gender or identity is unknown. You will often already be using it without realising, i.e. ‘somebody left their hat, I wonder if they will come back to get it’

  9. Make sure that your workplace, school and college policies and documents use inclusive language, i.e. using ‘they’ instead of ‘he/she’ and avoiding sentences that imply two genders. Where specifically talking about gender identity, make sure it is inclusive of non-binary gender identities and not just trans men and trans women

  10. When highlighting LGBT people in your events or as role models, make sure you include some non-binary role models too

It may take a bit of getting used to, but it causes you no harm and it will make that person feel acknowledged and valid. What does being non-binary mean to you?

Sources: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/10-ways-step-ally-non-binary-people
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/07/14/non-binary-meaning-gender/
https://www.hrc.org/news/celebrating-the-diversity-of-the-non-binary-community-for-international-non

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Introducing our new Executive Director

A Letter From Our Board of Directors: Introducing our new Executive Director

Summer Greetings to all our Supporters,

The Board of Directors is excited to announce the hiring of Cheryl Fraenzl as the new Executive Director of The Diversity Center. Of the 120+ applications we received and after a long and diligent nationwide search and vetting, Cheryl was the candidate the Recruiting Committee felt had the most to offer The Diversity Center. The Executive Committee met face to face with Cheryl and wholeheartedly recommended her to the entire Board of Directors. Cheryl will begin work on July 6th.

Cheryl comes to us with extensive experience in innovative and evidence-based programming. As the Senior Director of Programs at Esalen Institute, Cheryl developed the Ambassador Circle resulting in over one hundred strategic and high-impact external partnerships emphasizing diversity and innovation. Cheryl is also an expert in the field of professional development. The Board of Directors is excited to work with Cheryl as she brings her visioning and leadership skills to the Center.

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The Board and community all give enormous thanks to Ashlyn Adams and Deanna Zachary, who worked diligently to maintain continuity and strong leadership during a critical management changeover. The Board is grateful for the great work done by them and the rest of The Diversity Center staff who continue to deliver uninterrupted services to the community in the waning months of an epic pandemic.


We have accomplished so much since the start of the year. With Cheryl coming on board and the finishing touches being put on our building, we are greatly looking forward to the Center’s next chapter.


Sincerely,

Dana McRae, Ron Indra and the Board of Directors

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A Letter from Marc Zammit, Board Chair of the Diversity Center

To our esteemed donors and supporters,

Our year started with the launch of a leadership transition plan as we said goodbye to our past executive director, Sharon Papo. As a way of an update on that plan, I am pleased to let you know our interim co-directors, Ashlyn Adams and Deanna Zachary, have worked diligently to maintain continuity and strong leadership during a critical management changeover. The TDC board is grateful for the great work being done by them and our staff who continue to deliver uninterrupted services to the community.

We are on course to launch the next phase of our transition plan to bring on board a permanent Executive Director. This effort is being led by a committee of five board members, each of whom have exceptional and in-depth professional experience. I feel extremely confident that the effort and the rigorous process they’ve put in place will prove successful in our search. The recruitment campaign starts this week with a local and regional focus followed by a wider search if necessary.

As important contributors to our mission, I want to assure you that our board is committed to undertaking the necessary due diligence for hiring the most qualified Executive Director candidate for The Diversity Center. This is one of the most critical decisions our board will have to make, and we are prepared to do so in a most conscientious and steadfast way.

In appreciation of your generous support,

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Marc Zammit
Chair of the Board of Directors

 

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The Equality Act

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What is the Equality Act?

TheEqualityActwould provide national, consistent non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in all aspects of life, including housing, credit, education, federally funded pro grams, public spaces, and jury service. It would amend current civil right laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and strengthen non-discrimination protections for women and other minorities.


Why do we need it?

Despite improved federal laws, discrimination continues to be a problem for LGBTQ+ people across the country. Nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ+ Americans report having experienced discrimination in their everyday lives. In 27 states, LGBTQ+ people are at risk of being fired, refused housing, denied a home loan, or being turned away from a business simply because of who they are.

How will this affect my LGBTQ+ community center?

Community centers serve 58,300 people every week. Many operate in areas where there are no other LGBTQ+ resources and work with a limited staff and budget. Community centers are facing tough financial challenges and working to meet increasing needs as the COVID-19 crisis continues. With federal protections in place, community centers will have more capacity to provide outreach, education, and programming to those they serve.


What can I do to help get it passed?

Write your senators and tell them as a constituent, you support the Equality Act and urge them to do the same.

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