Greetings, all!
Well, fall is just around the corner, so here’s a few things to do to support our LGBTQ community in NEOhio!
First, if you are looking to do something tomorrow night, our friends in the Blazing River Freedom Band is performing Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Pilgrim Congregational Church at W. 14th St. in Cleveland! “B is for Baroque and Beyond!” $5 donation at the door
On Thursday, October 11 from 2:35-4:00, the Medina High School Genders and Sexualities Alliance will be hosting it’s 9th Annual (!!) Ally Coffee! This annual event is really great to meet with GSA students at the high school media center, get to know them, and by your presence, they know that adult allies are supportive of them. MHS is lucky to have an amazing Teacher Advisor in Jen Oehler, who has been the group’s advisor for 10 years now! RSVP to Jen at the email provided in the flyer, or call her at 330-636-3422, and let her know you’ll be there.
Attached please find a flyer about mentoring foster youth. Did you know that twice as many LGBTQ youth are in the foster care system as non-LGBTQ youth? I didn’t either. This program at Bellefaire JCB is working hard trying to get a mentoring program for LGBTQ youth in the Cuyahoga County Foster Care System. This is badly needed in this community. Please see the attached flyer for contact and information details. Or contact Mandy Kwait at kwait@bellefairejcb.org or 216-320-6845
OK…I would be totally remiss if I didn’t mention the astounding news that came out of Cuyahoga County last week!!! Great work on the part of Equality Ohio and the many volunteers in the county to make this happen. 1.3 million county residents are now protected, no matter who they love or how they identify! Great, great news! Congratulations, Cuyahoga County!!
Now back to Medina! As you hopefully are aware, we continue to work toward a nondiscrimination ordinance here, and it currently sits in the Special Legislation Committee.
If you live, work, play or pray in Medina, please consider writing a letter, or sending an email, saying that you support such an ordinance. Here are contacts for the Special Legislation Committee:
Website: www.medinaoh.org
Bill Lamb, Councilman at Large blamb@medinaoh.org
Jim Shields, Ward 4 Council Rep. jshields@medinaoh.org
Paul Rose, Councilman at Large prose@medinaoh.org
Additionally, you can send a letter of support to:
Medina City Hall
Medina City Council
Attention Bill Lamb, Councilman at Large
132 N. Elmwood Ave.
Medina, Ohio 44256
Please send any letter by Oct. 16…Thank you!
As a reminder to anyone with transgender or gender fluid teens, we still can provide a free binder or gaff to help them or yourself look your authentic self! Come to any meeting and pick up an application, and we will order it for you as soon as possible!
Next meeting is Oct. 22! Hope to see you there!
Kindest regards,
Sandy