September 7, 2010

Contact: TransOhio (614) 441-8167 TransOhio@transohio.org www.transohio.org

TransOhio Launches Statewide Needs Assessment for the Ohio Transgender Community

Columbus, Ohio – September 7, 2010 – TransOhio has launched a first of its kind needs assessment for the Ohio Transgender community. The needs assessment will serve as a snapshot of the Ohio Transgender community, including those individuals who were born [...]]]> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 7, 2010

Contact:
TransOhio
(614) 441-8167
TransOhio@transohio.org
www.transohio.org

TransOhio Launches Statewide Needs Assessment for the Ohio Transgender Community

Columbus, Ohio – September 7, 2010 – TransOhio has launched a first of its kind needs assessment for the Ohio Transgender community. The needs assessment will serve as a snapshot of the Ohio Transgender community, including those individuals who were born in Ohio, but now reside elsewhere.

“It’s difficult to provide accurate information to agencies about the Transgender community in Ohio. There’s never been a study that has specifically focused on the needs – the climate of Ohio, medical, legal and community needs of Transgender people in the state. Additionally, we have a large group of stealth Transgender individuals who don’t publically identify themselves as being such, or for that matter, seek out services specific to their identity,” says Shane Morgan, Founder and Chair of TransOhio. “There are also no statewide protections for employment, public accommodations, housing and credit for Ohioans who are Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian or Gay. That means a Transgender individual can be denied employment, fired or denied housing just because of their gender identity or their sexual orientation. The risks often outweigh the pros for many, and for some people, remaining in the shadows is the only way to survive.”

“In order for TransOhio to serve the needs of the transgender community, as well as those who love and support them, we need to ask what is most important to them. There has never been an assessment of this kind for the transgender community in Ohio and it will help us to reach out and work harder to serve them in all areas of their lives from health care and employment to relationships and support. This assessment couldn’t come at a better time than now when the LGB and T along with allied communities are coming together to support one another and I am proud to be in the mix,” says Jacob Nash, member of the TransOhio Board of Directors.

TransOhio colleague and ally, Erin Upchurch, who collaborated with TransOhio on the assessment, says “this needs assessment will serve as a powerful tool to give voice to and increase visibility for a seemingly invisible community; it’s about representation. TransOhio has made a commitment to the Partner and Ally community as well, and their inclusion of assessments for those individuals also shows TransOhio’s dedication to those who love and support Trans identified people.”

There are three assessments available: 1) Transgender Identified Individual, 2) Partner of Transgender Individual and 3) Ally of Transgender Individual.

The TransOhio Statewide Transgender Needs Assessments will be available online and in print through December 31, 2010, with the option of extending the data collection timeline as necessary. TransOhio is currently working with local individuals to translate the assessments into Spanish.

The assessments are available online at http://www.transohio.org. PDF versions for print are also available for download.

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The weekend of August 13-15, 2010, over 250 people converged on Columbus, Ohio to attend the 3rd Annual TransOhio Transgender & Ally Symposium. The weekend included the first Provider’s Day and focused on education and professional development for students, providers of Trans health, mental and legal services. The General [...]]]> 3rd Annual TransOhio Transgender & Ally Symposium

The weekend of August 13-15, 2010, over 250 people converged on Columbus, Ohio to attend the 3rd Annual TransOhio Transgender & Ally Symposium. The weekend included the first Provider’s Day and focused on education and professional development for students, providers of Trans health, mental and legal services. The General Symposium’s keynote was given by S. Bear Bergman, Sing If You’re Glad To Be Trans — While the difficult narratives of trans life are valid and deserve our attention, is it not perhaps enough with the all-misery-all-the-time tranny channel? Being trans is not a reason for pity, scorn, shame, or apology. This lecture celebrates trans bodies, communities, awareness, sex, love, particular talents, successes and self-creation with a faultless logic and good humor that may just make you appreciate transfolks (or being trans) in a whole new way.
WHAT’S NEW: We’ll return to our regular TransOhio monthly newsletter format in October. If you’d like to submit articles for the newsletter, please visit Newsletters for details!

Happy Rosh Hashanah
Sunset Sept. 8, 2010 – Nightfall Sept. 10, 2010
Significance: Jewish New Year
Observances: Sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn trumpet)
Customs: Dipping apples in honey; Casting off “sins” into a river
Greeting: L’shanah tovah! (For a good year!)

Transgender Day of Remembrance (Columbus)
We are currently seeking planning committee members for this year’s Columbus TDOR. TDOR is held in November. If you reside in Central Ohio and would like to be involved in this memorial, please email TransOhio@transohio.org for details. Committee will meet in Columbus. If you reside outside of Central Ohio, we’re working with organizations and groups in Northern and Southern Ohio to assist in their local TDOR. Email TransOhio@transohio.org for details.

Toledo Transgender Support Group
The meeting time for the Fall & Winter Toledo Transgender Support Group has changed from 2pm to 3pm. Remaining 2010 meeting dates are:

• September 19, 2010
• October 24, 2010
• November 28, 2010 (Date might change because of holiday)
• December 26, 2010 (Date might change because of holiday)

The group meets at:
The Village Church, 3992 Monroe Street, Toledo, OH 43606

The Village Church is at the corner of West Central Avenue & Monroe Street in Toledo, Ohio.

TransOhio Holiday Gatherings

Thanksgiving
TransOhio will once again be hosting a Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving day (Thursday, November 25, 2010).

This dinner is open to the entire Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay and Ally community. (kids are welcome!). RSVP’s are not required, but it will help us in our planning. There are no excuses to spend the day alone! Come early and stay late!

The Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be at 2pm, at the Center on High (Stonewall Columbus), located at 1160 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43201.

TransOhio will provide the turkey & and necessary paper plate-ware. Please bring a dish to share with others (and a serving spoon, fork or knife) and something to drink.

Christmas & New Year’s
We’ll be hosting some type of Christmas & New Year’s gathering as well. It’s a bit early for details, but we’re also looking for people who are interested in planning and organizing!

Interested in helping plan? Email TransOhio@transohio.org for volunteer information!

Both written and performed by Debra James [...]]]> Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 10, 2010 @ 3pm as Summit on 16th Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio will host Survival of The Boulevard Singer a riveting play about the struggle of a family immersed in their church culture and struggling with their relationship with their brother/son who is HIV+.

Both written and performed by Debra James Tucker, you are sure to be moved by the talent of this Ohio Arts Council Award Recipient for Individual Excellence.

Please come out and celebrate in one of the many events going on in our city during National Coming Out month.

As with all of events the suggested donation should not deter your attendance. It is not a requirement! Your presences is what we value most –so more if you can, and none if that is what you need to do to attend.

Summit on 16th United Methodist Church is located at 82 E. 16th Ave., Columbus, OH 43201. 614-291-3324

The webinar will be [...]]]> Professional networking is the secret of the game both when you are seeking new employment and when you want to achieve high-quality visibility with your current employer. Out & Equal’s unique job search and employment networking website—LGBTCareerlink.com—will host a free live webinar, sponsored by Progressive Insurance on the “12 Rules of Effective Networking.”

The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 31 12-1pm PDT. Pre-registration is required and available online.

Sandy Jones-Kaminski, former HR recruiting professional,networking expert and author of “I’m at a Networking Event-Now What?” will offer wisdom on the myths and realities of networking-just in time to polish up your networking skills for the 2010 Out & Equal Workplace Summit. Sandy offers a sneak peak of her presentation: “Start asking people you meet,”What are you working on?” instead of the trite ‘What do you do?”

This chock-full webinar will kick off with a ten-minute virtual job fair conducted by Christopher Humlicek, Candidate Development Manager for Progressive Insurance’s 250 claims offices in 35 states. Progressive is a leading diversity employer in the stable insurance industry. “I am looking forward to reaching out to the LGBT and allied workforce for positions I need to fill right now,” says Humlicek.

This is your opportunity to both learn and practice your networking skills without leaving your desk. Register today- It’s free!

The Toledo Trans Support Group is continuing to grow, which is fantastic! We’ve been able to schedule meeting space with our host, The Village Church, and have set the following dates for the group to continue to meet in Toledo.

Please note that we’re moving the start time from 2pm to 3pm. [...]]]> Dear TransOhio Friends, Family and Allies!

The Toledo Trans Support Group is continuing to grow, which is fantastic! We’ve been able to schedule meeting space with our host, The Village Church, and have set the following dates for the group to continue to meet in Toledo.

Please note that we’re moving the start time from 2pm to 3pm. This means that the group will run from 3pm – 5pm.

2010
- Sunday, September 19, 2010
- Sunday, October 24, 2010
- Sunday, November 28, 2010 (Date could change due to holiday)
- Sunday, December 26, 2010 (Date could change due to holiday)

2011
- Sunday, January 23, 2011
- Sunday, February 27, 2011
- Sunday, March 27, 2011
- Sunday, April 24, 2011 (Date could change due to holiday)
- Sunday, May 29, 2011
- Sunday, June 26, 2011
- Sunday, July 24, 2011
- Sunday, August 28, 2011

All meetings run from 3pm-5pm.

The Village Church
3992 Monroe Street
Toledo, OH 43606

The Village Church is at the corner of West Central Avenue & Monroe Street in Toledo, Ohio. Drop-ins welcome! Email TransOhio at TransOhio@gmail.com if you have questions or need additional information.

Additionally, as the season and weather begin to change, we’ll be starting to work with people who’ve expressed interest in assisting TransOhio in facilitating the peer led support group in Toledo.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

In community,
TransOhio Board of Directors

On July 1st, severe cuts were made to the Ohio HIV Drug Assistance Program (OHDAP) to plug a projected $16.4 million deficit.

Despite implementing a waiting list, reducing the number of approved medications available, aggressively pursuing rebates, revising eligibility requirements and eliminating some services, there is still [...]]]> SAVE OHDAP – Ohio’s HIV Drug Assistance Program – August 26th.

On July 1st, severe cuts were made to the Ohio HIV Drug Assistance Program (OHDAP) to plug a projected $16.4 million deficit.

Despite implementing a waiting list, reducing the number of approved medications available, aggressively pursuing rebates, revising eligibility requirements and eliminating some services, there is still an estimated $5 – $7 million funding gap.  If this gap is not addressed, funding for the entire OHDAP will run out in early 2011. 

Please contact Governor Strickland on August 26th or today by calling (614) 466-3555 or by emailing governor.info@governor.ohio.gov.  Tell his office:  “I am calling to ask Governor Strickland to fill the funding gap in the Ohio HIV Drug Assistance Program – it is the difference between living with HIV and dying of AIDS.”

The cuts to OHDAP eligibility affect those who are working middle class and those who are healthy individuals who make over 300% of the federal poverty line or with a T cell count above 500.

Find out more at www.OhioAIDScoalition.org

The Ohio wait list is already at 132, and 257 more have lost their eligibility.  THIS IS URGENT!!