June 2007

Equality Montgomery County Organizer’s Meeting – Wednesday, June 6 (7:30 PM)

Come help us plan upcoming activities for Equality Montgomery County. All are welcome. We meet monthly a Scott and Tim’s house: 7802 Aberdeen Road in Bethesda (call 301-907-2649 for directions). Pizza is always served, and we have a good time while setting our priorities and planning events. Please join us as we are looking for new ideas and volunteers!

DC Pride Parade and Festival – Parade: Saturday, June 9 (6 PM) Festival: Sunday, June 10 (11AM – 5PM)

Join Equality Montgomery County in celebrating Pride month by marching in the Pride Parade or stopping by our booth at the Pride Festival. If you’d like to march, meet up with us and the Equality Maryland contingent at 6 PM at the parade staging area on 23^rd street between N and P Streets (NW). The parade kicks off at 6:30 and proceeds to Dupont Circle, up New Hampshire, down 17^th street then heads across P Street to 14^th and ends at Thomas Circle. Be sure to take Metro. Our booth will be the next day at the festival on Pennsylvania Ave, probably somewhere between 6^th and 7^th streets. Contact Tim at Famvalues@aol.com if you’d like to volunteer at the booth. See you next week-end! Go to www.capitalpride.org for more info on all the Pride events.

Gay Men’s Chorus Ensembles at UU Cedar Lane – Saturday, June 16 (7 PM)

On Saturday, June 16th at 7 PM, two ensemble groups of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington (Potomac Fever and the Rock Creek Singers) will present a family concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cedar Lane (9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda). Ticket cost for this concert will be $10 for adults and $5 for youth up to age 18, with a family maximum of $25. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Equality Maryland, the Community Outreach Program of the GMCW, and the work of the Cedar Lane LGBT Task Force. There will be a reception following the concert for all concert guests. Go to www.cedarlane.org for more information on the congregation.

Night OUT at the Nationals - Monday, July 16 (7 PM)

Join Equality Maryland on Monday, July 16 when the Washington Nationals go to bat against the Houston Astros at RFK Stadium. Game time is 7:05pm. The Night OUT is a fun opportunity for the GLBT community to spend time together enjoying the great American past time! For the second year in a row, the Washington Nationals have invited the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington to sing the National Anthem prior to the start of the game. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.teamdc.org.

Equality Maryland Launches new Campaign to support Equal Marriage Rights

Equality Maryland is excited to announce the launch of its new interactive marriage equality campaign website: WWW.MarylandersForMarriage.org. This site will become your marriage portal in the coming weeks and months as we await a high court ruling in our landmark marriage equality lawsuit. Check it out today! The site offers you a chance to sign a petition in support of equal marriage rights (Sign the petition) and to order yard signs or bumper stickers to show your support (Order your free yard signs, bumper stickers. )

Update on the Sex Ed Curriculum in Montgomery County Public Schools

The trial runs of the new curriculum are now complete, and the staff at MCPS have been reviewing the results. On Wednesday evening, June 6, the Superintendent will be presenting the final revisions on the curriculum as a result of these reviews to the Citizens Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development. You may recall that when the curriculum was originally presented, we had hoped to have accurate statements affirming that sexual orientation is not a choice and that LGBT people grow up to be successful individuals included in the curriculum. This was deferred by the Board of Education pending the test runs of the curriculum. If such statements are not proposed this time around, we may send an action alert asking you to contact Board of Education members shortly as the curriculum will then be presented to the Board on Tuesday, June 12. Check out www.teachthefacts.org for the latest.

FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY BASED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES 11th annual NIH Noon-in-June – Tuesday, June 5 (Noon – 1 PM)

An Observance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month in the Vaccine Research Center (Building 40) 9000 Rockville Pike, Conference Rooms 1201/1203 (Metro Red Line Medical Center stop). The program will feature Ilan Meyer, Ph.D., Deputy Chair for MPH Programs, Sociomedical Sciences, and Assoc. Professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Dr. Meyer will discuss the impact of prejudice on the mental health of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. For additional info: www.recgov.org/glef/noons-in-june.htm, This event is open to All Federal Employees with an ID.

FDA GLOBE Pride Event – Tuesday, June 12 (Noon – 1 pm)

Celebrate June Pride Month at the FDA GLOBE’s June Lunch and Learn meeting. Attorney Larry Jacobs will speak at the FDA GLOBE June Pride Event-on the topic of Protect Your Partner with the Right Documents. The meeting will be held at the FDA’s Parklawn Buidling (5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville) Room 4-43 (Metro Red Line Twinbrook stop). This event is open to All Federal Employees with an ID. For more information go to www.home.earthlink.net/~fdaglobe

May 2007

Rainbow Families of DC Parenting Conference - Saturday, April 28 (8:30 AM)

Join Rainbow Families of DC for their 2007 parenting conference: Families Like Ours: Growing. Stronger. Together. The conference will be held at the Takoma Park Middle School (7611 Piney Branch Road ) from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. The conference will kick-off with a keynote address by Abigail Garner, author of Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is. The conference is organized around three workshop tracks:

1) Paths to parenting

2) Educating our children, changing our schools

3) Supporting our families.

Through an RFDC Kid's Camp and Colage programming there will be a full day of activity for kids 18 months and up.

Go to www.RainbowFamiliesDC.org for more information and to register.

Equality Montgomery County Organizer's Meeting - Wednesday, May 2 (7:30 PM)

Come help us plan upcoming activities for Equality Montgomery County. All are welcome. We meet monthly a Scott and Tim's house: 7802 Aberdeen Road in Bethesda (call 301-907-2649 for directions). Pizza is always served, and we have a good time while setting our priorities and planning events. Please join us as we are looking for new ideas and volunteers!

Night Out for Equality - Sunday, May 20 (6:30 PM)

Join the Equality Montgomery County table at this very important and fun gala fundraiser for Equality Maryland. Held for the second year in the Grand Ballroom of the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel and Conference Center (5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda -- 1 block from the White Flint Metro stop) There will be a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner and awards and entertainment followed by dancing to DJ Brennan Sullivan. This year's awardees are Del. Heather Mizeur and Elbridge James of the Montgomery County NAACP. We are also very excited to announce that our special guests will be Julie Goldman and Jonny McGovern -- two of the stars of the new Logo TV comedy series The Big Gay Sketch Show. Go to www.EqualityMaryland.org for tickets and be sure to list Equality Montgomery County as your table
host.

Gay Men's Chorus Ensembles at UU Cedar Lane - Saturday, June 16 (7 PM)

On Saturday, June 16th at 7 PM, two ensemble groups of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington (Potomac Fever and the Rock Creek Singers) will present a family concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cedar Lane (9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda). Ticket cost for this concert will be $10 for adults and $5 for youth up to age 18, with a family maximum of $25. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Equality Maryland, the Community Outreach Program of the GMCW, and the work of the Cedar Lane LGBT Task Force. There will be a reception following the concert for all concert guests. Go to www.cedarlane.org for more information on the congregation.

Save the Date for: DC Pride - Annual festival: Sunday, June 10

Upcoming Events

Save the date for:

DC Pride – Annual festival: Sunday, June 10 (stop by the EMCQ booth for more information on getting involved and meet more people and make new friends.... )

March 2007

A Benefit Concert for Rainbow Youth Alliance -- March 18 (4 PM)

The Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington will perform a Benefit Concert for the Rainbow Youth Alliance, a support group in Montgomery County for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning teens and their allies. It is a program of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville (UUCR). The Lesbian and Gay Chorus is in its 23rd season of performing a broad repertoire of music that affirms social justice, gay and lesbian pride, cultural diversity, & humor. The concert will be held at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville (UUCR), which is located at 100 Welsh Park Drive (about ½ mile SW of Montgomery College off Mannakee). The requested
donation is $10. You can learn more about UUCR and its programs and get directions at www.uucr.org <http://www.uucr.org/> .

The Wizard of Oz - Presented by Gay Men's Chorus - Saturday March 24 (3 PM)

The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington presents an entirely new staging of The Wizard of Oz with an All Male Cast! What musical could be more synonymous with family than the ever-popular The Wizard of Oz? Due to popular demand, GMCW brings back the classic originally presented to rave reviews in 2002. However, with new staging, sets, costumes and special effects, this production is all new. Prepare yourself to be transported over the rainbow, where you will totally understand what Dorothy meant when she said, "Toto, I
have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." The show will be performed at Lisner Auditorium on the George Washington University campus the week-end of March 24 with a special family matinee at 3PM that day. Children's tickets are available for $15 by calling the Chorus' office. Otherwise go to www.gmcw.org .

Metro DC PFLAG Gala - Saturday, March 24 (6PM)

Featuring Doug Spearman, Star of LOGO's "Noah's Arc", the Metro DC PFLAG Chapter will hold its annual dinner gala and silent auction. This event raises fifty percent of the chapter's annual budget that provides family support, advocacy and educational programs to National Capital area communities. The gala will be held this year at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW. Dinner tickets at $150 per person and can be purchased by phone by calling 800 494-8497 or online at www.boxofficetickets.com/pflagdc. For more information go to www.pflagdc.org <http://www.pflagdc.org/> .

Open Positions on Montgomery County Boards and Committees

Isiah Leggett is committed to having the County's boards, committees and commissions representative of our county's residents. Public participation on boards, committees, and commissions contributes to the work of County government and provides a valuable service to the community when a variety of issues, concerns and viewpoints are presented. Ike and members of the County Council have all encouraged members of the GLBT community to apply if you are interested. Below are announcements of current opportunities to
serve on the following important boards.

Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc. Board of Directors
Committee for Ethnic Affairs
Adult Public Guardianship Review Board
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Advisory Council
Alcoholic Beverages Advisory Board
Domestic Violence Coordinating Council
Energy and Air Quality Advisory Committee
Commission on Landlord Tenant Affairs
Charter Review Commission
Advisory Board for the Montgomery Cares Program
Commission on Children and Youth

To access these vacancy announcements go to:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/exec/vacancies/pr_list.asp

Sex Education Curriculum News

An update on the new Montgomery Sex Education Curriculum will be sent
separately along with some ideas about what you can do.

Gay Ice Skating!

A new group has formed in the DC area for any members of the GLBT community who want to ice skate. "Ice Breakers" meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. Skating is from 7:45 - 9:00 pm, at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, on the top floor of the Ballston Common Mall parking garage (1 block from Ballston Metro at 627 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA ). Afterwards the group adjourns to a local restaurant for some pure social time. Skating novices are welcome. For more information go to www.DCIceBreakers.org

Openly Gay Director Brings Bisexual Character to Montgomery County Stage!

Silver Spring Stage presents the wildly imaginative and humorous Dimly Perceived Threats to the System by Jon Klein, directed by Michael Sandner and produced by Patty Hackett. The play artfully and scathingly dissects a dysfunctional family beset with mid-life crisis, extra-marital affairs and teenage trauma where reality and fantasy overlap in a riotous window to how families cope and survive. Dimly Perceived Threats to the System will run weekends February 23 to March 18, 2007. Tickets start at just $13. For more information visit www.ssstage.org or call 301-593-6036

PFOX Continuing to Send Fliers in High School Backpacks

As many of you have seen, PFOX (Parent and Friend of “Ex-gays) began sending home fliers in the backpacks High Schoolers in Montgomery County under a new policy instituted last year by MCPS. This is being countered across the county by PFLAG fliers. Fortunately, the PFOX moves routinely garner unfavorable press (See Jim Kennedy's Teachthefacts.org blog:http://www.teachthefacts.org/2007/02/sentinel-teachers-are-unhappy-about.html). The fliers also receive considerable negative attention within the schools as well. A recent PFOX flier at Walt Whitman HS got a front page article quoting EMCQ organizer Tim Fisher and Teachthefacts David Fishback and an “opposed” editorial in the school’s student newspaper The Black and White.

February 2007

Lady Terps Basketball Game Sold Out – Sunday, February 18

We're sorry to report (but happy for our lady Terps) that the upcoming womens' basketball game between Maryland and Duke (game day: Feb. 18) has recently SOLD OUT. So if you haven't gotten your tickets yet -- you are out of luck. For those lucky to have tickets, we will still try to meet in section 115 of the General Admission section. Our Vice President, Patty Walker, will be there with an EMCQ hat to try to get us all together. Our apologies for this -- and just let us know if next year you'd rather us look for a less "in demand" game or would like us to buy group tickets. And go Terps!

Openly Gay Director Brings Bisexual Character to Montgomery County Stage!

Gay Men’s Chorus Concert – Saturday February 24 (8 PM)

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC’s 06 – 07 season is titled A CELEBRATION OF FAMILY because it honors and affirms the diversity of families in our society. The season continues this February with LET ALL MEN SING! — an evening of gorgeous choral music performed in the ethereal setting of DC’s Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G Street, NW, Washington, DC. This special memorial evening of classical choral music is dedicated to family and friends who have died. The Chorus will be performing With special guest The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus. General Admission Tickets are $25, and can be purchased through www.gmcw.org. And look for their production of Wizard of Oz later this spring.

Montgomery County Council Town Hall Meeting – February 28 (7:30 PM)

You and your family are invited to the County Council’s Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, February 28, 2007, at the Francis Scott Key Middle School, 910 Schindler Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland. Have your say! Get your questions answered on: Schools; County Budget & Taxes; Pubic Safety; Growth and Development; Affordable Housing and more. A reception will be held at 7:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 8:00 p.m.

A Benefit Concert for Rainbow Youth Alliance -- March 18 (4 PM)

The Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington will perform a Benefit Concert for the Rainbow Youth Alliance, a support group in Montgomery County for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning teens and their allies. It is a program of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville (UUCR). The Lesbian and Gay Chorus is in its 23rd season of performing a broad repertoire of music that affirms social justice, gay and lesbian pride, cultural diversity, & humor. The concert will be held at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville (UUCR), which is located 100 Welsh Park Drive (about ½ mile SW of Montgomery College off Mannakee). The requested donation is $10. You can learn more about UUCR and its programs and get directions at www.uucr.org.

PFOX Continuing to Send Fliers in High School Backpacks

Upcoming Events

Save the dates for:

Rainbow Families of DC Parenting Conference in Takoma Park – Sunday, April 28

Night Out for Equality – Equality Maryland’s annual evening gala: Sunday Night May 20

DC Pride – Annual festival: Sunday, June 10

November 2006

Help Make Equality Maryland’s Night Out for Equality, 2007 a Success

We’re looking for volunteers to help on the Silent Auction (and other) Committee(s). The work can be customized to your needs, and it’s a great way to meet new people and have some fun while helping to raise funds for a terrific cause. Night Out for Equality will be held this year on Sunday evening, May 20 at the Bethesda North Marriott.

If you’d like to help on the Silent Auction Committee, please contact Richard Parker at Richard@burgundycrescent.org . If you’d like to volunteer in other ways, please reach out to Artie Bray at artie@equalitymaryland.org

Friday night, January 12 – 8 PM, Martin Luther King, Jr., Shabbat and Learning Service: "Dr. King’s Beloved Community and the Next Generation"

Every year, Temple Emanuel commemorates the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our speaker this year is Patricia Corbett, Safe Schools Coordinator for the Metro DC Chapter of PFLAG, whose earliest memories in her hometown of Richmond are of her minister father marching with Dr. King.

Temple Emanuel, a Reform Jewish Congregation located at 10101 Connecticut Avenue in Kensington (about a mile north of the Beltway)

For more information, call Temple Emanuel Kulanu Co-Chairs Bobbi and David Fishback at 301-924-1791 in the evening

Saturday Night, January 27 – 8 to 11 PM, Just Desserts

Join us for JUST DESSERTS! Our second annual evening of fun, food, and friendship. Sample delicious goodies from our county's finest chefs. Snuggle up for a quiet conversation. Meet a new neighbor or friend. Listen to some tunes or take a swing on the dance floor. AND IT'S ALL FREE! What better way to warm up on a cold winter's night.

Glenview Mansion, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville.

For directions, call 240-314-5004

Sunday, January 28 – 12:30 PM, Lobby Day Training

Learn about Equality Maryland's proposed legislative agenda for 2007 and to get tips and suggestions from General Assembly Legislators on how to be an effective grassroots lobbyist. The Equality Maryland Annual Rally and Lobby Day is scheduled for February 12, 2007, Annapolis. 5pm-8pm. Learn how to lobby, make new friends, and make a difference!!

Join us at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church at 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda (301-493-8300) http://www.cedarlane.org/

You must register to be able to meet with your General Assembly Members. Sign up today!! http://www.equalitymaryland.org/2007_lobby_day.htm

Saturday, April 28, Rainbow Families of DC Parenting Conference: Save the date/request for volunteers!

The 2007 RFDC Parenting Conference will be held on April 28th at Takoma Middle School. The conference will feature a keynote address by Abigail Garner, author of Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is. There will also be three program tracks: 1) So, you want to become a parent 2) Educating our children, changing our schools and 3) Supporting our families. Plus there will be a family-friendly Kids’ Camp to provide child-care for children 9 and under

Please contact Richard Gervase at (202) 905-9011 or rmgervase@yahoo.com for more information or to volunteer.

Share information with the Montgomery County GLBT Community

Do you know of an upcoming GLBT event? News regarding the local community? Know of a GLBT themed film or play coming to town? If so simply email your comments to support@emcq.org for inclusion in the next monthly e-newsletter. Please make your news summaries 80 words or less. Feel free to include a website (and or an email address) for more information if you wish. We look forward to hearing from you.

October 2006

Join us for JUST DESSERTS!

Our second annual evening of fun, food, and friendship.

Sample delicious goodies from our county's finest chefs. Snuggle up for a quiet conversation. Meet a new neighbor or friend. Listen to some tunes or take a swing on the dance floor. Door prizes -- Guest performers -- and more! What better way to warm up on a cold winter's night.

Saturday, January 27, 2007 -- 8 to 11 p.m.
Glenview Mansion, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, MD
For directions, call 240-314-5004

For the First Time -- Three Mini-events!

What are mini-events? They are fun casual events where you can hang out with your friends and make new ones.

Mini-event 1: October 27, 2006: Movie Night, Running with Scissors

Join us to see Running with Scissors, based on the bestseller where a young Augusten Burroughs (Joseph Cross) is pawned off by his mother (Annette Bening) to her therapist, Dr. Finch (Brian Cox). The film is a comic tale about a young gay man growing up in the middle of an extended crazy family, and there is already Oscar buzz for Joseph Fiennes' performance as Burroughs' first lover.

Hold the date for October 27! More information to follow when theater times are announced!

Mini-event 2: November 4: The Full Monty

Join us for a production of The Full Monty by the Rockville Musical Theater on Saturday night, November 4 at 8 PM. You remember the movie, and may have even seen this great musical on Broadway. It's now coming to the DC area for the very first time via what promises to be a wonderful production by the Rockville Musical Theater. Call 240-314-8690 to get your own seats and then look for the EMCQ shirts and caps at intermission. We'll have a chance to enjoy the show and chat afterwords. The F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater can be found in the same Rockville Civic Center Park as the Glenview Mansion, home of our annual Just Desserts night. Go to http://www.r-m-t.org/ for more information.

Mini-event 3: A Night at Pearl

If you haven't made it to Pearl Seafood Restaurant yet, now's your chance to check out a new gay owned and operated restaurant and lounge in Montgomery County. Pearl is located at 11230 Grandview Avenue in Wheaton/Silver Spring and serves a wonderful Mediterranean seafood menu. We'll plan to meet on a Wednesday night after Thanksgiving for their comedy night. Date to be determined. Watch this space for more details.

October 12, 2006 Candidate Debate for Montgomery County Executive

A Candidate Debate for Montgomery County Executive will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 7:00 pm at the Theater Arts Building, Montgomery College, Rockville campus. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, Committee for Montgomery is among many cosponsors. For more information and directions, contact the League of Women Voters at (301) 984-9585 or lwvmc@erols.com.

Celebrate LGBT success on election night

Save the date and plan to join us at what we expect will be the election of three glbt legislators in Annapolis from Montgomery County. Rich Madaleno (State Senate), Anne Kaiser (Delegate), and Heather Mizeur (Delegate) are all openly gay or lesbian and are all expected to win their electoral races next month -- so we'll be joining the party that
night -- and you should too. Specific time and place to be announced.

Equality Maryland has Job Opening: Office Manager/Executive Assistant

Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, with thousands of members across the entire state is looking for a person with high energy, a commitment to LGBT equality, and a desire to be an integral part of a small but growing non-profit civil rights organization. The Office Manager/Executive Assistant will manage fundamental operations of the lobbying organization, foundation, and political action committee with five employees, including performing administrative, development and finance functions.

Those interested should submit to info@EqualityMaryland.org. All application materials in Microsoft Word via electronic mail, including: a one page cover letter describing your interest in the position, a current resume tailored to the position and three professional references

For more information, visit: www.EqualityMaryland.org.

GLBT Films Come To Town October 12 -21 !

One In Ten is proud to present the 16th Annual REEL AFFIRMATIONS International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. One of the largest film festivals of its kind in the nation, REEL AFFIRMATIONS brings DC's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning community 10 full days of film and fun.

For more information, click here and take a look at the many exciting changes in store this year—their SWEET 16th!

Learn about upcoming legislative session and it's impact on Montgomery County

Join the Equality Montgomery County table at the Committee for Montgomery's annual breakfast meeting that covers the upcoming legislative session. The Committee for Montgomery is a business/social non-profit group dedicated to improving Montgomery county, and EMCQ will have a table at this breakfast meeting to be held Monday, December 12 at 7:30 AM at the North Bethesda Marriott. We will have at least one of our county's LGBT legislators at the table as well. Contact scott@emcq.org to purchase a $50 ticket for this event.

September 2006

September 17th !! We're back -- it's time for EMCQ's annual fall frolic!

Join us for Equality Montgomery's Fall Festival. A unique opportunity to meet and socialize with couples and singles from your town. Learn about the LGBT-friendly social, political and support organizations serving our county.

Free hot dogs and ice cream sundaes...
Fun for all ages -- kids welcome...
Music and celebrity scoopers...
Bring your friends!

Sunday, September 17th -- 2-5 pm
Rain or shine...See you there!
Clara Barton Community Recreation Center

7425 MacArthur Blvd., Cabin John, Maryland

A Night of Fun in Silver Spring -- Square Dancing with DC Lambda Squares

Join Equality Montgomery County and DC Lambda Squares for a Square Dance on Saturday night, September 16 from 7:30 to 10:30PM. Both beginner and experienced square dancers will have a hoot and a holler at the UU Church of Silver Spring, 10309 New Hampshire Ave. Warren Jaquith will provide his unique patter as our caller for the night.

You'll find us in the large room downstairs from the social hall -- and, yes, don't worry; it's air conditioned. Dress casual and be sure to wear some comfortable dancing shoes for a full night of fun and free-wheeling! Soft drinks, water and ice will be provided -- but be sure to bring snacks to share. We'll see you at the do-si-do on September 16 for a great night of laughs. For Directions, click here.

GLBT Films Come To Town October 12 -21 !

Election Results

Tuesday's primary elections produced generally positive results for LGBT candidates in Montgomery County and the state. Heather Mizeur was the top vote-getter among Democrats for House of Delegates in District 20. Incumbent Delegate Ann Kaiser in District 14 will also move on to the general election, as will Rich Madaleno, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for Senate in District 18. Dana Beyer made an impressive showing in her historic bid for House of Delegates in District 18, but did not finish among the top three. In Baltimore, LGBT candidates Anthony McCarthy and Mary Washington also ran spirited campaigns for House of Delegates, but did not finish in the top three in their respective races, while incumbent Delegate Maggie McIntosh will move on to the general election. LGBT candidate Tim Quinn will also advance to the general election in the House of Delegates race in District 37 on the Eastern Shore. Congratulations to all these candidates. For complete election results, click here.

Equality Montgomery County membership over 400 households!

What a difference a year makes. Last year just before our first picnic, the group consisted of about two dozen pioneers who knew there was a huge GLBT community in Montgomery County just waiting to be connected. Now, after attracting 200 people to that first picnic, and hosting our first Just Desserts, gay pride booth and candidate forum, we are up to 400 households in the county on our email list. What a huge success! And we know there's lots more of you out there. So if you have a friend, or just get this sent to you through some other list -- then go to our web site (www.emcq.org) and get on the list. We've got lots more in store for this coming year, and we know you won't want to miss any of it.

Equality Montgomery County Table at the Jazz Brunch

We will be table hosts at the Equality Maryland Jazz Brunch on Sunday, October 22. This event is the premier fundraiser for EQMD in the Baltimore area, and is a fun, inexpensive way to support the organization that represents us in Annapolis. Attended by 700 people last year, the Jazz Brunch this year will feature Christine Chavez, granddaughter of Cesar Chavez as the keynote speaker. Billy Porter, Broadway star is going to perform, and NPR's Mark Steiner will emcee. Go to the Equality Maryland website (www.equalitymaryland.org) to purchase tickets, designate Equality Montgomery County as your table host and get details on time and location. We look forward to seeing you.

Join Us to Help Plan 2007 for Equality Montgomery County

If you've been enjoying our series of events over the past year and have some great ideas for things we should be doing, please join us at our next Organizer's Meeting -- Wednesday Night, October 4. We're thinking about lots of possibilities -- A gay skater's exhibition and skating night; a night game of the University of Maryland's women's basketball team; canoeing at Seven Locks; a GLBT movie night at the AFI in Silver Spring. But there are probably lots of other ideas. Bring yours to our next meeting at Tim and Scott's: 7802 Aberdeen Rd in Bethesda. Our meetings begin at 7:30PM and end at 9PM.

Rainbow Families End of Summer Event!

On Saturday, Sept 16th from 3 to 6 PM, Rainbow Families DC is hosting a family picnic/end of summer celebration at Jequie Park (in Takoma Park MD near DC and close to Metro). The event will include lots of food, games and activities for kids (and adults) of all ages, and an opportunity to meet new families and see old friends.

Fall GLBT Bowling Leagues Forming

BETHESDA - Fridays - 8:00 PM, Naval Medical Center Lanes Off Rockville Pike. Mike: mbogumill@verizon.net
COLUMBIA – Sundays – 5:00 PM, Brunswick Columbia Lanes 7200 Carved Stone. Ron: hm1_hooten@hotmail.com
LAUREL - Mondays - 7:15 PM. AMF Laurel Lanes On Rt. 1 near Rt. 198. Lyn: BCWINGFIEL@aol.com.
Visit www.carabowling.org for additional information on these and other CARA leagues.

Sex Ed Curriculum Update

At the citizens advisory committee meeting on Wednesday August 30, committee members and the public in attendance were shown the new condom video and accompanying curriculum materials. To see the video yourself, you have to have the URL and a password which the Montgomery County School District (MCPS) representative asked not to be distributed. However, the loyal opposition, The Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum put a link to the video on their web site along with the password. So if you want to be good, go to www.teachthefacts.org to review the curriculum, and if you want to be naughty, go to www.mcpscurriculum.com

Share information with the Montgomery County GLBT Community

August 2006

Join EMCQ for our first ever Candidate Forum and come hear candidates for County Executive, Board of Education and County Council At Large respond to questions from our community. The forum will be held on August 28 beginning at 6:30 PM in the Town of Kensington's Community Center at 3710 Mitchell Street (go to www.tok.org for directions). Please bring your friends and neighbors and please forward this to any email lists you may belong to. We look forward to seeing you later this month!

Join Equality Maryland at Chesapeake Pride!

Come volunteer at a booth at Chesapeake Pride - you can meet people and help out Equality Maryland. An Equality Maryland representative will be on hand to help you out and answer any questions you might have. To sign up, e-mail Sara at sara@equalitymaryland.org or Patrick at equalitypgc@hotmail.com.

The 2006 Chesapeake Pride Festival will be held on Saturday, August 26th from 1 until 7 PM (rain or shine) at the Historic London Town and Gardens (established 1683) located at 839 Londontown Road, in Edgewater, Maryland 21037, USA, near Annapolis, Md. For more information, click here. This festival promises to be alot of fun. There's plenty of entertainment on tap! The admission for this day of fun is just $5.00 to get in (kids are free).

EMCQ's first Capital Pride was a booming success! Over 200 members of the area's GLBT community stopped by the EMCQ booth to learn more about the county's non-profit organization. Virtually all those that that live in Montgomery county that have not already joined the group, signed up. The group is excited about this recent organization growth spurt and looks forward to providing social, advocacy, educational, community outreach and partnership opportunities for it's members. Do you have suggestions for the group? If so please email them to info@emcq.org.

Batwoman will be the highest profile gay superhero to ever grace the pages of DC Comics. In various incarnations, Batwomen have had a long history in Batman comics, starting in 1956 when Kathy Kane first appeared. But this new version of Kane/Batwoman, that hits the streets this month, shares only a name with her predecessors. The campy heroine who once carried a utility purse while clad in a full-body yellow one-piece now sports a new, dark costume, and she’s got an attitude to match. For more information, click here.

Openly Gay Pete Fosselman Elected Mayor of Kensington, Maryland
Openly gay candidate and local business owner, Pete Fosselman, 38, was elected to his first two-year term as mayor of Kensington Maryland with over 75% of the vote. This year’s election drew more than double the number of voters of recent years.

‘‘I’d like to stay in contact, not just be going door to door at election time,” he said. Pete plans to hold regular office hours at the Town Hall, but has not yet determined a schedule. Pete also recently hosted the campaign kick-off event for Dr. Dana Beyer's campaign for Delegate.

On Sunday, August 13th at 10 AM, the LGBT Task Force of the Cedar Lane UU Church in Bethesda, MD, will be sponsoring an LGBT service --"Love Makes a Family: Living the Welcoming Congregation at Cedar Lane". Specific information about this plan and directions to the Cedar Lane UU Church will be available at www.cedarlane.org. Anyone interested in being a part of this service is welcome to attend.

Linda Amendt attended The Desiree Alliance Conference in Las Vegas this month, as a representative of EMCQ. The Desiree Alliance is a coalition of health professionals, social scientists, professional sex educators, sex professionals and their supporting networks working together for an improved understanding of the sex industry and its human, social and political impacts. Their focus is on building leadership and constructive activism in the sex worker population to advocate for sex workers' human, labor and civil rights. For more information, click here.

The Metropolitan Police Department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) has been awarded the prestigious "Innovations in American Government Award" from Harvard University's Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation for reaching out to an under-served community and creating a model for community policing.

The GLLU regularly works with other police units to deal with crimes committed by and against the GLBT and allied communities. GLBT and allied volunteers help establish the unit's priorities and functions and educate officers about the culture of the communities and their needs.

"I am extremely proud of Sergeant Brett Parson and all of the police officers, Reserve officers and community volunteers who have been so instrumental in the growth and success of our Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit," said MPD Chief Charles H. Ramsey. "From its inception five years ago, the GLLU has demonstrated that effective community policing involves much more than community relations." For more information, click here.

EMCQ is pleased to announce that Equality Montgomery County has attained official status as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable organization in the eyes of both the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Maryland. The organization's Constitution, By-Laws, and other required founding documents have been formally adopted, and bank account has been officially established. If you are interested in reading these documents, send an email to: info@emcq.org and a copy will be sent to you.

Longtime resident of Chevy Chase, Dana Beyer is a board member of Equality Maryland and very active with Equality Montgomery County. She is an active member of her synagogue, Tiferet Israel Congregation, as well as a board member with teachthefacts.org, a Montgomery County parents' coalition dedicated to comprehensive sex education in our public schools. She is actively involved in the upbringing of her sons, including her involvement with their athletic and musical extracurricular activities, and has supported quality education at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. She has served on the Board of Advisors of the National Center for Transgender Equality, as well as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Legislative Council, the Human Rights Campaign's Federal Club, and the Democratic National Committee's Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council. Her campaign kick-off will occur on June 11 from 5 to 7PM at The Sweat Shop: 10410 Montgomery Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895. For more information, click here.

Openly lesbian House Delegate, Anne Kaiser, opens her re-election campaign with her Fourth Annual Jazz Reception and Dinner with the Dave Cosby Trio Featuring Liz Briones on Monday, June 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at The Olney Theatre, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road; Olney, MD. Call 301/890-4422 for more information, or, click here and more information coming soon, click here.

Broad Coalition Counters Damaging Rhetoric Of “Conversion Therapy” Conference In Silver Spring

Clergy, Mental Health Professionals, and Youth Advocates Declare
Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out” Conference Dangerous and Spiritually Disenfranchising to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Youth

Clergy will join representatives from Equality Maryland; Teach the Facts.org; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), as well as parents, educators, and mental health professionals to show support for the youth attending and to highlight the dangerous and discredited methods employed by the conference organizers on Saturday, June 10, at 9:00 a.m. outside Immanuel’s Church, 16819 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. For more information, click here.

Speakers will include:

• Delegate Gareth Murray (D-Montgomery County), a Baptist clergy member and mental health professional
• Dr. Lise Van Susteren, a psychiatrist and Montgomery County resident
• Robert Rigby, Jr. a survivor of “conversion” therapy
• Stephen Eckstrand, PFLAG father

The morning vigil will be held in front of Immanuel’s Church from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and the afternoon vigil outside the church will take place from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Openly Gay House Delegate, Rich Madaleno, Declares candidacy for Senate in Annapolis

In April, State Senator Sharon Grosfeld, announced that she would not be seeking reelection. As a result, openly gay Delegate Rich Madaleno decided to run for the State Senate. He will be running with his current House colleagues, Ana Sol Gutierrez and Jane Lawton, on a ticket for District 18. So far, he has the support of Sen. Grosfeld, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, my former House colleague John Hurson, and County Executive Doug Duncan. A GLBT fundraiser for Rich will be held on June 15 at the home of Scott Davenport and Tim Fisher, 7802 Aberdeen Rd in Bethesda. For more information, click here.

Openly Lesbian Former Takoma Park Council Member, Heather Mizeur, Runs For 20th District Delegate

A constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, backed by thePresident and conservative groups, was soundly defeated in the Senate on Wednesday, June 7, after proponents failed to persuade a bare majority of all senators to support the measure. Equality Montgomery County members were asked to call the offices of Senator Mikulski and Senator Sarbanes to counter the overwhelming number of calls that their offices received from conservatives who supported the measure. Both Maryland state senators did not support writing discrimination into the United States Constitution. Fore more information, click here.