GenQ - For the not so straight individual

As we move into warmer weather for the year and mid-point until the end of the year. This is a time to reflect on life choices, and affecting change. Moving into the Regional Director's position I had to ask myself, ?What can I do to affect change in the LGBTQ communities?? I knew I wanted to help women in some way, so I sought out a local women's group here in Chicago LCCP. (http://www.lccp.org/) Their mission LCCP's vision ?is that lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have appropriate and accessible health care in a supportive and bias-free environment. To advance the health and quality of life for lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals through advocacy and public education.? LCCP's helps individuals deal with cancer changing their lives and help them deal with the devastating issues they will face through support groups and other charity raising awareness. Partnering with Howard Brown (http://www.howardbrown.org/) they give free preventive services, such as free cancer screenings, mammograms and pap swears. To help them with this fight queerplanet will be raising needed funds to help support this cause. Please watch queerplanet USA website for updates...

Another way that I wanted to make a difference in 2006 was to support the Chicago Gay Games that will be in Chicago, July 15-21 2006. I decided to work on the marketing volunteer committees to bring awareness to our GBTQ athletics and the international events that will be taking place to bring friendships, competition and personal best in the form of sports and cultural events. queerplanet just came back from the 100 Champions event where they sponsored a dinner and afternoon bunch to raise money for the games. Go check out the link for all Chicago Games information on our home page and the busted section. You can also click on (http://www.chicagogaygames.org) for more information on how you can sign up! queerplanet is an international sponsor and will be reporting human issue stories coming in May and June and national events.

As part of the bisexual and black community, I still feel there is a need for educating our community with regards to bisexuals and other minority groups, so I have been talking to GLAAD trying to come up with a way that we can remove bi-phobia in our own community when it comes to hatred and exclusion within the lesbian and bisexual women groups and straight community. I will continue to find ways to remove this myth about how bisexuals are, who they are and how we can come together. Diversity for 2006 on queerplanet USA is our goal. There are continuous magazines, and online themes that do not include the whole of our lifestyle. whether it is race, age, sexuality, gender; trying to seek equity for ourselves sometimes miss the very issues that are surrounding all of us in our towns, cites and countries. So look for more partnerships and events with queerplanet and GLAAD. queerplanet is about the whole community!

Give-a-ways galore! We have two (2) CD of Amber's new spotlight dance music that will be featured this Month, ?Just Like That? Amber's latest new single. Also her video is on our home page, "Love one another" Check her out in the music section! But it's not over, since I'm feeling good this Month, I thought I would give away a CD from "30 Seconds to Mars" (featuring Jared Leto) to a lucky member. (Sorry not signed) If you can tell us a great coming out story we would love to give this CD to the most interesting, inspiring story! How did it change lives? It can be funny, sad, outrageous, or anything in between. The winner will be announced the following Month with their first name and city!

Look to the future of inclusion and understanding. Hope, helping others on a global scale and perhaps a better look inside ourselves. Challenge yourselves to do something more. How are you affecting our global world? Please write queerplanet USA at media-us@queerplanet.us and let me know. We may use what you say on our websites and credit your first name and city. If you would like to tell us how we are doing (we love feedback) then write us and let queerplanet USA know.

Adrienne Williams
Regional Director
queerplanet USA

?The QP Desk?