What's Up with The Network?

• Happenings of the Network
• Featured Member
• Network Meetings
• Groups Offered
• Related to Therapists
• Conferences, Classes & Workshops
• Upcoming Events
• Space for Rent
• 2010 Conference Notes
• Quote of the Day
• NEXT ISSUE: Tuesday, November 10. Submissions due by: Fri., 11/6.

  Featured Member Category.....Do you want to be a featured member in this eNewsletter? Let us know. Are you doing a group? Or do you work with a particular client population? Doing a workshop? Have info that other LGBTQ therapists might want to know? Advertise your business in this eNewsletter! It is a perk of your paid membership. Send us your stuff.
 
This eNewsletter now reaches 147(!) LGBTQA psychotherapists and organizations, and is growing every week!  Become a member! FIND YOURSELF ON OUR WEBSITE!

Contact the editor: irenegreene@earthlink.net
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: www.LGBTtherapists.org
Past eNewsletters are archived on our website.

Happenings of "THE NETWORK"!

Coming OUT Day Luncheon with members of The Network:
Several of us enjoyed each other's company at the
THE QUORUM Coming OUT Day Luncheon on Friday, October 16.
It was a gathering with very powerful lunch speakers and fun to be together with other members of our great group.
Let's do it again next year!

Help out with the March 2010 Conference. (see below).

"The Network" & UM's GLBTA Program's Office
Conference Information & Call for Workshop Proposals!!! Proposal Deadline: Fri., 11/6/09

Please Distribute & Post and Cut and Paste...Send to your colleagues (queer and straight)...from near and far.

"Beyond the Boxes: Emerging Trends in LGBTQ Mental Health: A Regional Conference on Mental Health Topics as They Relate to the LGBTQ Communities"

 Conference Date: Friday, March 26, 2010 
                                    Opening Night Reception: Thursday, March 25 (presented by MN LGBT Therapist                                                   Network)

Conference Presented by:
The Minnesota LGBT Therapists' Network &
The GLBTA Programs Office of the University of Minnesota
Held at the University of MN - Coffman Memorial Union

The proposal deadline is November 6, 2009. Proposals available online. See info below.

ARE YOU SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL????
You are invited to do one on your own or with someone else. Let's share our resources!
We have received interest from four states and proposals are already coming in! The conference will sell out. Be a part of this successful, educational, validating and fun event!

So far, we have proposals on trans issues, youth issues, parenting, supervision, LGBTQ vets, internalized homophobia in the African-American communities, coaching, making your 'straight' practice more gay-friendly, health issues specific to the LGBTQ communities...to name just a few.....
We would like to see proposals on the following topics:
Health and LGBTQ People / Coming Out
LGBTQ plus Race, Class, Ability, Age
Relationship Counseling / Family / Parenting / Children / Polyamory
LGBTQ Sexology / BDSM / Alternative Sexual Practices
LGBTQ Youth / LGBTQ Elders
Transgender Persons / Genderqueer Persons
Intersex Persons
Bisexuality
LGBTQ immigrants
Discrimination / Anti-gay Violence / Bullying
Internet / Virtual Communities
Culture and Religion
Heterosexual Privilege / Straight Therapists & Queer Clients
LGBTQ People in the Military
LGBTQ People in Sports & Athletics

General Conference Information:
This cutting edge conference will offer over 30 workshops that will explore changing paradigms in research and clinical practice as they relate to our understandings of diverse sexual and gender identities, as well as to issues of race, class, ability and sexual practices. This one day conference is committed to challenging stereotypes and bias, providing current mental health information, expanding perspectives, and engaging participants in the areas of clinical work, research and community involvement. This conference will be of particular interest to mental health professionals, health care practitioners, researchers in the health sciences, educators, and students in these fields and is open to any and all interested lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, genderqueer and allied individuals. CEUs in these fields will be available.

Keynote Speaker:
Katherine "Kit" Rachlin, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in New York and a certified sex therapist. She is an experienced clinician as well as an energetic advocate for transgender people, their families and partners. Kit has served on the board of directors of organizations such as FTM-International and The Harry Benjamin Association/World Professional Association for Transgender Health. A member of the American Psychological Association's Taskforce on Gender Identity, she is the author of many published papers and book chapters on transgender health and well being.

Download a Workshop Proposal (PDF) at either website:
MN LGBT Therapist Network at www.lgbttherapists.org
University of MN GLBTA Programs Office at www.glbta.umn.edu

For General Conference Information:
Email: mnlgbtqconference2010@gmail.com
(1) Conference Co-Chair - MN.LGBT Therapist Network:
Irene Greene, 612.874.6442 irenegreene@earthlink.net
(2) Conference Co-Chair - University of Minnesota GLBTA Programs Office: 
Anne Phibbs, Director, 612.625.8519 phib0001@umn.edu

Want to be a conference partner or volunteer?
Your practice, business or company is invited to partner with The Network & The UM GLBTA Programs Office to help with the success of the March 2010 LGBTQA Mental Health Issues Conference.

We are looking for help with conference planning, volunteers, committee work, businesses to purchase ads for our conference program, businesses to buy table space at our Resource Fair, and companies to be major sponsors of the event.

Contact: Irene Greene (The Network) at irenegreene@earthlink.net or Anne Phibbs, (UM GLBTA Program's Office) at phib0001@umn.edu if you are interested.

We expect 200+ conference attendees and a lot of big-time conference sponsors. This promises to be a very good investment for your practice or company!  Join us!

Be a Featured Network Member!!!
We want to know more about our Members!  Don't be shy! Let's all share a virtual handshake.

If you would like to be a featured member in our next eNewsletter contact me, Irene Greene at irenegreene@earthlink.net or 612.874.6442  I have some questions for you to answer and you can share info about your counseling services, yourself and what being a Network member means to you.
Let's all get to know each other!! 

"The Network" Meetings:

All members are welcome to join the steering committee or Conference Planning sub-committees or come to meetings!  We need help and ideas!

Next Conference Planning Committee Meetings: 
Date: Friday, November 20, 2009: 1-230pm
Date: Friday, December 11, 2009: 1130-1pm
Place: Common Roots Cafe, Minneapolis
 
Program Committee Meetings:
Date: Friday, November 20, 2009;230-530pm
Place: Common Roots Cafe Meeting Room, Mpls.
Date: Saturday, December 5; (930am - 130pm & Place TBD)
Program Committee, Chair: Bonnie Burg (bburglcsw@aol.com)
Agenda: Review Conference Workshop proposals.

Next Network Steering Committee Meeting:
The next meeting date to be announced. We are currently "meeting" via email.

Contact Irene @ irenegreene@earthlink.net or 612.874.6442 if you would like information about any of these above activities and/or to help.
The Network Steering Committee:  Dennis Christian, Mindy Benowitz, Phil Oxman, Owen Konecnik, Bonnie Berg, & Irene Greene. (More members welcome!)

www.LGBTtherapists.org
Check out our website:www.LGBTtherapists.org  
Find your member information and check out other therapists' information.

Groups Offered:
(Group notices list for two consecutive issues. 
Review past archived eNewsletters on our website for more groups.)

(1) New Groups at THE MENTAL HEALTH COLLECTIVE:
A non-profit agency in South Minneapolis.
Relationships Group, Transitions Group & Self-Growth Group.
For more information contact      612.822.8227
(2) Psychotherapy Group Openings:  Two openings for men in a psychotherapy group that meets Mondays, 6:00 - 7:40 pm. This is an on-going, psychodynamic psychotherapy group. Contact: Nancy Ruppenthal, LICSW, LMFT at 612.789.2653.
(3) New LGBT Group for Individuals in Recovery:
St. Cloud area. For more information: call  Cassidy  320-217-1941. 
(4) Married Men's Group:
Date:   Wednesday October 28, 2009    
Time:   4:30 pm  - 6:00 pm                                 
Repeats:   This event repeats every month on the last Wednesday.                             
Location:   Confidential - call 612-348-9100 for prescreening and location                                            
Phone:   612-348-9100                      
Notes:   For over 10 years the HIM Program of the Red Door Clinic has offered this group for men married to women and attracted to men. This program is an opportunity for married men to meet and discuss their issues in a non-judgmental, supportive atmosphere. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance. The goals of the program include alleviating isolation and fear, building peer support and sexual health information.

The location is confidential and a prescreening phone call is required prior to attending someone's first meeting.
www.himprogram.org
(5) Men's discussion group to start soon:
Hi -
The next Gay and Bi Men's Discussion group of The HIM Program is going to start soon.

We are planning to begin on Thursday, November 5.  So if you (or perhaps your friends) are interested, just let me know and I can send out some more
information.  The group is 6 weeks long on Thursday Nights starting at 6pm. # weeks in November- break for Thanksgiving- and then 3 weeks in December.
 And yes, it is free.

let me know if you're interested and I can get you registered for it.
Thanks,

Charles Tamble   charles.table@co.hennepin.mn.us
The HIM Program
One of the Red Door Services of the
Hennepin County Public Health Clinic
525 Portland Ave- 4th Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55415
work 612-348-9100

HIM Program sponsored websites:
www.himprogram.org
www.StopSyphilisNOW.org
www.inSPOT.org/Minnesota
(6) WOMEN BUILDING RECOVERY GROUP:  10 WEEKS
This group is for women who have completed chemical dependency treatment and are learning what it means to "live in recovery" and "work a program."   We'll look at relationship and family issues, concerns with employment and co-workers, and vulnerability to relapse due to stress or unmanageability.  Participants must have a minimum of 4 months of sobriety.  We also welcome women with longer term sobriety who wish to address some aspect of daily life that is causing concern.

We will use equine therapy to complement our group work, learning what obstacles and blocks to work on and practicing how to deal with stress.  No experience with horses is necessary and equine therapy does not involve riding.                                                                                                                    

Group Leader:  Kate Lehmann, MA, LADC
Equine Therapy:  Acres for Life - Lynn Moore, MA, LADC and Neva Sherman, LADC

Starting:  November 14 - 10 Saturdays at 1:30.  8 - 90 minute sessions plus 2 - 2 hour equine therapy sessions.
Location:  1409 Willow Street, on Loring Park in Minneapolis.  Equine therapy at Acres for Life, Chisago City, MN.
Cost: $625 - includes intake.  Self-pay only.  Credit cards accepted.  Discount for cash.  Weekly payments accepted.
More information:  Visit www.katelehmann.com ; e-mail katelehmanncomcast.net  call (612) 306-4778.

Related to Therapists:
Resources Offered, Resources Requested & Job Postings:

Resources Offered:

(1) The Shot Clinic: by and for trans folks:
The Transgender Shot Clinic helps trans folks with their hormone shots. We meet every Friday and can help you by administering your shots, teaching you to do the shots yourself and we can give you free needles and supplies. We offer a needle exchange, informational/ support group time and case management. We can hook you up with doctors and help you with different aspects of your transition.
You can contact us with any questions by e-mail: t.eparty@yahoo.com  and our MySpace page:  www.myspace.com/shotclinic
We meet every Friday from 4:30-6pm at 3217 Hennepin Ave, Second Floor

Billy Navarro Jr.
Harm Reduction Health Project's Shot Clinic
Fridays 4:30-6pm
@ 3217 Hennepin Ave S
Minneapolis, MN

(2) Queer Resources in Central MN:

 Hi,
We are excited to announce that Element Mental Health Services has decided to start a newsletter to help LGBTTTIQQA's and organizations/agencies who serve LGBTTTIQQA's identify community resources and activities that can help LGBTTTIQQA individual, couples, and families in Central Minnesota.  To learn more about Element Mental Health Services, please visit us on the web at www. elementmentalhealth.vpweb.com  If you would like to submit articles to be included in our newsletter or events available to LGBTTTIQQA individuals, couples, and families through your organizations or agencies, please submit to elementalhealth@elementalhealth.vpweb.com by the 15th of each month.
Additionally, please submit a request through our website if you wish to be added to our e-newsletter mailing list.
Thank you for your service to the LGBTTTIQQA community,
Troy R Weber-Brown, MS, LAMFT
227 10th Avenue North
Saint Cloud, MN 56303
320-492-4525
Fax:  320-259-0791
tweber-brown@elementmentalhealth.vpweb.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources Requested:
    
1. Consultation Group wanted:
Looking for a consultation group in the western suburbs., I am interested in a holistic and a mindful approach to counseling. Thanks, Barbara Goodman-Fischtrom   goodfisch@aol.com   or call at 952.288.5335.

2. Psychiatrist Wanted:
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Name: Jacque
Comment: I would like to find a lesbian psychiatrist to treat me. I have Healthpartners insurance and am not financially stable right now. I need someone to talk to, to manage my diagnoses and medication better than my family doctor does. My issues include... mental, physical and sexual abuse as a child. Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Sexual issues, and receiving the general knowledge to help myself on a daily basis get through the stress in life. I am also a lesbian myself. <wack_69@hotmail.com>

3. Forensic Psychologist  Am looking for a Forensic Psychologist, per client request per her other therapist, to do a custody evaluation so she can visit her kids w/o supervision. Person needs to be willing to interview both her and her former husband. Previous testing psychologist refused to interview former husband. Prefers East Metro but will go anywhere. Complicated case. Any other recommendations? Thanks. Christine Baldwin, Psy.D., LP, 651.231.4557,  drchristinebaldwin@comcast.net
   
4. Insomnia SpecialtyDoes anyone know a psychiatrist who is especially savvy about insomnia? I have a client with severe insomnia complicated by anxiety. Thanks for any referrals you might know.Jill Strunk  jillstrunk@msn.com
952.936.7547
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Job Posting:

Wayside House has two CD counselor positions open. 
Contact:  Ellie Skelton, MA, CPRP
Executive Director, Wayside House
3705 Park Center Blvd.
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
952-405-7636
ellie@waysidehouse.org
Wayside House empowers women to recover sobriety, identity, family, home and
community by providing treatment, housing and supportive services.

Conferences, Classes & Workshops:
(These notices will run here for two issues. Review past archived eNewsletters on our website for additional conferences & workshops.)

(1) Three Workshops from The Smitten Kitten, Minneapolis, MN:
Event: Anal Pleasure 101
Saturday, November 14 at 7:00pm- 8:30pm
Cost: $30

Event: G-Spot Sex Workshop with Tristan Taormino
Sunday, November 15 at 7:00pm- 8:30pm
Cost: $30

Event: Designing Your Open Relationship Workshop
wIth "Opening Up" author, Tristan Taormino"
Monday, November 16 at 7:00pm- 8:30pm
Cost: $30

(2)   6 Steps to Child Proof your Relationship: A Workshop for the GLBTQ Community
The workshop is intended for current or perspective parents who wish to learn ways to maintain a strong couple relation ship in the midst of the demands of parenting. All people are welcome. I have been researching this topic for some time, and will be presenting what I believe are the 6 essentials. While GLBTQ couples may experience the stressors of parenting just as a heterosexual couples do, this workshop will also include issues that are specific to our community ie: the lack of societal recognition/support for our families and how this can negatively impact our relationships.    
The workshop is no cost.
It is being held from 6:30pm-8:00pm on Monday Nov 2, 2009
3100 Park Ave S. MLPS MN at All God's Children MCC.
Trisha Falvey M.A., LAMFT (612) 419 8764   trisha@trishafalvey.com
(3) Beyond Terminology: Gender Inclusive Sex Education:
Thursday, October 29, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Webster Open Elementary School
425 N 5th Street, Minneapolis

Transgender and gender non-conforming students are in every classroom and every community. Sexual health education is often tied to a binary understanding of gender, rendering transgender people invisible, perpetuating health disparities, and obscuring information that applies to everyone's sexual health. Using gender inclusive strategies is essential in providing quality sex education. This training will help participants build gender competencies in sexual health education via a deep understanding of gender, curriculum adaptations, and the larger context of access and health disparities for trans youth.

For more information and to register, contact Jill Farris at 651-644-1447 x18 or  jill@moappp.org

Sponsored by Annex Teen Clinic, The Birds and Bees Project of Pro-Choice Resources, MOAPPP, Out4Good, Rainbow Health Initiative and Trans Youth Support Network.

Upcoming Events:
(events for our members & our clients)
(1) Transgender Day of Remembrance
Friday, November 20, 2009
7:00 P.M.
Spirit of the Lakes United  Church  of  Christ
2930 13th Avenue South
(NW corner of  13th  Avenue  and  Lake Street )
Minneapolis,  MN 554072

This memorial service recalls the lives of those killed in the past 12 months due to anti-transgender violence

TransVoices will sing as part of the program

For more information call Barbara Satin 612-670-1978

(2) A lesbian themed movie!
Hannahfree starring Sharon Gless:
A feature length film about a lifelong love affair between an independent spirit and the woman she calls home.
ONE SHOW ONLY
7pm. Wed., November 4, 2009
Riverview Theatre
3800 42 Avenue South, Minneapolis
$10
www.hannahfree.com
 
(3)   Minnesota OUT! Campus Conference 2009
Uniting Through Music, In Love & Without  Boundaries
MISSION: The Minnesota GLBTA Campus Alliance strives to build a statewide network of individuals and organizations working for equality and justice on issues of gender and sexual diversity; empower the voices of groups that are underserved and underrepresented in our campus communities; and create welcoming, affirming, and safe environments on college and university campuses throughout the state of Minnesota.    www.mncampusalliance.org
 
The 4th Annual Minnesota OUT! Campus Conference on November 13-15, 2009 is our premier annual statewide conference that discusses issues facing GLBTA students, staff, and faculty on college and university campuses across Minnesota.

Our theme for the 2009 event is Uniting Through Music, In Love & Without Boundaries

McNally Smith College of Music
19 Exchange Street East
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101
Friday, November 13, 2009
Uniting Through Music...
7:00 pm Registration
7:30 pm Opening Symposium
9:00 pm Entertainment
Saturday, November 14, 2009
In love...
On Saturday, join us for a community-building conference featuring keynote trainings, workshop sessions, caucus and mentorship space, and a resource fair.
9:00 am - 5:30 pm Conference Programming at McNally Smith
5:30 pm  - 8:30 pm Dinner & Break
8:30 pm  - Concert at McNally Smith
Sunday, November 15, 2009
And Without Boundaries
9:00 am - Morning Energizing Activity
10:00 am  - Networking Brunch
11:00 am Closing Keynote (Eli Clare)

*Caucuses and Voting for Regional Representatives to the Campus Alliance Executive Board will take place during the conference.
WORKSHOPS
Workshop topics will include gender identity and expression, sexuality, building and maintaining Gay Straight Alliances and other campus organizations, disability and queerness, anti-racism work, economic justice, music, art, technology, and MORE!
REGISTRATION
The registration fee is $30 for each student, faculty, and staff member, though no one will be turned away for lack of funding. You will receive information about our online registration system through Black Tie Minnesota <http://www.blacktie-minnesota.com/> .  Please keep checking your email checking back at our website for more  information about registration..

 

Office Space Available:
 Office For Rent (Part-time)Beautiful new office for rent part-time in the Shenandoah Wellness Center, a neighborhood hub of holistic health in south Minneapolis. Completely renovated building at 48th & Chicago. Possibility to do marketing with the group. My office (for rent part-time) has large windows, a high ceiling, healing themed art, and comfortable/stylish furniture suitable for individuals, couples and families. Renovated building with bamboo and cork flooring, and reused materials. A stone patio greets clients at the entrance. Pleasant waiting area, dark-stained woodwork, blue light sconces, mirrors, a kitchenette, and tiled bath. Rent is 150. for 4 weekdays a month or 300. for 8 weekdays a month. Flexible and negotiable. Possible half-days or weekend days too.Gretchen Bueide
 952.544.2288    gretchenbueide@yahoo.com

 Office for Full Rent or Sublet for a Minimum of 3 days/week
Available Nov. 15th. St Louis Park - Miracle Mile Center(Hwy 100 & Excelsior Blvd)This approximately 10 x 12 ' 2nd floor office has lots of natural light and is part of an attractive suite, shared with other experienced, friendly therapists. The location is very accessible, and it is on a bus line with lots of parking. Total rent is $610 with phone line included. Other amenities include: Fully furnished waiting room with gas fireplace, Free parking, Fax machine, Copier, and all paper and toner, Conference room, Wireless Internet, Water dispenser (cold and hot for tea/ chocolate), All utilities, Elevator.Please contact Kathleen Lowry,    
 lowrykathleen@hotmail.com or 952-270-1654

Loring Park 
Beautiful individual office suite with lots of windows, a working fireplace, hardwood floors, 15 feet by 26 feet in a 1932 mansion, completely updated. Rent is $900 per month, including all expenses. Location is just south of downtown Minneapolis on Ridgewood Ave. near Loring Park, with easy freeway access. There are 6 experienced psychologists in the building on the same floor, all in individual practices but with much collaboration.Contact Scott Thorpe at 612.746.1044 for additional rental information; or call Roni Ahern at 612.872.8227 with questions about the working environment.

 Office Sublet Available November 1  
Two-office suite with new carpet, fresh paint and furnishings, waiting room and small kitchen. Located on bus lines near Snelling and University in well-maintained 3-story Hamline Park Plaza professional building with many therapists, body workers, and Hamline University administration. Building is fully accessible with attached free parking ramp and its own private garden. Reasonable rent includes phone, fax, internet, office equipment and property liability insurance. Contact Deb Rich, PhD, LP: 651.431.8506. Flexible! Attractive!

Convenient! Office Space Available
Perfect for starting or growing your business!
 Rent by the hour, day or month!
 Sunny, furnished office available immediately in renovated turn-of-the century building.
 Share a warm and inviting, professional office suite with 3 other offices.
 Fax/copy machine, waiting room, porch, and private backyard and patio are among the
  amenities.+Heat/utilities are paid.
 Convenient S. Mpls location near Lyndale & 35th Street. Easy access to downtown, 35W, and 94.
FFI: Sandee at 612.823.2063.

Prime St. Paul Office for Sublet:
Spacious, newly furnished office on Grand Avenue available for sublet 2 to 3 days per week. (My schedule is flexible - choose your preferred days.) Ideal location near intersection of Grand Avenue and I-35E in beautiful, professional building with parking lot. Includes fax and cable Internet. $140/day. Will reduce rate for subletting more than one day. This is a wonderful opportunity for someone with a part-time practice.FFI: Karen Wright, MA, LPC / 651-399-1713 /
karen@benevolentjourney.com

LGBT News Bits:

Girl in tuxedo denied a place in
school yearbook   
 October 2009
By Chris Joyner, USA TODAY

JACKSON, Miss. - Veronica Rodriguez describes her daughter, 17-year-old Ceara Sturgis, as "a perfect child": a straight-A student, a goalie on the soccer team, a trumpet player in the band and active in Students Against Destructive Decisions.

Sturgis also is gay and feels more comfortable in boys' clothes, her mother says. So Rodriguez supported her daughter's decision to wear a tuxedo, rather than the drape customary for girls, when she had her senior portrait made in July. Now she is battling officials at Wesson Attendance Center in the Copiah County (Miss.) School District. Rodriguez said she received a letter from the school in August stating that only boys could wear tuxedos and have since refused to include the photo in the school yearbook.

The conflict is one of several this year involving how school districts handle cross-dressing students.

"The yearbook is not for the parents or the teachers. It's for the students," Rodriguez said. "She's not a troublemaker. She is gay."  Superintendent Ricky Clopton said the school district's attorney has assured him they are within their rights to exclude the photo.  Sturgis said she has received support from classmates and people around the nation. "It's really an amazing feeling," she said.

The Mississippi chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union warned the district that they are violating Sturgis' constitutionally protected freedom of expression, legal director Kristy Bennett said.  Candace Gingrich of the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, said it is not uncommon for LGBT students to clash with school officials on this issue. "It's a matter of self-expression," she said. Other school conflicts this year:

· In Waldorf, Md., a Westlake High senior was denied the option of wearing a tuxedo for her yearbook photo. Her mother complained, and the school reversed the decision after discovering other schools had allowed it, schools spokeswoman Katie O'Malley-Simpson said.

· In Dunnellon, Fla., a 16-year-old boy was sent home in March for violating Marion County School District dress code by wearing makeup, high-heeled boots and a bra. The policy on the district website states that students must dress "in keeping with their gender." Kathy Richardson, of the school district, said the boy's cross-dressing was an isolated event.

· In Lebanon, Ind., school officials in March reversed a ban on cross-dressing when a female senior decided to wear a tux to the prom. The girl sued the district, but the issue was settled when a "gender-neutral" policy was adopted. "We were OK with making that switch," Lebanon High Principal Kevin O'Rourke said.

In Sturgis' case, the deadline for yearbook photos was Sept. 30. Rodriguez hopes the school will reconsider.

Contributing: Marquita Brown. Joyner and Brown report for The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

(2) National FEDERAL Resource Center for LGBT Elders!
OCTOBER 22, 2009
Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced plans to establish the nation's first national resource center to assist communities across the country in their efforts to provide services and supports for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO MICHAEL ADAMS, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND
TRANSGENDER ELDERS (SAGE):

SAGE, the entire LGBT aging field, and  all those who work with and care for LGBT older adults, are thrilled by this announcement. This resource center is a truly historic recognition of the needs of LGBT older
adults across the country community and will make a huge difference in the lives of so many seniors. For too long, programs that serve LGBT older people have been ignored and shut out from most public funding, and there
has been no federal funding to help mainstream aging services become educated about and sensitive to the unique needs of  LGBT older adults. With this announcement, the Department of Health and Human Services and
Obama Administration have taken a big step in the right direction to correct that wrong as a matter of both policy and funding. We look forward to working with HHS and the Obama Administration on this and other
programs that provide much-needed resources to one of the most marginalized  older populations and one of the most vulnerable populations in the LGBT community.

SAGE is the world's oldest and largest non-profit agency dedicated to serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older people. Since its inception, SAGE has pioneered programs and services for the aging LGBT
community, provided technical assistance and training to expand opportunities for LGBT older people across the country, and provided a national voice on LGBT aging issues. In 2005 SAGE became the first official LGBT delegate at a White House Conference on Aging. In 2008, SAGE presented its Fourth National Conference on LGBT Aging, entitled "It's
About Time," sponsored by AARP. For more information, please visit www.sageusa.org.

CONTACT:
Cathy Renna, 917-757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com
Laura McGinnis, 202-596-0402, laura@rennacommunications.com

2010 Conference Notes:

(1) Do you have a LGBTQ mental health topic that is on the edge or of interest to our peers and allies? Wanta talk about it?
Present at the LGBTQ Mental Health Issues MIDWEST Conference at UM!       

Date: Friday, March 26, 2010!
PROPOSAL FORMS ARE  NOW AVAILABLE!
Do you want to present a workshop or facilitate a panel at the Conference or know someone in the country or world who would? Workshop Proposal Applications are NOW available for download at our website:
www.lgbttherapists.org
Proposal due date is November 6, 2009

(2) Help us publicize the conference through your website.
If you have a website, would you be willing to post information about our 2010 Conference and put a link to the Network for more information? We will supply you with the content. PLEASE contact Dennis Christian, Conference Publicity Chair at <support@dennischristian.com> 

(3) Serve on A Committee:
Network Members may participate in the Conference Planning in the following ways:
1. General Conference Planning Committee, Co-Chairs: Irene Greene (irenegreene@earthlink.net) & Anne Phibbs, UM GLBTA Programs Office)
2. Program Committee, Chair, Bonnie Burg (bburglcsw@aol.com)
3. Community Liaison Committee, Chair, Owen Konecnik (owen@counselorminneapolis.com)
4. Thursday Night Welcome Event Committee, Chair Dennis Christian (support@dennischristian.com)
5. Resource Fair Committee, Co-Chairs Mindy Benowitz, (mbenowitz@aol.com) & Owen Konecnik, (owen@counselorminneapolis.com)

Sign Up.  Be Involved.  Spread the Word. Think about doing a workshop proposal. WE WILL HAVE MORE COMMITTEES & DO NEED MORE HELP!

WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"When you feel at ease with yourself, you become truly free."
                                                                            - Terri Trespicio

Welcome to the MN LGBTQA Therapists eNewsletter of "The Network." The Network is a MN based grass-roots group of queer & allied mental health therapists, students in mental health related fields, and community mental-health related agencies. Our group shares information and resources that impact our varied work in the mental health fields and that is unique to the particular needs of the LGBTQ communities we live in and serve. We welcome submissions to this eNewsletter that are pertinent to mental health and LGBTQ issues ! All Network members are welcome to contribute to this bi-weekly eNewsletter. Just send your referral question, announcement, member accomplishment, space available information, event, conference, workshop, group information, or other pertinent notice to irenegreene@earthlink.net.

The MN LGBT Therapist eNewsletter is sent out every second Tuesday of the month.  All responses to questions, ads, workshops, etc. should be emailed directly back to the contact person in the notice. If you want your name added or deleted from the Network email list, please contact us.  Please note that if you do decide to delete your email, you will no longer receive general Network communications, such as event announcements.

If you want to become a member of this organization please visit:  <http://www.LGBTTherapists.org>
Thank you! Irene Greene, MN LGBT Therapist eNewsletter Coordinator