Lesbian Cancer Survivor Group

Are you a lesbian cancer survivor?
⇒ The Cancer Support Network is hosting online and teleconference support groups for lesbian
and bi-sexual cancer survivors.
⇒ The six-week pilot support groups are being held this fall and will be facilitated by an
experienced lesbian peer support facilitator. All you need is a Telephone or Internet Access to
connect from the comfort of your own home.
If you are interested in learning more, or participating in this pilot, please contact:

Kathy Thompson
OBCIEP Project Coordinator
Phone Toll Free: 1-888-837-9071
E-mail: kathy@cancersupportnetwork.ca
Website: www.cancersupportnetwork.ca

The Ontario Breast Cancer Information Exchange Partnership (OBCIEP) is hosting the Cancer
Support Network pilot of teleconference and online support groups with other partners that include
the Canadian Cancer Society, the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada, Lung Cancer Canada,
Ovarian Cancer Canada, Wellspring and the Odette (Sunnybrook) Cancer Centre

Mabel League Important Dates – 2008 AGM

By going to your AGM you help keep a good organization healthy. 

www.mabelleague.com

The Mabel League is a lesbian fast pitch softball league in Vancouver, BC.

Same Sex Dance Classes

Not so strictly ballroom holds same-sex dance classes in Vancouver.  Their website is: www.gayvancouver.net/nssb/

No classes  Monday June 9, 16 and Saturday June 14.
REVIEW classes taught during the past 7 weeks. 
NEW 4 WEEK CLASS  JUNE 28 – JULY 19

*****************************************************************

10:45 am – 11:15 am*
Intro/Newcomers Quick Step
*note: due to the small size of this class, it  will be held for 30, not 45 minutes

11:15 AM – 12:00 Noon
Intro Salsa!!   Salsa dancers, come join us!!

Cost:  Free to current students
Special drop in fee for those with experience in any/all of above dances.

Where:  WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac Street, Vancouver (@ Victoria Drive)
Time:  7:30 doors open; 8:00 – 9:00 Power Dating; 9:00 – 1:00 a.m. Dancing with DJ Susan Yeager
Cost:  $10 – $20 sliding scale – Tickets available at the door
For more information:  contact Tracey at gregariousgirlproductions@gmail.com or 604-523-9877

Herstory: the Gazebo Connection

The Gazebo Connection organizes social and cultural events of particular interest to lesbians over the age of 40 (in Vancouver). Visiting their site recently, they have a relatively new piece up on how the organization got formed.  For the remainder of the story, or a listing of Gazebo events, please visit their site at: http://www.gazeboconnection.com

In the early nineteen eighties if you were a lesbian woman and wanted to meet other lesbian women your option was limited to the few gay bars or clubs that were operating at that time. They were dirty, dark establishments in rough areas of the city; the bathrooms had stalls where doors where non-existent. These were hardly places where lesbian women could have a quiet drink, pleasant conversation and feel good about themselves. These were also “Anita Bryant” times, where some women were fearful of being outed and worried about the ramifications of being labeled a lesbian in their workplace. It was for many of these reasons that Marsha Trew believed that there was a great need for a lesbian organization as an alternative to the club scene. As Marsha was new to the city, and knew very few other lesbians, she related her ideas to Paulette Thomson. Paulette, like Marsha, felt a place was needed where gay women could meet, socialize, and feel good about their surroundings. Paulette asked some of her friends to a meeting with Marsha. The group, consisting of Marsha and Paulette, Sharyn Collis, Judith Shaver, and Val Fortey, spent the next few months organizing a first event. More at: http://www.gazeboconnection.com/history.html

IWD Concert – Kim Kuzma with Sugarbeach

SATURDAY MARCH 8 CELEBRATE !!! ‘INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY’ with the fabulous … KIM KUZMA and guests …

SUGARBEACH (The band) special installment … featuring 3 dusted off and better than ever!! former  MISTRESS members … the outstanding/powerhouse vocals of  Marlee Walchuk the beautiful harmonies and keyboard stylings of Tully Callender the serious rocker chick guitar licks of Rona Goodman rounded off by the always stellar drumming of Lisa Lambert and a very special…  

MELISSA ETHERIDGE TRIBUTE  by yet another former ‘MISTRESS’ member … JANIS MULLAN opening set with … BONNIE STE-CROIX an incomprable evening of outstanding women’s music and merriment!!! The Fairview Pub … 898 West Broadway Doors: 8:30pm  Show: 9:30pm advance tix $15 available @ Little Sisters 1238 Davie St. *get tix early!! always a sell out! http://www.kimkuzma.com/ http://www.sugarbeachmusic.com/   

(Girlgigs productions – girlgigs@yahoo.com) 

Monthly Dreamweaver Women’s Dances – Vancouver

We are happy to announce that we have just confirmed a location for a dance in
Vancouver on March 15th!!
 
The new management at the Howard Johnson’s (formerly the Biltmore) has offered us
a monthly Saturday night for a women’s over-30’s dance. The lounge has an intimate
setting with couches and a good sized dance floor. This is an opportunity to
establish a monthly space for women in a prime location.  There is plenty of free
parking at the hotel and across the street. (more…)

Vancouver Outdoor Club for Women Xmas Dance

VANCOUVER OUTDOOR CLUB FOR WOMEN XMAS DANCE
Saturday, December 8th

125 W. 17th at Main st. ( just up from the Heritage Hall) 7-9 Appetizers
9-1 am Dance with DJ Joan. (fantastic dj!!)
Free for VOCW members; 5 dollars for guests
You can becom a member at the door –  20 dollars for the year.

More information: http://www.outdoorwomen.ca/

Human Rights Campaign (Holiday) Shopping Guide

People often ask me for advice on what brands of computers and other equipment to buy. During the holiday season, a lot of people buy gadgets and gifts. In general I usually recommend good solid brands I’ve had direct experience with like Hewlett Packard or Dell.

Recently, I also came across a social evaluation of these products that I found helpful. The Human Rights Campaign, a non-profit in the US, has evaluated a large number of US companies on their level of respect for gay and lesbian people’s human rights in the workplace. They classify the companies in three groups, basically ones that are doing a good job, ones that are getting better and ones that are awful. Here’s a link to their technology section. You can click on other categories from that page to see the ratings of other items, including cars, food, hotels and more. If you click on a company’s scores you will see why they scored as they did.  There’s also a printable pdf version you can take shopping with you.

I was pleased to see that my old standby recommendations (HP and Dell) had a 100 pt rating.  However, other products I’ve purchased such from Polaroid, McAfee and Nokia were rated a lot lower. McAfee wouldn’t be my first choice to recommend in antivirus software anyhow. Only Norton has been worse in my experience in conflicts with other software. Lexmark also has 100 pts, but I can’t recommend their printers, whose driver software I’ve found to be buggy and intrusive, and whose ink is quite expensive. 

Chicks with Picks Xmiss benefit for Positive Womens Network

SUNDAY DECEMBER 9
A CHICKS WITH PICKS XMISS
CHICKS ROCK FOR PWN!!!
annual  POSTIVE WOMEN’S NETWORK Christmas benefit
featuring performances by … SANDY SCOFIELD  SHELLEY LENNOX  BONNIE STE-CROIX  LEELA GILDAY  MELISA DEVOST  KATE REID   JILL NEWMAN  JOANNA CHAPMAN-SMITH  YVETTE NARLOCK  SUGARBEACH  CRIS DERKSEN  NADINE DAVENPORT CAROLE COTE  ROBIN TOMA  PASCALE GOODRICH-BLACK  and a very special guest appearance by  … you’ll have to come to find out …
The Railway Club …. 579 Dunsmuir St.
Doors: 7pm  Show: 8pm
Admission: $5 with non-perishable food or bath items or both!!
Please join the girlgig production crew and line-up of multi talented artists who have come together to celebrate and contribute to this wonderful and important cause … always a huge success & sooooooooooooo much fun!!!!!
ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NSSB Dance Classes – Monday Nights & Saturday Days

New classes are back! (5 week session)
It’s back to 45 minute classes this time around to try and fill at least some of your requests, keeping in mind the various levels of experience. More beginners classes in the New Year. Be sure to sign up. You asked for it! Classes could be cancelled if registration is low.Monday November 19 through December 17 (5 weeks)
Let’s Dance Studio, 927 Granville – 2nd Floor
Instructors: Ian Kirkonnel and Murray Schellenberg

7:00 – 7:45 pm Intermediate Level: Night Club 2 Step with Ian Kirkonnel
7:45 – 8:30 pm Level 2: Slow Waltz (for our newer students and those who haven’t danced waltz for awhile) Murray Schellenberg
8:30 – 9:15 pm Beginner Level: Samba – scintillating, sexy, smooth Latin Dance!Saturday November 24 through December 15 (5 weeks)
Legion Hall, 6th & Commercial, 2nd floor (go through auditorium door on street level)
Instructor: Geraldine Goyer

10:30 – 11:15 am Level 2: West Coast Swing (continuation of present class; others welcome to join)
11:15 – 12:00 pm – Intermediate Level: Rumba – the dance of love. For all who have had at least one or more classes in Rumba
12:00 – 12:45 pm Beginner Level: International Fox TrotFees:
$40 per lesson or $12 drop in
$70 for 2 lessons Your choice: Mondays, Saturdays or combination of both
$100 for 3 lessons Your choice: Mondays, Saturdays or combination of both

The Lesbian Show Live at The Rhizome Cafe

THE LESBIAN SHOW LIVE
CFRO 102.7fm co-op radio live broadcast
Saturday 3rd November
The Rhizome Cafe 317 East Broadway
Doors open 7pm – Show starts 8PM     $7-$10 (more…)

Rhizome Cafe October Events

All events held at the Rhizome Cafe – 317 E Broadway, Vancouver.

The Rhizome is owned and run by a lesbian couple and has a number of great community events. This month, LQ recommends you check out ‘board games are so gay’, the speed dating for queer women over 35 , women musicians and women in municipal politics events.

One Cool Word Button-Making Fundraiser
Thursday, October 4th, 7:00Make your own buttons and enjoy acoustic music by local talent.  All to support One Cool Word, a local publication packed with art, writing and music from Greater Vancouverites.$5 at the door.  Button-making $2-$5. 

Art Opening:  People’s History of Canada Poster Project Launch
Friday, October 5th, 7:00Join the artists and organizers for discussion, music and celebration of the People’s History of Canada Poster Project.Free

Kate Reid Presents:  Women in the Round
Saturday, October 6th, 8:00Kate performs with Leela Gilday, Jess Hill, and Kate Polsky.$7-$10 sliding scale                

NOTE:  Rhizome’s Thanksgiving holiday hours—We will be closed on Sunday, October 7th and will reopen on Tuesday, October 9th at 4:00pm. 

Women in Municipal Politics
Thursday, October 11th, 7:00 COPE hosts a panel discussion on how to get more women involved in municipal politics.  Speakers will include Ellen Woodsworth, Sue Hammel, Loretta Woodcock, Fatima Jaffer, Meena Wong and Sharon Gregson. Free

Board Games are So Gay!
Friday, October 12th, 7:00pm We’re back for another round! Join us for a night of queer-friendly board games!  DJ Julie and friends will be spinning tunes.  Bring your favourite games or use ours.  A fundraiser for the film She’s a Boy I Knew.  $3-$5 suggested donation but no one turned away 

In Concert:

Blue Island Trio
Saturday, October 13th, 8:00 Foot-stomping Hawaiian bluegrass, blues-inflected melodies and a twisted rhythmic sensibility characterize this band’s music.  With Tim Tweedale on lap steel guitar, David Spidel on the double bass and Brendan Krieg on drums.$5 at the door. 

Canadian Premier:  Young, Jewish and Left
Thursday, October 18th, 7:00This new documentary film provides a fresh and constructive take on race, spirituality, Zionism, queerness, resistance, justice and liberation.  The screening will be followed by a short program of speakers and performances.  Presented by Jewish Anarchist Youth and Jewish Voice for Peace—Seattle. $5-$10 sliding scale, but no one turned away for lack of funds.

Spell-Off:  A Fundraiser for Towards Aboriginal Health and Healing
Friday, October 19th, doors open at 7:00A real, live spelling bee with judges, spellers, and cheering from the crowd!  All to raise money for Towards Aboriginal Health and Healing, a project of Vancouver Native Health—Positive Outlook and AIDS Vancouver.$5-$20 sliding scale, but no one turned away for lack of funds.

In Concert:  Navaz, East of West
Saturday, October 20th, 8:00Vocalist Neda Jalali, guitarist Eric Tompkins, and percussionist Saeed Moeini present an evening of Persian fusion—from Sufi chants to original compositions.$5-$7 sliding scale 

Art Opening:  Soliloquy—Paintings by Dafne Blanco
Thursday, October 25th, 7:00Join us for a celebration of Dafne’s art (see show description above). Lorena Jara Diaz will read from her poetry book project:  “Draft Notes for a Bolero” (Apuntes para un bolero).Free 

Café Rebelde:

Chile—The Barbarian Good Democracy
Friday, October 26th, 7:00La Surda Latin American Collective and the Coordinadora Café Rebelde present a panel and multimedia presentation onnChile’s current social, economic and political situation, including student and social movements and the struggle of the Mapuche people.  Followed by music and dancing.Free

Film Screening and Pirate Party:  Girl King
Saturday, October 27th, 8:00Strap on your swords, beards and corsets for a special screening of “Girl King,” a gender-bending pirate epic by local director Ileana Pietrobruno. Some mature content! Stay afterwards for a piratical party with rum specials and booty-shakin’ DJs. This is a fundraiser for a legal name change, with further proceeds going to trans community initiatives. $3-$5 sliding scale 

Workshops and Other Happenings 
In Our Meeting Room:  The People’s Media Group Wednesday, October 17th, 7:00pm
Join the People’s Media Group in our meeting room to discuss the topics the mainstream media avoids.  Bring laptops, interesting facts, newspapers, etc.Free

In Our Meeting Room:  Herstory Café—Visualizing Nursing in B.C.
Wednesday Oct 24th, 7:00Dr. Linda Quiney discusses issues involved in selecting images for a photographic history.  For more info: www.herstorycafe.ca Free 
Seamrippers Craft Socials
Every other Tuesday at 7:00 Bring a project to work on!  October 2nd—embroidery; October 16th—knitting; October 30th—Halloween animal hoods, tails and earsFree 

Intuitive Readings
Every Tuesday, 3:00 to 5:00 Roz Shakespeare and friends provide intuitive readings at Rhizome Café.  $20 for 20 minutes, $45 for 45 minutes.

 A Glimpse into November 
Queer Speed Dating/Friending Extravaganza!
Friday, November 2nd, registration at 6:30We’ll have two “tracks” going at the same time:  One for young queers looking to meet rad new folks; and one for queer women 35 years or older.  So much speedy conversation at one time, and all in a comfortable, non-threatening environment!  Save the date, and keep an eye on http://three-minutes.blogspot.com/ for more information. By donation

Online support group for LGTB people caring for a person with a mental illness

The British Columbia Schizophrenia Society is beginning a new project for the LGTB community. The project will provide private online support groups for LGTB persons who care about/for a loved one with a mental illness, such as psychosis, depression, mood disorders, anxiety disorders or schizophrenia.

Family members and supporters of persons with mental illness sometimes feel isolated and disconnected with services, and can benefit from peer support. LGTB families may be reluctant to access resources, fearing discrimination. ‘Family member’ in this context means our kinds of families – ex-partners, old friends, room-mates, lovers as well as siblings, cousins, parents, wives and husbands.

The group is an online bulletin board, that is only visible to registered group members, open 24 hours a day. It’s moderated, and you don’t have to use your real name to increase your privacy. It’s meant to be a safe place to discuss the challenges, experiences, questions and successes that go with supporting someone with a mental illness.

The project is looking for volunteer LGTB family members/supporters who are willing to participate in the online group over the first two months, in order to get it established. Volunteer commitment would involve logging in to the group every couple of days at their convenience and initiating or participating in discussion. Participants are welcome to use their real name or a pseudonym and can live anywhere in BC.

Information on resources available to help people caring for a partner, friend or other family member with a mental illness will be provided as well.

For more information, please contect the project coordinator at psychosis@bcss.org  or register on the system at www.support.bcss.org Note, the group has just been launched, so there might not be much discussion yet, but you can help out by initiating a topic or responding to one to get things started. There are also some good resources already posted in the group space. The coordinator is an out lesbian and can help refer people to lesbian and LGTB friendly resources.

Information on services for family members is available at the BCSS Website at www.bcss.org 

Funding for this project was provided by BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information

Mabel League Finals Tournament

Finals for the Mabel League is happening the weekend of the 19-22 at Gordon Park (Friday games may be in other locations) For more information and location maps see: http://mabelleague.com/fields3

Vancouver Dyke March

The Vancouver Dyke March and Festival Society (VDMFS) is a grassroots, non-profit, volunteer-driven organization which, with energy, love and purpose, plans and produces the annual Dyke March and Festival event.

The VDMFS hosts a variety of community-based fundraising events year-round and aspires to act as a resource and inspiration through visibility, education, outreach and action.
The Dyke March and Festival are a proud statement and celebration, increasing the presence and visibility of queer women, their families and supporters, during Pride Week in Vancouver.

The Dyke March is participatory, recognizable, inclusive, accessible, and empowering, and strives to grow in numbers and representation each year.

The Festival is a free, fun, safe, celebratory, all-ages gathering of diverse queer women, performers, and allies, from within and beyond Vancouver.

When: Saturday August 4, 2007

MARCH
12:00pm
McSpadden Park – Victoria Dr. and McSpadden (at 4th)

FREE FESTIVAL TO FOLLOW
1:00pm
Grandview Park

Information: http://www.vancouverdykemarch.com/

Pictures from the 2007 Dyke March: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fionab/sets/72157601442608634/