Frontlines_[v9.no2].1999.05.pdf

Title: Frontlines_[v9.no2].1999.05.pdf
extracted text: Property of t e Center

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OUTFRONT

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ront ,nes

NEWS FROM OUTFRONT MINNESOTA

M I NN E SOTA

MEMBERS CAN sueeORI OUIFRONT
New membership drive will boost political clout

1r

here's not only safety in numbers.
There's strength. That's why OutFront
Minnesota is launching a new campaign
to become a membership organization,
representing the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied community across
Minnesota.
"Legislators often ask our lobbyist how many
people OutFront represents," says OutFront
Deve l opment
"Lawmakers want
Director
Gregg
to know how many
White. "And they
people care enough don't just mean, how
many GLBT people
to give money and
are
there
m
show support for
Minnesota- which
of course, is impossiGLBT civil rights."
ble to estimate.
Lawmakers want to know how many people
care enough to give money and show their support for GLBT civil rights in Minnesota."
For as little as $35, individuals can receive all
the prerogatives of OutFront membership
while
strengthening and
supporting
OutFront's work in places ranging from the
state capitol to rural communities.
Year-long household memberships are available for $50; student memberships are $20; and
a special low-income rate is also available.

Clout and Our
Although 34 percent of OutFront's $507,000
budget in 1998 came from donations, fewer
than 800 donors helped raise that financial support last year. By creating affordable memberME MB ER SH IP CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

University of M innesot a GLBT Programs Office Direct or Beth Ze msky (left) was among
t hose who addressed th e Out Front 5 conference; at rig ht, Miss Ri chfield 1981 pa ls around
with OutFront Mi nnesota Executive Direct or Ann DeGroot at the Wi ll mar conference.

OUTFRONT 5 BRINGS TOGETHER 127
Next year's conference set for Rochester

I

n March, OutFront Minnesota held
its annual statewide conference in
Willmar; the OutFront 5 conference
was a great success bringing together
127 GLBT and allied individuals. The
conference provided important education to the local community as well:
The West Central Tribune carried a
front-page story on the conference in
which two local community members
discussed their experiences living and
working as gay- and lesbian-identified
people in Willmar. Acting Mayor
Verna Kelley officially welcomed the

group to Willmar on Saturday morning, and local radio stations carried
stories about the conference.
On Friday evening the conference
began with a look at the multi-issue
organizing that is the GLBT movement,
a presentation called "Chronicles of a
Movement." Other highlights included
two powerful keynote presentations, 17
workshops, a media training, and
regional planning sessions.
Plan now to attend next year's conference in Rochester, on March 17, 18
and 19, 2000.

OUl'F.IO Nt SE.IVlCES

OutFront's 24-hour lnfoLine can take your questions

A

suburban teen calls at 2 a.m.,
looking for advice on coming
out. The 10:35 call is a parent,
looking for information on transgender issues for her child, while the
call five minutes later is a visitor
seeking the nearest women's bookstore. And the 4 o'clock call on
Friday afternoon is a pair of newcomers, looking for gay-friendly
places to visit.
Where do they call? OutFront
Minnesota's InfoLine, the only
statewide service that can provide quick,
easy voice-automated information for
all these callers and more. In development for the past year, the InfoLine has
been updated and extensively expanded
to include information on gyms and
GLBT legal services, coffee houses and
counseling services, Pride celebrations
and PFLAG meetings.
"In just the last three months of
1998," says OutFront Executive
Director Ann DeGroot, "We received
more than 13,000 calls. Many of those
folks were seeking basic information
about our community. Those calls are
best served by the Info Line."

Awealth of information
The 24-hour line (612-612-822-0127,
ext. 0, or in greater Minnesota, 800-

800-03 50, ext. 0), is a confidential, easily navigated guide to Minnesota
GLBT resources. Although callers in
crisis can opt to be connected with specially trained, GLBT-friendly counselors, most people using the InfoLine
bypass this option to access the following automated options:
• A listing of OutFront staff members and services, including its AntiViolence, Public Policy, Legal,
Development,
Volunteer,
and
Community Organizing
and Education programs;
• Visitor information,
rangmg from selected
restaurant and hotel listings to suggestions for
sightseeing in Minneapolis and St. Paul;
• Coming-out and
support
resources.
From gay men's Alcoholics
Anonymous groups to the University of
Minnesota's Program in Human
Sexuality and Chrysalis Center for
Women, a thorough roster of helpful
resources;
• Youth, college, senior, and family programs. From education to entertainment, there's a wealth of options for
all ages and identities here;
• Listings of community organiza-

OutFront Minnesota is a not-for profit 501 (c)4 lobbying organization supported primarily by contributions from individuals. Donations to OutFront Minnesota are not tax deductible.
OutFront Minnesota Community Services in a not-for-profit
501 (c)3 direct service organization supported primarily
by funding from the United Way, foundations, and select
government contracts as well as some fees for services
provided . Donations to OutFront Minnesota Community
Services are tax deductible as charitable contributions
as allowed under federal law.
OutFront Minnesota 's mission is to eliminate heterosexism
and homophobia in Minnesota.

tions, special events, well-being
resources, and religious groups.
You'll find details on welcoming congregations,
HIV/AIDS,
national
GLBT groups and the local Pride festivals among these listings.

Confidential access
On average, between 100 and 200 people call the InfoLine each week, according to OutFront Deputy Director
Doug F ederhart.
"If you're 1n cns1s,
there's always the
option to speak
with
someone,"
Federhart
says.
"But if you're shy
or scared of talking
with someone about
GLBT issues, you
can call and get
appropriate
prerecorded answers to your questions.
And it's available 24 hours a day."
Individuals seeking additional information about a group or program often
have an additional option: a seamless
transfer to the direct line of that group.
"It's a wealth of information," says
DeGroot, "and we hope people-from
parents to visitors to longtime community members-find it useful."
,0

OutFront Minnesota Board of Directors
Marjorie Cowmeadow
Chair
Phillip Voight
Secretary
Jim Quinn
Treasurer
Monica Bryand
Julia Classen
Steve Figlmiller

PAGE 2

Rebecca Gaspard
Vicki Johnson
Gil Kiekenapp

Frontlines is published monthly by
OutFront Minnesota
310 E. 38th St., Suite 204
Minneapolis, MN 55409-1337.
Copyright 1999.

Gus Ljungkull
Donn Poll

FRONTLINES
News from OutFront Minnesota

Chris Reisdorf
Robert Sykora

Editor: Joel Hoekstra
Graphic Designer: Kim Dalros

CL I P AND RESPONSE FORM
Outfront Minnesota Annual Membership:
Individual: $35
Household: $50
Low Income and Student: $20

$_ _ __

Effective Educator Trainings:
St. Paul, May 7 & 8

$30

$_ _ __

$30

$_ _ __

* Add $10 late registration fee after April 29

Duluth, May 21 & 22
* Add

$10 late registration fee after May 10

Name ________________________
Partner________________________
Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

TOTAL$ _ _ _ __
Check Enclosed $_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Charge to my VISA or MasterCard:

City_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ State ____Zip _ _ _ _ _ __

Account# _____________

Home Phone (_ _ )_ _ _ _ _ _ __

Card Expiration Date:_ _ _ _ _ _ __

OutFront Minnesota is a not-for profit 501 (c)4 lobbying organization supported primarily by contributions
from individuals. Donations to OutFront Minnesota are not tax deductible.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

area law schools. As a membership association of legal professionals and law
students working in and for the GLBT
communities, the MLBA recognizes the
need for GLBT law students and young
attorneys to connect with GLBT legal
professionals on a variety of issues.
Nearly 60 people attended the event.
For more information about the
MLBA, call 612-822-0127 (800-8000350), ext. 103.

Gay Travel Fair Comes to Minneapolis
Touting guest houses in Florida and
Mediterranean cruise ships, more than
100 exhibitors will be on hand to provide details on vacationing in exotic
locations at the IGLTA Travel Fair, to
be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday,
May 15, at Calhoun Square in Uptown
Minneapolis. This event, which is free
and open to the public, is being held
m conjunction with the annual

International Gay & Lesbian Travel
Association convention in downtown
Minneapolis.

Safe Zone at Gustavus Adolphus
Administrators, students and faculty at
Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter
learned about GLBT issues April 12
during a trammg by OutFront
Community Organizer Scott Fearing
and Intern Kami Fisher. The first of the
two and a half hour trainings was
designed for administration, staff and
faculty, the second for student leaders,
including advisors from the campus
dormitories. Nearly 90 individuals went
through the trainings, which were the
initial event for the new campus "Safe
Zone" program, which raises awareness
about the gay community.
Transgender Minnesotans Meet
In February, OutFront Minnesota staff
PAGE 3

and members of the transgender community began a series of meetings organizing transgender people around possible legislative challenges. They also
discussed ways in which OutFront
Minnesota can advocate more strongly
for the transgender community. These
meetings are ongoing. For further
information, call 612-822-0127 (800800-0350), ext. 109.

Maplewood Examines Human Rights
In early April, the Maplewood Human
Relations Commission met with
OutFront staff, to plan a training that
will be offered to community leaders in
June. The purpose of the April meeting
was to examine the training agenda, discuss attendees for the training and
introduce the entire commission to
OutFront and its mission. OutFront
Community Organizer Scott Fearing
was very pleased with the meeting:

MEMBERSHIP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ships, OutFront hopes to cultivate a
list of supporters that tops 1,000and eventually 10,000. "A thousand is
a just a place to start," White says.
Membership also has its privileges.
OutFront members will receive
Frontlines, the organization's monthly
newsletter, as well as a wallet-sized
card indicating their membership.
The card qualifies members for
reduced rates on fees for such
OutFront programs as Effective
Educator Trainings and the annual
spring OutFront conference.
Additionally, those who sign up
before Dec. 31, 1999, will receive a 12month subscription to Our magazine,
valued at $2 4. Current Our subscribers
will receive a year-long extension of
their subscription.
"We feel that Our covers our
community on national GLBT
issues appropriately, and we hope our
Frontlines newsletter will do the same
for local issues," White says.
The new membership campaign is
a sign ofOutFront's continued growth
and development in recent years,
according to Executive Director Ann

DeGroot. Such groups as the
Minnesota Family Council and the
Minnesota chapter of the Christian
Coalition use their membership rolls
to influence the Legislature and the
media. The Human Rights
Campaign and the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force are among the
national organizations that use their
membership numbers to their advantage in discussions of issues impacting
the GLBT community.
"Signing up members will be particularly significant to my work at
the state legislature," says OutFront
Lobbyist C. Scott Cooper. "Being
able to tally up members gives
OutFront added political clout."
But membership will also give
contributing Minnesotans a sense
that they've got a personal investment in an organization that fights
for GLBT civil rights. "It's all part
of our new image and stepped up
political presence in the state,"
DeGroot says. "Now community
members can belong to OutFront
just as we belong to and respond to
the community."
~

"Maplewood is to be commended
for its thoughtful, proactive
action, and its desire to be educated about its GLBT community members."

wide town meeting with the
national leadership of the
Millenium March on Washington
at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 13.
The meeting will be held in the
auditorium of the Sabathani
Center, 310 38th St. E.,
Minneapolis, and will be an open
forum regarding the March, which
is scheduled for April 30, 2000.

Morris Fills with Pride
University of Minnesota-Morris
held its annual Pride Weekend on
April 16-18. The three-day celebration included a wide variety of
events, including a keynote
address by Gender Education
Center Director Debra Davis, a
showing of the film "My Life in
Pink," informative workshops
(including one on internalized
homophobia
offered
by
OutFront), and a Saturday night
cabaret and drag show.
Millenium March Meeting Scheduled
OutFront will host a community-

Thank you! Thank you!
A huge thank you goes out to the
law firm of Johnson, Gulling,
Heltzer & Burg for their generous
donation of a complete set of the
Minnesota Statutes Annotated to
OutFront. Having this resource at
our immediate disposal is much
appreciated by all, especially the
Legal, Anti-Violence, Domestic
Violence and Public Policy programs. Thanks again!
,0
PAGE 4

Information from, for, and about
Minnesota's vibrant gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender
communities is available 24 hours a
day by calling the

OutFront Minnesota lnfoline
612-822-0127, ext. 0
(800-800-0350, ext. 0)

-

OutFront Minnesota Services
• 24-Hour Counseling
• Public Policy Program
• Statewide Organizing
• Anti-Violence Program
• Legal Program
• Speakers Bureau
Visitor Information
• Bars
• Coffeehouses
• Restaurants
• Stores
• Hotels
• Sightseeing
Support Services
• Coming-out Support
• Counseling
• Transgender Groups
• Recovery Groups
Community Activities
• Special Events
• Pride Festivals
• Community Organizations
• Political Activities
Personal Growth Programs
• Youth Programs
• School Programs
• Senior Programs
• Family Programs
Physical Health Resources
• Medical Providers
• HIV/AIDS Resources
• STD Clinics
• Same-sex Partnerships
Congregations

Property of t he Center

Event Celebrates Fund-Raising Effort
The Committee for a Legislative
Voice (CLV), a community-based
fund-raising group formed to support OutFront Minnesota's lobbying efforts, held a Legislative
Victory Celebration on Tuesday,
April 13, at the American Swedish
Institute in Minneapolis. Held in
conjunction with the Center
Circle, OutFront's major donor
group, the event celebrated a successful campaign to raise politicallobbying funds for the 1999 legislative
session.
OutFront
Development Director Gregg
White told the assembled group of
nearly 100 friends and supporters,
that 82 percent of the $30,000
needed to keep a lobbyist for the
GLBT and allied communities at
the Minnesota Legislature had
been raised. "Now we just need
108 more people to make donations of $50 each to reach our
goal," he noted.

Educator Trainings in St. Paul, Duluth
Anyone who provides information
about GLBT issues, whether to
school or church groups, to diversity directors or health providers, is
encouraged to attend a 10-hour
Effective Educator Training presented by OutFront Minnesota.
Upcoming trainings are scheduled
to be held in St. Paul on May 7 and
8, and in Duluth on May 21 and 22.
Each training runs Friday, from
6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday,
from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Participants must be able to attend
both Friday evening and all day
Saturday. Class size is limited. Use
the enclosed form to register, or
call 612-822-0127 (800-800-0350),
ext. 611.
Twin Cities Pride Has New Hours
The 1999 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender Twin Cities Pride
Festival is the largest free festival in
the state. It is estimated that more

than 100,000 people will converge
on Loring Park in Minneapolis on
June 26 and 27. This year's hours
are noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday
and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The parade will step off at 11 a.m.
on Sunday.
Plan to meet your friends or grab
a cup of coffee or iced tea at the
OutFront Minnesota pavilion. It's
easy to find, we're the biggest tent at
Pride! We will have a complete coffee house, including places to sit and
take a break, a message board for
those seeking to leave messages for
friends, lots of information about
OutFront Minnesota and our services, as well as information about
the
Millennium
March
on
Washington,
the
Minnesota
Lavender Bar Association and the
Workplace Alliance. For Pride celebration updates and the dates of festivals all over the country, call 612822-0127 (800-800-0350), ext. 622.

It's easy to reach
OutFront Minnesota:
By mail:
310 E. 38th S.t., Suite 204
Minneapolis, MN 55409-1337
By E-mail:
OutFront@OutFront.org
http:// www.pclink.com/OutFront
By fax:
612-822-8786
By telephone:
612-822-0127
(800-800-0350)

X

lnfoline - Ext. 0:
for 24-hour-a-day information from,
for, and about Minnesota's vibrant
gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender community
OutFront Minnesota staff extensions:
107 - Ann DeGroot Executive Director
106 - Doug Federhart Deputy Director

Out in the Valley Meetings
The St. Croix Valley GLBT citizen's group, Out in the Valley,
meets monthly to socialize and discuss issues of local concern.
Upcoming meetings are scheduled
for Wednesday, May 19, and
Wednesday, June 16. For more
information call the Out in the
Valley information line at 612-8220127 (800-800-0350), ext. 502.
OutFront in Northern Minnesota
A Grand Rapids GLBT and allied
citizens group is forming. For
more
information
contact
OutFront's Community Organizer
Scott Fearing at 612-822-0127
(800-800-0350), ext. 111.

103 - Joni Thome Legal Program
Coordinator
102 - Tommie Seidel Anti-Violence Program
Coordinator
101 - Sheila Scott Anti-Violence Program
Advocate
104 - Kathy Lee Vo lunteer Coordinator
111 - Scott Fearing Community Organizer
109 - Bart J. Cannon Public Policy
Coordinator
510 - C. Scott Cooper Legislative Lobbyist
110 - Gregg White Development Director
108 - Maryann Wolters Business Manager
Community organization extensions:
500 - Millenium March on Washington
501 - Workplace Allian ce
502 - St. Croix Valley group
503 - BECAUSE bisexual group
506 - Longfellow neighborhood group
OutFront Minnesota extensions:

MLBA Hosts Student, Professional Social
The Minnesota Lavender Bar
Association (MLBA), a project of
OutFront's Legal Program, held a
social gathering on April 9 for local
attorneys and students from three
NEWS & NOTES CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PAGE 5

611 - 24-hour OutFront Minnesota event
registration
612 - 24-hour OutFront Minnesota
membership enrollment
616 - 24-hour OutFront Minnesota
address correction mailbox
622 - GLBT community events information

Un~ilii[lll~llilfiiil1lil1U1i11li1~iflllilllf,

OK

M 001 111 453
Property of the Center

THE NEW SYMBOL OF
EQUALITY IN MINNESOTA

BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Minneapolis, MN
Permit No. 3913

OUTFRONT
MINNESOTA
310 E. 38th St., Suite 204
Minneapolis, MN 55409-1337
Address Service Requested

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Frontlin es

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Pat Reaves
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2312 W I 44 Service Rd
Oklahoma City OK 73112-8701

THE NEWSLETTER OF OUTFRONT MINNESOTA

Mon, May 3, 7 p.m.: Headwaters Fund Spring Fling, St. Anthony Main Event Center, 612-879-0602
Fri & Sat, May 7 & 8: Effective Educator Training, St. Paul, 612-822-0127 (800-800-0350), ext. 304
Fri-Sun, May 7-9: Keshet Ga'avah Prairie Lights Sixth Annual Regional Conference of GLBT Jews,
Minneapolis/St. Paul, 612-374-8638

Thurs, May 13: Millennium March on Washington Town Meeting, Sabathani Center, Minneapolis, 612-822-0127 (800-800-0350), ext. 500
Fri-Sun, May 14-16: International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association annual convention, Regal Hotel, Minneapolis,
612-379-4697, ext. 306
Sat, May 15, 1-4 p.m.: GLBT Travel Fair, Calhoun Square, Minneapolis, 612-379-4697, ext. 306
Sat, May 15: WomenWorks Spring Dance and Beach Party, 612-377-9114
Sun, May 16, Noon: Minnesota AIDS Walk, Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis, 612-373-2411

Wed, May 19: Out in the Valley, St. Croix Valley group, 612-822-0127 (800-800-0350), ext. 502
Fri & Sat, May 21 & 22: Effective Educator Training, Duluth, 612-822-0127 (800-800-0350), ext. 304
Tues, May 25: GLSEN Twin Cities Graduation Party, 612-729-1575

Plan ahead:
Sat, June 19: Capital City Pride, Mears Park, St. Paul, 612-822-0127 (800-800-0350), ext. 622

Sat & Sun, June 26 & 27: Twin Cites' GLBT Pride, Loring Park, Minneapolis, 612-822-0127 (800-800-0350), ext. 622
Sun, April 30, 2000: Millennium March on Washington, D.C.

Part of Frontlines : v.9:no.2(1999:May)