(video length: 5 mins)

We’re here at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Chicago for the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf ’s (RAD) biennial conference.  The views from the hotel are breathtaking and the weather has been fantastic.  It’s been fun bumping into old friends and meeting new ones.

The day began with a RAD board meeting, followed by a delegate orientation which included a workshop on Parliamentary Procedure by Libby Pollard.  The evening concluded with a President’s Reception which included Chicago-styled pizza.

So far, about 100 people have registered.  At least 200 more are expected.

If you have a Twitter account, follow Drago on Twitter @deafqueer for more frequent updates regarding the conference.

We’ll be back here tomorrow with more video and/or photos to recap Day #2 of the conference.

By the way, it’s not too late to attend!  The week is just getting started.  Come join us if you can!

Don’t miss the opportunity to attend this workshop at the upcoming Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD) Conference!

LGBT Social Networking and Activism on Facebook

Presented by Drago Renteria

Thursday, July 2, 2009

1-2:30PM

Colorado Room
Chicago Sheraton Hotel & Towers
301 East North Water Street
Chicago, IL

About the Workshop:
Facebook is a popular social networking website with a massive user
base that can be used to unify the Deaf LGBT community and our allies, share
information, bring visibility to our organizations and help create
social change.  Among the things you’ll learn in this workshop
include information about the little-known tools that can help you
protect your privacy and how to use Facebook to network, raise
funds and promote your organization’s visibility.

About the Presenter:
Dragonsani (”Drago”) Renteria is a Deaf, Chicano transman who is passionate about making a difference.  A long-time activist, organizer and historian in the Deaf and Trans communities, he has devoted a great portion of his time over the past two decades towards creating change in our communities.  He is founder of the national Deaf Queer Resource
Center (www.deafqueer.org) and creator of the largest Deaf LGBT group on Facebook, the Deaf Queers & Allies Group, which currently has over 2,000 members.

—-

This workshop is made possible by WCRAD / RAD ‘09.  If you haven’t
yet made plans to attend RAD, it’s not too late.  Tickets to this and
other RAD-related workshops and events can be purchased at http://wcrad.org.

If you’re not interested in the combo, you can always purchase the Individual tickets! They are now available to be individually purchased at http://wcrad.org/rad2009_individualtickets_registration.htm.  A one-time registration fee of $20.00 is required prior to purchasing any individual ticket. Please be aware that tickets for Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and RAD Pageant Dinner CAN NOT be purchased at door. They must be purchased by June 17th. Both Combo and Individual tickets can be purchased via PayPal.

For more information, please visit http://www.wcrad.org.  The RAD 2009 Host Committee, WCRAD, and the entire LGBT community of Chicago hope you will join us for what will be the biggest and best RAD conference yet!

Windy City Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, a Chicagoland area non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, provides its members and supporters with opportunities to network, defend Deaf LGBT rights, and advance the interests of Deaf LGBT citizens. The WCRAD promotes educational, economic, and social programs with its members and supporters.

###

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country’s response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration — in both the White House and the Federal agencies — openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-LGBT-Pride-Month/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO9hlIBHdUw

(Video length: 4 minutes)

Footage from the May 26 Day of Decision march and rally in San Francisco protesting the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Proposition 8.

In this video:  Selena Staley, Shasta Shardae, Jennie Batchelder, Jon Kastrup, Ari Lathuras, David Rose, Samira Sam, and Todd Higgins.

Video shot and edited by Drago Renteria.

Photos from the march and rally are also available on the Deaf Community Members in Support of LGBT Equality and Deaf Queers & Allies Facebook group pages.