1 1 ,I C. Gulf Features Sept. 11, 2009 Issue #114 , Our Congressperson, Sheila Jackson lee This post on a recent lobby visit and will do for the coming weeks/months. Obama asking him to use his stop-loss comes from Meghan Stabler of She stated that CO,ngress has a unique power to end investigations against service Houston, a member of Human Rights members 'accused of violating "Don't Ask, opportunity this year to reform health care in Campaign's Business Council Don't Tell". Additionally she is calling for a a way that helps all Americans and addresses Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee does full congressional" inquiry into the murder not play games when it comes to civil the needs of specific minorities, including of August Provost, the 29-year-old sailor rights. Most importantly for the LGBT from Houston found dead in a Camp community in Houston, and district 18,she Pendleton guard shack has been a long supporter and advocate Detailing the continuing prevalence for community issues at both the local of HIV/AIDS in the Houston area AND national level. Congresswomari Jackson Lee stressed On a recent Sunday, Congresswoman the importance of helping those in' the Jackson Lee took time out of her schedule community wllo are often the hardest hit when. the economic climate is down. She to meet with some of the leadership of • ..•• ,, , ':"':'~'-:". "" , -";.'-1'".{. 'A..... :0;" '~ '-. '"" HRC Houston Steering Committee. The noted that many of the local AIDS service Congresswoman discussed many topics organizations available resources are forefront in the LGBT Community from over stretched from new requests for help Hate Crimes, to her commitment and co- whilst charitable giving and corporate sponsorship' of a fully inclusive ENDA, sponsorship is significantly down. She ___ __l.!.~_'--.,_~_ __'...L_A_.1. __ ~~_""'""'-------'"1:'-.t.l...1'~ .•...•... ~_.:3~.:f-~_co..~.c._.d_ •._"b-L1-....~_~~~_L:'I_.._*-a._~_n..:3..-L:'I..-b-..c. ..d • as 6een a long supporter ana aavocate :aJ st. DetailJfig fne-contmumgpreva1ence for community issues at both the local of HIVIAIDS in the Houston area AND national level. Congresswoman Jackson Lee stressed On a recent Sunday, Congresswoman the importance of helping those in the Jackson Lee took time out of her schedule community who are often the hardest hit to meet with some of the leadership of when- the economic-~ .r. ~ climate\. is down. She HRC Houston Steering Committee. The noted that many of the local AIDS service Congresswoman discussed many topics organizations available resources are forefront in the LGBT Community from over stretched from new requests for help Hate Crimes, to her commitment and co- whilst charitable giving and corporate sponsorship of a fully inclusive ENDA, sponsorship is significantly down. She repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and the mentioned the importance of, and current Health Care Reform discussions potential assistance in finding additional underway. She offered advice that funding sources where possible. we must continue the conversations LGBT Americans. During the meeting Congresswoman with other members of both sides of the Congresswoman Jackson Lee discussed Jackson Lee clearly showed that she is Congress to ensure that a majority of knowledgeable and passionate about the votes be garnished in favor of passing an co-sponsoring the Military Readiness many issues facing the LGBT community. She inclusive ENDA, and noted that Health Care Enhancement Act (MREA), to repeal DADT maintained her stance that all citizens should is demanding prime attention in the house, and her signing a letter sent to President be treated as full and equitable citizens. I urrlcane e as nerea,r o 0) o o C\J ..- ..-.;;t '*I:..- ~ W (9 Q) (/) o•... c -o ~ C\J Montrose GEM #114, Sep. 11, 2009 3 offers year-round suicide does not have specific " Anniversaries f"'~-'-~- • News from prevention through the iIlfor~ation ab?ut the nSk. If it hasn't started HATCH youth services, as of Swine Flue in people WIth happening already, it's just well as through therapists' lllV/AIDS, the CDC warns, a matter of time before m~se Montrose work with their clients. "Hlv-infected individuals, the media bombards us According to Lambda particularly those with .low with stories about the first GEM Counseling GLBT Community Services, CD4 counts, can exper!ence anniversary of Hurricane Ike. "Suicide is the leading more severe complications It was a very difficult time for Center cause of death among gay of seasonal influenza." our clients, friends, families ISSUE# male, lesbian, bisexual, and WHO also lists t~ose with and supporters. Still, most SEPT. 11, 2009 OUR 5TH YEAR From Press Release transgender youth, who are immunosuppresslO~ as a of us have made it through "The Houston/Galveston Gay Newspaper" So far this year, Gay & part of two popul,a~ionsat :vulnerable?roup WIthan these last several mOl~ths. Lesbian Switchboard Houston serious risk of suicide: sexual mcrea~ed .nsk of severe Hurricane Ike impactmg Published Every Other Friday has logged 522 calls, with minorities and the young." comph~atIOns.However, everyone in the Houston and c. 2009 by Gulf Features 714 Hyde Park #D callers looking for anything Researcher~ believe the Ac~ordmg to ~O, people Galveston are~s. HOLlston, TX 77006-2848 28'1-650-3489 as simple as a referral to incre~sed r~sk~esults fron: co-infected WIt~Hl~l and Some sus~amed.major 7 Days a \/\/991<" Ernail: editor @ GLBT and GLBT-friendly isolation, rejection, confusion, nrv are .n~t at n~k if th~y losses:floodmg, wmd-related rTlontrosegerTl.com orgaruza. t'IOnsandb' usmesses , and shame due to being are receiving antiretroviral damage to their homes , Henry McClurg Publisher/Editor to callers with serious repeatedly margina~ed by therapy. downed trees and power lines. J.T. Tovvne Representative concerns about sexuality1,,'mv: society HATCH provides. a The CDC .encouragesul 1 h Many were unable to return to DalTlien Dane, Trevor Kacedon . ub t b relationship supportive network for Its people, par tic ar y t ose their homes for months, only Contributors s s ance a use, . h' h t.rrx "AIDS t t ke . bl d tic violence participants, engages t e WIt ill. VI. , 0 a to fmd them m such disrepair 1 , .. , . .. _Co RATE CARD #6 pro ems, omes t i tion . .. 1 . IS IN EFFECT sexual assa ult and crisis,. youth m SUIcIde.. prevention precautions. agamsh d inrecf that alternative living Represented Nationally by . S t ber i strategies, including the Wash your an s 0 ten. arrangements needed to be Rivendell Media intervention, ep em er IS , . 1 h 1b d h d . 908-232-2021 . id . M th creation of Suicide Prevention Use an a co 0 - ase an made. That IS,If they had a SUlCIe Prevention on , . IT d . izer if d t t' . hb d worl Plans for those at rIS~ an sanitizer 1 soap an wa er home to return to. Tha s not and SWItC oar worKers . 'd . '. '1 bl A, id .. k h t provides SUlCIe Prevention aren t avai a e. Avoi to mention the toll It too on know: more t an mos , .', nli Co GLBT hi s ose or ho went wi h t . ' f icid information 0 ne lor touc ng your eye , n, everyone w 0 went WIt ou the importance 0 SUlCIe h . h h d T '. d ' youth everywhere. mout WIt your an s'. ry electricity for weeks an prevention ~fforts.. "Isolation kills people," to avoid close contact WIth weeks, the lines we had to C~~umty Projects . says Youth Specialist Deb sick people. Review C?C's 'stand in for food, water and Specialist Sally J:Iuffer, who Murphy, "At HATCH, in a interim recommendatI?ns ice, and the traffic delays manages the SWI~~hboard e very real way, w~ lesg~n - for facema~~ an~ respirator caused by the stop lights volun~eers, says, O~e of th people's sense of isolation, We use. In addition, It helps to being out of order. People mo~t Important s~rvIc~s the open up the world to the youth maintain an o~erall.healthy lost income and jobs when SWItchboard provld~s ISto be and show them, 'You can be lifestyle by eating nght, businesses couldn't reopen. an ear for the more ISolat~d a healthy, productive, happy, gettingenoughsleep,adhering For some, this time of mem~ers of our commumty. gay adult.'" to prescribed me~ications, year also brings back painful Isolation may lead people Montrose Counseling' following the advice of your memories of Hurricane to addictive behaviors, Center is a member of health care provider, and Katrina. The survivors tell us depression, and thoughts of the Houston Area Suicide reducing stress as much as that stress comes and goes, suicide. Most callers just want Prevention Coalition"and possible. If you are lllV+ even after several years have someone to talk to, someone promotes suicide prevention and taking antiretrovira~s or passed Some people may who wi11listen with an open on a daily basis. Executive antimicrobial prophylaxis, the be in a state of shock for mind, without prejudice or Director Ann 1. Robison, PhD, CDC urges you to a?h~re to some period of time. It is not recrimination." says, "With the focus this your current prescriptions unusual for anxiety to appear Experts believe that most month on suicide prevention, throughout the flu season. ""'-\l"'-r--",l •.Ul",,,,lL~or~montb<L<l£tat _1.01...; ~. l:awseu uy lIle SlUP llglllS €i l-VOnrnreers;-say~~e-oI"Tn,", people's sense of isolation.