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What's coming up? | |
SAVE THE DATE - 2010 Social Support Meetings - Milwaukee
- October 2, 2010 - Come out, come out, wherever you are!
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November 6, 2010 - The patchwork puzzle: interconnected identities
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December 4, 2010 - Building families
(more info:
www.forge-forward.org/calendar.php)
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| Remember, FORGE social support meetings aren't just for the boys! | |
The line up for the first Saturday of each month is:
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6:00 - 7:15 --
Open Support.
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7:30 - 9:00 -- Center Stage Main Event October 2, 2010 Topic: Come out, come out, wherever you are!
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Join Our List
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Chanel Larking Case Follow-up | | |
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Plea Agreement and Sentencing Date | |
 On August 31, Andrew Olaciregui pleaded guilty to second degree reckless homicide in the May 7, 2010 death of transwoman Chanel Larkin. This charge carries up to 25 years in prison and/or $100,000 fine. Mr. Olaciregui is currently scheduled to be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 25, in Room 502 of the Safety Building (821 W. State Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin).
We are pleased to report that we had 17 people in the courtroom to hear the plea hearing and to support Chanel's family members, loved ones, and friends.
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| Community Cares Meeting | |
Our fifth Community Cares meeting toorganize a community response to the murder will be this coming Sunday:
Sunday, September 12
2:00 p.m.
Milwaukee LGBT Community Center
315 W. Court Street
Milwaukee, WI
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| Victim Impact Statements | | |
The court will be accepting and reading victim impact statements. Chanel's direct family members have the opportunity to make a verbal statement before the judge on the day of sentencing.
We are encouraging community members to file victim impact statements to help the court understand that Chanel was a loved member of the community, and that hate crimes like hers hurt "other people like her" even if they didn't know the victim. If you would like some help with your victim impact statement, come to Sunday's meeting! You can submit your statement to the court at any time now, but try to get it in at least two weeks before sentencing (i.e., mid-October) if you want to influence the judge's sentencing decisions.
You can download the Victim Impact Form from http://www.forge-forward.org/docs/victim-impact-form.pdf, which you can use to craft your impact statement, but you do not need to use this form. Paragraph, narrative, and free form writing is encouraged, showing how you (personally or as part of a community) were impacted by this crime and Chanel's death. Make sure you put the case number (2010CF2300) on your statement and send to it to:
Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office
ATTN: Mary Ann Onorato
821 W. State Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
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| Journal Sentinel Op-Ed | | |
We were not able to get the Journal-Sentinel ( http://www.jsonline.com) to give us space for multiple op-eds about Chanel's death, but they did agree to run one piece. We believe this will be published this coming Sunday, September 12. Since we were not able to get them to run other people's comments, we encourage you to write and send a Letter to the Editor on Sunday to express your own thoughts. |
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March/Rally/Vigil | |
At this meeting we will be making critical decisions about what kind of public event we will be holding (March? Rally? Candlelight Vigil?), when we will be holding it (the day of the sentencing, or before?), and other organizing details. |
| Website | | |
At Sunday's meeting, if there's time, we'll discuss more about what we want on a website intended to honor Chanel's memory, post case-related information, as well as detail community action that continues to emerge after (and because of) her death.
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T-shirts! | | |
 If anyone knows where people had shirts made with Chanel's picture on them, please let us know. Otherwise, we have some blue "I'm worth protecting"/"I remember" t-shirts that we will give people if we have any left in your size. Send an email to tgwarrior@forge-forward.org noting your size preference and where to send the t-shirt (or if you can pick it up on Sunday).
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Suicide Stigma Stinks: Meeting Resources | | |
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At last Saturday's FORGE meeting, we discussed stigma about suicide and depression, and talked about ways to support each other and ourselves when depression hits. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) worksheet that we discussed and encouraged people to fill out and be found online at http://www.forge-forward.org/docs/SOP_worksheet.pdf. Its purpose is to provide an action plan when depression has you in its grip and you are consequently unable to think positively or proactively. This SOP form has literally saved lives, by helping suicidal people remember that they can do things that help, far short of suicide.
If you use this form (or use it as a suggestion for drafting something else), we encourage you to give a copy of your completed form to someone you trust. If/when you are feeling suicidal or severely depressed, your trusted person can help remind you about your SOP and gently encourage you to take actions that will help reduce your depression.
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Free clinics - Psychiatric Care | | |
One attendee also provided an excellent resource: The Greater Milwaukee Free Clinic. This clinic has a psychiatrist donating some time, so call them if you need help and don't have other insurance or resources.
Greater Milwaukee Free Clinic
9330 W, Lincoln Ave.
West Allis, WI 53214
414-546-3733
Open only Tues. & Thurs. First come first served. Get there at 4pm (they start taking patients around 5,but there's a long wait). Bring income information (pay stubs or Unemployment stub-that's all you need).
In order to use the Milwaukee Free Clinic your gross income has to be at or below 200% of the 2010 Poverty Guideline (according to number of individuals in the family).
1 person = $1,805.00/month or $21,600.00/year
2 people = $2,428.33.00/month or $29,140.00/year
3 people = $3,051.57/month 0or $36,620.00/year
4 people = $3,675.00/month or $44,100.00/year
5 people = $4,298.33/month or $51,580.00/year
6 people = $4,921.67/month or $59,060.00/year
 Aurora Healthcare supports other Community Clinics throughout the state. These can be found online at the Aurora Health Care website ( http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/), under "Community Benefits." There might be other free clinics in your area.
You can look for a clinic by taking the following steps:
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Click on the orange tab on top of the page "Local Resources"
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Enter your zip code and state, use the scroll menu to select "health" and select number of miles
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A list of Health Department links will appear below. Click on the link that's closest to area where you live.
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The name of the person to contact and email address will be provided. Send an email explaining your circumstances, including income. You will receive information about a free clinic near you.
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Bring drivers license and proof of income (could be unemployment stub) with you to the clinic. Patients are taken on a first come first served basis.
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Trans-positive Therapist List | | |
If you work with a therapist who is not on this list, please submit his/her/hir contact information to michael munson at tgwarrior@forge-forward.org or 414.559.2123 to be added to the list.
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Contribute to Gearbits! |
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Have you attended a FORGE event that you'd like to share with others? FORGE is looking for contributors to briefly share highlights or reflections on FORGE events so others who were unable to attend can get a flavor for the experience.
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About FORGE
FORGE is a progressive organization whose mission is to support, educate and advocate for the rights and lives of transgender individuals and SOFFAs (Significant Others, Friends, Family, and Allies). FORGE is dedicated to helping move fragmented communities beyond identity politics and forge a movement that embraces and empowers our diverse complexities. FORGE PO Box 1272 Milwaukee, WI 53201 www.forge-forward.org414-559-2123
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