GLIFAA Board - 31 Mar 2009T

 GLIFAA Globe

September 2010

In This Issue
- President's Update
- Advocacy Day Sept 29!
- USAID Lunch Sept 9th
- Monthly Happy Hour
- Quarterly Open Board Meeting
- Alumni Happy Hour
- Out and Equal Workplace Summit
- DHS Allows Foreign Partners Employment
- LGBT Foreign Affairs Scholarship
Quick Links...
 
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GLIFAA Friends (advocacy for allies and members!) 
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Dear ,
 
The US Homeland Security Department will now allow partners of foreign diplomats employment status!  This will open the door in many countries for our partners as well.  
 
Today join Anthony Cotton, GLIFAA's Policy Director and USAID colleagues at the Ronald Reagan Building Food Court for lunch.
 
Next week - GLIFAA's new board is having its first Open Board meeting Wednesday evening and before that, our regular Happy Hour at Nellies on Tuesday the 14th. 
 
See you soon,
 
-The GLIFAA Board
Current News from President Jon Tollefson
 
Greetings  ,
 
This month, we have been focusing on the new J1 visa program that would allow foreign partners of Foreign Service Officers to live and work in the United States during their partner's tour.  This is not a perfect solution, but it is a good temporary fix for one group of people who were left out in the 2009 extension of benefits. 
 
We are working hard to get the necessary offices involved to commit to this program before bids are due this year, thus ensuring that FSOs who bid on Washington for 2011 will have the program in place by the time they are ready to transfer.
  Details on the proposed program were recently sent to GLIFAA binational couples - if you did not receive that update, please email us at [email protected].  You may also request to be added to our special database of GLIFAA binational couples.

We are also continuing to monitor legislation on the Hill that affects us all - Civil Service, Foreign Service, contractors, and political appointees.  We are hopeful that recent developments will yield true results.  We're also in need of volunteers for our second "GLIFAA Advocacy Day."  On September 29, interested GLIFAA members will visit Capitol Hill to talk to Members of Congress about the challenges our families face.  Our first advocacy day focused on immigration problems; this day will focus on health insurance and other partner benefits.  If you are interested in joining us, email [email protected] to sign up.
 
Let me send a big shout-out to GLIFAA members in Baghdad, who held a gathering on Friday, August 20th.  They plan to make this a monthly gathering.  If you are in Baghdad and would like to join them, email [email protected] to learn more.  Let us know if you are having similar gatherings at your posts or if you are interested in helping to make that happen.
 
As always, please email me with any questions, concerns, or ideas at [email protected].
 
Best,
 
Jon Tollefson
President
Gays & Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies
DPBO2GLIFAA DPBO Advocacy Day Needs You!!
 
Get excited  ,
 
We're headed to Capitol Hill on September 29 for our second "GLIFAA Advocacy Day," and we need volunteers!  Our first day in June focused on immigration; this day will focus on the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, a bill in Congress that would finally give LGBT families the same health insurance and retirement benefits afforded to straight families (learn more about DPBO).
 
Whether you are gay or straight, we need your help!  Will you join us on September 29, or help us locate volunteers who will?  We need LGBT employees and straight allies from a variety of states.
Never been to the Hill before?  Fear not - we'll have a short training session before we begin.  All you need to do is tell your own story to your Member of Congress - who you are, and why you care about this issue.  Those who participate in our last Advocacy Day can tell you: your Members of Congress really WILL listen!
 
 
Please write us (at [email protected]) from your PERSONAL email account (not your .gov account!) for further details and to sign up!
 
Selim Ariturk
Vice President
Gays & Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies
HappyTODAY! September USAID Lunch
Join GLIFAA at our quarterly USAID Lunch! 
 
 
Location: USAID 
RRB Food Court
 (In the cove next to Cajun Grill, across from Sabarro)

Thursday, September 9th
12:00pm
 
Contact Policy Director Anthony Cotton at USAID
HappyNext Tuesday - September Monthly Happy Hour
Join GLIFAA at our regularly scheduled monthly happy hour!
 
 
 
Location: Nellie's Sports Bar
 900 U Street NW
Metro: U Street (Green/Yellow Line)

Tuesday, September 14th
6:00pm-8:00pm
RSVP:  GLIFAA

BoardMtgNext Wednesday - Quarterly Open Board Meeting
Join GLIFAA to work with the board on creating events and plans for implementing our goals. 
 
We will meet at Main State this time around, in our hopes to reach out to people who can easily come right from work.

Please let us know if you would be willing to host Board meetings at your home. 
 
Location: Main State HST Building
 3430
 Above the Cafeteria - 3rd Floor

Metro: Foggy Bottom

Wednesday, September 15th
6:00pm-7:30pm
 
Email your Agenda Items to [email protected]
BoardMtgIntercollegiate LGBT Happy Hour @ Nellies
Harvard HGLC, Yale GALA, Princeton BTGALA, and Stanford Pride Present
 
An Intercollegiate Alumni Happy Hour1
 
Location: Nellie's Sports Bar
 900 U Street NW
Metro: U Street (Green/Yellow Line)

Tuesday, September 21st
6:30pm-8:30pm
 
HappyOut and Equal Summit

The 2010 Out & Equal Workplace Summit has been approved as official training by the United States Office of Personnel Management. In compliance with 5 U.S.C. Chapter 41, this training is appropriate for all Federal employees.  View Human Resources Director John Berry's official announcement.

The 2010 Workplace Summit is just around the corner.  Be a part of LGBT workplace equality by attending.
DHSDHS to Allow Employment Authorization for DOS-designated Qualifying Family Members 
Many of you are in countries where bilateral work agreements face difficult negotiations, or where host governments treat our LGBT families badly in reciprocity for not accepting their LGBT families.
 
 
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its  regulations governing the employment authorization for dependents of foreign officials classified as A-1, A-2, G-1, G-3, and G-4 nonimmigrants. This rule expands the list of dependents who are eligible for employment authorization from spouses, children, and qualifying sons and daughters of A or G foreign officials to include any other immediate family member who falls within a category of aliens designated by the Department of State as qualifying. This change to DHS regulations provides the Department of State with greater flexibility when entering into bilateral agreements and arrangements with other countries that would extend employment authorization to immediate family members who are recognized as such by the Department of State.
 
ScholasrhipDonate! - LGBT Foreign Affairs Scholarship
The LGBT Foreign Affairs Scholarship Board will award one $2,500 scholarship to a disadvantaged student who plans to intern in a foreign affairs-related field. The LGBT Foreign Affairs Scholarship serves as need and merit-based financial aid for students pursuing degrees and/or careers in foreign affairs.

The fund helps reduce the personal costs for students in high cost housing areas such as Washington, DC or in other world capitols or cities. The Scholarship partners with GLIFAA to foster knowledge of international issues and careers for disadvantaged youth.

The scholarship committee will award the scholarship based on the following criteria:

Demonstrated financial need
Demonstrated strong interest in working in foreign affairs
A committed LGBT advocate
Attainment sophomore status or higher

Contact Ashton Giese to find out more about the organization.  Email [email protected].
 
To Donate
 
Send Check to:
GLIFAA
P.O. Box 18774
Washington, DC 20036-8774
Memo: "Scholarship"