New Men's Group at the Center
?Acknowledge, Understand & Accept? is a 12 week
group therapy experience for adult men who desire
to, but are struggling to accept their gay
orientation. Our purpose is to provide gay men with
a safe and supportive environment where they may
examine their many and sometimes conflicting views
or beliefs regarding their sexual orientation.
Group objectives including identifying current
attitudes about gay men as they relate to self
perceptions, verbalizing sources and impact of
homophobic messages, as well as replacing
internalized homophobic thoughts with worldviews
more accepting of one?s gay orientation. Other
points of discussion will include gender roles and
expression, disclosure of sexual orientation,
socialization with other gay men and women, safer
sexual practices and HIV/AIDS education. Pre-
screening criteria must be met, but participation is
free.
Please express interest via email at
AUAgroup@glccb.org or at 443-735-9283. The
current group concludes on December 12, 2005.
New referrals will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
A new group will tentatively begin January 2006.
Quick Links...
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Greetings!
We continue to monitor the situation in the Gulf
region. After many attempts to contact GLBT
organizations in the affected regions, we were
finally able to contact representatives of the Mobile,
Alabama community center, Bay Area
Inclusion, who were just beginning to put some
of the pieces back together after Katrina.
Noting that the relief response has been slower to
reach Alabama and Mississippi, our contact told us
that they were organizing efforts as much as possible
within their own communities. Among the items they
are most in need of are clothing and toiletries. The
GLCCB has made the first of several shipments of
clothing and toiletries to the Alabama community
center. We will attempt to keep the lines of
communication open and provide what assistance we
can. If you would like to know more, or contribute to
the overall relief efforts, visit our Katrina page for more information
and important links.
Just this week, we had our first contact with a GLBT
person displaced by Katrina -- a college student who
is now attending a local university until he can return
to New Orleans. Fortunately, he appears to be
resilient and adjusting well to Baltimore. We will, of
course, remain in touch with him and attempt to
provide him with any assistance he may need.
Clearly, those affected by Katrina and Rita will need
help for months, and even years, to come. Like
many, we feel privileged to be able to do our small
part.
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Volunteer Maryland Partnership
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This month we welcome the newest member of our
team at the Center. Maddy Dwertman will join us as
the GLCCB's first dedicated volunteer coordinator.
This new position is made possible through a grant
from Volunteer Maryland, an AmeriCorps program of
the Governor's Office. Through the program,
Volunteer Maryland Coordinators (VMCs) are placed
in non-profit agencies around the state to organize
volunteers in support of their missions.
Volunteer Maryland's mission is to build stronger,
healthier communities by developing volunteer and
service-learning programs that meet critical needs in
the areas of education, human needs, public safety,
and the environment.
The GLCCB averages several volunteer inquiries per
week. Screening volunteers and connecting them
with fulfilling projects and activities of interest to
them can be a daunting task. Unfortunately, it is
often small community-based organizations that most
need volunteer assistance which are sometimes the
least able to cultivate volunteers and utilize them
effectively to achieve their objectives. Fortunately,
the GLCCB has a strong tradition of volunteerism at
the core of its many successes over the past three
decades. Maddy will help take us to the next level
by developing a sustainable volunteer program for
the Center which will continue beyond her year of
service.
A graduate of Brown University, Maddy brings
much talent and energy to the Center and its
programs. Please join us in welcoming her to our
family! She can be reached at (410) 837-5445 x 15,
or at volunteers@glccb.org. If you are interested in
volunteering your time at the Center, you can call, e-
mail, or access our online volunteer application by
clicking
here. If you have done so in the past, don't be
surprised if you get a call from Maddy!
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National Coming Out Day Is October 11
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Remember, October 11 is National Coming Out Day.
Most people have their own coming out story, and
every day thousands more take that daunting and
fateful first step towards full self-expression and
acceptance by those who are in their lives. Coming
out can be a lifelong process, and along with it
comes greater ease and comfort with sharing
ourselves and our lives with others. And just by
doing so every day, we get closer to the equality we
seek.
The first National Coming Out Day was held on
October 11, 1988. This date was chosen for the
annual event in commemoration of the 1987 March
on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. It also
marks the anniversary of the first visit of the AIDS
Memorial Quilt to Washington, D. C.
So, come out on October 11! If you are already
out, look around to see if there is someone in your
life who may be struggling and give them your full
support. If you need some inspiration, pick up the
current issue of Gay Life for some coming out stories
shared by leaders in our community.
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Support the GLCCB today!
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Much of the GLCCB's support comes from individuals
like you! Please take a moment to make a
contribution so we can continue providing valuable
resources and support to Maryland's GLBT community.
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Donate Now
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