Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association

Reaching Out

An e-Newsletter by the IU Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association

A New Semester!August, 2016
In This Issue
Connect with us!

   

 

 

 

   

   

Carving, "Veritas Filia Temporis," on IUB's Ballentine Hall by Robert Laurent ("Truth is the daughter of time").
             
 
 
 
We look forward to the new school year and continuing to work together to fulfill our important mission "to improve the quality of life for GLBT students, faculty, staff and alumni of Indiana University on all eight campuses."  Best wishes to the faculty, staff and students as the semester commences, and heartfelt thanks to all of you for your tireless support and commitment.  


Mike Shumate, Past President
1. Positive Link
   
  
By: Jill L. Stowers, MSW, LSW, Clinical Lead Manager 
 
What images do you see when you think of HIV? The AIDS Memorial Quilt laid upon the national mall? We were there. The loss of nearly an entire generation of gay men? We were there. Photos of men dying in an AIDS hospice? We were there. Ryan White? He lived only a few hours from us. We were there. The funerals? The candle lighting ceremonies? The bedside of a man whose family would not come? We were there. The introduction, in 1996, of the first antiretroviral medication? We were there. We celebrated. We cried. We watched our clients become more than their diagnosis as they returned from the brink of death, given the chance to live.
 
Positive Link, a program of IU Health Bloomington Hospital Community Health, has been walking this path with our community since 1991. Positive Link is the preeminent provider of comprehensive prevention and holistic social services for those impacted by HIV in south central Indiana. As such, we provide a continuum of services, at no cost, to the community to address the health and well-being of those infected with or at risk for HIV, predominantly in the rural region of south-central Indiana. Our staff includes individuals dedicated to providing prevention resources, services and housing to those in our community living with or at risk for HIV.
 
The Prevention Services Team at Positive Link offers a wide variety of programs designed to reach individuals at risk for HIV throughout our region. Early intervention of HIV can make a drastic difference in the health outcomes for the individual. By promoting education and testing in high-risk populations, Positive Link assists individuals in determining their HIV status and educating the community on ways in which risk for infection can be reduced. Case managers can provide additional support to individuals who are currently HIV negative but are engaging in behaviors that may increase their risk for HIV and individuals who are currently HIV positive and are engaging in behaviors that increase their risk of spreading the disease to others.
 
The Client Services Team at Positive Link offers support and care services to over 250 community members infected with HIV. While HIV infection is a life-changing diagnosis, for many individuals it is just one of many issues they face. Using a comprehensive and client-centered approach, Positive Link provides a continuum of services to assist in increasing quality of life for those infected. Care coordination is a holistic service initiated by the clients identifying their barriers. This client-centered approach allows clients to control their own life and well-being, with our understanding that as the clients' priorities are addressed and resolved, their HIV and health may gradually become a higher priority. Our services are available to anyone infected with HIV, regardless of ability to pay.
 
Over 70 percent of our clients live on less than $20,000 annually. In recognition of the importance of stable housing to maintaining health, we offer several housing programs targeting those who are homeless or precariously housed. We also provide nutritional supplements, either through prepared meal delivery or grocery delivery, and financial assistance from private foundations for medication, dental, optical and quality of life enhancement. Additionally, our team offers a series of support groups, social events and community building activities funded through donations.
 
While our history has moments of sadness, anger and prejudice; it also has moments of triumph, celebration and unity. We will continue to fight this disease until a cure is found.
 
Follow us on Facebook  to stay up-to-date on our events and outreach efforts. And find out more about our cause, walk-in testing hours, services and more on our website .
 


2. GLBTAA President
 
  
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We are pleased to announce the recent election of Timothy A. Lemper as our new president, effective July 1. Congratulations and profound gratitude, Tim!
 
 
Timothy A. Lemper completed IU's Liberal Arts & Management Program and received Bachelor degrees in English, History, and Political Science in 1995 from IU Bloomington. He obtained a Master's in Public Administration & Public Policy from the London School of Economics in 1997, and his JD from Harvard Law School in 2001.
 
Tim has been a steadfast supporter of the GLBTAA and has served three years on the GLBTAA Board as a Director, Secretary, and Vice President. Tim is a Clinical Professor of Business Law at IU's Kelley School of Business. A former Herman B Wells Scholar and Harry S. Truman Scholar, Tim now serves on the advisory board of the Wells Scholars Program, as a member of IUB's Truman Scholarship Nominating Committee, and as chairman of IUB's Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, and Churchill Scholarships Nominating Committee. He also serves as Grand Vice President of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, the first and oldest honor society for first-year college students in the country.
 
He was presented a Trustees Teaching Award at Kelley in 2013 and recently was named the 2016 recipient of the Frank Banta Award for Student Advocacy. Tim had a broad range of professional experience prior to joining Kelley, including serving as a staff assistant to U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, working as a management consultant for the United States Air Force, and practicing with the law firm of Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP in Washington, D.C., specializing in First Amendment and intellectual property litigation.
3. GLBTAA Scholarship Campaign
   
Please continue to "spread the word" about our ground-breaking Campaign, which will help endow our GLBTAA Scholarship Program. We recently awarded five academic scholarship for the 2016 fall semester. Each recipient will be featured in one of our Newsletters. Our first recipient is featured in paragraph #4 below. After reviewing two more heart-breaking stories, we also recently awarded emergency funds to an IU East student and an IU Bloomington student. Since 2005, we have granted 74 scholarships (58 academic scholarships and 16 emergency scholarships) to IU students. Because of your generous support, we will be able to continue providing scholarships well into the future.  
     
Shane L. Windmeyer, MS '97, Executive Director and founder of Campus Pride, has commented about our Scholarship Program, particularly about our emergency grants: "IU remains one of the best campuses for GLBT support in the country. Crisis assistance funding, for example, is now a new benchmark for the Campus Pride Index, and the GLBTAA emergency scholarship is a great example. IU has definitely raised the bar nationally. I'm proud that IU has been a leader in that. IU has always stood as an institution of higher learning that embraces diversity."

   
Contributions can be made online at Campaign Contributions If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Mike Shumate at [email protected]  or 858-922-6105; or IUAA Alumni Relations Officer Clarence Boone at 800-824-3044. Again, heartfelt gratitude to everyone for supporting our Campaign.
 
THANK YOU, IU alumni, faculty, staff, students, allies and our many friends!
4. Academic Scholarship Recipient


Congratulations are extended to Edgardo J. Ortiz-Sanchez, one of our 2016 Fall Academic Scholarship recipients! Edgardo received his BS in Biology in 2012 from the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey, Puerto Rico. He continued at the University of Puerto Rico to earn a Master's in Public Health Education in 2013 at the Medical Sciences Campus in Puerto Rico. He is now pursuing his PhD in Health Behavior, with minors in Sexual Health Research Methods and Intervention Design and Research at IU's School of Public Health - Bloomington. Edgardo has served as Health Education and Communications Consultant for Abbvie Corp. since 2014, and was the Lead Health Educator for the Center for Sociomedical Research and Evaluation for the University of Puerto Rico's School of Public Health since 2013, where he helped design and pilot an intervention design to elicit change in Hispanic and Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. He was recently awarded the Roderick Paige Fellowship, as outstanding minority graduate student, from IU's School of Public Health - Bloomington. While a Master's student, he was awarded the Cato Lube Award, presented to the "Outstanding Master's Student" and the Academic Excellence and Leadership Award. He has published articles and research findings extensively and has spoken frequently in his areas of expertise. He has served on the steering committee for the Puerto Rican Conference on Public Health for the past three years. We're proud of you, Edgardo
5. Facebook

 

The GLBTAA has had a Facebook page for some time now, but some of you may not be aware of it.  If you haven't already done so, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/iuglbtaa.  "Like" our page and follow our Facebook posts regarding news, updates and information about our events.

 

Like us on Facebook

6. Distinguished Alumni Award   
  
Steve Bretthauer (l), Michael McRaith and Dean Singell at '16 Neal-Marshall Reception
 
 
We are seeking nominations for our 2017 GLBTAA Distinguished Alumni Award. The Award is available to members of the LGBTQ community and individual allies or supporters of the LGBTQ community, regardless of sexual orientation. Only living alumni of Indiana University are eligible. Nominees shall have made significant contributions benefiting Indiana University or his or her community, state or nation. Nominations must be submitted by September 30, 2016. For more information, please contact Clarence Boone at [email protected] or 812-856-1050.
7. IUPUI Harvey Milk Dinner   
  
 
 
IUPUI's seventh annual Harvey Milk Dinner will take place on Saturday, October 22 at the Downtown Marriott in Indianapolis. The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cash bar followed by dinner. 
 
IUPUI is pleased to host Ms. Precious Davis as this year's keynote speaker. Precious Davis is an award winning diversity professional, social justice facilitator, and keynote speaker. Davis finds deep meaning in engaging individuals in conversation surrounding bias, bigotry, and prejudice in their communities on the basis and belief that humans can coexist with one another positively through the embracing of each other's differences and the celebrating of human diversity. Davis recently was awarded the prestigious "30 under 30" award from the Windy City Times and was invited to The White House LGBT Pride reception where she had the honor of meeting President Obama. Davis is also the first transgender bride to be featured on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" and is currently the Assistant Director of Diversity Recruitment Initiatives at Columbia College Chicago.
 
Registration will be available shortly online. Alumni, faculty/staff, and community tickets are $55 each. Student tickets are available at $25 each. Table and corporate sponsorships are available for campus and community groups. The annual Harvey Milk Dinner is hosted in collaboration with the IUPUI LGBTQ Student Alliance, the LGBT Faculty Staff Council, the IUPUI LGBTQ+ Center, and Social Justice Education. Please contact Anthony Masseria at [email protected] for additional information.
8. Bloomington Summerfest     
 
Bloomington's third annual PRIDE Summerfest will be held August 27 on Fourth St. at College Ave. and once again is being planned to create an inclusive space where all people can celebrate and participate in LGBTQ+ culture. It all begins with a parade on the B-Line from noon - 2:00 p.m., and the festival will follow from 2:00 - 11:00 p.m.
9. GLBTAA Scholarships

 

GLBTAA Academic Scholarships  Academic Scholarships are awarded to IU students enrolled at any IU campus, who are academically strong, as well as active in promoting diversity, tolerance and social justice. Scholarships are awarded to students based upon academic achievement, career goals, financial need, leadership experience, community service and extracurricular activities. Involvement in activities promoting diversity and raising awareness of GLBT and related issues on the student's campus or in his or her community is carefully reviewed by the Board. The maximum award for an Academic Scholarship is $1,000 per semester. An individual student may not receive more than $2,000. The deadline for the Spring 2017 semester is November 15, 2016.

  

IU GLBTAA Emergency Scholarships

Emergency Scholarships are awarded to those students who experience the loss of financial support when they make the courageous decision to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity to their families. Emergency Scholarships help to ensure that students need not choose between their education at IU and living life openly and honestly. Emergency Scholarships are awarded to students attending any IU campus. The maximum award for an Emergency Scholarship is $1,500 per semester, and a student may not receive more than $3,000.
  
You can learn more about the GLBTAA Scholarship Program and apply online at: http://alumni.indiana.edu/affiliates/glbt/supporting-community/scholarships.html
10. Membership

 

Encourage your friends to join the GLBTAA. They can visit our website here  and join.  There are no membership dues, and you do not have to be a member of the IUAA, or an IU degree-holder. We are approaching 1,600 members nation-wide, and we're growing! We appreciate your continued commitment! It is because of you that the GLBTAA is in existence, continues to grow and continues to serve our important mission on all eight of IU's campuses. If you are a member and wish to continue receiving our e-Newsletters, please make sure we have a current e-mail address for you.   You can visit https://alumni.indiana.edu/my-iu/index.html to see if your official record, including your e-mail address, is current.  Thank you for your support through your membership. We look forward to serving you now and in the years to come. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Clarence Boone, Alumni Relations Officer, at: [email protected] or Mike Shumate at [email protected]

 

If not already a member, please consider joining the IUAA by visiting https://alumni.indiana.edu/membership/index.html, by [email protected]  or calling (800) 824-3044. By joining the IUAA, among many other things, you help fund the various GLBTAA programs, along with gaining access to IUAA member-only events.

 

If you would like to unsubscribe and terminate future communications from the GLBTAA, please respond to:  [email protected].



Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Association | DeVault Alumni Center | 1000 East 17th Street | Bloomington | IN | 47408