Florida Agenda

The South Florida premier of the powerful movie “Bullied” will benefit the Pride Center’s Vision 2015 campaign. Cocktails and a panel discussion will accompany the event on Wednesday, March 23 from 6 to 9 pm at Cinema Paradiso.

“Bullied” chronicles the story of Jamie Nabozny, a student from Ashland, Wisconsin who stood up to his anti-gay tormentors with a federal lawsuit. The suit led to a landmark decision that held school officials accountable. Despite that ruling, anti- LGBTQ bullying continues to be a severe problem. Today more than 80 percent of LGBTQ students report being harassed at school. Schools across the country still are unwilling or afraid to openly address anti-gay bullying.

The panel discussion after the movie will feature the Southern Poverty Law Center, Sheriff Al Lamberti and Paul Hyman from the Pride Center. Admission is a $100 tax-deductible donation.

For more information contact Jason Burns at (954) 463-9005 or jburns@PrideCenterFlorida.org.

Over 80 Professionals Attend First-Ever Education Event at the Center

Last month, the Pride Center hosted Broward County’s first Transgender Medical Conference. Over 80 medical and clinical professionals participated actively in the day’s activities.

“For those in our community that identify as transgender, there are significant challenges accessing culturally competent medical and clinical services,” says Linda Jain, Program Operations Manager at the Center. “This conference represented one step towards addressing those challenges.”

The Symposium aimed to educate the medical and clinical communities about the unique care required for this medically underserved community. “Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey” states that 50% of the respondents reported having to teach their medical providers about transgender care and 28% postponed care when sick or injured due to discrimination.

The Pride Center collaborated with the Broward County Health Department, SunServe and the Florida Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center to plan and execute the successful event.

Speakers included: Marilyn Volker, Ph.D., a Board Certified Sexologist; JoAnne Keatley, MSW, Director for Transgender Health at the University of California; James Lopresti, PH.D., L.M.H.C, founding Director for Mental Health Services for SunServe; and M. Layne Yassesn, PA, specializing in Psychiatry, Neurology and Transgender Medicine.

“The positive feedback we’ve received since hosting the Symposium has been overwhelming,” says Jain. “The collaborative energies of so many groups will enable us to expand this event in the future.”

The Pride Center’s capital campaign effort is called “Vision 2015” and is led by Team 2015 Chair, Doug Tinklepaugh. Vision 2015 charts our course to achieve a debt-free Center, by the end of 2015. Forty percent of the $4.75 million purchase price of our new Center has already been paid.

Through Vision 2015 we will engage donors at a variety of levels to contribute annually for the next five years, resulting in a debt-free Center.

In addition to naming and recognition opportunities for larger donors, the campaign’s Visionary Club level makes it easy for almost anyone to contribute. “The Visionary Club invites 1,000 people to donate $1,000 per year for five years. At this affordable level, we can include everyone in providing a debt-free Center for generations to come.” states Mr. Tinklepaugh.

An automatic, tax deductible credit card donation of less than $90 per month, puts you in the driver’s seat of making Vision 2015 a reality.

For information about Vision 2015 donating and volunteering opportunities, please contact Jason Burns, Major Gifts Officer at jburns@PrideCenterFlorida.org.

Team member Joe Guerrero a Top Fundraiser Overall for Florida AIDS Walk

On Sunday, March 20, the Pride Center again will participate in the 10-kilometer Florida AIDS Walk through Fort Lauderdale. All funds specifically raised by the Pride Center team will return to the Center for use in vital services and programs to people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Center’s team will be joined by thousands of others committed to action to halt the escalating spread of HIV/AIDS in South Florida.

“I clearly remember last year’s AIDS Walk,” says Joe Guerrero, the team’s top fundraiser.

“I walked up to a sea of green Pride Center t-shirts worn by men and women, young and old, inclusive of a true community.”

Last year’s Pride Center team raised around $23,000. Local lives benefitted from that success.

“I marched with pride realizing the impact the money I raised would go back directly to help my HIV positive brothers and sisters at the Center,” says Guerrero.

Guerrero again sets an ambitious pace for the Center’s participation in the Walk. He’s the second-highest individual fundraiser for the Walk of all teams and participants.

“I have raised over $9,000 from my family and friends,” says Guerrero. “I look forward to walking with my Pride Center family as we work as one for those we have lost and for those alive that still need our help.”

The Pride Center team boasts many outstanding fundraisers, including Douglas Cureton, Tony Miceli, Chris Caputo, Ralph Caraglia, Paul Mullen, Anthony Johnson, Keith Ackerman, Jim Cooper, Jeff Black, Shelly Weinrib, Stacy Shervan and Will Cudequest. Their efforts — and the work of the more than 75 other Pride Center walkers — will make a difference in our community long after the walk.

“I promise you when you walk with The Pride Center family at this year’s AIDS Walk, you will walk away with some beautiful memories and a full heart,” says Guerrero. “Will you join us?”

Opportunities still exist to join or sponsor the Pride Center team financially. Contact Kristofer Fegenbush at kfegenbush@PrideCenterFlorida.org or (954) 463-9005 for more information, or visit PrideCenterFlorida.org and follow the AIDS Walk link to our team page. The Florida AIDS Walk is presented by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and its services worldwide in fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS.