Queer-e

Emailed to more than 1,000 subscribers weekly, Queer-e is the Pioneer Valley’s best source for information about local LGBT events and activities.

Queer-e includes information about events, group meetings, volunteer needs, research studies, community resources, and other activities of interest to the LBGT and allied community. During the academic year (September to May), Queer-e is sent out each Friday. During the Summer, messages are posted less frequently (about 1-2 per month). More frequent emails may be sent when something urgent arises that affects the local LGBT and allied community.

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Send an email message to: stonewall@stuaf.umass.edu. Type "For Queer-e" in the subject line. If sending something to be posted, please write the message as you would like it to appear in Queer-e.

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Current Edition of Queer-e

Queer-e: Your List of LGBTQA Events in the Pioneer Valley
February 10, 2012

UMASS STONEWALL CENTER EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
[For more information on Stonewall Center events, join our Facebook page, visit www.umass.edu/stonewall, or call us at (413) 545-4824. Open TWThF 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., open Mondays 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.]

1. Free and Anonymous Rapid HIV and STD Testing for Valentine's Day -- 2/14, Noon-3:30, 162-75 UMass Campus Center
2. Limelight Series "Neon Night" Dance -- 2/25, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., UMass Fine Arts Center Lobby
3. Fabulously Queer Trivia Night -- 3/1, 7 p.m., UMass Stonewall Center

LOCAL EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
4. Let the Body Speak: An Arts and Performance Project -- 2/10-2/12, 7:30 p.m., Emily Dickinson Hall, Hampshire College
5. Out for Reel's Lesbian Film Festival -- 2/11, Wright Hall, Smith College, Northampton
6. LGBT Coalition of Western MA's Heart to Heart Valentine's Benefit Dance -- 2/11, 8-Midnight, Smith College Conference Center
7. Smith College Vagina Monologues -- 2/11, 8 p.m., John M. Greene Hall, Smith College
8. Bon Appetit Burlesque's Love/Hate Show -- 2/11, 9-11:30 p.m., The Deuce (World War II Club), Northampton
9. East Coast FTM Group Meeting: "The Costs of FTM Transition" -- 2/12, 3-6 p.m., Northampton
10. Free Film: Costa Brava -- 2/14, 6:30 p.m., 231 Herter Hall, UMass
11. PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire Chapter (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays) Meeting 2/14, 6-8 p.m., Highland Valley Elder Services, Northampton
12. UMass Productions of The Vagina Monologues -- 2/16-2/18, 7 p.m., Bowker Auditorium
13. LGBT Pride Night at a Springfield Falcons Hockey Game -- 2/25, 7 p.m., Mass Mutual Center, Springfield
14. Inaugural Lesbians of Color Symposium -- 3/3, Boston
15. Celebrating International Women's Day: Writing, the Public Sphere, and Gender -- 3/8, 6-7:30 p.m., Food For Thought Books, Amherst
16. Everywoman's Center Support Groups for Female-Identified Survivors of Sexual Violence
17. New Group: Queer Non-Gestational Parents Group -- 4th Sunday of each month, 2:30-4 p.m., Cradle, Northampton

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UMASS STONEWALL CENTER EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

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1. Free and Anonymous Rapid HIV and STD Testing for Valentine's Day
Tuesday, Feb. 14, Noon-3:30
UMass Campus Center, 162-75

Open to all. No appointment necessary and no blood is involved, just oral swabs. An HIV test will take about 20 minutes. Tests conducted by Tapestry Health.

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2. Limelight Series "Neon Night" Dance
Saturday, Feb. 25, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
UMass Fine Arts Center Lobby

A chance to cut loose, have fun, and meet others. If you liked Dayglow, if you like Diva's, then you'll like this. Featuring music by DJ Studebaker Hawk (voted "Best DJ" in the Valley by The Valley Advocate) and free entrance and glow sticks.

Open to all students. Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/295492013846996/

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3. Fabulously Queer Trivia Night
Thursday, March 1, 7 p.m.
UMass Stonewall Center, Crampton Hall

Test your knowledge of LGBT history, culture, literature, music, sports, and more! Prizes for the winning individuals and teams. Refreshments provided.

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LOCAL EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

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4. "Let the Body Speak: An Arts and Performance Project
Feb. 10-12, 7:30 p.m.
Main Stage of Emily Dickinson Hall, Hampshire College

"Like the vagina monologues, each performer tells a story about the body. However, each piece is about their own bodies, performed, written and directed by themselves. Eighteen collaborators have created pieces of performance art, video, visual art, dance, and movement that delve into their experiences of their bodies. Stories touch upon themes of memory, trauma, survival, desire, reclamation, and defiance."

Tickets: $3 students/seniors, $5 general admission. Proceeds benefit First Generation of Springfield and Sins Invalid of Berkeley, CA. For reservations, contact letthebodyspeak@gmail.com

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5. Out for Reel's Lesbian Film Festival
Saturday, Feb. 11
Wright Hall, Smith College, Northampton

Two shows:
Kiss Me, 5:15-7 p.m.
Best Lesbian Shorts: Award-Winning Films, 7:20-8:40 p.m.

$10 Advance / $12 Door / $15 Both Shows Advance / $8 Student
Synopses / Tickets/ Info: OutForReel.org

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6. Heart to Heart Valentine's Benefit Dance
Saturday, Feb. 11, 8-Midnight
Smith College Conference Center, 51 College Lane, Northampton

Sponsored by the LGBT Coalition of Western MA. This dance benefits the Shining Star Scholarship Fund for LGBT youth. Music by DJ Rockin' Reenie. $10/advance $15/door. For tickets or more information: www.lgbtcoalitionwma.org or (413) 588-1018. Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/190462021050776/

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7. Smith College Productions of The Vagina Monologues
Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m.
John M. Greene Hall, Smith College

Tickets: $10 General Admission (on sale in the Smith College Campus Center) and $5 for Smith students (available through houses). Sure to sell out, so get tickets early. Proceeds benefit Safe Passage in Northampton.

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8. Bon Appetit Burlesque's Love/Hate Show
Saturday, Feb. 11, 9-11:30 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.; seating is limited and fills up quickly)
The Deuce (World War II Club), 50 Conz Street, Northampton

"Are you looking for something to do this Valentine's Day weekend? Whether you're celebrating love or loving the single life, we've got a show for you. This month's edition of Bon Appetit Burlesque features Serendipity Galore, Captain Elastico, Bettysioux Tailor, Mrs. Haggerty, Ruby Solitaire, and Mistress Leona Star exploring that thin line between love and hate.

The show is open to the public, ages 21 and up. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door on a first come, first serve basis. A small number of advanced tickets may be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets (https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/222461)."

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9. East Coast FTM Group Meeting
Sunday, Feb. 12, 3-6 p.m., Northampton
Discussion topic: "The Costs of FTM Transition"

"At this meeting we'll go over the financial costs of transitioning from a female to a male body, and ideas about how to plan for and manage the expenses. Also, we'll discuss costs that are not monetary – what are they? Do we 'pay' for transitioning in other ways?

Please note that East Coast FTM Group meetings are now specifically for FTMs only, meaning the full spectrum of masculine-identified, female- or intersex-born persons in the transgender and gender non-conforming community. This includes FTM transgender persons, FTM transsexuals (non-op, pre-op, and post-op), FTM cross-dressers, gender queers, stone butches, gender blended, queer, and questioning."

For the location and for more information, contact Bet: (413) 584-7616 or betpower@yahoo.com.

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10. Free Film: Costa Brava
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m.
231 Herter Hall, UMass

A women's romantic movie for Valentine's Day. Part of the Catalan Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

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11. PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire Chapter (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays) Northampton Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 6-8 p.m.
Highland Valley Elder Services in the Cutlery Building, 320 Riverside Dr., Northampton

For more information: (413) 625-6636 or jcmalinski48@gmail.com. On Facebook: PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire Chapter.

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12. UMass Productions of The Vagina Monologues
Feb. 16-18, 7 p.m., Bowker Auditorium

For more information: umassvagina2012@gmail.com

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13. LGBT Pride Night at a Springfield Falcons Hockey Game
Saturday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
Mass Mutual Center, Springfield

The game is against the Connecticut Whale. Tickets are $11 in advance and $19 at the door. For more information, call the Falcons: (413) 739-4625, ext. 108

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14. Inaugural Lesbians of Color Symposium
Saturday, March 3, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Boston

Sponsored by the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition. For more information: www.hbgc-boston.org

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15. Celebrating International Women's Day: Writing, the Public Sphere, and Gender
Thursday, March 8, 6-7:30 p.m.
Food For Thought Books, 106 North Pleasant St., Amherst

Three faculty from Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies at UMass will be reading from their most recent books:
Laura Briggs: Somebody's Children: The Politics of Transracial and Transnational Adoption
Milann Kang: The Managed Hand: Race, Gender, and the Body in Beauty Service Work
Dayo Gore: Radicalism at the Crossroads: African American Women Activists in the Cold War

Readings to be followed by Q & A. Refreshments provided.

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16. Everywoman's Center Support Groups for Female-Identified Survivors of Sexual Violence

"Support, Connect, Heal"
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., in Amherst
10-week group beginning in March
"Explore healing with other survivors of sexual violence in a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space. The group will focus on topics such as isolation, shame, self-worth, triggers, trust, relationships, coping and the after-effects of trauma."

"Survivors Writing Group"
Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m., in Amherst
10-week group beginning in March
"This group is for writers and non-writers alike. It will focus on using writing to explore the experience of being a survivor. It will be a combination of writing and discussion."

Call for info. and a meeting with the group leaders: (413) 545-5839. Money for child care is available.

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17. New Group: Queer Non-Gestational Parents Group
4th Sunday of each month (beginning this month), 2:30-4 p.m.
Cradle, Thornes Marketplace, Northampton

"The Queer Non-Gestational Parents Group is a peer-led dialogue and support group to address the unique needs and experience of queer non-gestational parents. Everyone is welcome, from those who are expecting to those who have older children. Children are always welcome and there are toys for infants and young children in the space. There is a $5 suggested donation to help defray Cradle's expenses, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds."

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To submit a listing or to subscribe to Queer-e, email us: stonewall@stuaf.umass.edu.