Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute's Victory Congressional Internship Application!

Victory Congressional Internship

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute's Victory Congressional Internship is developing the next generation of out public leaders. Each semester, we're bringing outstanding LGBT college students to Washington, D.C., for an intensive leadership program, including:

• A semester-long Congressional internship with a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus or a LGBT-friendly member of U.S. Congress to learn firsthand about the federal legislative process
• An educational and leadership development program to learn about the legislative process and careers in the policy-making process
• A community service project

In December, students will attend the Victory Institute's annual international conference for three days of training, skills building, networking and discussion alongside hundreds of openly LGBT leaders in government, politics, advocacy, business and community organizations.

The VCI will prepare young LGBT people to become informed decision-makers and influential leaders who can change their communities and our world. 

2013 Application Dates
 

• Spring: October 1, 2012 >>Apply for the Spring 2013 Class
• Summer: TBD
• Fall: TBD

>> Sign up to receive an email announcement when a future semester's application becomes available.

>> Download a preview of the application and find out  more in Frequently Asked Questions 

2013 Program Dates

• Spring: January 16 - April 13 (12 weeks), 4 students
• Summer: June 1 - TBD, 8 students
• Fall: September 5 - TBD, 4 students

• LGBT Leaders 2013 conference: Date & Location TBD

2012 Program Dates

• Spring: January 13 - April 21 (14 weeks), 4 students
• Summer: June 1 - July 28 (8 weeks), 8 students
• Fall: September 5 - November 17 (12 weeks), 4 students

• November 29 - December 2: LGBT Leaders 2012 conference in Long Beach, Calif.

>> Meet the VCI Summer 2011 participants
>> Meet the VCI Spring 2012 participants
>> Meet the VCI Summer 2012 participants 

Benefits

• Housing accommodations in downtown DC,
• Stipend to cover other living expenses in DC ($1,000 in Summer, $2,000 in Spring/Fall), 
• Airfare or other transportation to and from Washington, DC, at the beginning and end of the program,
• Academic credit for the summer internship (depending on each participant's college or university), and
• Airfare, hotel and conference fees for the the Victory Institute's International LGBT Leadership Conference in December.

>> More Information and Frequently Asked Questions 

Qualifications

The Victory Congressional Internship is open to undergraduate students of all genders, orientations, abilities, races, and political affiliations. All applicants must meet the following criteria to satisfy the Victory Institute and congressional requirements:

• U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident or permit to work in the U.S. (Foreign students with F-1 visas are not eligible)
• 18 years of age before the day of arrival in Washington, D.C.
• Currently enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree program, will have completed at least one year by the beginning of the program; summer program participants must have at least one full semester remaining after the program has completed (i.e., students graduating prior to or during the course of the summer program are not eligible); spring and fall program participants must not graduate prior to the end of the program
• Applicants need not be pursuing majors in social sciences
• Active participation in public and/or community service activities

>> More Information and Frequently Asked Questions 

http://www.victoryinstitute.org/vci

Interesting Survey!

Information about Employment Discrimination Survey and Co-Authors Karen Yescavage and Ann Tweedy

My co-author, Karen Yescavage, is a psychology professor at Colorado State University-Pueblo, and I’m a law professor at Hamline University in St. Paul. Karen and I put together this online survey to try to find out more about employment discrimination against bisexuals and others with fluid identities.

I got the idea for the survey after noticing that very few employment discrimination cases alleging sexual orientation discrimination seem to be brought by bisexuals. I’m hoping that the survey will help explain why bisexuals don’t seem to be pursuing cases and that it will ultimately add to society’s understanding of the legal needs of bisexuals and other sexual minorities.

Especially if you identify as bi, pan, fluid, omni, or queer, please consider filling out the survey, whether or not you have ever experienced employment discrimination. We estimate that it will take about twenty to twenty-five minutes to fill out. The link is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LWJ93QJ. Also, please forward the link to anyone you think might be interested and also to those who may know others who could be interested.

Study on Youth & Sexual Identity Labels - Please Participate (ages 18 - 22) and Distribute

Dear all, fyi, pat

*****************

Hello!

My name is Ashley Molin and I am a doctoral student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.  I am currently working on my dissertation under the supervision of Dr. Braden Berkey.  My dissertation research seeks to increase our understanding of how youth choose and use sexual identity labels and to what extent their choice of labels is influenced by other factors.  Findings from this study will help mental health clinicians and other individuals who interact with youth work with them in a more informed manner and may assist in creating more inclusive services for sexual minority youth.

I am writing to ask you to participate in my dissertation research by completing an online survey that can be access through the link below.  We are looking for young adults, ages 18 through 22, who have questioned their sexual identity at some point in their lives.  We are seeking a diverse group of respondents of varying race/ethnicity, religious/spiritual orientation, and geographic location.  Please consider participating if you are eligible, and please feel free to forward this announcement to friends and loved ones who may be eligible. 

If you choose to participate, no identifying information or names will be collected.  Your name cannot be connected in any way to the responses you provide; responses are completely anonymous.  The researcher will store the data on a secure encrypted computer drive.  Only the researcher (Ashley Molin), advisor (Dr. Berkey), and a trained research assistant will have access to the data. 

There is a minimal risk of discomfort or anxiety due to the nature of the questions asked; however, you are free to end your participation at any time. 

For the purpose of this study, the researcher asks that you or any respondent complete the survey only one time.  The total time commitment is approximately 10-15 minutes, and the entire survey is completed online.  After you complete the survey, you will have the opportunity to provide your email address if you would like to be entered into a drawing for one of two $25 Amazon gift cards.  If you provide your email address, it is not linked in any way to your responses, which will remain anonymous. 

If you would like to participate please click the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWTPJGC

If you have any further questions about the study, you may contact the researcher, Ashley Molin, by email atajm9864@ego.thechicagoschool.edu or you may contact the researcher’s advisor, Dr. Braden Berkey, atbberkey@thechicagoschool.edu or 312.467.2351. 

If you have questions concerning your rights in this research study you may contact the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is concerned with the protection of subjects in research projects. You may reach the IRB office Monday-Friday by calling 312.467.2343 or writing: Institutional Review Board,The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 325 N. Wells, Chicago, Illinois, 60654.

Sincerely,

Ashley Molin, M.A.
Clinical PsyD Student
Child and Adolescent Track
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
ajm9864@ego.thechicagoschool.edu
(c) 919.395.4300

Great American Condom Campaign Applications Are Now Open!

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August 6, 2012 Hi- Exciting news! Applications to become a Great American Condom Campaign Fall Semester SafeSite are now open! The Great American Condom Campaign is a youth-led grassroots movement to make the U.S. a sexually healthy nation. Each year, GACC members give out one million Trojan Brand condoms on college campuses across the United States, educate their peers about sexual health, and organize to improve the policies that affect young people's health and lives. During the spring of 2012, 1,000 SafeSites distributed more than 500,000 condoms to students on 787 campuses in all 50 states. SafeSites also collected over 2,000 signatures and sent over 1,000 Photo Valentines to Congress in support of No Cost Birth Control. Now is your chance to join the Great American Condom Campaign. Apply today. We receive more applications than we can accept, so make sure your application stands out! Be clear about how you will distribute condoms and why you want to be part of the GACC. To learn more about the GACC and the awesome work of previous SafeSites, go to the GACC Facebook Page. Applications to be a Fall Semester SafeSite are open through September 1, 2012. It only takes 10 minutes to fill out an application, so start now! Do it for your country! Julia Reticker-Flynn Youth Activist Network Manager Advocates for Youth Was this e-mail forwarded to you? If so and you would like to subscribe to Advocates for Youth's mailing list, please click here.

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Announcing the Student Debt Crisis Video Challenge!

The movement has just begun!

ForgiveStudentLoanDebt is re-branding as "Student Debt Crisis" to reflect the fact that the reforms we seek are not limited to just forgiveness of loans, but a whole host of other steps that chip away at the status quo.

As you know, we've already delivered more than ONE MILLION signatures in support of H.R. 4170, The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012, to Rep. Hansen Clarke who, in turn, delivered them to Chairman John Kline of the House Education and Workforce Committee.

Two weeks later, we trended nationally on Twitter, using the hashtag #ListenToTheMillion, targeting every member of the Education Committee.

We've sent letters, emails and tweets, and we've personally visited Congressional Offices, placed phone calls and done everything in our power to make some noise.  Now, it's on to the next project. . .

I'm writing today to ask each of you to participate in our very first video submission challenge wherein we're asking you to create your own short video that we can use to spread our message in favor of fundamental reforms to the way in which higher education is paid for in this country.

To participate, please follow these instructions:

1. Record your own video focusing on your own student debt experience: 

• Please use the phrases "I majored in Debt" or "Listen to the Million," depending on your message. 
• Explain how much you borrowed to go to school vs. how much you now owe. 
• Tell the world about your employment situation and how you'd probably be better off financially had you never gone to school at all.
• Be yourself, use humor or gut-wrenching honesty, but make it powerful so that we can put human faces on the crisis.

2. Upload your video to YouTube, or Vimeo, then grab the embed code for your video;

3. Click here to go to the video submission page (don't worry: instructions are listed there, too);

4. Copy and paste the embed code for your video from YouTube or Vimeo to the video submission form at the bottom of this page.  Please submit no later than August 31, 2012.


That's it!  

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and participation.  Without you, this budding movement would never have gotten off the ground!  Let's keep the momentum going!

Sincerely,
Robert Applebaum
Founder, StudentDebtCrisis.com (formerly ForgiveStudentLoanDebt.com)
Follow us on twitter: @DebtCrisisOrg
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StudentDebtCrisis1

Program Announced: Register Now for the LGBT Leaders 2012 Conference

Pat, Have you added LGBT Leaders 2012 – the 28th International LGBT Leadership Conference – to your calendar yet? We're gathering in beautiful Long Beach, Calif., Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. That's three full days of learning, networking and fun for LGBT leaders like you in government, politics, advocacy and community organizations. Whether you're a public official or just want to learn the latest about the movement for equality around the world, there's a session, plenary or event for you. Check out the full agenda for details about how you can mix and match the three tracks – LGBT Equality, Becoming an Effective Public Official and Hot Topics in Public Policy – to truly make it your conference. The best part? Register between now and August 31 to save almost 40% off the regular conference rate. You'll get full access to interactive workshops, dynamic plenaries, two receptions and five meals to keep you going throughout the weekend. See you in November! Yours in Victory, Chuck Wolfe President and CEO

Health Discrimination Against Trans People Is Illegal

HHS Clarifies that the Affordable Care Act Prohibits Discrimination  Based on Gender Identity  Have you ever been discriminated against in our health care system? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently confirmed that the Affordable Care Act’s (you know, Obamacare) ban on sex-based discrimination includes discrimination based on gender identity. This confirms the Task Force's longstanding position that federal civil rights statutes that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex include protections against discrimination on the basis of gender identity. This means that no one can be discriminated against because of their gender identity or because of a healthcare provider's stereotype about sex — what a man or a woman “ought to look like.” Back in June, the Task Force and our New Beginning Initiative coalition partners sent HHS a letter asking for exactly this clarification. We're thrilled they agree with us and numerous federal courts that have issued similar opinions clarifying that sex-based discrimination protections also address gender identity. We encourage anyone who feels they have been discriminated against because of their gender identity to file a complaint with the HHS Office of Civil Rights, so your complaint can be investigated and appropriately handled. File a complaint at: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/complaints/index.html The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community from the ground up. The Task Force is the country’s premier social justice organization fighting to improve the lives of LGBT people and working to create positive, lasting change and opportunity for all. The Task Force is a 501(c)(3) corporation incorporated in Washington, D.C. Contributions to the Task Force are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. © 2012, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 1325 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C., 20005. Phone 202.393.2241. TTY 202.393.2284.theTaskForce@theTaskForce.org.