Hello Queer Lovies

Hello Queer Lovies - it's February, time for groundhogs, presidents, valentines, and seed catalogs for the garden faithful and the 7th birthday of the LGBTQ+ Seniors of the Inland Northwest!!!

Our Calendar of Events:

Every Friday at 4 pm zoom call

Tuesday, February 4TH TACO TUESDAY  at NOON this month at Atilanos 802 W Francis Ave, Spokane, WA 99205.  Please let Hannah know if you are going, so we get a table large enough for the group.  Rosebudhmd@hotmail.com 

Saturday February 8 Potluck, noon, UU Spokane at 4340 W. Whistalks Way.  HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY!  RSVP when Nancy sends out the reminder so we know if you are coming (and please come) so that we know how many chairs and tables to set up.

Wednesday February 19 Lunch OUT on the Town, noon at Emran 1817 N Division.  Hannah makes reservations for us RSVP to her when the invitation comes out later this month.

Friday February 21 4 pm zoom speaker

Thursday February 27, Steering Committee zoom meeting 4 pm.                

Save the date. I wanted to give you a head's up about an Inclusive Healthcare Forum we have coming up on Thursday, March 13th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Hospice of North Idaho.  It will feature a screening of the documentary Gen Silent, along with a panel discussion with several local healthcare practitioners.  Gen Silent illustrates some of the heartbreaking decisions LGBT seniors face when confronted with assisted living and memory care situations.  See the link below for more details and to RSVP.https://www.nipridealliance.com/event-details/inclusive-healthcare-forum-gen-silent-screening

So, in case you missed it, we have a convicted felon back in the White House. Besides renaming the Gulf of Mexico, he is busy, very busy, taking away hard won lgbtq rights. 

Some of the first days' actions included:

- repealing the executive order (Biden's) that allowed Trans individuals to serve in the military. He plans to issue orders or legislation banning out trans folk from serving.

- repealing Biden's Executive Order 14021 guaranteeing an educational environment free from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools receiving federal money.

- repealing Biden's executive order 14075, which advanced equality measures for lgbtqi people, Among other things, 14075 called for banning conversion therapy, expanded lgbtqi foster care protections, and developed new policies to protect queer kids in schools. These federal protections are now rescinded. 

- issued an executive order defining sex identity as based on the box checked at birth. The order bans trans and nonbinary people from obtaining new federal identity cards. Marking x, neither male or female, is no longer available on federal applications. 

What can you do besides head to the pharmacy or local dispensary? The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) offers a few ways to proceed. 

You can go to HRC's website and sign up for email or sms alerts on pending issues at a state and federal level.

You can call and email your elected officials at all levels of government to voice your opinion.

You can text ACTION to 472472* to sign up for alerts

You can donate to groups in any amount that support your interests

You can be informed of state and local issues 

You can follow HRC on facebook, instagram and linked in to see what they are doing

and YOU CAN show up and have a good time at our events. 

Folks, it's a long road - we are on it together.