Human Dignity Coalition works to advance and safeguard human rights. We promote equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, (LGBTQ) and allied community in Central Oregon.
While Bruce Morris will be missed by many, we are proud to introduce Melissa Adams Gianoplus as our new Executive Director!
In her own words, Melissa is "beyond excited" to be the new Executive Director of Human Dignity Coalition. Melissa has just returned home to Central Oregon from a year working abroad in the North East of England as a child welfare social worker. Prior to moving her family to England, Melissa worked as a medical social worker for St. Charles Medical Center and as a Forensic Child Interviewer at KIDS Center where she also interned as Family Support Program Assistant Director in her final year of her Master in Social Work (MSW) program. Melissa has also interned at Saving Grace as an Advocate and Therapist where she was instrumental in re-starting the Redmond Support Group that had long suffered the effects of staff and volunteer turn over until it eventually ceased to exist. While interning with Saving Grace, Melissa interfaced regularly with Best Care Treatment Services who requested therapy for many of the female clients in their residential treatment program who had been in abusive relationships. Melissa worked for the Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare (DHS) for eight years in Gresham, Portland, Madras and Bend before leaving DHS to pursuit her longtime goal of earning her Master in Social Work. While in her MSW program Melissa was recognized for her academic achievement with scholarship awards and a tuition remission award from the Dean of the GraduateSchool of Social Work; she is a member of Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society. Prior to working for DHS, Melissa worked in a residential treatment program for pregnant and parenting teenaged girls and their children, a job that she thoroughly enjoyed and still looks back on fondly. Melissa came out as a bisexual woman in 1994 while acting as Director of Men Against Rape at the University of Oregon and has volunteered her time with and fundraised for Human Dignity Coalition for many events in the past over recent years.
Melissa is hosting meet and greet coffee drop in's at the HDC office EVERY friday afternoon leading up to our Pride celebration on June 9th and hopes that you will drop in to introduce yourself! The first "Friday Pride-day Coffee Meet and Greet" will be this Friday May 11th from 1-3!
We wish Bruce and his family the best and are grateful for his assistance in the transition of leadership and are pleased that Bruce will continue as an HDC volunteer.
Upcoming Events!
May 22 is Harvey Milk Day! In commemoration, we are showing the documentary "The Times of Harvey Milk" at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) at 6:30pm. Following the showing of this Oscar Award winning film from 1984 we will facilitate a discussion with the audience about what HDC and the LGBTQ community and our allies in Central Oregon are doing well and what we could do better. We are presenting this event in collaboration with the COCC Multicultural Center and the COCC Gay Straight Alliance. This event is open to all in the community who identify as LGBTQ and our allies.We hope that you will join us and contribute to this important discussion as well as to get some inspiration to get out, get loud and be proud!!
June 9, Bend Pride (8th Annual!) We are happy to announce that Stars and Rainbows is working in collaboration with HDC to plan a totally rocking, family friendly event!!! This year we are moving up in the world to the fabulous RiverBend Park for a bigger and more exciting celebration. We are planning a great event with lots of great vendors, food carts, musicians and entertainers! Stay tuned for more details and activities as we create a great Pride month this June. Look for our ad in PQ Monthly "The Official LGBTQ Publication of Bend Pride". Let us know your thoughts on Pride this year at Coffee this Friday!
June 16, Queer Prom (4th Annual!).Queer Prom is a fun, expressive, safe and drug and alcohol-free prom for everyone. Our youth interns, Queer Youth Space group and Gay Straight Alliance Clubs work hard to put on this super fun night, so show your support! This year's them is Super Queeros! (as in super heroes). Old Stone Church on Franklin, 7-11 pm.
HDC is turning 20 in September!!!!
We are already starting to plan our 20 Days of Celebrating 20 years so stay tuned for dates and developments!
Keep the Movement for Equality Going Strong!
Human Dignity Coalition has been working to advance and safeguard human rights, dismantle oppression and promote equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community in Central Oregon for 20 years. We have made great strides, including organizing for Bend's Equal Rights Ordinance and then statewide equality laws, creating a successful program tosupport and advocate for for vulnerable LGBTQ and allied youth, initiating and hosting Bend Pride, among many other achievements.
Central Oregon has become a more vibrant, inclusive and just community in our 20 years, but we still have a long way to go.
2012 is our 20th year!
Can you believe it?
With all of the threats to basic human dignity growing around the world, we need to make sure our 20th is the best year ever!
Please support Human Dignity Coalition's work by making a donation by clicking the "Make a Donation" button above. There is still time to make your tax-deductible donation before the end of the year!
Advancing the Movement for Justice
To be truly effective and lasting, work for equality for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer must be part of a unified movement to build community and achieve equality, justice and human dignity for all people. This is the work before us.
Join us, let us know what you think, call, email, come see us!
We all need each other now more than ever.
We Are Looking for Awesome Volunteers!
We need lots and lots of volunteers of all kinds, from helping us with our social media, to office work, to making phone calls, to working on our events. Click on the volunteer link under support to let us know. We are excited to get cranking and we need you to do it! Click on "Support HDC" to get involved, volunteer, become a member or make a donation.
Want to get social? Register at Meet Up to hear about events created by and for the LGBTQ community! Search for Stars and Rainbows on Facebook as well to get connected!
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