This year's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Awareness Days at Johns Hopkins — called Smile if You're LGBTQIPPIQA — will bring to Baltimore individuals at the forefront of the queer rights movement, including director Chi Chi La Rue, author and activist Wayne Besen and actor George Takei of Star Trek.

The monthlong program is organized by the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance, an undergraduate group at Homewood.

A barbeque and picnic from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the Beach will kick off Awareness Days on Saturday, April 1. On Sunday, April 2, Donna Rose, a well-known educator, author and advocate of transgender issues, will speak about the challenges posed by gender transition and her memoir Wrapped in Blue: A Journey of Discovery. Her talk begins at 1 p.m. in the Glass Pavilion, Levering Union.

The following is a schedule of events in the upcoming weeks. For details, see The Gazette's weekly calendar or contact DSAGA at 410-516-4088 or dsaga@jhu.edu.

 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Awareness Days
Schedule of Events

April 4: The Gay Baltimore Panel, with representatives from the GLCCB, Equality Maryland and Chase Brexton, and a local LGBT community entertainment leader, will speak about events in Baltimore, getting involved with Baltimore Pride and what to do if you find yourself LGBT, young and in Baltimore.

April 8: Director Chi Chi LaRue, one of the few directors who has achieved "above the title" name recognition within the gay erotic film world, will talk about his role in creating a culture of safe sex within the gay community.

April 11: George Takei, who played Sulu in the original Star Trek, will speak about his experience as a gay actor and politician.

April 13: Irene Monroe, recently featured on the PBS documentary series In the Life and author of works on African-American gay and lesbian culture and the treatment of women and homosexuals by religious institutions, will offer new insight into the lives of queer people of faith.

April 18: SEED — Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity — will present a workshop on homophobia intended to increase dialogue and set goals for the campus.

April 20: Spring Fair and DSAGA will present a humorous version of The Dating Game.

April 21: A DSAGA tradition, the Drag Show and Dance, will feature local drag queens and JHU students.

April 22: Wayne R. Besen, a former spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, will speak about his book Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth.

April 23: Faisal Alam, founder of Al-Fatiha, a U.S.-based organization dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning, will explore the complex diversity within the Muslim world.

April 30: A town hall meeting features Equality Maryland and the Human Rights Campaign in a rally for equal rights for those in the LGBT community.

GO TO MARCH 27, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
GO TO THE GAZETTE FRONT PAGE.