Gay District » Uncategorized

Rejected Because You’re Gay

Luke — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:46:38 +0000

The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the nomination of Richmond prosecutor Tract Thorne-Begland’s bid for a judgeship solely because he is gay earlier this week. The specific charges? He’s in a gay marriage and had the audacity to speak out against Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (no longer the law of the land) in 1993 since he was honorably discharged under the Navy. Nevermind, that he likely wouldn’t see any cases to do with gay rights and had it in writing that he would recuse himself where there was any conflict. (Dalia Lithwick of Slate has the best article on this.)

We’ll discuss this rather disturbing development out of our neighbor to the south. But also want to broaden it and discuss whether you’ve been ever rejected for anything for based on sexual orientation at work or elsewhere and strategies to deal with it.

Afterwards, we’ll eat out at a local establishment.

05/11/2012 – “How Very…Presidential…”

HomoNeurotic — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:36:17 +0000

Well, well, well, it finally happened (again!). Sixteen years after Obama originally endorsed same-sex marriage (in a questionnaire when he was running for Illinois state legislature), Obama re-affirmed his support….as President of the United States. There are many in the LGBT community who welcome the news, but some reactions are more measured. How will this help increase the number of couples who are able to legally marry? Should same-sex marriage be the forefront of LGBT issues, or should it take a backseat to protection from employer discrimination or bullying laws? Does the President hurt his chances in re-election because of this endorsement? Let’s discuss…

As usual discussion will be followed by dinner at a local establishment and whatever trouble we can find ourselves in!

Official Site: GayDistrict.Org
Twitter: twitter.com/GayDistrict
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/GayDistrict/
Google Group: //groups.google.com/group/gay-district

GUEST SPEAKER: Gabriel Arana On ‘My So-Called Ex-Gay Life’ 4/27

Luke — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:05:06 +0000

This Friday we will be joined by Gabriel Arana, web editor of The American Prospect, who recently wrote ”My So-Called Ex-Gay Life.”

In the article, he recounts his experiences with ex-gay therapy, which he underwent during high school after his parents discovered he was gay. He also reports on the ex-gay movement, and talks to Robert Spitzer, the author of a 2001 study claiming that the therapy worked. Spitzer, interestingly, also led the effort to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. In his visit with him, Spitzer renounces the study.

Today, news broke that Spitzer apologized for the study.

Join us at 8:30 Friday at St. Margaret’s. Afterwards, as always, we will go out for dinner.

Read the article, it’s a gut-wrenching personal essay combined with reporting on the ex-gay movement. Here’s an excerpt:

Early in my freshman year of high school, I came home to find my mom sitting on her bed, crying. She had snooped through my e-mail and discovered a message in which I confessed to having a crush on a male classmate.

“Are you gay?” she asked. I blurted out that I was.

“I knew it, ever since you were a little boy.”

Her resignation didn’t last long. My mom is a problem solver, and the next day she handed me a stack of papers she had printed out from the Internet about reorientation, or “ex-gay,” therapy. I threw them away. I said I didn’t see how talking about myself in a therapist’s office was going to make me stop liking guys.

Read it here: http://prospect.org/article/my-so-called-ex-gay-life

04/06/2012 – “The Legacy We Leave”

HomoNeurotic — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:45:47 +0000

With Youth Pride 2012 just a few short weeks away I got to thinking, “What is it that the gay youth of today will inherit from us, their gay elders?” Are we responsible to teach them the ways of safety in cruising? Is the history of Dupont Circle that is slowly being lost important for those up and coming Gay-bies to know? What influence can/do we have in insuring the next set of young LGBT activists have the support and knowledge that they need in order to continue to create change when we are too busy changing diapers (whether they are our children’s or our own)? More importantly how can you as an individual leave an LGBT legacy for others to strive or admire? Whether it’s being the queen of the social scene or the poz life advocate and educator. Whether the knowledge you pass is to be safe with your heart as well as your body, how will you want to leave it and who do you want to give it to? How much knowledge and strength have we gained or lost due to the generation who lost their fight in the early epidemic of HIV/AIDS?

This Friday let’s sit and discuss how we want the next generation (Generation Fab!) to succeed and how we whether want to have a hand in helping them do it.

As per always we’ll be meeting at 8:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal, 1830 Connecticut Ave NW, via the Parish Office entrance/buzzer. After discussion we will head to dinner and afterwards see what trouble we can get ourselves into!

03/23/12 Event: Premature Spring Fling Happy Hour

Sean — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:31:25 +0000

Back by popular demand and despite the best interests of your liver, we are excited to announce:

03/09/12: Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Cheaper

Sean — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:38:38 +0000

Just think, you could one day be half as awesome as Manders.

Jacket-free weather is here, and with it will soon come an explosion of social occasions and warmer-weather pastimes. We’ll now feel the allure of vacations, sporting events, rooftop happy hours, and an increased interest in all activities available year-round, simply because you won’t freeze your harbles off getting there.

With the limited budgets many of us are working with, or perhaps the simple desire to spend wisely, regardless of income, how can you “have it all” on the cheap? Come share advice on destinations, events, and deals appropriate for the cost-conscious homo. Tell us about the happy hour where $2 can put you in the hospital, the discount bus fare to Rehoboth–so long as you don’t mind going with a 50′s-and-up LGBT nudist group, and so forth.

As always, we’ll be meeting at 8:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal, 1830 Connecticut Ave NW, via the Parish Office entrance/buzzer. Dinner afterwards will be ladies’ choice, with voting options limited to $10-and-under meal options, befitting our theme.

See you then!

03/02/2012 – GayM Night!

HomoNeurotic — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:35:36 +0000

We love you..you love us..and we love you loving us and we know YOU
love games! So join you favorite facilitators as we ditch our weekly
discussion format and treat you to an evening of tricks with treats; GAMES!
Uno, Skipbo, Taboo, Clue, Pictionary, The game of Dictionary and Settlers
of Katan TOO! Apples to apples and anything you can bring will be on the
table this Friday, March 2nd!

We’ll provide the snacks, drinks, games, and gossip and all you have to
bring is your adorable self (and that guy you’ve been meaning to bring with
you) and any game you might want to bring to the table as well. As always,
Gay District meet’s at St. Margaret’s Episcopalian Church 1830 Connecticut
Avenue. Click the LINK for direct details to our meeting location!

See you there!

Patriots vs. Giants vs. 53 year old Madonna–SUPER BOWL XLVI 2/3

Luke — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:39:26 +0000

A Mandonna dancer recently said that she’s “bringing gay to the Super Bowl” in her upcoming halftime performance this Sunday. (However, previous Super Bowl halftime shows have registered on the high end of the Kinsey scale.)

What do you for the Super Bowl? Do you watch it or do other things during? Who are you rooting for? How do you think Madonna will do–is she over the hill? Do you have any special customs for it (cook anything)? Do you “bring gay” to the Super Bowl?

Also, GLSEN is running an ad during the Super Bowl about not using “gay” as an adjective. We’ll discuss that too.

So whether you want to talk Madonna or talk about the Patriots (or Giants), there’ll be something for you.

We’ll meet at 8:30 at the church, and afterwards we’ll eat at a local establishment.

Still not convinced you’re going to watch? See this: http://www.buzzfeed.com/whitneyjefferson/hotties-of-the-super-bowl

01/20/2012 – Dating 2.0

HomoNeurotic — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:47:19 +0000

Hey Boy-sicles!

Throughout the annals (HA!) of history Man has been on a never ending
quest for camaraderie and companionship. As the course of history has
changed so have our methods of joining together and exploring the
dark, treacherous and mine laden world of…DATING!

Join us this Friday as we discuss dating in the world of technology.
Do the rules of a common meetup date apply when you’ve been
corresponding online for a month? Can a Grindr hook-up lead to
matrimony? Is Plenty Of Fish REALLY a dating site or is it just a
euphemism for disappointment in the dating world? Is monogamy
something a dating relationship should inevitably lead to? How can you
sustain a committed relationship after you’ve been wading in the
“friend” zone for so long? How much information should your online
profile have and what is considered an over-share? Are you in fact
dating a Decepticon or is Skynet using you to acclimate itself to the
human experience in hopes of better understanding it’s prey? Have you
traversed these waters for so long you know it like the back of the
hand of that guy you used to date who liked it rough; well join us and
bring your know how to the discussion!

After dinner we will navigate the city for food an drink!

As Always, discussion will be held at St. Margaret’s Episcopalian
Church, 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Discussions starts at 8:30pm and if you need any further directions
feel free to visit out site! (Listed Below)

Official Site: GayDistrict.Org
Twitter: GayDistrict.Org/Twitter
Facebook: GayDistrict.Org/Facebook

12/16: Bah humbug. Are the holidays over yet?

Jay — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:35:49 +0000

We’re already half-way through December, so the holidays and its parties and fun are well underway. While the holidays are great to partake in, it’s also nice to take a break from them.

On Friday, we will take a breather from Christmas and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and return to talking about what all interests us: love & sex. Join us for 20 questions about love & sex, as hosted on Logo’s “1 Girl, 5 Gays.” There will be rapid questions (of course with your responses!) about relationships, guys, family, friends, etc. The questions are always fun and interesting!

See you Friday. Same place. Same time.

Jay

Male Figurative Art Appreciation and Social Mixer

HomoNeurotic — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:57:43 +0000

When: Thursday, December 8th.

Where: Vitruvian Gallery - 734 7th Street, SE (2nd floor)

The Vitruvian Fine Arts Gallery just opened its doors – it’s DC’s only gallery dedicated exclusively to male figurative art. For one of their first events they have invited Gay District & DC Ice Breakers to stop by for some fine wine (or seltzer water), cheese and crackers, and fabulous art – all courtesy of the Gallery;The only thing you have to supply is the great conversation! In fact, we will be among the very first to see a brand new installation of pop art going up in early December. With major exhibits booked through summer of 2012, Vitruvian Gallery has already created excitement in DC’s artist community. The gallery’s lineup promises male figurative art in a variety of media, artistic styles, and price points But there’s more to this venue than just art. Already, the gallery is hosting Men’s Yoga lessons, and soon, there will be open drawing sessions, artist-led classes, and a variety of other member events. So stop by after work – we’ll be there from 6-8 pm on Thursday, December 8 – 734 7th Street, SE (2nd floor).

10/28 Discussion: All Hallow’s Eve

Sean — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:53:15 +0000

Have you noticed that in the gay world, Halloween seems to eclipse Christmas as the most important holiday? Is it the socially acceptable promiscuity? The fact that drinking is a time-honored tradition? The excuse for gender-bending, wearing makeup, and dressing oneself in absolutely ridiculous outfits?

Whatever your excuse, let’s meet this Friday at 8:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal (same bat time, same bat channel) to discuss ridiculous and/or offensive costumes, terrible decisions of Halloweens past, trick or treat mishaps from our youth, and–of course–brag about whatever your costume and party plans are for the weekend.

Play your cards right and there may even be candy, heavily orange-dyed cookies, or an appearance by the Great Pumpkin.

See you soon,

-Sean

Frank Kameny and the Gay Rights Movement

Jay — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:05:08 +0000

With the passing of pioneer gay rights activist Frank Kameny, Friday we will look back at his life, work for gay rights, and the legacy he has left on the movement.

We will also make some time to discuss current work in the gay rights movement, including President Obama’s recent speech at this year’s HRC Dinner.

Brush up on your gay history and politics before coming out for a sure-to-be great discussion!

As always, same place, same time. With going out to eat afterward.

9/16 Event: Autumn Open House

Sean — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:31:28 +0000

It’s that time again, to hang out, meet new members, and eat Sean’s amazing food.

Click the image to RSVP, gentlemen.

Text from invite:

Gay District Open House

Wanna see what we’re all about? Gone to GD before, but want a low-key chance to re-connect now that the boys of summer are gone? Come out for this always-free meet and greet. We’ll bring the food, you bring the flamboyance.

Friday, September 16th from 8p ’til whenever we make you leave.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 1830 Connecticut Ave NW