Putting the “B” in LGBT Summit

THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY CENTER PARTNERS WITH THE BI WRITERS ASSOCIATION TO HOLD
PUTTING THE “B” IN LGBT SUMMIT

New York, NY. – The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center and The Bi Writers Association present “Putting the ‘B’ in LGBT” Summit. The free one-day Summit will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Center in NYC. Putting the “B” in LGBT is co-sponsored by The New York Times Company GLBT & Allies Affinity Group and The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.

Event speakers include Robyn Ochs, Editor of Getting Bi and Honoree of the Natl. Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Cindi Creager, National News Director, GLAAD; Hawk Stone (Board Member, Natl. Gay & Lesbian Task Force), Loraine Hutchins, Co-Editor of Bi Any Other Name; Sean Kennedy, News & Features Editor, The Advocate and Chagmion Antoine, Correspondent for 365 Gay News on Logo.

“Many people aren’t quite sure how the ‘B’ fits into LGBT,” says Bruce Anderson, Interim Executive Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center “as a result, mention of bisexual people often goes missing from discussion of LGBT rights issues like marriage equality, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and ENDA in press releases, media coverage and political speeches.”

“Accuracy of reporting on LGBT issues is compromised when bisexual people are left out of the equation,” Sheela Lambert points out.

By holding the summit, organizers hope to develop a consensus between LGBT rights organizations, journalists and political officials that inclusion of bisexual people in the discussion of LGBT issues is necessary. “This summit aims to give people the tools to understand and include the bi community more fully,” Lambert explains.

The media is invited to attend the Putting the ‘B’ in LGBT Summit.

WHAT: Putting the “B” in LGBT Summit

WHEN: Saturday, May 30, 2009
11am - 6:30pm

WHERE: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
208 W. 13 Street, 7-8 Ave, New York NY 10011

HOW: Free admission. Please register here: http://www.gaycenter.org/node/3326


PROGRAM:

11am -12pm Registration (Free Continental Breakfast & Shmooze)
12pm -1pm Opening Plenary Putting the “B” in LGBT
Keynote Speaker: Robyn Ochs, Editor of Getting Bi, Honoree of the Natl. Gay and Lesbian Task Force and marriage equality activist.

1:15pm - 2pm Bisexuality: Exploding the Myths
Panel of experts will explode myths and stereotypes about bisexuality and explain the realities. Dont be afraid to ask questions!

2pm -2:30pm Lunch (Inexpensive & healthy lunches will be available for purchase.)

2:30pm-3:45pm Bi Community Panel: Telling Our Stories
Panel of bi speakers discuss how LGBT rights issues such as Marriage Equality, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and Job Discrimination impact their lives. Q&A following presentation.

4pm-4:45pm Crafting the Message: How to Put the “B” in LGBT
Practicum on putting the ‘B’ in LGBT in a press release, news story, policy paper, speech or interview on LGBT rights issues. How to report more accurately on bisexuality.

5pm-6:30pm Closing Plenary Discussion
Putting the “B” in LGBT: How can we do a better job?
Roundtable discussion by distinguished LGBT rights activists, media professionals, political office holders and bi community activists. Audience participation welcomed.

Keynote Speakers: Robyn Ochs (Editor of Getting Bi, Honoree of Natl. Gay & Lesbian Task Force, marriage activist.) Plenary and Panel Speakers: Chagmion Antoine (Correspondent for 365 Gay News on Logo), Cindi Creager (National News Director, GLAAD), Tom Duane (NY State Senator) Cynthia Frawley (Producer, Out Q in the Morning with Larry Flick on Sirius Radio), Oriol Gutierrez (Board, Natl. Lesbian & Gay Journalists Assoc, Dep. Editor, POZ), Loraine Hutchins (Co-Editor, Bi Any Other Name), Ramon Johnson (Gay Life Guide at New York Time's About.com), Micah Kellner (New York State Assembly Member), Sean Kennedy (former News & Features Editor, The Advocate), Sheela Lambert (Founder, Bi Writers Association, Denny Meyer (Public Affairs Officer, AVER: American Veterans for Equal Rights), Ann Northrop (Co-Anchor, Gay USA), Pauline Park (NYAGRA), Donna Redd (Founder, SiSTAH, Co-Founder Bi Women of All Colors), Cathy Renna (Managing Partner, Renna Communications), Ignacio Rivera, activist/performance artist, Lara Schwartz (Legal Director, HRC), Dennis Slade (Co-Organizer, BiRequest), Hawk Stone (Board Member, Natl. Gay & Lesbian Task Force), Ron Suresha (Editor of Kinsey from Zero to Sixty and Bi Men), Jay Venasco (Editor in Chief, 365 Gay.com) Dr. Barbara Warren (Director of Organizational Development, Planning & Research, The Center) More speakers TBA

About the Bi Writers Association
The Bi Writers Association works to dispel myths and stereotypes about bisexuality and is the foremost voice promoting bi writers, bi books and bisexual writing in America. BWA successfully campaigned for a Bisexual Book Award category at the Lammys (LGBT book awards) organizes readings, bi culture events, panels, summits and conferences. BWA provides a networking forum for bi writers, an online bi book club, a bi bookstore and Bidar: a blog covering bisexuality in media arts & culture. This association includes writers in all genres including journalism, essays, fiction, non-fiction, plays, poetry, TV and movie scripts, songwriting and erotica. For more information, please visit www.biwriters.org

About the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
Established in 1983, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, located at 208 West 13th Street in New York City, is the largest LGBT community center on the East Coast. More than 6,000 people visit the Center weekly and 300 groups meet there. For more information visit Gaycenter.org.