Trans*/Pagan Events for April 2014

A periodical events round-up focusing on that which may be of interest to people who identify as Trans* and Pagan, radiating from a central point in the San Francisco Bay Area and extending Worldwide. Maintained by Jaina Bee, a Priest/ess of CAYA Coven, San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA, Earth.

http://www.cayacoven.org/

http://cayacovenbeyondthebinary.blogspot.com/

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A Petition to Legally Recognize Non-Binary Genders

Signatures due by Sunday, April 20, 2014

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/legally-recognize-non-binary-genders/j5KvDVvh

Free!

Legal documents in the United States only recognize "male" and "female" as genders, leaving anyone who does not identify as one of these two genders with no option. Australia and New Zealand both allow an X in place of an M or an F on passports for this purpose and the UK recognizes 'Mx' (pronounced as Mix or sometimes Mux) as a gender-neutral title.

This petition asks the Obama Administration to legally recognize genders outside of the male-female binary (such as agender, pangender, genderfluid, and others) and provide an option for these genders on all legal documents and records.

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The 36^th Annual St. Stupid’s Day Parade

Tuesday, April First, noon

Meet at Embarcadero Plaza, foot of Market St.

FREE!

The St. Stupid’s Day Parade will strut its stuff yet again to honor Saint Stupid, the patron Saint of Civilizations and Parking meters. This year’s parade will be of the sidewalk variety, thru the financial district, (the weekend version is thru North Beach). This DIY parade will stop at the traditional Stations of Stupid; the Federal Reserve HQ for the dead lottery ticket toss, the old Stock Exchange building for the 'Sock Exchange', the plaza of the bare-butt mechanics for the 'Leap of Faith', the Bankers Heart sculpture for the penny offering and the traditional Free Lunch. This FREE event is open to the public to participate. Odd costumes, absurd signage, noise makers and a willfully irreverent attitude to the business of religion and the religion of business are encouraged.

Sponsored by the First Church of the Last Laugh, the world's largest church, this yearly San Francisco Rite of Spring event updates the ancient European Feast of Fools and provides photographic fodder for those who think they know what a weird city we are. Fun for the whole family.

RAIN or SHINE… and if it snows, wear a snow tire

Contact: Ed Holmes (Bishop Joey) 510 841 1898 bishopj@saintstupid.com

www.saintstupid.com

http://www.saintstupid.com/event.html#newz

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Transmagic at LYRIC
Tuesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 4-5pm (a weekly event)
Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center, 127 Collingwood St, San Francisco, CA
FREE: Contact: Charles Stevens, 415.703.6150 x18 charles@lyric.org

Transmagic is a LYRIC Community Building Group celebrating young trans* and gender-variant youth (24 and under) and their allies.

LYRIC’s programs are open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth and allies (24 and younger). If you are a youth and would like to become involved in any of our programs, the first step is to schedule a New Participant Orientation. Call (415.703.6150 x10), or email (lyricinfo@lyric.org) LYRIC to schedule an orientation. Orientations are typically held Monday-Friday, 2:00-3:30pm.

http://lyric.org/

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Transnatural with Kara Sigler

Tuesday, April 8, 6:00-8:00PM

Homestead Apothecary, 486 49th Street, #C, Oakland, 510-495-6549

$35

For myriad reasons, there is not enough information or health resources available for trans people. With this class we begin to bridge the gap of accessibility and inequality, offer suggestions for self-care and navigating the medical system. We will discuss ways to support the trans body and spirit with herbs, explore hormone maintenance with natural remedies, and talk about ways to mitigate the side effects of synthetic hormones. Time permitting, we will also discuss herbal support for surgery. All bodies welcome!

http://www.homesteadapothecary.com/Happenings

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/transnatural-with-kara-sigler-tickets-10728054901

http://www.sfherbalist.com/about

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The Queer Ancestors Project: An Exhibition of Prints by Queer Artists Age 18 to 26
Thursday, April 10, 2014, 6-7 Panel Discussion, 7-9 Artist Reception & Print Sale
The LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street, SF

FREE!

The Queer Ancestors Project is devoted to forging sturdy relationships between LGBTQI people and our ancestors.  Using history as a linchpin, we build community by providing young Queer adults (age 18 to 26) free interdisciplinary workshops in printmaking and Queer history.  Public exhibitions and readings of their work provide a window on the past through which the large community can glimpse our collective future.

Honoring Shape-Shifters and Shamans, Rioters & Revolutionaries, Sailors and Songbirds, Immigrants & Refugees, Blessings and Blasphemies, Bondage & Freedom

Artists: Corey Brown, Joan Chen, Jared Clifton, Amman Desai, Paula Graciela Kahn, Amirah Mizrahi, Courtney Stock & Terry Xiao, with artistic director Katie Gilmartin

Exhibition April 6th through May 16th

For more information: queerancestorsproject.org

Facebook Event: http://tinyurl.com/queerancestors2014

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LYRIC’s 25th Anniversary Open House

Thursday, April 17th, 2014. 5:30-7:30pm

The Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center; 127 Collingwood St, SF

FREE!

Join us for an evening of food, community, and memories. Come walk through LYRIC’s history with a retrospective organized by our Youth Interns.

LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities.

LYRIC’s vision is a diverse society where LGBTQQ youth are embraced for who they are and encouraged to be who they want to be. By working towards social justice and supporting young leaders, their families and allies, LYRIC is building a world that honors, respects and appreciates LGBTQQ youth and their contributions.

Email openhouse@lyric.org to RSVP.

http://lyric.org/openhouse/

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Just Around the Bend— save the date and register for these exciting events

Sex Magick 169: Transcending the Boundaries of Intimacy

A Faerie Sex Magick Workshop for gay cis- and transmen

May 31-June 7

Dos Rios, CA (more details upon registration)

$550-850 (€500-750) for the entire 7 days.

Price includes meals and accommodation — tent camping. There may be some indoor spaces for those with special needs or for colder weather workshops.

Consider these questions…

How can I extend the limits of my intimacy with my Faerie/Billy brothers?

Does sex constrain or expand my relationships with men?

How can I integrate sexual play into my intimate relationships?

Does recreational sex diminish my capacity for intimacy in a committed relationship?

How does the prevailing society’s prudishness dampen and undermine the intimacy in my relationships?

How does my sexuality and my spirituality inter-relate?

Are my sexual and my spiritual aspects one in the same?

We welcome your questions and discussion of any possible concerns you might have. In order to participate we ask you to contact one of the facilitators.

FAQ: http://faeriesexmagick.org/SM2003Q.html

More info and registration: http://faeriesexmagick.org/index.html

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California Witchcamp 2014

Sunday June 29th-through Sunday July 6th 2014
Northern California, Mendocino Woodlands

Cost: April 1st through May 31st, the price is $620 to $720 sliding scale, your envelope must be postmarked no later than May 31st, and payment in full postmarked no later than June 1st 2014
June 1st until camp begins, the price is $680 to $740 sliding scale. After June 1st any registration payments must be made in full, you can register anytime up until camp starts as long as we still have room. 

This is an extraordinary event for extraordinary people.

Share in a week of Reclaiming style, earth based spirituality and magic. Come and study magic and ritual in a week long Intensive. Witchcamp is offered to all genders at all levels of experience. Newcomers can learn the basic skills of magic and ritual, working with the elements, movement, sound and the mythological and historical framework of the Goddess Tradition.

Advanced classes offer the chance to apply the tools of ritual to personal healing and empowerment, or a focus on taking the Craft out into the world, creating public ritual, ongoing groups, and healing issues surrounding leadership and power. This event is a deeply moving, life changing week and a constant experiment in temporary village life. We will also look at ways of bringing this work and inspiration into our everyday lives, creating powerful, joyful times. 

We welcome people of all genders, gender histories, and orientations, and we encourage you to feel safe to explore the fluidity of your identity, if you so choose. 

This year Witchcamp will be held at the Mendocino Woodlands, located just far enough outside the town of Mendocino to avoid coastal fog. The camp is set among a mature Redwood/Douglas Fir forest, creating a beautiful, peaceful setting. The cabins are rustic, but pretty. Camping is also an option. A small river runs through the camp, and is the home of steelhead trout. To request a brochure, please send us an email at:   info@californiawitchcamp.org with your mailing address.

http://www.californiawitchcamp.org/register.html

Check here for Reclaiming Witchcamps worldwide: http://www.witchcamp.org/index.php?id=42&section=witchcamps

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Ain't I A Woman?

This past week, I had a wonderful opportunity to see Laverne Cox talk about her journey to womanhood at. "Ain't I a Woman?", a lecture held by the California Institute for Integral Studies.  First, I have to say, what a treat to have been able to attend this event.  Laverne Cox is truly a captivating speaker who keeps her audience engaged with a perfect mixture of wit, humor, honest outpouring of emotion, and sexy sass.  I am truly glad that I was able to attend this event as it gave me many good sources of inspiration for some of the work that I am taking on both within my coven and personally.

Theresa Sparks, director of the Human Rights Commission in SF, gave the introduction for Ms. Cox.  One thing I found interesting was the way in which this crowd, so vocally and viscerally, reacted (in both positive and negative ways) to things said during the entire lecture.  For example: when Ms. Sparks noted that Laverne had been on Katie Couric's show, a whole chorus of hisses and one very loud, "BITCH!" erupted from the audience.  I can certainly understand the anger at the way that Couric chose to focus on Ms. Cox's "transition", and I certainly understand that the trans* community is often targeted with such caustic, invasive, and de-humanizing kinds of questions like these. However, I question the reaction to hate with an expression of  more hate.  It's true that I, personally, do not have the experience of being trans* and many would point that out as a reason why I might not understand this reaction from the crowd (though not everyone in this crowd is trans* either). However, what Ms Cox says next, is what drives home this questioning of the crowd's reaction:

Laverne Cox's "Ain't I A Woman?" 

"I am not just one thing- neither are you.  It's important to claim the multiple intersections of my identity [because] we are in a state of emergency for people at the intersections of multiple identities."

I thought about this and the intersections of my own personality and identities.  Who I am is a woman, who is of color, whose sexuality is fluid in many respects, who is from a working class family, who is from an immigrant parent, who is pagan, who is so many different things... each of these things creates a certain amount of discrimination against me (some bring more than others).  When I think of the reaction of hatred in this light, and in consideration of the fact that we are in the state of emergency that Laverne makes note of, it makes me uncomfortable that rather than expressions of acknowledgement that people like Katie Couric need to be educated, that the crowd reacts with the same kind of hate/discrimination against a western world that does not, yet, understand and accept someone who is trans*.  And yet, even with all of this in mind, I cannot blame the trans* community for reacting this way, especially when you look at the statistics in how discrimination and violent crimes perpetrated against those who are trans* is so disproportionately high in comparison to those who are not.  How can the trans* community NOT react so when they are so continually violated personally and physically?

I felt that many of the most poignant parts of Ms. Cox's presentation came through in the moments where she related anecdotes from her childhood, "The kids said I acted like a girl - whatever that means because as we ALL know, girls act ALL kinds of ways!" Laverne's mother, a single parent and a teacher, often working 3 jobs to support her children, was a woman who made sure that her children knew that education was key to their having a successful life.  However, Laverne's mother struggled with the identity of her child, as so many parts of society were trying to mark Laverne's self as being "wrong". When Laverne told the stories of how often she would be bullied at school or chased home from school by those threatening her with harm, she relates something that her mother told her at the time, "What're you doing to make them treat you that way and why aren't you fighting back?"  This is the kind of shaming that sticks with a child, creating a trauma around it that can be dangerous when so deeply internalized. It is dangerous because it is so difficult to ever fully heal from.

It isn't just our parents, though, that deliver wounds of shame to our children.  Laverne's third grade teacher has a conversation with Laverne's mother, "If something isn't done, he'll end up in a dress in New Orleans!"  This "expression of concern", ever so misguided, results in Laverne being sent to therapy to snap her out of her gender identity issues. Laverne's mother, however, puts an end to all of this when the therapist recommends injecting Laverne, only a child at the time, with testosterone.  I worry, for a time, that this story is going to turn out like the stories of so many others who are trans* - that Laverne might lose the relationship with her mother because of her gender non-conformity.  But as the lecture goes on, Laverne points out that even the toughest conversations, when conducted with love and from a place of love, those tough conversations can be had and can be survived.  In her case, Laverne's mother, did face the tough conversations with her daughter.  Though the relationship between Laverne and her mother was not always an easy one and it had its roughness when Laverne decided to fully make her transition, now the relationship with her mother is a strong and loving one where her mother is now the first to correct others who use incorrect pronouns to refer to Laverne.

"If we are serious about ending bullying by our children, we have to look at issues of gender.  The reality of our lives defies the gender binary model.  This system cannot stand if each and every one of us, decides today to not be the gender police." - Laverne Cox.

Laverne talks about going through puberty and realizing that she is attracted to other men - her education in the church teachers her that this is a sin.  As a teen, she felt her Grandmother (the matriarch of their family) was watching her from the heavens and was disappointed: Laverne's thoughts of attraction to men were a sin in the church that her family was so involved in.  So Laverne swallowed a bottle of pills and went to sleep.  But when she awoke the next morning, she vowed to make her life what SHE wanted it to be.  She became VP of the student council, a straight A student, and eventually went on scholarship to a high school for the arts and was accepted to Marymount as a dance major. And though she didn't add it specifically during her talk, I would say that she holds true to this commitment even now as she's an accomplished actress, speaker, and activist.  Impressive.

Another anecdote that Laverne describes is one where she is cat called.  This story speaks to me as a woman since we are all, so often, harassed like this in public.  The Patriarchy teaches us that this kind of treatment of women is to be commended - we idolize it in the media, in music, in our social outlets: how brave a man is for yelling out at a woman passing him on the street, "Sexy woman, come here/give me your number so I can have sex with you!" It's objectifying at best and threatening at worst.  Cat calling, Laverne says, is not affirming - it's misogynistic, and I completely agree with her on this.  She goes on to describe how this cat calling incident turns into one where the cat caller realizes that she's trans* and begins to call her out as a man.  "Calling a trans* woman a man is an act of violence,"  Laverne says.  The group of men she passes (who happen to be African American) begin to verbally harass her and her would-be suitor turns violent as he kicks her when she passes (to the congratulatory motions of his companions).  The police do not consider this assault as the kick results in no lasting physical in jury - it's just harassment and it will go unpunished.

One thing Laverne points out, that I find an interesting point and is one that she fully acknowledges could be seen as a very incendiary thought: most of the bullying she has experienced, has been by black men.  She noted that she doesn't think that this is because black men are more transphobic, per se.  Laverne points out the violent treatment of black men in the history of American society as the reason why more black men react to her in a violent manner.  "We emasculate black men," she says and briefly describes how it was not uncommon for a lynched black man to have his genitals cut off or otherwise mutilated. This, she believes, leads to the subconscious reaction in many African Americans to her presence and choice to make a physical transition to being a woman.  I think, still, this ties back to how a patriarchal society controls those within it's sphere - destroy the matriarchs, the women, and degrade the men such that they have no other choice but to join forces with their oppressors lest they fear being butchered (whether that butchering is physical or emotional). It all plays into the "power through fear" hierarchy that patriarchy promotes.

In the moments when Laverne speaks of the oppression and harassment that she's experienced in her life, moments where you can see and feel her fear of what the world might have done to her in that moment, I notice that there is a reaction from the crowd, subtle, but definitely there.  Many of the people in this hall have experiences similar and many have experienced worse - they too are raw in their fear and you can feel it in the whispers and glances that make their way around the room.  But here, unlike in the world outside, this shared fear is ok to express: we are, none of us, alone in knowing what that moment feels like.  It is that moment we feel fear that a person may perpetrate violence against you because you are a woman or because you express your gender in a way that does not conform.  Each of us knows that quickening of a heartbeat, that feeling in the pit of your stomach, the racing breath as you try to run away and the silent prayers to the powers that be to please keep you safe.  Here, we know we are safe and can be vulnerable - Laverne shows us we can be both vulnerable and stand-up strong.

"For any trans* person to stand and proclaim their identity is a revolutionary act in a world that tells us we should not exist." - Laverne Cox

"Self acceptance is really the key.  It's said of
people who live wholeheartedly, that their
worthiness is not on the line.  We need policies
in place to support and address the lives
and worthiness of trans* people but this
 is also an inside job: self acceptance."

During the Q&A session, Laverne is asked about what suggestions she has for trans* people working as prostitutes who want to find a way out.  "It's really important that we stop stigmatizing sex work," she says, to the rousing approval of the audience.  "There's a whole world out there saying we shouldn't exist and then there are those who are paying money to be with us. Sex work, for too long, has been the only option for us but trans* people need to know this is not the only option for us."

At one point, the Q&A host, shifts uncomfortably in his chair and prefaces the question he's reading with a note that he really doesn't want to ask this question and he's sorry that it's in there to ask (questions were collected from the audience during the lecture portion of the program):  "Have you ever wished you were born female?" she's asked. The audience hisses, big time in response to yet another, invasive, and de-humanizing question. Laverne handles with with grace, "No.  I've always known that I was born to be who I am and doing the work I am doing. THIS is God's plan.  I feel anointed." Laverne talks about how in many cultures, trans* people were not only revered but often were the shamans of their culture.  "We are a threat to the hetero-normative culture because we are anointed!"

A gradeschool-aged child, Soleil, tells Laverne that they are gender non-conforming and expresses frustration at the obstacles and bullying that they go through just to use the staff bathroom in the school office - things that come at all corners for this child.  Laverne invites Soleil up and we see that the child can't be more than 7 or 8 years old.  Laverne reassures Soleil that they are beautiful and loved and that it is the parents and teachers that should have to deal with such heavy issues about how to handle bathroom use for non-gender conforming students, not the child themselves.  The child should be free to be the child that they are and that it's up to parents and teachers to help end the kind of gender bullying that someone like Soleil experiences.  It was a touching moment - Soleil was a bit frightened by the exuberance of the crowd reaching out to send love and support and Laverne handled it wonderfully, approaching the child with understanding and love.  It was a moment that left many in the audience in tears both for the shared moment of sending love to an innocent and in reflection on their own paths where they may have so needed a moment like this.  I hope, as do many here, that in the future, there will be more support for children, like Soleil, in the form of people like Laverne - trailblazers who help carve the way to equal rights and protections.

Throughout her talk, Laverne ties in themes from so many feminist authors and activists.  But it's how she speaks of Sojourner Truth that resonates with me the most.  Laverne notes that she shares a birthday with Sojourner Truth, "Same day...not the same year.  I ain't that old! Wouldn't that be a helluva moisturizer?!" she quips.  Humor aside, it's when she speaks of Truth's experience at a university lecture where the men attempt to call her out as a man.  Truth, undeterred, simply rips open her shirt to expose her breasts, "Ain't I a woman?" she asks them.  Skeptics and oppressors should not have to be soothed with such violating displays, even if the shock value is enough to turn their minds.  Persistence, consistency, and love are our greatest tools for turning the minds of others.  One day, because of people like Laverne, none of us will have to face questions about our self-identities and acceptance will be the rule. Until then, we need to keep having the tough discussions, born from a place of love, so that we can achieve this acceptance that shelters all.

-Q'Desha Yansumi Diwata, High Priestess of Musical Ecstasy, CAYA Coven.

Trans*/Pagan Events March 2014

A periodical events round-up focusing on that which may be of interest to people who identify as Trans* and Pagan, radiating from a central point in the San Francisco Bay Area and extending Worldwide. Maintained by Jaina Bee, a Priest/ess of CAYA Coven, San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA, Earth.

http://www.cayacoven.org/

http://cayacovenbeyondthebinary.blogspot.com/

I'm dedicating this first events post to Kate Bornstein, who celebrates her 66th birthday today! Blessings to Kate and her family, with sparkling heaps of gratitude for all love and light she has brought into the world.

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Transmagic at Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center
Tuesday, March 18, 4-5pm (recurring weekly)
LYRIC, 127 Collingwood St, San Francisco, CA
FREE
Contact: Charles Stevens, 415.703.6150 x18 charles@lyric.org

Transmagic is a LYRIC Community Building Group celebrating young trans* and gender-variant youth (24 and under) and their allies.

LYRIC’s programs are open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth and allies (24 and younger). If you are a youth and would like to become involved in any of our programs, the first step is to schedule a New Participant Orientation. Call (415.703.6150 x10), or email (lyricinfo@lyric.org) LYRIC to schedule an orientation. Orientations are typically held Monday-Friday, 2:00-3:30pm.

LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities.

LYRIC’s vision is a diverse society where LGBTQQ youth are embraced for who they are and encouraged to be who they want to be. By working towards social justice and supporting young leaders, their families and allies, LYRIC is building a world that honors, respects and appreciates LGBTQQ youth and their contributions.

http://lyric.org/

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InsideStoryTime: Physician Heal Thyself

Tuesday, March 18, 7:30-9:30pm

La Movida Wine Bar & Community Kitchen, 3066 24th St., San Francisco

Free!

 

This "monthly reading series with a twist" features a different theme each time. This month's bill will feature practitioner of narrative medicine Louise Aronson (A History of the Present Illness), immortality-seeking volcano boarder Zoltan Istvan (The Transhumanist Wager), shattered poet Jen Siraganian (Fracture), transgendered iron worker and comedienne Morgan (Morgan's Funny), and seeker after truth Dorinda Vassigh (contributor to The Day My Nipple Fell Off anthology). MCd by James Warner (All Her Father's Guns).

 

http://www.insidestorytime.com/

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Ain’t I A Woman? My Journey to Womanhood with Laverne Cox
Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 7:00pm

Nourse Theatre, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA

$25/$35/$50
$75 ticket price includes reception with the artist
Buy Tickets

Laverne Cox explores how the intersections of race, class, and gender uniquely affect the lives of trans women of color. Laverne draws from her own personal story and how issues of race, class, and gender affect how she has been able to navigate the world. From growing up in Mobile, Alabama, raised by a single mother in a Christian family, to attending college in New York City to pursue a career as an actress, to finally finding the courage to step into the womanhood she always knew at heart was her destiny, Cox tells the story of the unique challenges along her journey to womanhood, professional achievement, self-acceptance, and love.

Cox is the first African-American trans woman to produce and star in her own television show, VH1′s critically acclaimed TRANSForm Me. TRANSform Me was nominated for a GLAAD media award for Outstanding Reality Program in 2011 and was the first television show to star three transsexual women. Cox made television history when she became the first African-American trans woman to appear on a reality television program, VH1′s I Wanna Work for Diddy in 2008. She accepted the GLAAD media award for Outstanding Reality Program for I Want to Work for Diddy in 2009.

Cox was named as one of the most influential trans people in America in the inaugural Trans 100 in 2013. She was named one of the top 50 trans icons by the Huffington Post in 2012. Laverne was named one of Out magazine’s “Out 100″ in 2010. Metro Source magazine named her one of the “55 People We Love” in 2008.

https://lyon-martin.org/event/aint-i-a-woman-my-journey-to-womanhood-with-laverne-cox/ 

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Reclaiming Spring Equinox Ritual—San Francisco

Saturday, March 22, 1pm

Magic Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA

Free; donations gratefully accepted

Intention: As we ply the Fool's craft, we work a spell for Justice

Join us as the Wheel of the Year turns toward the sunshine. Rain or shine, it will be a beautiful day in Golden Gate Park. 

This ritual especially involves young people, and includes an egg-hunt for kids afterwards. Please bring food or non-alcohol drinks to share at post-ritual feast. Flowers and musical instruments are also welcome.

Wheelchair access via paved path from parking lot. Field itself can be swampy after heavy rain. 

Transit: BART to Civic Center, transfer to Muni N-Judah train. Take train to Judah and 40th, walk two blocks to park, enter at 41st Ave. Walk two short blocks into park, enter parking lot on right, look for Pagans and/or signs. We're usually straight ahead in the big meadow. (Drivers - enter at 41st and Lincoln, park in lot.)

Contact sfrpc@yahoogroups.com

http://reclaiming.org/ 

find a Reclaiming community near you: http://reclaiming.org/worldwide/index.html#Anchor-Reclaimin-64672

 

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Equinox of Joyful Vows with CAYA Coven

Saturday, March 22, 7pm

The Home of Truth, 1300 Grand St, Alamenda, CA

$10-20 donation requested, no one turned away for lack of funds.

Come As You Are Coven, is an open, eclectic, drop-in coven providing community rituals in the San Francisco Bay area. Perhaps you are a curious seeker, perhaps an experienced practitioner. If you wish to contribute your own unique, authentic, and benevolent beliefs to a community that is accepting, empowering, diplomatic, ethical and fair, then Come As You Are and be welcome. 

 http://cayacoven.org/

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Reclaiming Spring Equinox Ritual—North Bay
Sunday 23 March, doors at 3:30pm, ritual at 4pm
Ragle Ranch Regional Park, Lions Grove Picnic Area, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol, CA
Suggested donation is $30-$10 but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Funds to help support North Bay Reclaiming events. 

Join us for the North Bay Reclaiming Ostara/Spring Equinox Ritual. As the wheel turns, we come as the children of Spring to dance with the Fae.

Intention: The Rabbits say rejoice with the Spring and tend to the Earth.
Celebrate with us welcoming Rabbit and Springtime with songs, spirals and an Egg Hunt. So much fun for children of all ages! Please bring a basket to collect eggs in.

For more information, email NorthBayReclaiming@yahoo.com or call 707-484-7786.

Website: www.northbayreclaiming.org
find a Reclaiming community near you: http://reclaiming.org/worldwide/index.html#Anchor-Reclaimin-64672 
 

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Erotic Reading Circle

Wednesday, March 26, 7:30pm – 9:30pm (recurring every 4th Wednesday)

Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission Street (at Grace Street between 9th and 10th streets) in San Francisco (map)

$5 suggested donation

Come share new or old work with us! We listen non-judgmentally and share our responses with any writer/reader who feels s/he/ze can benefit from peers' feedback. And it's great practice if you've been thinking about doing any public readings. We welcome writers of any experience level and every orientation. A Best of the Bay award-winning event!

Facilitated by Jen Cross (of Writing Ourselves Whole) and Carol Queen 

http://www.sexandculture.org/ 

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Every Direction LIVE!
Thursday, March 27, doors at 9pm
El Rio, 3158 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
Cover $5-20 sliding scale, to benefit Lyon-Martin Health Services

Every Direction is an Oakland-based queer boi band/drag group covering One Direction. Featured with the Rebel Kings and making their San Francisco debut, these bois will surely steal your heart, bringing something upbeat, silly, somewhat wholesome, and just ridiculously cute to the queer community.
Check out their most recent video!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hsAMgAofAw
>>> DANCING with DJ DasGigler!
>>> One Direction TRIVIA
>>> Raffle PRIZES
>>> FREE CHAIR MESSAGES by dana schnittman! (http://www.danaschnittman.com/)
>>> and more to come!
 
Bring your friends! Bring your mom!

Lyon-Martin Health Services provides excellent health care to women, lesbians and transgender people in a safe and compassionate environment, with sensitivity to sexual orientation and gender identity; all services are regardless of ability to pay. Find out more at http://lyon-martin.org/!!

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Writers With Drinks

Saturday, March 29, 7-9pm, doors open at 6pm

At the Elbo Room, 647 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA

Cost: $10 to $20, no-one turned away
All proceeds benefit the Transgender Law Center and the Center for Sex and Culture

Writers With Drinks combines erotica with literature, stand-up comedy with science fiction and poetry with essays. Plus mystery, romance, memoir, rants and "other."

Janet Mock (Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More)
Ayelet Waldman (Love and Treasure)
Annalee Newitz (Scatter, Adapt and Remember: How to Survive a Mass Extinction)
Marga Gomez (Love Birds)
Marie Brennan (A Natural History of Dragons)

http://www.writerswithdrinks.com/

http://transgenderlawcenter.org/

http://www.sexandculture.org/

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Lake Merritt Pagans

Sunday, March 30, 5:30pm

The Sacred Well,  536 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA

Free

A group for Pagans of all stripes who live near Lake Merritt to socialize and touch base about life on the lake in all its aspects, practical and spiritual. Activities may include: full moon lake walks, altar building, and other ideas you bring!

http://www.sacredwell.com/classes-events

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Transgender Day of Visibility: A Celebration of Trans* Lives

Monday, March 31, 5-8pm

SF LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market St, Rainbow Room, San Francisco, CA

FREE: RSVP to attend – you won’t want to miss this!

The Bay Area TDoV 2014 is a trans* community event to celebrate our accomplishments and inspire future change.  The evening will include empowering and uplifting presentations from community leaders, LYRIC, Larkin Street Youth, the Center’s Trans Employment Program (TEEI), and the Transgender Law Center.

We deserve to throw ourselves a party!* Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres and Beverages will be offered, and our special guest DJ Alexndr will spin a set to transform the Rainbow Room into our own private dance hall!

* TDoV is a substance-free and family friendly event.

History of TDoV:

The International TDoV is an annual holiday dedicated to celebrating transgender/ gender non-conforming people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. The holiday was founded by Rachel Crandall in 2009 as a reaction to the lack of LGBT holidays celebrating transgender people, citing the frustration that the only well-known transgender-centered holiday is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which mourns the loss of trans* people to hate crimes, but does not acknowledge and celebrate living members of the transgender community.

Events surrounding the day include protests, actions, sit-ins, poetry events, social events and a variety of other activities that emphasize the importance of trans* visibility is in our communities locally and abroad. TDoV exists to build community, celebrate what we have accomplished, and inspire future change. 

Thank you for supporting your local TDoV celebration! #TDoV

https://lyon-martin.org/event/transgender-day-of-visibility-2014/

http://www.sfcenter.org/

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UPCOMING EVENTS: Pencil it in, register, get ready!!!

Sex Magick 169: Transcending the Boundaries of Intimacy

A Faerie Sex Magick Workshop for gay cis- and transmen

May 31-June 7

Dos Rios, CA (more details upon registration)

$550-850 (€500-750) for the entire 7 days.

Price includes meals and accommodation — tent camping. There may be some indoor spaces for those with special needs or for colder weather workshops.

Consider these questions…

How can I extend the limits of my intimacy with my Faerie/Billy brothers?

Does sex constrain or expand my relationships with men?

How can I integrate sexual play into my intimate relationships?

Does recreational sex diminish my capacity for intimacy in a committed relationship?

How does the prevailing society’s prudishness dampen and undermine the intimacy in my relationships?

How does my sexuality and my spirituality inter-relate?

Are my sexual and my spiritual aspects one in the same?

We welcome your questions and discussion of any possible concerns you might have. In order to participate we ask you to contact one of the facilitators.

FAQ: http://faeriesexmagick.org/SM2003Q.html

More info and registration: http://faeriesexmagick.org/index.html