It's a new year, and many of us take advantage of that "fresh start" to set goals and make changes.  At January’s meeting, we'll give everyone an opportunity to reflect and share on the previous year and talk about their hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations for 2011.  Your goals/resolutions might be small or large, simple or complex, well-defined or amorphous (or maybe non-existent). They might be about gender or some other topic.  Feel well-supported as you share, and find encouragement from others who will cheer you on (and even offer supportive ideas) in pursuing your goals. Come on down and help your fellow FORGE attendees get a great start in the new year!

The National Center on Transgender Equality (NCTE) in conjunction with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), just release "Injustice at every turn: A report of the national transgender discrimination survey."  In this detailed and compelling report, they cover employment discrimination, as well as many other forms of discrimination transgender individuals and loved ones experience.  At February's meeting, we will use the survey results as a jumping off point to compare national statistics with our local reality.   Ample time will be available for discussion of issues such as on-the-job harassment, loss of chosen career, under-employment, non-consensual outing, forced bathroom choice, the role of transition (helping or hindering in maintaining or pursuing jobs), resilience, and strategies for success.  FORGE staff will also reveal a new opportunity for transgender people and loved ones seeking employment in Wisconsin.

The LGBTQI community has suffered multiple losses over the past several months — both in Wisconsin and across the nation. Join us at the next Community Cares meeting to discuss how many components (dots) are connected, and what we as a community can do to start erasing the lines and creating new, healthier options for ourselves, our community, and our world. -- November 7, 2010 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)