Tag: LGBT

BPI Announces 1st Convention scholarship Winner

It is with great pleasure that the Blind LGBT Pride International scholarship committee announces the winner of the first ever BPI convention scholarship!

 

After reviewing all applications, and conducting subsequent phone interviews, we are excited to announce that Tiffany Taylor of Farmington Hills Michigan is the recipient of this first ever award!

 

Tiffany currently serves as Legislative and Advocacy Co—Chair. She also volunteers as a proofreader, speaker and fundraiser for Seedlings Braille Books. She has also served as President of the Disabilities Awareness Group on the Campus of Adrian College. Tiffany holds a Bachellor’s degree in Theater. In the past, she has worked with blind and visually impaired youth in various capacities. It is Tiffany’s hope to empower and educate both blind and LGBT individuals and help bring them to their fullest potential. In doing so, she hopes to bring down stereotypes facing both Blind and LGBT individuals.

 

As a recipient of this award, Tiffany will receive round trip airfare to and from Las Vegas, lodging at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, BPI’s convention package, which includes tickets to all BPI sponsored activities, workshops, and a ticket to the ACB banquet. The scholarship committee extends their congratulations and best wishes to Tiffany in her future endeavors.

The committee thanks those who applied and encourages those applicants to apply next year.

 

With Pride,

 

2014 Scholarship Committee

 

Andrea Damitio, Chair

Leah Gardner

Geno Stone

Gabriel Lopez

Guillermo Robles, President

2014 BPI Convention schedule

Need info regarding this year’s BPI convention schedule?  The website has lots of information you will need for the week – hotel, transportation and schedule info.  Visit http://blindlgbtpride.org /convention for details.

 

Don’t forget to share that page with your social media networks by clicking the share buttons at the bottom of the page!

2014 BPI Convention Scholarship

2014 BPI Convention Scholarship

Application Process, Requirements, & Criteria

 

Blind LGBT Pride International, BPI is thrilled and delighted to announce that we will be offering the first ever Scholarship, to attend the annual ACB national Conference & Convention,

which will be held in Las Vegas Nevada this year!

 

Our 2014 recipient will receive round trip airfare to Las Vegas, lodging, our BPI Convention Package, which includes tickets to all BPI sponsored activities, workshops, and a ticket to the ACB Banquet. 

 

APPLICATION PROCESS –

 

Note: submissions MUST be received by email at scholarships@blind-lgbt-pride.org,

By May 7, 2014, NO LATER than11:59 PM EDT.  The recipient will be named on May 21.

 

Please submit the following information on a cover sheet:

– Name

– Address

– City, State/Province, Country, Zip

– Phone number you are best reached at

– Email Address

            – Length of time you have been a member of BPI?

            – Include a statement indicating that you are both the following by April 7, 2014:

– at least 18 years of age, a BPI member in good standing, and if chosen, you agree to attend all events, and meet all conditions as they have been expressed and posted under the requirements section of the 2014 BPI Scholarship Information located  on the official BPI web site at www.blind-lgbt-pride.org..

 

REQUIREMENTS

– Must be over 18 years of age.

– Must be a BPI member in good standing, as of April 6, 2014.

 

The 2014 BPI Scholarship Recipient will be responsible to –

– Submit a cover sheet as outlined above.

– Submit a 1 page essay as outlined below.

– Write an article for our post-convention “Inside Out” Newsletter, detailing your experience at the ACB convention, and attendance at the BPI sponsored activities, & workshops.

 

Attend the following:

– all BPI sponsored activities & workshops, including the Annual Board Meeting & Caucus,

– all ACB General Sessions, and

– the ACB Farewell Banquet.

 

 

Essay Details –

Please submit a 500 word SA which includes your thoughts on the following points:

– What experience would you be able to bring to BPI, as a volunteer, and potentially in a future Leadership role?

– How and why would coming to the ACB convention and participating in BPI be of help to you personally?

– What do you hope to gain and learn from the overall experience?

– How do you see yourself using the knowledge that you will gain from this experience to “Pay It Forward” to BPI, and to your fellow members?

 

 

  • – BPI is not responsible for any room charges and incidentals that may be incurred during the recipient’s stay.
  • * – BPI is not responsible for any expenses not specifically outlined in this award package, including, but not limited to, lost luggage, medical expenses, and any expenses related to any unforeseen emergency, or anything related to any agreement, or situation, which the recipient may incur, or enter into, on their own accord.

BPI 1st Annual Silent Auction

Dear BPI Members & Supporters:

 

Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) is a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). The purpose of Blind LGBT Pride International (“Blind Pride” or “BPI”), a 501c (3) organization, is to provide for the betterment of the lives of those who are visually impaired and who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, around the world. By working with other blindness organizations and organizations in the LGBT community internationally, BPI will do our part to foster a greater understanding of LGBT issues in blindness organizations and also bring greater awareness of the issues and concerns facing visually impaired people who are also part of the LGBT community.

Each year BPI holds its annual convention in conjunction with the national convention of ACB, which boasts an attendance of over 2,000  attendees! The BPI convention is a time for its members to gather in a safe environment to explore many equality issues involving people who are blind, and also to learn more about our role within the LGBT community. This year, our national convention will be in Las Vegas from July 10 to 18. To help us offset the cost of the convention, we will be holding a silent auction during the convention week. We are looking for donations of products and services we can utilize for our first ever auction. Please keep in mind that we will have participants from all over the United States and other countries, so tangible gifts, or services which can be redeemed within a large region would be most appreciated. Further more, the retail value of your donation is tax deductible. One of our committee members will be in touch with you within this week, so we can discuss the best way for your company or organization to be the most valuable partner possible in assisting us to bring greater awareness of people who are blind in the LGBT community and also to bring greater equality for people who are part of the LGBT community within blindness organizations like ACB.

We look forward to working with you on this exciting project to assist us our organization in organizing the only gathering of its type in the world involving people who are blind or visually impaired and part of the LGBT community. We will recognize your donation through our various social media outlets and on our website. Recognition will also be given on our list of donated auction items in our conference program which will be the on- site guide to the Convention provided to all attendees. For further information please contact Richard Marion by email atmember2@blind-lgbt-pride.org.

 

Sincerely,

 

Guillermo Robles

BPI President

Meeting a Guide Dog Team – Some Words of Advice

Who doesn’t love dogs — especially in the LGBT community! Many of our members and allies are either guide dog users or puppy raisers. Check out the info below about interacting with a guide dog team.

Saying Hello to a Guide Dog Team!

• As tempting as it may be to pet a Guide Dog, remember that this dog is responsible for leading someone who cannot see. The dog should never be distracted
from that duty. A person’s safety may depend on their dog’s alertness and concentration.
• It is okay to ask someone if you may pet their guide. Many people enjoy introducing their dogs when they have the time. The dog’s primary responsibility
is to its blind partner and it is important that the dog not become solicitous.
• A Guide Dog should never be offered food or other distracting treats. The dogs are fed on a schedule and follow a specific diet in order to keep them
in optimum condition. Even slight deviations from their routine can disrupt their regular eating and relieving schedules and seriously inconvenience their
handlers. Guide Dogs are trained to resist offers of food so they will be able to visit restaurants without begging. Feeding treats to a Guide Dog weakens
this training.
• Although Guide Dogs cannot read traffic signals, they are responsible for helping their handlers safely cross a street. Calling out to a Guide Dog or
intentionally obstructing its path can be dangerous for the team as it could break the dog’s concentration on its work.
• Listening for traffic flow has become harder for Guide Dog handlers due to quieter car engines and the increasing number of cars on the road. Please don’t
honk your horn or call out from your car to signal when it is safe to cross. This can be distracting and confusing. Be especially careful of pedestrians
in crosswalks when making right-hand turns at red lights.
• It’s not all work and no play for a Guide Dog. When they are not in harness, they are treated in much the same way as pets. However, for their safety
they are only allowed to play with specific toys. Please don’t offer them toys without first asking their handler’s permission.
• In some situations, working with a Guide Dog may not be appropriate. Instead, the handler may prefer to take your arm just above the elbow and allow their
dog to heel. Others will prefer to have their dog follow you. In this case, be sure to talk to the handler and not the dog when giving directions for turns.
• A Guide Dog can make mistakes and must be corrected in order to maintain its training. This correction usually involves a verbal admonishment coupled
with a leash correction, followed by praise when the dog regains focus and correctly follows a command. Guide Dog handlers have been taught the appropriate
correction methods to use with their dogs.
• Access laws, including the United States’ Americans with Disabilities Act and Canada’s Blind Persons’ Rights Act, permit people who are blind to be accompanied
by their guide dogs anywhere the general public is allowed, including taxis and buses, restaurants, theaters, stores, schools, hotels, apartment and office
buildings.
• Before asking a question of a person handling a dog, allow them to complete the task at hand.
• Remain calm in your approach and mannerisms.
• Never tease a dog.

Have a question that we didn’t cover? Place it in the comment section below and we will be glad to answer!

Blind LGBT Pride Bids Farewell to 2013

BPI Members and Friends:

As we get ready to usher in 2014, it is my hope that this Holiday season has been filled with the best in family, friends, and all that is good and positive around you. Whenever this time of year comes around, I can’t help but reflect on where things are, how things have been, and the future that lies ahead. The past 16 months of my presidency have definitely been an enlightening and enriching learning experience. I will admit that there have been times when I have asked myself what has been accomplished during this time. Though they may not seem like much, our accomplishments keep paving the way for a better BPI.

As with any organization, no organization can exist without an honest representation of its membership. As such, a long and arduous process was taken to ensure an accurate count of Blind Pride’s membership. It was during this time that BPI, along with other affiliates under the American Council of the Blind, (ACB) worked diligently to implement an online database for the certification of members.

This year, Blind Pride’s membership voted to broaden its membership criteria to those allies who support Blind Pride’s mission statement. No matter your vision status, or sexual orientation, we have added membership classes to fit your situation. Whether you are a Regular, Student, Associate, Supporting, or Lifetime member, we now have a place where all are welcome. For more information visit:
http://blindlgbtpride.org/joinrenew-membership/.

While on the subject of ACB, we have ensured a more active and unified collaboration with other affiliates within ACB during our annual conference and convention. Topics covered ranged from federal rights for BLIND and LGBT individuals, entrepreneurship, and successful transitioning for students in all phases of education and/or employment.

Lastly with regard to membership, BPI saw growth with the chartering of Blind LGBT Pride of Texas at our annual convention.

In the area of Public Relations, BPI was consulted by author Brandon Shire who has written a gay erotic fiction novel entitled Afflicted in which the main character happens to be blind. As a result of this consultation, the author acknowledged Blind Pride in his book. Secondly, BPI’s social media presence became more active than ever, thereby expanding the international part of our name both on Twitter and on Facebook. Finally, our web presence saw improvements in hopes that our page is more streamlined. We have even made our site more interactive by implementing a blog where members and the public may post comments. We continually use these powerful tools to gather information of interest for our members on a worldwide scale. We will continue to work with LGBT oriented media outlets to ensure that their publications and services are made accessible to those that wish to have access.

In other developments, BPI was proud to make history as we added a ninth board position, that of 2nd Vice President. We also elected our first international Board Member At Large from Canada. Speaking of elections, following the ratification of amendments to BPI’s constitution and bylaws in 2012, those not able to attend convention were able to vote electronically for the first time this Past July. This is certainly a major milestone for BPI as we continue to provide tangible services to our members.

This brings us to the present times. The past few months have allowed us the opportunity to focus our efforts in fund-raising and programming for BPI. Both the Fund-raising and Programs Committees are working together to ensure a successful conference and convention next year, but also to ensure viable ways to engage in successful fund-raising for the future.

What is in store for BPI in 2014? Looking ahead, we plan to find more ways to implement tools for education and outreach purposes. Our hope is to continue to work with other affiliates within ACB, as well as LGBT related groups in the regular mainstream society to dispel any myths out there, and make people aware of the needs that face this very unique community of blind LGBT individuals. One of the many questions that is often asked by members of the blind community is what does our group have to do with blindness? Anything from access to information to legislation, to advocacy, there is so much that goes along with being blind and LGBT. Blind Pride is the only organization of its kind around the world that represents the needs of Blind and Visually impaired LGBT people. Wouldn’t it be exciting to offer a service where someone can go to, either online or by phone that would provide a centralized information and referral service pertinent to people who are blind and LGBT in their community? Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could provide scholarship opportunities for those interested in higher education? Or, an awesome youth mentorship/alliance program that would engage youth in the interchange of each other’s lives? You see, it is awkward enough being blind, but then to be blind and LGBT, trying to fit into a “regular” way of living where you’re constantly having to adapt to day-to-day norms is totally a different, yet challenging experience. This exchange would not only improve social skills, but would do wonders for both the psychological, as well as the educational well- being of our youth.

All of these ideas, as well as any other programs and future endeavors take time, maybe some research and volunteering, and yes, even your much needed contributions. Your donations are very much needed. Blind Pride is a 501C3 organization, and your contributions are tax deductible. No contribution is too big or too small. You can pay securely by credit card using PayPal. Visit
http://blindlgbtpride.org/donate/.
Alternatively, you can make a check out to Blind LGBT Pride International. The address is:
Blind LGBT Pride International
c/o: Guillermo Robles
5010 Echo Street, Unit A.
Los Angeles CA, 90042.

In closing, I just want to thank those who have supported the work of BPI. As I said in the beginning of my letter, these have been interesting times, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Here’s to all the best that 2014 can offer. May you and your loved ones have a blessed and happy new year.

With Much Pride,

Guillermo Robles
President, Blind LGBT Pride International