170 LGBT groups urge action on COVID-19

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A montage of a large group of individual portraits together to form a pride flag that represents a multi-ethnic, mixed age range group.

More than 170 national, state, and local LGBTQ+ and allied organizations have joined in a second open letter to health and policy leaders highlighting the importance of measures to prohibit discrimination in COVID-19 treatment and prevention, and clear communication of those measures and policies to better serve the health needs of marginalized communities with histories of discriminatory encounters with the medical and public health systems.

The letter also urges medical providers and public health authorities to collect sexual orientation and gender identity data for COVID-19 cases in addition to data on race, ethnicity, age, sex and disability, in order to document and address the pandemic’s impact on minority communities. The signing organizations also emphasize the urgent need for more robust relief for lower-income individuals and families, and for persons who are dependent on lower-paying jobs in hospitality and other industries which are being decimated by the pandemic.

These organizations call on public health authorities, medical providers and government agencies to reinforce safeguards against discrimination; to foster collaborative relationships with LGBTQ+ service providers and advocates; to collect important data on patients, including sexual orientation and gender identity; and to expand the economic relief and legal protections needed by individuals and families particularly hard-hit by the pandemic.

The letter was initiated by a coalition of six organizations: The Whitman-Walker Institute; the National LGBT Cancer Network; GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality; SAGE; New York Transgender Advocacy Group; and National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance. The full letter text, full signer list, and additional organizational response resources can be found online at this link: https://cancer-network.org/coronavirus-2019-lgbtq-info.

Welcome new client Maudie’s Tex-Mex!

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We’re having so much fun working with new client Maudie’s Tex-Mex, an iconic family-owned business for more than 25 years, famous for their classic AND healthy Tex-Mex options and margaritas! Maudie’s has seven locations in Austin, and has generations of loyal fans.

 

ThunderPets campaign to benefit Emancipet

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NOW ON HOLD (because COVID-19): STAY TUNED FOR NEW DATES! We’re looking forward to the fourth annual ThunderPets campaign benefiting Emancipet in what might be our favorite win-win combination of clients ever. Buy a cool limited edition ThunderPets bandana for only $5 at any of the 30 ThunderCloud Subs Austin-area from March 23-April 5, and the proceeds will benefit Emancipet, the nonprofit on a mission to make spay/neuter and veterinary care affordable and accessible to all pet owners. Upload photos of your pet wearing its #ThunderPets bandana using the hashtag, and you could win free ThunderCloud subs and see your photo all over social media.

Wickedly Trans – Voices from the Rainbow Sept. 21

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Join the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles – TCLA for a special performance of Wickedly Trans—Voices from the Rainbow, on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. at ESMoA, 208 Main St., El Segundo. Enjoy a selection of songs inspired by the music of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked. The shows are appropriate for all ages.

Admission to the performances are free and donations to TCLA are appreciated.

ABOUT TCLA:
Founded in 2015, Trans Chorus of Los Angeles-TCLA is making an impact in the choral world by using our unique voices to be visible, bold and proud. TCLA is the first all trans-identified chorus in America. We are a Chorus of transgender, gender non-conforming, gender non-binary, gender fluid, and intersex individuals. We celebrate diversity and acceptance in appearance and vocal presentation so that others can see and feel the joy we share. Through our music we bring to everyone, awareness, understanding, power and victory for the trans community.

Emancipet’s 20th Anniversary Gala Sept. 21; Alejandro Escovedo just announced for After Party

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AUSTIN—Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Emancipet will have a big party to commemorate the occasion, its first-ever Gala on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the LINE Hotel, with a spectacular After Party featuring performances by renowned Austin musician Alejandro Escovedo and DJ Girlfriend ATX.

Tables and sponsorships are available for the Gala, with individual tickets, if available, going on sale at a later date. The After Party is a separate ticketed event with individual early bird, general admission, and VIP tickets available now; more information about both at https://emancipet.org.

Since 1999, Emancipet has spayed or neutered more than 350,000 dogs and cats and this year will care for more than 100,000 pets. Many of the people who helped make Emancipet’s growth and achievements possible will be at the Gala; there will be several special announcements and surprises during the Gala program.

Missy and Jeff Nichols are chairs of the Gala host committee. Platinum sponsors to date are Anonymous, Angela Dorsey and Jason Rhode, and MARK Foundation; Gold sponsors are Cirrus Logic, Tito’s Handmade Vodka/Vodka for Dog People, Trinity Constructors, Nicholas J. Juried Family Foundation/Nicholas Juried and Amy Juried.

 

About Emancipet

Emancipet’s mission is to make veterinary care affordable and accessible for all pet owners. To achieve this, Emancipet is building a national nonprofit low-cost veterinary care system, with clinics in underserved areas of Austin, Houston, Killeen, and Pflugerville Texas; and in Philadelphia. Emancipet advocates for public policy that improves the lives of pets in underserved communities, and operates Emancipet New School, which equips and inspires animal welfare professionals in becoming change makers. Since its founding in 1999, Emancipet has spayed or neutered more than 350,000 dogs and cats and will serve more than 100,000 pets and their families this year. www.emancipet.org

The Trail Foundation, City of Austin explore expanding partnership of Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail

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A group of nationally renowned urban planning experts representing the Urban Land Institute will make recommendations next week to The Trail Foundation and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department on the feasibility of transferring operation of the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake to The Trail Foundation. The Austin American-Statesman ran an exclusive front-page story on the topic. https://www.austin360.com/news/20190819/exclusive-trail-foundation-could-take-over-hike-amp-bike-trail-parkland-operations

In partnership with PARD, TTF applied and was selected in a competitive process to be part of the Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Program to have their experts’ opinions to help launch the exploration of TTF taking over operations of the Butler Trail.

“We are honored and excited to have been selected for this opportunity and grateful for the valuable input as we consider this option,” says Heidi Anderson, executive director of The Trail Foundation. “Taking this potential step would be a big commitment for TTF in terms of funding and organizational growth, and the ULI Advisory Service Program is one of the ways we will explore the feasibility of the potential transition.”

In recent years, the Foundation has doubled its amount of ecological restoration work on the Trail. In 2018, TTF invested more than $2.5 million into the Butler Trail, and in its 16-year history has invested more than $11,300,000 into the Trail. TTF is currently working on three major projects, with 15 more in the queue, and is committed to increasing the pace and breadth of its work to meet the needs of the Trail as its popularity and usage continue to grow along with Austin.

The ULI representatives will be visiting sites and neighborhoods in the city, and conducting interviews with key leaders and stakeholders arranged by TTF and PARD August 25-30. The Advisory Services panelists will consider:

  • How to determine the liability and authority over the space;
  • When to transfer operations over the trail, including prioritizing the transfer and phasing;
  • Funding recommendations, brand development and philanthropic growth and cultivation; and
  • How to prioritize the various projects involved with maintaining the trail.

In any scenario, the City would continue to own the public parkland that is the Trail.

According to Julie Underhal, chair of the Austin Advisory Service panel: “Our goal is to help the city and The Trail Foundation achieve their mutual goals of achieving the best possible operating relationship between the two entities so that the Trail can continue to be improved and maintained as an iconic place and economic, social, and natural resource for generations to come.”

About The Trail Foundation

The Trail Foundation’s mission is to protect, enhance, and connect the Butler Hike-and-Bike-Trail at Lady Bird Lake for the benefit of all. The Butler Trail is the 10-mile lush, urban path in the heart of Austin that gets more than 2.6 million visits every year. Since it was founded in 2003, The Trail Foundation has achieved restoration and beautification projects to the Trail’s infrastructure and environment, while honoring the original vision of the Trail’s founders and ensuring its vibrancy for generations to come. For more information, please visit www.thetrailfoundation.org.

The Trail Foundation - No electric scooters on the Trail

No electric scooters on the Trail! TTF spreads the word with new video, T-shirts

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The Trail Foundation - No electric scooters on the TrailAUSTIN—Electric scooters are not allowed on the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, and The Trail Foundation wants everyone to know.

The Foundation is stepping up their public awareness campaign to spread the word. A humorous new video by Austin’s Beef and Pie Productions launched on social media and has been shared by thousands of fans, and new limited-edition “No scooters on the Trail” T-shirts are available on their website, www.thetrailfoundation.org

“We’re asking our friends to become walking billboards with the message that electric scooters are not allowed on the Butler Trail,” says Heidi Anderson, executive director of The Trail Foundation. Read more

Emancipet Spayathon trip to Puerto Rico

Emancipet breaks all the records on fourth Spayathon trip to Puerto Rico

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Emancipet Spayathon trip to Puerto RicoAUSTIN — Emancipet recently returned from its most successful trip yet to care for pets and the people who love them in Puerto Rico. Emancipet is one of six organizations leading the surgical work in a historic initiative to spay/neuter and vaccinate more than 20,000 dogs and cats in Puerto Rico, which is still struggling to recover more than six months after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

During Round 4 Emancipet safely spayed, neutered and vaccinated 1,562 pets in 7 days, the highest number. The combined total is 4,866 by the Emancipet team for all four rounds. The for the entire coalition across Puerto Rico is now more than 34,000 pets cared for. Read more

VOX Femina Los Angeles

VOX Femina Los Angeles presents Hearts of Courage, also featuring Trans Chorus of Los Angeles

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VOX Femina Los AngelesLOS ANGELES—The city’s premier women’s chorus, VOX Femina Los Angeles, presents Hearts of Courage, a celebration of Pride and tribute to the LGBTQ community, on Saturday, June 8th at 8 p.m. at Zipper Concert Hall, The Colburn School.

Rounding off LA’s Pride week 2019, and the night before the traditional Pride Parade, VOX’s final concert of their 2018-2019 season presents a celebration of songs that honor the progress that has been made on behalf of the LGBTQ community, as well as the 50th anniversary of Stonewall.

The concert will feature the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles and a new commission by the award-winning transgender composer Mari Esabel Valverde. Read more

13 war veterans to have portraits presented at Belmont Village

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Thirteen veterans of WWII and other historic wars will be presented with their portraits taken as part of the American Heroes: Portraits of Service project for Belmont Village Senior Living in West Lake Hills. Nationally recognized photographer and author Tom Sanders  took the portraits and collected the stories of these veteran residents last month, and will be on hand as the portraits are added to the permanent gallery at Belmont.

Dignitaries and community leaders will join veterans and their families on Thursday, January 24, from 4-6 p.m. at Belmont Village Senior Living, 4310 Bee Cave Road. Sanders will speak at the event, and veterans will also be available for interviews. A local high school color guard will help honor the vets. Read more