| March | 2011 |
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| BRAVO Announces 2011 Community Service Award Recipient Cordray to be Honored at Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Columbus: BRAVO is pleased to announce the winner of its 2011 BRAVO Community Service Award. This year BRAVO will honor Richard Cordray, former Ohio Attorney General and long time community advocate. Each year BRAVO honors individuals or organizations that have gone ‘above and beyond’ in their service, dedication and work within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities. Traditionally BRAVO acknowledges those whose work goes on behind the scenes, often unnoticed and underappreciated. Rich Cordray has been a tireless advocate for disenfranchised people for decades. He has worked on issues of equality for LGBT people since early in his career when he worked with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund on the Cincinnati Human Rights Ordinance (Issue 3) fight in the early 1990’s. He was awarded the Michael Howard Greer Humanitarian Award, to honor his efforts in that struggle, and his work in bridging the gap between the gay and non-gay communities Cordray’s commitment to fairness aims to include everyone. He has supported protecting and strengthening hates crimes laws throughout his career, and fought against the Ku Klux Klan when they wanted to erect a cross on the Ohio Statehouse lawn. He has used his legal talent to aid in a body of work dealing with homelessness, elder abuse, human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence, consumer fraud, consumer financial protection, fighting Wall Street and the sub-prime lending crisis. As Ohio’s Attorney General, Cordray’s Office of Crimes Victims Assistance worked with and funded 2 programs that directly support BRAVO’s work and LGBT violence survivors; the work of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network around teen dating violence and the efforts of Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence around sexual assault awareness and prevention. BRAVO is an active member of both of these groups and both are actively inclusive of LGBT people in their work. The 2011 BRAVO Community Service Award will be presented at Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner 2011 on Saturday March 26, 2011 at the Lincoln Theatre in the Cardinal Health Ballroom. The Opening Reception begins at 6 PM and will feature a silent auction and live Jazz with Debá, Wahru and Bobby Hamlin. For more information or to purchase tickets contact the BRAVO office 614 294 7867 or visit BRAVO’s website. - Top of Page - Why Report? By Chris Cozad How many times have you heard a friend say “we got hassled last night, outside the bar” or “someone keyed my car — I think it is because of my rainbow sticker?” Has someone stolen your rainbow flag off your porch or threatened you? How many times have you asked them “did you report it?” How many times has the answer been “No, what’s the use? They won’t catch anyone.” Or perhaps you have said yourself “it’s no big deal, no one was hurt.” Maybe the excuse is “I don’t want to get “outed” at work or you think no one cares. Read on — you may be surprised at what you learn. Reporting does make a difference. You are not alone. There are things that can be done. Help is available. BRAVO cares. Any time LGTB issues are prominent in the media we see increases. June is traditionally LGTB Pride Month and consistently has the highest report rate on any single month of the year. We saw a spike when President Clinton tackled Gays in the Military, and observe similar increases whenever local LGTB communities have a higher than usual profile in the media. BRAVO has had remarkable success in recent years in identifying patterns and neighborhoods where recurring problems are happening and working with police to address the situation A few years ago, a series of incidents in which rainbow flags were stolen, burned and/or vandalized in the Clintonville area. BRAVO received 10 reports in a 6-week period of flags being stolen or burned in a 10-block area. Most of these victims had not called the police, because “it was just a flag.” However, because people called BRAVO, we were able to identify a specific area where this was occurring. BRAVO worked with the police to increase patrols in the area, and also provided some neighborhood awareness and education. The police eventually arrested some teenage boys and the rainbow flag incidents in the neighborhood stopped. Research shows that the kinds of people who commit violent assaults and anti-LGTB murders did not start out with that level of offense. Most perpetrators admit that they started out with harassment and vandalism and gradually escalated to the higher level of violent crime. Many perpetrators have admitted that because they got away with the little stuff, they became emboldened and the severity of their offenses increased dramatically. They “knew” LGTB people were not very likely to report. We also know from research and statistics that these individuals don’t stop at one incident. If you are harassed or attacked it is quite likely that others are experiencing similar treatment from these same individuals. Even in our neighborhoods, we know that if one person is having trouble with a particular neighbor — there is a good chance that other neighbors are as well. Be alert and safe — but if you are a victim it is extremely important you CALL BRAVO. A report can be made to BRAVO over the phone (including evening hours), it can be made anonymously if you prefer and it can be done in just a few minutes. We encourage folks to report to the police but we do not require it. The victim can make the report — but so can other interested parties. So, if you are aware of an incident, you can make the call to BRAVO and document the incident. You owe it to yourself and your community to take the time — you may be saving yourself or someone else a lot of pain and trauma in the future. You are strengthening the community and you are making Ohio a safer place for LGTB people to live and work. Make the call — you won’t regret it. BRAVO can be reached by calling 866 862 7286, by email, or by visiting our website. What Happens When You Call BRAVO to Make a Report?
Victimized: Allowing Oneself to Heal Through Communication By Kelli Medaglia, BRAVO Volunteer The concept of communicating is quite broad; and that’s a good thing to note. As an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, I’ve since known the value of helping to facilitate any expressions of fear, despair, shock and bewilderment. Acting as a means of support through simple listening, advising and encouraging proves fruitful in letting survivors know — first hand — that there really is someone available to them: a receiver to field their concerns, random thoughts and with whom to merely sit quietly. Although it’s a common reaction to traumatic occurrences, suppressing one’s array of emotions can ultimately produce an unwanted weight of hindrance. In addition to fear and indecision, thoughts are often consumed with feelings of trepidation. Progressing, albeit slowly, in a forward motion toward regaining clarity of self is the key component for healing. Recognizing the acceptance of bare expression through writing, discussing and any semblance of engagement is a prime initial step. Personal violation, in any given form, is unique unto each. Accordingly, every individual reacts unlike another. Shouting in anger, writing in a journal or anonymously seeking support are common to knowing the release of what can be debilitating emotional pressure. Those who have been victimized often bear the oppression of misplaced responsibility in questioning their attire, behaviors and language that contributed to the assault. As nothing could be more false, a supportive voice or presence will alleviate those undeserving feelings and burdens of fault. For anyone experiencing any form of assault, always know that help is available to you at all times, without exception. The power of regaining your footing is solely in your hands; and a caring network of people welcome your openness, regardless of how small the step or timid the voice. You're in control of your life. The decisions are yours and the pace is set only by you. Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (614 267 7020) Suicide Prevention Hotline (614 221 5445). - Top of Page - |
In This Issue:
 Of Current Interest The Vagina Monologues A benefit for BRAVO March 11th & 12th Doors open at 8:00 p.m. Show begins at 9:00 p.m. Wall Street Nightclub 114 North Wall Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 614 464 2800 The Vagina Monologues is an award-winning play based on V-Day Founder/playwright Eve Ensler's interviews with more than 200 women. With humor and grace the play celebrates women's sexuality and strength. Through this play and the liberation of this one word, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives. For more than twelve years, The Vagina Monologues has given voice to experiences and feelings not previously exposed in public. For additional information, email vdaycolumbus2011@gmail.com Take Back The Night: Back To Our Roots April 28, 2011 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. March begins at 7:30 p.m. Wexner Plaza 15th Avenue and High Street Columbus, Ohio Take Back The Night is an annual rally and march to protest violence against women and to provide an empowering forum to speak out and fight back. This Year's theme is Back To Our Roots, focusing on our HerStory as a community of women, allies, survivors and advocates for change. There will be tabling, music, and speakers followed by a march down High Street and a survivor speak-out. Throughout the night there will be welcoming and violence-free areas for women, children and men. If you would like to participate, or if you have questions, please email warrosu@gmail.com. Burlesque Rebels and Vixens of Ohio (B.R.A.V.O.) A Benefit for BRAVO April 30, 2011 An evening of fine dining, premier homes and engaging conversation: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? offers an intimate dining experience with 8 - 10 individuals in a private home. A touch of intrigue rounds out the appeal as the mystery of where and with whom guests will dine will unfold that evening at the opening reception.
 GWCD 2011 Logo Courtesy of Raffensberger Photography March 26, 2011 Visit the Guess Who's Coming To Dinner 2011 Webpage Find out how you can support BRAVO by joining the GWCD 2011 Hosting Committee. - Top of Page - Links:
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