U.S. Panel Grants 1996-1997

U.S. Panel Grants are grants issued to U.S.-based lesbian, trans and LGBTI social change organizations and projects, including cultural and film/video projects. U.S. Panel Grants are determined by a diverse and committed activist Community Funding Panel.

AssistHers, Inc.
Houston, TX
$2,000
AssistHers is committed to creating a community of caregivers who will provide a network of support to women-identified women in need; breaking down the barriers that lesbians face when accessing the health care system; a educating the lesbian community about important health issues.

Calyx, Inc.
Present Tense - 20th Anniversary Anthology of Young Writers
Corvalis, OR
$1,000
CALYX is a feminist, non-profit publisher that nurtures women's creativity through the publication and promotion of women's literature and art. Present tense is an anthology of prose, poetry, art, essays and book reviews by young women writers.

Center for Young Women's Development
Recreation Program
San Francisco, CA
$3,000
The mission of the Center for Young Women's Development is to address the lack of youth-sensitive services, leadership opportunities and advocacy for young women who are on their own. The peer-directed recreation program provides leadership training to queer young women, primarily lesbians of color, living on their own.

Communities of Interest Registration Database
Outreach Project
Avondale Estates, GA
$1,000
Communities of Interest Registration Database exists to bring the work, knowledge, resources, ideas and energy of the many community-based organizations within the useful and purposeful reach of each other. The Outreach Project is a targeted effort to register lesbian of color organizations in the NYC area and in the southeastern U.S.

Connecticut Women's Education & Legal Fund
L/G Legal Rights Outreach
Hartford, CT
$2,000
Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund works through community education and legal and public policy strategies to eliminate sex discrimination and empower all women to become full participants in society. The mission of the L/G Legal Rights Outreach Project is to provide education and information to lesbians and gay men on their legal rights and to promote awareness of L/G issues.

Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley
Coalition Building Institute
Rochester, NY
$750
The Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley serves the needs of gays, lesbians and bisexuals by providing educational, social, supportive, cultural and advocacy programs and services to the greater Rochester community. Its programs and services make it easier for individuals to come out and find a community, enable gay and bi groups to flourish, and give visibility to l/g/b concerns. The Coalition Building Institute is a one-day diversity-building workshop designed to increase diversity within the Gay Alliance and reduce homophobia and heterosexism in the community.

Harmony Matters Collective
Los Angeles, CA
$1,000
The Harmony Matters Collective serve lesbians of color in the Los Angeles area. The collective sponsors a lesbian mothers support group, a teen children of lesbians group, and coalition activities with other lesbian of color organizations.

Holy Wisdom Inter-Faith Community of Miami
Miami, FL
$2,000
The mission of Holy Wisdom is to provide safe space, a spiritual home; to foster a sense of empowerment; to organize the lesbian, bi and gay communities to achieve full acceptance in society.

Housing Discrimination Project
Outreach Project
Holyoke, MA
$2,000
The Housing Discrimination Project's goal is to ensure equal access to housing regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other characteristics which are frequently the basis of illegal discrimination. The Outreach Project conveys fair housing information to lesbian and gay residents of central and western MA, especially lesbians of color, in order to enforce anti-discrimination laws.

Las Buenas Amigas
Media Project
New York, NY
$2,000
Las Buenas Amigas is an educational, cultural, political and social organization promoting visibility for Latina lesbians and providing a safe space in which to address issues of oppression affecting the community. The Media Project includes video production and a newsletter, both designed to create visibility and provide information on the issues affecting Latina lesbians.

Lesbian Visual Artists
LVA Newsletter
San Francisco, CA
$2,000
Lesbian Visual Artists is devoted to building an international network of lesbians in all aspects of the visual arts; and to promoting their inclusion in all media, in museums, galleries and in dialogue on issues in contemporary art. The LVA Newsletter is used as an organizing and networking tool.

Love Makes A Family, Inc.
Parent Teacher Student Project
Portland, OR
$2,000
Love Makes A Family, Inc. was founded to provide advocacy and constituency support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered headed families. The Parent Teacher Student Project focuses on institutional change and advocacy in schools to make them safe and responsive to l/g/b/t parents, teachers and students.

National Center for Lesbian Rights
Health Policy Project
San Francisco, CA
$3,000
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a lesbian, feminist, multicultural, national legal resource and advocacy center dedicated to achieving full civil rights for all lesbians. Through litigation, advice and counseling, public policy advocacy and community education, NCLR fights to end discrimination against all lesbians. NCLR's work is especially focused on those most marginalized in the legal and political system, including: lesbian mothers, lesbians of color, l/g/b/t youth and lesbian immigrants.

New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project
New York, NY
$1,000
The New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project serves lesbian and gay crime victims through counseling, advocacy, information and referrals. The Project serves the larger community by working to change public attitudes that tolerate, insulate or instigate hate-motivated crime.

New York City Lesbian Health Fair Organizing Committee
New York, NY
$1,000
The NYC Lesbian Health Fair is an annual health fair for women who have sex with women. The fair provides a multi-racial, multi-cultural, lesbian-positive environment for participants to access free, quality medical and health care services and self-help information, education, demonstrations and materials. The Fair also produces a comprehensive journal on health care for participants, communities, and incarcerated women.

Pa 'fuera Pa 'lante Conference
New York, NY
$1,000
Pa 'fuera Pa 'lante Conference is a regional Latina/o lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender conference scheduled for June 1997.

PFLAG
Project Open Mind
Washington, DC
$1,000
PFLAG promotes the health and well being of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for discussion about sexual orientation and takes action to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Project Open Mind was developed to halt and reverse the effect of hate speech on lesbian and gay youth.

Prudence Crandall Center for Women, Inc.
Battered Lesbians Support Group
New Britain, CT
$1,000
The mission of the Prudence Crandall Center is to provide comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence without regard to race, religion, abilities, gender, sexual orientation or marital status. The Battered Lesbians Project provides a support group and services for lesbians in battering relationships.

Purple Moon Dance Project
San Francisco, CA
$3,000
The Purple Moon Dance Project is a multiracial dance company integrating non-western and western dance forms and aesthetics. The project's mission is to develop a greater appreciation and visibility for lesbians and women of color as part of the diversity of American culture.

Southerners on New Ground
Louisville, KY
$4,000
The goal of SONG is to help shift lesbigaytrans organizing into an anti-racist, justice seeking context and to integrate work against homophobia into freedom struggles in the South. SONG seeks to develop models of organizing that connect race, class, gender and sexual orientation and that build lasting relationships among people and their organizations.

Texas Lesbian Conference
Houston, TX
$1,000
The mission of the Texas Lesbian Conference, Inc. is to further the education and empowerment of lesbians in Texas.

U.S. Urban Rural Mission/WCC
Countering Homophobia and Heterosexism
Durham, NC
$2,000
U.S. Urban Rural Mission's goal is to strengthen community organizing to bring about social transformation by developing leaders, strategies, critical thinking and personal and organizational relationships grounded in a new vision of community; to bring faith communities in relationships grounded in a new vision of community; to bring faith communities in relationship with communities in struggle; and, to expand the mission of justice of the institutional church. The goal of the Countering Homophobia project is to build support for lgbt people of color and to strengthen understanding of sexuality within broader social justice movements.

Women In Transition, Inc.
Lesbian Services
Philadelphia, PA
$1,000
The purpose of Women In Transition is to empower women to strive for equality and live free from violence, substance abuse and poverty. To accomplish this, WIT provides feminist empowerment counseling, referrals, and advocacy to women and their children whose lives are endangered because of domestic violence and/or substance abuse. Lesbian Services provides peer support and outreach for lesbians in transition from long-term relationships, lesbians in sobriety and lesbian survivors of violence.

Women of Color Building Project
Minneapolis, MN
$4,000
The Women of Color Building Project seeks to provide a space for two-spirit, queer women of color and their allies to create community, maintain culture, and organize to impact social change. The project conducts community meetings, cultural performances, social events, workshops and forums.

Youth Pride, Inc.
Providence, RI
$4,000
Youth Pride's mission is to provide support, education and advocacy for youth affected by issues of sexual orientation and gender; and, to eliminate the homophobic environment in which they live. Provides supportive services to more than 300 youth. Provides homophobia training to 2,000 people, established a task force on G&L Youth issues within the RI Department of Education and a Legislative Commission on G&L Youth in the State House.

Alcoholism Center for Women
Los Angeles, CA
Helps cover the cost of providing lesbian-specific and sensitive alcohol and drug-related services to low-income lesbians.

Alma de Mujer Center for Social Change
Austin, TX
To support this low cost retreat center and provide resources and trainings as part of the OUT-YOUTH summer program.

Aurora: A Northland Lesbian Center
Duluth, MN
For general support of the educational programs of this community center serving a primarily rural region.

Bridges
Eugene, OR
To support the Fall 1997 publication of Bridges, a political journal focusing on Jewish women's identity and social justice activism.

Center for Anti-Violence Education, Inc.
Brooklyn, NY
For materials and outreach for the Teen Lesbian Support Group Program.

Charis Circle, Inc
Atlanta, GA
To help support the weekly programs sponsored by Charis on issues ranging from racism, spirituality, lesbian battering, creativity and AIDS.

Coalition for Positive Sexuality
Chicago, IL
To distribute safe sex/sexuality posters and booklets specifically for women and lesbians nationwide.

Coulee Region YWCA
Onalaska, WI
To help fund the outreach efforts of the La Crosse Alliance for Youth and Sexual Orientation's support group for young lesbians in the community.

Dyke TV
New York, NY
To support Dyke TV's efforts to promote lesbian visibility, communication and empowerment through their bi-weekly television program and video workshops.

Equality Colorado
Denver, CO
To help support public information and movement building through Lesbian Leadership/Community Organizing Project.

Galaei Project
Philadelphia, PA
Provides risk reduction and health education counseling through the Latina Lesbian Health Project.

Griot Circle
Brooklyn NY
For general support of this senior center serving the l/g/b/t/two-spirited people of color community.

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Campaign
San Francisco, CA
To partially fund the publication of the Spanish-language version of "Unspoken Rules: Sexual Orientation and Women's Human Rights."

Kentucky Fairness Alliance
Louisville, KY
To provide local activists with skills to organize and educate citizens about issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation.

Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press
Brooklyn, NY
For the general support of KTP's efforts to empower oppressed women of color, especially lesbians of color, through publishing literature.

L&P Parents and Buena Vista L&G Parent Group
San Francisco, CA
To help the lesbian and Gay Curriculum Project produce an Elementary School Lesbian and Gay Lesson Plan Guide.

La Pena, Inc.
Austin, TX
To fund travel expenses for participants in the Encuentro, a conference geared towards informing and revitalizing the Latina lesbian community.

Lesbian Community Cancer Project
Chicago, IL
To help cover outreach and education expenses of LCCP's health clinics.

Lesbian Resource Center
Seattle, WA
For the general support of this community-based organization committed to combating all forms of oppression and promoting lesbian visibility.

Lesbian Resource Project
Phoenix, AZ
For six public performances of the TLC Chorus to enhance lesbian visibility and honor the contributions of women through music.

Lesbian/Feminist Concrete Change
Atlanta, GA
Works to create universal access in homes for those with mobility impairments.

Lesbigay Radio
Chicago, IL
To fund efforts to partner with lesbian-targeted community organizations to develop "Lesbian Access: How to Make the System Work For You."

MIX-New York L&G Experimental F/V Festival
New York, NY
For general support to exhibit experimental films and videos made by l/g/b/t people, especially those of color.

Montana Artists Refuge
Basin, MT
To assist with the living costs of two visiting lesbian artists from South Africa who have been deeply involved in anti-apartheid work.

National Youth Advocacy Coalition
Washington, DC
To support NYAC's activities, including regional/grassroots organizing, information provision and non-lobbying advocacy efforts.

Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW)
New York, NY
For the development of a strategic plan to enable NEw to adapt to government funding and regulatory changes.

North Carolina Lambda Youth Network
Durham, NC
To provide young people with scholarships to participate as Corps Leaders in their project, the North Carolina Lambda Youth Network.

PRIDE!
Helena, MT
To support the convening of a statewide meeting for l/g/b/t Native Americans as part of the Building Bridges Project.

Pride Senior Network, Inc.
New York, NY
For general support in organizing elders and service providers to collaborate in the enhancement of gay and lesbian positive services and programs.

Women's Project
Little Rock, AR
Tohold outreach activities for deaf lesbians, and to create a fund for sign language interpreters for lesbian events.

9to5 National Association of Working Women, Milwaukee, WI, for Not in My Workplace anti-homphobia and anti-heterosexism training guide.

Affinity Community Services, Chicago, IL for programming for lesbian and bisexual women and youth of African descent in the South side of Chicago.

American Opera Projects, New York, NY for pre-production costs of the world premier of the lesbian-themed opera, Patience and Sarah.

Asian Women's Shelter, San Francisco, CA, for capacity building to increase the number of queer Asian battered women accessing their services.

Audre Lorde Project, Brooklyn, NY, for the Women of Color Organizing Initiative to develop a l/b/t leadership training curriculum and program structure.

Austin Latino/Latina Lesbian and Gay Organization, Austin, TX, for Platicas Lesbicas, a Latina lesbian community organizing project in Central Texas.

The Brandon Teena Story, New York, NY for a documentary on the rape and murder of a young woman living as a man in Nebraska.

Bromfield St. Educational Foundation, Boston, MA, general support for projects which provide resources for activists, including Gay Community News, the Queer Progressive Organizing School, and OutWrite Lite.

Center for Young Women's Development, San Francisco, CA for a peer-directed program for primarily young lesbians of color, who are on their own.

Circus Amok, Brooklyn, NY, general support of this local lesbian-directed circus that provides free public art on contemporary issues of social justice.

District 202, Minneapolis, MN, general support to foster social, cultural and educational opportunities for l/g/b/t youth.

DYKE TV - DTV Productions, New York, NY, general support for digital media workshops and production of the only national TV show by, for and about lesbians.

Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio, TX, general support for cultural programming and workshops that link issues of race, ethnicity, class, gender and sexual orientation for progressive organizing.

Family Diversity Projects, Amherst, MA, general support to educate students, educators, and religious communities about issues of family diversity.

Highways Performance Space and Visual Arts Gallery, Santa Monica, CA for a performance workshop series for lesbians.

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, San Francisco, CA, for the Global Lesbian Rights Project.

Kore Press, Tucson, AZ, general support for publication of high quality books by women, particularly lesbians, working-class and women of color.

Lesbian Community Cancer Project, Chicago, IL, to help expand their advocacy work to improve services to women living with cancer or cancer histories.

Lesbian Community Project/Community Education Project, Portland, OR general support to educate, organize, and activate lesbians on issues of injustice and provide leadership on seeking solutions.

Lesbian Health Network, Seattle, WA, for the First Annual Northwest L/B/T Women's Health Conference.

Lesbian Health News, Columbus, OH, general support to disseminate information about health issues specific to lesbians.

Lesbians in the Visual Arts, San Francisco, CA, general support to increase the visibility of lesbian visual artists through a newsletter, forums and exhibitions.

Lesbian Legacy Collection, West Hollywood, CA, general support for a slide show, oral history project, and lesbians of color index and chronology.

Living With Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100, Chicago, IL, for a documentary on Ruth C. Ellis, an African American lesbian advocate for senior & lesbian rights.

Love Makes a Family, Portland, OR, for the Parents and Schools project to work against discrimination and to empower l/g/b/t's in the local school system.

Luna Sea Women's Performance Project, San Francisco, CA, general support for this lesbian community-based performance and gallery space.

My Femme Divine, San Francisco, CA, for a video exploring masculine and feminine archetypes as expressed by butch and femme-identified lesbians.

My Tenant Michelle, Brooklyn, NY, for this film about an African-Caribbean woman exploring transgender identity and a divorced Italian American woman.

National Center for Lesbian Rights, San Francisco, CA, general support for this feminist, multicultural, national legal resource and advocacy center.

New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, New York, NY, for the Brooklyn Lesbian Community Organizing and Outreach Program.

Other Wise Women: Voices of Disabled Women, Albany, CA, for 6 videos on the violence, health, lesbian, and race issues of women with disabilities.

PRIDE!, Helena, MT, for rural, Native American, and youth outreach to access the information, referral and safety services of this group working to secure the rights of l/g/b/t's in Montana.

Purple Moon Dance Project, San Francisco, CA, for production of a performance exploring the diversity of the lesbian parenting experience.

Scent uVa Butch, Jamaica Plain, MA, for distribution of this documentary on the renaissance of gender-bending at the cutting-edge of today's queer culture.

Sexual Minority Youth Center of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, general support to meet the needs of sexual minority youth in Philadelphia.

Sojourner Feminist Institute, Boston, MA, general support of this activist-oriented, monthly national feminist and lesbian newspaper.

Some Ground to Stand On, New York, NY, for a documentary on Blue Lunden, a butch who came out in the early 1950's and became an activist for social justice.

SONG, Southerners on New Ground, Louisville, KY, general support towards models of organizing that connect race, class, gender and sexual orientation.

Split Britches, New York, NY, for Salad of the Bad Cafe, a performance piece which demystifies the queer, disorients the Orient, and "demythifies" the Southern Gothic.

Strange and Charmed, Long Beach, CA, for production of this story of misguided desire told through the love lives of three black women.

That All May Freely Serve, Rochester, NY, general support for grassroots outreach to educate and advocate for an l/g/b/t-inclusive Presbyterian Church.

The Tragedy of Samantha Biggle and the Twins, Oakland, CA, for distribution of this film of depicting three high school girls exploring their budding sexuality.

Theatre Rhinoceros, San Francisco, CA, for My Castle's Rockin, a play exploring the life of legendary jazz and blues great Alberta Hunter.

Umbrella, St. Johnsbury, VT, for the Lesbian Services Program, a project of this women's organization providing domestic violence and child care services.

Woman Vision, San Francisco, CA, for pre-production for The Women's Music Film project on the women's music cultural movement.

Women of Vision: 20 Histories in Feminist Film and Video, Los Angeles, CA, for this video on the legacy of artistry and activism in feminist film and video.

Women With a Vision, New Orleans, LA, for home health parties and anti-violence education for local African American lesbians.

Women's Educational Media, San Francisco, CA, for expanded distribution efforts of It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School.