December 2008

As you will see from the enclosed letter, with the considerations to be made at the above meeting, we are not sending letters requesting donations with this Newsletter.

Those who wish to renew and make sure their membership is up-to-date will see their membership expiry date on the address label and may complete the form at the end of the Newsletter to renew.

Consistent with our move to the 519 Church Street Community Centre, CLGRO now has a new phone number for messages only:

416-392-6878 ext. 4049

Rainbow Health Network Expands its Steering Committee

Rainbow Health Ontario Launches

On October 15, 2008, CLGRO’s reference group, the Rainbow Health Network (RHN) held its Annual General Meeting.  In line with its goals to strengthen its infrastructure, it doubled its Steering Committee to the following:

Nick Mulé – Chairperson
Richard Hudler – Treasurer
Julia Stevenson – Secretary
Phyllis Waugh – Equity
Susan Gapka – Member at Large
David Lewis – Education
Andrea Daley – Advocacy
Masina Wright – Member at Large
Unfilled – Networking

RHN will go into the new year establishing an equity policy and finalizing its constitution and bylaws.

Also, the CLGRO-RHN-Sherbourne Health Centre proposed Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) is at press time gearing up for an exciting launch to take place November 28, 2008 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel.  This event will feature former Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and current Ontario Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, George Smitherman, MPP and current Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, David Caplan, MPP and include the launching of the RHO website.

RHO represents the achievement of a major CLGRO goal to establish a resource centre that would provide information, referrals, training, education, research and policy regarding the health and wellbeing of LGBTs across the province of Ontario.

Nick Mulé,
Toronto

Steering Committee Meeting, Toronto September 6, 2008

There were no objections to the decisions made at the Annual General Meeting in May so those decisions were ratified. On reviewing our commitment list we felt that we should become more active with some of the things we had on our “wish list” such as the new CLGRO leaflet and the updating of the ‘Young People and Sex” leaflet. In other areas, such as rural outreach and fundraising we hope that new opportunities will present themselves as we develop our knowledge of the use of the internet.

Although we are aware of some excellent work being done in Toronto and urban areas for LGBT seniors we are concerned about what the situation is like in less densely populated areas and are trying to look at this area. We discussed the upcoming federal election. We continue to monitor such areas as education, police, charitable status, sex issues and census.

A lot of work continues to be done in the health area, mainly through the Rainbow Health Network which will have a representative on the Local Health Integration Network (LHINs). The Network is also looking at expanding their board and the new Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) is getting off the ground. We reviewed the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) which focused this year on health.

We made note of a number of changes we would like to make to the website. We have received a number of complaints about discrimination in housing and noted that the Human Rights Commission is looking at this. We will collect the complaints we received and send them to the Commission to try to reinforce their efforts. We were able to send someone to the Egale meeting with their Board.

Next Meeting January 10, 2009.

Outwords is published three times a year by CLGRO, the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario. Except for editorials, the views expressed in Outwords are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of CLGRO or its member organizations. Articles may be accepted at the discretion of the editor. The purpose of the newsletter is to keep the membership informed about CLGRO activities and other matters of interest.

Newsletters are mailed free to CLGRO members. Join CLGRO by completing the membership form below!

Contributors to this Newsletter are: Richard Hudler, Brent Southin and Nick Mulé.

CLGRO is an organization composed of groups and individuals committed to working towards feminism and lesbian, gay, and bisexual liberation by engaging in public struggle for full human rights, by promoting diversity and access within our communities, and by strengthening cooperative networks for feminism and lesbian, gay, and bisexual activism.

CLGRO – the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario
Box 822, Station A, Toronto Ont. M5W 1G3, Canada

phone (416) 392-6878 x 4049
e-mail: query at clgro dot org
website: www.clgro.org