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February, 2021 || In This Issue:
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BISEXUAL AWARENESS
Bisexual+ people make up the majority of the LGBTQ+ community, yet they receive less than 1% of funding that supports LGBTQ+ advocacy and they experience higher rates of sexual, physical, social, and emotional violence and disparities than their gay and straight counterparts. This month, Pacific Pride Foundation aims to bring awareness to these disparities and to recognize the specific social, educational and health care needs of our diverse bisexual+ community.
Our PROUD Youth Groups and our Clinical Therapy Groups aim to help further support the bisexual community. We recently began our Bi/Pan Counseling Groups here at PPF! This Clinical Group Therapy Process Group is offered on an ongoing basis with weekly 60-minute Zoom sessions giving clients the opportunity to process issues and navigate Bisexuality, Pansexuality (or any attraction to more than one type of person) including acceptance, coping skills, self-acceptance, authentic self, self-care, and more.
Join us this month in calling for Bisexual+ equity in social, educational, and healthcare spaces!
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 EQUALITY ACT
Last month, Pacific Pride Foundation joined a coalition of
more than 150 state, local and national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) organizations in calling on Congress to swiftly pass the Equality Act.
It passed the House, but is facing significant opposition in the Senate. We need YOU make calls to your Senators to tell them to VOTE YES on the Equality Act so that we can enact federal laws to protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Find your Senator's Contact Info HERE
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 PARTNERS IN PRIDE
Bisexual Health Awareness Month is a time to put the shocking health disparities facing the Bi+ community on the national stage. According to the Human Rights Campaign, higher rates of mood disorders, substance abuse, cancers, etc. face the Bi+ community at alarming rates in comparison to other groups in the LGBTQ+ community due, in part, to bi-phobia in the medical community.
By becoming a Partner In Pride member your monthly contribution to PPF helps us provide mental health counseling, including Bi-specific group counseling, as well as community outreach and educational training across Santa Barbara county.
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PPF CLINICAL THERAPY GROUPS
The counseling center at Pacific Pride Foundation is excited to offer clinical therapy groups at our Santa Barbara location, such as:
- Bisexual/Pansexual+ Adult Therapy Group
- Transgender Adult Therapy Group (including non-binary individuals)
- Lesbian/Gay Women's Group
- Parents of LGBTQ+ Children Immersive
The Transgender, Bisexual/Pansexual, and Lesbian/Gay Women's groups are free if the client is also enrolled in Individual Therapy at Pacific Pride Foundation. The fee is otherwise $30 per session. Fees for the Parent Immersive Series are $40 per person per session.
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 PROUD YOUTH OF COLOR
Our PROUD Youth of Color group is growing and looking for more youth to participate! All youth of color, including multiracial youth, that are LGBTQ+ or allies aged 12-17 are welcome to join this free, weekly, social group.
Make a friend, talk about topics important to you, and find community! PYOC meets every other Wednesday evening from 4:30 pm-6:00 pm over Zoom. RSVP is required to get the Zoom link.
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 PROUD YOUTH GROUP
A beloved cornerstone of PPF's youth services, PROUD Youth Group continues to provide levity, introspection, and community for our youth! LGBTQ+ teens and allies aged 12-17 are invited to join this free, weekly, social group. PROUD Youth Group meets every Friday evening, on Zoom, from 4:30 pm- 6:00 pm.
Additionally, we meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 4:30 pm- 6:00 pm, on Zoom, to have an "introvert-friendly" session where we partner with our favorite librarian, Lisa, from the Santa Barbara Public Library to hear about exciting reads and to journal and draw together. RSVP is required to receive the Zoom link for all sessions.
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LGBTQ+ COMPETENCY TRAININGS
Has your organization received LGBTQ+ Community training recently? Now is your chance to schedule a virtual training with us. We have various training offerings but recommend you start with LGBTQ+ 101 if you haven't had any training or simply need a refresher.
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CONSULTATIONS
The PPF Programs Team is just a phone call away! Perfect for friends and family members of LGBTQ+ folks who have questions about how to support their loved ones and for folks who want to ensure they are doing their best to provide a welcoming work or school environment.
Consultation calls are a quick and free way to get advice on your specific situation. Simply visit our website and schedule your call!
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SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Did you know that PPF provides sterile syringes in exchange for used syringes to prevent the spread of HIV & Hep C? We collect over 20,000 used syringes each month. You can find us biweekly in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.
Check out our website for upcoming dates! Have questions? Email our Community Education Coordinators.
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SPREAD AWARENESS
Don't miss out!
Are you following us? You should be. For the latest on all things PPF:
1. Follow PPF on social media (if you haven't already!) by clicking below:
2. Share our accounts on your pages and encourage friends to follow, too!
3. Forward this email to friends and have them sign up for our newsletter here!
Thank you for your support and for spreading PPF's mission and message to your community.
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OTHER NEWS & EVENTS
PFLAG: COMING OUT STORIES
March 11th | 7pm | Register here
Next week, PFLAG is hosting their Virtual Coming Out Stories Panel. Join PFLAG in listening to families share their stories, experiences, and their process of "coming out of the closet." This event is held every second Thursday of the month. Register by 5pm of the meeting day to reserve your spot!
BIOLOGUE March 17th | 7pm | Website
Bialogue is a free, confidential weekly discussion group for people who are bi+ (bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, fluid, and otherwise non-monosexual). Group meetings include conversations about topics such as coming out, health care, bi-phobia, relationships, identity labels, community, and more. All genders are welcome. Bi+ participants only, please.
Bialogue meets virtually at 7:00 PM on the third Wednesday of each month. For more information about Bialogue or how to register for monthly meetings, visit their website.
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