OkEq Weekly eNews January 18, 2021 |
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MISSION: OkEq seeks equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and families through intersectional advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. |
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Get your house in order and help us get our house in order, too! Go to smile.amazon.com for your shopping needs, and Amazon will donate a portion to Oklahomans for Equality!
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Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day from OKEQ. At Oklahomans for Equality, we believe that Black Lives Matter and injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. The work of civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Bayard Rustin influences the work of the advocates who are pushing for change today. Thank you, Dr. King, for your work, and may we all be committed to your dream.
You can see the OKEQ van in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade airing Monday on News Channel 8 on your TV or on Facebook Live.
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ACTION ALERT:
Oklahomans For Equality condemns Oklahoma State Senate Bill SB331, a new state senate bill introduced that prohibits transgender students from participating on the sports teams of their gender identity. Sports are about teamwork, confidence building, friendship-making, and leadership development. Denying transgender youth opportunities to participate in sports like basketball, soccer, softball, and more denies them opportunities to develop critical social-emotional life skills. Our transgender youth deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and they deserve to have the chance to play on a team. Say NO to SB331.
To contact your legislator, click the button below:
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Inauguration Watch Along and Flag Raising
Wednesday, January 20, 10:00 a.m. for Flag Raising
Join OKEQ as we celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Weds. Jan. 20, 2021. We will be honoring this historic day by changing the flags that fly above our building to mark the change in administration and our hope for a brighter future for LGBTQIA+ citizens in the US. We will also be live on Facebook during the inauguration! Join us in celebration of a new day in America!
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Neurodiversity Tulsa Game Night
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Event
Regular Meeting
1st and 3rd Tuesday of Every Month, 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Event
Neurodiversity Tulsa is a program of OKEQ focused on connecting neurodiverse LGBTQ+ people. If you are on the autism spectrum, have ADHD, have bipolar, have anxiety, have Down Syndrome, a personality disorder, brain injuries, or other neurodivergencies, you are welcome in this group! We will meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month (on zoom until further notice) to play games, make art, chat, and connect with like-minded individuals in our community.
Please message Anna Them Puhl on Facebook for the zoom link or email by clicking the button below:
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IndigiQueer
Friday, January 22, 7:00 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
Meets via Zoom
IndigiQueer is a space created for queer and two-spirit native/indigenous persons. IndigiQueer aims to empower our indigenous community through cultural learning, connection, and tribal involvement. – Vnokeckv.
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Add our IndigiQueer Facebook group!
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For more information, contact:
Kao below:
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Queer Black Voices: A Conversation with Mauree Turner
Virtual Event
Friday, February 5, at 7:00 p.m.
Join OKEQ as we kick off Black History Month with the newly-elected OK House District 88 Representative Mauree Turner.
Turner is the first publicly non-binary U.S. state lawmaker and the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature. Turner is queer/non-binary and uses they/them and she/her pronouns.
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This event will be held via zoom and live-streamed due to Covid-19.
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SPIRIT: A Happy Hour Panel on Faith and Sexuality
Thursday, February 4, 2021, 6 p.m. on Facebook Live
Join OKEQ as we kick off a new weekly program with a special Facebook Live edition of our religion and sexuality conversational group. We are excited to welcome Reverend Todd Freeman of College Hill Presbyterian Church, Reverend W. Lee Dominick from Trinity Episcopal, and Reverend Bonnie Lebak from House Church Tulsa, as our hosts for the evening. SPIRIT is a virtual happy hour-style discussion group dedicated to helping LGBTQIA+ individuals reframe their relationship with religion. Whether their goal is to reconnect with faith, recover from past spiritual abuse, renounce faith, or just connect with other people, SPIRIT is the group for individuals to explore faith and sexuality. Each Thursday, a spiritual advisor from the region and surrounding areas will guide the group through a discussion about the intersections of faith and sexuality. All walks of faith are welcome. All expressions of identity are welcome.
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The January Oklahomans for Equality Allie Jensen Memorial Art Gallery will feature Lizzie DiSilvestro:
“Warm Simplicity”
Lizzie DiSilvestro’s work explores a visual representation of the feeling of being content, which brings us closer to or further from that state, and the healing impact of choosing joy. She challenges her viewers to remember the warm peace we feel when everything in life is 'just fine.' These may only be moments in between the chaos and thrills, but the way we design our lives and the choices we make every day can lead to a more constant feeling of contentment and appreciation. DiSilvestro celebrates these often overlooked, often private moments that come in between the extremes of our existence because they provide the most honest look at life. Inspired by her father’s adage, “Most of life is not spent in the highs or lows, but somewhere right in the middle,” Lizzie believes there is nothing more beautiful than the contentedness and warm simplicity that results from finding joy in the ordinary.
While creating, Lizzie allows space to observe her behaviors and intentions. Still, ultimate interpretation and conclusion are left up to the viewer, allowing a shared experience resulting in increased self-awareness. Throughout Lizzie's work, elements that remain constant are strong brush strokes, meticulously chosen color, and rich texture, all working together to emulate life’s opulent moments alongside the mundane.
Growing up in Kansas City, Lizzie was exposed to a wide range of rich culture and world-class experiences from a young age. Greatly influenced by her paternal grandmother, a vibrant and strong female with a passion for all things artistic, Lizzie has been encouraged to create since she could speak. With a vivacious personality and a strong sense of self, the question has never been "would Lizzie express herself, but how." The medium of choice has changed over the years, but paint and fiber have remained constant throughout recent years. With a science and nursing background, Lizzie takes an analytical look at her surrounding milieu's temperament, those that inhabit it, and the interplay between the two as a mirror for her art.
The show opens at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center located at 621 E. 4th St., Tulsa, OK 74120 on Thursday, January 7th,2021, with Covid measures in place. The show continues throughout the month.
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Take a virtual tour by clicking the below link to Oklahomans for Equality's YouTube channel: |
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Stimulate the Community with your stimulus check. Please consider Oklahomans for Equality. These donations will help sustain programs serving the LGBTQ community. |
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Call for Artists - Deadline for submissions February 7th
The Allie Jensen Memorial Art Gallery at the Dennis R Neill Equality Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is now accepting proposals for the 2021 Exhibition Calendar. Our gallery encourages artists who create fresh, challenging work in all media to apply.
Details
Each chosen exhibit will be on display for approximately 30 days. OkEq will host the artist's opening night reception on the first Thursday of the month. Each exhibit is installed the Tuesday prior, and no additional work will be accepted after the initial delivery. Work must be available for sale. There will be a 30% commission on work sold. Artists will also provide artwork labels (title, price, etc.) for each piece. Artists must provide a bio and artist statement by the 1st of the month before the exhibit for publicity purposes.
How to Apply:
Proposals should include a paragraph or two about your vision for an exhibit, as well as five jpg images that represent your current work. All proposals must be submitted by email. Proposals incorporating the work of two artists or a small group are also acceptable. Artists who have not shown in the gallery before will be given priority consideration.
Please let us know if your idea for an exhibit will require months to prepare or if you have calendar restrictions. If your exhibit can be showed early, please let us know as the early months are difficult to fill.
The deadline for submissions is February 7th, 2021.
Notifications will be sent out by March 1, 2021.
Please submit your entry below, with the subject heading “OkEq gallery proposal."
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New Year, New Me!
Starting in 2021, Oklahomans for Equality will offer scholarships for transgender persons seeking a name and gender marker changes. This scholarship will cover the cost of an attorney and all filing fees.
Applicants will be chosen based on financial need and a dedication to volunteer service. This scholarship is open to anyone in Oklahoma, not just the Tulsa area.
We will select scholarships monthly as funds allow.
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Oklahomans For Equality's Transgender Programming is launching a new Gender Marker and Name Change Scholarship fund! Help raise money for transgender and gender non-conforming folks in Oklahoma to secure funds for legal fees, gender marker change, and name change fees.
The full cost for each scholarship is $300, but any amount helps!
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Breath of Fresh Air:
In July 2020, the Dennis R. Neill Center installed air scrubbers in our HVAC system to help keep our constituents and visitors healthy when visiting Oklahomans for Equality. Clean air is essential for everyone, those with health concerns, and those without. Please see more on these units using the link below:
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Willard Myron Wentz
It is with great sorrow to hear one of our Green County Bears' passing, Willard Myron Wentz R.I.P. You will be greatly missed, my friend.
Services to be Announced
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Jerry Perigo
Services to be Announced
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SAGE Tulsa has moved their weekly in-person meeting on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. to a conference call.
You can join the SAGE call at (918) 398-8780 and enter the access code, 60#.
If you are 50 or older and would like to be a part of our SAGE Tulsa program or would like to help, please contact us today.
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SAGE is interested in learning about how LGBTQ+ older adults are feeling about the COVID-19 Vaccine.
Do you want to get the new Covid-19 vaccine? Are you worried about it or confident? SAGE wants to know!
As we’ve all seen, the new Covid-19 vaccines are being rolled out to medical personnel and nursing home residents. We want to know what you are thinking about the vaccine. Do you want to be vaccinated? Are you skeptical or worried about it? While we don’t yet know when older adults across the country will be eligible for the vaccine, your input is greatly appreciated and will inform our SAGE planning efforts.
The survey should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. Your answers are anonymous and confidential.
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Protect Yourself and loved ones from Medicare fraud
Senior Medicare Patrols (SMPs) empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse.
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All Youth Programming has Resumed on Zoom |
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Do you know a young person who loves to sing?
We are so excited to partner with Tulsa Opera and have a youth choir at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center!
This choir is open to all LGBTQIA+ youth, will be held on zoom and in-person starting this Saturday afternoon, and is COMPLETELY COST-FREE!
This group is meant for all music levels, all genders, all expressions, and will be 100% fun. The group is led by a professional musician and will have multiple concert opportunities as COVID-19 allows.
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Join Oklahomans for Equality's NEW youth group for kids under 13: Alphabet Soup Kids. This group is for all youth who identify as LGBTQ2SAI+ or who have parents/guardians who are LGBTQ2SAI+. This group exists to provide support, connection, and (most importantly) FUN for our kids across Oklahoma.
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Being a parent is the most challenging, most amazing job on the planet but being the parent of an LGBTQ2SIA+ youth comes with its own unique challenges and amazing moments. OKEQ's new support group for parents of LGBTQ2SIA+ youth is here to help you navigate hard conversations, meet other parents and have a safe space to talk about what's going on and how to create a better environment for our kids. To learn more and to join this group, contact Morgan Allen at [email protected]
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Support Group for Parents of Transgender People
1st Wednesday of the Month, 7:00 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
This group is here to support parents of transgender people at all stages of transition. Whether your child is 6 or 60, this group is for you to find community and connect to resources.
All participants must speak to one of the group facilitators before joining.
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Support Group for Partners of Transgender People
2nd Wednesday of the Month, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Support group for partners of transgender people. Whether your partner is just starting to transition or transitioned twenty years ago, you are welcome to come to talk and find community.
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Non-binary Support Group
2nd Wednesday of the Month, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Support group for anyone who identifies outside the gender binary. Whether you identify as non-binary, genderfluid, genderqueer, or agender, everyone is welcome!
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Brought To You Bi the Letter B Virtual Programming
2nd and 4th Mondays, 7:00 p.m. - 7:40 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
Our Bi Support Outreach group is now Virtual! The program exists to provide support, encouragement, education, and social opportunities for all Bisexual and Pansexual, Curious, & Questioning individuals. The group will meet virtually via Zoom. You will be able to access it via Video, Chat, and/or telephone.
Please call 918-798-1054 or email Daniel Buck with the link below for more information.
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Coming Out Workshop
1st Monday of the Month, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Free to participate, this one-day course is designed for individuals coming to terms with their sexuality with presentations on how to come out to family, friends, and coworkers. Question and answer session in a supportive and informed environment.
Please contact our OKEQ Mental Health services at 918-938-6538 or click the button below to schedule.
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Our clinic is open to provide the healthcare services our community needs. Right now, our clinic is taking patients for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and PrEP.
If you are interested in starting or continuing care, please contact the OKEQ Health Clinic by calling 918-938-6537. If you want to make an appointment, follow the link below.
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H.O.P.E. Testing at OKEQ
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday, 4:00p.m. - 6:00p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
621 E. 4th St., Pride Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
H.O.P.E. offers free HCV and HIV testing at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center and has been a long time partner with OKEQ in helping the LGBTQ+ community. Most tests have rapid results to give you peace of mind quickly. H.O.P.E.’s outreach specialists are certified in HIV Counseling, HIV Testing, and Referral (CTR), and work to help you feel comfortable throughout the process, no matter the outcome.
HIV and /or HCV Test:
- Confidential
- Results in 20-30 minutes
- Free
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The Equality Health Alliance strives to connect the LGBTQ+ community with friendly healthcare providers. With our searchable database, patients can find doctors based on their specialty and accepted insurance.
We provide healthcare professionals with training on working with the LGBTQ+ community and follow-up support and education on evolving best practices. All participating healthcare providers must show a commitment to being an affirming and welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community.
As we are still getting started, our database is small, but it is growing. If you would like to look at our database, click here. |
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McAlester police and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are continuing to investigate the shooting. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information related to the investigation can contact the OSBI Tip Line at 1-800-522-8017 or can call McAlester police at 918-423-1212. You can remain anonymous.
Dustin was a founding member of the Oklahomans for Equality McAlester chapter SeEq. Dustin was senselessly killed on New Years Day, and at this time, the murderer is still at large. We honor his memory to the LGBTQIA+ movement in Oklahoma. #justicefordustin
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Oklahomans for Equality Sponsors
George Kaiser Family Foundation
Flint Family Foundation
Sanford and Irene Burnstein Foundation
Boomtown Tees
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
Temple Israel
Bank of Oklahoma
Phillips 66
Creoks Mental Health Services
Phillips Theological Seminary
Dennis R. Neill and John Southard
Kelly Kirby CPA
Dwight Kealiher
Timothy T. Cole and Chance Phillips
Larry Ward
Richard and Debra Gordon
Sasha and Ethan Warlick
Jason McVicker and Justin Clary
Joe and Nancy McDonald
The Estate of John Raveill
Al and Renee Carlozzi
Marylyn Tippeconnic
Barbara Abercrombie and Tery DeShong
Cynthia Phillips and Chere Gibbs
William Murphy and Todd Holland
Joe Hukills
David Nelson
Christopher and Michael Brecht-Smith
Mark Fitch
Daniel S. Burnstein and Martin Martinez
Kristopher Wilmes and Dusty Gross
Danny Thomason
GOOGLE
College Hill Presbyterian Church
Darci Hazelwood and Sharon Kimberlin
Sue Welch and Marcy Smith
Anonymous
Trevor Project
Linda Ford
ONEOK
Fellowship Congregational Church UCC
AEP/PSO
Harry Cramton
Jane Wiseman
Runnymeade Foundation
Jacob and Lacey Grinnell
George McCauslan and Rusty Clyma
James Monroe
Bob and Oliver Dale Hanson
Williams
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Counseling Services: Please contact the counselor directly to schedule a virtual appointment. |
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Allison Ikley-Freeman
Allison Ikley-Freeman, LPC, is passionate about assisting individuals who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community who experience a range of concerns and issues. Individual, youth, and adolescent counseling is available on a sliding fee scale based on income.
Please call 918-938-6538 and select option 2 to make an appointment or send her an email at [email protected].
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OSU - Tulsa Counseling Services
The Oklahoma State Tulsa Counseling Center is an LGBTQ+ affirming center located in Main Hall of OSU Tulsa. You do not have to be affiliated with OSU to benefit from these services! Our center offers clients from OKEQ sessions for only 5 dollars. Each member of our counseling team receives additional training and supervision in LGBTQ+ issues and is excited to work with clients from OKEQ.
Please contact us at 918-594-8568 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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Regularly Scheduled Programming |
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Gender Support Program
Wednesdays
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
The program is providing support, education and social opportunities for transgender and intersex individuals.
A first time interview is required before attending your first meeting. Email
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Support Group for Parents of Transgender People
1st Wednesday of the Month at 7:00 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
The program is providing support, education, and social opportunities for parents of transgender people.
A first time interview is required before attending your first meeting. Email
or
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Support Group for Partners of Transgender People
2nd Wednesday of the Month at 7:00 p.m.
The program is providing support, education, and social opportunities for partners of transgender and non-binary individuals. Ages 18+.
A first time interview is required before attending your first meeting. Email
or
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SAGE Tulsa
Every Tuesday
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
"drop in for coffee"
Facilitated by
John Madigan
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OkEq Board Meeting
Virtual
Thursday, February 11th, 6:00 p.m.
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.
All Oklahomans for Equality board meetings are open to all OkEq members.
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Support Group for Transgender Teens
2nd & 4th Monday of the Month at 6:00 p.m.
Meets via Zoom
The program is providing support, education, and social opportunities for transgender teenagers 13+.
A first time interview is required before attending your first meeting. Email
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Alphabet Soup Youth Group
Join us for Alphabet SOUP, where all letters are welcome! Alphabet SOUP is dedicated to supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth by providing fun group activities, community, and volunteer opportunities. Alphabet SOUP’s primary goals are providing Services, Outreach, Unity, and Preparation for adulthood -- or SOUP -- to LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-17. It will be Every Saturday Upstairs area of the Dennis R Neill Equality Center!
Email
for more information.
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Children/Siblings of Trans*/Non-Binary Individuals Support Group
This program is for youth ages 8-18 that have trans* parents or siblings. This group will provide support, education and social opportunities for those living with trans* family members. Attendees must have approval from the facilitator to participate. Please contact Krissy at [email protected].
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Brought to You Bi
the Letter B
2nd & 4th Monday
of each month
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Bisexual support group hosted virtually. Tell all your friends. The group is open to all bi/pan/queer/fluid+ folks and their allies. Please call 918-798-1054 or email Daniel Buck with the link below for more information.
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Tulsa Area
Prime Timers
2nd Tuesday of the Month
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
A social organization for mature minded Gay and Bisexual men age 21 and over. The purpose is to establish friendship and support through social interaction. Visit
more information.
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Survivors of Conversion Therapy T.E.A (Therapy Experienced Anew)
Every Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Over 113,000 LGBTQIA+ individuals have been subjected to Conversion Therapy. T.E.A is a new group that will utilize several different activities to help you take your narrative back and find peer support along the way. Come, sit, and spill the tea with us on this journey to the most authentic you.
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Equality Game Night
2nd Friday of the Month
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Looking for something fun to do on a Friday night? Wanna meet up with friends and make new ones? Do you have board games or video games you've been eager to play? Then Equality Gaming Night is for you!
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COVID-19 Canceled:
Programming
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Lawyer in the Library
2nd Wednesday of each month
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Lawyer in the Library is an opportunity to meet with a lawyer about topics such as family law (divorce, paternity, custody and child support), landlord/tenant disputes, estate planning, and bankruptcy. No appointment is necessary.
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Arts and Crafts Night
1st and 3rd Friday
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
On the First and Third Friday of the month, the Equality Center will have an arts and craft night. Bring your knitting needles, crochet hooks, paint, and pencils! Whatever you like to do, you can do it with friends in a fun and supportive atmosphere.
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Free Yoga Class at OkEq
Mondays
5:45 - 6:45 p.m.
Enjoy a free class! These 60-minute, free Community Yoga classes are open to everyone of all levels. Each class is mindfully crafted to prepare the body for a peak pose in the arm balance, inversion, backbend or twist family. This class will connect the mind, body, and spirit through movement and breath.
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Survivors of Incest Anonymous
Every Saturday
12:00 - 2:30 p.m.
SIA strives to empower those who have survived childhood sexual abuse (who are not abusing any child), who want to become survivors and thrivers. For more information, visit siawso.org
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Sisters in Song
Tuesdays
6:45 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Sisters in Song would like to invite new women to join our fun loving group of singers! We are just now choosing music for our holiday performances, so it's a great time to start!
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The Equality
Business Alliance fosters a sharing of information, ideas, contacts, products and services, and also strengthens and expands our businesses, careers and community.
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H.O.P.E.
HIV Testing Schedule
2nd and 4th Saturday of the Month
from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00p.m.
provided by H.O.P.E. Testing
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Alex Wade
Medical Services Director
He / Him / His
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Krissy Dudley
Administrative Coordinator
She / Her / Hers
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Anna Them Puhl
Technical Coordinator
They / Them / Theirs
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Morgan Allen
Center Director
She / Her / Hers
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Kao Morris
BIPOC Program and Digital Media Coordinator
He / Him / His
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Donovid Sekulits
LatinX Outreach and Library Services Coordinator
He / Him / el
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Lily Piña
Nurse Practitioner
She / Her / Hers
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Tracy Allen
SAGE
He / Him / His
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Shay Brewer
Operations Manager
He / Him / His
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Toby Jenkins
CEO/Executive Director
He / Him / His
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Executive Committee
Chris Brecht-Smith - President
Stacy Turner - Vice President
Will Vaughn - Secretary
Paul Allen - Treasurer
Bob Hanson - Member at Large
Board of Directors
Laura Arrowsmith, D.O.
Angelyn L. Dale, Esq.
Allison Ikley-Freeman
Joe Guetlein
Darci Hazelwood, D.O.
Corey Thompson
Monique Washington
Justin Ross
Shannon Gordon Fair
Trustees
Shawna Baker, Esq.
Dan Burnstein
Kirk Holt
Cynthia Phillips
Kris Wilmes
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Board of Advisors
Aderyn Lonigan, C.P.A.
Amairani Perez
Christian Fencer
Cray Flyn
Crista Patrick
Dani Byrd
Denise Reid
Matt Else, D.O.
Elizabeth Ortiz
Jane Wiseman
Joann Frizell
Karen Keith Wilkins, Esq.
Stephen Rundell
Ty Morgan
Whitney Cipolla
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Oklahomans for Equality
Reduced Hours: Please Call before you visit
621 E. 4th St.
Tulsa, OK 74120
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