1. Coming To You Live! From The Pride Center Of Vermont A webinar on the LGBT community within the self-advocacy movement! Hosted By Green Mountain Self-Advocates www.gmsavt.org

2. Group Agreements KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL – Today when someone talks about being gay, having a gay friend or gay parent, they are sharing that because they are choosing to share it. When you leave it's ok to say "I met someone who is gay." It is not ok to say "did you know so-and so is gay?" Choosing to tell someone about your sexual orientation is a very personal choice and some people may feel comfortable coming out in certain situations (on this webinar) and not in others (a team meeting). That is their choice. Green Mountain Self-Advocates ~ www.gmsavt.org

3. . Green Mountain Self-Advocates www.gmsavt.org Pride Center of Vermont Support Group for People with Disabilities Forbidden Fruits – an advocacy group in New York for LGBT persons living with developmental disabilities People First of Connecticut – LGBTQ group for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Rainbow Support Groups: Welcoming places in Massachusetts for LGBT people with disabilities There are a number of self-advocacy groups in the New England and New York area for people with disabilities who are LGBT. Today we will hear from some of their members

4. LGBT: abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Lesbian: a term given to females who are attracted sexually and emotionally to some other females. Gay: a term typically given to males who are attracted sexually and emotionally to some other males. The term gay might apply to both males and females depending on context or even the conversation Bisexual: a term given to people who are attracted sexually and emotionally to some males and some females. Transgender: A umbrella term describing the state of a person’s gender identity which does not necessarily match the gender they were assigned at birth. Note: being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. What does LGBT mean?

5. Questions for Vermont What type of activities does your group do? How has belonging to this group made a difference in your life? What do you want the people listening to think differently about or be more aware of? Green Mountain Self-Advocates www.gmsavt.org

6. Questions for other states What does it mean to be an ally? What activities did your group get the most our of in the past year? How does belonging to this group make you feel? What can leaders of the self-advocacy movement do differently to? Green Mountain Self-Advocates www.gmsavt.org

7. Questions for anyone who wants to share What can self-advocacy groups do to make sure their groups are safe spaces for members who are LGBT? What is your group planning to do next? Green Mountain Self-Advocates www.gmsavt.org

8. Who is an ally? Someone who doesn’t identify as, but supports LGBT social movements and speaks out for inclusion. Not telling gay jokes If you hear a put down of people who are gay – speak up and not just ignore it Believing in our dreams Believing who we are Giving us a ride to a LGBT event such as gay pride Telling them about events Helping us find out about groups Helping them starting up a group Green Mountain Self-Advocates www.gmsavt.org

9. Green Mountain Self-Advocates Www.Gmsavt.Org

10. We need education in both worlds For disability world accepting people who are LGBTQ For LGBTQ world be accepting of people with disabilities You can let people know they are welcome by putting out a diversity flag on your desk; have pamphlets and magazines about GLBTQ issues Important to let youth know early on that you are accepting of them A lot of people don’t know about safe sex – people with disabilities need that education Green Mountain Self-Advocates www.gmsavt.org

11. Being gay is NOT a choice – so if a staff person or family member says they want to send you to a program to change you or religion can change to like opposite instead of same – that IS NOT TRUE – THAT IS FALSE ADVERTISING - being straight or being gay is not a choice People are afraid to tell you—staff at agencies have power over people so we need people outside of the agency to talk to – we suggest peer advocates or call your local gay and lesbian organization Staff need to be educated on this topic Peer groups are so important so you don’t feel alone. You will feel less depression or even suicidal from being closeted – living a lie day to day - not being who you are A reason you don’t tell is because they is so much lack of privacy for people with disabilities. Green Mountain Self-Advocates www.gmsavt.org