What a success!

For fifteen years, the Rainbow Women’s Health Fair has offered access to health information and health care services to Seattle’s LBTQ community. Last weekend, the health fair was held at All Pilgrims Church on Broadway in the middle of Pride Weekend – and it was a smashing success!

Many thanks to All Pilgrims Church, all our volunteers and providers, and the community for their participation. We couldn’t have done it without you! And we can’t wait until next year!

Katie  Lama, LPN, providing glucose and cholesterol screenings

Doris Harris from the Breast Cancer Navigation Project

Two Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence find Rainbow Women’s Health Fair Volunteers!

Volunteers Gabi and Agnes do intakes for women getting their mammograms

Volunteers Kyle and Shan offered free hugs at the Hug Deli!

YWCA Volunteer and Rainbow Health Fair Committee Member Jen Peters and YWCA Women’s Health Outreach Program Manager Ingrid Berkhout.

Congratulations to our Raffle Winners!

This year, we had some wonderful raffle prizes to share! Many thanks to all who donated their products and services.

After health fair participants filled out health assessments, they were invited to enter our raffle drawing. Here are the prizes we awarded:

Four passes to SIFF Uptown Cinema, unlimited movies through the end of the year

Two tickets to a Seattle Storm game

Four tickets to a Rat City Roller Girls bout, plus merchandise vouchers

Two tickets to a Seattle Women's Chorus performance at St. Mark's Cathedral

Two tickets to a film at the 2012 Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Two tickets to the Wildrose Tavern's Gay Pride Block Party

One gift bag from Babeland

Congratulations to everyone who won a prize! We hope you enjoy them!

Special blessed thanks to the First Baptist Church for providing a no-cost meeting space!

Thank you, Volunteers!

Many thanks to our lovely volunteers for putting together a fabulous 14th Annual LBTQ Rainbow Health Fair!

Without your support, we could not have pulled this together.

Terr got our Rainbow Health Fair Committee started this year, and created the Google Site we used to stay organized. Liz led the charge on developing our magnificent health fair poster. Mary and Sam spearheaded our fundraising efforts, raising a total of $1,900! Sara Jay provided critical feedback during planning sessions and did some wonderful outreach. Jen was the "Logisitics Wizard" - not an easy role to play! Sam also played an important administrative role in the committee.

We also had six volunteers who helped create a sign for the health fair, managed the music, worked the front desk, helped set up and break down, and more!

Many thanks to all who made a contribution!

Rainbow Health Fair Map

Message from the YWCA's CEO: Proud to highlight YWCA’s commitment to our diverse community

Gay Pride Month provides us with a timely opportunity to highlight the important commitment that the YWCA makes in providing services to a diverse community of women, men and children – regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.


We believe that every person has inherent dignity and worth. This belief guides everything we do at the YWCA: how we work with clients, our policies, our relationships with colleagues, partners and donors. It’s embedded in our mission/vision statement: “We believe that working together we can create a community where all people live in dignity, free from violence, racism and discrimination.”

The LGBTQ community has experienced a history of violence and discrimination, and we believe that standing with our LGBTQ clients, staff, volunteers, board members and supporters is one concrete way we express our belief in the dignity and worth of every human being.

In celebration of Gay Pride Month, YWCA staff and volunteers are looking forward to participating in the 38th annual Pride Parade: The Many Faces of Pride, in Seattle this Sunday (June 24). We hope to see you along the parade route – we’ll be the group dressed mostly in orange!

We also hope you will join us at the 14th annual LBTQ Rainbow Health Fair on June 23 from noon to 5 p.m. at Seattle Central Community College. This fun event features complimentary health resources–from Zumba to acupuncture, massage therapy and nutrition.


These are just two of the events that our YWCA will be participating in that celebrate our rich, diverse community. Please visit us here on ywcaworks.org or like us on Facebook to learn about the events that we are joining or hosting in the upcoming months.

This blog post was originally posted on YWCA Leadership Blog: Message from our CEO, Sue Sherbrooke.

Rainbow Health Fair: The More, the Merrier!

Over the past couple of weeks, we have partnered with a few more health and wellness providers. The more, the merrier!

In addition to the services and activities we've already posted, expect to see these services at the 14th Annual LBTQ Rainbow Health Fair this Saturday.

Naturopathy & Acupuncture

Kira Baum, ND, LaC is a Naturopathic Physician and Acupuncturist in Seattle. She provides comprehensive holistic health care for most medical concerns. She is dedicated to assisting people in achieving their health goals with the use of safe and effective natural modalities, like nutritional counseling, herbal medicine, and acupuncture.

Naturopathy

Les Witherspoon, ND, is a Naturopathic Physician. He will answer questions and provide information for clients about transgender health and gender variant health issues.

Nutrition

Join Beve Kindblade, Nutritionist, for a lively workshop and discussion about nutrition, health, and wellness. She integrates the best of traditional medicine with a natural health approach. Her workshop will be from 3:30pm-4:20pm. Learn about nutritional essentials to take control of your health, renew your energy, and look your best - naturally.

Relationship Skills

NW Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse works to end violence and abuse by building loving and equitable relationships in our community and across the country. Join DeAnn Alcantara-Thompson in a relationship skills class from 12:30pm-1:20pm or 1:30pm-2:20pm.

Safer Sex

Health care professional Candace Cantrell, President of Seattle Girls of Leather, will be answering questions about safer sex. Candace has many years of professional and personal experiences in alternative sexuality communities, making her a dynamic educator. Seattle Girls of Leather will also be providing snacks for health fair participants! Thanks, SGOL!!!

Reiki

Diana Balgaard is a Reiki Master and has practiced Reiki since 1990. Reiki is a divinely guided energy. Your body has its own intelligence. Clients can feel balanced, energized, relaxed, and lighter after a treatment. Diana will provide 10 minute treatments at the health fair.

Susan G. Komen, Puget Sound Affiliate

Elisa Del Rosario and her colleagues from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Puget Sound Affiliate are once again joining the LBTQ Rainbow Health Fair. Komen has awarded YWCA Women's Health Outreach with a grant that has provided critical funding for the LBTQ Rainbow Health Fair every year for 14 years. Our local affiliate has always supported the LBTQ community. Representatives from Komen will be available to share information about the local affiliate and the work they do in our communities.

Tarot Reading

Returning is our very popular Beverly Bryant who has read Tarot professionally for over 15 years. Tarot readings can help give guidance and be used for decision making and direction in finances, relationships, or careers.

Music

Also returning is Marla S. Nonken. Marla is a songwriter and performer, who has played at a wide array of venues - from grassroots to political rallies to yoga classes. She plays many genres and styles that focus on healing, emotions, and lightness. She believes that music and sound soothe the soul and offer nourishment.

Self Defense & Kung Fu

Michelle McVadon has been teaching self defense and Kung Fu (from Seven Star Women's Kung Fu) for 25 years. She holds the rank of Chief Instructor, has 5th degree black belt in Kajukenbo Kung Fu and 3rd degree black belt in Aikido. Her class will be from 2:30pm-3:10pm.

Join us at the Rainbow Health Fair on Sat., June 23rd!

Statement from Patricia Allen-Lehman, our Rainbow Health Fair poster woman.

One of my personal goals in life was to be able to help all women empower their lives in every way. Without good health we cannot achieve our dreams. I was so pleased when Liz Latham (Documentary Film Producer and Rainbow Committee member) asked me to participate in this project.

As a side note… I am wearing my mother’s cap and uniform. She was the first African American R.N. in the city of Seattle. She passed away July 26^th, 2011.

Get Active at the Rainbow Health Fair!

Never before has the Rainbow Health Fair hosted exercise activities! This is the year!

The health fair will be held at Seattle Central Community College on Saturday, June 23rd, and so we have much more space available to help you get in touch with new and fun activities and exercises. We will provide a diverse selection of activities to choose from, including:

Zumba!

Zumba is a Latin dance-inspired fitness program. Instructor Jennifer Cepeda http://www.hellosparkfit.com/about/ leads classes at Youngstown Cultural Art Center in West Seattle.

Contra dancing!

Contra dancing refers to several partnered folk dance styles in which couples dance in two facing lines. Lots of fun! Dancing will be led by Seattle Rainbow Contra Dance. They also lead regular dances - be sure to check their website.

Stretching!

Tamara the Trapeze Lady will lead us in stretching exercises. Get ready to twist and turn! She was one of the first trapeze artists in Seattle - leading to a local revival. She has also developed her own style of stretching, gives trapeze classes, and regularly performs.

Nia!

Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts. These classes will be led by a group of Nia teachers, including Deborah Davis, Sarah Love, Jena Hennessey, Randee Fox, and Allison Wright.


Booty Camp!
Booty Camp is a community oriented, holistic, outdoor women's fitness program. Designed for every ability level, Booty Camp helps women feel confident and strong in their bodies.

We hope you find something new to help you de-stress - something to support the overall health of your body, mind, and spirit. Try out free classes at the Rainbow Health Fair to see what these activities are all about!

Are LBTQ women at risk for HIV?

Tonya Rasberry has gotten used to telling her story. As a Peer Advocate for BABES Network-YWCA, it’s her job. She’s gone around to schools and spoken at public events – telling diverse audiences about how she became a woman living with HIV, and what her life is like now.

Last week, Edge magazine published an article about Tonya, highlighting that Tonya was no less at risk for HIV infection, despite the fact she is a lesbian woman of color.

“When Eric and I were together we shared a lot of things,” she continued, “including partners. … I was always attracted to women and of course I wasn’t going to get a complaint out of him when it came to me living a bisexual lifestyle,” she explained. “Not once did I consider the fact that maybe he also had a private life of his own, and no matter what we were doing behind closed doors neither one of us thought we would have HIV/AIDS affect our lives the way it has.”

Many women who have sex with women don’t realize that they are also at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, according to Kim Chronister, M.A., a therapist at AIDS Services Foundation. “According to my research, HIV can potentially be transmitted by exposure of the mucous membrane (i.e., the mouth) to vaginal secretions,” she said. “Also, shared penetrative toys may be a means for transmission of infected vaginal secretions, according to the CDC. In my therapeutic work with women who have sex with women, simple steps that these women can take to lower their risks of being infected may seem obvious, but unfortunately are rarely taken.”

Tonya calls for dialogue among communities of women to address the risk of HIV for LBTQ women: “I believe that just having the conversation about HIV/AIDS in our [lesbian] community is unbelievably crucial, because as long as a sexually active person is talking about those sensitive subjects it will help us alleviate some of the stigma that surrounds this topic.”

On June 23rd, BABES Network-YWCA is joining the YWCA Rainbow Health Fair and will have information on HIV/AIDS and the psycho-social support services they provide. HIV testing will also be provided by Gay City Health Project. Hope you can make it!