Dallas Red 2015 launches
Dallas Red Foundation, Red Hot & Ready: The 2015 Launch Party takes place from 8-10 p.m. March 20, at 4123 Cedar Springs Road. Cocktails will be provided complimentary by Equality Vodka, with DJ Sno White and DJ Kayla Kruz spinning. A $20 donation is suggested at the door. The Dallas Red Foundation raises money for Legacy Counseling Center.
For more information, RedPartyDallas.org.
 
Michael Sam speaks
The Dallas Holocaust Museum’s first Upstander speaker of the year is out football player and Dancing with the Stars contestant Michael Sam. The evening is sponsored by Congregation Beth El Binah.
Sam speaks at 6:30 p.m. on March 26 at Communities Foundation of Texas, 5500 Caruth Haven Lane.
Sam made headlines last year when he came out as gay after ending his successful college football career at Missouri. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams and after being cut, played on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. He currently makes his home in Dallas.
WFAA sportscaster Dale Hansen will introduce Sam at the event. Hansen made national news when he broadcast an editorial expressing shock that Sam was drafted  as late as the seventh round when players who abuse their wives and girlfriends and those on trial for murder are given a pass.
For more information and tickets, visit DallasHolocaustMuseum.org.
 
Second LGBT Advocacy Day
Equality Texas holds its second LGBT Advocacy Day at the Texas Capitol on Monday, March 23 at the Texas Capitol in Austin.
Rather than one advocacy day, three were scheduled for this year, dividing the issues into three themes. This week’s theme is “family,” with a focus on talking to legislators about how LGBT families are affected by discrimination in Texas based on bias against sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
The first advocacy day in February focused on faith. The theme for the April 13 advocacy day is freedom.
Equality Texas will hold a training session at First United Methodist Church of Austin Family Life Center, 1300 Lavaca St., which is one block west of the Capitol. Parking is available at the Texas Capitol Visitor Center’s Parking Garage, 1201 San Jacinto, on the east side of the Capitol grounds.
Equality Texas asks participants to pay a $5 registration fee to help defray expenses, but ability to pay should be no impediment to participating.
For more information, visit EqualityTexas.org.
 
Trans Pride Initiative offers help filing discrimination complaints
A new U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rule issued earlier this year requires all shelters and housing programs that receive federal funding provide access to gender-segregated spaces based on self-affirmed gender.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs affirmed the ruling.
Now Trans Pride Initiative is looking for people to make all shelters and housing comply with the new rule. The organization is offering assistance to people who have experienced or currently experience discrimination and would like to file a complaint.
TPI is willing to provide research both in and outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Assistance includes researching nondiscrimination policies, complaint processes as well as filing complaints with regional HUD offices. For assistance and more information contact TPI at 214-449-1439 or info@tpride.org.
GALA meets the candidates
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of North Texas scheduled several meet the candidate events in Collin County.
“It is very important to be informed about who represents us at the local level especially for our community,” said GALA President Bob Shimmin, “as it is difficult to get people involved in these elections.”
The Plano event takes place at 6:45 p.m. on March 27 at the private residence of the plaintiffs in the state of Texas Marriage Equality case.
Additional events will be held in Carrollton on April 8, McKinney on April 17 and Frisco on April 24.
For the address and additional information, visit GALANTX.org.
 
Fort Worth court presents Michial Awards
The Imperial Court de Fort Worth/Arlington presents it Michial Awards from noon-6 p.m. on March 22 at Celebration Community Church Fellowship Hall, 908 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Worth.
Bring ID to vote proving residence in Tarrant, Denton, Erath, Wise, Palo Pinto, Hood, Somervell, Parker, or Johnson counties to decide best charity organization of the year, charity event, favorite bar, bar managers, bartenders, organization, entertainers and Emperor & Empress 36 of The Imperial Court.
The results of the Community Service Awards will be presented on March 25 at Club
Reflection at 7 p.m. The results of your vote for Emperor & Empress will be revealed at Coronation 36 on March 28 at 5 p.m. at Club Reflection.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 20, 2015.