• Foster an increased understanding between LGBT Asians and non-Asians;
• Promote a sense of community among LGBT Asians and non-Asians; and,
• Develop friendships through cultural, social, and educational activities.

The ifCON steering committee has organized a field trip to visit the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (the new Hindu temple in Lilburn) on Sunday, May 18 at 11 am. This will be a guided tour, which is free. We would like to promote this event to the general membership as it should be a great cultural experience. I have provided an estimate of 25 members for the tour, but will need to provide an update a few days before the visit, so anyone interested in joining us for this event should RSVP to Jeff Cordry at jeffcordry@gmail.com or call at 404-822-7947 no later then May 14. We plan to meet at Jeff's place in Midtown between 9:30 and 10am and carpool to the temple, which is about an 18 mile drive (estimated 30 minutes). Anyone not interested in carpooling could also meet us there by 10:45am. Keep in mind this is a guided tour, so please try to arrive early.

The following are some suggestions/guidelines for our visit which I have received: There is no charge for group visits. However, each member of your group can help us serve the community by bringing a vegetarian canned food item during their visit. We will have a collection bin for the items. Thank you. In order to make your visit enjoyable for all of us please note the following information and guidelines: Shorts, skirts, and sleeveless tops are not allowed. Photography and videography is not allowed from the podium level and inside the Mandir. All visitors must remove their shoes when they enter the Mandir. Shoe racks are located within the Mandir. It is recommended that everyone wears socks as the marble inside the Mandir gets cold during the winter. Handicap ramp way is available for those who can not climb stairs, and we also have elevator access in the Mandir. The structure is made of stone, so we request everyone to be extra careful and use handrails when possible to prevent injuries. We have ample parking space for cars, vans, or buses. When you arrive, please inform our volunteer at the entrance that you have arrived.
 

Start summer with a splash at the Memorial Day Weekend Party. Bring your swimsuits and dive into some fun. Even if you don't want to swim, you can still join in on the fun. The party starts at 2:00 pm and dinner will be at 6:00 pm.

Where: Jim and Sean's (address will be sent out via email a few days before the event)
When: May 24, 2008 (SAT) - starts at 2:00 PM. Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM.
Food: Potluck - please bring a dish to share.
Drinks: You can bring your own drinks or take advantage of the "ifCON donation bar". Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for which we request small donations to ifCON.

If you haven't already signed up for the email notifications, you can do so by using the form at the top of this page.
 

Saturday, May 31, 2008

June 21-29, 2008

LINKS:
• iCON 2008 Berlin http://icon2008.lyc-germany.org
• Asians and Friends Berlin - LYCB http://asiansandfriends.de
• Long Yang Club http://longyangclub.org

AFP - Gay and lesbian couples will have the same rights as heterosexuals under new Australian laws but marriage will remain off limits, Attorney General Robert McClelland said Wednesday.