from our member Isa L Levy

Had my memoir Conversations with a Blank Canvas published in June. I have attached a press release about it just in case it might be interest to members of  GPN as I talk about my identity growing up in a tightly knit small Welsh Jewish community and the various issues around my sexuality and not 'belonging' - this was in the 1950's - so quite a lot of development over the decades - almost 8. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Conversations with a Blank Canvas, By Isa L Levy Highgate Arts psychotherapist, artist, and author Isa L Levy has this week published her astonishing personal memoir. In a creative memoir, which includes photographs of many of her vivid paintings, Isa reveals her psychological, artistic and spiritual transformational process through images, poetry and words, as she sheds and re-forms new evolutions to reach a state of ‘belonging’. 

The author shares an honest, detailed and thought-provoking self assessment of her life journey. It is reflective in ways which invite the reader to engage more consciously with their own personal journeys. Using wonderfully clear and apt word painting, the words are beyond poetic in that they evoke a reaction of all our senses. 

We hear the music she created, we feel the gentle opening up within the lover's garden, and we even taste the mother's force feeding! 

Reviewers are already acclaiming the book as “a remarkable achievement”. 

For press copies or to review this book contact Isa L Levy at isalevy@aol.com. 

Books are available on amazon.co.uk h+ps://www.amazon.co.uk/Conversa5ons-Blank-Canvas-Somewhere-Transforma5on/dp/ B08B38B69V/ref=zg_bs_266794_40?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=18RYSK307VC64V96HQ3P

Queer Bio Newsletter

 

QueerBio.com Newsletter December 14th, 2020 The Online Biographical Reference Source for the International LGBTQ Community Top Story DISABILITY AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY Individuals with disabilities represent a significant portion of the population, yet they remain a marginalized group in society. Many people relate disability to physical attributes, but they can be mental attributes as well. It is the latter that is less visible and hence often misunderstood or ignored. 'Disability' is a term that encompasses a wide range of sensory, physical, cognitive and psychological abilities and affects many people, both visibly and invisibly. LGBTQ individuals with disabilities face a double level of challenges when it comes to marginalization. The challenge often exists within the LGBTQ community also. For example, many LGBTQ individuals focus on an ideal body type that an individual with a disability cannot live up to. Research has shown that LGBTQ individuals are more likely to have a disability than the general population. Transgender individuals, for example, are prone to the mental impacts of isolation, intolerance, and more that stigmatizes them - recent surveys have shown that 39 per cent of transgender individuals in the United States report having a disability. Similarly, one in three lesbians and one in three bisexual women report having a disability. The situation is significantly worse in countries with intolerant policies toward the LGBTQ communities. Given this terrible situation, it is heartening to hear of individuals within the LGBTQ community who are working to address these challenges. Many of these individuals are activists, health workers, researchers, and politicians. A good portion of them are LGBTQ athletes who have received recognition for their athletic accomplishments at the national and international level and have become role models for the community. It is important to include LGBTQ people with disabilities as part of the discussion of LGBTQ rights. We have identified LGBTQ individuals active in the disability community from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Great Britain, India, Israel, Japan, Poland, Scotland, Singapore, the United States, and Uruguay.  Read More Now And See The Complete List QueerBio.com has been chosen for the Library of Congress Web Archiving Program - Preserving important cultural artifacts by acquiring, cataloging, preserving and serving collections material of historical importance to foster education and scholarship. CONTEMPORARY LGBTQ SPOTLIGHT Leanne Pittsford - United States (1980) Leanne Pittsford is a serial entrepreneur.  In 2012 she founded Lesbians Who Tech & Allies, an organization which has grown to become the largest LGBTQ community of technologists in the world with 40+ city chapters worldwide.  Prior to this, Pittsford launched include.io in 2017, a mentoring and recruiting platform in technology, and the Tech Jobs Tour which connects diverse and non-traditional talent to jobs in technology. She created her own digital agency, Start Somewhere, and created leanimpact.org, a company which eventually was acquired by Lean Startup in 2016. Pittsford was recognized by Business Insider as one of the most powerful LGBTQ+ people in Tech in 2019. Previously, Pittsford worked for Equality California as head of operations. HISTORICAL LGBTQ SPOTLIGHT Francis Bacon, Ireland (1909-1992) Francis Bacon was a noted painter whose popular subject matter was the body painted in an abstract form. Later in his life, and after the death of his partner, his focus shifted to images of death and crucifixion. Bacon was also a notable interior decorator and furniture designer. He was the subject of two Tate retrospectives and a major showing in 1971 at the Grand Palais in Paris. A 2013 auction of his painting Three Studies of Lucien Freud sold for a world record price of US$142 million at the time.   Sample of New LGBTQ Biographies Added Jack Guest, Great Britain - Global Diversity and Inclusion Lead, HSBC Bank.  READ MORE Clement Beaune, France - Minister of State for European Affairs.   READ MORE Hig Roberts, United States - Alpine skier.  READ MORE Mara Gomez, Argentina - Transgender football/soccer player.  READ MORE Joan Drury, United States -  Writer and publisher.  READ MORE Braunwyn Windham-Burke, United States - Television personality.  READ MORE. Josh Feldman, United States - Actor and producer.  READ MORE. TRAILER VIDEO CLICK HERE TO HELP US WITH THIS PROJECT TODAY! DO YOU KNOW YOUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY? QueerBio.com is pleased to present a selection of biographical and history books on the global LGBTQ community.  Books can be ordered individually or as a group for further savings. It's a Fabulous Morning! My Interviews With Fascinating People in the LGBTQ World   A Path to Diversity: LGBTQ Participation in the Working World Notables: 101 Global LGBTQ People Who Changed the World Champions: Biographies of Global LGBTQ Pioneers. Books are available in print or e-book editions. ORDER YOUR BOOKS INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A GROUP HERE QueerBio.Com The definitive online biographical reference source for the international LGBTQ community Comprising a database of over 17,000 contemporary and historical figures who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, two-spirit, gender netutral or queer (LGBTQ).  Includes artists, sports figures, politicians, entertainers, business leaders, academics, activists, and more. The database is widely international in scope and is an ideal source for research and analysis with full search and sort functionality.  Available in 62 languages. Visit QueerBio.Com Managing Editor: Mark S. Bonham