Articles From Our November, 2000 Newsletter

PROGRAM FEATURES GOOD SAMARITAN PROJECT

Larry Dyer, of Good Samaritan Project here in Kansas City, will be our speaker at our November meeting. Good Samaritan Project is the largest HIV/AIDS service organization in Kansas City. It provides many services for those who are in need of what it has to offer. Those services include medical needs, spiritual needs. and a community for those who are in need in that direction also. All services are free of charge, and there is no discrimination based on sex, age, religion, race, economic status, or sexual orientation.

Come and join us on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 3 pm.

A Board Election will be held at our November meeting. Come and cast your vote, and consider becoming a member of our board. We'd love to have you.

SEE YOU THERE

"HMC Presents 15th Anniversary Holiday Concert"

Begin your holiday season this year with the glorious sounds of the 100-voice Heartland Men's Chorus. The Chorus begins their 15th year in Kansas City with A Victorian Christmas: Music Fit for a Queen on Saturday, December 2 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 3 at 4:00 pm. Both performances will be presented at the beautifully restored, historic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street, in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

This program will feature holiday songs from all over the world that have some connection to the Victorian era. Included are a number of familiar carols in new settings for men's voices. The rich sounds of these gifted singers will be enhanced with the addition of brass, bells, and other instruments.

After the intermission, the Chorus will return with their acclaimed small group Heartbeat. The ensemble has become known for the close harmony singing, dancing, comedy, and campy fun that they add to performances. The featured work will be an original musical parody of a classic Victorian holiday story. The Christmas Carols (with apologies to Charles Dickens) was conceived by Music Director Joseph P. Nadeau with music by Chorus accompanist Richard Held. Lyrics and script were written in collaboration with Philip Blue Owl Hooser, a well-known Kansas City theater personality. The musical features the appearance of local actress Cathy Barnett, who will play the ghostly apparition of the 'Carols' that appear--Carol Channing, Carol Burnett, and Carol Brady.

The combination of beautiful music, excellent choral performance, a little fun, and some twisted humor produces an entertainment experience with a little something for everyone. You'll want to bring the entire family.

Tickets are available for $22.50, $18.50, and $16.50 by calling the Heartland Men's Chorus office at 816-931-3338.

www.OutVote2000.org

In March, thousands who walked in the Millennium March pledged to vote this November 7th. Today, near the time of the election, a new web site has been launched to take LGBT voter activism to new levels. This is a nonpartisan effort to increase voter turnout sponsored by the Gill Operating Foundation.

Take a couple of minutes and visit www.OutVote2000.org -- one site where you can learn about issues, candidates, polling times and places, and even set a reminder for you and your friends so that you'll remember to vote.

Scott Blaine Swenson
Director of Communications
Gill Operating Foundation

two great reasons for voting on the 7th:

1) because Matthew shepard can't
2) because dr. laura can

From a letter to the editor in a Cleveland newspaper

ABOUT HATE CRIMES

Anti-gay hate crimes are those in which victims are chosen solely or primarily because of their actual or presumed sexual/affectional orientation or preference, gender identity and/or status (1). Hate crimes are also committed based on race, religion, disability, ethnicity and national origin (2). Hate crimes may include property crimes or physical violence resulting in injury. Hate crimes are unique because they send messages to entire groups -- as well as to their families and other supporters -- that they are unwelcome and unsafe in particular communities.

Most anti-gay hate crimes are committed by otherwise law-abiding young people who see little wrong with their actions (3), and who sometimes believe that they have societal permission to engage in such violence (4).

LASTING IMPACT OF HATE CRIMES

Because anti-gay hate crimes are attacks on identity, they may have more serious psychological effects on victims than do other crimes. Depression, stress and anger are more prevalent in hate crime survivors than in survivors of comparable non-bias-motivated crimes. These feelings can last up to five years for gay and lesbian victim of hate crimes, while lasting up to two years for victims of non-bias-related crimes (5).

The Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA) remains in Congress. It would strengthen existing federal hate crime laws by allowing the U.S. Dept. of Justice to assist in local prosecutions and, where appropriate, to investigate and prosecute cases in which violence occurs because of the victim's sexual orientation, disability or gender. It also would eliminate obstacles to federal involvement in many cases of assault or murder based on race or religion. PFLAG works within diverse local and national coalitions -- recognizing commonalities of targeted groups, such as religion, race and ethnicity -- to pass HCPA and state hate crime laws. PFLAG also dispels myths about hate crime legislation, noting that it covers acts or violence (not speech) and protects the First Amendment. (Quoted from National PFLAG)

In communities nationwide, PFLAG chapters have initiated programs to educate the public about the link between hate speech and violence. In some communities, like Henderson, Kentucky, PFLAG sponsors billboards and newspaper advertisements. Elsewhere, such as in San Diego, California, PFLAG chapters run public service announcements on television.

To learn more about efforts in your community or to get involved in advocating for state and federal legislation that protects all Americans from bias-motivated crime call PFLAG at 202-638-4200, or visit our web site, www.pflag.org.

(1) National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs definition. 
(2) U.S. Dept. of Justice definition.
(3) American Psychological Association, Hate Crimes Today: An Age-Old Foe in Modern Dress (1998) 
(4) Franklin, Karen; Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training (as reported by the American Psychological Association) 
(5) Herek, Gregory (University of California, Davis) ; Gillis, Roy J (University of Toronto); Cogan; Jeanine (American Psychological Association); "Psychological Sequelae of Hate Crime Victimization Among Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Adults"; Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1999)
(6) (Entire section) Parents of Murdered Children; Problems of Survivors (1999)


25 Ways PFLAG Makes Schools Safer Every Day

1. Meeting with school administrators 
2. Organizing and participating in sensitivity training for school personnel and students 
3. Supporting Gay/Straight Alliances 
4. Donating books on sexual orientation and gender identity to school libraries 
5. Participating in community Safe Schools Coalitions 
6. Meeting with school counselors 
7. Providing college scholarships to g/l/b/t students 
8. Advocating for state legislation that protects g/l/b/t students 
9. Writing letters to the editors of our local papers about Safe Schools issues 
10. Helping diversify schools' curricula 
11. Meeting with school nurses and other health workers 
12. Sponsoring proms for g/l/b/t youth 
13. Forming and supporting community groups for sexual minority youth 
14. Speaking in colleges and universities to future teachers and school personnel 
15. Lobbying school boards for nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation 
16. Speaking out about Safe Schools issues in the broader community 
17. Filing lawsuits to ensure that our loved ones are safe in school 
18. Focusing our Safe Schools efforts on g/l/b/t youth, as well as others perceived as "different" 
19. Supporting families whose g/l/b/t loved ones committed suicide or ran away due to unsafe schools 
20. Participating in educators' conferences 
21. Monitoring schools' compliance with nondiscrimination policies 
22. Supporting g/l/b/t teachers and staff, and advocating for fair personnel policies 
23. Running for school board seats or other elected office to make a difference from within 
24. Distributing research and publications on g/l/b/t youth issues 
25. Working with PTAs and other groups 

MEMBERSHIP NOTES

The PFLAG/KC membership year coincides with the fiscal year of national PFLAG. It runs from October 1 to September 30. It's time to renew for 2000-2001. Dues are: $32.00 for a household; $22.00, individual; $12.00 for Newsletter subscription only. (Membership includes Newsletter.) We pay $10.00 dues per year to National PFLAG for each member. If you have questions regarding your membership status, call Sue Edwards, 816-737-2749.

We need your support to continue our programs. Please renew your membership now. Thank you for being a part of this great organization.

PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES