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Articles From Our February, 2001 Newsletter |
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The Exploration of Gender Identity and Transsexualism Jane Newman, MSFS Having been born a biological male 71 years ago, Jane Newman first started having an awareness in preteens that her mind was telling her something other than what her body indicated. Later as a Catholic Benedictine Brother she engaged in typical male work (at least for the times) as a plumber, electrician, welder, slaughtering cattle and even operating an earth mover. After leaving the monastery, since there was little help or knowledge about one with feelings such as hers in those times, she fell in love with a wonderful young woman, Helen, and they have now been married for 45 years. They have three adult children and four grandchildren. Jane's journey eventually lead her into three and a half years of psychoanalysis with Doctor Bonnie Buchele starting in 1994 and currently two and half years of on-going family therapy with Doctor Harriet Lerner. Jane is an educator and has spoken to numerous University faculty and classes plus mental health professionals along with many other groups. She is the PFLAG Heartland Transgender Coordinator (MO., KS., AR & OK.). She will try to give you an inside out view into the life struggles of coming to grips with one's true gender identity, plus a basic understanding about the conditions of Transgender and Intersexuality. Jane will also discuss the relationship between Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual versus that of Transgender. Helen Newman was a homemaker and mother for most of her early married life and then at age 50 decided to give college a try for the first time in her life. Five years later she graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. She immediately went to work as a staff nurse at the Menninger Psychiatric Clinic and spent ten years on a long term psychiatric unit. After several more years of part time psychiatric nursing she retired. Helen joins with Jane for most of their educational work and sharing of personal experiences from a very unique perspective. Helen is in the uncommon position of being one of the few who has chosen to stay in a relationship with a transsexual spouse who has transitioned and has an extremely interesting story to tell in her own right. Don't miss this extraordinary story from two extraordinary people. Our meetings start at 3pm, and the program will start at
4:30. See you there. |
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From Our President:
I am grateful and proud for myself and for PFLAG that Brian Roberts has endowed a scholarship at Central Missouri State University and has designated it the Harvey D. and Helen J. Cohen/PFLAG-Kansas City Scholarship for lgbt students. It fills me with satisfaction and appreciation to know that there is public acknowledgment of the presence of lgbt students on campus. It provides a means to support lgbt students with their university education and furthers PFLAG's mission to educate and advocate for lgbt people.
It is a great comfort to me that the scholarship reflects Harvey's commitment to justice and equality. The scholarship is an ongoing testament to that commitment. I thank all who contribute to the endowment and support the work of PFLAG. Helen Cohen |
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The following is an excerpt from an article in National PFLAG which can be reached on the Internet at http://www.pflag.org. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, DC - The Board of Directors of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) voted today in formal opposition to the nomination of Senator John Ashcroft as U.S. Attorney General. "The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the laws of equality and civil rights in this country, and we can't trust Senator Ashcroft to do that," said Arnold Drake, M.D., PFLAG President. "He has spoken out and voted against basic civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, and these are the basic civil rights that he would be responsible to protect as Attorney General." Board member Peg Gage, who is a Republican, said "You don't have to be a Democrat or a liberal to oppose Senator Ashcroft's nomination because civil rights are not partisan. President-elect Bush failed his pledge to select a cabinet that would bring people together. He has selected a candidate, who through word and deed, has a record of opposing justice and fairness. How can we support someone who torpedoed the nomination of a federal judge and besmirched the reputation of an extremely well-qualified African American Missouri Supreme Court justice in order to advance his own personal political aspirations?" PFLAG has major concerns that, under Ashcroft's leadership, the Justice Department may fail to fully enforce Title IX, the 1972 statute that bars sex discrimination in public schools receiving federal funds. The guidelines make clear that one form of anti-gay harassment "that which creates a sexually hostile environment" is illegal. |
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COMMUNITIES OF COLOR Her little brother was 13 when he told her he was gay - and she took him to a psychiatrist to try to make him straight. A decade later, her little brother was on national television, with cameras documenting his life as a gay Latino living with AIDS. Millions of people watched him celebrate and struggle - and they saw his large, Spanish-speaking family embrace him warmly. "He became a member of all our families," President Clinton would later say. "Now, no one in America can say they've never known someone who's living with AIDS." Today, Millie Zamora is known by an entire generation simply as "Pedro's sister." Her voice still breaks when she talks about her brother's death five years ago, but she swells with pride when she talks about her family's unconditional love for the most recognized gay Latino in history. Zamora has transformed her family's dual grief and pride into action - with PFLAG. In the years following her brother's death, Zamora says she "never turned down an invitation to help." She volunteered for AIDS-service organizations and spoke in Florida schools about sexuality and HIV. But recently, she decided to work with PFLAG to support Spanish-speaking families with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (g/l/b/t) loved ones. "It's very hard for Spanish people to deal with this sometimes," Zamora said. "Our culture is not very accepting of being gay, and they expect gay people to stay hidden. We have to help them understand that people are just born gay, and that they need to face reality." "As I've had more opportunities to travel across the country and meet so many wonderful PFLAG families, I've noticed something missing," said former PFLAG National Board President Paul Beeman. "We are doing great work nationwide, but our inability to work with people of color is tragic and condemning. We must do better." For the whole article, see National PFLAG on the Internet, http://www.pflag.org. |
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The Family Support Network will sponsor a Multi-Generational Dance on Feb. 10, at 7:00 p.m. at MCC, Spirit of Hope Church, 38th and Wyandotte. Bring a snack food or 2 liter bottle of pop. There will be a free will offering. The great thing about Family Support Network is we let you decide how to define the word "family." Come check us out!! |
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PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES |
