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MOTHER'S DAY POTLUCK
Our May 13th meeting will once again highlight a potluck, and you know what that means! We all take our chances - bring your favorite or some one else's favorite food - and we will have fun eating together, starting at 3pm at our regular haunt. For meeting info, see the column on the right.
Happy Spring! It is the season to celebrate mothers - from Mother Earth to Mother Teresa. Honor the many nurturing souls who have helped and loved us along the way. Mother's Day provides us with an opportunity to reach out to the women who have shaped our lives. For all of these precious women - let's celebrate their presence in our life. Think of something you have in your possession that triggers a special memory for you (a work of art/photos/favorite toy). Bring your object to the meeting and share a bit of your life.
Our meeting on the 13th will also feature a visit from Marc Adams, author of the award-winning autobiography, The Preacher's Son. The book chronicles Adams' life growing up gay as the son of a fundamentalist Baptist minister in rural Pennsylvania where he endured a childhood of physical, emotional and spiritual abuse. He shares about his years as an ex-gay. It culminates with his coming to terms with being gay and his coming out to his fundamentalist family.
Marc will share some of his life's story, share from his other two books, Light, and Still Water, as well as talk about HeartStrong, Inc., the non-profit organization he co-founded with his partner, Todd Tuttle. HeartStrong, Inc., is an outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students (current and former) of religious schools, colleges and universities. It is the only such outreach of its kind in the world.
"Every time I open my mailbox and find another letter, I am incredibly humbled. I knew I had a responsibility to share my story. I just didn't expect to get such emotional and heart breaking letters. I feel such an awesome responsibility when I read about how what I've shared has touched people."
This is a meeting you won't want to miss. See you on the 13th at 3pm.
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| FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Dear Kansas City PFLAGers:
This is an opportunity to bring you up to date on PFLAG-KC happenings. The Board of Directors consists of 13 people, all dedicated to furthering the mission of PFLAG and to having fun. The Board is a successful mix of lgbt people, family members and a friend. Please do join us for Board meetings at 1:30PM before the regular meetings on the second Sunday of each month. Your input is valuable and you will learn more about PFLAG activities. Our membership meetings are well attended with new people at every meeting. The sharing time at meetings always elicits touching and inspiring stories so do come and bring your story. Our programs are wonderfully informative, entertaining and often, provocative. Meetings are a delightful combination of socializing, learning, and sharing.
In addition, PFLAG-KC is receiving more and more invitations to present our message to university and college classes, business groups and public agencies. We are in the process of establishing a speakers bureau. We need effective presenters and someone to coordinate the speakers bureau. I know there are folks ready to fill the job. Please contact the Board via email or phone and let us know that you will be part of the speakers bureau.
This month's meeting, on May 13, will be a lovely time (see page 1 of this newsletter for details). Bring a dish for the potluck and join the rest of us for a Mother's Day celebration and a great afternoon.
Also, be sure to join us for the PFLAG/HOPE (the organization of gay and lesbian Catholics) panel on Sunday, May 20 on "Coming Out" at the Cathedral 416 W. 12th Street in the O'Hara Room. (See article below)
In June PFLAG-KC will sponsor a film at the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival at the Tivoli Theaters. Also in June, we will be participating in the Gay Pride Parade and Festival. What a thrill it is to march behind the PFLAG banner! Come and be part of that experience.
If you have not been involved in PFLAG lately, or have not attended a meeting recently, do it now to support the important work of PFLAG and share fun times with PFLAG friends
Helen Cohen
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BEFORE AND AFTER THE CLOSET
The delicate coming out process for families and gay and lesbian persons.
A panel input and discussion session on the complex process of owning homosexuality in one's life and in the life of one's family. Join us on Sunday, May 20, 4-6 p.m. in the O'Hara Room at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 12th and Broadway. Co-Sponsored by PFLAG-KC (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, KC Chapter) and HOPE, Diocesan support group of Gay and Lesbian Catholics. Info?
Call: Sr. Donna 816-842-0416x113 or Janice 816-531-6109
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HEARTLAND MEN'S CHORUS MARKS 15TH ANNIVERSARY
Heartland Men's Chorus, Kansas City's own 100-voice gay men's chorus marks 15 years of excellent performance of men's choral music with their summer concert Our Family Album on Saturday, June 16 at 8:00 pm. The performance will be presented at the beautifully restored historic Folly theater, 300 W. 12th Street, in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
Our Family Album will explore through music the idea of family--families we are born into, families we build around us, and the extended family that community building organizations like the Heartland Men's Chorus create. This concert celebrates the HMC family with a fresh look at favorite selections drawn from past Chorus concerts.
The program will also include the Kansas City premier of Oliver Button is a Sissy, a new musical based on the children's book of the same name by noted author Tomie DePaola. Oliver Button tells the story of an endearing little boy who was teased because he was different from ordinary boys. As the story unfolds, we learn that it is these very differences that make Oliver special. This poignant setting of a children's story written 20 years ago delivers a powerful and urgently needed message about valuing diversity and celebrating our differences.
The musical setting of Oliver Button is a Sissy was co-commissioned by Heartland Men's Chorus along with three other men's choruses from the United States and Canada. Tomie DePaola will appear onstage with the Chorus to narrate this moving performance.
Because this complete program will only be performed once, a sold out house is expected. Tickets are available now for $22.50, $18.50, and $16.50 by calling the Heartland Men's Chorus office at 816-931-3338 (See insert for info about a special family program on Sunday, June 17).
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ALERT FROM PREP
The Missouri Senate is once again considering legislation to prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages in Missouri. A similar bill passed in 1996, but was overturned on a technicality by the Missouri Supreme Court in 1998. Now, consumed by concerns that Vermont is recognizing civil unions, conservative Republicans are pushing to reinstate the ban. Senate Bill 180 will be debated in the senate any day now.
Call your state senator and ask them to oppose any legislation which discriminates against same-sex couples by denying them the benefits of marriage that some heterosexuals take for granted. Let them know that gay and lesbian relationships are loving, long-lasting, contribute to society and should be supported in the same way as straight relationships.
You can reach your State Senator by calling 573-751-2000
From The Privacy Rights Education Project
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New York Post, By ADAM BUCKMAN (excerpt)
Laura Schlessinger says it's not her fault her low-rated TV talk show failed. "If you want to point fingers," she says, "blame the gay activists who drove away her advertisers."
"The show was wonderful," Schlessinger insisted recently on CNN's "Larry King Live." "I'm very proud of the product we had," she said. "Unfortunately, it never even had a chance for the audience to decide. . . because the advertisers were intimidated and threatened by GLAAD [the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] and their constituency."
From now on, Schlessinger vows to stick with radio. She says she's "developed a resurgence of affection for radio" in the wake of her TV experience.
Meanwhile, GLAAD is cheering Paramount's decision to cancel "Dr. Laura."
"This is a culmination of GLAAD's three years of strategic education and advocacy work," said GLAAD executive director Joan Garry in a statement. "We have held Laura Schlessinger accountable for her defamation of our community."
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