Articles From Our June, 2001 Newsletter

The American Family Association, based in Tupelo Mississippi, is attacking the Girl Scouts because that organization refuses to discriminate against lesbians and gays. Unlike the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts have always been inclusive. In the mid-90s, the organization went on the public record with a statement to the Associated Press that said it does not discriminate based on sexual orientation. 

The American Family Association mobilized its members to send 10,000 letters of protest to the national Girl Scout organization. In contrast, the Girl Scouts have received only a handful of letters of support. 

Please write to Ms. Connie Matsui, Girl Scout national president, and let her know that we appreciate the Girl Scouts' stand on behalf of diversity and of gay and lesbian families. And please forward this message to all of your friends. 

Send messages: mail to: cmatsui@girlscouts.org It's important that the Girl Scouts hear from us, since they are beginning to equivocate on their stand. Let them know that they are doing the right thing!

fax: 415.552.4729 
carolyn@gsanetwork.org 
http://www.gsanetwork.org

Home Depot Adds Sexual Orientation to Non Discrimination Policy 

Home Depot, the largest home improvement retailer in the country, will add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics covered by its nondiscrimination policy, The Wall Street Journal reports. The announcement reverses an earlier decision in which the company said the addition was not necessary.. But after the company's proxy statement and the shareholder proposal were distributed last month, several longtime Home Depot employees objected. "I've worked here a really long time and never been discriminated against," said Suzanne Apple, Home Depot's vice president of community relations and social responsibility. "[But] we realized it was important to make this particular category explicit." Home Depot has nearly 1,200 stores and employs about 230,000 people.

DON'T FORGET

The 100-voice Heartland Men's Chorus will present a special concert for families and children featuring a new musical Oliver Button is a Sissy narrated by the author, Tomie DePaola on Sunday, June 17 at 3:00 pm at the Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Adult tickets are $8; one child's ticket free with each adult ticket; additional children's tickets $4. For tickets, call the Chorus office at 816-931-3338

From Our President

Hello Kansas City PFLAG:

PFLAG-KC is celebrating great good news - we have been awarded a grant of $5,000 from the Ewing M. Kauffman Fund!!! The grant will be used to purchase resources and to help PFLAG members attend conferences and meetings. The suggestion to write a proposal was presented to the PFLAG-KC Board by Judy Guyot whose admirable determination to get a proposal written certainly paid off. Thank you Judy.

June is the time to celebrate Gay Pride. We will be participating in the Gay Pride Parade on Friday evening, June 8 and in the Gay Pride Festival at Bartle Hall on Saturday, June 9. So do plan to Parade with PFLAG and visit our booth at the Festival.

Also in June is the PASSAGES (the youth lgbt organization) prom on June 16. Fred Phelps has announced his intention to demonstrate at the prom. So support PASSAGES, buy a prom ticket and help counter the Phelps message of hatred by standing by our lgbt youth. For more information, visit www.passageskc.org or call 816-691- 8740.

Finally, another opportunity to support PFLAG and share an evening with friends - PFLAG is sponsoring the film "Scout's Honor" at the 2001 Kansas City Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The film is an important and moving account of the anti-gay policies of the Boy Scouts of America. Join us June 29 at 7:00pm at the Tivoli Cinemas in Westport (all seats - $7.00). The film's Director, Tom Shepard will attend the screening and discuss the film at a special reception following the film.

Gay Pride Info

Mark your calendars for the 8th and 9th of June, the days of the annual Gay Pride Festival. The parade will happen on Friday evening, and the festival on the next day at Barney Allis Plaza. The gathering point for the parade is at 11th and Holmes in east downtown. Parade entries need to be there between 6 and 6:30pm.

The parade begins at 7pm from 11th & Holmes, heads west on 11th Street then turns south on Oak Street (this takes us past City Hall and the Jackson County Courthouse) and later turns back west on 13th Street through downtown to Barney Allis Plaza and the Friday Night Carnival.

We are encouraging folks to gather on the west lawn of City Hall to watch the parade. This will also promote a festive environment and also, hopefully, provide a great photo op for the local TV stations and newspapers.

KC PFLAG will have a booth at the festivities, and volunteers to work in the booth are needed. 

AND GET THIS!!!! ADMISSION IS FREE!!!!!!!
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Alternative Family magazine (AFM) are proud to announce a special, money-savings subscription program for PFLAG members. Your participation in this program will also directly benefit PFLAG. Alternative Family magazine is the nation's leading publication for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered parents, and their families. A one year subscription normally sells for $24, but PFLAG members can get a one year subscription for just $19.95. This price is not available to the general public. In addition to receiving this discounted price, Alternative Family magazine will make a $10 donation to PFLAG for each paid subscription. When you give a gift subscription, Alternative Family magazine will send a gift acknowledgement, listing the gift giver. Your subscription will begin with the next available issue, unless instructed otherwise. Gift subscriptions will be mailed within one week of receipt of the order. AFM will mail the first issue and gift acknowledgment by first class mail. Please note: PFLAG members can also order their own subscription and may give as many gift subscriptions as they wish. Please help us in this fun-raising effort. As a gift giver, you'll get a great price; PFLAG will also get a $10 per subscription donation, and the recipient of the magazine will enjoy the positive and empowering message of this truly unique magazine. It's an offer where everybody wins. 

PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES