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Articles From Our September, 2001 Newsletter |
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Nature Loves a Continuum Our September 9th program features Mary Boenke who writes: "Ever since Aristotle we've been seeing the world in dichotomies, such as black/white, tall/short, good/bad, etc. It prevents us from seeing what is in the middle, from appreciating the richness that is there, and even causes havoc to many people." Mary has been active with Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and presently serves this organization as the Regional Director for the Mid-Atlantic Region. She is co-founder and Chair of PFLAG's Transgender Network, has co-authored a popular booklet, an introduction to transgender issues, "Our Trans Children", which has sold over 27,000 copies. She writes and speaks on transgender family issues and recently edited and published a book, Trans Forming Families: Real Stories About Transgendred Loved Ones. Mary and her husband, John, have three adult children and five grandchildren. Their middle child came out 23 years ago as a lesbian and again 6 years ago as a female-to-male transsexual. The whole family is very proud of their new son and brother. Mary and her husband have been active Unitarians since they married over 47 years ago. Let's all be there to give Mary a warm PFLAG-KC welcome. |
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SQUARE DANCE OPEN HOUSE Sunday, September 9, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, there will be a "straight friendly" open square dance at Spirit of Hope Metropolitan Community Church, 3801 Wyandotte, Kansas City MO. Everyone is welcome! Instruction will be provided. Weekly classes in Mainstream square dancing will be held on Sundays beginning September 16 at the same time and location. Square dancing has been called "Friendship set to music." For more information call Sue Edwards, 816.737.2749. |
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From Our President Whenever there are new people at our monthly PFLAG meetings (just about every meeting), I am reminded of the journey that longer time PFLAG parents are taking. I am reminded of the response that many of us experienced when our lgbt children came out to us. Often that response is shock, grief, a sense of loss, fear, and even anger. It takes us a while and a lot of learning from books, articles, movies and other media and, most especially learning from others, to accept and understand the new information about our children. The journey is different and distinctive for each of us and we don't all get to the same place. I've learned that there are many levels of coming out and of acknowledging our lgbt loved ones. Some families, on learning that a family member is gay, take the approach: "Okay, you told us, don't tell anyone else in the family, and we won't ever talk about it again". Others feel that, now that we know, we must learn more and keep learning. After all, our lgbt kids have, in most cases, lived with the knowledge of their sexual orientation a while, sometimes a long while, before they tell us. For some of us, knowing about our gay family members and friends is an opportunity to work publicly for full human and civil rights for all lgbt people. Most of us are somewhere between denial and full-fledged activism. PFLAG must be and, I believe the Kansas City Chapter is, a place for all families and friends of lgbt people. It can be overwhelming to parents who just recently have learned that their child is gay to hear those of us who take our openness for granted and who celebrate our gay children and even consider that we are most fortunate to have a gay child. I need frequent reminding that my zeal for public activism is not shared by all parents and may intimidate parents who are just learning to cope with the news of their child's sexual orientation. Fortunately there are lots of PFLAGers - families, friends, and lgbt people to remind us to respect the journeys of all attendees. I am grateful to the new people who come to our meetings (it does take courage) who continue to remind me of my journey, of how far I've come and of the learning that continues to occur and, hopefully, will never end in my lifetime. Helen Cohen |
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NATIONAL AWARD WINNING AUTHORS IN KANSAS CITY Mr. Dale Colclasure and Mr. David Jensen, authors and publishers of the two-time nationally award winning book, JOURNEYS ACROSS THE RAINBOW, Inspirational Stories for the Human Race will be speaking and signing books at Larry's Cards and Gifts, 205 Westport Road in Kansas City on Sunday, September 23, 2001 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. For information call 816.753.4757. The book features nearly eighty inspirational stories, with contributions from around the world. John Bradshaw, New York Times best-selling author, counselor, theologian and public speaker, Betty Fairchild, best-selling co-author of "Now That You Know: A Guidebook for Parents of Lesbians and Gays," Tim Gill, founder of Quark, Inc., Sgt. Mitchell Grobeson, the first openly gay police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department and author of the book, "Outside the Badge," Dan Jinks, Producer of the film, American Beauty, W Mitchell, best-selling author and public speaker, Dave Pallone, New York Times, best-selling author of the book, "Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball," and Patricia Nell Warren, best-selling author of, "The Front Runner," and "Harlan's Race," are only a few of the many contributors to this powerful and inspiring compilation. For more information, please contact Spencer Drake at Rainbow Pride Press. |
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CAPTURE BROADCAST DEFAMATION FOR GLAAD In the vast landscape of media, the lack of permanency that is inherent in radio and television broadcast journalism provides a unique challenge to GLAAD. For GLAAD to respond as an organization, it is important that we have a record of the defamation to review and to provide as evidence when approaching media outlets. For print media such as newspapers and magazines, defamation is a tangible document available in hard copy or, frequently, via the Internet. Therefore, careful thought can be put into an intelligent and timely response. However, television and radio broadcasts are more elusive. Obtaining a copy or transcript of a broadcast is paramount in organizing a thoughtful and effective response. |
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Pride In Scouting Event On Sunday, October 7th from 3-5 PM, a "Pride in Scouting" rally will be held at the Eagle Scout Memorial at Hyde Park (Gillham and 39th). |
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Three Events Broadway Church, a church celebrating 125 years of social justice, located at 3931 Washington Street, will host a three part series starting in September focusing on Community-Wide Healing.....Renewal and Reconciliation from oppression of women, African Americans, and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender community. |
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New Study Confirms In the first national study of its kind, researchers found that gay and bisexual teens are more than twice as likely to be suicidal as their straight counterparts. Fifteen percent of kids with an attraction toward the same sex had considered or attempted suicide, compared to seven percent of the rest. For the whole story, go to: |
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PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES |
