PARTY TIME AGAIN AT KC PFLAG
These bells symbolize the ringing of another season of holiday cheer, and PFLAG will celebrate that beginning with its annual pot luck celebration on
Sunday, December 09, 2001.
We'll gather at 3p.m. Meat, bread, silverware and drinks will be provided. You bring food (appetizers, salads, veggies, desserts, casseroles, create your own) enough for yourself(selves) and a couple of others, so everyone will have plenty to eat.
Bring your family, partner, friends and come join us for the usual great time when PFLAG gets together.
We'll meet as usual at Village Presbyterian Church.
From Our President
Exciting news!!!
Kansas City has a Lesbian and Gay Community Center on Westport Road. It is above Larry's Gift and Card Shop across from the Westport Post Office. The phone number is 816-931-4420. It serves as a community resource for information, materials, a meeting place and more to come. Already referrals to PFLAG are being made via the new Community Center for people looking for support and information. A long awaited need is being met.
Other local news - PROMO, the lgbt lobbying organization in Missouri, now has a Kansas City branch which meets on the first Tuesday of each month to plan and implement projects, activities, and events which will further justice and equality for lgbt people. Please call Sally Niermann (816-361-8916) for more information.
Among PROMO's activities is annual lobbying in Jefferson City for lgbt rights. In 2002 there will be two lobby days Tuesday, January 29 and Wednesday February 27. PROMO will be lobbying to advance MONA, the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act so that the lgbt community can be protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Lobby days include a brief lobbying training session and then spending the day talking with State Senators and Representatives about the importance of MONA; lunch is provided. There are 12 more votes needed for passage in the House so this is a crucial time to win support from elected representatives. As a participant in the last PROMO Lobby Day, I was excited and deeply gratified by the experience. Representatives and Senators are very willing to talk with us and take time to hear us. PFLAG parents are especially persuasive and effective when we talk about the need to protect our children from discrimination. There is one car already planned to go to Jefferson City on February 27 with room for one more in it and it would be wonderful to have several car-loads of people going. If you would like to take part in this important and wonderful experience, please call Sally or me (816-942-8747). Hopefully a Kansas organization will be established to build legislative support for lgbt rights and then we can lobby in Topeka.
One more piece of information - each Friday, the national office of PFLAG publishes the Weekly Alert online. It is a compilation of news from around the country about lgbt issues and provides information that is not available in our local newspapers. If you would like to receive the Weekly Alert, please let me know and I'll forward your e-mail address or you may e-mail national PFLAG directly at info@pflag.org and request that you be put on the mailing list.
Best wishes for a joyful, loving holiday season and Gay New Year Wishes to all.
Helen Cohen
Organizational Independence from Faith Communities
PFLAG, and its affiliates, regardless of location, are non-sectarian, non-denominational, and not affiliated with any religious institution. In order that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their parents, families and friends understand PFLAGs independence from organizational ties to any faith community, PFLAG affirms:
The importance of personal expressions of spiritual beliefs, and organized religion, as well as individual decisions for freedom from religion:
The complete independence of any PFLAG affiliate from organizational ties to any religious institution, church, synagogue, temple or other place of worship or community of faith;
The need for a clear understanding by PFLAG affiliates that a choice to meet in a place of worship must not in any way reflect, or imply, the promotion of any particular religion, for example, in programs and newsletters;
That the location of PFLAG meeting space in no way implies membership in any religious institution, or exclusion of any individuals;
The seeking of affirmation, support, and full participation at all levels within religions for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered civil rights;
That if, at any time, an affiliate is found to be in violation of this PFLAG policy, affiliate status may be withdrawn or denied.
LAMBDA ASSISTING VICTIMS OF WTC TRAGEDY
Greetings to all of you. The following was sent to me from Calvin Williford and I thought it should be shared with you. I hope this finds each and everyone of you in good health, happy and safe.
Fond Regards, Fran
Dear Calvin Williford:
I received your email regarding the LGBT victims of the WTC tragedy. Lambda is assisting many people with legal issues resulting from the WTC tragedy. Now that the paperwork has been filed, we are sorting out which people may have discrimination claims. Some people have issues with the
biofamilies of their partners. Other need help filing claims for funds which the government has denied them. In addition, others need specific assistance with life insurance claims.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Disaster Relief Fund ("the Fund") has been established to help those l/g/b/t individuals directly impacted by the World Trade Center disaster. Donations to the Fund will be allocated by a community panel to where the greatest unmet needs of our community are. This could be either through existing relief funds/groups that assure us they are addressing l/g/b/t community needs OR through the creation of new services to meet unmet needs. Checks should be made out to: Stonewall Community Foundation (earmarked
for "disaster relief.").
The address is:
Stonewall Community Foundation, 119 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011. Donations to the Fund are tax-deductible.
Thank you for your concern,
Syd Peterson, Paralegal
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund
1500 Wall Street, Suite 1500 / New York, NY 10005
212.809.8585 / speterson@lambdalegal.org
Fran White-Adams , Outreach & Promotional Events Manager
Fran_White@kcpt.org
816-756-3580, extension 4234 Fax:816-931-2500
KCPT, Channel 19
125 E. 31st. St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
|
|
Members of the Speaker's Bureau meeting in October, 2001
|
|
