Articles From Our April, 2004 Newsletter
General Meeting
Despite the number of absentees who will be celebrating Easter on that day, PFLAG will gather for a meeting at the usual time.....3pm, at the usual place, Village Presbyterian Church, Room 307.
At this date it is unclear what the program will be, and it just may be that some will gather in an informal way and sit and share.....or look at a video tape or.......you name it. Our group never seems to want for something to do when we get together.
As mentioned elsewhere, there will NOT be a board meeting on that day.
So please come and join in.
Despite the number of absentees who will be celebrating Easter on that day, PFLAG will gather for a meeting at the usual time.....3pm, at the usual place, Village Presbyterian Church, Room 307.
At this date it is unclear what the program will be, and it just may be that some will gather in an informal way and sit and share.....or look at a video tape or.......you name it. Our group never seems to want for something to do when we get together.
As mentioned elsewhere, there will NOT be a board meeting on that day.
So please come and join in.
Hey all, just a reminder that we
WILL NOT BE HAVING A BOARD MEETING on sunday the 11th because it's Easter
for a lot of folks-- I'll see whoever shows up. We need to check emails
more closely when we don't meet so we don't miss something important.
Thanks all, Jamie
Thanks all, Jamie
The winter of my discontent is now
over and spring has arrived with a certain excitement all its own. The
town hall meeting entitled "Are gay youth safe in Liberty?" was a
resounding success. It looked a little bleak at 6:45 but by 7:00 the room
was packed with about 200 people. There were students from William Jewell
College and from Liberty, Kearney and Winnetonka high schools. Educators,
administrators and students spoke eloquently about what they see happening
every day. There were those, young and old, who sat quietly content to
listen and those who were compelled to step up to the mic either to ask a
question or to share an experience. As a group we shared in the tears,
the shaky voices, the laughter and ultimately the joy of knowing that the
dialogue had begun. I want to thank the National Conference for Community
and Justice (NCCJ) in their efforts toward ending violence against LGBT
youth and for making that start in Liberty!
The reporter who covered the meeting for the local paper asked if she could do a follow-up piece on our family and what the journey has been like for us. Can any of you imagine me saying no to that request? We spent two hours over coffee in which time she asked me all sorts of questions. The article that followed was well written and insightful. The response was immediate! I received a few phone calls from parents who suspected they might have a gay or lesbian child and wanted more information. Friends called to say that they thought it a courageous thing to do etc. etc. Then came the flood of letters to the editor from the "religious wrong". I expected the backlash but the viciousness surprised me. HOWEVER, and this is the good part, for every hateful letter there have been many more who were blessed just by reading about an average family with a gay kid from their neck of the woods. I guess if everyone understood the LGBT community there would be no need for PFLAG. I look forward to the day when I’m out of a job.
Jamie
The reporter who covered the meeting for the local paper asked if she could do a follow-up piece on our family and what the journey has been like for us. Can any of you imagine me saying no to that request? We spent two hours over coffee in which time she asked me all sorts of questions. The article that followed was well written and insightful. The response was immediate! I received a few phone calls from parents who suspected they might have a gay or lesbian child and wanted more information. Friends called to say that they thought it a courageous thing to do etc. etc. Then came the flood of letters to the editor from the "religious wrong". I expected the backlash but the viciousness surprised me. HOWEVER, and this is the good part, for every hateful letter there have been many more who were blessed just by reading about an average family with a gay kid from their neck of the woods. I guess if everyone understood the LGBT community there would be no need for PFLAG. I look forward to the day when I’m out of a job.
Jamie
You may have heard the news…..that Central Presbyterian Church in
Kansas City, Missouri is hosting the first ever joint national conference
and celebration of More Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve,
and the Shower of Stoles Project – National Welcoming Presbyterians
Conference, “From Heartland to Horizon,” May 20-23, 2004.
We are writing this letter, because we need volunteers. With 200 – 250 folks attending the conference, we will need people to assist in various tasks. If you or members of other groups to which you belong might be able to assist with this conference, please give us their names, or have them contact us! The blocks of time when we need volunteers are:
We are writing this letter, because we need volunteers. With 200 – 250 folks attending the conference, we will need people to assist in various tasks. If you or members of other groups to which you belong might be able to assist with this conference, please give us their names, or have them contact us! The blocks of time when we need volunteers are:
Thursday, May 20 – 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Friday, May 20 - 7:30-11:30 a.m., 11:30-3:30, 3:30-7:00, 7:00-10:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 21 – 7:30-12:00 noon and 12 Noon – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, May 20 - 7:30-11:30 a.m., 11:30-3:30, 3:30-7:00, 7:00-10:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 21 – 7:30-12:00 noon and 12 Noon – 5:00 p.m.
Planned events include a variety of workshops on Friday and Saturday,
with performances by the Heartland Men’s Chorus and the Kansas City
Women’s Chorus. Bill Tammeus, columnist for the Kansas City Star,
longtime advocate for equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and
Transgendered persons, peace and justice, and Presbyterian elder (Second
Presbyterian Church of Kansas City, Missouri) is the keynote speaker and a
workshop leader.
In addition to these highlights, “From Heartland to Horizon” will be rooted in communal sharing and growth. From small group Bible study for celebrations and struggles related to our own parts of the world. We will find opportunities to support and get to know one another. We’ll be enlightened and empowered by workshops – new and old; we’ll have opportunities to peruse an abundant resource center, and participants are encouraged to use intentional unstructured time to just be – to find Sabbath moments of prayer, meditation, recreation, and rest. To register for this event, interested persons may log on to www.MLP.org, where a brochure and/or a registration form is available.
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Sincerely,
Co-Moderators of the Committee on Local Arrangements
Jeff Clayton jcclayton@aol.com 913-432-3505
Judy Willis jwillis@planetkc.com
In addition to these highlights, “From Heartland to Horizon” will be rooted in communal sharing and growth. From small group Bible study for celebrations and struggles related to our own parts of the world. We will find opportunities to support and get to know one another. We’ll be enlightened and empowered by workshops – new and old; we’ll have opportunities to peruse an abundant resource center, and participants are encouraged to use intentional unstructured time to just be – to find Sabbath moments of prayer, meditation, recreation, and rest. To register for this event, interested persons may log on to www.MLP.org, where a brochure and/or a registration form is available.
Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Sincerely,
Co-Moderators of the Committee on Local Arrangements
Jeff Clayton jcclayton@aol.com 913-432-3505
Judy Willis jwillis@planetkc.com
HRC PARTY
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is throwing a party for PFLAGers. Check your mailboxes for the official invitation, but in the meantime mark your calendars for Saturday April 17th. The gathering will be at Sharps 63rd St Grill in Brookside from 3-5. The owner is providing the appetizers-you pay for the drinks. Catherine Kelly from HRC will give a brief talk.
Hope you can make it!
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is throwing a party for PFLAGers. Check your mailboxes for the official invitation, but in the meantime mark your calendars for Saturday April 17th. The gathering will be at Sharps 63rd St Grill in Brookside from 3-5. The owner is providing the appetizers-you pay for the drinks. Catherine Kelly from HRC will give a brief talk.
Hope you can make it!
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Come one, come all & join us Saturday, May 1st at Mill Creek Park for Aids Walk Kansas City. The walk starts at 10:00 a.m. We need walkers as well as folks to stand at the table to hand out material and talk about PFLAG. Make a donation; tell a friend; pledge to make a difference. If you are interested in walking or hanging out with us that day please contact Travis Thompson via email at
travioli68@yahoo.com.
We'll have a gay ole time.
Come one, come all & join us Saturday, May 1st at Mill Creek Park for Aids Walk Kansas City. The walk starts at 10:00 a.m. We need walkers as well as folks to stand at the table to hand out material and talk about PFLAG. Make a donation; tell a friend; pledge to make a difference. If you are interested in walking or hanging out with us that day please contact Travis Thompson via email at
travioli68@yahoo.com.
We'll have a gay ole time.
PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES