Come join us on Sunday, May 8 for our annual Mother’s Day potluck when we gather together to share pictures and stories about our mothers.  There will be no formal meeting, just the all-important sharing of fun and fellowship and, of course, good food.
  Bring enough food for your family plus a bit more for those who might come not knowing there was a potluck planned.
  And please indulge your editor as he graces the page with some gorgeous moms from his family, plus a couple of old ladies who may or may not be moms but are beautiful, none the less, right?
  See you on the 8th at 3pm at our usual spot.

The month of April was so crazy-busy I felt as though I was running on fumes most of the time, but much was accomplished. As an organization we attended the Breaking the Silence rally on the 13th. Over 200 kids attended the event and many LGBT organizations were there to show their support. We didn't pass out a ton of literature but we hugged a lot of kids and had loads of fun meeting new people-including the new President of the Human Rights Campaign who just happened to be in town.
  We had incredible weather for the Aids Walk on the 16th and although I have no idea how many actually showed up, I will tell you that it took about two hours to walk three miles! That's a big crowd, folks.
  In between PFLAG events, we had a few milestones to commemorate in the Lee household. Andy presented his first piano recital as a grad student at UMKC and he was very pleased with the outcome--I know this because he smiled when it was over. Katibeth participated in the district vocal music contest and is headed for state competition. John had the lead in Seussical the Musical and turned 21. I celebrated a birthday as well--which just happened to fall on John's performance weekend. As usual, I brought food and beverages for a small soiree afterwards at the hotel.  About midnight, as people were heading off to their rooms for some much needed sleep, John and his two buddies (Justin and Will) decided it would be a good idea to take momma Lee out for her birthday--to a gay club for some dancing-wahoo. We never left the dance floor and stayed till they closed. I've gotta say it was a great time for this old broad. Because Richard and I have both lost our mothers, I will celebrate this Mother’s Day knowing that my children honor me simply by still including me in every thing they do. Come celebrate with us.

 

                                    Jamie

7:00 pm Tuesdays - May 10, 17 and 24
   All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church

 

7:00 pm, May 10 - Tying the Knot:   An examination of the history and evolution of the institution of marriage and stories of discrimination faced by same-sex couples after a life partner dies

 

7:00 pm, May 17 - Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin

 

7:00 pm, May 24 - Radical Harmonies:   A chronicle of the rich history and contributions of the women's cultural music movement, illustrated through festival and performance footage, interviews, and archival material

 

All films will be shown at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 4501 Walnut (1 block east of 45th and Main), Kansas City, MO, 816-531-2131. A facilitated discussion will follow each film. Admission and popcorn are free, but donations are accepted.

“What Does Gay Mean?” is a new anti-bullying program designed to improve understanding and respect for youth who are gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (GLBT). Centered on an educational booklet, called “What Does Gay Mean?” How to Talk with Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice, the program encourages parents and others to communicate and share values of respect with their children.

 

The National Mental Health Association has initiated this program because we are concerned about the well being of GLBT youth. They face daily threats to their mental and physical health -- ranging from anti-gay taunts to beatings – in their schools and communities. Research indicates that 31 percent of gay youth were threatened or injured at school in just the last year. These experiences have a devastating impact on the educational success and mental health of these youth and others who witness it's process.

 

Anti-gay prejudice affects straight youth, too. In fact, for every gay, lesbian and bisexual youth who reported being harassed, four straight students said they were harassed because they were perceived as being gay or lesbian.

 

We encourage you to use this Web site as a resource in your discussions with youth about sexual orientation and prejudice.

 

For more information, contact:
National Mental Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA  22311
Phone 800-969-NMHA (6642)
TTY 800-433-5959
Fax 703-684-5968
Email: infoctr@nmha.org
  Anti-Gay Bullying Survey (1,802KB pdf-Large file)
                                          (Excerpted from National PFLAG)
 

 Washington, D.C., January 13 – Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) applauds ABC’s Nightline for January 12’s piece on Michael Shackelford, a gay teenager in rural Oklahoma. Nightline’s thoughtful coverage of the isolation of being young and gay, the viciousness of religious bigotry and the care of a small community represents the kind of multi-faceted, complex coverage of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) issues so deficient in the mainstream media.

 

 “Michael's story of isolation and condemnation in his own faith family is not unique,” said Ron Schlittler, Acting Executive Director of PFLAG. “There are many thousands of young people in conservative churches every Sunday who struggle with their same-sex attractions and they are terrified as they grow to recognize that they are different.”

 

 “On one hand,” Schlittler continues “they are taught values like honesty and personal integrity, and then they are told they must deny who they are if they hope to be welcomed and loved.  Many suffer in silence as the subjects of condemnation from the pulpit, and many others face open hostility and rejection from congregations that have always been like family. We are encouraged by the journey taken by Michael's faith family, and hope they continue to re-think what it means to have valued members who are not heterosexual.”

 

 “ABC News and Nightline have scratched the surface with their report last night. We at PFLAG hope the news team at ABC continues to hold up a mirror for America to examine these issues with an eye to the deeper human complexities involved – and not only in the late-night time slot.”