Articles From Our November, 2006 Newsletter

In addition to a wonderful program, there’s always great fellowship and, of course, delicious food. See you there!!

From Our President

True Story. On October 11th I was pulling through McDonalds on my way to the gym for my morning Diet Coke (don’t laugh-we all have our vices) and the young woman I see each day said, “You look really happy today,” to which I replied, “I’m always happy.” “I know,” she said, “but today you are glowing.”

Certain that I was not pregnant :o) I was thinking about my mood and what might have precipitated her comment, and I knew immediately what it was all about. All morning I had been thinking about National Coming Out Day and the unbelievable joy I felt that my son was out of his closet—the prison that had kept him from being fully John.

I have logged 802 miles this month speaking about PFLAG and the important work we do as a group—it’s all of you that bring those folks back time and time again. Here are some of the places I’ve been to rack up those miles…Out in Westport (wasn’t that fun?)--two meetings at Liberty High School, one youth coalition meeting, the University of Central Missouri, Penn Valley Community College, HOPE (the Catholic LGBT support organization), Pittsburg State University (in Pittsburg, KS) and twice to Park College.

I asked my friend Jaron, our speaker from last month, to join me on the trip to Pittsburg State because I knew we’d be speaking to grad students in clinical social work—and if we’re going to drive three hours each way, we may as well hit ‘em with all we’ve got. I had expected to be there for about one and a half hours, but they kept us there for the full three-hour class—asking questions—fully engaged and wanting all the information they could get—it was worth the drive!!

The University of Central Missouri (formerly CMSU) sent PFLAG an honorarium check, which was very exciting because we had been asked to participate in a fundraiser for the Heartland Men’s Chorus—this was the windfall we needed. So we are buying and decorating a beautiful tree to be auctioned off at their fundraiser late in November. Our theme will be “All Hearts Go Home For Christmas”; the implication being that “all” are not always welcome. So, we continue to tell our stories in the hopes that one day there will be no more doors to open….

Peace,
Jamie

Attend Creating Change in KC November 8-12

If you haven't heard by now, the Creating Change conference is in Kansas City for the first time this year. Creating Change is the premier national grassroots organizing and skills building LGBT conference. Each year the conference is held in a different region of the United States and attracts 2,500+ participants from within and outside of the LGBT community. The conference is well known for providing a unique environment where activists and leaders come together from diverse places and backgrounds to create a community that is both strengthening and inspiring to the participants.

If you are attending, be sure to stop by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Program’s reception on Friday night to mingle with other folks from across the country who are interested in LGBT anti-violence issues. Also, Beth and Doug from KCAVP will be presenting a workshop with Rebecca Waggoner-Kloek from OutFront Minnesota titled "Building Responses to Anti-LGBTQ Violence Locally and Beyond."

For more information or to register, visit http://www.creatingchange.org. There is still time to volunteer as well. Send an e-mail to creatingchange@thetaskforce.org  for more information. If you volunteer for four hours in one day, you may attend the workshops the rest of that day for free.

Make Our Day
Spreading the word about KCAVP is what helps us grow and helps us garner more support. Take time now to tell five friends about the work we are doing.

Upcoming Events:

Nov 8-12: Creating Change conference in Kansas City
Nov 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance at MCC Spirit of Hope

Equal Rights – No More, No Less:
NJ PFLAG Mom Praises Marriage Equality Decision

Washington, DC – The recent monumental decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court that opens the door to marriage equality in the state is receiving high praise from parents, families, and allies of gay and lesbian people across the nation. Melina Waldo, the mother of a gay son and member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) in New Jersey summarized the importance of the decision for family values in the following statement: “As the mother of a gay son and a resident of New Jersey, I am deeply gratified by this decision to end discrimination in the rights and benefits of marriage against same-sex couples issued today in my home state. This wise and compassionate decision by the Supreme Court of New Jersey removes a weight from families like mine which include a gay or lesbian loved one. Since our son came out to us in 1991, we have become more aware of the lack of protection for gay people in our society and the more we learned, the more our concern for our son grew. We came to realize that he and his partner need the support and affirmation of marriage as much as our three married daughters.

As someone who has been married for 46 years, the mother of four children and the grandmother of five, I wholeheartedly believe in family values. Marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples greatly benefits all of us who want to strengthen families and protect our children.

Beyond the important protections which marriage confers - hospital visitation, health coverage, pension benefits, survivor’s rights, just to name of few responsibilities of marriage - this decision recognizes the right of gay people to marry the person of their choice. Implicit in this ruling is the respect for the relationships of committed, loving gay couples that they deserve. This is what I and all parents want for our children. Equal rights. No more, no less. And now we look to the state legislature to affirm our right to total equality.”

PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES