Thursday, July 2, 2009
Greetings from San Francisco Pride!
Here are some pictures from our San Francisco chapter's participation in this year's Pride celebration! In addition Prayers for Bobby Executive Producer Daniel Sladek and star Ryan Kelley were on hand to show their PFLAG pride...
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
PFLAG Family Joins President Obama at White House Reception to Commemorate Stonewall
PFLAG Mother and Son Ask President and First Lady to Speak Out for Families and LGBT People to Create Safer CommunitiesA PFLAG mother and son asked President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and their families at the White House today.
[Pictured left to right: Carmen Robello of PFLAG's Families of Color network, her son, Louie, and PFLAG National's Jody M. Huckaby]
"A supportive environment makes a world of difference, and we are hopeful the President and First Lady will take the initiative in making our country a safer place for all of our family members," said Carmen Robello, a member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
She is a member of PFLAG's Families of Color and Allies of New York City and Newark, New Jersey chapters, both dedicated to providing support for families across diverse communities.
Robello and her son Louie, were invited to a special reception at the White House to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the event identified as the starting point for the LGBT equality movement in the U.S.
"We were incredibly honored to meet with the President and First Lady, and tell them our story, and how anti-LGBT violence and harassment create problems not just for LGBT people, but for their families and communities," said Robello. "My son and I asked the President and First Lady to speak out and become more visible in denouncing anti-LGBT discrimination."
Louie Robello experienced anti-LGBT harassment in his high school years. He later founded his high school's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and went on to be elected his class president.
Monday, June 29, 2009
"Why I Do What I Do"
This month PFLAG's Transgender Network (TNET) President Kim Pearson is featured in Diversity Rules magazine for her critical work with transgender youth. She is also Executive Director and Co-Founder of TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA).Pearson explains to Diversity Rules, "Create schools and communities that respect and celebrate that people are different. Speak up when someone says 'that’s so gay' or 'what a sissy' or 'boys don’t do that.' Make room for difference. Value individuality and learn about that which you do not currently understand. Have an honest and compassionate conversation with a transgender adult, child or parent…walk a mile in their shoes... The only way the ‘rules’ of society change is for individuals to step up and say something. When we stop accepting the status quo and start living the change we wish to see in the world, that is when true change will happen, in my humble opinion."
Click here to read the complete interview with Kim Pearson, and click here to visit PFLAG's Transgender Network (TNET)
PFLAG Remembering Stonewall
As this week marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that ignited the modern struggle for LGBT equality, AARP gives voice to the LGBT and ally leaders who have helped shape the direction of our movement.
And AARP turned to PFLAG National president John Cepek for his memories. Cepek tells AARP:
"Little did my wife and I know when we got married in June 1969 that our marriage and the birth of the gay rights movement would coincide. Now when we celebrate our anniversary, we also celebrate our wonderful gay son, and we are committed to seeing that he has the same civil rights as his straight brother."
Click here to read more about AARP'c commemoration of the Stonewall uprising.
And be sure to watch AARP's interview with Frank Kameny, below. At age 84 today, Frank Kameny was a key player in the birth of the gay rights movement, putting "his job and his life on the line for a cause he believed in."
And AARP turned to PFLAG National president John Cepek for his memories. Cepek tells AARP:
"Little did my wife and I know when we got married in June 1969 that our marriage and the birth of the gay rights movement would coincide. Now when we celebrate our anniversary, we also celebrate our wonderful gay son, and we are committed to seeing that he has the same civil rights as his straight brother."
Click here to read more about AARP'c commemoration of the Stonewall uprising.
And be sure to watch AARP's interview with Frank Kameny, below. At age 84 today, Frank Kameny was a key player in the birth of the gay rights movement, putting "his job and his life on the line for a cause he believed in."
Friday, June 26, 2009
LGBT Reflections in Television
Last week, Jason Mannino wrote an article in The Huffington Post about televison, and the need for affirmative and positive portrayals of LGBT people.
Prayers for Bobby is a true story starring Sigourney Weaver who plays a mother that could not reconcile her adherence to her Christian Presbyterian beliefs and her son Bobby's homosexuality. As a direct result when he was 20 he threw himself off a freeway overpass and died instantly leading his mother to personal transformation and acts of courage as a fierce activist for PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
Jody Huckaby, Executive Director, PFLAG, shared with me, "This film is a story of the human spirit that provides an opportunity to look into the lives of these people who had to go through profound adversity to resolve ignorance, reconcile religious beliefs, and finally accept who they are. Religion is still a barrier to equality and acceptance. We saw how marriage equality played out as a result of religion here in California." Scott Bailey, who stars in a gay role opposite the title character in Prayers for Bobby, said that it was the most meaningful role he has ever done. He also said that he knows firsthand how this film is serving our culture having seen his own conservative family gain a more positive perspective on LGBT issues as a result.
I don't watch a lot of television as an adult. However, when I was a teenager I know I would have been greatly served by the message, "You are okay. There is nothing wrong with you. Others are going through what you are going through. You still deserve nothing less than total love and acceptance."
Click here to read the complete article, which mentions PFLAG's work and the film Prayers for Bobby. Below is an excerpt from Mannino's post:
Prayers for Bobby is a true story starring Sigourney Weaver who plays a mother that could not reconcile her adherence to her Christian Presbyterian beliefs and her son Bobby's homosexuality. As a direct result when he was 20 he threw himself off a freeway overpass and died instantly leading his mother to personal transformation and acts of courage as a fierce activist for PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).Jody Huckaby, Executive Director, PFLAG, shared with me, "This film is a story of the human spirit that provides an opportunity to look into the lives of these people who had to go through profound adversity to resolve ignorance, reconcile religious beliefs, and finally accept who they are. Religion is still a barrier to equality and acceptance. We saw how marriage equality played out as a result of religion here in California." Scott Bailey, who stars in a gay role opposite the title character in Prayers for Bobby, said that it was the most meaningful role he has ever done. He also said that he knows firsthand how this film is serving our culture having seen his own conservative family gain a more positive perspective on LGBT issues as a result.
I don't watch a lot of television as an adult. However, when I was a teenager I know I would have been greatly served by the message, "You are okay. There is nothing wrong with you. Others are going through what you are going through. You still deserve nothing less than total love and acceptance."
Thursday, June 25, 2009
PFLAG to Play Key Role in New Beginning Initiative
Earlier today, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National along with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a collaboration of other expert organizations announced the New Beginning Initiative, a project designed to push for concrete federal administration policy and regulatory changes directly benefiting the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and eliminating discrimination from federal policies.
The initiative, which is an outcome of the National Policy Roundtable with organizations opting into the initiative, began more than a year ago in preparation of a more LGBT-favorable administration. The more than 80 initial policies identified and recommended for changes span the authority of the White House and more than 30 federal agencies. The recommendations focus on pro-LGBT public policy changes the Obama administration can implement without legislative action. The New Beginning Initiative is the first time such a coalition of LGBT and allied organizations has come together in this way to affect administration policy. Organizations participating in the initiative can be found here.
For the first time ever, PFLAG, along with other LGBT organizations, has the ability to aggressively advance equality by working with the federal government to implement policy changes that will directly improve the lives for our LGBT loved ones and their families. Working together with so many other expert organizations will empower PFLAG to advocate for long-overdue changes in the federal government, breaking down institutionalized discrimination and barriers to federal services. Already, PFLAG is making progress, in areas surrounding safer schools and housing along with comprehensive LGBT healthcare.
The New Beginning Initiative, funded through the generous support of the Open Society Institute, includes concrete policy changes written by the respective participating organizations. Each organization will identify the strategies for accomplishing the respective policy changes it is working on in the coming months and years. The 80-plus policies represent an initial view of the opportunities for federal funding and programmatic attention; additional policy changes will be identified over time.
Examples of our recommended policy changes include:
• Acknowledge and Address LGBT Health Disparities. Ensuring LGBT people are recognized as a population marked by health disparities for appropriate inclusion in federally funded studies.
• Reduce Violence in Schools. Funding to reduce violence in schools, including preventing bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Recognize and Address Needs of Homeless LGBT Youth. Requiring the office of Housing and Urban Development to recognize unaccompanied homeless youth as a special-needs population requiring the development of targeted youth housing models.
• Ensure Equal Access to Employment Opportunities. Amending the nondiscrimination guidelines for the federal civilian workforce to include gender identity and expression.
Copies of the initial policies identified and recommended for changes were provided to the Obama transition team in November 2008 for inclusion in agency memos for incoming administration personnel. Copies have also been provided to key White House staff in the process of identifying administration and agency staff with authority to change policies and to educate White House staff on the issues facing LGBT people and families.
PFLAG, along with other organizations have already begun meeting with administration officials to pursue some of the policy changes. A meeting with other participating organizations will be held over the summer to map out plans for each recommended policy. As the collaborating organizations succeed in changing policies, press releases will be sent out notifying the LGBT community and broader public about progress made. Additionally, the New Beginning Initiative’s web page features an electronic scorecard to track progress as policy changes are achieved.
Organizations participating in the initiative launch (listed alphabetically): Council for Global Equality; Family Equality Council; Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders; Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; Immigration Equality; Lambda Legal; Mautner Project; National Black Justice Coalition; National Center for Lesbian Rights; National Coalition for LGBT Health; National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; National Youth Advocacy Coalition; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE); Servicemembers Legal Defense Network; The Trevor Project. Disclaimer: Each policy proposal should be considered the proposal of the organization(s) responsible for drafting the proposal. There should be no assumption that all organizations adopt, agree with or would prioritize the policies in the same way.
The initiative, which is an outcome of the National Policy Roundtable with organizations opting into the initiative, began more than a year ago in preparation of a more LGBT-favorable administration. The more than 80 initial policies identified and recommended for changes span the authority of the White House and more than 30 federal agencies. The recommendations focus on pro-LGBT public policy changes the Obama administration can implement without legislative action. The New Beginning Initiative is the first time such a coalition of LGBT and allied organizations has come together in this way to affect administration policy. Organizations participating in the initiative can be found here.
For the first time ever, PFLAG, along with other LGBT organizations, has the ability to aggressively advance equality by working with the federal government to implement policy changes that will directly improve the lives for our LGBT loved ones and their families. Working together with so many other expert organizations will empower PFLAG to advocate for long-overdue changes in the federal government, breaking down institutionalized discrimination and barriers to federal services. Already, PFLAG is making progress, in areas surrounding safer schools and housing along with comprehensive LGBT healthcare.
The New Beginning Initiative, funded through the generous support of the Open Society Institute, includes concrete policy changes written by the respective participating organizations. Each organization will identify the strategies for accomplishing the respective policy changes it is working on in the coming months and years. The 80-plus policies represent an initial view of the opportunities for federal funding and programmatic attention; additional policy changes will be identified over time.
Examples of our recommended policy changes include:
• Acknowledge and Address LGBT Health Disparities. Ensuring LGBT people are recognized as a population marked by health disparities for appropriate inclusion in federally funded studies.
• Reduce Violence in Schools. Funding to reduce violence in schools, including preventing bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Recognize and Address Needs of Homeless LGBT Youth. Requiring the office of Housing and Urban Development to recognize unaccompanied homeless youth as a special-needs population requiring the development of targeted youth housing models.
• Ensure Equal Access to Employment Opportunities. Amending the nondiscrimination guidelines for the federal civilian workforce to include gender identity and expression.
Copies of the initial policies identified and recommended for changes were provided to the Obama transition team in November 2008 for inclusion in agency memos for incoming administration personnel. Copies have also been provided to key White House staff in the process of identifying administration and agency staff with authority to change policies and to educate White House staff on the issues facing LGBT people and families.
PFLAG, along with other organizations have already begun meeting with administration officials to pursue some of the policy changes. A meeting with other participating organizations will be held over the summer to map out plans for each recommended policy. As the collaborating organizations succeed in changing policies, press releases will be sent out notifying the LGBT community and broader public about progress made. Additionally, the New Beginning Initiative’s web page features an electronic scorecard to track progress as policy changes are achieved.
Organizations participating in the initiative launch (listed alphabetically): Council for Global Equality; Family Equality Council; Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders; Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; Immigration Equality; Lambda Legal; Mautner Project; National Black Justice Coalition; National Center for Lesbian Rights; National Coalition for LGBT Health; National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; National Youth Advocacy Coalition; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE); Servicemembers Legal Defense Network; The Trevor Project. Disclaimer: Each policy proposal should be considered the proposal of the organization(s) responsible for drafting the proposal. There should be no assumption that all organizations adopt, agree with or would prioritize the policies in the same way.
Albuquerque Holds First Annual Alternative Prom
Today's guest post comes to us from Sheila Mink, vice-president of the Albuquerque, NM PFLAG chapter:“A MidSummer Night’s Prom” was indeed a night to remember.
Working closely with students from Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) organizations throughout the city, the Albuquerque chapter hosted a first-ever high-school prom for GLBT students and their allies. Over 100 students attended the event at the world-class Albuquerque Balloon Museum on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
Credit for success goes to the team of student volunteers who worked on planning the event. While PFLAG provided guidance and coordination, the students did all of the hard work, from selecting the venue to lining up the DJ, from fund-raising to selling tickets, from decorating to cleaning up. Adult volunteers (PFLAG members, parents, and GSA sponsors) served as chaperones, ticket agents, coat checkers, and beverage vendors during the prom, so that all the kids were free to have a safe and good time.
It was truly wonderful to observe the group of young people being themselves, being with their friends and making new friends, and enjoying an evening of dancing and socializing. In the years ahead, regular school proms may be so open, accepting, and welcoming that GLBT students will feel right at home. But right now it’s terrific to have an event that they can call their own.
PFLAG Albuquerque hopes to grow this into an annual statewide celebration. With the enthusiasm shown by students and adults alike at the prom, we are already looking forward to hosting next year’s event.
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