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EDUCATION ADVOCACY We help each other |
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PFLAG of Fort
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EDUCATION ADVOCACY We help each other |
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PFLAG of Fort
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We are here to help you in confidentiality. Please feel free and comfortable to contact us.
Roger says - Pro Family
Who Cares About Feel free to contact Roger, the WebGuy and president about anything in PFLAG confidentially. Concerned parents are welcome. Include PFLAG in the subject line. pflagfortwayne@gmail.com Helpful Links Fort Wayne Resources PFLAG - Fort Wayne Center for Nonviolence N.I.D.L. Indiana Resources Indiana
Equality National Organizations PFLAG
National -
http://www.pflag.org/ Quick Emergency Help Trevor
Project AIDS Task
Force 2124 Fairfield Avenue, Ft.W F a m i l y For Parents of GLBT
Children Children of Gay or Lesbian Parents Children
of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere
(COLAGE) -
organization supporting young people with gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender parents. For Gay Parents Human
Rights Campaign - Online
education and advocacy for LGBT families. Misc. PFLAG
Transgender Network - Spouses of Gay or Lesbian partners Ft. Wayne Accepting Churches There are other churches with varying degrees of understanding and acceptance. Those listed below are among the most active in support.--- Brigade of Light (YWCA) Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren Crescent Avenue United Methodist Church Open Door Chapel Plymouth
Congregational Church Unitarian
Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne Unity Christ Church
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====== We are working to make some changes in our meeting structure. Our main purpose is to be more helpful and positive to one another without negative distractions. Guests are invited to our meetings because we are here to help. If you are a parent and want a safe and confidential place to share your concerns, you are invited. You are why we are here. There are also gay and lesbian people who sometimes attend and they often can add to the support – and sometimes receive support as well. Because we are a peer based support group, we invite people to attend who would benefit from an opportunity to share and learn from others in a safe and non-threatening environment. It is an opportunity to be with people who have been through their own experiences and have grown to have greater understandings that enable them to help others. Our goals are to listen, try to understand just where you are, share our experiences and to present positive and practical answers to your questions. The important word is "invited." If you are not sure if we are the place for you to be or have a different reason for wanting to attend, just ask in an e-mail or give us a call. Zach Wahls spoke at the Embassy Theartre on Fri., June 15 at 8 p.m. As a 19-year-old U of Iowa student he spoke about the strength of his two moms during a public forum in the Iowa House of Representatives to oppose an end civil unions in Iowa. He was speaking in Ft.Wayne as part of the Indiana State Democratic Convention, it was open to anyone and he was excellent. **You can see the video of his presention in Iowa lower on this page..
* * * * * We will do our best to help anyone who has an issue, concern or question. Meeting Disclaimer For those of you new to PFLAG, we encourage you to share your story or concerns when you feel comfortable doing so. If you would like to meet privately with a more experienced PFLAG parent, just let us know. Call Roger & Rachel at 749-4987 for more information or just to talk.. . . . Our May meeting was a wonderful sharing with 5 new people. I am always amazed at how helpful it is for people at the meetings to share and how others gain understanding and appreciation from the experiences of others. PFLAG matters and it certainly helps people overcome misconceptions of others and even some churches. I respect the passion, love and support of the wonderful parents who find support here. We will always work to support a realistic understanding for others who come. Our meeting in March was very helpful to another new person and his family/friend who had concerns and wanted support. Transitions can be difficult, but we do our best to understand and help. There were 10 people at the meeting and I think, as at all our meetings, we helped build a positive understanding. It is good to be a part of PFLAG - Fort Wayne. A very good read & watch : Speaking of Zach Wahls, we will, in a few months have some Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old University of Iowa student spoke about the strength of his family during a public forum on House Joint Resolution 6 in the Iowa House of Representatives. Wahls has two mothers, and came to oppose House Joint Resolution 6 which would end civil unions in Iowa.The fight to to keep marriage equality in Iowa continues as some in Indiana move toward adding discrimination to the Indiana Constitution. Help us support all citizens who has a committed, loving, and important relationship with each other. If those of us who care will not help share understanding - who will?
Bullies, Rejection and Ignorance By Many
The Loss of Louise (Giehart) Evans
The Laramie Project will be presented on Aug. 26 at 7:30pm & Sept. 11 at 8:00pm at the First Presbyterian Theatre in Fort Wayne, IN. . . . . Marc Adams of Heartstrong was in Fort Wayne in July. He WAS here and he was GREAT ! - And he was at Fort Wayne Pride Fest
Adams has shared his personal journey and educated thousands at Sunday services and other community meetings. Marc Adams has also spoken to hundreds of university and college groups as well as other GLBT friendly organizations. Philadelphia: Scouts should confront anti-gay rule
The city of Philadelphia wants to end its $1-a-year lease to the local Boy Scouts chapter unless it rejects a Boy Scouts of America policy banning "avowed" gays. The city says the national rule violates a local law banning discrimination on sexual-orientation and other grounds. Read More For PFLAG Parents or any parent of a GLBT children I am an Assistant Professor within the College of Health Professions and Social Work at Temple University. I am conducting a study of parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender children to gain a Cynthia Conley, MSW, Ph.D. Our new page on Transgender Issues Goshen for Civil Rights - a coalition of Goshen-based business owners, people of faith, educators, community leaders, and citizens who are working with the support of Indiana Equality to bring equal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people into the existing Civil Rights and Housing Ordinances for Goshen, Indiana. See their Google Group site Transgender Issues - Because of parent concerns about their children who might be transgender, I suggest you visit Susan Stryker on Transgender History in America. It is 41 minutes long (from the Indiana Equality web site), but is helpful in understanding this reality in the lives of some of our neighbors. Some of it is not what you might expect - but it is what is going on in the lives of some friends - our neighbors, class mates, fellow workers - so it is important the work to understand. People are simply who and what they are. Nothing more, nothing less. It is up to us to deal with it and let everyone get on with their lives in ways that allow them to be positively connected with us. We are so much happier when we work to have some compassionate understanding of those who are different from us - because we are different from them. The video is not that great, but the information is helpful in understanding. - - RM All in God's Family - a resource for understanding
Developed by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources, Family Equality Council and COLAGE, this multimedia resource engages faith communities and faith leaders in conversation on how best to embrace our families.Faith is an important part of many of our lives. All in God's Family provides a guiding hand to those who seek to make their faith communities more knowledgeable about and inclusive of LGBT families, from lessons on scripture to activity suggestions and more. In the months and years to come, we will expand on this work. To do that, and to encourage faith communities to adopt the curriculum now, they need to hear from you. Tell them how your faith community makes your family feel welcomed and included and/or what makes you feel less included. Click here to read a sample story and get started. They want to hear from you and your family as you share your stories and provide feedback on this new resource for LGBT families.
Mildred Loving of Loving v. Virginia, on gay marriage. Richard and Mildred Loving went to Washington, D.C., in 1958 to marry because they were in love and Virginia, where they lived, prohibited their marriage. Richard was white and Mildred of African American and American Indian heritage. They did not intend to make a political statement. But one night as they slept at home in their bed, the couple were awakened and arrested, charged with violating the Virginia marriage law. They were sentenced to one year in prison. The Lovings appealed their conviction and the case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in their favor on June 12, 1967.Mildred Loving recently said, "My generation was bitterly divided over something that should have been so clear and right." "The majority believed what the [trial] judge said, that it was God's plan to keep people apart, and that government should discriminate against people in love. But I have lived long enough now to see big changes."Not a day goes by that I don't think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the 'wrong kind of person' for me to marry. "I believe that all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people's religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people's civil rights," she wrote. Prop 8 - The Musical Not sure who all the people in this clip are, but I did recognize Jack Black, Margaret Cho, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, John C. Reilly, Allison Janney, Kathy Najimy, Sarah Chalke and Neil Patrick Harris.
On Pastor Rick Warren from Milissa Etheridge
=========================================== We will try to bring to you the very best YouTube and other videos as well as current This page may soon have a different Internet address. Michelle Obama Speaks to DNC's Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council
A Local PFLAG Family is There To Share Our Side of the Issues as Where do the presidential candidates stand on LGBT issues? If you have seven minutes to spare, click here to see the unusual story of a cat and a crow. Equality IS an American Value! Take Action Against Hate Crimes
The Human Right Campaign on the Federal Hate Crimes Bill
Al Gore Speaks Out on Gay Marriage "Gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women -- to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage," he says on the video, which appears on his Current TV network. "Shouldn't we be promoting the kind of faithfulness and loyalty to ones partner regardless of sexual orientation?"
The leading Democratic presidential candidates have tiptoed up to, but not crossed, the line of support for same-sex marriage. All three support equal substantive rights for gay and lesbians couples but, for the most part, have tried to have it both ways on the issue. - Thanks, John Good ============== =====================
Call or write your state senator about this today. Tomorrow WILL be too late.
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You might want to visit the web site of Faith In America, a group who speaks for understanding. The fundamental mission of Faith In America is to end bigotry disguised as religious truth and in doing so, ensure full and equal civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in America. The world’s great religious traditions practiced within the United States of America emphasize the love of neighbor as well as the love of God. Compassion, justice, freedom, and respect for the dignity of all people are their most authentic and noble expressions.
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GL or LG ? - - Ok, what is all this silliness about GLBT vs LGBT? Oh, now, people like the Bilerico Project are using LGBTQ. Let us think . . What dies the Q stand for? Well, I think it is all a bit queer. What should come first, the L or the G? Which ever comes first, we invite you to come as you are.- - RM The Bilerico Project is an informative and humorous GLBT web site that you might appreciate.
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Two Downloads
Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality flyer.doc (msword) or Nov. 3 flyer.doc (msword)
Families Joined by Love ( www.familiesjoinedbylove.com ), a comprehensive bookstore, resource center, and discussion community for LGBT families and the important people in their lives, announces the launch of its website on August 1.We have created this sophisticated new resource for LGBT families in response to a growing need within the LGBT community for information and literature on topics related to parenting, adoption, legal and financial issues, and other areas of interest for current and prospective LGBT parents. Despite the ever-growing number of children in need of adoption worldwide, and the increasing cost-effectiveness of fertility treatments, LGBT individuals and couples are often viewed as unsuitable candidates for parenthood.At Families Joined by Love, we recognize the tremendous potential that LGBT individuals possess not only as partners in healthy and constructive romantic relationships, but also as parents and mentors. By making information about the journey to and through parenthood widely available to LGBT families, we hope to empower this unique and valuable demographic in overcoming the many obstacles that can block the path to becoming a parent.Our store got started in 1992, with a basic mail-order catalog and eventually a website catering to LGBT families; for this new incarnation of Families Joined by Love, we have created a much more diverse and sophisticated resource. We currently offer books and other publications, resource listings and links, and a wide array of discussion forums.Visit our new website at www.familiesjoinedbylove.com to see the full range of literature and resources that we provide for LGBT families and their supporters. With this website, we strive to provide not only a comprehensive selection of informational books and resources, but also a nurturing and safe environment in which LGBT families and their supporters can come together for discussion, activism, and support.If you would like more information about Families Joined by Love, would like printed postcards from FJBL to distribute to your members, or have a question about any aspect of our website, please contact us at the number listed below or email us at www.familiesjoinedbylove.com/contactus.shtml . Also, be sure to sign up for our email list for bookstore updates, news items of current events of interest to LGBT families, and special promotional offers. In case you have a newsletter or a blog, I’ve attached a press release your convenience. You can find instructions about linking to our website at www.familiesjoinedbylove.com/misc/linktous.shtml.
Laurie Wallmark, President
Xan Nowakowski, Vice President
PFLAG of Fort Wayne
3925 Shoreline Blvd.
New Haven, IN 46774-2752
(260) 749-4987
pflagfortwayne@gmail.comTo send mail to Roger, the Web Guy, pflagfortwayne @ gmail.com This web site has been visited
times since February 1, 2003.
Join us at our regular monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
at PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 501 W. Berry Street in Fort Wayne, IN.s i t e l i n k s 1 2 3 4. place here
THIS IS HERE ONLY<g>.
a website
City lawyers called on local Boy Scout officials to muster "the courage of their convictions" and challenge their national group's ban on gays as a trial over government funding opened.
This is a message for my brothers and sisters who have fought so long and so hard for gay rights and liberty. We have spent a long time climbing up this mountain, looking at the impossible, changing a thousand year-old paradigm. We have asked for the right to love the human of our choice, and to be protected equally under the laws of this great country. The road at times has been so bloody, and so horrible, and so disheartening. From being blamed for 9/11 and Katrina, to hateful crimes committed against us, we are battle weary. We watched as our nation took a step in the right direction, against all odds and elected Barack Obama as our next leader. Then we were jerked back into the last century as we watched our rights taken away by prop 8 in California. Still sore and angry we felt another slap in the face as the man we helped get elected seemingly invited a gay-hater to address the world at his inauguration.I hadn't heard of Pastor Rick Warren before all of this. When I heard the news, in its neat little sound bite form that we are so accustomed to, it painted the picture for me. This Pastor Rick must surely be one hate spouting, money grabbing, bad hair televangelist like all the others. He probably has his own gay little secret bathroom stall somewhere, you know. One more hater working up his congregation to hate the gays, comparing us to pedophiles and those who commit incest, blah blah blah. Same 'ole thing. Would I be boycotting the inauguration? Would we be marching again?Well, I have to tell you my friends, the universe has a sense of humor and indeed works in mysterious ways. As I was winding down the promotion for my Christmas album I had one more stop last night. I'd agreed to play a song I'd written with my friend Salman Ahmed, a Sufi Muslim from Pakistan. The song is called "Ring The Bells," and it's a call for peace and unity in our world. We were going to perform our song for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, a group of Muslim Americans that tries to raise awareness in this country, and the world, about the majority of good, loving, Muslims. I was honored, considering some in the Muslim religion consider singing to be against God, while other Muslim countries have harsh penalties, even death for homosexuals. I felt it was a very brave gesture for them to make. I received a call the day before to inform me of the keynote speaker that night... Pastor Rick Warren. I was stunned. My fight or flight instinct took over, should I cancel? Then a calm voice inside me said, "Are you really about peace or not?"I told my manager to reach out to Pastor Warren and say "In the spirit of unity I would like to talk to him." They gave him my phone number. On the day of the conference I received a call from Pastor Rick, and before I could say anything, he told me what a fan he was. He had most of my albums from the very first one. What? This didn't sound like a gay hater, much less a preacher. He explained in very thoughtful words that as a Christian he believed in equal rights for everyone. He believed every loving relationship should have equal protection. He struggled with proposition 8 because he didn't want to see marriage redefined as anything other than between a man and a woman. He said he regretted his choice of words in his video message to his congregation about proposition 8 when he mentioned pedophiles and those who commit incest. He said that in no way, is that how he thought about gays. He invited me to his church, I invited him to my home to meet my wife and kids. He told me of his wife's struggle with breast cancer just a year before mine.When we met later that night, he entered the room with open arms and an open heart. We agreed to build bridges to the future.Brothers and sisters the choice is ours now. We have the world's attention. We have the capability to create change, awesome change in this world, but before we change minds we must change hearts. Sure, there are plenty of hateful people who will always hold on to their bigotry like a child to a blanket. But there are also good people out there, Christian and otherwise that are beginning to listen. They don't hate us, they fear change. Maybe in our anger, as we consider marches and boycotts, perhaps we can consider stretching out our hands. Maybe instead of marching on his church, we can show up en mass and volunteer for one of the many organizations affiliated with his church that work for HIV/AIDS causes all around the world.Maybe if they get to know us, they wont fear us.I know, call me a dreamer, but I feel a new era is upon us.I will be attending the inauguration with my family, and with hope in my heart. I know we are headed in the direction of marriage equality and equal protection for all families.Happy Holidays my friends and a Happy New Year to you.Peace on earth, goodwill toward all men and women... and everyone in-between.- Melissa
