Next Meeting - May 16, 2010Don't Ask/Don't Tell: LGBT and the Military Paul Wertsch will lead the discussion. Dr. Wertsch wrote the resolution calling for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" which was passed by the American Medical Association. The second half of the meeting time will be devoted to our annual meeting, including the election of officers. |
The outdoor market has begun and we will again have a table some place on the South Hamilton corner of the Square. Please let Kay know if you would like to staff the market for just 2 hours, from time to time, on some Saturday mornings this summer. If you have never done it before, we will place you with someone experienced. It's great fun, so try it out. Contact Kay at kahegges@yahoo.com or 608-221-1956
If you have already paid your Madison PFLAG dues for 2009-2010, you can ignore any notices you may receive in the mail from National PFLAG asking for dues. This does not mean you.
However, you should feel free to send them a contribution if you like (and that would be nice), but you paid your national dues when you paid your chapter dues.
National tries to NOT send paid members this notice, but it does slip through from time to time, especially if you didn't pay up until December or later.
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Apparently, an official "annual meeting" is necessary
per national PFLAG and the board thinks this is good idea. The group decided
that this would be at the May meeting every year. At this year’s May
meeting, we will have the educational meeting first, as usual, and then the
2nd hour will be devoted to:
1. Election of new officers and board
2. A discussion of our accomplishments in the last year.
3. A discussion of what we want to do in the next year and how we will do
it.
(If there are attendees who need individual attention/counseling, one of the
board members will meet with that person(s) in separate room.)
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Here are new titles for the library that will be available for check out as of Dec. 20.
DVD: (2 copies available for check out)
"Testimony Time", a Positive Perspective on Homosexuality, introduction
by Pastor Lowell O. Erdahl.
Bishop Erdahl tells about his personal journey learning about sexual orientation and how his mind changed as his understanding of homosexuality grew. Erdahl's meeting and learning from gay and lesbian people, his study of biblical texts, countless books and new scientific evidence makes for an excellent educational DVD viewing and discussion opportunity.
Book titles:
"Sexual
Personae" by Camille Paglia
"Silent Lives: How
High A Price?" by Sara L. Boesser
"Stellaluna"
by Janell Cannon, a Reading Rainbow Book and ABBY Winner for children
and adults of all ages
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Washington State voters preserve domestic partnership rights: We’re thankful for the success in Washington State, where Regional Director Kathy Reim led PFLAG chapters in the fight to protect relationship recognition in the state. In this challenging ballot measure, citizens had to vote in favor of keeping domestic partnership benefits. Despite hard campaigning from our opposition, couples will continue to receive some of the benefits of marriage – a critical step in the fight for full marriage equality. Remarkably, this marked the first time a state’s voters have approved a gay equality measure at the ballot box and PFLAG was a part of this win.
The District of Columbia now will allow same sex marriage! It passed on Dec. 1, 2009.
But, the state senate of New York did not pass the bill that would allow marriage equality there. Win some. Lose some.
Click here to see where other states stand on gay marriage.
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Planning a vacation? Fly on American Airlines and support the preferred airline
of PFLAG National. PFLAG national staff gets free miles (and you do NOT lose
any bonus miles).
When booking on www.AA.com, follow these instructions:
Step One - Choose your travel dates and your best flight option.
Step Two - Login. (If you have an AAdvantage Number and a password, key it
in. If not, click "continue" without logging in.)
Step Three - Confirm your itinerary and complete passenger details. LAST STEP
- Important! - Key in PFLAG's Business ExtrAA Account Number (527590).
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There is a rumor out there that maybe we will have our 25th anniversary party this summer -- maybe in August. In addition to all the food (pot luck), there will be some fun activities and a short planning session regarding the 2010-2011 year.
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I just came home from a Fair Wisconsin Board meeting. I've been on the board for a couple of years. Wanted to let you know what great work they are doing on behalf of glbt people and their friends and relatives. See www.fairwisconsin.org to learn more about this group and while there, consider clicking on the "make a donation" box and sending them a bit of money.
You can donate to the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund (tax deductible) or the political arm (just Fair Wisconsin) which is not tax deductible. You can send money via the website by credit card or by a mailed paper check. Please consider a contribution to help us and our firends and relatives achieve equal rights.
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PFLAG NE IA Waukon/Decorah is planning a Regional PFLAG Conference
at Luther College, Decorah, IA on August 13-14.
The focus will be on Marriage Equality. Iowa Supreme Court ruled in April
2009 that denying same-gender couples their right to marry and receive the
same legal benefits as heterosexual couples was unconstitutional. Plans include
having One Iowa, Lambda Legal and Interfaith Alliance, who were involved with
the success in Iowa, to be be represented at the Conference to share strategies
and techniques for other states who would be in-terested in learning from
their experience. Faith based opposition to same-gender marriage will also
be ad-dressed as it seems the strongest opposition is from conservative religious
groups.
Harry Knox, Human Rights Campaign Director of Religion and Faith Program,
has made an oral commitment to be the keynote speaker and lead a workshop.
A social gathering---barn dance in the country--- will be held on Friday evening,
August 13.
The Iowa chapter would like to get a rough idea of how many might attend,
so please email to Jean Huffey <jhuffey@acegroup.cc>
if you think you might want to go. It looks like it will be very good!
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Mississippi High School that Forbade Same-sex Prom Dates Cancels
Prom
A Mississippi High School forbade a student from bringing a same-sex date
and wearing a tuxedo to the prom. This student, Constance McMillen, went to
the ACLU, who demanded that the high school allow Constance to bring her girlfriend
and wear a tux. The school board's response, however, was to cancel the prom.
... more
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Washington State Passes Inclusive Anti-Bullying Law
The Washington state Senate passed an anti-bullying law last week and now
Governor Christine Gregoire has pledged to sign the bill into law as soon
as it gets on her desk. ... more
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PFLAG National's Straight for Equality ... Healthcare Guide is now available. This is a great resource for all health care providers.
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Kay suggests that you might find the national PFLAG blog interesting and worthwhile: www.pflagblog.blogspot.com
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Grassroots Activists Gather to Repeal "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell"
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), alongside lesbian, gay and straight veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, held a press conference today in coordination with a swell of average Americans fighting for repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). The event is timed with HRC’s annual spring Lobby Day where more than 300 members and supporters are expected to participate. ... more
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Washington Post: Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II has urged the state's public colleges and universities to rescind policies that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, arguing in a letter sent to each school that their boards of visitors had no legal authority to adopt such statements.
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NCROnline.org article: This month, the Knights of Columbus released the results of a survey done with Marist Poll on the attitudes of young Catholics in the U.S., ages 18 to 29. See the blog for the full story on the survey, but there were a couple of items that seemed important to us:
• On same-sex marriage, 63 percent of Catholic Millennials (age 18- 29) think it is morally acceptable or not a moral issue, compared with 53 percent of Millennials.
• On gay and lesbian relations, 65 percent of Catholic Millennials think it is morally acceptable or not a moral issue, compared with 57 percent of Millennials.
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NCROnline.org has an article (see Gay Group Director Responds
to Cardinal’s Criticism) detailing the response of New Ways Ministry
to Chicago Cardinal Georges criticism of the Ministry.
Gay
group director responds to cardinal's criticisms
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