Michael Adee meets three Moms of Gay Sons, May 2006:
Linda Hayes, Joanne DeVilbiss, Michael Adee and Mary Ann Shaw.  

ARCHIVE 2007

Our next PFLAG program will include another presentation from the More Light Presbyterian video series, "Project Hearts and Minds."  This segment will feature Sydney Anderson, a female-to-male transsexual, who talks about his life before, during, and after his transition, and about the sources of help he found along the way.  Here is some info. on PFLAG National's transgendered network: http://www.pflag.org/TNET_PFLAG_Policy_History.715.0.html

Thursday, February 8th

Do you have a tendency to procrastinate? Are you ignoring an urge to do something that you'd love to do? Is it hard for you to say no? Are you unhappy with your appearance, your job, or some of the people in your life? You may be experiencing power-leaks or power-slams! In this entertaining and uplifting presentation, Author Cathy Angell will share simple strategies and humorous stories to help you see where you may be giving away your power and what to do to get it back. She has recently released an interactive workbook called, "PowerBites:  30 Ways to Reclaim and Sustain Your Personal Power."

Cathy's workbook can be ordered from her website:  http://www.cathyangell.com/products/index.htm

Dr. Brekhus says his research began as an effort to understand how "ordinary Joes," (gay men who don't find their sole identity in sexual orientation) express themselves in different social circumstances.  "Peacocks" or "Lifestylers," are gay men which Brekhus describes as those who consider their homosexuality as the defining factor of their identity.  "Chameleons" and "Centaurs" do not consider their homosexuality as such a major consideration when defining their identity.  Join us for this very fascinating presentation and discussion!

A Biological Explanation for Human Sexual Orientation
a presentation on DVD by Dr. Cynthia Chappell

Dr. Chappell holds a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology and is a Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center's School of Public Health and an adjunct faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine.  In addition to her research and teaching, she serves in an administrative role as the Associate Dean for Academic affairs at the UT School of Public Health.  Her current research includes studies on the pathogenesis of, and immune response to, human parasitic diseases.  Dr. Chappell is the author of more than 65 scientific and textbook chapters as well as a number of technical reports.  She has also been active in "translating" the primary scientific literature to the lay audience.  Her interest in the genetics of homosexuality stem from her involvement as a PFLAG parent. 

We've scheduled a special viewing of a DVD program, Turning Points, a documentary about Presbyterians struggling within their denomination to overcome the barriers to ordination for gay and lesbian members into the Presbyterian ministry.  Congregation members speak about how their lives were changed and attitudes turned around when they were brought face-to-face with this issue.  This is a very moving documentary that you won’t want to miss.

July 5, 2007

Transcend not Transition   Laurel Lehl was on the board of directors for the Mid-Missouri LGBT Coalition last year, and is currently one of three coordinators for the LGBT youth group, Prism. She received multiple scholarships to attend the Creating Change conference in November, 2006.   This presentation aims to help people heavily involved with LGBT issues and those new to the community better understand transgender and transsexual individuals. Participants will explore vocabulary terms and evaluate statistics, enabling better communication within groups. Several myths will be dispelled and resources will be provided so attendees can feel more comfortable and knowledgeable when connecting with the trans population.   For more information: contact Linda Hayes 573-864-1431 Download a PDF file of the flyer for this event!

 
Make plans to attend the Missouri PFLAG Statewide Conference on Saturday, July 14th, which will be held here in Columbia at Rock Bridge Christian Church, 301 W. Green Meadows Road.  Elizabeth Brown and Brooke Smith from PFLAG National will be here to conduct a full day’s worth of presentations and training sessions.  We’ll have folks here from PFLAG/ St. Louis, PFLAG/Kansas City, PFLAG/Springfield, Kirksville, St. Charles, Jefferson City, etc.  Here is the schedule..

9:00 - 10:00 -  Gather, breakfast: coffee, rolls & doughnuts.
10:00 - 12:30 - Safe Schools Training
12:30 - 1:30 - Lunch: sandwiches, pre-made salads, desserts, coffee, tea, soda-pop.
1:30 - 2:45 - Strong Chapter Boards and Leadership Development
2:45 - 3:00 - Break: cookies & fruit.
3:00 - 4:15 - Hosting the Perfect PFLAG Meeting
4:15 - 5:00 - Chapter Information Swap

 
August 2, 2007

How I Changed My Mind on Homosexuality

Our program will be a short video (about 45 minutes) of Dr. Jack Rogers of the Covenant Network (Presbyterian) on "How I Changed My Mind on Homosexuality."   Dr. Rogers will be making a special appearance in Columbia on Wednesday evening, October 10th; we are still in the planning stages for that event.  This video viewing will be a good way to become familiar with Dr. Rogers' thinking on the subject.
 
How I Changed My Mind on Homosexuality - Jack Roger's Address to Covenant Network NorthWest Regional Conference in October, 2003 is now available on video. “I appreciate the opportunity to address you this morning. I am going to speak about my change of mind on the question of homosexuality, what I have learned theologically in that process, and some implications for us as a church.” And thus Dr. Rogers begins his simple, yet startling presentation to the 2003 Northwest Regional Conference of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. This is a videotape of that presentation as it was first being delivered.

September 6, 2007


Among all the issues the LGBT Community must deal with, the rate of tobacco use by LGBT individuals is becoming more and more of a major concern.  There is a higher rate of smoking in the LGBT community than in the general population, mostly because of the advertising directed at the LGBT audience.  Tobacco industry giants like Phillip Morris target advertising to the LGBT community and sometimes even sponsor LGBT events and outreach efforts.  Join us Thursday evening, September 6th as MU Health Educator Dean Andersen shares his perspective on this problem with his presentation, How the Tobacco Industry gets the LGBT Community to Victimize Itself .  

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In a powerful new book, evangelical theologian and former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Jack Rogers, makes a biblical case for equal rights in the church and in society for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.  Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church describes Dr. Rogers' own change of mind and heart on the issue; charts the church's well-documented history of using biblical passages to oppress marginalized groups; argues for a Christ-centered reading of Scripture; debunks often repeated stereotypes about gays and lesbians; and concludes with ideas for how the church can heal itself and move forward again.

 
Come hear Dr. Rogers speak in Columbia
Wednesday, October 10 - 2 events
 
Trinity Presbyterian Church
1600 West Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65203
Luncheon & Program - 12 noon
For reservations, call 573-636-2149
 
University of Missouri at Columbia
Neff Auditorium, Room 204
Program - 7:00 p.m.
 
Midwest Tour: September 26 - October 1; October 9 - 14
Des Moines - Cedar Rapids - Omaha - Lincoln - Kansas City - Lawrence - Columbia - Springfield - St. Louis - Decatur
 
For more information on the tour, go to www.drjackrogers.com or www.covenantnetwork.org
or e-mail kturney55@hotmail.com

2006 Archive

We will watch another video presentation by the More Light Presbyterians.  This 
installment features Greg Marlan of Mel White's Soulforce organization.
      

 

March 2, 2006

This month’s meeting will feature Brian Mahieu, a local artist, former gallery owner, and daylily grower and hybidizer.  Brian will give a multimedia presentation including paintings, photographs and personal accounts of his life journey.  The discussion will focus on his 19-year experience with the Reparative Therapy Movement and it’s false claims of cure for homosexuality.

view Brian's presentation online:  My Story

Saturday, June 10... 

Gordon Shelter - Stephens Lake Park, Columbia, MO      

The Mid-Missouri PrideFest 2006

See the web site...

http://www.midmopride.org/

July 1 - 2

Over the weekend of July 1-2, the walkers comprising Crosswalk America,
traveling from Phoenix, Arizona, will be coming through mid-Missouri.
We are planning a local reception and gathering for them at Rock Bridge
Christian Church on Sunday evening, 7:00 p.m., which we are calling
Freedom Sunday Jubilee.  We'll have speakers, singers, food and
fellowship, all in recognition of the walkers, who seek to bring
Christian compassion together with progressive action.  Please see their
site for more information: http://www.crosswalkamerica.org/

Blog:  Following Crosswalk America, pics of Columbia event.

July 6

At our next PFLAG meeting on July 6th we will be viewing a critically
acclaimed documentary, "Out of the Past", which chronicles the history
of the gay rights movement.  Plan to attend and see this award-winning
film.  

For more info, see http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0141699/
     
Because of the hot weather, our July 6th meeting was short and
sparsely attended.  (Although we had a great time of sharing and
discussion.) We decided to postpone our viewing of "Out of the Past"
until our next meeting, Thursday, August 3rd.

August 3rd

Come and join us as we view this special documentary (highly 
recommended to us by Michael Adee), which chronicles the history of the gay rights movement.  Plan to attend and see this award-winning film.  

For more info, see http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0141699/




        



        



          

            
                  
                  
Plot Summary for 


                  Out of the Past 


            
                  
                  
In 1995, Kelli Peterson 
            started a gay and straight club at her Salt Lake City high school. 
            The story of her ensuing battle with school authorities in 
            interspersed with looks back at the diary of Michael Wigglesworth, a 
            17th-century Puritan cleric, at the 30-year love affair of Sarah 
            Orne Jewett and Annie Adams Fields, at Henry Gerber's attempt after 
            World War I to establish a gay-rights organization, at Bayard 
            Rustin's role in the civil rights movement, and at Barbara Gittings' 
            taking on of the American Psychiatric Association's position that 
            homosexuality is illness. One person comments, "To create a place 
            for ourselves in the present, we have to find ourselves in the 
            past."


            

                

              
              
            
     
September 7, 2006

magazine as one of the few openly gay athletic coaches in the country.  He will be sharing with us his story as well as giving us a good idea of what it is like to be openly gay in the sports world.  Please join us for this special program, October 5, 2006, 7:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 100 Hitt Street.

October 26th (Thursday) 4:00 -5:30 p.m. at Rockbridge High School Cafeteria

The Center for Multicultural Research, Training, and Consultation presents:

The Center for Multicultural Research, Training, and Consultation is pleased to announce that Dr. James Croteau is coming to
Columbia as the speaker for the Helen A. Neville Multicultural Speakers Series. Dr. Croteau is an Associate Professor in
 Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo. He is also the director of 
training for the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology. Dr. Croteau has received the Outstanding Achievement Award from 
the American Psychological Association Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns, August 2003. As one of the most 
productive researchers and scholars on lesbian, gay and bisexual issues in counseling psychology, his work in vocational 
psychology in particular has exemplified the second generation of affirmative research on lesbian, gay, and bisexual people,
 going beyond the basics to theory building based in data.On behalf of the Center staff, we would like to invite you to an event 
featuring Dr. Croteau. 

Please download document for more information.

November 2nd

We will be viewing an award-winning docu-drama entitled "The Education
of Shelby Knox".  This is the riveting tale of one girl's mission to
bring sex education to schools in her ultra-conservative hometown of
Lubbock, Texas.  The film portrays Shelby's struggles against
intolerance and ignorance as she advocates for both sex education and
her school's gay/straight alliance.  The New York Times write, "The
Education of Shelby Knox is a pungent civics lesson on what can and
cannot be accomplished by one plucky, idealistic girl."  Length is 76
minutes.

More info.  http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/shelbyknox/about.html

      
December 7th

We will have a discussion on "How to Survive the Holidays". Join us for
holiday goodies and fellowship.

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ARCHIVE 2008

Thursday, January 3, 2008

The plight of homeless and runaway youths

The National Gay & Lesbian Task force reports that of the 575,00 to 1.6 million homeless & runaway youths across the nation, between 20% to 40% identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).

How you can help:
1.  Join us at our next PFLAG meeting to help us wrap & package the scarves.
2.  Donations are needed for postage & packaging materials.

Our next PFLAG meeting will be Thursday, January 3, 2008.  Linda Hayes will be discussing the plight of homeless and runaway youths, up to 40% (or even more) of whom identify as LGBT kids.  We want to help them by making, packaging and sending warm winter scarves, which we will be working on Thursday evening.  These scarves (and other items) will be sent to Chicago LGBT Community Center (“The Center on Halsted”)  for the homeless kids.

The got our box! A letter from The Center on Halsted:

Subject: Oh My! Linda, I am totally overwhelmed by the contents of the box! I just can't believe how beautiful everything is and the sweet note you added to the packages. It's just so amazing and thoughtful. They are going to love these things. Really, it's incredible. We want to send pictures of youth wearing the items if we can. In most cases we can't take an identifiable picture but I think we can be creative and take pictures that will still protect individual privacy. Thank you so much for coordinating the Columbia PFLAG group and please let them know that we received the box and that we are TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY. Warmest Regards,Serena Worthington Director, SAGE (Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders) Center on Halsted 3656 N. Halsted Chicago, IL 60613

Here is a blog that may interest you:

Bloggin.OUT is the official blog of Triangle Foundation's Generation.OUT program and Greg Varnum, Triangle Foundation's Director of Youth Initiatives and Information Technology.

above blog references this article:

The Struggles of Homeless Trans Youth
by Charlsie Dewey
2007-10-31

this is the LGBT center in Chicago helping LGBT youth:

Chicago LGBT Community Center (“The Center on Halsted”)

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February 7th, 2008
Lance Pierce, founder:  Allies in Action

At our next PFLAG-Columbia meeting we’ll welcome Lance Pierce, founder of a new student organization at MU called Allies in Action, which has been formed to advocate for LGBT progress on campus, and to bring like-minded individuals together as allies for the LGBT community.  Come listen and join in on the conversation!

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March 6th,  7:00 p.m.

Kylar Broadus:  the Rights of LGBT Missourians

Join us on Thursday, March 6th when our special guest, Kylar Broadus, will speak to us on the Rights of LGBT Missourians and other related issues.  As an attorney and as a professor at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Kylar Broadus is well acquainted with the legal rights of all Missouri citizens, especially the rights of LGBT persons.  Also, as a transgendered person, Kylar has first-hand experience dealing with these laws and can speak with authority as to how they affect our community.

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April 3,  7:00 p.m.

Please join us Thursday evening, April 3 for this showing of the highly acclaimed documentary, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.  If you missed previous showings at RagTag Cinemacafe and the Missouri United Methodist Church’s recent screening, here’s another chance to see it.

FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO

FILM SYNOPSIS

Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?


Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families -- including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson -- we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.  

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

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May 1st, 7:00pm
Please join us on Thursday evening, May 1st for an open discussion-sharing-informational meeting at the Missouri United Methodist Church, Room 302, 7:00 p.m.  No formal program is scheduled but this will be your opportunity to bring up important issues or to share personal stories or to seek support and encouragement.  We’ll have at least one special guest from the Center Project to share with us the latest information on attempts to bring an LGBT Community Center to Columbia.

links:

The Center Project – A mid-Missouri community space

NEW!! GLBTQ Parent Support Group

TCP is starting a NEW social and support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer adoptive, foster & birth parents, and parents in planning. Join us for our first meeting on Thursday, November 8th from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Child care will be provided. For more information and/or directions, visit our website:
http://www.thecenterproject.org/parentgroup.htm

A listserve, groups.yahoo.com/group/thecenterproject, was set up in 2003 so anyone in the community can receive updates on the progress of The Center Project.

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June 5th
7:00-9:00 p.m.

Missouri United Methodist Church,
Room 302


On Easter Sunday,2006, six ordinary people left their homes, jobs and families for a journey on foot into the heart of America.  Against the background of increasing intolerance from the Christian Right, they spread a message of compassion and inclusion.  The story of their 2,500 mile walk from Arizona to Washington, DC will surprise you and maybe make you feel a little more hopeful.

Asphalt Gospel  is being shown in churches, small groups and homes around the country, with rave reviews.  The Faith Based Outreach committee of PFLAG/Columbia, will be showing it at our next PFLAG meeting, on Thursday evening, June 5th.  Because the Crosswalk America caravan came through Columbia, there is some footage of local activists Maureen Dickmann of Rock Bridge Christian Church, FBO’s Jason Ksepka and moms Barbra Robinson and Joanne DeVilbis from the MUMChurch.  Please join us Thursday evening, June 5th for this special presentation.

Note: the film is 1 hour 38 minutes long, so we’ll probably limit ourselves to viewing only the first 45 minutes, with the option of viewing the last half at a later date.

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