The pandemic has made life more challenging for everyone and possibly even more difficult for the LGBTQ community. Social distancing is important for promoting good health management but it also creates feelings of isolation and sometimes estrangement. When we factor in the hostile political environment, the racial tensions and global warming the world seems more confusing. Additionally, if we are struggling with sexual orientation issues, we may be incredibly overwhelmed.
PFLAG offers a constant and stable platform, providing support by listening and offering options and some answers. We welcome you to share, (or not share) without pressure, and we offer safety and acceptance. We are meeting virtually on zoom until it is possible to resume our live meetings. Presently we are meeting once a month for an hour and a half, and occasionally for a twenty-minute check-in. We do have a "hot line" 336-584-8722 where PFLAG members welcome your call. All inquiries are entirely confidential. Visit our website: [email protected]
If you are a local agency that serves folks in our community, or if you or someone you know needs a respite from stress and worry, please be kind and reach out.
Cindy Davis,
Board Member
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NEXT ZOOM MEETING IS ON OCTOBER 13, 7:00 P.M.
If you would like to join our next meeting just email us: [email protected], giving us your FIRST NAME and your email address.. We will then send a notification of how to access the meeting. (If you were in our previous meetings you don't need to repeat this notification)
ZOOM is free. Search zoom.com for details and a simple signup process.
Not sure you can make ZOOM work for you? Perhaps we can offer some help.
Equality North Carolina joins the chorus of communities across our country mourning the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a champion for the rights of women, LGBTQ folks, communities of color and other vulnerable groups throughout her many decades of leadership. Her legacy and impact on the lives of everyday people across America, including yours and mine, are impossible to fully fathom.
RBG's passing leaves a hole in our hearts, and we join you in naming the sadness left behind by her vacant seat at thismoment in our country's history.
Call your Senators and tell them: No confirmation before inauguration! Let's honor her with action and call North Carolina's Senators, urging them not to vote on a Supreme Court nominee until after the inauguration.
Senator Tillis: (202) 224-6342
Senator Burr: (202) 224-3154
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A Note of Appreciation
Dear Members of PFLAG,
Thank you for the loving gift to Elon Community Church in Gary's honor.
I am grateful for all the support and kindness shown to Gary as he became a proud gay man and he considered all of you friends and another family.
We all can take some comfort in that he is free of pain and in God's hands.
Again, my gracious thanks to all of you.
Rod Cooper
For parents of Trans and nonbinary children . . .
Dear PFLAG Alamance,
I'm Dr. Em Matsuno and I am a postdoctoral fellow at Palo Alto University in California. Thank you for all the work you are doing to support LGBTQ communities!
I am reaching out because I am testing the effectiveness of an online program that aims to help parents support their transgender or non-binary children. I'm wondering if you would be willing to share information about my study with your members or on social media?
My goal is to provide an evidence-based online resource to help parents who are struggling to support their trans or nonbinary child. The program was created in collaboration with parents of trans and nonbinary youth and has received feedback from several experts in this area. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to know more about the content of the program!
Are you a parental figure of a child who identifies as trans or nonbinary? Consider getting support from the Parent Support Program. This program is based on psychological research and can help support you through your process. The program is currently being studied for its effectiveness. Click the link below for more information and to participate in the study.
A reminder . . . don't delay! To request an absentee ballot, you need to act now!
This election you can cast a ballot safely and securely from home with absentee voting.
NOTE: On June 12, 2020, House Bill 1169 was signed into law. This COVID-19-related elections bill changes how NC voters vote their absentee ballot by mail.
Any North Carolina registered voter may request and receive a mail-in "absentee" ballot. No special circumstance is needed.
We all know the extreme importance of exercising our right to vote, and it would be most unfortunate if you were to lose the opportunity to vote through no fault of your own. We also know the dangers of exposure to the Covid 19 virus in crowded places, long lines. Some precinct voting locations may be closed or moved.
You can exercise your right and privilege from the comfort of your home, but you need to act now to ensure that you have enough time and will be able to vote by absentee ballot. A request form is attached here that will permit you to request your ballot. Mail services are moving slower, so don't risk missing this opportunity.
If you have further questions about the process of abentee voting, go to this website: Visit Common Cause
IT'S MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME FOR PFLAG ALAMANCE
This year has been a challenge, to put it mildly. Since our February meeting we have respected the health and safety of our members and have not held meetings at our usual space at Elon Community Church. We have held monthly ZOOM meeting each second Tuesday nights, with a few extra times just to touch base and see how people are doing. Until such time that we are able to gather safely we will continue our ZOOM sessions at 7:00 p.m. at our regularly scheduled time.
It is time to renew your annual membership in our local chapter. Membership continues to be $25.00 and includes your spouse or partner, and also includes membership in PFLAG National. We do have some expenses in continuing our chapter Domain name, utilization of Constant Contact to do our newsletter and ordering books and materials that we have been able to share with some who have requested them.
WILL YOU JOIN PFLAG TO CONTINUE OUR CHAPTER ACTIVITIES? Membership is still just $25.00 for a family, including membership in PFLAG National. All we need is your name, address, email and phone numbers. Checks made out to PFLAG Alamance should be mailed to PFLAG Alamance, PO Box 623, Elon, NC 27244.
(Membership is not required for participation in our meetings. All are welcome!)
The post office defends itself against accusations that cuts threaten the presidential election
Officials from six states and the District of Columbia have asked a federal judge to halt what they say are slowdowns at the U.S. Postal Service that threaten the upcoming presidential election
By Maryclaire Dale *
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PFLAG NATIONAL COMMENTS ON THE ARTICLE
For months we have heard simultaneous pleas to both vote by mail and to "Save the Post Office." There has also been a lot of information - and misinformation - that can make these issues seem confusing and contradictory, but we'll do our best to explain why both issues are important and need your attention to guarantee a safe and fair election.
PFLAG families, like all families, rely on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and its workforce to keep us connected. Every day, post offices across the country process and deliver letters, food, prescriptions and other supplies. Plus, postal carriers are the designated "last-mile carriers" for private companies, delivering most of the online orders and packages to doorsteps and mailboxes in most of the country. USPS is the world leader in logistics and know-how, and because of this, nearly half of all the mail in all the world is processed by USPS. The efficacy of our mail is what makes vote by mail the safest and most effective way to conduct elections, especially in the midst of pandemic. As states like Oregon, which has voted only by mail for more than 20 years can attest, vote by mail is safe, makes sure more people can vote, and "you can't hack paper."
While USPS operates in part like a business, selling stamps and postage materials, it is an independent agency within the federal government.Since its founding in 1775, USPS has never been intended to be a profitable enterprise; it is and has always been an essential service. In fact, until 1971 the Postmaster General was a Cabinet-level position, emphasizing the importance of USPS to the fabric of our democracy.
