For more than 25 years PFLAG has been a reliable monthly gathering for support, resources and a listening ear for LGBTQ folk, along with families and friends who care. Person to person hasn't been possible through this virus crisis, but we are here. A good number of you have joined our ZOOM sessions, finding that just seeing and hearing friendly, accepting faces and voices were encouraging. We would really like to have more of you participate.
We are maintaining our promise of confidentiality, offering to talk further by phone and willingness to share material by mail. Joining in is simple, and ZOOM is a free service for your computer or smart phone.
If you would like to join our next meeting just call or email us: [email protected], giving us your FIRST NAME, your email address and how you found out about this meeting. 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.
Credit the group One Million Moms with spurring me to brave covid-19-struck Washington, D.C., and make a beeline to the grocery store to purchase some Oreo cookies.
I could do no less in light of a scurrilous campaign the organization has launched against Oreo and its parent company, Mondelez International.
Not to be confused with the Million Mom March gun-safety organization, OneMillionMoms.com is an online ministry of the American Family Association, a self-described "conservative, pro-family" organization based in Tupelo, Miss.
One Million Moms is out of sorts because Oreo has joined with the nonprofit PFLAG - an organization of supportive parents, families and allies of LGBTQ people - to release "Rainbow Oreos." These are described as cookies filled with Oreo cream in the colors of the Pride flag, and the company has launched the new product with a moving ad depicting a daughter and her partner introducing their relationship to her parents.
Here is the One Million Moms description of that ad: "The commercial focuses on the mother approving of her daughter's girlfriend, but the father is hesitant and has reservations. He later has a change of heart and even displays his acceptance of her lifestyle by painting his picket fence in rainbow colors to further show his approval. The advertisement ends with: 'A loving world starts with a loving home.' Followed by: 'Show you're a proud parent." See the video
Lovely, isn't it? Well, not to One Million Moms. The group is downright apoplectic.
The Oreo ad, the group charges, is an attempt to "normalize the LGBTQ lifestyle" by "featuring a lesbian couple, to brainwash children and adults alike by desensitizing audiences."
With Halloween barely behind us, "award winning" Thanksgiving recipes are flooding social media and so are promises for absolutely awesome sales on Black Friday. Christmas decorations and gift ideas are not far behind. I'm no hum
bug, but the holidays aren't always merry for me. Some years the season holds sparkle and fairy dust, others, not so much. I've learned over the years not to spend what I don't have and to avoid attending functions I'd rather not be at. This really does reduce holiday stress.
However, this year, I am feeling nervous about what the impact the pandemic will have on festivities. Part of me quietly pretends that by Thanksgiving all will be well, but with the unpredictability of the coronavirus, it is looking like I'll be making turkey dinner for two this year. Fortunately, both my partner and I don't mind lots of leftovers. Well then, I tell myself, certainly by Christmas, right? Most certainly by Christmas, celebrations will be safe. Unless they're not. I find myself entering into a plea bargain - (another form of denial) A) as long as our favorite potluck isn't cancelled and B) the ritual, annual elegant dinner with friends is still on, I won't expect anything more. It's key that I remind myself that these events may not take place this year. So, what is one to do about the holidays? I suppose the first step is to acknowledge that I'm disappointed and sad. This year has certainly served up its fair share of grief. It is also a good time to get still and think about what brings us joy, and make sure that we invite some of that into our lives. How may we participate and celebrate in a way that keeps both us and others safe? I am hoping that if I stop longing for what I want, I will find delight in what is unknown.
Cindy Davis is a retired Licensed Professional Counselor.
She was an advice columnist for the Times-News, and is also a PFLAG Board Member.
Watch for Cindy's column each month on our Newsletter
From Equality North Carolina . . .
Honoring Barbara Jordan - American Hero
October was LGBTQ History Month, and Equality North Caroliona used the final weeks before the election to highlight LGBTQ pioneers who have given their all to the ongoing fight for our lives. Leading up to Election Day, it seemed right to celebrate the one and only Barbara Jordan, a lawyer, educator and politician who remains an often
unsung leader of the Civil Rights Movement.
Barbara Jordan was a woman of many political firsts. Fifty-four years ago, she made history as the first Black woman elected to the Texas state Senate and was later elected as the first Black woman representing any Southern district in Congress. A gifted orator, Barbara also had the honor of becoming the first Black female keynote speaker at the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
Barbara broke numerous political glass ceilings for Black women throughout the course of her lifetime. And though she remained publically closeted throughout most of her career, Barbara identified as a lesbian and had a partner named Nancy Early for 30 years.
Because of the courage and strength of Civil Rights leaders like Barbara, we now live in a world where LGBTQ people can be their authentic selves while running for office, and not feel the need to closet themselves in order to be seen as valid leaders within the public eye. At Equality North Carolina, we fight for this belief system every day by supporting openly LGBTQ elected officials and creating pipelines for community members who want to serve in political office.
We would never be able to do this work without the life and legacy of people like Barbara Jordan. As we move beyond this election cycle, we'd like to invite you to join us in this fight and stay up-to-date on the ways you can help support openly LGBTQ and pro-equality legislators as they work to make North Carolina a more equitable place for us all.
Note: PFLAG is a non-partisan, non-sectarian organization. The following article from NBCNews is offered for information only. It is given in light of the stance of the Catholic Church and its effect on LGBTQ Carholics.
Pope calls for civil unions for same-sex couples, in major departure from Vatican doctrine
"Homosexuals have a right to be part of the family," the pontiff said in "Francesco," a documentary about his life.
By Henry Austin
Pope Francis called for the passage of civil union laws for same-sex couples in a documentary that aired in Rome on Wednesday, in a major departure from the position held by the Vatican's doctrinal office.
"Homosexuals have a right to be part of the family," the pontiff said in "Francesco," a documentary about his life. "They're children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it."
"What we have to create is a civil union law," he added. "That way, they are legally covered. I stood up for that."
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 instead 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. on our regularly scheduled second Tuesday nights.
It is time to renew your annual membership in our local chapter. We do have some expenses in continuing our chapter Domain name, utilization of Constant Contact to produce our newsletter and ordering books and materials that we have been able to share with some who have requested them.
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!)
Remembering what PFLAG Is
Welcome to PFLAG Alamance. We offer a safe, confidential space in which to explore our feelings and understandings about the LGBT experience, especially "coming out" and what this means to families and other loved ones.
While we can't meet in person right now, we still have ways to listen. Join in our ZOOM meetings described above. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, knowing that others can understand. We've been there ourselves!
