An Urgent Appeal From PFLAG Alamance

PFLAG Alamance Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

7:00 p.m.

It's a great time to get back in touch with old friends and meet

some new participants in our local chapter meeting. Help us

explore plans for this new year in our work of support and education.

Exciing things are happening in our County.

Elon Community Church

271 N. Williamson Ave.

Park and Enter from the rear. Plenty of parking there

Unique Opportunities for Some Emerging

Issues In the Local LGBTQIA+ World

Do you find yourself trying to understand new terminology, questions

and situations you are discovering?

You are invited to join Elon University's Gender & LGBTQIA Center staff

for these two informational Zoom events

LGBTQIA+ Allyship 101 for Community Members – Sunday, April 16^th 7pm

Join Elon University's Gender & LGBTQIA Center staff and community LGBTQ+ leaders to learn about LGBTQIA identities, pronouns, inclusive language, resources, and more! Through activities and examples, facilitators will leverage the knowledge that participants bring with new and relevant information. This session is appropriate for folks with any level of education about LGBTQIA identities and topics. While some of the resources will directly pertain to the Alamance County community, we encourage any friends, family or community service and support professionals or volunteers to attend! The presentation will run from 7p-7:45p with Q&A from 7:45p-8:15p. Please register in advance for this session at https://elon.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtcOqtpzIrGtUzSugW--j1UUqC3YOqsMUL. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Pronouns & Gender for Community Members – Sunday, April 30^th 7pm

Join Elon University's Gender & LGBTQIA Center staff and community LGBTQ+ leaders to discover strategies for consistently affirming youth, family, friends and colleagues of all genders and challenging cisnormativity through compassionate conversations. This discussion-based session will feature common scenarios for addressing pronoun use, promoting gender inclusion and equity, and using inclusive language in your everyday life. This session is for anyone wanting to better understand pronouns and why getting someone’s pronouns right is so important for allyship. The presentation will run from 7p-7:45p with Q&A from 7:45p-8:15p. Please register in advance for this session at https://elon.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUrdO-trT8vGdDKKuyjLpX6bvM9xeQlB1xW. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

If you have any questions about these presentations, please contact glc@elon.edu. A big thank you to Transcend Alamance & PFLAG Alamance for co-sponsoring these sessions!

A new monthly feature of our Newsletter . . ..

Book of the Month

From our book cart

PFLAG Alamance maintains a free, lending library of timely books that we are anxious to share. We bring our moveable cart to each meeting and all you need to do is sign the clipboard so we can keep up with these volumes.

This month we continue our Book of the Month with Transgender 101, a helpful book that speaks to questions we have heard from some of you.

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Written by a social worker, popular educator, and member of the transgender community, this well-rounded resource combines an accessible portrait of transgenderism with a rich history of transgender life and its unique experiences of discrimination. Chapters introduce transgenderism and its psychological, physical, and social processes. They describe the coming out process and its effect on family and friends, the relationship between sexual orientation, and gender and the differences between transsexualism and lesser-known types of transgenderism. The volume covers the characteristics of Gender Identity Disorder/Gender Dysphoria and the development of the transgender movement. Each chapter explains how transgender individuals handle their gender identity, how others view it within the context of non-transgender society, and how the transitioning of genders is made possible. Featuring men who become women, women who become men, and those who live in between and beyond traditional classifications, this book is written for students, professionals, friends, and family members.

Some reviews of this book

"Transgender 101 is a highly readable and thorough primer on the history, terminology, types, politics, and medical and social realities of the transgender population. Teich uses insights from his personal and clinical experience and from the growing body of literature in transgender studies to educate the professional and lay communities on the many layered meanings and manifestations of transgenderism. This comprehensive introduction informs without being self-absorbed or polemical."

Betty Morningstar, president of the Massachusetts Chapter

of the National Association of Social Workers

"In an eminently readable fashion, Teich covers topics ranging from the underlying sociological concepts of sex, gender, and sexual identification to the experiences of 'coming out' and 'transitioning." He then situates the 'trans' person in an historical context―examining the mental health and medical ramifications of the way society has viewed and (mis)treated the change from imputed to 'authentic' sex. I am glad I read this book."

Kevin J. Mahoney, professor and director of the Center

for Participant-Directed Services t Boston College

Something to Think About . . .

by Cindy Davis

Paying Attention to Yourself

As I get older, I recognize the importance of trusting myself. When I was young, I was more likely to go with the crowd, to say “yes” when I really meant “no”. This not only led to resentment, it chipped away at my self-esteem. It was a type of self-abandonment. Being true to ourselves should never be construed as being selfish, we are simply making conscious choices that contribute to our well-being.

A guide that I use to assist me in gauging my responses to stuff:

· Do I want to?

· What is my motivation?

· Who am I trying to please?

Generally, I know immediately if I want to do something and it’s easy to say yes. But “No” is also a full sentence (no explanations or excuses required). There are times when my only motivation to say yes involves a willingness on my part to compromise and participate fully. Sometimes it feels good to show up despite my reluctance, if it is a choice I’m making.

When I compromise my integrity, this only leads to unhappiness. Ultimately, we are the only ones who can be certain that our needs get met. It takes practice to self-screen by checking in with yourself. Making choices that are congruent with who you are leads to better self-esteem. And better self-esteem leads to greater happiness.

Cindy Davis is a retired Licensed Professional Counselor.

She was an advice columnist for the Times-News, and is also a PFLAG Board Member.

Cindy can be contacted at cbdpflag@gmail.com

Watch for Cindy's column each month on our Newsletter

From PFLAG National . . .

First Time on Audiobook: Prayers for Bobby

The groundbreaking novel Prayers for Bobby is now available for the first time on audiobook, narrated by critically acclaimed actor Wentworth Miller, and with a new afterword by PFLAG National executive director Brian K. Bond.

This acclaimed book was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award and was adapted and produced as the critically acclaimed Lifetime movie of the same title starring Emmy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award nominated actress Sigourney Weaver.

Bobby Griffith was an all-American boy…and he was gay. Faced with an irresolvable conflict—for both his family and his religion taught him that being gay was “wrong”—Bobby chose to take his own life.

Prayers for Bobby, nominated for a 1996 Lambda Literary Award, is the story of the emotional journey that led Bobby to this tragic conclusion. But it is also the story of Bobby’s mother, a fearful churchgoer who first prayed that her son would be “healed,” then anguished over his suicide, and ultimately transformed herself into a national crusader for gay and lesbian youth.

As told through Bobby’s poignant journal entries and his mother’s reminiscences, Prayers for Bobby is at once a moving personal story, a true profile in courage, and a call to arms to parents everywhere.

Now available at Amazon, Audible, and more!