Greensboro PFLAG newsletter, November 1998

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Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
PO Box 49126 GREENSBORO,  NC 274l°   PHONE(336)852-8489 Vol. 5 No. 11 Nov., 1998
A MORE HOPEFUL ELECTION
This year's election brings us much more
optimism than other recent ones have done. For
example, the balance of power in the County
Commissioners has moved, once again, to the
Democrats. We hope—and must be vigilant to
see —that they do not misuse that power to
discriminate against their gay population.
The election of John Edwards offers us a remarkable chance to work for change in the Senate. His acceptance speech on Tuesday night
pledged his efforts to fight discrimination against
any person. He may have been thinking primarily about the African Americans who turned out
in droves to elect him, but we will continue to
remind him that we did, too! At the Democratic
rally on October 3, as 1 shook his hand, I asked
for his support of anti-hate legislation in the next
Congress. He enthusiastically promised it. I
shall not let him forget that promise!
The pundits say this election represented a demand for the Congress to stop wasting the people's time and resources and to get on with the
business of running the government. We must
continue to let them know that is what we mean.
MEETING
7:30 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17
FRIENDSHIP FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
1103 NEW GARDEN ROAD, GREENSBORO
The   Advertising   Committee   has already
placed wonderful ads in the High Point Enterprise, Rhinoceros Times and Style.   Thanks!   1
am glad to receive more and more calls.
Time to Renew
All people are always welcome without fee at
our meetings, but we invite you to become a
member. Your $25 provides you with local and
national membership, a place to meet, and this
newsletter.Bring your check to the next meeting
or send it to the PO Box above.
Individual/Household Membership=$25
Limited Income/Newsletter Only=$15
And—thanks
**********
Piedmont Friends for Lesbian and Gay
Concerns' first newsletter, In the Light makes
great reading. Ask Bob for a copy.
Welcome to PFLAG. We offer a safe,
confidential space in which to explore
our feelings and understanding of the
gay experience, especially "coming out"
and what this means to families and
other loved ones. Listen and share as
much or as little as you feel comfortable
with, knowing that others can understand. Welcome especially to our return
ing members whose iove is so healin
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Your concern about the Matthew Shepard murder
is reflected in the following writings. With clippings I have noted the source if it was given.
The poem was read by its author, Sam, at our
Barnes and Noble Gay Writings Night.
Churches must preach
against gay-bashing
I hope every local religious leader will
take some time to reflect on the responsibility for the death of Matthew Shepard. This was not a random murder by
some violent psychopaths. This was a
crime of hate solely due to the fact that
Shepard was gay.
This hatred has been preached from
many pulpits, and "loudly" ignored from
many others, for far too long. So few
religious leaders have spoken up for the
rights of gay people and so few have
spoken out against the gay bashing that
is breeding hate crimes like Shepard's
murder.
When people like Jerry Falwell hypocritically attempt to justify their homophobia scripturally, it long ago became
an issue for religious people. For church
leaders to say and do nothing serves to
validate Falwell's bigotry.
Although gay people are trying to defend themselves, straight people like me
need to fight back and demand that our
real religious leaders take a stand
against this injustice. I work for a gay
man and I work with over IOC gays and
iesbians. They are good people who
should not have to fear for their lives, in
part because of religious persecution.
I ask all of my straight friends and
neighbors, how would you feel if one of
your kids or relatives was savagely
beaten to death solely because they were
straight?
Douglas W. Anderson
Greensboro