Greensboro PFLAG newsletter, September 2000

              'I
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
GREENSBORO, N.C.
Vol. 7 No. 8
Sept. 2000
Potluck at September meeting
We will have a potluck supper at the September
meeting on September 19, at Frienship Friends Meeting
House. Come at 6:00 (or as soon as you can) and bring a
dish to share. Beverages and eating utensils will be
provided. This will give us a pleasant social occasion to talk
informally with other PFLAG folks. As usual, the regular
meeting will start at 7:30 p.m.
Quarterly co-ordinating committee
to meet Sept. 26
The Quarterly Co-ordinating Committee will meet
on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Frienship Friends Meeting House.
The meeting was to be held earlier in the summer, but has
been rescheduled since many people were on vacation.
There will be important business to discuss, including plans
for the coming year and how to allocate any funds received
from our request to the Guilford Green Foundation.
From the editor
At our last PFLAG meeting, Ed Farrell brought to
our attention two very good articles in the Greensboro News
& Record. These are reprinted in this issue. One tells about
John Faulkner and his reaction to the recent Supreme Court
decision allowing the Boy Scouts to ban gays - a very brave
"coming out" in the daily newspaper (see page 3). Another
item is the powerful guest editorial by Chris East, a local
Presbyterian church leader, about religion and same-sex
union ceremonies (see page 4).
* * *
PFLAG national is embarking on a campaign for
safe schools (see page 7). In Greensboro, I encourage
PFLAG folks to work along with the local chapter of the
Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network  (GLSEN) in
Greensboro PFLAG
September meeting
September 19, 2000
POTLUCK SUPPER, 6 p.m.
Regular meeting, 7:30 p.m.
Friendship Friends Meeting House
1103 New Garden Rd.
eliminating anti-gay harassment in schools. GLSEN-
Greensboro will have its next meeting on September 27 at
Gary Palmer's house. Anyone wishing to become more
involved is encouraged to attend.
Welcome to PFLAG. We offer a safe, confidential
space in which to explore our feelings and
understandings about 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
returning members whose love is so healing.
Hate-crimes law needs support
As you know, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act
(HCPA) passed in the U.S. Senate earlier this year. HCPA
would expand existing federal hate crimes law to cover
sexual orientation. If the House does not act on this bill in
the next six weeks, then it will have to start all over in the
new Congress. Therefore it is vital for supporters to contact
their representatives to urge them to support this important
legislation. It is especially important to write or call
representatives who have not yet agreed to support HCPA -
including Rep. Howard Coble (NC - District 6).
One way to do this is to participate in "The Hate
Hurts Families National Call-In to the Capitol Day" on
Wednesday, September 13. Imagine being one of
thousands calling the Capitol on September 13 with the
important message to protect our GLBT loved ones.
Encourage everyone in your chapter to pick up the phone on
September 13 to deliver this message to your Representative
at their Washington, D.C. office. Ask to speak to the
staffer that handles gay issues or hate crimes and deliver this
message:
"I  urge  Representative   to  support  the
passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1082).
Hate hurts families, and this important piece of legislation
will help to protect my .   Please send the
message to Representative  that I want
her/him to co-sponsor HCPA, H.R. 1082."
You can reach your Representative through the
House switchboard at 202/225-3121, or call Representative
Coble's      office      directly      at      (202)      225-3065.