Greensboro PFLAG newsletter, January 2006

              You Have a Home in PFLAG!
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GREENSBORO, N.C.
Vol. 13 No. 1
January, 2006
What's ahead for the new year
Happy New Year. We hope that 2006 will bring
peace, love, and happiness to all.
Meanwhile, as is traditional at the start of a new
year, we will recall the highlights of the past year and gaze
into the crystal ball to predict what lies ahead for 2006.
Despite the rantings and ravings of the extremists
of the far right, progress was made in the fight to achieve
equality for LGBT people. Society is becoming more
accepting of LGBT people. Polls show that, except on the
issue of same-sex marriage, large majorities of Americans
support equal rights for gays and lesbians. As attitudes
change, there is hope for further progress ahead.
While harassment and bullying still plague many
gay youth in schools, the formation of hundreds of gay-
straight alliances at schools across the country has given
them support and encouragement, and is gradually changing
the attitudes of young people.
On workplace issues, the national Employment
Non-Discrimination Act is stalled in Congress. But more
private employers have adopted non-discrimination policies
covering sexual orientation - 82 % of the Fortune 500 have
them, according to HRC.
The issue of same-sex marriage continued to
dominate the news in 2005. Texas voters adopted a
constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and
Welcome to PFLAG. We offer a safe,
confidential space in which to explore our feelings and
understandings about the GLBT 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.
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-
being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered
persons, their families and friends through: support, to
cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten
an Hl-informed public; and advocacy, to end
discrimination and secure equal civil rights. PFLAG
provides an opportunity for dialogue about sexual
orientation and gender identity and acts to create a
society that is healthy and respectful of human
diversity.
PFLAG Greensboro
January meeting
Tuesday, January 17, 7:30 p.m.
Friendship Friends Meeting House
1103 New Garden Road
several other states will likely do the same in 2006.
Fortunately, such attempts in North Carolina have so far
been derailed in the slate legislature.
California's legislature passed a bill allowing same-
sex marriage, but it was vetoed by Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger. Connecticut began allowing civil unions.
Eagerly awaited court decisions may bring same-sex
marriage to other states - Massachusetts is the only one to
have it now. Even there opponents will be mounting a
campaign to amend the constitution.
Canada and Spain both legalized same-sex
marriage in 2005, and Britain began offering civil
partnerships. But if the Conservatives win in Canada's Jan.
23 election, they hope to repeal the law, promising a new
vote in the House of Commons.
So 2006 is expected to be another year of battles
over the marriage issue. But as society's anti-gay attitudes
decline, there is hope for progress on other issues. The fight
for equal rights for LGBT people will go on and eventually
we will win
-Tom Clarke
Coming events
ART Annual meeting
Alternative Resources of the Triad (A.R.T.) and
OUTGREENSBORO Would like to invite you to:
Alternative Resources of the Traid Annual Meeting - Open
to the Public, January 14, 2006, Biltmore Greensboro Hotel,
111 West Washington Street, Downtown Greensboro, 7:00
pm till 9:00 pm. Food & beverages will be provided. Door
Prizes throughout the evening Raffle prizes & much more!
At the movies
"Brokeback Mountain," the critically acclaimed
movie about two gay cowboys who Ml in love, has finally
come to Greensboro. It is now showing at the Carousel
Cinema.