001 |
Save page Remove page | Previous | 1 of 6 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
Full Size
Full Resolution
|
This page
All
|
Loading content ...
Parents, Families and Ttimi of imam and Gays
PO Box 49126 GREENSBORO, NC 27419 PHONE (910) 852-8489 Vol. 5 No.8 Aug. 1998
A WAY TO THE LIGHT
My dear partner and I have been through a
sad, heartrending, exhilarating experience in June
and July. Two very dear friends of ours (I'll call
them Ann and Carol) had to face death head on.
Ann was admitted to the hospital, supposedly for
pneumonia, on June 24. On July 22 we attended
her funeral.
This was a very closeted couple, Ann because
she had children from a former marriage who she
was afraid would not accept her, and Carol because she had good reason to believe that she
would lose her job. When they went to the
hospital, Carol pretended to be Ann's sister. The
nurses courteously maintained that charade long
after the couple had come out to the doctors, both
their families and, indirectly, to Carol's boss.
Any deadly illness, but especially cancer,
strips everything away until what is left is the
basic, fundamental soul of both the patient and
her primary caregivers). I was so fortunate to
see the strength and integrity of these women
who loved each other intensely. I had never before observed such courage and dignity as Ann
displayed in meeting dying and death. Carol put
aside entirely her own wants to anticipate whatever Ann might need. Surely here was shown a
God blessed union often not exhibited by those
who so casually accept their right to holy matrimony.
The families did fairly well; most members had
already guessed and had simply been waiting to
be told. The boss has shown only compassion.
But the real surprise was in Ann's Catholic
priest, who put dogma aside because, in his own
words, "God recognizes true Christian love
wherever he sees it." The priest ministered to
both their needs, although Carol is Protestant,
and recognized her at the funeral as Ann's "loving companion of fifteen years." At that moment
I was moved by a strong sense of God's love
and acceptance of all his children. Church
hierarchy may set up barriers, but a sensitive and
caring person can find a way to let the light shine
through.
Welcome to PFLAG- We offer a safe,
confidential space in which to explore
oar feelings and understandings of the
gay experience, especially "coming oat11
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 love is so healing.
MEETING
7:30 TUESDAY, AUGUST 16
FRIENDSHIP FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
103 NEW GARDEN ROAD, GREENSBORO
So Many Opportunities
Gary Palmer is planning some wonderful activities for GLSEN, GLASS and for us if we
want to take part. The first is a fundraiser for the
three organizations. He has found a way for us
to give a showing of Out of the Past, voted the
best documentary at the 1998 Sundance Festival.
This film is about a real student in Utah, Kelly
Peterson. Gary hopes we can fill Sternberger
Auditorium on October 1,
Barnes & Noble has invited the gay community, through Gary, to offer an evening of original writing read at their store. This will occur on
Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30. If you would
like to read, please plan to; if you know someone
else who might, tell them.
Finally—when does the man sleep?!—Gary
will soon be offering a program on GCTV channel 8 entitled "Gary's Gay Perspectives". Several interviews are already lined up, and he's
looking for more subject matter for other programs.
He is also eager to have a crew to help him.
Have you always secretly longed to work with
television? Here's your chance. Very inexpensive classes are available from the channel.
Call 373-1100 for more information, or call
Gary at 697-3000 x 2243 and let him know
you'd like to be involved.
**********
With the help of several members, our
proposal to Guilford Green Foundation has been
completed/Thank you all.We hope to better reach
out to those who need us and to expand our
book, film and pamphlet library with the money.
**********
Mitch will be our facilitator this month. Please
be there to support him.
Object Description
Page/Item Description
| Title | 001 |
| Transcript | Parents, Families and Ttimi of imam and Gays PO Box 49126 GREENSBORO, NC 27419 PHONE (910) 852-8489 Vol. 5 No.8 Aug. 1998 A WAY TO THE LIGHT My dear partner and I have been through a sad, heartrending, exhilarating experience in June and July. Two very dear friends of ours (I'll call them Ann and Carol) had to face death head on. Ann was admitted to the hospital, supposedly for pneumonia, on June 24. On July 22 we attended her funeral. This was a very closeted couple, Ann because she had children from a former marriage who she was afraid would not accept her, and Carol because she had good reason to believe that she would lose her job. When they went to the hospital, Carol pretended to be Ann's sister. The nurses courteously maintained that charade long after the couple had come out to the doctors, both their families and, indirectly, to Carol's boss. Any deadly illness, but especially cancer, strips everything away until what is left is the basic, fundamental soul of both the patient and her primary caregivers). I was so fortunate to see the strength and integrity of these women who loved each other intensely. I had never before observed such courage and dignity as Ann displayed in meeting dying and death. Carol put aside entirely her own wants to anticipate whatever Ann might need. Surely here was shown a God blessed union often not exhibited by those who so casually accept their right to holy matrimony. The families did fairly well; most members had already guessed and had simply been waiting to be told. The boss has shown only compassion. But the real surprise was in Ann's Catholic priest, who put dogma aside because, in his own words, "God recognizes true Christian love wherever he sees it." The priest ministered to both their needs, although Carol is Protestant, and recognized her at the funeral as Ann's "loving companion of fifteen years." At that moment I was moved by a strong sense of God's love and acceptance of all his children. Church hierarchy may set up barriers, but a sensitive and caring person can find a way to let the light shine through. Welcome to PFLAG- We offer a safe, confidential space in which to explore oar feelings and understandings of the gay experience, especially "coming oat11 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 love is so healing. MEETING 7:30 TUESDAY, AUGUST 16 FRIENDSHIP FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE 103 NEW GARDEN ROAD, GREENSBORO So Many Opportunities Gary Palmer is planning some wonderful activities for GLSEN, GLASS and for us if we want to take part. The first is a fundraiser for the three organizations. He has found a way for us to give a showing of Out of the Past, voted the best documentary at the 1998 Sundance Festival. This film is about a real student in Utah, Kelly Peterson. Gary hopes we can fill Sternberger Auditorium on October 1, Barnes & Noble has invited the gay community, through Gary, to offer an evening of original writing read at their store. This will occur on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30. If you would like to read, please plan to; if you know someone else who might, tell them. Finally—when does the man sleep?!—Gary will soon be offering a program on GCTV channel 8 entitled "Gary's Gay Perspectives". Several interviews are already lined up, and he's looking for more subject matter for other programs. He is also eager to have a crew to help him. Have you always secretly longed to work with television? Here's your chance. Very inexpensive classes are available from the channel. Call 373-1100 for more information, or call Gary at 697-3000 x 2243 and let him know you'd like to be involved. ********** With the help of several members, our proposal to Guilford Green Foundation has been completed/Thank you all.We hope to better reach out to those who need us and to expand our book, film and pamphlet library with the money. ********** Mitch will be our facilitator this month. Please be there to support him. |
