Welcome to PFLAG Boulder County, Colorado

The White House Office of Public Engagement recently launched the LGBT Pride Month Champions of Change Video Challenge to explore the stories of local leaders who are leading our march towards equality. Our film, “Faces and Facets of Transgender Experience” seemed to meet the criteria of using the arts as a means to create change. Gus Spheeris and Carol Christenson, co-directors of the film, graciously agreed to help develop a 3 minute video to submit.

If we are semi-finalists in early June, the public will have a chance to weigh in and help identify finalists that will be featured as Champions of Change at an event at the White House. Stand by for an action elert if your vote is needed to weigh in.

To see the video go to http://vimeo.com/41531254

Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 6:30PM
First United Methodist Church
1421 Spruce St., Boulder

We will celebrate nine people from the community who will be recognized for their efforts as allies or as an LGBTQ person to offer support, education or advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ equality, inclusion and acceptance. The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. in the FUMC church parlor. Bring family and friends and a side-dish or dessert to go with baked ham, potatoes, spinach lasagna, beverages and more delicious food prepared by board members. Spring flowers for the tables would be appreciated. A short annual business meeting will precede the award ceremony.

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2012 APPRECIATION AWARDEES ANNOUNCED

Outstanding LGBTQ Activist—Daniel Ramos, One-Colorado, who has organized GSA’s across the state, organized two state-wide conferences, a summit for youth leaders and a convening of adults who work with LGBTQ.

Outstanding LGBTQ Youth – Ollin Montes, Niwot High School, who not only heads his school’s GSA, but organized the LGBTQ Youth Summit and is a member of the St. Vrain Valley Safe Schools Coalition.

Educator Allies—Barbara Miller, Manhattan Middle School, librarian and sponsor of the Allies student group, which focuses on bully prevention. She has grown the club from 30 to 80 excited students over the past year.

Adam Kohn, counselor, Fredrick High School, who worked with the C.U. Study & Prevention of Violence Center to provide a student survey about bullying and then implemented a bully prevention program. He is a member of the St. Vrain Valley Safe Schools Coalition.

Community Service to LGBTQ Youth – Sherry Biscup for 7 years of co-directing the OASOS program.

Allies in the Faith Community—Rev. Dr. Pat Bruns, Rev. Dr. Joe Agne, and Rosalee Blake, Deacon, are three clergy from the First United Methodist Church who have made a commitment, with congregational approval, to celebrate union ceremonies in the FUMC sanctuary for same-gender couples which is to stand in opposition to current UMC policy.

PFLAG Service Award will go to John R. Hoffman, who has served this chapter in numerous ways since he became a member in 1994.

We look forward to seeing you there!

From the Huffington Post:
Posted: 04/11/2012

As it turns out, coming out of the closet is good for your health — if your family members are supportive, that is.

A new study conducted by the Boston University School of Public Health found that two thirds of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in a representative Massachusetts sample experienced significantly less mental health and substance abuse problems if they received positive support from their parents after coming out.

“Given the high rates of suicide and self-harm among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth–and the high costs of treating mental-health and substance-abuse disorders—it’s critical that we understand what we can do to promote better health for LGB kids,” Emily Rothman, Ph.D, who co-authored the study with her colleagues, told PsychCentral. “The way that parents treat their LGB children when they come out is an important public health topic that has received too little attention to date.”

Interestingly, as media outlets including Queerty have pointed out, authors found that the act of coming out (instead of remaining “closeted”) was generally associated with better health for lesbian and bisexual women, but less so for gay and bisexual men. “In general, gay and bisexual men may be able to conduct their sexual lives apart from their parents with less stress,” Rothman noted. “On the other hand, it’s also possible that this was an artifact of our particular sample.”

Published in the Journal of Homosexuality, researchers reportedly surveyed 5,658 adults between the ages of 18 and 64 in Massachusetts using a statewide surveillance system.

“Being bisexual means we have the potential to be attracted to either sex. Some bisexuals, like me, may be attracted to each sex in a different way; but basically, we are capable of loving people of either sex.” Mikey, United Kingdom, age 14

Mikey may know more than many of us about what it means to be bisexual. In the LGBTQ spectrum, bisexuality is probably the least discussed and maybe the least understood. There are prejudices, even within the L/G community, about persons who identify as bisexual. Some questioning teens still discovering their own sexual attraction often first identify as bisexual. One of the issues is the label—”bi-sexual” because it suggests the word “sex”, as if that’s what being Bi is all about. Not true. There is much to learn. A panel shared their insights about the nature of bisexuality as they live it and how bisexuals have historically been misunderstood by the gay and lesbian communities.

Panelists included Dr. Cheryl Weill, psychotherapist, scientist and author of Nature’s Choice: What Science Reveals About the Biological Origins of Sexual Orientation, who told us that there is no definitive research to help us better understand any biological elements of bisexuality. In addition we heard from self-identified bi persons, Aicila Lewis, Executive Director of Out Boulder, Tim Murray and a student from Niwot High School.

Appreciation Award Ceremony and Annual Membership Banquet
Tuesday, May 8th, 6:30 p.m.

Plan to attend our annual celebration of outstanding persons in the community to be recognized as allies or as LGBTQ persons to the PFLAG mission to support, educate and advocate for equality and inclusion. Bring a side dish or dessert to supplement the PFLAG Board’s contributions of baked ham, turkey and veggie maindish, beverages and table-settings. If you have lilacs in your yard by then, please let Kristen know, klkinard@gmail.com.

TESTIMONY, written by Academy and Grammy award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz, was inspired by the the “It Gets Better Project.”

It asks these kids to hang in there, and tries to show them that they’re not alone, and that life will get better. Composer Stephen Schwartz (he wrote Godspell, Pippin, Prince of Egypt, Pocahontas, Wicked, and Enchanted) has set the heartfelt words from the “It Gets Better” project to music, weaving them into a breathtaking, emotional new masterpiece.

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performed the world-premiere of a new song called TESTIMONY in concert on March 20 and 21st. We released a music video on March 22 so we could share TESTIMONY with the world.

TESTIMONY speaks to anyone who has ever felt out of place. It resonates profoundly with anyone that’s ever struggled, or is struggling with being different and coming out.