Marriage Matters Community Conversation Wednesday May 23, 6:00-8:00 pm
Marriage Matters Community Conversation
Wednesday, May 23 6-8 PM
6 PM Refreshments & Social Time 6:30 PM Program Begins
St. Stephen’s Church, SW 9th & Hurbert, Newport
Hear why Marriage Matters. Hear what’s happening in Oregon.
Hear why Oregonians will have to vote on it.
• Marriage says “we’re family” in a way that no other word does
• Marriage is the ultimate expression of commitment and responsibility
• Marriage is the best way to protect and care for the one you love
Right now, in 2012, thousands of gay and lesbian Oregonians are denied that
right. The Marriage Matters campaign helps Oregonians talk about marriage
equality and work together to make it happen in Oregon.
Sponsored by
Basic Rights Oregon, , PFLAG Oregon Central Coast & Rural Organizing Project
For more info and to RSVP call 541-265-7194, or email pflagocc@gmail.com or mike@basicrights.org
The Film “Bully” playing at the Bijou Theatre in Lincoln City May 11-17.
The film, BULLY is showing at the Bijou in Lincoln City during the week of May 11-17. Weekend shows are at 2, 4:30 & 7:30 with no 2 PM on week nights. Interfaith Community for Peace & Justice (ICPJ) churches are supporting bully prevention efforts and want their members to be aware and engaged. A coupon for $1 off the ticket price is supported by PFLAG.”
We’ll help you see the Bully film
Lincoln County’s Bully Prevention Project and PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians & Gays) want to help buy your ticket to see this important documentary about the effects of bullying on children, families, and communities.
Showing for one week only (May 11-17) at the Bijou Theatre in Lincoln City, this film will help raise awareness and commitment by students, staff, families, and community leaders. The film is rated PG and will be shown daily this weekend at 2, 4:30, and 7:30 PM. Beginning Monday, May 14th, the show will run at 4:30 and 7:30.
Coupons for $1 off will be widely distributed by PFLAG Oregon Central Coast, or you may make your own coupon reading, “PFLAG SENT ME TO SEE BULLY”. The first 250 coupons will be honored.
Coupons for $1 off at the concession stand will be sent home with all students at Newport Intermediate and Isaac Newton Middle Schools who can name the four antibullying rules as part of the school’s Bully Prevention Program. NIS family involvement money will also be used to charter a bus for the 11:00 am showing on May 11th and the 7:30 p.m. showing on May 17th. Call the school for more details.
Anyone who has ever been the target of a bully’s abuse knows the pain it causes. Students who are singled out for taunts –perhaps because of their race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, disabilities, or just because they may be “different”– are more susceptible to dropping out of school or attempting suicide.
According to PFLAG Chair Jeanne St. John the local chapter obtained an Equity Foundation grant to help provide schools with a bullying prevention program. LCSD teachers and staff have been going through the training, led by Majalise Tolan, principal of Isaac Newton Magnet and Newport Intermediate Schools. Tolan was certified as a trainer by the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, internationally recognized as effective in changing the school culture to prevent bullying.
All staff at NIS and INMS have been trained and began using the program when school started this year. An important feature of the program is the engagement of bystanders, and improving the level of support for students most at risk for bullying.
St. John is a Community Representative on the district’s Bully Prevention Leadership Team. This first year’s results are very encouraging with a remarkable drop in bully reports and dramatic improvements in attitudes about student safety and satisfaction.
Students are becoming “upstanders” not “bystanders”. Other schools in Lincoln County are currently exploring adoption of this program.
For more information on community support for Bully Prevention, you may contact St. John at 541-265-7194 or by email at pflagocc@gmail.com. For information on LCSD’s Olweus Bully Prevention Program, contact Tolan at 541-265-6601.
Same-sex Relationship Development Study
The Today’s Couples and Families Research Program at the University of Cincinnati Psychology Department, under the direction of Sarah Whitton, Ph.D., is recruiting participants for a new study that focuses on how same-sex relationships develop, how same-sex partners symbolize their commitment to one another, and how different relationship formation processes are related to relationship stability and emotional wellbeing. The important information gathered from this survey will be used to inform policy and relationship education programs designed to help same-sex attracted individuals initiate and maintain healthy relationships.
The reaearch program is looking for 1,000 participants to take an online survey. The reaearch lab’s website is at this link: http://homepages.uc.edu/~whittosh/TCF/SSRDS.html
Straight Allies at May PFLAG Program
A panel of “Straight Allies” will talk about their experiences being family members and friends of LGBT folks. Straight Allies are an important part of PFLAG’s membership and support network. Panelists will share their experiences with LGBT friends and family members during different seasons of their lives—and how they became advocates and outspoken supporters of the LGBT community. Oregon Central Coast PFLAG meetings are 7:00 p.m. the 2nd Wedneseday of each month at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Newport.
LCSD’s Bully Prevention Program
At the April PFLAG meeting Majalise Tolan, principal of Newport Intermediate and Isaac Newton Middle Schools, shared the excellent progress these schools have made in reducing bullying and improving the school cultures. Teachers, staff, parents and kids are all excited by the results of this first year with the Olweus Bully Prevention Program. Other schools are planning to start the program with the Fall 2012 school year.
Day of Silence
The annual Day of Silence was observed in several LCSD schools on April 13. Hundreds of students remained silent all day to focus attention on the lives of silence endured by LGBT people who must hide their sexual orientation or gender identity to maintain their safety. Newport and Toledo GSA members shared a Night of Noise party at the conclusion of their National Day of Silence events.
Nike LGBT Youth Forum
At least three of Lincoln County’s five Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) groups attended the Nike event which hosted over 400 LGBT teens from across Oregon at their annual April LGBT Youth Forum. A collaboration between Nike and GLSEN Oregon, this event helps GSA leadership learn to create positive change in their schools. The Forum featured local LGBT leaders who talked about their roles as change agents in their organizations. PFLAG OCC assisted local GSA groups with travel expenses.
GSA Spring Mini-Conference
All five Gay/Straight Aliiance (GSA) clubs in Lincoln County sent representatives to the April 28 Conference at Newport High. Presenters included Jeanne St.John, Chair of PFLAG OCC, who presented the “Genderbread Person,” a tool for GSA members to share information with their schools about Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Biological Sex, and Sexual Orientation. Other invited presenters included Daniel Beck and Jonathan Reitan of Coastal AIDS Network; University of Oregon’s LGBT Support Services, Oregon Safe Schools Project, and GSA Club members.
PFLAG Board Announces Annual Schedule
PFLAG OCC Board Members have planned the programs for 2012 to include a wide variety of topics and activities. Included events are: Marriage Equality will be the topic of June’s “Wedding Shower” party and the Absolute Harmony Chorus will hold a fundraising concert in October at the start of Coming Out Week.
Welcome to “Out Oregon Coast”!
We are a social group for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities on the Central Oregon Coast. We are just getting this group started, so please feel free to let us know what events you’d like to see happening in Lincoln County from Yachats to Newport to Lincoln City.
Our first gathering is a Lesbian Coffee Hour from 9am to 10am Tuesday, May 8th at The Coffee House on the Bayfront. The second one is OUT at Mundo, which is open mic night at Cafe Mundo on May 31 at 7pm. Join us to help kick off LGBT social events around the county.
We invite you to join our email list so we can let you know when and where the events are happening. To add your email go to www.outoregoncoast.com. You can also follow us on Facebook –just search for Out Oregon Coast. We’re looking forward to seeing you!
Marriage Equality Town Hall on Wed., May 23
Basic Rights Oregon and PFLAG OCC are hosting a Town Hall at St. Stephen’s Church, SW 9th & Hurbert in Newport on Wed., May 23. Refreshments and social time starts at 6 PM with the program beginning at 6:30. Join us for an update on plans to build support across the state and to win marriage equality in Oregon.
See you at Saturday Market on May 12!
OCC PFLAG will be there on the opening day of Newport’s Saturday Market–and hope to see you on the second Saturday of each month. We’ve got a few openings for table staffers, especially for the 8:30 to 10:45 shifts. Respond to this email to let us know which month you would like to volunteer.
Second Annual Love is Love Valentine Party Was a Success!
Steve Travis, our Master of Ceremonies for the 2012 Love is Love Valentine Party
Oregon Central Coast PFLAG is hosted the Second Annual Love is Love Valentine Party on Saturday, February 11, 2012. It was a great crowd again this year, young & old, gay & straight. Musicians and entertainment.
Barbara Turrill, balladeer, was part of the entertainment at the 2012 Love is Love Valentine Party. Jordan Ostrum, president of the Newport High School Gay-Straight Alliance.
Young and Old at 2012 Love is Love Valentine Party
Kathryn Heater and others enjoying games at 2012 Love is Love event.
Jordan Ostrum, president of the Newport High School Gay-Straight Alliance.
Judy and Steve Spector at 2012 Love is Love event.
Ronda Jantzen, romantic movie fan, at 2012 Love is Love event.
2012 Love is Love Valentine Party Dessert Table.
Pianist Jessie Treon provided part of the entertainment for our 2012 Love is Love event.
Love is Love Valentine Party
Oregon Central Coast PFLAG is hosting the Second Annual
Love is Love Valentine Party
on Saturday, February 11, 2012, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
The venue for the party will be the Oregon Coast Community College Commons, 400 SW College Way, South Beach.
All are invited–young & old, gay & straight.
Sweetheart photos will be available.
Local musicians and poets will celebrate Love. Delightful decadent desserts.
Donations appreciated and tax deductible checks payable to PFLAG OCC.
Transgender Focus
At its July meeting, OCC PFLAG began its study of transgender issues with the excellent film, “Faces & Facets of Transgender Experience,” produced by the Boulder, CO PFLAG chapter. Interviews with many transgender children and adults and their families put faces and stories with the relatively rare experience of our transgender friends.
Our speaker in August was The Rev. David Weekley, a Methodist pastor from Portland, has been an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church since 1984. He is also a Transgender man. He quietly served his congregations for twenty-eight years before sharing his story and spiritual journey with his congregation, denomination, and the world – the story of a Christian, an ordained minister, a loving husband and father. His book, In From The Wilderness, challenges Christians and all spiritual seekers to consider the truth of gender identity and sexual orientation as God given-gifts to be celebrated and embraced among all other gifts.
We look forward to future meetings with other transgender guest speakers and discussions. Resources for transgender individuals are scarce in rural areas, so our PFLAG chapter works to help connect members and friends to organizations with expertise and sensitivity to their needs.
Marriage Equality is in the News!
400 Signatures in Lincoln County!
Hope you’ve seen our Marriage Equality ad with almost 400 names in the July 1 issue of Oregon Coast Today–it’s been very exciting to see it in print and to share it with lots of people. We’re making a poster of the ad which will be displayed around the county–and we can add more names before it’s printed. If your name is not yet on the ad–please send an email to pflagocc@gmail.com by July 11 and we’ll add it before printing the posters. PFLAG Ad 070111
Article & Editorial in July 3 Oregonian
Did you see the article in the July 3 Oregonian about three gay couples with church ties who support marriage equality–and the editorial that urges churches to take a leading role in the struggle for equality? Here’s the link:
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2011/07/same_sex_couples_who_find_marr.html
Gay Soldier’s Family Supports Marriage Equality
Here’s an inspiring article from CNN about a gay soldier and his family’s dedication to marriage equality–my favorite Fourth of July story this year!
Update June 21, 2011
Some good news to share……
Saturday, June 18 was Pink Dot Day in Singapore–celebrating Freedom to Love! Watch, then share this short video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrIB5Ojbqns&feature=related
AARP has devoted a page to the LGBT community – this is progress!
http://www.aarp.org/relationships/friends-family/aarp-pride.html?cmp=RDRCT-PRID_MAY10_011
And an article about supporting LGBT children -
http://www.aarp.org/relationships/family/info-03-2011/support_gay_children.html
Save these dates….
Mon. June 27 FREE HIV/AIDS Testing All Day at Health Dept. on Nye St.
National HIV/AIDS Testing Day
Wed. June 29 7 PM at St. Stephen’s Church in Newport
Dessert Potluck to celebrate our Marriage Equality newspaper ad
and showing of film, “Edie & Thea”, the story of a 40 year engagement.
Sat. July 9 PFLAG Table at Newport Saturday Market
Sign up for a shift–8:15 to 10:30 or 10:30 to 1:15
Wed. July 13 7 PM at St. Stephen’s Church in Newport
PFLAG Meeting Transgender Faces and Facets film by Boulder PFLAG Chapter
What’s Coming Up this Summer?
Oregon Central Coast PFLAG
Upcoming Events, Summer 2011
June 8 PFLAG Meeting Marc Adams, Heartstrong
Heartstrong’s mission is to provide information, support and hope to LGBT students in religious high schools and colleges who have no role models or adult encouragement.
June 11 PFLAG Table at Newport Saturday Market
Information table staffed by PFLAG members and volunteers from Lincoln County’s Welcoming Churches
June 24 PFLAG’s Marriage Equality Ad in Newport News-Times
PFLAG members have collected over 300 signatures of those who support Marriage Equality to be published during “Wedding Month”
July 9 PFLAG Table at Newport Saturday Market
Information table staffed by PFLAG members and volunteers from Lincoln County’s Welcoming Churches
July 13 PFLAG Meeting Transgender Faces & Facets
Beginning our community information and discussion about the least common and most misunderstood aspect of gender identity with a film produced by the Boulder PFLAG Chapter
August 10 PFLAG Meeting Transgender Speaker
David Weekley, Methodist Clergyman from Portland will be guest speaker
August 13 PFLAG Table at Newport Saturday Market
Information table staffed by PFLAG members and volunteers from Lincoln County’s Welcoming Churches
