OCC PFLAG

The May 2013 newsletter for Oregon Central Coast PFLAG can be found here.     This month’s newsletter is full of great local and national news. — including our calendar of events for the Oregon Central Coast PFLAG.

Three items of note–

1.  Wednesday, May 8.  PFLAG Meeting at 7 PM at St. Stephen’s Church with program on bullying. We will have a short film followed by discussion. Do you have tales of bullying to share?

2.   Saturday, May 11, Farmer’s Market Table. We’re getting ready for the Saturday Market season–PFLAG and the Welcoming Congregations will have a table on the second Saturday of each month–May through Oct.  First date is May 11. Can you help staff a table for a few hours for one of those Saturdays?  Send an e-mail ASAP to brent.burford@gmail.com  and we’ll get everyone scheduled.

3.  Sunday, May 19, Just the Girls Coffee Hour 11 AM.  For for OUT Oregon Coast coffee this month, a change.  The OUT Oregon Coast LGBT Women’s Coffee Hour is switching day & location this month–It will be a Sunday gathering instead of the usual Tuesdays–it will be:

Just the Girls Coffee Hour Sunday
May 19th 11am-Noonish
Green Salmon,  220 Hwy 101 in Yachats.
For more information on that, contact pamela@pamelamadison.com

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Additional calendar items—

OCC PFLAG Calendar

Monday, May 6, 3:30 – 6:30 pm: BBQ Fundraiser for Pink Prom (for LGBTQ-&-friends high school students)
and UO TeachOut Conference—South Eugene High School Parking Lot

May 8, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting, ( Short film on bullying followed by discussion)—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert,
Newport

May 11: PFLAG and Welcoming Congregations Table at Newport Saturday Market

May 19, 11:00 am-Noonish: Just the Girls Coffee Hour—Green Salmon, Yachats

June 4, 9:00 am: OUT Lesbian Coffee—Coffee House, Newport Bayfront

June 12, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport

June 18, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians–Green Salmon, Yachats

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The Coastal AIDS Network* monthly activities:
–Second Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Activity Night” (call for information (541)994-5597)
–Third Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Pizza Night” (Newport Abbey’s Pizza)
–Fourth Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Men’s Pot Luck” (Locations vary! Call (541)994-5597 or email coastalaidsnetwork@gmail.com for information)
–We also try to have pizza in Tillamook or Pacific City.
Email Dan, coastalaidsnetwork@gmail.com or leave a message for him at (541)994-5597.

*CAN activities are open to everyone, regardless of HIV status or sexual orientation except for “Men’s Pot Luck.”
Occasionally we bend that rule for special events.

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Social LGBT Oregon Coast Group: OUT Oregon Coast
www.outoregoncoast.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-Oregon-Coast/194768480642314

Newsletter:  This month’s newsletter is full of great local and national news–including photos from our county’s TWO Marriage Equality rallies on March 26 and the International Women’s Day Bridge Walk on March 8.  Our April 2013 Newsletter for Oregon Central Coast PFLAG is found here.

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Highlights: Upcoming events calendar for Oregon Central Coast PFLAG is below.  Events in the next week are:
–Tuesday, April 2  LGBT Women’s Coffee Hour at the Coffee House on Newport’s Bayfront
–Monday, April 8 NOW forum on Bullying. Local NOW Addresses Youth Issues “The Effects of Bullying, Sexual Harassment, & Dating Violence” is the topic of the panel discussion at the April 8 NOW (National Organization for Women) meeting at 7:00 pm at Central Lincoln PUD in Newport. PFLAG members Jordan Ostrum and Jeanne St.John are panel members who will discuss these hostile experiences in local schools.
–Wednesday, April 10     PFLAG Meeting at 7 PM at St. Stephen’s Church with program on LGBT Families with kids.  PFLAG Secretary Deb Lyman will host and introduce the program and speakers.

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OCC PFLAG Calendar:

–April 2, 9:00 am: OUT Lesbian Coffee—Coffee House, Newport Bayfront
–April 5, 7:00-9:00 pm: Drop-in social for LGBT folks who are deaf or hard of hearing—Eugene Coffee Company, 1840 Chambers St., Eugene
–April 6, 7:30 pm: Damsels Divas & Dames 2013: I Will Survive–A Benefit for HIV Alliance—Hult Center, Eugene
–April 8, 7:00 pm: NOW Meeting, “The Effects of Bullying, Sexual Harassment, and Dating Violence”—Central Lincoln PUD
–April 10, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting, “LGBT Families Raising Children”—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport
–April 16, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians–Green Salmon, Yachats

–May 3, 7:00-9:00 pm: Drop-in social for LGBT folks who are deaf or hard of hearing—Eugene Coffee Company, 1840 Chambers St., Eugene
–May 7, 9:00 am: OUT Lesbian Coffee—Coffee House, Newport Bayfront
–May 8, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport
–May 21, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians –Green Salmon, Yachats

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The Coastal AIDS Network*  Monthly activities:

–Second Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Activity Night” (call for information (541)994-5597)
–Third Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Pizza Night” (Newport Abbey’s Pizza)
–Fourth Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Men’s Pot Luck” (Locations vary! Call (541)994-5597 or email coastalaidsnetwork@gmail.com for information)
–Pizza: We also try to have pizza in Tillamook or Pacific City. Email Dan, coastalaidsnetwork@ gmail.com or leave a message for him at (541)994-5597.
*CAN activities are open to everyone, regardless of HIV status or sexual orientation except for “Men’s Pot Luck.” Occasionally we bend that rule for special events.

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Social LGBT Oregon Coast Group:
OUT Oregon Coast.
www.outoregoncoast.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-Oregon-Coast/194768480642314

The March 2013 newsletter for the Oregon Central Coast PFLAG is found here.

The March PFLAG meeting will be on Wednesday, March 13, at 7:00 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, located at the corner of SW 9th St. & Hurbert St. in Newport.  The presentation for the March PFLAG Meeting is –

Two Spirits:  Traditional & current roles of LGBT people in Native American cultures with speakers from the Siletz Tribes

On Friday, March 8th at 12:00 noon, the International Women’s Day Bridge Walk for Peace  will meet at the north end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge.   Women and the men who love them will bring signs & banners celebrating women and their struggle for justice and peace.  This is co-sponsored with Interfaith Community for Peace & Justice and National Organization for Women.

Watch for updates with more activities related to Oregon United for Marriage!  Thanks to everyone who joined us in Newport and Lincoln City on Feb. 14 to be among the first to sign petitions to place marriage equality on the ballot in 2014!

If you haven’t yet joined PFLAG, please use the form on page 8 of the newsletter, or our online Paypal button located at:   www.pflagocc.org

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OCC PFLAG Calendar

March 5, 9:00 am: OUT Lesbian Coffee—Coffee House, Newport Bayfront

March 10, 4:00-6:30: Honoring Rabbi Yitz Husbands-Hankin—Temple Beth Israel, 1175 E. 29th Avenue, Eugene.

March 13, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting, Native Americans and LGBT—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport

March 19, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians–Green Salmon, Yachats

April 6, 7:30 pm: Damsels Divas & Dames 2013: I Will Survive–A Benefit for HIV Alliance—Hult Center, Eugene

April 3, 9:00 am: OUT Lesbian Coffee—Coffee House, Newport Bayfront

April 11, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting, LCDS Bully Prevention Update—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport

April 17, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians–Green Salmon, Yachats

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The Coastal AIDS Network* monthly activities:

Second Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Activity Night” (call for information (541)994-5597)

Third Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Pizza Night” (Newport Abbey’s Pizza)

Fourth Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Men’s Pot Luck” (Locations vary! Call (541)994-5597 or email coastalaidsnetwork@gmail.com for information)

We also try to have pizza in Tillamook or Pacific City. Email Dan, coastalaidsnetwork@ gmail.com or leave a message for him at (541)994-5597.

*CAN activities are open to everyone, regardless of HIV status or sexual orientation except for “Men’s Pot Luck.” Occasionally we bend that rule for special events.

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Social LGBT Oregon Coast Group:

http://www.outoregoncoast.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-Oregon-Coast/194768480642314

The February 2013 of the Oregon Central Coast PFLAG Newsletter can be found at this here.

The February meeting of Oregon Central Coast PFLAG is this Wednesday, February 13th at 7:00 pm. It will be held in the meeting room of the Newport Public Library, 35 NW Nye Street, Newport, Oregon 97365. Our presentation will be by Mike Grigsby of Basic Rights Oregon who will be discussing the kick off of the push for Marriage equality to be on the Oregon ballot in 2014.  There will be an opportunity to sign the petition needed to put this issue on the Oregon ballot.

Basic Rights Oregon is starting their push to get Marriage Equality on the ballot in Oregon for the 2014 ballot. The kick off events are this Thursday, February 14th, at various locations throughout the state.

For those in Lincoln County, the Thursday kick off event will be held at The Eventuary, 560 SW Fleet Ave, Lincoln City, this Thursday at 5:00 pm.  It is 2 blocks west of Highway 101 near the intersection of SW 13th St and Fleet St.   Signatures will be gathered for the petition to get this issue on the ballot.

The December 2012 Newsletter of Oregon Central Coast PFLAG can be found here.

Article on OCC-PFLAG in UU publication Interweave.   The Oregon Central Coast chapter of PFLAG was discussed in depth in a three page article beginning on page seven of the December Issue of Interweave, a Unitarian Universalist publication concerning LGBT issues and welcoming congregations. That article is found on our website here  or on the UUA site here.

December 4, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.  Basic Rights Oregon is traveling to communities across Oregon to celebrate recent victories for marriage equality and engage communities in a plan to win the freedom to marry in Oregon! The Marriage Equality Tour will stop in Lincoln County on Tuesday, December 4, 6:00‐8:00pm, St. Stephen’s, SW 9th & Hurbert.

For December activities of OUT Oregon Coast, Coastal AIDS Network, and CLASS Women’s Potluck, see the calendar of activities in the December Newsletter of Oregon Central coast PFLAG, here.

January 9, 7:00 pm: January meeting of Oregon Central Coast PFLAG at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 9th & Hurbert, Newport, OR

November 2012 Newsletter can be found here.

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November OCCoast PFLAG Calendar

November 3: Lincoln County Youth Leadership Conference

November 11, 7:00 pm: Inlaws & Outlaws, Oregon Public Boradcasting.

November 14, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport.  The Nov. 14 meeting will focus on Homeless LGBT Teens–nationally up to 40% of homeless teens are gay!

November 16: International Day of Tolerance

November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20: 7:00 pm. CAN Third Tuesday LGBT “Pizza Night” at Abbey’s Pizza in Newport, 932 N.W. Coast Highway, Newport, OR.

November 25: International Women’s Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women beginning The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

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Out Oregon Coast — Social LGBT Oregon Coast Group:   www.outoregoncoast.com  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-Oregon-Coast/194768480642314

November 13, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians—Coffee House, Newport Bayfront, 156 S.W. Bay Blvd., Newport, OR.

November 27, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians–at the Green Salmon, 220 Wighway 101, Yachats, OR.

December 4, 9:00 am: OUT Lesbian Coffee—Coffee House, Newport Bayfront, 156 S.W. Bay Blvd, Newport, OR.

December 18, 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians–Green Salmon, 220 Highway 101, Yachats, OR

OUT Hiking Group: If you like to find hiking buddies for spontaneous hikes, or join us for an organized group hike, please send Pamela an email at amela@pamelamadison.com.

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The Coastal AIDS Network* monthly activities:

Second Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Activity Night” (call for information (541)994-5597)

Third Tuesday, 7:00 pm:  LGBT “Pizza Night” at Abbey’s Pizza in Newport, 932 N.W. Coast Highway, Newport, OR.

Fourth Tuesday, 7:00 pm: “Men’s Pot Luck” (Locations vary! Call (541)994-5597 or email coastalaidsnetwork@gmail.com for information)

We also try to have pizza in Tillamook or Pacific City. Email Dan, coastalaidsnetwork@gmail.com, or leave a message for him at (541)994-5597.

*CAN activities are open to everyone, regardless of HIV status or sexual orientation except for “Men’s Pot Luck.” Occasionally we bend that rule for special events.

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CLASS Women’s Potlucks:   Jeannette at 867-6993.

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October PFLAG meeting — a “Coming Out” Party!

This month’s meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 7 PM at St. Stephen’s Church in Newport will be our annual “Coming Out” Party in observance of Coming Out Week.  We’ll share our stories of coming out as LGBT, or as parents, family, or friends of those who are!  October is LGBT History month–hope you’ll celebrate by being a full-time advocate and ally!

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“Gay 101″

A new page has been added to our website with basic information material concerning the GLBT community.  Link to the new page is on the left column of this page with the listing of the pages to this website.

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October 2012 activites  of Out Oregon Coast

Out Oregon Coast is a social group for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities on the Central Oregon Coast. Social events for the central Oregon coast GLBT community are coordinated by this group. For the most current activities, go to the groups webpage, www.outoregoncoast.com, or follow the group on Facebook by a name search for “Out Oregon Coast”.

October 2012 Newsletter of Out Oregon Coast

October 2012 activites  of Out Oregon Coast are:

Just the Girls at Coffee House, Newport Bayfront Tuesday, October 9 from 9-10 AM

Just the Girls at Green Salmon, Yachats Tuesday, October 23 from 9-10 AM

Dinner at ARR Place — 143 SW Cliff St., Newport Thursday, October 25 at 6 PM Enjoy music by Barbara Turrill

July 11, 7:00 pm: PFLAG Meeting. Subject–Families with LGBT Kids—Then and Now—St. Stephen’s, 9th & Hurbert, Newport

July 14, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm: PFLAG at Saturday Market—Newport

July 17 , 9:00 am: OUT on the Oregon Coast for Lesbians–at the Green Salmon, Yachats

July 26, 5-7 pm: OUT on the Oregon Coast Happy Hour for LGBT Folk—Cafe Mundo, Newport

In response to an anti-gay Viewpoint published on the opinion page of the Newport News-Times, the following response was prepared by OCC PFLAG president Jeanne St. John and was subsequently printed in the same paper.

Outpouring of Support for LGBT Community

Being born left-handed is a disadvantage, but it’s rarely life-threatening or the cause of isolation or abuse.  In previous eras left-handed people were shunned, considered evil—“sinister” means left-handed.  About the same percentage of the population is gay as left-handed—and both conditions are part of our “wiring” rather than conscious choices.

A recent Viewpoint expressed the writer’s opinion that he and God find unrepentant gay (LGBT) people deserving of the death penalty.  Publication of this statement was a call to action for hundreds of Lincoln County residents who collected signatures and talked to friends and church members about this incident. (We welcome the recent change of Opinion Page policy.)

Unless you have a gay friend or family member, you may not know the depth of fear such statements generate.  Many LGBT members in our communites have experienced death threats and physical abuse; at least one has experienced the murder of a partner for being born gay.

Several local LGBT teens have seriously contemplated suicide this spring because they don’t have enough support from their families or from their communities to keep them going. At least one local gay teen recently attempted suicide.  This is life and death business—and we need to be on the side of life.

Four years ago a gay teen in Newport killed himself despite the efforts of school and mental health professionals. From that loss came the Oregon Central Coast Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays), to make Lincoln County more welcoming and supportive for the LGBT community.

PFLAG holds monthly meetings that provide “support to cope with an adverse society; education to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights.”  Speakers and films give us much-needed information about LGBT-related issues. Support groups provide a forum for individuals to discuss concerns about relationships at work or with family members. Advocacy efforts include a strong effort for marriage equality—last summer we published an ad and poster with over 400 local signatures.  Meetings are held on the third Wednesday at 7 PM at St. Stephen Church in Newport.

PFLAG works with LCSD’s Bully Prevention programs, contributed to the purchase of materials and to discounts for the recent Bully documentary film. Schools with GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) clubs have less bullying and better academic achievement, so PFLAG helps support GSA groups in high schools, OCCC, and Angell Job Corps.

Although churches have been the source of much suffering for LGBT people, several Lincoln County churches have studied and adopted Welcoming Church statements and now partner with PFLAG at Farmer’s Market tables and at the annual “Love is Love” Gay/Straight Valentine Party.  Their extension of God’s love is life-giving and life-saving.

PFLAG is a resource for the whole community.  In coming months we will hold Community Meetings with panels of PFLAG parents, clergy, GSA members, and LGBT people to provide “everything you wanted to know about gay but didn’t know who to ask.”

In the outpouring of love and support following that hostile Viewpoint, many asked how they could help. Here’s a start. Join PFLAG to support our many community projects. Be a “Straight Ally” by speaking up for LGBT rights. Contribute to projects like LGBT teen support groups. Attend PFLAG events and fundraisers.  Post rainbow stickers as a sign of welcome. Help staff a Farmer’s Market table.  Join the PFLAG email list to stay informed and visit our website for more detailed information: www.occpflag.org

Several gays suggested, “Pray for that man and others that their hearts may be opened.”

Jeanne St.John, Ph.D is Chair of PFLAG Oregon Central Coast, a retired LCSD principal, and a volunteer for schools, churches, and other community groups.

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