Hi friends,

A week ago today many of us gathered to celebrate the adventurous Brittian Family. Cindy and Susan, we are grateful to you both for so many contributions to our PFLAG Community. There are (and always will be) so many amazing stories to share when it comes to the both of you!  What a great surprise to have out of town PFLAG friends from Baltimore also attend your party!  If you haven’t seen the photos….we will post some on the website.

Since we are in the party mode….let’s keep going and focus on:

Chestertown’s Saturday February 7, “Chester Gras” activities followed by the 4^th annual Mardi Gras Dance Party at the Garfield Center for the Arts. Many LGBTQ folks have requested a gay friendly dance!  This is your opportunity!  The  Chester Gras and MGDP events are truly a fun time, welcoming of all ages, stages and inclinations! Costumes are encouraged all day long.  

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Our chapter is pleased to subsidize the ticket cost for any Gay Straight Alliance Youth who would like to attend the dance. This is a $10 value for you.  Please call Linda Dutton at 443 480 3138 to reserve your ticket.  We want our youth to network with other youth planning to attend from area schools.  Don't have a ride?  Reach out and we will try to help. Get creative and shock your parents by asking them to go to a dance party with you!  After arriving you both may simply become invisible to one another in the crowd full of costumes.    

We also want to encourage all ages in our chapter to participate in the Chester Gras Activities and Parade that afternoon.  The line up will take place in the Kent County Court House Parking Lot at 12:30 pm. The parade loops around Fountain Park beginning at 1 pm.  Our group will be obvious with our usual rainbow flag as well as some added Mardi Gras flags and umbrellas!

Just show up!  We will give you a mask or boa to wear and some goodies to throw.

Chester Gras is sponsored by Peoples Bank of Kent County and the proceeds from these events benefit the Backpack Program.

Gay Straight Alliance Youth:  We will also have our February 6 First Friday gathering at 5 pm in Chestertown.  Details to follow.

Yes, there is also a chapter meeting next week on Tuesday January 20^th at 7 pm at UUCR. The address is 914 Gateway Drive, Chestertown, MD.  This month we will have an open discussion meeting with several new materials to share. Our PFLAG National office has sent us several copies of the new Guide to being a Trans Ally and we have many other new materials donated to our Resource Library by our friends and members.

We also have compiled several resources addressing personal safety and tips for knowing your rights in legal situations.  Remember, 2015 is our year to take better care of one another!  Next month we will be announcing our plans for Safe Space Trainings, coordinated plans among several area Gay Straight Alliances and topics planned for March and April monthly meetings.