Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Join us: Tuesday, December 16th PFLAG Chestertown Chapter                                                                    Monthly Meeting, 7 pm, UUCR

We hope your holidays are shaping up to bring you some special time with those important folks in your life.  We also hope you will consider spending an evening with your local friends in our chapter!  On Tuesday December 16th, at 7 pm we will meet at the Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River church at 914 Gateway Drive in Chestertown. 

Everyone is welcome to attend...and we mean EVERYONE!

We plan to informally share our experiences and reactions to the recent national and local events related to our justice system.  PFLAG National has signed on to a letter of support (and we will reviewed it) and locally our chapter participated in the Chestertown Christmas Parade (that was fun!) and a Vigil in Fountain Park last Friday night…let’s brainstorm and share what we can offer one another to improve these serious dynamics in our local and nationwide communities.

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On a lighter note, we also want to toast the many social justice advances for our LGBTQ family and friends in 2014 and exciting opportunities ahead in 2015!  Together we are working to make this world a better place for all.  Snacks and beverages to share are welcome!  I'll bring some savory goodies!  Who will cover the sweet tooths?

ALSO...Save the DATE:  Friday January 6, 6-9 pm for the Brittain Family Farewell Open House

More details to be shared soon!

Linda Dutton, Secretary 

-- 
PFLAG Chestertown Maryland Chapter

Parents, families, friends, and allies united with LGBTQ Communities
Serving the mid and upper Eastern Shore of Maryland
with Education, Support and Advocacy Services
monthly meetings on third Tuesdays 7 pm Sept-May
locations and dates may vary so check out:


https://www.pflagchestertown.com

        
 443 480 3138 Leave a message please

Friday, December 5, 2014

Vigil tonight Dec 5 7pm Fountain Park Chestertown


Please see the attached flier for the vigil being held tonight, Dec. 5th at Fountain Park at7pm.  Linda Dutton is helping organize this along with PFLAG and the Mediation Center and others.  This is an opportunity to show UU support and to Stand on the Side of Love.  Please wear all black and help blackout injustice.


Unfortunately the flyer for this event is unable to be posted and we know it is a rainy First Friday with many competing events. We have so many opportunities to share.  Maybe we will get some photos to post later. 

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Hi friends,

We had a wonderful walk down High Street in Chestertown as part of the Christmas Parade yesterday.  Our Kent County High School and area youthful friends showed their pride and presence as we followed the KCHS band near the beginning of the line up.  We are thrilled that the GSA at the school is meeting regularly and is announced over the school intercom! I really appreciate what a big change this for everyone.



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The other joy to share is that our Transgender Day of Remembrance event was also very special.  We had large crowd of thoughtful friends as well as special guests.  The photo shows our team and our new friends who are Two Spirits leaders in both the Native American and Trans communities.  We would love to have them return again to share their talents, expertise and wisdom.  

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Finally, We want to encourage you all to engage your heads and hearts to work for more peace and safety in our community and larger world.   One opportunity is to attend a Vigil to honor and respect the Ferguson MO community.  Next Friday December 5 at 7 pm a gathering will take place in Fountain Park in Chestertown.  We hope you will consider attending....the next blog post will be the flier announcing the vigil.

And several other programs also speak to safety...and are available to us.  Please see the attached information about the Safe Spaces training opportunities.  Our meetings for Dec as well as the winter months ahead are full of wonderful folks offering to give to our community. Please know that we are open to giving to our members...and hope you will also tell us what interests you.  Thanks to everyone who has already renewed their memberships!  

Monday, November 24, 2014

Join us as we March in the Kent County Christmas Parade!

Join the Kent County Christmas Parade PFLAG Marchers Sat Nov 29!

Take an hour or two next Saturday morning to walk off the Turkey and have some fun with your PFLAG friends!

Simply SHOW UP at the staging area on Dixon Drive and High Street in Chestertown between 9-9:45 am Saturday November 29!  Walk down the line till you find us in our red and rainbow regalia!  We will have some things to throw and festive gear to wear...Parade starts to move at 10 am and ends at the bottom of High Street.  It is short, but sweet!

Come out and show your support for our wonderful chapter.  WE have so much to be thankful for this year…it was another very special Transgender Day of Remembrance event, Easton outreach meeting and plans in the works.  Bring your family and friends of all ages.  Your participation benefits all of us!  This is our group last year at the end of the parade!



Monday, November 3, 2014

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil and Film November 20, 7 pm


Please join us for our Third Annual
Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Our brief vigil will begin at 7 pm followed immediately by the showing of the film.  A discussion will follow.

Friday, October 10, 2014

OCT is full of LGBT EVENTS! David Mixner at WC next week!

Oct is National Coming out Month

Allies also need to come out as allies!

Our kids need encouragement to be true to themselves as well as to their friends....everyone has a path ahead in a safe school...

http://www.gsafewi.org/resources/for-youth-gsas/gsa-actions-events/ready-made-events-for-the-2012-13-school-year/

The C.V. Starr Center
for the Study of the American Experience, the Louis L. Goldstein Program in Public Affairs and
the Cater Society 
present

"A Life in Activism: Five Decades of Fighting for Human Rights"

A talk by David Mixner 

Tuesday, OCTOBER 14, 2014
7:00 p.m.
 
Hynson Lounge, Hodson Hall
Washington College


     
Author, political strategist, civil rights activist, and public affairs advisor David Mixner shares his passions: progressive politics, foreign policy, LGBT rights and wildlife advocacy. Once named by Newsweek as the most powerful gay man in America, Mixner has been a highly regarded leader in American politics and international human rights for over 40 years.

And from: CESAR HERNANDEZ |  Western Field & Policy Manager
PFLAG National-Los Angeles Office| 550 S. Hope Street | 24th Floor Suite 113 | Los Angeles, CA 90007

Information about My2024:
My2024 is a groundbreaking 10-day event in October 2014 that will connect LGBTQ communities across the country to think about the future. Think of it as a national conversation and a giant online rally to imagine our lives in the year 2024. Everyone shares their own ideas and visions for their personal future and the future of the movement. Together, our crowdsourced contributions will help build the My2024 Declaration, a call-to-action for the next decade of the LGBTQ movement. The My2024 Declaration will serve as a framework for further dialogue, development, and action by both partner organizations and individuals. My2024 is a collaboration between the Arcus Foundation and the non-profit Institute for the Future. My2024 is public and open to anyone who identifies as LGBTQ living in the U.S.
The focus of this event is to collectively imagine our futures as LGBTQ individuals, as well as the future of the movement. What will we be fighting for in 10 years? What will we have accomplished?
48-hour online event: October 7-8
Shape the future of the movement. Share your ideas and add your voice to the My2024 Declaration. Pre-register for the event at www.My2024.us.
Make the Future Missions: October 9-15
Seeing is believing. Bring the My2024 Declaration to life and help it grow. Take on Missions, inspired by our Declaration, and prototype the future through videos, images, and stories that embody the future you want.
Celebrate the My2024 Declaration: October 16
Celebrate the compelling visions that have surfaced throughout the 10-day event. The My2024 Declaration is a public statement; a call to action for the next decade of the LGBTQ movement. However you participate, your contributions will inspire others as we journey into the future together.
Here are the steps to get started:
Invite LGBTQ people to join the conversation at http://My2024.us. You can also re-post from their Facebook, Twitter (@My2024LGBTQ), and Instagram (@My2024). Make sure to use #My2024! Tweets and Facebook posts to get started:
#My2024 is live! 48 hours, thousands of visions for the future of the #LGBTQ movement. They need your voice athttp://My2024.us
Is there a future for the #LGBTQ movement? No, there are thousands & one of them is yours.

As never before, the needs of transgender and other gender-expansive young people are being recognized and met. Join families and professionals for fun and informative conference dedicated solely to the needs of children and youth across the gender spectrum!
When:      Friday, November 14, 2014 (Professional Symposium)
                Saturday, November 15, 2014 (Family and Youth Conference)
Where:     Baltimore, Md. at the North Baltimore Plaza Hotel
During the conference, we will offer a range of programming, activities and immediately accessible resources to empower young people to effectively navigate their world.
The Family and Youth Conference will feature a broad array of workshops and supportive spaces for parents; separate programming for teens, tweens, and kids; various community-building opportunities; and numerous resources to help attendees support the gender diversity of all children and youth. We will also have a number of optional activities planned on the evening of November 14 for families and youth arriving early.
The Professional Symposium is dedicated to helping medical, legal, mental health and education professionals better understand and serve transgender and gender-expansive children youth. Join local and national leaders for in-depth exploration of best practices for ensuring every young person is safe and supported, regardless of their gender identity or expression
To learn more about our gathering, please visit www.genderconferenceeast.org or email us at info@genderconferenceeast.org

Catherine Hyde
Transgender Coordinator, PFLAG Columbia-Howard County, Md.
Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic, PFLAG National













Free and open to  the public.
Book signing to follow.
More information on our website.


Tuesday, October 7, 2014

October activities in our area and more Supreme Court news!

Wow…another SCOTUS Surprise and yes, October has action on the Eastern Shore!

Please share a smile and a knowing heart because of the exciting marriage equality news that came from our US Supreme Court. Got tohttp://www.hrc.org/, OR http://www.scotusblog.com/ to read about the big default decision not to hear several cases resulting in supporting marriage for all in those states! Yes, this news stands as part of the beautiful wave of love from so many of our PFLAG families and advocates who have helped to change history. Take a breath and realize the power and potential created by this commitment.

So, yes, next weekend Oct 11 is National Coming Out Day!  http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/national-coming-out-day  We would love to have your help as we continue the good work in progress with our local youth and their various schools.  We also have the Gender East Conference  in our area in November. http://www.genderconferenceeast.org/.
You will hear more soon about our third local Transgender Day of Remembrance on Thurs Nov 20 at the Garfield in Chestertown.  Just search/ask and you will find much more in the area.
This is inspiring...go students!

This month our PFLAG chapter is holding simultaneous Third Tuesday meetings (October 21) in BOTH Chestertown, MD as well as Easton, MD!  Our friends in Easton want to be more involved, so we are taking our meeting on the road to the UU Fellowship in Easton!  From 6-7 pm we will socialize and at 7 pm we have a fine program planned beginning the discussion with a TED talk.
In Chestertown, the same will happen, but the start time is 7 pm at the UUs of the Chester River. Come enjoy our combo of socializing, education, support and planning at either of the UU locations.

These in person connections are so important.  YOU are always welcome and part of who and why we do our work.  PFLAG is a family and friends based organization doing all kinds of amazing things.  Get involved…and join the wave of change and love.

We are here and ready for your energy.