Celebrate this historic Supreme Court decision day!

Yes!  SCOTUS has affirmed our dream of marriage equality for all into a nationwide reality by their decision this morning!  This is so fantastic! 

From the decision: The majority bases its conclusion that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right on "four principles and traditions": (1) right to person choice in marriage is "inherent in the concept of individual autonomy"; (2) "two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals"; (3) marriage safeguards children and families; (4) marriage is a keystone to our social order.

From PFLAG National:

·  The justices have affirmed that PFLAG’s values are America’s values, and that means that love is love, family is family, and marriage is marriage.

·  Today’s historic ruling means same-sex couples will soon have the freedom to marry, bringing joy to the couples, their families, and friends.

·  The justices have affirmed what nearly 60% of the country now believes: that the freedom to marry is a right that all citizens should enjoy and be able to participate in should they choose to.

·  Now that all families have the right to legal protection of their loving and committed relationships, we must continue to tell our stories so that those whose hearts and minds have not changed towards people who are LGBTQ will soon move to the right side of history with us.

PFLAG will continue to press forward on other issues where we and our LGBTQ friends and loved ones are not legally protected: in the workplace, in housing, in schools and public places, and more. And of course, we will continue to provide support to those who are in need of it, education to help people more fully understand the issues facing the LGBTQ community, and advocate for equality on behalf of all people.

LOCALLY:

Tonight in Easton, MD, there will be a “Service for Peace” at 7:30 pm at the B’nai Israel Temple. http://www.bnaiisraeleaston.org/

This is open to the community at large and is in response to current events. A local choral group that "protested" the Methodist church anti LGBTQ decision will be performing as a part of this service.  I expect that there will be quite a feeling of celebration there as well!

Next Tuesday, don’t miss this on MPT “Growing up Trans” Frontline 10 pm.

And we will be hosting our usual First Friday July 3, at Fountain Park in Chestertown, 5-7!  Maybe we need champagne to share!

Remembering Chris Miller WAC '14

In Memory of Chris Miller

We are very sad to share news of the loss of a recent Washington College graduate, Chris Miller ’14.  Chris was recently in Chestertown, MD for WAC Alumni activities before heading to Lima Peru.  Details about a service for Chris are included at the end of this post.

In October of 2012 Chris shared the leadership of WAC’s EROS club.  Many of our PFLAG Chestertown friends remember how wonderful it was when the club members attended the Marriage Equality Rally we held in Fountain Park.  As they arrived together wearing their new t shirts we were supported by their presence. One photo shows the leaders speaking on our stage. Chris is on the right.  We will add our support as his many friends and family begin to find ways to show their respect and honor the memory of this wonderful person.

Chris's family is hosting a memorial service.  Here's the link to the Facebook event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/456429967849644/456794504479857/

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to a special fund that is being created at Washington College in Chris's name. Please watch this space for additional details.

You are invited to our June 5th Volunteer Appreciation Picnic!

Invites you and your Rainbow* family (and friends) to attend our

 PFLAG Chestertown Chapter

2015 Volunteer Appreciation Picnic

First Friday June 5   5-7 pm

Fountain Park, Chestertown, MD

WE will supply the burgers, desserts, beverages and paper products.

YOU may bring side dishes and a picnic blanket or chairs.

Questions? Call Linda at 443 480 3138

YOUR Rainbow* Family and Friends are invited to pose for an outdoor portrait in front of the beautiful park fountain. We are collecting these images to celebrate and illustrate the beautiful diversity of our family groups. Rainbow* Families are defined by you as the persons who support and care for the authentic you! 

 Feel free to stop by as you enjoy all the First Friday activities of Chestertown!  Hope to see you soon. 

GIVEOUT DAY: MAY 21! CHESTERTOWN TEA PARTY: MAY 23!

GIVE OUT DAY IS TOMORROW, MAY 21, 2015!

PFLAG CHESTERTOWN CHAPTER is a registered participant organization!  Simply go to GIVEOUT.org, search our name and DONATE!

You know about all the great things we do....help us do more!

 (The link works now too!)

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

(We didn't create a special giveout.org page of our own)…just search our name and click to donate online. It works! Checks can be mailed to PFLAG Chestertown 914 Gateway Drive,

 Chestertown, MD 21620

SEE MORE CHAPTER INFO AT: WWW.PFLAGCHESTERTOWN.COM

IS SATURDAY MAY 23, 2015

PFLAG CHESTERTOWN CHAPTER will have our information booth set up from 10 AM to 5 PM in a spot near Memorial Park.  

We hope you will stop by and visit awhile!

May is here! We have many opportunities and local information to share!

What a month April was and May is in full swing!  Thanks to the many folks who attended our presentation about using pronouns such as “They.” Thanks also for our visitors on First Friday May 1 in Fountain Park. Look for us again on June 5^th with our rainbow umbrella and a picnic celebrating our Rainbow Families! Welcome to several new (bcc) names on our list!  Remember to look at our website for info on prior events and other resources.

Congrats and Thanks also to those involved in the Kids Who Care Award!  Rebecca Lepter of the Kent County Family and Community Partnerships hosted a celebratory breakfast honoring the recipients. It was great to be part of this process as well as the press conference and coverage of our GSA Umbrella Krewe project. In addition, other GSA students participated in the Youth Panel presentation last week for the Big Brothers, Big Sisters project called Aim for the Future.  YOUR voices are being heard!  Thanks for making our community aware and supportive on behalf of all of us!  Congrats also to our Washington College students who are graduating next weekend!  Best wishes to you all.

Tuesday May 19, 7 pm the date of our usual monthly meeting…and this month we need to have a leadership planning meeting because we have so many things to catch up with!  Come on down to UUCR if you want to get more involved!  Like every group around, your help will be valued!  We are present if you need support or want to borrow from our resource materials.  Did anyone notice that we have donated new books to the Kent County Public libraries?  They even made a book plate for us to acknowledge our gift!

Thursday May 21 is GIVE OUT DAY!  This is the third year for this nationwide event and PFLAG Chestertown is a registered participant!  Go to ww.giveoutday.org, search for our chapter, Click and Donate!  Spread the word using social networking tools available on the site!  We will use the funds next year for improved programming, written materials to distribute and whatever new ideas you come up with!  This is a great opportunity for us…if you want to help with more promotional ideas, the door is open!

Saturday May 23 is the Chestertown Tea Party!  We will have our nonprofit info booth near Monument Park among the craft vendors. The UU’s of the Chester River will have their popular Lemon Stick booth on Park Row among the food vendors. BOTH of these settings welcome volunteers!  Remember that UUCR supports our Chapter in many ways.  Supporting their booth at the Tea Party is a great way to say Thank you.  Simply email PFLAGChestertown@gmail.com to sign up to help us.

SAVE the DATE:  Saturday June 13^th for a daytrip to DC to enjoy Capitol Pride!  We already have 14 folks planning to attend….we will have our own bus!  Contact us....

AND I have information about CampLightbulb.org , a summer camp for LGBT youth ages 14-18, July 5 to 12….and Scholarships opportunities for LGBT youth are also available!  

PFLAG Education is Important! Please do your best to join us Tues 7 pm!

Hi everyone,

We love spring and all the earth based celebrations. Keep growing in your knowledge and understanding of our wonderful young people. Celebrate our community by bringing yourself and a friend to hear this special panel of speakers. We promise to offer you a thought provoking opportunity to grow in our support of our LGBTQ friends and families.  We will also offer coffee, tea and some sweet treats!

Check out the cool speakers on the poster below and come to UUCR at 7 pm Tuesday!

UUCR (Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River) is located at

914 Gateway Drive in Chestertown, MD.  From Rt 213 heading North, turn left onto Southgate near the big Presbyterian Church. Turn right onto Gateway and we are half way down the street. We will have our Rainbow Windsock out to welcome you!  

First Friday in April is here. Celebrate our Kids Who Care Award Winners!

Wednesday April 1, 2015

This First Friday in May will be lots of fun with so many opportunities to celebrate spring happening around Chestertown. Don’t forget about our drop in opportunity to say Hello and celebrate our Kids Who Care Award winners!  Kirby Powell and Bryan Betley have been awarded this honor for their project of creating a network of Gay Straight Alliances in our area. 

This project called the “GSA Umbrella Krewe” gives our youth and the adults who work with them opportunities to get together to share ideas, socialize and build stronger connections among the area schools, faculty and families.  First Fridays from 5-7 pm we open the doors at 320 Spring Street in Chestertown.  Thanks to the generous hospitality of Bradley Lake, we gather in his office space above the Nearly New Shop in Fountain Park.  We will have some information available about upcoming events and want to hear about your schools plan for participating in the Day of Silence on April 17. 

Much collaboration makes our work strong on the Eastern Shore. We have been in touch with the Big Brother Big Sister Network, the Kent County Department of Social Services and tomorrow we will have an exhibitors table at the Home Ports Community Health Fair.  This fine event will take place at the Kent County Middle School from 8 am to 1 pm on Thursday April 2.  Please consider attending to see all the resources they have gathered.  We will be offering information on many topics including specific materials from the SAGE.org…Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders.

Do you know about the Rainbow Delmarva of Alliance (RAD) Meet up group?  Search for it online at Meetup.com and join the fun!  We want this group to become more active and you can help.  In addition to PFLAG related activities, any member can post a meet up!  Travis has posted a trip to Annapolis to see the new movie KUMUHINA.com.  This is a film we are considering for our TDOR film next November.  There must be a minimum of participants for the Annapolis show before it is on.  Check it out and join us!

See you this weekend I hope!  Your next reminder will be about the April 21 special presentation from our panel of speakers and our annual election of chapter officers…mark your calendars now…7 pm.