A Letter From The President
Bob Dorr, PFLAG Omaha
Posted on December 23, 2004
Michael Gordon, executive director of Citizens for Equal Protection (CFEP), will speak at Omaha PFLAG’s monthly support meeting on Jan. 13.
Michael will give an update on the federal court lawsuit challenging Nebraska’s constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships. Nebraska voters adopted the amendment, known as Initiative 416, four years ago. Michael also will talk about CFEP’s plans for 2005, including what the group hopes to accomplish in the Nebraska Legislature.
CFEP is the leading political advocacy and lobbying organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender causes in Nebraska. Michael has spoken several times to PFLAG in recent years and always is welcome.
The meeting will include socializing at 6:30 p.m., support time at 7 p.m. and the program at 8 p.m. Our meeting place is Mead Hall at the west end of First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St. All are welcome.
I recently substituted for Dave England at a meeting of Proud Horizons, PFLAG’s youth support group. Dave, the group’s lead facilitator, has the help of four other facilitators: Tony Vincent, Abbey Hardy, Jeremy Johnson and Lisa Broadway.
Dave is a former Omaha PFLAG president who has been the stabilizing force throughout the 10-year-plus existence of Proud Horizons.
Tony, Abbey, Jeremy and Lisa are thoughtful young adults who want to help make life better for GLBT youths. They know the youths who come to meetings sometimes are taunted at school and might have little or no support at home.
At least two facilitators attend each weekly meeting. Tony and Abbey facilitated the discussion on the day I attended. About 15 teen-aged youths joked with each other, engaged in small talk and talked about serious issues in their lives. Tony and Abbey listened. They gently guided the discussion. They spoke from the solid base of their maturity and experience. It was a pleasure for me to listen to the give-and-take.
Just a few years ago, Proud Horizons was the only safe place in Omaha where GLBT youths could talk about their often-difficult lives in a setting where they were affirmed and respected. Today some high schools have gay, straight alliances that have faculty advisers and meet on an extracurricular basis. Proud Horizons remains the only citywide youth support group in Omaha for GLBT youths and their straight allies. It is clear that Proud Horizons still fills a need.
Until a couple of years ago, Proud Horizons didn’t make public its meeting time and place out of fear of disturbance or harassment. That fear has lessened. The group meets each Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Mead Hall, the same place PFLAG meets.
Read about Tony Vincent’s latest teaching award on another page of this newsletter.
The Omaha-based Watanabe Charitable Trust has given Omaha PFLAG a $1,000 grant to use in buying literature during 2005. Each year PFLAG distributes a few thousand booklets, pamphlets and fliers. The need is growing. The literature goes to those who call our telephone Help Line and to audience members at appearances by our Safe Schools speakers and panelists. We give our heartfelt thanks to the Watanabe Charitable Trust.
Go to the web site NebraskaGLBTevents.com to see a calendar listing of meetings, conferences, festivals, shows and other GLBT-related events. The site was started recently by Chris Shepherd (Nebraska Pink Pages) and Troy Haasis (Rainbow Celebrations). It will rely on banner advertising and donations to meet costs. Any remaining money will be given to charitable groups.
Bob Dorr, president
