A Letter From The President

A Time for Saying Thanks And Expressing Pride

 Bob Dorr, PFLAG Omaha

 Posted on May 23, 2006

In a way it’s appropriate that Dave England’s retirement as the
15-year leader of the Omaha PFLAG-sponsored Proud Horizons youth support
group comes during June.

June is Pride Celebration month. And certainly Omaha PFLAG takes pride
in Proud Horizons, which Dave helped start. Come to our next meeting,
at 7 p.m. on June 8, and say thank you to Dave and to his wife, Kathy,
who has supported and helped Dave. Both Dave and Kathy are past
presidents of Omaha PFLAG. As usual, we will meet in Mead Hall at the west end
of First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St.

Before then, send a note describing something you remember about
Dave an anecdote about him or a note of appreciation. Mail it to me at
12836 Shirley St., Omaha, NE 68144. Or email it to bobcdorr@cox.net. We
will assemble the notes into a book of memories.

Dave’s successors as lead facilitators of Proud Horizons are Barb and
Tom Johnson. The Johnsons will work with these other PH facilitators:
Lisa Broadway, Jeremy Johnson and Alyson Meadows. Abbey Hardy is moving
from Omaha and, thus, is leaving as a facilitator.

Two days later, on June 10, join us in the Omaha PFLAG contingent of
marchers at the Pride Parade in downtown Omaha. If you’ve marched in
previous years, you know it’s a heck of a lot of fun.and a way to show
your pride as the relative or friend of a GLBT person or as a GLBT
person.

The parade will start at 11 a.m. at 15th and Jackson Streets. Be there
by 10:30 a.m. or before and look for our large banner. The parade will
take the reverse route of last year’s parade.

After the parade ends, check out PFLAG’s table at the Pride Festival,
which will spread over the lot northeast of 10th and Pacific Streets
where last year’s marchers gathered. Take a look at the Kidz Korner
tent, which PFLAG helped with a $200 donation.

NEWSLETTER CHANGE: With this issue Omaha PFLAG begins offering its
monthly newsletter via computer. Each month you will receive an email
message containing a link. Click on the link, and the newsletter should
appear on your screen. If you are receiving this newsletter by regular
mail, and you would be willing to receive it by email, send a message with
your email address to: bobcdorr@cox.net

If you are receiving this by email and would prefer to receive it by
regular mail, email me a note expressing that wish. We don’t want to
alienate anyone. But we do want to reduce our postage expenses.

IN EARLY JUNE the U.S. Senate will vote on the proposed Federal
Marriage Amendment, which would prevent the federal government and all state
governments from allowing same-gender couples to marry.

National PFLAG has sent us eye-catching postcards for writing short
messages to our U.S. senators expressing opposition. PFLAGers picked up
many of those cards at our May support meeting, so hopefully our senators
are hearing from us.

There still is time for you to call or write. In Nebraska, our senators
are Chuck Hagel, who has said he will oppose the amendment, and Ben
Nelson, who has said he will vote for it.

The religious right wants to change the mind of Hagel, a Republican,
and has targeted him for lobbying. Call or write him and say you agree
with his stand that this is not an issue that should be enshrined in the
U.S. Constitution. His Omaha office phone: 758-8981; his Washington
office: 202-224-4224. Omaha address: 11301 Davenport St., Suite 2; Omaha,
NE 68154. Washington address: 248 Russell Senate Office Building, U.S.
Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510.

Nelson’s position once was similar to Hagel’s. But Nelson reversed
course a year ago and said he would vote in favor of the Federal
Marriage Amendment. Phone or write him and say that his stand is harmful to
you or to someone you love. His Omaha office phone: 391-3411; his
Washington office: 202-224-6551. Omaha address: 7602 Pacific St., Suite 205;
Omaha, NE 68114. Washington address: 720 Hart Senate Office Building,
U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510.

PET PEEVE: Anyone who uses the term gay lifestyle, or worse
lifestyle choice in referring to gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people

It is true that gay people have a sexual orientation, as do straight
people. However, in common with straight people, gay people do not have a
unique, identifiable lifestyle.

Many gays and straights alike have a lifestyle something like this:
They would like to sleep a little longer in the morning. But they get up,
battle rush-hour traffic and go to work. In the evening they come home,
fix dinner, take out the garbage, read the newspaper or watch TV and go
to bed.

Our Safe Schools panelists report that they frequently hear these terms
misused by audience members who many times are college students. The
terms occasionally are misused by college teachers and horror of
horrors every now and then are misused by one of our panel members.

THE CHICAGO COUNCIL of PFLAG chapters is organizing a Midwest regional
conference in Chicago on Nov. 3 and 4, 2006. It is expected to attract
many members of PFLAG chapters as well as leaders and officers. Mark
those dates on your calendars and plan to attend.

Bob Dorr,
Omaha PFLAG president