A Letter From The President

July Potluck—Eating and Socializing

 Bob Dorr, PFLAG Omaha

 Posted on June 28, 2007

At Omaha PFLAG meetings, we normally take a short break at the end of our support time. For a few minutes, everyone talks and munches on cookies. Then it’s my job to get the talk stopped and the program started. PFLAGers like to talk. I sometimes feel like a teacher struggling to get rambunctious students into the classroom after recess.

At our July 12 meeting, you can talk and socialize to your heart’s content. And you will get a delightful meal. It’s our annual potluck. Bring your whole family. We will gather at 6:30 p.m. at our usual place, Mead Hall at First United Methodist Church. We won’t have support time or a program.

Bring one side dish for at least eight people. PFLAG will provide the main dish as well as soft drinks, tea, coffee and disposable tableware. We need a head count and an indication of what you plan to bring. Email program chair Carrie Spencer to say how many are coming and which side dish you will bring. Your choices: (1) salad/vegetable (2) casserole or (3) dessert. Carrie’s email: carrie1224@yahoo.com

Anything else at the potluck will be impromptu. Following an email exchange, I think chances are good that a lesbian mom and her 7-year-old daughter from Massachusetts will stop in Omaha during their vacation trip and attend our potluck. If she comes, I might ask her to say a few words about same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

TELEPHONE HELP LINE

We hate to lose Help Line Volunteer Sandy Mishkin. She and her husband are moving to Albuquerque, N.M. However, Omaha PFLAG board member Gay Biga jumped in, got trained and is now filling Sandy’s Help Line slot.

Sandy also had taken on another task. She had begun doing followup with new people who come to Omaha PFLAG meetings—basically a phone call to tell them we are happy they came, to invite them back and to find out how things are going. At a typical meeting, we have one to three newcomers. During Sandy’s first months as Followup Coordinator, we learned that phone calls are difficult for various reasons and that short, personalized notes sent by mail might work out just as well. If this volunteer task appeals to you, and you’d like to give it a try, give me a call, 333-7064, or send me an email: bobcdorr@cox.net

PLEASANT SURPRISE

I recently emailed U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson to urge him to support the federal hate crimes bill that includes protection based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and received a reply that included this pleasant surprise: Nelson is a co-sponsor of the bill.

In his reply, Nelson said: “As Congress debates hate crimes legislation, we will need to address the potential for unintended consequences. I have heard from many concerned constituents that hate crimes legislation could lead to infringement of free speech. I understand and respect these concerns.”

However, Nelson added, “no current or proposed hate crimes legislation is a threat to free speech. In order for hate crimes legislation to be applied in a specific case, a criminal act such as assault must first be committed. In addition, no evidence of expression or associations of the defendant may be presented to support the prosecution of a hate crime in trial unless that evidence specifically relates to the criminal offense at hand.”

PFLAG T-SHIRTS

We will keep on hand at our meeting place a few of our new Omaha PFLAG T-shirts in each size in case you want to buy one at the potluck or at a future meeting. Cost: $15.

DEEPLY HONORED

Betty and I were deeply honored at Pride this year to receive the Pride of Excellence Award. As I wrote to Pride Committee Chair Johnnie Richards:

“The biggest privilege for us is doing what we do to support and affirm our GLBT bothers and sisters, and sons and daughters. Receiving the Pride of Excellence Award was frosting on the cake.

“And speaking of frosting on the cake, we were blown away when you presented us that 50th Wedding Anniversary cake on the Pride stage. That was a total surprise. We were more delighted than you can possibly imagine. Who says the best way to celebrate your 50th anniversary is on a cruise ship or in Hawaii?

“Our anniversary was June 8, the day before Pride. We spent that day in Lincoln working at the Reconciling United Methodists table at the annual conference of Nebraska Methodists. Our group, as you might know, seeks equal rights for GLBTs within the United Methodist Church. Someone who knew about our anniversary brought us several boxes of cupcakes to eat and to share with others. What could be better than that? Well, perhaps nothing. But that 50th Anniversary cake certainly was as good.

“It was a great two days.”

We will have a 50th Anniversary event in mid-July. It will be a family-only marriage recommitment service in our church chapel. All of our family members—two sons, two daughters-in-law, three grandchildren and two brothers—expect to attend the service and a few other things we have planned.

One final item: Thanks to all of you who marched with the Omaha PFLAG delegation in the Pride Parade. There were nearly two dozen of us, including several members of the Lincoln PFLAG chapter.

Bob Dorr,
Omaha PFLAG president