: February PFLAG Newsletter

Our February Newsletter is now available at:  http://pflag.com/pdf/pf_news_current.pdf

Please join us on Monday, February 28th at 7:00 PM for our main San Diego PFLAG meeting. Our speaker will be Michael Bussee, one of the founders of Exodus International, an organization which claims to convert gay people into straight through reparative therapy. Michael is now one of Exodus International's most vocal critics. This is a presentation you won't want to miss.

In order to allow time for questions and answers, we will not have our customary support group. Plan on arriving early for easier parking. Read more about our speaker inside the newsletter.

CESCAL students and parents Free on Sunday!

Students & Parents Invited to CESCaL Conference -- Free on Sunday!

 
GSA students, parents, and advisors are invited to attend free of charge the CESCaL Conference on Sunday, February 27th.
 
They will have the following speakers on Sunday: 
 
1.  Charles Robbins, Executive Director of the Trevor Project
2.  Sirdeaner Walker:  Mother of 11-year-old suicide victim Carl Walker-Hoover
http://blog.mattalgren.com/2010/04/one-year-after-her-sons-suicide-sirdeaner-walker-issues-a-call-to-action/
3.  Dr. Caitlin Ryan:  Founder and Executive Director of the Family Acceptance Project

Continental breakfast will be provided free of charge and parking is free for conference attendees at the hotel.  
 
Organizers regret they are unable to provide transportation.  Depending on district policy, some GSA advisors can transport students from their GSA along with help from supportive parents and/or other staff. 
 
Tracy, a graduate student volunteer, is in charge of the student/parent participation at the 2nd annual international educator conference, "Solutions to a Crisis:  Supporting Students ~ Saving Lives".
 
Organizers are hoping for 100 students, parents, and GSA advisors attend the conference. 
 
This year they have organized special "youth only" break out sessions provided by GLAAD and the GSA Network.
 
Breakout sessions (arranged by PFLAG) include one of Transgender Families and one of GSA Advisors.  Several break out sessions are designed for educators.  
 
Students wanting to attend MUST RSVP following the directions on the flyer.  Room is limited to approx. 100 so they are encouraged to get their name in as soon as possible before the seats fill up. 
 
If you have any questions, please email Tracy at: tjfcalimquim@yahoo.com
 
There is a different email for students to RSVP with the required information (below): cescal.students@gmail.com,
 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SCHEDULE
 
7:30 a.m.   Free breakfast and registration
8:15 a.m.   GLAAD -- "Can We Talk Here? Ways to discuss and advocate for LGBT Youth."
9:15 a.m.   Break and Mingle
9:30 a.m.   Keynote Speakers (Charles Robbins--Trevor Project; Sirdeaner Walker--mother of
                 11-year old suicide victim; Dr. Caitlin Ryan--Family Acceptance Project)
10:45 a.m.   GSA Network -- "Ending Homophobia and Transphobia in Schools through GSAs"
Noon   Debriefing and departure

Send the following information to: cescal.students@gmail.com, or
fax it to (619) 374-6815
 
Student Name _______________
School Name ________________
District _____________________
Age _______________________
Adult Name _________________
Relationship of Adult __________
Adult Phone # _______________
Adult Email __________________
 
NOTE: If a school official is accompanying you, a signed permission slip
by your parent/guardian MUST be filled out tha the school official has
permission to accompany you to the conference.
 
CONFERENCE: CESCaL's "Solutions to a Crisis: Supporting Students -- Saving Lives"
LOCATION: Doubletree Hotel, Mission Valley, 7450 Hazard Center Dr., San Diego
DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 27th, 7:30 to Noon

Video NOM doesn't want you to see

"I'm not really so different from any of your children. My family really isn't so different from yours. So what your voting here isn't to change us. It's not to change our families. It's to change how the law views us, how the law treats us." -Zach Wahls NOM doesn't want you to see this video.   Right now NOM, the so-called National Organization for Marriage, a right-wing extremist group that spent millions to pass Prop 8, are gathering their forces in Iowa in an effort to take civil-unions away from same-sex couples.   They seek to use fear tactics and lies to mislead Iowans about our families, and we can't let them get away with it. We must share our stories to defend equality.   And that's exactly what Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old University of Iowa student, did.   Click here to watch Zach's amazing story growing up in Iowa being raised by his two mothers, and then share it with your friends.       By telling our stories, we can change hearts and minds.   That's why the Courage team is hard at work gearing up to launch the next phase of our Testimony website, to make sure stories like Zach's are told all across America. And that's why it's so important that you help us share Zach's story now.   We know that when we tell our stories, we win.   Click here to watch Zach's video, and then share his inspiring story with your family and friends.   Together we can,   Andy Kelley New Media Organizer, Courage Campaign   Not on Facebook? Click here to watch Zach's story. The Courage Campaign is a multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country.

CESCAL Conference -for Students and parents Free on Sunday!

Students & Parents Invited to CESCaL Conference -- Free on Sunday!

 
GSA students, parents, and advisors are invited to attend free of charge the CESCaL Conference on Sunday, February 27th.
 
They will have the following speakers on Sunday: 
 
1.  Charles Robbins, Executive Director of the Trevor Project
2.  Sirdeaner Walker:  Mother of 11-year-old suicide victim Carl Walker-Hoover
http://blog.mattalgren.com/2010/04/one-year-after-her-sons-suicide-sirdeaner-walker-issues-a-call-to-action/
3.  Dr. Caitlin Ryan:  Founder and Executive Director of the Family Acceptance Project

Continental breakfast will be provided free of charge and parking is free for conference attendees at the hotel.  
 
Organizers regret they are unable to provide transportation.  Depending on district policy, some GSA advisors can transport students from their GSA along with help from supportive parents and/or other staff. 
 
Tracy, a graduate student volunteer, is in charge of the student/parent participation at the 2nd annual international educator conference, "Solutions to a Crisis:  Supporting Students ~ Saving Lives".
 
Organizers are hoping for 100 students, parents, and GSA advisors attend the conference. 
 
This year they have organized special "youth only" break out sessions provided by GLAAD and the GSA Network.
 
Breakout sessions (arranged by PFLAG) include one of Transgender Families and one of GSA Advisors.  Several break out sessions are designed for educators.  
 
Students wanting to attend MUST RSVP following the directions on the flyer.  Room is limited to approx. 100 so they are encouraged to get their name in as soon as possible before the seats fill up. 
 
If you have any questions, please email Tracy at: tjfcalimquim@yahoo.com
 
There is a different email for students to RSVP with the required information (below): cescal.students@gmail.com,
 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SCHEDULE
 
7:30 a.m.   Free breakfast and registration
8:15 a.m.   GLAAD -- "Can We Talk Here? Ways to discuss and advocate for LGBT Youth."
9:15 a.m.   Break and Mingle
9:30 a.m.   Keynote Speakers (Charles Robbins--Trevor Project; Sirdeaner Walker--mother of
                 11-year old suicide victim; Dr. Caitlin Ryan--Family Acceptance Project)
10:45 a.m.   GSA Network -- "Ending Homophobia and Transphobia in Schools through GSAs"
Noon   Debriefing and departure

Send the following information to: cescal.students@gmail.com, or
fax it to (619) 374-6815
 
Student Name _______________
School Name ________________
District _____________________
Age _______________________
Adult Name _________________
Relationship of Adult __________
Adult Phone # _______________
Adult Email __________________
 
NOTE: If a school official is accompanying you, a signed permission slip
by your parent/guardian MUST be filled out tha the school official has
permission to accompany you to the conference.
 
CONFERENCE: CESCaL's "Solutions to a Crisis: Supporting Students -- Saving Lives"
LOCATION: Doubletree Hotel, Mission Valley, 7450 Hazard Center Dr., San Diego
DATE & TIME: Sunday, February 27th, 7:30 to Noon

Professor tells her story this Sunday at AGC

This Sunday, Feb 6 – Dr. Bettina Tate-Pedersen, professor of literature, sharing her journey as a Christian woman academic regarding LGBT issues and faith

Feb 13 -- The Seth Walsh Story: A gay teenager and his family is struck by tragedy when he comes out of the closet and is bullied. Rebuilding Home After Tragedy on the Nate Berkus Show of December 27, 2010, including "out" Country music superstar and professed Christian Chely Wright singing one of her songs

Feb 20 -- Cory Saul, university student and professional writer, shares his story and reads aloud his short story "Legacy"

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For the past three academic years, All God's Children of First Nazarene (AGC) has met almost weekly (except during some university breaks) on Sundays, 2:30-4:30, at San Diego First Church of the Nazarene, 3901 Lomaland Dr., Ellipse building, main level, Bowes Conference Room. All are welcomed. Sessions are dedicated to an open discussion of LGBT issues and faith. Participants are asked to respectfully listen to and engage in a variety of contributions to discussion in a spirit of honest inquiry. Moderators ask participants to honor the announced program topic and to be courteous to speakers.