A JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE AKRON AND CLEVELAND CHAPTERS

PFLAG
this issue
Events Teen Life 2 3 4 5 6 On Campus News in Uniform Equality News
By Ed Kancler, Akron chapter president

SEPTEMBER 2012

Meet the students of Akron LGBTU

Teens and young adults often visit PFLAG and talk about difficult coming out times at home. They say they wish they could get their parents to attend one of our meetings. We couldnt agree more! The University of Akrons LGBT Union has invited PFLAG to meet with them on Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on campus to increase student awareness of PFLAG and provide information students can give to family members. PFLAG members are invited to attend, meet students, and share some of their journeys toward understanding and embracing LGBT family members. The meeting will be held at the Student Union Theater, 303 Carroll St. (access from Wolfs Ledges Rd., not Spicer St.). For directions call 330-972-7111.

Kudos to It Gets Better

The summer is ending. We have had drought, rainstorms, tornados, hurricanes, shootings by the dozens, politicians pestering us on every TV break and robo-calling us to distraction. Amazingly, every one of the latter knows whats best for us, but just doesnt have the time to talk with each other and do something. Anything. Ah, but we will still have time for a picnic or two, some family gatherings, and good times with good friends while the weather is still nice. And, we can do all that without a TV, without a radio, without more pestering. Instead, we can simply enjoy each others company. There is good news, despite NOM, LGBT haters and those whose definition of Equality is somewhat less than across the board for all. That good news is The It Gets Better Project. In a little over two years, Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller have enlisted the support of thousands, and so many videos have been made to prove it. To name a few: the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, President Obama, Hilary Clinton, the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, MTV, Best Buy District 34 Geek Squad, Washington University of St. Louis Medical School, Massachusetts Governor Patrick, the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Baltimore Orioles, Employees of Dell, General Motors, CBS, Yale Divinity School, Old Navy, Colgate University, Bayer Health Care, UCLA, Facebook employees and literally hundreds of others. Look up the It Gets Better website youll be amazed. Corporations, entertainers, POTUS, universities, and sports teams all support It Gets Better. All this, in under three years! Thank you, Dan and Terry!

Singer/songwriter to benefit PFLAG

Cleveland-based singer/songwriter and PFLAG member Diana Chittester http://dianachittester.com has offered to donate half of the sales proceeds from "CD for a Cause" to PFLAG Cleveland. Chittester, who imitates a 4-piece band with a single acoustic guitar and has been compared to Alanis Morissette, will headline a concert at the House of Blues Restaurant Stage, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland on Sept. 8. The concert overlaps the PFLAG Regional Conference, so if you are attending the conference, make this your dinner plan for the evening! CDs will also be available at the conference. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Show begins at 9:00 p.m. For tickets, call the House of Blues at 216-274-3321.

Taskforce fundraiser
Our Mission
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons, their families and friends through SUPPORT to cope with an adverse society; EDUCATION to enlighten an illinformed public; and ADVOCACY to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

Feast and Frolic this fall!

The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland is hosting a series of benefit events around town this fall. Dont miss out on the fun! Farewell to Summer BrunchSept. 16 Kick off the series with a lovely gourmet brunch at a magnificent home of Shaker Heights civic boosters Paul and Jill Clark. Tickets $75. Limit 50 guests. Fashion ExtravaganzaSept. 28 An exclusive shopping event of the latest fashion trends, with wine and hors doeurves, in the historic Old River Road shopping district in Rocky River. $45; 50 guests. Essential Ohio CitySept. 30

AKRON CHAPTER
PO Box 5471 Akron, OH 44334
P F L A G A K RO N . O RG

Cleveland chapter news

For the Bible Tells Me So showing
Our educational option this month will be a showing and discussion of the movie For the Bible Tells Me So from 7:30-9:00 p.m. The educational option coincides with the monthly support meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2230 Euclid Ave., 44115.

A fabulous farm-to-table fete, with special appearance by Karen Small of the Flying Fig and cocktails by mixologist Jillian Davis. $75; 30 guests. CelebraZONE ItalianoOct. 7 A homemade Italian feast hosted by Beth Zone, Councilman Matt Zone, and Michelle Zone. Italian delicacies, desserts and lush wines. $75; 30 guests. Brunch DEleganceOct. 14 An elegant brunch at the home of Susan and Jim Zull in Cleveland Heights. Delightful delectables and entertainment. $50; 40 guests. Soul Food SoireeOct. 20 The Taskforce staff will entice you with soulful showstoppers while you listen to our house DJ spinning R&B, jazz and blues. $35; 60 guests. High-Style Westlake ClambakeOct. 27 Meticulously prepared edibles and cocktails in a New England-esque backyard retreat. $65; 30 guests. Fall Harvest FeteNov. 3 Our series closes with a casual party featuring seasonal beers and wines and hearty hors doeuvres at the Mill Creek home of Dr. Brian Bethune and G. Michael Bargas. Visit AidsTaskforce.org for more info. .

pflagakron@aol.com

INFO & HELPLINE: 330-342-5825

Executive Board
President-Ed Kancler; VP-Bill Libby; Secretary-Joe Gardner; TreasurerSue Magilavy; At Large-Chris Goldthorpe, Bob and Valerie Hempel, David Horowitz, Marie Libby, Audrey Kancler, Kim and Joe Mosyjowski, Bob Menapace, Joy Watts

Committee Chairs
Membership-Chuck Magilavy, Publicity-Marie Libby; Library-David Greene; Hospitality-Rada Jenkins; Newsletter-Audrey Kancler

LGBT Heritage Day

4th Annual Celebration
The LGBT Heritage Day awards ceremony and reception will be held at Cleveland City Hall Rotunda, 601 East Lakeside Ave., on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 6:00 p.m. www.lgbtcleveland.org.

CLEVELAND CHAPTER
615 Prospect St. Berea, OH 44017
P F L A G C LE V E LA N D . O RG

mail@pflagcleveland.org

INFOLINE: 216-556-1701
Executive Board
President-Sharon Groh-Wargo; VP-Jeanette Nemcek; Treasurer-Art Thomson; Secretary-Marianne Buccini; At Large-Alan Cohen, Bill Franklin, Craig Hoffman; Legislative Coord.-Tom Roese; Newsletter-Pat Brandt; Snacks-Rebecca and Carl Schultz; Technology-Corey Glaze and Quentin Jamieson

The Normal Heart

L. Kramer play about dawn of AIDS
Presented by the Ensemble Theater of Cleveland, 2843 Washington Blvd., Cleveland Hts. Shows Fri./Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Tickets 216321-2930 or www.ensemble-theater.org.

Y O U AL W AY S H AV E A HO M E AT PF L AG !

CLAW donates $55,000 to 17 nonprofits

The Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend board has announced that the $55,000

Growing up LGBT in America

The deck is stacked against young people growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender in America, according to a new report by the Human Rights Campaign. The survey of 10,000 LGBTidentified youth ages 13-17 from all over the country measured key factors that impact their daily lives, including: indifference, along with social ostracism, leaves many teens disaffected and disconnected in their own homes and communities. However, the report also shows these teens are resilient, finding safe havens among their peers, online and in school. They remain optimistic that life will get better. Specific findings: 56 percent are out to their immediate family, and 25 percent are out to their extended family. 4 in 10 LGBT youth say the community they live in is not accepting of LGBT people. 54 percent say they have been verbally harassed or called names at school. 18 percent report verbal harassment outside of school. 51 percent say they have been physically assaulted, kicked or shoved at school. 5 percent report being physically harassed outside of school. 26 percent say their biggest problems are not feeling accepted by their family, trouble at school, and a fear of being out /open. LGBT youth are just as likely as their peers to participate in school activities (63 percent). 73 percent say they are more honest about themselves online than in the real world. 9 in 10 LGBT youth say they are out to their close friends and 64 percent say they are out to their classmates. 75 percent of LGBT youth say that most of their peers do not have a problem with their identity as LGBT.

raised at its 11th annual CLAW festivities in April will be donated to 17 nonprofit organizations. Local recipient organizations include the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland LGBT Pride, GLSEN NEO, the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, Violets Cupboard, and the MetroHealth Pride Clinic..

A sense of being accepted

by family, peers, and the larger community.

Its nice that my school is very open, I have a lot of friends who are okay and are helpful with my being bisexual. Survey respondent
92 percent of LGBT youth say they hear negative messages about being LGBT. The top sources are school, the Internet and their peers. One-third reported not having any adult in their lives that they could talk to about personal problems. 63 percent say they will need to move out of their town or community in order to feel accepted and make their dreams about the future come true. 37 percent of LGBT youth say they are happy, compared to 67 percent of their non-LGBT peers. 77 percent of LGBT youth say they know things will get better. Download the complete report and HRCs follow-up Next Steps at HRC.org.

Access to LGBT affirmative

support and services.

Negative experiences such

as verbal harassment, cyberbullying, exclusion from activities.

A portion of the monies will also benefit national and international organizations. Since its inception, CLAW and its related events have donated nearly $400,000. CLAW is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to fundraising, education, volunteerism, and charitable needs of the adult leather community. Info at clawinfo.org.

Connection to a welcoming
religious or spiritual community.

Level of optimism about the

future and the ability to live a happy life as an out LGBT person.

I live in such a narrowminded community its really hard on me. I deal with so much ignorance. Survey respondent
The groundbreaking survey provides a stark picture of the difficulties they face. Official government discrimination or

Top 10 Wedding destinations

In recent years the choice of wedding locations for LGBT couples has increased dramatically, which has led to online travel advisor Cheap Flights to come up with its list of Top 10 gay wedding destinations: Washington, DC Amsterdam Montreal Madrid Provincetown, Mass. Stockholm Buenos Aires New York City Oslo Reykjavik (Iceland) To learn more why these particular cities were chosen, go to: http://sosogay.co. uk/2012/top-10-gay-wedding -destinations/. Even if you are not getting married, these cities make great travel destinations for LGBT vacationers.

Pride College Fair

Campus Pride hosts LGBT-friendly National College Fair
Campus Pride is pleased to announce dates and locations for its Fall 2012 LGBT-friendly National College Fair Program in tandem with the LGBT-friendly Campus Climate Index. College fairs are free to interested LGBT or Ally prospective students and their family members. Register by sending an email to info@campuspride.org. The Midwest Region fair will be held at the Center on Halsted in Chicago, IL on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The Northeast Region fair will be held at The Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston, on Wednesday, Oct. 10 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. The West Coast Region fair will be held at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles on Oct. 13 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The Southern Region fair will be held at Youth First Texas in Dallas on Oct. 18 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The East Coast fair will be held at the NY LGBT Community Center in New York on Nov. 2 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. For additional information, including the Campus Pride Index ratings of most Ohio colleges and universities, visit www.CampusPride.org.

LGBT-friendly colleges
Campus Pride assembles lists of top schools for LGBT students
Campus Pride has released its Top 25 list of the most welcoming colleges and universities for LGBT students, and a first ever Top 10 list for trans-friendly schools. The lists are based on the Campus Pride Index www.CampusPrideIndex.org which ranks institutions of higher education based on LGBTfriendly policy inclusion, student life, and academic life on a five-star rating system. A total of 339 campuses across the country appear on this years index. The Top 25 LGBT-friendly schools were reported exclusively by The Huffington Post and include Stanford University, Minnesotas Carleton College, Indiana University, The Pennsylvania State University, and Georgias Emory University. Oberlin College and Ohio State University also made the top 25. The Top 10 trans-friendly schools made the LGBT-friendly list but also offered specific transsupportive elements, including adding genderidentity and expression to nondiscrimination policy language, offering gender-inclusive bathrooms, locker rooms and housing options, and recognizing name/gender preferences. The list was reported in The Advocate and includes Ithaca College, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, University of California-Los Angeles, and the University of Vermont.

Webinar Series
Campus Pride hosts webinar series on LGBT campus issues
Campus Pride is hosting a series of webinars on progressive ideas and solutions for college students and campuses. Upcoming topics include: Chick-fil-A & Your Campus: Understanding the Impact on Safety & Campus Climate (Sept. 13). National Coming Out Day: How Your Campus can Come Out as LGBT Friendly (Oct. 3). Creating a Safe Space Program: Essential Elements and Opportunities to Work with Campus Law Enforcement (Oct. 16). Register for these and other webinars at www.CampusPride.org.

W HEN Y O U NO L O NG ER N EED PF L AG , T HAT S W HEN PF L AG N EED S Y O U !

Ten out athletes win gold at Olympics

The Gay Peoples Chroni-

Updates on Boy Scouts controversy

In the May issue of our newsletter, we reported on Cub Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted from her Bridgeport, Ohio, troop for being a lesbian. Ms. Tyrrell launched a campaign on Change.org to request the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) change their discriminatory policy of disallowing gays and lesbians from being involved in the organization as leaders or Scouts. In response, the BSA issued a statement explaining that after a confidential two-year review of the issue, the organization decided to reaffirm its policy of excluding gays, according to an Associated Press report. The Scouts cited parental support as the main reason for keeping the policy intact. The policy was upheld by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2000, the AP reported. Since the statements release, several Eagle Scouts have returned their medals in protest of the decision. An Akron Beacon Journal article on the controversy quoted one Eagle Scout protester as saying, I can only hope that someone inside the BSA has the courage to fix this policy before the organization withers into irrelevance. I dont want to be an Eagle Scout if a young man who is gay cant be one, too. In a surprise announcement, William Boyce Mueller, grandson of William Dickson Boyce, founder of the Boy Scouts of America, came out as gay, saying he felt it was a unique opportunity to make a difference in the world, according to an article in The Advocate. He said in The Advocate, I dont think my grandfather would have wanted me excluded from Scouting just because of my sexual orientation. My grandfather would not have tolerated discrimination. He added that he decided to point out that under current BSA policy the youngest grandson of the organizations founder would not be allowed to serve as a troop leader, The Advocate reported. A group called The Forgotten Scouts, comprised of distinguished gay businessmen, authors, lawyers, and law enforcement officials, have come forward to disavow the BSAs claim that gays do not exist among its ranks, The Advocate reported. The group says it hopes to prove that gays have always been an important part of Scouting and to destroy the myth that gay men are bad role models for young boys.

cle reports that over half of the openly LGBT competitors at the London Olympic Games took home gold medals for their countries. U.S. medalists include Selmone Augustus of the womens basketball team, Megan Rapinoe of the womens soccer team. In addition, a bronze medal was won by U.S. tennis player Lisa Raymond, The Chronicle reported.

First openly lesbian general

Brigadier General Tammy S. Smith made history on August 10, becoming the first openly gay general in U.S. military history, The Gay Peoples Chronicle reported. The 26-year-old general had her wife affix her star to her uniform at her promotion ceremony, The Chronicle noted.

U.S. troops wear uniforms in gay pride parade

Some of the loudest cheers at the San Diego Pride parade this summer were for activeduty troops marching in military dress, the first time that U.S. service members participated in such an event while in full uniform, according to the Associated Press. The uniforms stood out among the flowery floats and more scantily clad revelers, the AP noted. In a memorandum sent out earlier this year, the Department of Defense said it was making the allowance for the San Diego event, even though its policy generally bars troops from marching in uniform in parades, the AP reported. A navy soldier marches in the San Diego parade. The Defense Department said it did so because parade organizers invited military personnel to participate in uniform and it was receiving national attention, the AP reported.

Ohio Pride at Work seeks equality for LGBT workers

A recently formed affiliate of the AFL-CIO is working to bridge the gap between the LGBT community and unions, according to an article in The Plain Dealer. The Ohio chapter of Pride at Work is focused on ensuring union contracts and company policies offer parity to LGBT employees, including domestic partner benefits, ranging from health insurance to time off to be with an ailing partner, the Plain Dealer reported. In addition to Ohio being a state where you can be fired from your job just for being gay, chapter co-founder Monica Hogan said in the Plain Dealer article that bullying and crude comments in the workplace are common.
The national Pride at Work convention is scheduled for Sept. 12-15 at the Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel. More than 200 people are expected to attend, according to the Plain Dealer.

Spirit Day wear purple on October 19

Millions of Americans wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for LGBT youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Purple symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy -just wear purple on October 19 as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are.

The conference theme is "Taking Action for Justice and Equality." It will address not only "Turning the other cheek is great LGBT issues in the workplace, and ignoring them is OK, but you but more general union goals can only do that for so long. It such as curtailing outsourcing. makes you miserable, and you shouldn't be miserable at work, You can find more info at Hogan was quoted in the Plain PrideatWork.org. Dealer article.

NYC says marriage equality good for citys economy

In a statement released by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other city officials, the states legalization of same-sex marriage one year ago has resulted in $16 million in additional city revenues and $259 million in overall economic impact. According to the statement, at least 8,200 same-sex marriage licenses were issued in the first year, accounting for more than 10 percent of the 75,000 marriage licenses issued in New York City since the Marriage Equality Act passed on July 24, 2011. The economic impact survey was conducted by NYC & Company and the City Clerks Office and found same-sex marriages positively affected New York Citys tourism industry. More than 200,000 guests traveled from outside of the city to same-sex marriage events and more than 235,000 hotel room nights were booked. The average cost of a samesex wedding in New York over the past year was $9,000. Marriage equality has made our city more open, inclusive and freeand it has also helped to create jobs and support our economy, said Mayor Bloomberg. New York has always been a great place to get married and since the passage of the Marriage Equality Act, were welcoming more and more couples, their families and friends from around the country and the world. NYC & Company, New York Citys official marketing and tourism organization, launched the NYC I Do campaign immediately following the passage of the Marriage Equality Act to boost the citys attractiveness as a wedding and honeymoon destination.

CHAPTER MTGS.
Akron PFLAG
Sept. 20, Oct. 18 - 7:00 pm
N. Springfield Presbyterian 671 N. Canton Rd.

Cleveland PFLAG
Sept. 11, Oct. 9 - 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal 2230 Euclid Ave,, 44115

California on verge of banning conversion therapy

claim to be able "to change sex- Conversion therapy carries the ual orientation or gender expres- risk of anxiety, depression, and sion." even suicide, according to an article in The Advocate. The Such treatments, some of which practice has no scientific basis are considered abusive by exand has been rejected by mediperts, have been criticized by the cal, mental health, and child American Psychological Assowelfare organizations. If signed by the governor, the bill ciation, American Counseling would prohibit state-licensed Association and American PsySB 1172 was heralded by nearly every national LGBT organizamental health practitioners from chiatric Association. engaging in treatments that tion, The Advocate reported. The California State Assembly approved Senate Bill 1172, taking the first step toward banning the practice of conversion or reparative therapy for LBGT people, according to several media sources.

Alliance PFLAG
Info: a_cromwel@yahoo.com

Wooster PFLAG
Sept. 20, Oct. 18 - 7:00 pm
Universalist Fellowship 3186 Burbank Rd.
Please call ahead to confirm.

Youngstown PFLAG
Sept. 11, Oct. 9 - 6:30 pm
St. Johns Episcopal 323 Wick Ave.