 |
PFLAG JACKSON JANUARY NEWSLETTER
RAINBOW MOM - “Why LGBT NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY INVITED BACK TO CHURCH”
A couple of ideas in response to why LGBT need to be especially invited back to church, whereas not all minorities need this: Women, racial minorities, and the disabled (usually) have not had the experience of growing up in a church home, only to be told they are no longer welcome when they "come out". I know of one member of a fundamental church intersex person (used to be called hermaphrodites ... elements of both genders), for example, who has been kicked out of four fundamental churches because of her appearance. She looks like a combination male/female. In one church, they caught her at the door and bodily escorted her out, even though she was weeping and begging to worship. They told her she was part of the "gay agenda."
People of color and women and minorities are generally not blamed for their "lifestyle choice" or told they have to be repentant before they can come to church. This seems to be the prevailing attitude among most Christian denominations in regard to LGBT people. If they even let you in the door, you are supposed to be sufficiently ashamed of who you are, for your entire life if necessary. This is spiritual abuse, and LGBT people are often surprised to find any church that acts differently. "Love the sinner-hate the sin" is a thinly-disguised way of saying you are somehow less worthy of God's grace than straight people. Why would a gay person subject himself/herself to that in church? If the church does not openly proclaim that they are truly welcoming, the LGBT person will naturally assume that this church is like all the others and be wary of entering.
People of color, women and the disabled are generally not rejected by their families, as 25% of LGBT are (PFLAG statistic). When your family, society in general, and your own church turn their backs on you, then YES, you would need a special invitation to feel wanted and accepted. "Don't ask-don't tell" isn't working in the military, and certainly shouldn't be part of our worship experience. Why not let your church say aloud, "Yes, we are a home for you" to people who have no spiritual home and maybe no family? I could go on!
Lorraine Hampton, President PFLAG Jackson
PFLAG MEETINGS
PFLAG Jackson normally meets the second Thursday of the month at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1505 W. Michigan, Jackson, MI at 7:00 pm.
Remember ....Our meetings are for all of our friends - especially you, our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender ones. We reach out every month to every one of you, to provide a safe, secure place for you to go ... so join us!
PFLAG Commends Ford Ad Decision, - Emphasizes Extremist Organizations Not to Be Tolerated - http://www.pflag.org/index.php?id=594
PFLAG Unites with LGBT Rights Groups to Oppose Alito Nomination - http://www.pflag.org/index.php?id=587
PFLAG National Scholarships Program http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonjan01
Rabbi supports LGBT equality - Right-wingers have 'trampled all over my religious rights,' says Rabbi Horowitz http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=16862
RABBI MEETS WITH 2 MICHIGAN PFLAG CHAPTERS
Queer Foundation announces $1,000 College Scholarships for 2006-07 - Application deadline: April 1 http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonjan02
Ruling Protects Students' Privacy http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lesbian2dec02,0,5561327.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Check Your Calendar http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonactivity
Will gay play? BROKEBACK MOUTAIN http://advocate.com/brokebackmountain.asp
Mountain Men - Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger talk about their Brokeback Mountain roles, their personal investments in the film, and why it matters. http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=16939
UUCEL ANNOUNCES JANUARY-FEBRUARY - CommUnity forUm Sessions http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonjan03
ACTION ITEM - Lansing LGBT community to protest Penn State game - 01/05/06 http://www.pridesource.com/digestarticle.shtml?article=17009
ACTION ITEM - Dec. 1 was World AIDS Day, Urged Members of Congress to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act. This critical and bipartisan-supported health care program provides crucial services to people living with HIV and AIDS. - Click on the link below to send a message through HRC's Online Action Center. http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/ryanwhite_reauthorize?rk=mp1AoE51_m4ZW
ACTION ITEM
Thank Ford for Reaffirming Commitment to GLBT Community - http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/thankford?rk=t71msB51wmfNE
ACTION ITEM - Contact your Senators today and urge them to oppose Alito's nomination. - http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/supreme_alito
Genetic research study seeking assistance - Dear PFLAG Chapter of Jackson, MI: http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonjan04
A survey for Parents with GLBT children http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonjan05
The new face of HIV/AIDS: Black women
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/premium/printedition/Thursday/metro/chi-0512010259dec01,1,5940117.column
Officials report high rate of false-positives on rapid HIV test
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid23300.asp
Study: Fear Of AIDS Not Resulting In Safe Sex
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon05/12/121505hiv.htm
Calling All Allies - http://www.michiganequality.org/Allies.shtml
The 24 Hour Theater Event is coming! http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonjan06
Penny's Campaign for One Million Pennies http://www.michiganequality.org/PennyCampaign.shtml Help us raise One Million Pennies to make change. Click the penny jar to learn more and to donate. Watch the jar grow as we reach our goal!
Are You Heterosexist??? - Author Unknown http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonjan07
Michigan State is No. 3 nationwide in hate crimes
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005512070332
Comp: Triangle Foundation - Most centered on race, the FBI says
Hillsdale Daily News, Hillsdale Michigan retracts bogus item - a marriage of two men, saying it was fabricated as a prank - Reporter fired
http://www.mlive.com/news/jacitpat/index.ssf?/base/news-15/113518470675560.xml&coll=3
A threat to gay equality - Supreme Court and Military Recruitiers
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2005/12/10/a_threat_to_gay_equality/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Editorial%2FOp-ed+pages
Comp: Triangle Foundation
AFA an extreme anti-gay group
http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=16955
IRS asked to investigate Focus on the Family http://www.pridesource.com/digestarticle.shtml?article=16863
Opposition Continues Over Lesbian Pastor's Defrocking
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon05/12/120805methodist.htm
HUMAN INTEREST
Have fun building a snowman without getting cold.
http://www.michaelwhaite.com/snowfun.html
How many gays are there? http://www.365gay.com/Newscon05/12/121105ukNos.htm
WELCOMING FAITH COMMUNITIES
http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonii
Ann Arbor Area: Lord of Light Lutheran Church
Battle Creek Area: Sign of the Covenant MCC
Hillsdale Area: Church of the Crescent Moon
Jackson Area: Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty, St John’s United Church of Chirst, Soka Gakkai International, Temple Beth Israel, Trinity United Methodist, Church of the Crescent Moon
Calling the Rainbow Nation Home - http://www.gaychurch.org - Find a church anywhere USA - 108 in Michigan http://www.gaychurch.org/Find_a_Church/united_states/united_states.htm
Supportive Non-Profit Orgnizations http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonxii
Area Support Groups http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonglbt
Jackson Area HIV/AIDS Information Services
http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonvi
MISCELLANEOUS http://www.webspawner.com/users/pflagjacksonmi
Send E-Mail to: pflag_jackson@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2005 PFLAG Jackson. All Rights Reserved