PFLAG Buffalo-Niagara

PFLAG Buffalo/Niagara

Parents, Families, Friends and Allies United with LGBTQ People

PO Box 617

Buffalo, NY 14207

716-883-0384

There will be no Sharing Meeting in December.

Instead, we invite you to our

Holiday Party

Sunday, December 13 @ 2:30

Please join us; RSVP to 883-0384

info@pflagbuffalo.org www.pflagbuffalo.org

www.facebook.com/pflag.niagara

Monthly sharing meetings are held at Kenilworth United Church of Christ, 45 Dalton Drive, Tonawanda 14223, from 2:30-5:00. Newcomers and anyone interested will be offered the option of meeting privately with a PFLAG parent. Our monthly meetings are in the library, which is near the parking lot entrance. The facility is handicapped accessible. New Parents Meetings are scheduled as needed at a location convenient to those involved. These self-help one-on-one meetings deal with the concerns of parents and family members who have recently learned that a loved one is gay.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

We meet because we have learned that someone very close to us is Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender. We try to help one another deal with this information in a positive manner. Although we do not agree at all times, we try to be understanding. We

offer help to those who seek it, but do not force ourselves on others. We strive to maintain anonymity while sharing on a level that is comfortable for all of us. We encourage all to attend meetings for their own.

Page 2 PFLAG Buffalo/Niagara

PFLAG NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2015: WE ARE THE CHANGE

By Phil Salemi, Jr.

One of many presentations at the conference.

The 2015 PFLAG National Conference was held in Nashville, Tennessee this past

October. The theme “We Are the Change” certainly rang true from the greater than 350

PFLAGERs in attendance.

The event was filled with service, opportunity to listen, learn, network and

celebrate with friends, new and old from PFLAG chapters from across the country. As

Buffalo/Niagara board president, I attended and want to let all know what a memorable

and educational experience it was.

On Friday, attendees we able to spend the day volunteering with service

organization that are dedicated to the making a difference in the lives of homeless

youth, the hungry and a local animal shelter. I worked with many others at the

regional food bank delivery center. It was a very meaningful and eye-opening

experience; I am proud to have been supporting the Nashville community with my

national PFLAG family.

PFLAG Buffalo-Niagara

PFLAG members work at regional food bank.

The annual meeting was filled with educational sessions related to the issues still

facing LGBTQ individuals, key note addresses, religious and spiritual panel discussions

and announcement of PFLAG National Awards winners.

There were also opportunities to discover new resources. I selected some that I

brought home to the board for sharing and use in our library. My selections focused on

transgender voices and topics. In addition, I had the opportunity to meet authors and

hear about their journeys presented in their works.

Phil Salemi, Jr. left, author Seth Rainess

Page 4 PFLAG Buffalo/Niagara

While we were able to celebrate all the accomplishments of the year, we remained

focused on the work still to take place before all people enjoy a life free from

discrimination in the work place, housing and in society.

Each of us has had a hand in affecting change, and we need you all to continue to

do everything you can to keep the momentum going.

Attendees from many PFLAG chapters

PFLAG Buffalo-Niagara

PRIDE CENTER AND EVERGREEN SERVICES ENLIGHTEN MEMBERS ABOUT SERVICES

AND GROUND-BREAKING MEDICINES

On November 15, before the sharing meeting, Matthew Crehan-Higgins and Sean

spoke of the comprehensive services available at Evergreen Services, at 200 South

Elmwood. The services provided focus on and care for the needs of the LGBTQ

community. Most people know of the Pride Center in terms of the Pride Parade.

However, so much more is offered and with Evergreen Health Services, all health needs

are offered as well.

Mr. Crehan-Higgins told of ongoing programs or offerings. These include groups

for coming out issues, book clubs, business networking, and addiction recovery and

senior issues. Also there are groups focusing on the need of transgender persons,

including one about general transgender concerns and a specific one regarding

transgender health issues. Another group uses art therapy for transgender and

genderqueer persons, connecting creativity with personal of experiences as a means of

expression. More can be found about all of these groups at www.pridecenter.org.

The Community Access Service Coordinator, Shawn Moultrie spoke of PrEP, the

medicine that can prevent the HIV virus from being able to survive in an HIV negative

person’s body. It is a breakthrough medicine that is available to people and populations

at risk for HIV infection. It must be taken once a day and is 99% effective when taken

as directed. Mr. Moultrie also spoke of the PEP protocol. This is the combination of 2

medicines that HIV positive people take to control and maintain the virus to be able to

live a normal and long life. It can also be given in emergency situations where one

may just have been infected. More information about these ground-breaking medicines

is available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/living/prep-pep.shtml. The

presentation also included information of other health services offered by evergreen

including counseling, needle-sharing, and pharmacy services. More information can be

found at www.evergreenhs.org.

Page 6 PFLAG Buffalo/Niagara

A LOOK BACK AT AN OUTSTANDING YEAR FOR LGBT IN AMERICA

By Valerie Jarrett

www.huffingtonpost.com

Each year, OUT Magazine honors 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender

individuals who have made our world a more just and equal place. And on Wednesday,

I had the privilege of accepting OUT's "Ally of the Year" award on behalf of President

Obama. We also celebrated the other 99 people who have changed our society for the

better through art, politics, culture, sports and advocacy.

Since President Obama's election seven years ago, he and his Administration have

partnered with many on our journey toward a more perfect union, insuring equality for

all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Increasingly, our progress is

part of a larger, global movement for LGBT equality that counts the United States as

one of its leaders.

In 2009, President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate

Crimes Prevention Act. The same year, he also lifted the 22-year HIV/AIDS travel ban.

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act became law and less than a month later, the

President signed a Presidential Memorandum extending hospital visitation rights for

LGBT Americans. And at the end of that year, the President eagerly signed the repeal

of "Don't Ask, Don't tell" into law, remarking after ending the policy's 17-year

existence: "This is done."

In 2011, the Department of Justice (DOJ) took the position that a central provision

of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional and would no longer

defend it in court.

In 2012, the President hosted the first International AIDS Conference in more than

a generation and became the first sitting President to publicly support marriage

equality.

PFLAG Buffalo-Niagara

In 2013, the Supreme Court agreed with the Administration's position on DOMA

and struck down a key part of that law.

In 2014, the President signed an executive order barring employment

discrimination against LGBT individuals by federal contractors and subcontractors.

In June of 2015, the United States Supreme Court delivered a momentous victory by

recognizing a constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry -- making marriage

equality the law of the land -- a position the President and Justice Department

vigorously supported.

We joyously celebrated the victory by lighting up the White House in rainbow

colors. With our belief that love means love, there is now no such thing as same sex

marriage; just marriage. And on Tuesday, the President was proud to announce his

support for the Equality Act, a historic bill that would ensure comprehensive civil rights

protections for millions of LGBT Americans.

Of course, none of these advances would have been possible without the efforts of

the brave individuals recognized at the OUT 100 Gala and the many more who have

worked to change hearts, minds and laws in favor of equality here and around the

world.

My dear friend Evan Wolfson, the former Executive Director of Freedom to Marry

whom I met early in the President's first term when marriage equality was the law in

only four states, was honored for his decades of pursuing marriage equality litigation

and advocacy that helped pave the way for this year's Obergefell decision.

Edie Windsor, whom I first met the day the Supreme Court argued Windsor and

without whom marriage equality would not have been possible, was also honored. As

was Abby Wambach, the recently retired captain of the U.S. Women's National Soccer

Team, who after winning the World Cup, shared a kiss with her wife.

As hard as President Obama and his Administration have worked to expand

opportunity and make this a more equal country, these accomplishments would not

Page 8 PFLAG Buffalo/Niagara

have been possible without the advocates, allies, activists and ordinary people doing

extraordinary things, to change our culture every single day.

In addition to using their voices and platforms to foster dialogue, understanding

and legislative change, these honorees have also helped shape, for the better, how the

LGBT community is perceived around the world -- and how LGBT people see

themselves.

At the Out 100 event, with tears streaming down his face, a young man told me

that seeing the President on the cover of Out Magazine gave him the courage to come

out to his mother earlier that day.

In the American tradition of perfecting our union, they have followed in the

footsteps of civil rights champions from generations past. As the President said in his

second inaugural address, "We, the people, declare today that the most evident of

truths -- that all of us are created equal -- is the star that guides is still; just as it

guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma and Stonewall."

After a fun evening that capped an exciting seven years, I was also reminded of

the President's words following the Supreme Court's marriage equality decision in

June: "Progress on this journey often comes in small increments, sometimes two steps

forward, one step back, propelled by the persistent effort of dedicated citizens. And

then sometimes, there are days like this when that slow, steady effort is rewarded

with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt."

It was an honor to help celebrate those who continuously strive to make the world

a safer, more accepting and equal place for us all, and it is with excitement that we all

rededicated ourselves to the important work that lies ahead.

PFLAG Buffalo-Niagara

PFLAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President- Phil Salemi, Jr.

Vice Presidents- Amy Fularz and Kristian Rickard

Treasurer- Brian Carrier

Secretary- Michele Perry

Directors- Lisbeth Ball, David Barret, Barrett, Ann Carrier, and Julie Christiano

Is it time to renew your PFLAG membership?

Lifetime Membership - $500

Benefactor Membership- $250

Sponsoring Membership - $100 (Business Card Advertisement ($100 per year)

Supporting Membership -$50 Household Membership -$30

Newsletter Subscription Only -$15

Donations of $50.00 or more can be included in the chapter newsletter with your permission.

Make checks payable to PFLAG Buffalo/Niagara and mail to: P.O. Box 617 Buffalo, NY 14207

PFLAG Buffalo/Niagara is a non-profit 501(c)3 and donations are tax-deductible.

PFLAG Buffalo-Niagara, is a non-profit, all volunteer, community-based organization not

affiliated with any ethnic, religious, economic or political group. Membership is open to all. PFLAG membership lists are kept confidential.

We hope you like reading these newsletter articles; we also share current articles on our

Facebook page. Please consider “liking” us on Facebook and reading articles all month long at

www.facebook.com/pflag.niagara