Category Archives: pflag

PFLAG National Scholarship 2011 Season Open!

PFLAG National is proud to announce its 2011 scholarship season is now open.

To apply, simply visit our website at www.pflag.org and click on the Education and Programs tab. LGBT students and student allies are encouraged to apply online, print supporting documentation and review the biographies of our 2010 scholarship recipients.

PFLAG National is dedicated to creating a world in which our young people may grow up and be educated free from the fear of violence, bullying and other forms of discrimination, regardless of their real or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation or that of their families and friends.

Last year we received over 1,000 scholarship applicants and this year we anticipate even more interest, so please encourage students to apply early for this amazing opportunity.

ALL COMPLETED APPLICATIONS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011.

All 2011 scholarship applicants and winners will be notified by Friday, May 13th, 2011. The checks for the scholarship recipients will be disbursed in August 2011 and the checks will be sent directly to the school.

For additional information, contact Mekina Morgan-Safe Schools and Diversity Outreach Coordinator at 202-467-8180, ext. 212 or mmorgan@pflag.org.

PFLAG National Elects Akron Resident, Rabbi David M. Horowitz, New National PFLAG President

WASHINGTON and AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National proudly announced the election of Rabbi David M. Horowitz of Akron, OH, as its new board president this week.


“As the family voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)struggle for equality, I hope I can help to boost our outreach to straight allies even further — especially in the faith communities where their voices are incredibly powerful,” said Horowitz after the election. “And I want to involve every one of our chapters in our mission of support, education, and advocacy more deeply than ever before because we know that our family voices inspire change.”


“Rabbi Horowitz has been an integral member of PFLAG’s National Board, leading our organization in implementing its mission and helping us focus on the incredibly important issue of bringing our message of family acceptance and unconditional love to faith communities. His background as a PFLAG dad, an advocate for equality, and a religious leader will be integral in strengthening PFLAG’s work across the country,” said Jody M. Huckaby, PFLAG’s executive director.


Rabbi Horowitz has been a part of PFLAG Akron, Ohio, since 1990, when his daughter came out as a lesbian. He has been continually active in that chapter and currently serves on its Board of Directors. He joined the PFLAG’s National Board of Directors in 2002. He has since served as its secretary and vice-president.


He is the rabbi emeritus of Temple Israel, Akron, OH, serving the congregation from 1983-2001. Prior to that post, he served congregations in Indianapolis, IN and Hammond, IN. After he retired from Temple Israel, Rabbi Horowitz served a congregation in Gold Coast, Australia for almost a year.


Rabbi Horowitz has served, among others, as a member of Jewish Community Board of Akron, of the Community Relations Council (Chair), the National Committee on HIV/AIDS for the Union For Reform Congregations, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (member of the Community Relations Committee). In 2000, he was on the televised panel at President Clinton’s first Town Meeting on Race Relations.


Horowitz was the topic of a chapter entitled “Every Day the Rabbi Helps Gays,” in Dan Woog’s Friends and Family/True Stories of Gay America’s Straight Allies, and authored the chapter, “David” in A Family and Friends Guide to Sexual Orientation, edited by Bob Powers and Alan Ellis, and has contributed an article entitled, “Praise God all the Earth,” in Alive Now magazine.


Rabbi Horowitz has been married to his wife, Toby, since 1963 and has two children, Wendy (married to her life partner, a transgender man, Julian) and Daniel and three grandchildren.


Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the nation’s foremost family-based organization committed to the civil rights of LGBT people. Founded in 1973 by mothers and fathers, PFLAG has more than 200,000 members and supporters in over 250 chapters throughout the United States. To learn more, please visit www.pflag.org.

TransOhio October 2010 Newsletter Now Available!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Dear TransOhio Family, Friends and Allies!

The October 2010 issue of the TransOhio newsletter is now available! You can download the newsletter at: http://www.transohio.org/news/October2010TransOhio.pdf .

There are tons of events & activities happening during the Fall, so, make sure you take a look at the calendar and the other events noted throughout the newsletter!

Upcoming Notables:

  • Monday, October 4, 2010 is the LAST day to register for the Ohio General Election (November 2)
  • Columbus TG Support Group, Wednesday, October 6 at Stonewall Columbus, 7pm
  • Planning Committee Meeting, Columbus Transgender Day of Remembrance, October 6 (contact Karen at karenp@transohio.org for meeting details)
  • Partners’ Discussion Group, Wednesday, October 13
  • Toledo TG Support Group, Sunday, October 24, 3pm
  • Ally Week at The Ohio State University – Columbus
  • And more!

Questions?

Email TransOhio@transohio.org for information.

We need Volunteers! Interested in meeting new people? Can you help us at the Transgender Day of Remembrance? TransOhio Community Thanksgiving? Email us at TransOhio@transohio.org for details!

We’ll see you soon!

Don’t forget to check out www.transohio.org for a full calendar of events, workshops and other fantastic community gatherings!

In Community,
TransOhio Board of Directors
Shane, Melissa, Jacob and Sarah

Transgender & Ally Symposium: A Sampling of Our Workshops!

This year we expect over 250 participants to enjoy more than 70 workshops covering a variety of topics including:

Here’s what you get for your General Symposium Registration:
~ Meet & Greet with Presenters & Symposium Attendees
~ Registration to General Conference
~ Saturday workshops and lunch
~ Saturday performance of PAINT! A Transformative Project by Sile P. Singleton
~ Sunday workshops
~ And more!

Fee: $50 Register Online Now!

Provider’s Day Workshops and Registration, visit Provider’s Day! CLE’s and CEU’s are APPROVED!

Sing If You’re Glad To Be Trans
S. Bear Bergman, Keynote Speaker

While the difficult narratives of trans life are valid and deserve our attention, is it not perhaps enough with the all-misery-all-the-time tranny channel? Being trans is not a reason for pity, scorn, shame, or apology. This lecture celebrates trans bodies, communities, awareness, sex, love, particular talents, successes and self-creation with a faultless logic and good humor that may just make you appreciate transfolks (or being trans) in a whole new way.

Minimizing the Top Ten Fears of Raising a Gender Variant Child
Kim Pearson, TransYouth Family Allies

Are you a parent who wants reassurance that your child will grow up happy and healthy? We will explore the top ten questions that parents have regarding their child’s future.

Topics include: understanding gender expression in small children; how, what, when and if we should tell our family and friends; how do we make sure our child is safe in school and other situations; social transition; medical transition; bolstering self-esteem and romantic relationships.

Seahorse Papas, Bearing Fathers and Birth Dads; navigating pregnancy, conception and birth
j wallace

Bring your hopes, your fears, your questions. This will be a facilitated discussion about what it means to be a man who wants to give birth and how to go about manifesting that. Expect social, emotional, practical and medical issues to be discussed, experiences shared and suggestions offered.
We’ll talk about language, clothing, navigating medical service providers and what it’s actually like to be a pregnant dude.

Please note: we will /not/ be debating whether you can be a pregnant man, whether it’s good for the community, or debating the validity of pregnancy as a choice for transmen. This workshop is intended for transmasculine people who are considering pregnancy/are pregnant/been pregnant, and our friends and allies.

Race, Gender, and Sexuality
New Leaf Columbus

A round table conversation exploring the intersection of race, gender identity, and sexuality. Participants will share and discuss the multiple ways race and culture inform gender identity/ expression, and seek to understand challenges surrounding sexual orientation/preference. Specific topics will include (but are not limited to): language, coming out, gender roles, and cultural socialization.

Gay and FTM: How to Relax and Meet the People You are Attracted To
Dale Bogucki and Miles Newman, La Fraternitie du Loup-Garou

Hate going out because you are not sure you will even be able to talk to someone? Freaking out even though you pass you are “sure” you won’t in a mostly male space? Think you will never be able to disclose? Think that when you do disclose the entire bar will know? Learn that you are not alone, you are not the first, and the community is more receptive than you think. We have been there and we will tell you all about the best ways to disclose, good ways to disclose, and when not to disclose. Also, learn about cruising, specific body language, and how to know if someone is cruising you.

Intersex 101: Similarities & Differences Between Intersex and Trans People
Vickie Boisseau

This workshop will explore the social, legal, and medical issues faced by many Intersex people, as well as the similarities, and differences between Intersex and Trans people.

Trans Women Now
Cara Sande Greenberg

Trans women come in all shapes and sizes and transition is never a straight line. We will be holding a panel discussion on the lives and needs of trans women. Topics will include transphobia, appearance and presentation, safe spaces, health services, and trans women’s relationship to the broader T and the LGB communities.

Partners’ Experience: Limited Disclosure and Stealth
Ariel Baumwell, Co-Facilitator, TransOhio Partners’ Discussion Group

A discussion session on the experiences of partners and relationships where one or more partner prefers not to disclosure their trans status or does so in a very limited capacity. Topics include: Finding medical care, activism and community with limited disclosure, damage control when forcibly outed, stigmas and stereotypes, children and limited disclosure. Other topics related to limited disclosure are also welcome. This discussion session is open to all.

CSW, Office of Continuing Education is a provider with the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Provider Number: RSXX-038706 (Social Worker) and RCX-100503 (Counselor).

CLE’s are being sponsored by the LGBT Committee of the Columbus Bar Association.
Registration is now open and Social Service and Legal providers and professionals are being encouraged to register early as seating is limited and filling up fast.

Our Sponsors: The Ohio State University Multicultural Center; OSU’s Scarlet & Gay; OSU College of Social Work; The LGBT Committee of the Columbus Bar Association; Outlook; Stonewall Columbus; The Ohio Democratic Party LGBT Caucus; Apropos Promo; Irony Personal Training, LLC; United Way of Central Ohio; Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio; Out for Work; The LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland; The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force; Case Western Reserve University GLBT Office; Equality Ohio; PBJ Connections; Delaware Christian Gay-Straight Alliance; Heart-Centered Healing; Evolved.

Call for Panel Participants: Partners and Parents Panel @ Symposium

Call For Participants

TransOhio is currently looking for people interested in participating in the Parents’ and Partners’ Panels during the 3rd Annual TransOhio Transgender & Ally Symposium scheduled for August 13th – 15th, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio.

Parents Panel Information & Requirements

Participation in the Parents’ Panel is open to all non-transgender identified individuals who are a parent or who have played a significant parental role in the life of a transgender identified individual. Its purpose is to provide others an opportunity to learn about a variety of parent-child experiences from a non-transgender parental perspective. Interested parties must be registered for the Symposium. To register for the 3rd Annual TransOhio Trangender & Ally Symposium, visit transohio2010.wordpress.com.

If you are interested in participating on the Parents’ Panel please fill out the online form.

Partners’ Panel Information & Requirements

Participation in the Partners’ Panel is open to all non-transgender identified individuals who have been or are in a relationship with a transgender identified individual. Its purpose is to provide others an opportunity to learn about a variety of relationship experiences from a non-transgender perspective. Interested parties must be registered for the Symposium. To register for the 3rd Annual TransOhio Trangender & Ally Symposium, visit transohio2010.wordpress.com.

If you are interested in participating on the Parents’ Panel please fill out the online form.

All information should be received by 5pm EST, Friday, July 30, 2010.

For more information about TransOhio please visit www.transohio.org. Additional information about the 3rd Annual TransOhio Transgender & Ally Symposium can be found at transohio2010.wordpress.com.