PFLAG Tri-Cities (Johnson City, Bristol, Kingsport) TN/NC

Guest Commentary:  PFLAG provides support, education, and advocacy 

by Stacey Williams of Johnson City

    On April 17, the Tri-Cities chapter of Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays celebrated its third full year of existence.

    The group was begun in response to a growing need in Northeast Tennessee for a resource on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning) issues.

    The members of the Tri-Cities chapter (and more who participate by e-mail distribution), draw from the Johnson City, Bristol and Kingsport areas as well as larger surrounding region.

    What is PFLAG? It is an organization that provides support, education and advocacy on issues relevant for the LGBTQ community and their families and friends. The Tri-Cities chapter meets monthly, on the third Thursday, on the East Tennessee State University campus.

    Who attends PFLAG meetings? Everyday folks who have people they care about who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning. The monthly meetings are open to those who would like to gain support by other like-minded individuals who care about the LGBT community.

    People have different reasons for attending PFLAG, and what PFLAG means to them:

    • Christine Pearson — “PFLAG has been an important part of my move to East Tennessee and has helped me understand the depth of our community. I have found a group of people who encourage me and my family and also, a place to offer help for those who may not have a support system.”

    • John Shuck — “As a Christian minister I find that many people are shunned by their families and their faith communities because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. This is unfortunate.

    PFLAG helps people come to terms with all of the wrong and damaging things said about them. While PFLAG is of course a secular organization, for some it fills the role that a faith community and a family should be. It is about acceptance and overcoming prejudice.”

    If you think PFLAG might be a good fit for you, or you would like more information, you can contact the Tri-Cities chapter by e-mail pflagtricities@yahoo. com. 

Johnson City Press (May 29, 2009)

    I hope that residents of Tennessee will contact their legislators and voice oppostion to SB0078 and its companion bill HB0605. These bills introduced by state Sen. Paul Stanley and state Rep. John DeBerry, respectively, will prevent adoption of children by qualified couples.

    This legislation will hurt residents of the Tri-Cities. I work with families on a daily basis. A couple in my church is raising a child. With this type of legislation they would not be able to adopt this child and achieve the needed legal and social support.

    This bill is ideologically based and does not take into account the lives of real human beings. These are hard-working people who pay taxes and who vote. They provide stable, loving homes for children who would otherwise have nowhere else to go.

    Perhaps Stanley and DeBerry would like to raise these children, pay for their education, food, clothing, shelter and medical expenses? Or should we send them to the orphanage, forget about them, and let the taxpayers foot the bill?

    Discrimination is ugly and expensive.

THE REV. JOHN SHUCK

Secretary

PFLAG Tri-Cities

Johnson City Press, Feb. 25, 2009

Sandra Garrett wrote this letter in response to an editorial in the Kingsport Times-News.

 

Gay marriage editorial defies logic

    I was disappointed to read Monday’s editorial regarding the California Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the ban against gay marriage in that state. Our “core values” were being threatened, it said. At its core, the value most under threat by this decision is the right of the majority to maintain control and power over the minority. The editor said so directly by saying the court’s decision “elevated … minority rights … over the common cultural values of society at large.”

    That’s correct. The U.S. Constitution was created to express the will of the majority while simultaneously protecting the rights of minorities and the powerless. Equal rights means just that.

    The editor claims that homosexuals are not denied their civil rights: they can vote, get jobs, food and homes, and also the laws prohibiting same-sex unions are applied equally to men and women. Yet, if I am entitled to something by law, there is no constitutional basis for others to be denied those same rights. That’s what the term “civil rights” means. Since I can get married, so should my gay friends be able to get married.

    Besides, if a law is constitutional simply because it is applied equally to men and women, then we could reasonably violate the civil rights of other minorities — as long as we violate both sexes. Huh? History will prove gay-marriage bans are as wrong as were laws prohibiting women from voting, blacks’ emancipation or Jews from owning property.

Sandra Garrett
Elizabethton

Kingsport Times-News (May 31, 2008)

Aiming for Acceptance 

I want to spread the happy word that the Tri-Cities area now has a large, active chapter of PFLAG – Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We had our first meeting, and the turnout was overwhelming! I was so inspired by the stories I heard and the compassion and determination displayed by those in attendance, and I am thrilled that this organization exists here, where it is so badly needed. 

I feel honored to have the chance to be a part of what I see as the next huge civil rights issue in America – the rights of lesbians and gays to exercise fully the same rights as straight people. But activism is not required; you can come for the support and the fellowship. 

We are a supportive, welcoming group. There is no debate here over sexuality or religion; this is a safe haven where you do not have to give up your spirituality or religion in order to be who you are. You will not be condemned or judged; you will be loved and celebrated. And this group is here to stay. 
You can find more information on the Web site, pflagtricities.org.

Alex Lee
Elizabethton, Tenn.

Bristol Herald Courier (May 26, 2008)

Happiness of others

    In response to J.G. Daniel’s recent letter proclaiming that Donald Taylor was just another homosexual who was “trying to convince himself that he is happy” — who is J.G. Daniel to say that Donald Taylor is not happy? Taylor’s happiness is not contingent on Daniel’s personal interpretation of what the tome of his chosen religion says about being homosexual.
    As anyone knows, the Bible is open to interpretation. If it were not so, there would not be so many thousands of different sects of Christianity, there would be only one. And I applaud Taylor for being able to make peace with both his religion and who he truly, deeply is, at the core of his soul.
    I would like to invite Taylor to attend our next meeting of PFLAG — Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. and our meeting locations are announced on our Web site, www.pflagtricities.org. Welcome, Taylor and we will embrace your happiness and would love to have you join our group.

ALEXA LIFESON
Bristol

Johnson City Press, (May 25, 2008)

Grateful For Support Group

Dr. Abraham Verghese would have joyfully wept had he been here for PFLAG’s [Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays] first meeting. He might have said, "I called the Tri-Cities, God’s Country, in my book. Perhaps, it truly is. God’s children are getting the message, Jesus taught them – Love is the Only Way!"

Medical knowledge shows some children at birth, (not by choice) have three chromosomes, not two, and then also, there are the raped who never get necessary counseling. How could this not confuse both their bodies and their emotions?

Like most Christians, I was taught more about "sin" than I was ever taught about "love." Yet, Jesus was a teacher who focused on the power of love, not a list of do’s and don’ts. Jesus did not cast a stone at the prostitute, in his "divine wisdom" he saw what we could not. It was understood Jesus was not upholding her way of life; still, his wisdom was accepted as good. Not one stone was cast.

I love most of the beautiful things I have learned in my church community, but haven’t we been slow to follow Jesus’ example of love, when it comes to gays and lesbians?

My thanks goes to the new PFLAG chapter of ministers, counselors and others, who have chosen not to pick out selected Scriptures for judgment, but have chosen the example of Jesus. What a delight to see that the attendance for the first meeting was standing-room only. There were lots of tears of love that night. I’m sure Jesus wept tears of joy, as well.

The Rev. L.K. Francis
Piney Flats, Tenn.

Bristol Herald-Courier (May 11, 2008)

Reader happy about support chapter for gays and lesbians

Editor:

    I want to spread the happy word that the Tri-Cities area now has a large, active chapter of PFLAG-Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We had our first meeting last Thursday, and the turnout was overwhelming! I was so inspired by the stories I heard and the compassion and determination displayed by those in attendance, and I am thrilled that this organization exists here, where it is so badly needed. I personally feel honored to have the chance to be a part of what I see as the next huge civil rights issue in America -- the rights of lesbians and gays to exercise fully the same rights as straight people. But activism is not required-you can come for the support and the fellowship.

    If you are gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual, questioning, or are friends or family members of anyone who is, I invite you to join our organization. We are a supportive, welcoming group, and there is no debate here over sexuality or religion; this is a safe haven for you to come to where you do not have to give up your spirituality or religion in order to be who you are. You will not be condemned, you will not be judged -- you will be loved and celebrated. And this group is here to stay.

    Our next meeting is May 15, and you can find more information on the Web site at www.pflagtricities.org. Welcome!

Amy Williams

Elizabethton

Kingsport Times-News (April 27, 2008)
Elizabethton Star (April 29,2008)
Johnson City Press (May 1, 2008)

Humanity at PFLAG meeting

On April 17, I attended the inaugural Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays meeting. I was so moved by the humanity in the meeting room that I feel compelled to write a brief letter in response.

Those who were in attendance are everyday people who believe in supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning persons and their families. I found the acceptance and sense of connectedness in that meeting room to be palpable. As I looked around the room that night at the crowd of people — strangers to each other — who came together for this common cause it became evident just how much this group has been needed in the Tri-Cities. I walked away from the meeting not only grateful I had been there but inspired to be an active member.

There will be much good done by this chapter of PFLAG — for GLBTQ people, families, as well as the community. We as a community are incredibly fortunate to have this organized group of people who care deeply about people regardless of sexual orientation or identity.

STACEY WILLIAMS
Johnson City

Johnson City Press (April 22, 2008)