Uncategorized

03
Nov
2017

November 12th PFLAG KC Meeting features Ceri Anne Lewis

Ceri Anne Lewis is a Christian Transgender Woman, and parent of two adult kids, Kevin and Kaitlin. Ceri (pronounced Carrie) lives in the Kansas City area, but was raised in Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota. As a Navy Veteran she has been stationed in Norfolk, VA, San Diego, CA, Pensacola, and Key West, FL. Ceri grew up in a family of Evangelical Ministers. In the process of reconciling her faith with being transgender, she was called to help others struggling with the suffering the church has been causing LGBT people. She currently attends UMC Church of the Resurrection, and is a graduate of the 2017 Reformation Project Leadership Cohort. Professionally, Ceri has worked in photography her whole life, beginning with newspapers, then Naval intelligence, studio, dance and theater. She’s been in the technical, photo science side of photography for the last 27 years. She has a long history working as a Scout, and Church Youth Leader, having led many youth missions to Mexico. Her passions include travel, music, motorcycles, and the outdoors.

I have had the pleasure of hearing Ceri Anne speak and know many of us will learn from her experiences.

Posted by Lisa
02
Jul
2017

July Meeting – The HIMM Project

Our July meeting will feature Jonathon Antle, he/him/his, Prevention Specialist & Program Coordinator – The HIMM Project.  Jonathon Antle joined Kansas City CARE Clinic in May 2016 as a Prevention Specialist and to be Program Coordinator for The HIMM Project. He received a Bachelor’s of Music Education (K-12) from Southwest Baptist University in 2008, and then moved to KC to pursue a
Master’s of Music in Music Theory. After beginning PrEP in 2015, Jonathon became aware of the lack of awareness as well as the stigma surrounding PrEP in KC and across the country.  This motivated him to change career paths to help the KC LGBT community understand this exciting new method of HIV prevention. Jonathon is still actively engaged with music, regularly playing keyboard in local musicals and serving as Organist at Community Christian Church since 2011.
HIMM (High Impact Men’s Movement) is funded through a grant from the CDC to promote HIV prevention among men who have sex with men, regardless of how they identify.  Jonathon has assembled a Community Advisory Board consisting of 15-20 community members to help guide HIMM’s work in KC’s LGBT community. HIMM promotes regular HIV testing, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis), HIV Treatment to help those living with HIV reach Undetectable status, and supportive services for those living with HIV such as Peer Counseling and CLEAR: Choosing Life! Empowerment! Action! Results! HIMM provides mobile testing throughout the KC Metro where men can text 816.663.9842 to arrange a time and place convenient for them to get tested, as well as monthly testing at Hamburger Mary’s Bear Bust every 1st Saturday of the month and at Missie B’s every second Sunday of the month. More information about The HIMM Project can be found at www.theHIMMproject.org.
Posted by Lisa
02
May
2017

FUN HOME at the Kauffman Theatre

PFLAGKC has an opportunity to offer tickets to the musical FUN HOME at a 30% savings.  The dates of the show are May 30-June 4th.  Use Code:  PFLAGKC at the link below.

https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/theatreleaguekc/EN/link/promotion/home

Every once in a while a Broadway musical comes along that surprises, moves and excites audiences in ways only a truly landmark musical can. The “groundbreaking” “uplifting” and “exquisite” new musical Fun Home was the event of the Broadway season, receiving raves from critics and audiences alike, winning five 2015 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and making history along the way. Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, Fun Home introduces us to Alison at three different ages, as she explores and unravels the many mysteries of her childhood. A refreshingly honest musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes, “Fun Home is extraordinary, a rare beauty that pumps fresh air into Broadway.” (New York Times)

Posted by Lisa
03
Apr
2017

Speaking Out – A Note from PFLAG-KC President

I had the pleasure of attending the Heartland Men’s Chorus for their presentation of Identify.  The inspiration for this performance is the story of Tyler Clementi, an 18-year old, extremely talented and gifted freshman at Rutger’s University, who committed suicide in 2010 after he became a victim of a horrible act of cyberbullying because he was gay.  The evening opened with an excellent panel discussion which included Tyler’s mother, Jane Clementi, Morgana Bailey, Debi Jackson, Barb Mares, Andy Scherman and Mitch Weber.  And then the concert began.  Tyler’s Suite was beautiful!  Songs of talent, songs of family, songs of hope and songs of love.  And heart wrenching!  If you are suffering from bullying, there is support available to you.  There is support available to LGBTQ individuals during their coming out process.  And there is suicide prevention available!  Jane Clementi said the stickers she had available were Tyler’s initials in gold to represent the Golden Rule:  Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.  Wikipedia also lists:  One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself (positive or directive form).  One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated (negative or prohibitive form).  What you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself (empathic or responsive form).  Not one of these definitions include hate.  There is no place for hate. Jane Clementi said parents of LGBT children need to speak openly of the love they have for their children to impact the world around them and create accepting environments.  So I will.  My daughter is a beautiful, smart, caring, and loving woman.  When she grows up she should be allowed to marry the person she loves.  And I love her.

After the powerful concert and hearing Tyler’s story, I am even more committed to providing support to the LGBTQ community.  PFLAG provides support for LGBTQ individuals during their coming out process.  PFLAG supports families and friends of LGBTQ individuals.  And, PFLAG will help you find whatever kind of help you need!  Please reach out for help.

  • American Foundation for suicide Prevention www.afsp.org
  • GLSEN www.glsen.org
  • It Gets Better Project www.itgetsbetter.org
  • Kansas City Anti-Violence Project www.kcavp.org
  • LikeMeLighthouse www.likemelighthouse.org
  • The Trevor Project www.thetrevorproject.org
  • The Tyler Clementi Foundation www.tylerclementi.org
Posted by Lisa