Volume I, Issue iii                                                                                                                                       May, 2003
of Westminster,
Carroll County, Maryland
N     E     W     S     L     E     T     T     E     R
PFLAG's Mission Statement:

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends, through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

PFLAG-Westminster Meeting Time
First Thursday of Every Month,
at 7:30pm in Harrison House(the green one),
on Main St. across from the College.

Next PFLAG-Westminster Meeting:

Thursday, May 1, 2003

PFLAG-Westminster: Officers
Paul M. Himes, President
Roy M. Fique, Vice President
Candice Herron, Secretary
Matthew S. McGowan, Treasurer
[Position Open], Member-at-Large

Other Contacts: Our Founders
Thom Ballantine, 410-840-9932
Patty Sundberg, 410-751-8913
20 Ward Avenue
Westminster, MD 21157

Email: pflagwestminster@yahoo.com
Web: www.oocities.org/pflagwestminster
In Black and White (and Pink):

    Thom Ballantine turns his reporter's notebook on the media. Highlighting two recent examples of gay children and PFLAG being mentioned in supportive ways in local TV and newspaper, he ends with an encouragement to us at PFLAG Westminster to make our chapter the best  it can be.

"In Black and White (and Pink)" is the Newsletter's weekly general news column. All are encouraged to submit  their summaries, direct retellings and/or assesments of current news events relating to out organization's goal. Email any submissions for this column, or any part of the Newsletter to: pflagwestminster@yahoo.com.
Other Information                                              

The following links represent other pages on this PFLAG website that contain info that will be part of hard-copy newsletters, once we start making them. The copies of this and other e-newsletters which will be available at meetings will include print-outs of the pertinent info from below.

Calendar of Events                                                               

To see a complete calendar of pertinent, upcoming PFLAG and other events over the next several months,
click here.

Membership Information/Application Form                             

Click here for a printable copy of our application form, with info about the various levels of membership, costs, benefits, etc. **-this form will be put on the website during the first week of April, 2003.
This PFLAG-Westminster Newsletter was produced by: Thom Ballantine, Paul Himes, and Matthew McGowan, for PFLAG-Westminster. Any requests to use or re-produce the information above should be directed to pflagwestminster@yahoo.com.
April, 2003 Minutes - Business Meeting
as recorded by Candice Herron, PFLAG Westminster Secretary.
To be approved at the May 1, 2003, meeting.

From the PFLAG Meeting held at Harrison House, on the
McDaniel College campus, on the third day of April, 2003:

Call to Order: 7:45pm.
Introduction: Attendees introduce themselves. Members are reminded   
       that identities and stories shared at PFLAG, except for one's own, are  
       confidential.
March Meeting's Minutes are approved after being read by Secretary
       Candice Herron.
Newsletter Information offered by Matt McGowan, Treasurer.
   - All PFLAG-Westminster members are welcome to submit essays,
       personal accounts and other writings no longer than 300 words.
   - Submission Deadline will be the second Thursday of each
       month, one week after the regular PFLAG meeting.
   - Acceptable means of submission include (preferably) email, disk or
       (typed) hard copy.
   - For more details, contact PFLAG.
Upcoming Local/National Events were reported by Roy Fique,
       PFLAG-Westminster Vice President.
   - 4/3 Phila. Gay & Lesbian Film Festival begins.
   - 4/5 Alternative Prom at George Washington U.
   - 4/9 The National Day of Silence (see www.dosp.org)
   - 4/25 Black Pride
   - 5/1 MAY PFLAG MEETING
   - Sundays: "In the Life," long-running PBS educational/news series
       dealing with gay youth. 11:00pm.
Casting Call: Floating Board Member, discussed by Paul Himes.
       PFLAG-Westminster's Executive Board currently has four members,
       and is looking to create a Member-at-Large, the majority of whose
       responsibility would include breaking deadlock when it happens
       among the board. As the rest of the board is so young, we would like
       a parent member, or at least someone over 35, to fill the spot. To
       inquire, please contact PFLAG.
Educational Committee Report, by Roy Fique, PFLAG Vice President.
   - Thom suggests vocally that Roy take the helm on educational
        planning.
   - Roy reports that PFLAG is tentatively planning to speak at
       Liberty High School about gay bashing.
Budget Report, by Matt McGowan, PFLAG Treasuer.
       Thanks to several new mwmberships, as of this April Meeting,
       PFLAG's budget is at $180.

Business Meeting Adjourned at 8:20pm.
From the Triangular Office

    Chapter president Paul Himes takes the approach of Mother's Day as inspiration for a personal "thank you" to his own mother and, by her example of loving growth toward acceptance, all PFLAG Moms.
K e e p i n g

t h e

F a i t h
In his weekly column for the faithful, Thom Ballantine begins what will become a regular feature of his column:   he dispels some of the myths about what the Bible has to say about gays. In this first installment, he discusses the Sodom story so often used against lgbt people, and offers evidence that it doesn't say everything right-wing zealots would have the herd believe.