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Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
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Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
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We are committed to help other parents learn what we have learned, to help changes attitudes, and to actively contribute to the creation of an environment of understanding so that all gay and lesbian people can live with dignity and respect. We invite you to share our knowledge, to be free from fear, and to reach out, search and discover more about being human.
Mission Statement
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well being of gay, lesbian and bisexual 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 to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides an opportunity to dialogue about sexual orientation and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
About Our Children
Gay people are everywhere.
Lesbians and gay men come from families from all corners of the earth, from every culture, religion, ethnic group and occupation. Kinsey estimated that about 10% of the population is homosexual; gay people and their families represent over one third of the people in this country.
Gay people are naturally homosexual.
Homosexuality is not chosen, like selecting clothes or a line of work. No one knows how human orientation is determined. In discussions with thousands of families with gay children, we found that:
- The gay child is often aware of his/her sexual orientation at a very early age
- None of the children are influenced or taught to be gay by any person
- In homes where gay children try to become heterosexual, all attempts fail
- Being gay is not just a stage youngsters go through
- Fears of "catching" homosexuality or of being "recruited" at school or elsewhere are unreasonable and "…utterly without scientific foundation." (Statement of J. Weinstein, MD., President of American Psychiatric Association, 10/6/78)
Gay people are part of the family.
It is estimated that one in four families has a gay member. Our gay sons and daughters have parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews whom they love and care for. Rejection of a gay person by his/her family is a tragedy for each person in the immediate family unit.
The Problem of Silence
In Australia today, there are many parents with gay daughters and sons who are victims of social, political and economic oppression.
Gay people in many communities are still obstructed by prejudice in the pursuit of happiness, and in striving to live their lives with openness and dignity.
Homosexuals are not the only victims of oppression; it also touches their friends and families. We as parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays, feel that the time is right to join together to appeal to the public conscience in order to achieve equal opportunities for our lesbian daughters and gay sons by working for the same basic human rights, liberties and opportunities for them that are enjoyed by others.
As proud parents of gay people, new windows of understanding have been opened to us which have enriched our lives. We want to bring this understanding to the community.
P-FLAG PROVIDES SUPPORT
Gays and lesbians are the most frequent victims of hate crimes. In a society that is still learning to overcome hostility and accommodate diversity, P-FLAG and its affiliates offer families and friends, lesbians, gays and bisexuals, their spouses, children and loved ones a community that will accept and respect them.
Homophobia, not homosexuality, threatens the family and society. P-FLAG’s branches throughout Australia bring together families to learn how to provide support in a confidential setting, to share, to celebrate and to strategise about overcoming ignorance and changing society’s attitudes.
By challenging homophobia we are striving for a society that accepts and celebrates the differences of us all.
P-FLAG provides personal support and information through its helpline and monthly meetings.
P-FLAG EDUCATES SOCIETY
The majority of school counsellors strongly agree that students are very degrading toward fellow students whom they discover to be gay or lesbian. P-FLAG is working towards creating a learning environment in which lesbian, gay and bisexual youth can thrive without fear of harassment and discrimination, and can learn about their culture and community.
RECOMMENDED READING
"The New Loving Someone Gay", Don Clark, Signet Books, 1988.
"Now That You Know", Betty Fairchild & Nancy Hayward, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1989
"There's Something I've Been Meaning To Tell You", Loralee MacPike, Naiad Press
"Is It A Choice", Eric Marcus, Harper, San Francisco
"Parents Matter", Anne Muller, Naiad Press
These books are available from Hares & Hyenas Bookshops:135 Commercial Road, South Yarra, Tel: (03) 9824 0110
P-Flag has a comprehensive library available at the monthly meetings.
P-FLAG IN THE NEWS
http://www.pflag.org/press/news/8399pflagAU.htm
For counselling, information and referrals; please call Gay & Lesbian Switchboard on (03) 9510 5488 or 1800 631 493 (freecall from country Victoria). Hours: 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm daily except Wednesdays, 2.00 pm - 10.00 pm.
P-FLAG Around the World
viewers since 22 January 2000
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Page maintained by Erica Davison, Updated 1 February 2000. Any problems, please e-mail me
P-FLAG brochure converted to HTML by Paul Rees, page renovated 22 January 2000.
