Winston-Salem PFLAG Seeking Nominees

The Winston-Salem Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) is seeking nominations for its fourth annual Kaleidoscope Awards, which recognize the contributions of allies to the local gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community.

Nominations are accepted in five categories: Business; Education (formerly School); Faith Community; Individual; and a new category, Community Organization. These awards focus on the changes being made by fair-minded allies, independently or within organizations, who recognize that moving equality forward is the key to achieving justice for GLBT people.

With the addition of the Community Organization Award, PFLAG recognizes that there are many civic and special-interest organizations that are inclusive and advocate for the civil rights of GLBT people but do not fit into one of the other categories. Additionally, the renamed Education Award has been expanded to recognize those who work for change within the system. Individuals (students, educators, counselors and administrators) as well as educational groups or schools can be nominated for making schools a safer place for GLBT students.

Applications are available at www.pflagwinstonsalem.org and will be accepted through Sept.15. Nominations can be submitted online via e-mail to info@pflagwinstonsalem.org, or by mail to PFLAG Winston-Salem, PO Box 15477, Winston-Salem, NC 27113.

You can also read more of this at 2journalnow.com.

N.C. PFLAG Group Joins Families of Color Network

The Winston-Salem Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG Winston-Salem) announces the beginning of a new African American support group designed specifically for family members, friends, and straight allies of black gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people as well as for black GLBT members of our community. “A support group for GLBT African American’s, their families, and friends is very much needed in this community. This is a large step in the right direction for PFLAG and I am hoping that it promotes awareness and acceptance in the African American community as a whole around the issue of homophobia,” said TaMeicka Clear, board member and chairperson of PFLAG Winston-Salem’s African American outreach program called OUT Like Us.

The first support group meeting will be Monday, August 11, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Southside Branch of the Forsyth County Public Library, 3185 Buchanan Street. The topic at the first meeting is “Does Your Mama Know? Telling the Kinfolk” which deals with coming out issues in the African American Community. The monthly meeting will be held at the Southside Library on Buchanan Street on the second Monday of each month thereafter.

“The announcement of this new support group for our African American community is something PFLAG Winston-Salem has wanted to do for a very long time. TaMeicka Clear has really brought a great deal to the table in helping all of us at PFLAG recognize and respect the differences between the black and white cultures around GLBT issues,” said Thomas Farmer, chapter president.