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2007
Convention - Fabulous New Resources |
In addition to the 50
convention workshops, the multiple plenary sessions, the launch
of Straight for Equality, and PFLAG's Capitol Hill Lobby Day, we
did manage to get our hands on some new resources which will
definitely prove beneficial whether you acquire them for
yourself, for your Arizona PFLAG chapter, for your church group,
or for your community. We're excited to share them with
you now!
Incredible DVDs:
The following are incredible films we saw at the
convention -- most are now available on DVD.
Fortunately for all of us, the DVDs are inexpensive and are
guaranteed to provide crucial support and education to PFLAG
families -- and to those too afraid to come to a PFLAG
support meeting. These are great resources for PFLAG
chapter libraries (as well as your personal library of
materials for family members and friends). Why not
arrange and publicize a showing in your community?
(Note: Public viewing restrictions and costs may apply
-- check the websites for each film for details.)
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Anyone and Everyone (Mike's rating:
A++;
watch
film trailer – 2:58 min.)
Why Mike is
so excited about this film:
"Have you ever wished you could film a
PFLAG “newcomer’s” support meeting that just
exceptionally unfolded for all participants that you
could share with all future “new” parents who came
to PFLAG?
Well, this is even better!
This is simply
THE BEST educational
tool I have ever seen that also
provides support without the need for someone to
walk through our doors.
Every chapter should
own a copy – and every chapter should
show it at least once
every 6 months to “new” attendees.
It’s that well done!" DVD runtime:
57 min. |
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For the Bible Tells Me So (Mike's rating:
A++;
watch
film trailer – 2:42 min.)
Why Mike is
so excited about this film: “If you
saw it when it came to Phoenix, I hope you saw what
I saw: For
the first time ever on film, someone directly
addresses the “infamous” Bible verses used to
condemn our community, not only with prominent
Biblical scholars, but with also a rambunctious “in-THEIR-face”
make-us-feel-great
style that is uplifting, inspiring, and giving of
hope to many who have either been cast out of their
church, or fled on their own due to the hostility
they felt.
Another “must see” for
everyone!” DVD runtime:
97 min. |
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Inlaws & Outlaws: Marriage from the inside.
And out. (Mike's rating:
A;
watch
film trailer–2:07 min.)
 What
do you get when you fall in love?
Inlaws & Outlaws cleverly weaves together
the true stories of couples and singles—
both gay and straight — and all into a
collective narrative that is as hilarious as it is
heartbreaking. At the top of the film, you
meet real people one on one. You don’t know who’s
gay or straight or who’s with whom. As
their stories unfold and stereotypes fall by the
wayside, you won’t care because you’ll be rooting
for everybody. With candor, good humor, great
music and real heart, Inlaws & Outlaws gets
past all the rhetoric to explore what we all have in
common. We love. We lose. We all
want to belong. And we’re all making
this up as we go along. Included on their
website:
How to host a screening for your
congregation, school or
community. DVD runtime:
100 min. |
God & Gays: Bridging the Gap (Our rating:
B-;
watch
film trailer – 1:46 min.)
God & Gays: Bridging
the Gap explores the
religious struggle reconciling sexuality and
spirituality. It gets into the head, heart and lives
of the people who have found homosexuality and the
Bible as their self-defining work. The film
wrestles through the eyes and experiences of people
wanting a relationship with the very religion that
rejects them - Christian (Lutheran, Presbyterian,
Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist) Mormon, Catholic,
Jehovah's Witness, Jewish, Muslim and more. No
matter the religion, the experience of oppression
and repression is the same. Fortunately, many soon
find it's God that brings them out. DVD
runtime: 90 min. |
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Shall Not Be Recognized: Portraits of Same-Sex
Couples (Our rating:
A-; no trailer available)
 In
response to a 2006 effort by the state of Wisconsin
to pass a constitutional amendment to ban legal
recognition of same-sex unions, and recognizing that
the average duration of heterosexual marriages in
the U.S. that end in divorce is approximately seven
years, this informative and educational exhibit was
created to inform the public about long-term
same-sex couples. This DVD exhibit includes
photographic and verbal portraits of 30 same-sex
couples in long-term, committed relationships.
The DVD is a great new tool for education and
advocacy in your community. DVD runtime:
23 min. |
COMING SOON:
Two Spirits (film
trailer not yet available)
Why are people killed for being
who they are?
Two Spirits
tells a nuanced story of what it means to be poor,
transgendered, and Navajo, and examines the lives of
Fred Martinez, his friends, family, the police, and
those in the larger community who were most affected
by his murder. The documentary explores Fred’s
short and compelling life, his terrible death, and
his enduring legacy—one that has led to renewed
resolve by many people of the several cultures of
the Four Corners region not only to accept
diversity, but to honor it, and to help ensure that
people are free to express the totality of who they
are. |
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New Books:
Straight into Gay America -- available for
FREE download!
Equal
Rights advocacy by unicycle? Straight ally Lars
Clausen’s 1,000 mile tour searched for everyday life
in Gay America. Discover Clausen’s passion for the
power of stories to change our world in his new
book; Straight Into Gay America: My Unicycle Journey
for Equal Rights. Foreword by Jody Huckaby,
Executive Director of PFLAG.
Lars Clausen's special message to
PFLAGers: I have a request and an
opportunity: Request: Click and
receive my entire book for
free. Then give it away
free. To your
chapter, your friends, your church, your email list
. . . Opportunity: Use my book to
advance PFLAG's
Straight for Equality emphasis.
"I
downloaded your free ebook yesterday, and read fifty
pages before looking up. Awesome writing and
reflection. One of those rare books that
springs ahead of the "I should read" shelf and
becomes, "I can't put it away." Stephen
Simmonds, Lutheran Pastor |
Entire Book
E-book
FREE!
Click to Download |
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Silent Lives: How High a Price?
For Personal Reflections and Group Discussions
about Sexual Orientation
Silent Lives
examines the consequences a sexual minority person
suffers when attempting to pass as heterosexual
and/or as of a traditional gender expression.
Author Sara L. Boesser also looks at how society as
a whole is affected when an individual is pressured
to hide his/her sexual identity. The book
combines autobiographical sources, personal
interviews and questions for reflection to explore
issues relevant to everyone's sexual orientation and
gender status, be they heterosexual, or gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or intersexual.
Silent Lives
is helpful for personal journaling and sharing with
relatives and friends, and is also very useful as a
college text, therapy supplement, or a catalyst for
group discussions. 10% of the net proceeds from
Silent Lives:
How High a Price?
are donated by
the author to Parents, Family and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). |
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Courting Equality: A Documentary History of
America's First Legal Same-Sex Marriage
 On
November 18, 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme
Judicial Court granted equal marriage benefits to
same-sex couples. The decision provoked a
searing public debate over the meaning of marriage
and family, civil rights, and the role of religion
in law and society. But the experiment went
forward nonetheless: thousands of
Massachusetts gays and lesbians married and,
remarkably, the sky did not fall. Through
engaging storytelling and powerful photographs,
Courting Equality takes readers through the volatile
public debate following the decision and introduces
some of the many lesbian and gay families who have
taken advantage of equal marriage laws. In
Massachusetts, equal marriage has not destroyed the
family but rather has reinforced the importance of
love, commitment, fairness, and equality to the
functioning of healthy democratic communities. |
The Gay and Lesbian Guide to College Life
 What
makes this guide
by the Princeton Review so great is that it's the
first to focus solely on GLBT students, and is
written for them AND their parents. In fact,
it was written in collaboration with PFLAG National!
Let your parents and college (or soon-to-be)
students know! Book flyer [PDF]
Featuring
advice from students and
administrators at more than
seventy of the nation’s top
colleges, the
Gay and Lesbian Guide to
College Life lets
you know how to how to
thrive on campus as a
lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, and/or
questioning student.
Including tons of student
testimonials and dozens of
parent tips, the Gay and
Lesbian Guide to College
Life offers no-nonsense
guidance to LGBT students,
their families, and allies
on how to make the most of
their college experience.
Learn how you can:
-
Find an
GLBT-friendly school
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Evaluate
administrative policies
related to GLBT student
life
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Deal with
homo/bi/transphobia on
campus
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Participate in GLBT
student activism
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Get
support for your health
and safety needs
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Fully
integrate yourself into
the campus community
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New (to us)
Organizations:
-
 BFLAG:
Blind, Friends, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
People (www.bflag.org)
From their brochure: The purpose of BFLAG is to
provide for the betterment of the lives of those who are
visually impaired and who are GLBT. BFLAG is a
chartered affiliate of the American Council of the Blind --
the first such special interest group of the largest
organization of persons who are blind in the U.S.
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 CFLAG:
Clergy Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (www.clergyflag.com)
From their brochure: A confidential, online
network of clergy families and friends of GLBT people.
We communicate on an email listserve, sharing experiences
and reaching out to help families and serve the church.
We lead family networks in our parishes and dioceses and
serve as family resources in our dioceses. We welcome
clergy and spouses of all denominations who have GLBT
children or other GLBT family members to join us.
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 Fortunate
Families: Catholic Families with GLBT Daughters and
Sons (www.fortunatefamilies.com)
From their website: Catholic
parents who love and affirm their GLBT sons and daughters
are Fortunate Families. Grounded in Catholic
tradition, Fortunate Families ministers primarily with
Catholic parents of GLBT children—but welcomes families
of all faiths. Our website will help parents find
support and resources and a place to share their story with
other Fortunate Families. When parents explore and
value their personal stories, they are empowered to share
that story with their family circle, their faith community
and the larger society.
New (to us)
Resources:
 The
Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) has put out some really nice pamphlets
that are as attractive as they are informative: Click
on the links below to find out more about them -- they can
be downloaded for FREE
from the HRC website.
Coming Out (resources
for STRAIGHT people and GLBT people):
Religion & Faith:
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