The Phoenix Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians And Gays (and Bisexual, Trans, and "Questioning" People).  Proudly serving the Valley of the Sun...and beyond!



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Welcome! / ¡Bienvenido!

 

 

Welcome to PFLAG Phoenix
Familias del Arco Iris
(Rainbow Families)

 

Who Are We?

 

PFLAG Phoenix is a support group for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and "Questioning" (GLBTQ) people and others who are interested in supporting GLBTQ people and GLBTQ issues.

 

Our group meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the First Congregational UCC, 1407 N. Second St., Phoenix 85004-1607.

 

Everyone is welcome!

 

Bienvenido a PFLAG Phoenix
Familias del Arco Iris
 

 

¿Quienes Somos?
 

PFLAG Phoenix es un grupo de apoyo de Padres, Familiares y Amigos de Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales, personas Transgéneros, y aquellos que tiene dudas o están interesados acerca de este tema es su propia vida o alguien quien conocen y desean apoyar.

 

Nuestro grupo se junta el primer Miércoles del mes de 7 a 9 de la noche en la First Congregational UCC, 1407 N. Second St., Phoenix 85004-1607.

 

¡Todos están bienvenidos!

 

 

 

PFLAG's Vision:

 

We, the parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize this vision.

 

Nuestra Vision:

 

Nosotros, los padres, familiares y amigos de lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgéneros, nos recocijamos por la diversidad y deseamos una sociedad que acoja a todos, incluyendo aquellos que tienen una orientación sexual o identidad degénero diversa. Solamente con respeto, dignidad e igualdad para todosalcanzaremos el máximo potencial como seres humanos, individual y colectivamente. PFLAG aplaude la participación y el apoyo de todos aquellos que comparten nuestra visión y esperan hacerla realidad. (+)

 

 

 

PFLAG's Mission:

 

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through:

  • support, to cope with an adverse society;

  • education, to enlighten an ill-informed public;

  • advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

 

 

Nuestra Misión:

 

PFLAG fomenta la salud y el bienestar de las personas gays, lesbianas, bisexuales y transgéneros, así como de sus familiares mediante:

  • el apoyo, para enfrentar a una sociedad adversa;

  • la educación, para corregir las nociones erradas de un público mal informado;

  • y el activismo, para eliminar la discriminación y conseguir igualdad de derechos civiles.

PFLAG provee la oportunidad de dialogar sobre los temas de orientación e identidad sexual, y se esfuerza por crear una sociedad sana y que respete la diversidad humana. (+)

 

 

 

PFLAG's History:

 

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a national organization of families whose goal is to fight for the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people.  PFLAG was founded the 1973 by parents of GLBT people. PFLAG has over 200,000 members and allies in more than 500 chapters throughout the United States.  Laoficina central of PFLAG (National), its board of directors and its Regional Directors are losencargados of nourished, I encourage and to provide services to this extensive network of basecomunitaria ("grassroots").  The headquarters are located in Washington, DC.  PFLAG is a non-governmental organization, is strictly secular, and does not affiliate with any political nor religious institution.

 

For more information, please visit www.pflag.org.

 

Nuestra Historia:

 

Padres, Familiares y Amigos de Lesbianas y Gays (PFLAG) es una organización nacional de familias cuya meta es luchar por los derechos civiles de personas gays, lesbianas, bisexuales y transgéneras (GLBT). Fue fundada el 1973 por madres y padres de personas GLBT. PFLAG cuenta con doscientos mil miembros y aliados en más de 500 filiales en todo los Estados Unidos. Laoficina central de PFLAG (National), su Junta Directiva y sus Directores Regionales son losencargados de nutrir, incentivar y proveer servicios a esta extensa red de basecomunitaria (“grassroots”). La oficina central queda en Washington, DC. PFLAG es una organización no gubernamental, estrictamente laica, no afiliada con ninguna institución política ni religiosa.(+)

 

Para mayor información visite el portal www.pflag.org.

 

+NUESTRAS HIJAS Y NUESTROS HIJOS. Copyright 2000. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc. Reprinted 2006. TRADUCIDO POR: Nila Marrone, PhD

 

 

 

 

   
English
(Inglés)

 

  Español
(Spanish)

 

CONGRATULATIONS to Our Very Own Special PFLAG Phoenix Mom, Mary Rosales!

"There's Something About [Our] Mary" . . .

 

Our Mary Rosales, PFLAG Phoenix mom and facilitator of our new bilingual Familias del Arco Iris support group was recently honored by the 1n10 youth support group for her support to Valley LGBTQ youth.  Please watch the following video which was created as an introductory video for the 1n10 award presentation:


 

 

Untitled from ChesworthMD on Vimeo.

Celebrate:  Mary Receives Her Award!

 

Below is a photo from the event itself.  Pictured below are, from left to right, Sheila Lopez-Aguirre (our new PFLAG Phoenix chapter president), Sal Rosales (Mary's wonderful husband), our award recipient Mary Rosales, Nick Ray (Executive Director of 1n10), Michael Weakley (Program Coordinator of 1n10), Mike Crum (our PFLAG Phoenix Vice President), and Richard Aguirre (Madam President's fabulous husband). 

 

A great time was had by ALL!  Our THANKS go to everyone at 1n10 and
 at Sonoran Studios (especially videographer Michael Chesworth) for
making  this such an incredible and wonderful video and event!

 

We Couldn't Be More Proud:  "There's Something About [Our] Mary" . . .

Sal & Mary Rosales


We are proud to announce that our very own beloved PFLAG Phoenix mom, Mary Rosales, has been chosen by 1n10, the local LGBTQ youth support group, for their "Ally Award" as part of their upcoming second annual spring brunch, titled "Fresh", on February 20th.  Mary, who along with her husband, Sal, co-facilitate our Familias del Arco Iris ("Rainbow Families") bilingual support group, will be honored at this awards brunch for her contributions to Phoenix-area LGBTQ youth. 

 

We hope that you can join us for this festive occasion -- tickets are available online here.  In addition to recognition of community members, the brunch will feature a champagne reception, a silent auction, and fun entertainment.  If you can't make it to the brunch, but would like to send Mary a congratulatory message, you can email her here.

 

"Fresh" event flyer

"Fresh", February 20th, 2011

 

 

A Little Something More About Our Mary . . .

 

1n10 requested a short bio on Mary, and we were happy to supply them one!  Keep reading . . . .

 

Mary Rosales is a co-founder and facilitator of Familias del Arco Iris ("Rainbow Families"), a bilingual/Spanish support group of PFLAG Phoenix (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).  Mary's journey to PFLAG began in Las Cruces, New Mexico where she was born and raised, and where she met her husband, Sal, of 54 years.  Together, they have three children, two sons and a daughter.  They moved to Phoenix in 1968 where Mary pursued a Master's Degree and began a doctoral program, eventually becoming an elementary teacher and soon after a principal in the Isaac Elementary School district where she remained until retiring in 1996.  Today, Mary shares her passion for quilt making as a quilting instructor while also facilitating Familias del Arco Iris.

 

Mary's son, Richie, "came out" to her and Sal shortly after he graduated high school, and Mary credit's her husband with immediately setting the tone of acceptance for the whole family.  Upon hearing the words that Richie was gay, Mary turned to Sal and asked what he thought about what Richie had just said.  Without skipping a beat, Sal replied, "So what?  He's my son, and I love him."  Although Mary initially struggled with this news, those words never left her and she soon worked through her struggle to fully accept and embrace her son.  In fact, Mary credit's Richie for bringing much joy to their lives in the following years "with his grandiose birthday bashes and his outrageously great Halloween parties.  We met so many of his wonderful gay friends and people from his work.  They were always welcomed at our home.  We had some great dinners!  Sal was a wonderful fill-in father figure for those that Richie brought home and pointed out to him."  Sadly, Richie was later stricken with the AIDS virus, and he died in 2005. 

 

Richie's passing was extremely difficult for the family, and especially for Mary.  Mary later sought counseling where it was suggested that she contact PFLAG.  She did, but it would be another five years before she could actually bring herself to attend a PFLAG support meeting.  Soon after attending PFLAG in 2009, she was asked to participate in a "Coming Out Day" series of interviews on the local Spanish Univision station.  Through meeting various community members at that event, Mary was put in touch with a group at PFLAG Phoenix who were looking to start a Hispanic-focused bilingual support group.  Mary and Sal both joined that effort and quickly were elevated to facilitators of the group.  They held their first Familias del Arco Iris support group in March, 2010, and since then Mary has spoken to the LGBTQ youth at 1n10 on several occasions and has worked to support the homeless LGBTQ youth at Tumbleweed's GreenHouse Project. 

 

Mary's love and concern for LGBTQ youth grew from her own experiences with her son, Richie, and his many gay friends, and from having two gay nephews, one of whom dropped out of high school because he could not take the taunting and abuse he endured because he was gay.  PFLAG Phoenix is proud to be associated with this driving force of compassion and humanity for LGBTQ youth!

 

1n10 and at Sonoran Studios (especially videographer Michael Chesworth) for making this such an incredible and wonderful video and event!

 

 


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