By Dale Merkle
MIDLAND – If your son and his best friend were dumped in your front yard beaten and tattered and you had to get them to the hospital to be stitched and bandaged, would you want answers? Would you want to talk to someone about it?
If your daughter came home from school crying, went to her room and sobbed on her bed for hours, unable to communicate except to say that everyone hated her, even her teachers and principal, would you demand a school meeting? Would you like to know what you could do?
If friends you loved were harassed and policies or laws were enacted that discriminated against them, would you speak up in their defense and seek justice and equal treatments for all?
Well, that is just how Tri-Cities PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) has been helping people for the past fifteen years. In spite of all the dangers, in spite of a negative environment, Tri-Cities PFLAG has been offering support (to cope with an adverse society), education (to enlighten an ill-informed public) and advocacy (to end discrimination and secure equal human and civil rights) for their gay and lesbian loved ones. The efforts of Tri-Cities PFLAG to make our schools safer for all students have been particularly noteworthy.
On Sept. 24 PFLAG Tri-Cities celebrated those fifteen years of support for all families. Richard and Barbara Kormelink, Helen King and Richard founded the chapter in September 1990. They agreed to meet for one year to determine whether a need existed in the Tri-Cities for a group to support their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender loved ones. Each meeting attracted more new people. Now, fifteen years later, PFLAG Tri-Cities has a membership of over fifty and a newsletter circulation of over two hundred.
The celebration honored the founders and friends who had the foresight, commitment, courage and love to establish the chapter. The group also celebrated the chapter's accomplishments over the years and took a look toward the future with the hope that one day there will no longer be a need for PFLAG.
The theme of the celebration was "The Power of Love." Jan and Mike Neubecker, of National PFLAG and Great Lakes regional directors, gave the keynote addresses. They congratulated the founders for pioneering the Tri-Cities chapter. In sharing their personal stories the Neubeckers pointed out how families have been hurt due to our society's placing a negative stigma on having a gay or lesbian child. They talked about how some theological dogma has helped create an environment that makes streets and hallways unsafe for LGBT individuals. Mike challenged those in attendance to "live proudly." He told them that PFLAG saves lives and that "the power of PFLAG is the power of love."
The officers of the Tri-Cities PFLAG chapter were recognized for their outstanding leadership. Jay Crane will continue as president and Bob Malosh is returning as vice-president.
Tri-Cities PFLAG meets the fourth Sunday of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 6220 Jefferson in Midland at 2 p.m. PFLAG provides opportunities for dialogue about sexual orientation and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
