SAN JOSE, CA-- Gays in the Presbyterian Church (USA) rejoiced at a vote of 54% to 46% taken at the bienniel General Assembly here the last week in June.

It struck out an onerous ”fidelity in marriage, chastity in singleness" requirement, ending discrimination against LGBT members of the Church; and providing spiritual and ordination equality for LGBT Presbyterians.

However, the action isn’t home free, because it is subject to ratifaction by a majority of more than a thousand presbyteries (subgroups in the church polity.)

The Assembly took another positive step in its ministry to its gays when it voted with a 60% majority to restore the Heidelberg Catechism to its historic accuracy, which did not include a reference to “homosexual perversion.” This phrase had appeared in the translation adopted by the church some years ago but had not been part of the original document.

The Assembly left the definition of marriage unchanged after vigorous debate over including same-sex couples, as recommended by the church polity committee.

-- More Light Presbyterians

I was at a social gathering today engaged in a conversation with a mother and her high school age son, neither of whom I had met before. I asked the son if there were any gay and lesbian students at his school and he knew of one. The mother added that she was distressed when she heard on the radio a report that gay students in large high schools were gangs and pressuring straight students to join their lifestyle.The mom didn't appear to be particularly homophobic, but I wonder where she heard such stuff. Is this the latest output from right-wing groups or what? Or

have I been sleeping through all the gay gang news. I told her gay students were more likely to be harassed than to harass. --Sue Null, Brevard, NC

DATE: Last Monday, July 28, 7 p. m. PLACE: Rainbow Promise MC Church ADDRESS: 1145 US 92 East

Urges dismantle “Don’t ask; don’t tell”

Washington, DC - Following a new report from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, confirming a sharp increase in the number of 'moral waivers' being issued for new enlistees who would otherwise be disqualified from service, a retired Air Force Colonel is calling on elected leaders and military officials to abandon the controversial "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. Colonel Daniel Tepfer, USAF (Ret.), who also serves on the national board of directors of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) called the law an affront to American principles of fairness and equality.

"I swore, as an Air Force officer, to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Colonel Tepfer, who served for more than 23 years in the Air Force, said today. "My unwavering belief is that the privileges and responsibilities of the Constitution, including military service, are for all citizens, including my gay child and other gay and lesbian citizens. I am proud of my military career, as are my wife and children. I know many stellar lesbian and gay troops who also served proudly, but who could not serve openly about their lives and their loved ones.

Divided transgender vote

LESBIAN. Lesbian is the name generally assigned to female homosexuals. The word is derived from Lesbos, the island where the ingenious Greek poet Sappho lived in the sixth century, B.C. Sappho had been described as “the toast of kings” for her verse, as an educator, an advocate of women’s equality, and a rebel who was banished from her island home. She was perhaps the most accomplished lyric poet of the ancient word. Although only fragments of her works survive, there accomplishments are referred to by such famous historical figures as Socrates, Plato, and Plutarch.

Sappho was also known for her romantic relations with other women of Lesbos; hence the term “Lesbian” came to identify female homosexuals. The term Lesbian should not be used derogatorily but simply as an identification of one’s sexual orientation.

CLEARWATER — In a split vote, the Pinellas County Commission expanded its human rights ordinance to protect gays, lesbians and bisexuals.

Included in the vote was a promise to explore expanding the ordinance to bar discrimination against the transgendered. That promise led commission Chairman Bob Stewart and Commissioner Calvin Harris to vote against approval.

The vote satisfied none of the roughly 80 people who attended the meeting. Advocates for protecting sexual minorities had wanted the commission to either include the transgendered, or do nothing. Social conservatives wanted the human rights ordinance left untouched. -- St. Petersburg Times

Historic transgender hearing

(Washington) For the first time a House subcommittee has heard firsthand of widespread discrimination against transgender men and women.

The hearing grew out of anger by a large number of gay rights groups after protections for transpeople were stripped from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act - much of it aimed at Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), ENDA's chief sponsor in the House.

The stripped-down version, which makes it illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee passed the House last November. It has yet to be dealt with by the Senate.

As anger mounted Frank and others in Congress pledged that they would work on separate legislation covering transsexuals.

The hearing, held by the House Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, was titled "An Examination of Discrimination Against Transgender Americans."

"Like the witnesses before you today, I have been and am still a productive, responsible, dedicated and passionate employee. It is only when we are subject to discriminatory actions and a lack of workplace protections that our work begins to suffer.

Without work, we lose income. Without income or savings, we lack access to affordable healthcare, and sometimes healthcare is not even available to us from certain providers just because of our transitional history or status. Without healthcare we often cannot complete transition," Meghan Stabler of the Human Rights Campaign told the subcommittee.

"With the stress placed on us, often suicide is a considered option. As you have seen from the witnesses called before you today, we have varying careers, although some no longer are able to work in their chosen profession, if at all. Standing behind us in the fabric of America there are tens of thousands more who face continuing discrimination. Their voices cannot be here today, but I assure you that during any business day you have flown with, sat next to, ordered from, or talked to a transgender person,” said Stabler. --365 Gay

Many teachers ignorant

Here at the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project, we get calls and emails from students all over the country who have questions about things that have happened to them at school. Two things we've learned over the years are that many school administrators and teachers don't have the slightest clue about students' legal rights, and that some do know what students' rights are but violate them anyway because they think they can get away with it. Students and parents, you simply can't be sure that your school will respect and uphold your legal rights. It's up to YOU to educate

yourself.

THIS NEWSLETTER is an organ of the Polk County, Florida Chapter of the national support organization, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Submissions of material are welcome and may be mailed to 725 Avenue Q, SE, Winter Haven, FL 33880-4616. For further information, call 551-3557, 859-3437 or 683-5204. -- JULY Issue 5, Vol. 7

Next meeting is Monday July 28, @ 7:00pmClick the LINKS tab for links to PFLAG MYSPACE & FACEBOOK View the newly updated Corporate Sponsor List by clicking the Coporate Sponsors Tab
H O M E	Where We Meet	News Items	Newsletter July	National PFLAG Items	Links, & More	Youth Resources	Corporate Sponsors
Latest Updates 07/15 July Newsletter 07/14 Denomination to ordain 'non-celibate' homosexuals 07/14 Update Your PFLAG Connection 07/10 FYI 07/07 Revised Directions Page 07/01 Nat'l PFLAG Update 06/30 Anglicans Face Wider Split Over Policy on Gays		Presbyterians act radically at annual meeting SAN JOSE, CA-- Gays in the Presbyterian Church (USA) rejoiced at a vote of 54% to 46% taken at the bienniel General Assembly here the last week in June. It struck out an onerous ”fidelity in marriage, chastity in singleness" requirement, ending discrimination against LGBT members of the Church; and providing spiritual and ordination equality for LGBT Presbyterians. However, the action isn’t home free, because it is subject to ratifaction by a majority of more than a thousand presbyteries (subgroups in the church polity.) The Assembly took another positive step in its ministry to its gays when it voted with a 60% majority to restore the Heidelberg Catechism to its historic accuracy, which did not include a reference to “homosexual perversion.” This phrase had appeared in the translation adopted by the church some years ago but had not been part of the original document. The Assembly left the definition of marriage unchanged after vigorous debate over including same-sex couples, as recommended by the church polity committee. -- More Light Presbyterians I was at a social gathering today engaged in a conversation with a mother and her high school age son, neither of whom I had met before. I asked the son if there were any gay and lesbian students at his school and he knew of one. The mother added that she was distressed when she heard on the radio a report that gay students in large high schools were gangs and pressuring straight students to join their lifestyle.The mom didn't appear to be particularly homophobic, but I wonder where she heard such stuff. Is this the latest output from right-wing groups or what? Or have I been sleeping through all the gay gang news. I told her gay students were more likely to be harassed than to harass. --Sue Null, Brevard, NC DATE: Last Monday, July 28, 7 p. m. PLACE: Rainbow Promise MC Church ADDRESS: 1145 US 92 East Urges dismantle “Don’t ask; don’t tell” Washington, DC - Following a new report from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, confirming a sharp increase in the number of 'moral waivers' being issued for new enlistees who would otherwise be disqualified from service, a retired Air Force Colonel is calling on elected leaders and military officials to abandon the controversial "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. Colonel Daniel Tepfer, USAF (Ret.), who also serves on the national board of directors of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) called the law an affront to American principles of fairness and equality. "I swore, as an Air Force officer, to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Colonel Tepfer, who served for more than 23 years in the Air Force, said today. "My unwavering belief is that the privileges and responsibilities of the Constitution, including military service, are for all citizens, including my gay child and other gay and lesbian citizens. I am proud of my military career, as are my wife and children. I know many stellar lesbian and gay troops who also served proudly, but who could not serve openly about their lives and their loved ones. Divided transgender vote LESBIAN. Lesbian is the name generally assigned to female homosexuals. The word is derived from Lesbos, the island where the ingenious Greek poet Sappho lived in the sixth century, B.C. Sappho had been described as “the toast of kings” for her verse, as an educator, an advocate of women’s equality, and a rebel who was banished from her island home. She was perhaps the most accomplished lyric poet of the ancient word. Although only fragments of her works survive, there accomplishments are referred to by such famous historical figures as Socrates, Plato, and Plutarch. Sappho was also known for her romantic relations with other women of Lesbos; hence the term “Lesbian” came to identify female homosexuals. The term Lesbian should not be used derogatorily but simply as an identification of one’s sexual orientation. CLEARWATER — In a split vote, the Pinellas County Commission expanded its human rights ordinance to protect gays, lesbians and bisexuals. Included in the vote was a promise to explore expanding the ordinance to bar discrimination against the transgendered. That promise led commission Chairman Bob Stewart and Commissioner Calvin Harris to vote against approval. The vote satisfied none of the roughly 80 people who attended the meeting. Advocates for protecting sexual minorities had wanted the commission to either include the transgendered, or do nothing. Social conservatives wanted the human rights ordinance left untouched. -- St. Petersburg Times Historic transgender hearing (Washington) For the first time a House subcommittee has heard firsthand of widespread discrimination against transgender men and women. The hearing grew out of anger by a large number of gay rights groups after protections for transpeople were stripped from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act - much of it aimed at Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), ENDA's chief sponsor in the House. The stripped-down version, which makes it illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee passed the House last November. It has yet to be dealt with by the Senate. As anger mounted Frank and others in Congress pledged that they would work on separate legislation covering transsexuals. The hearing, held by the House Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, was titled "An Examination of Discrimination Against Transgender Americans." "Like the witnesses before you today, I have been and am still a productive, responsible, dedicated and passionate employee. It is only when we are subject to discriminatory actions and a lack of workplace protections that our work begins to suffer. Without work, we lose income. Without income or savings, we lack access to affordable healthcare, and sometimes healthcare is not even available to us from certain providers just because of our transitional history or status. Without healthcare we often cannot complete transition," Meghan Stabler of the Human Rights Campaign told the subcommittee. "With the stress placed on us, often suicide is a considered option. As you have seen from the witnesses called before you today, we have varying careers, although some no longer are able to work in their chosen profession, if at all. Standing behind us in the fabric of America there are tens of thousands more who face continuing discrimination. Their voices cannot be here today, but I assure you that during any business day you have flown with, sat next to, ordered from, or talked to a transgender person,” said Stabler. --365 Gay Many teachers ignorant Here at the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project, we get calls and emails from students all over the country who have questions about things that have happened to them at school. Two things we've learned over the years are that many school administrators and teachers don't have the slightest clue about students' legal rights, and that some do know what students' rights are but violate them anyway because they think they can get away with it. Students and parents, you simply can't be sure that your school will respect and uphold your legal rights. It's up to YOU to educate yourself. THIS NEWSLETTER is an organ of the Polk County, Florida Chapter of the national support organization, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Submissions of material are welcome and may be mailed to 725 Avenue Q, SE, Winter Haven, FL 33880-4616. For further information, call 551-3557, 859-3437 or 683-5204. -- JULY Issue 5, Vol. 7					The Lakeland Youth Alliance Click here
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