Posts written by Jim

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November meeting at PFLAG Twin Cities

When a child comes out, often times the parents go into the closet.  This is due to a number of factors. Come learn more about coming out, how it affects the family and those who are connected with the individual who came out.
We will provide some tips for how to handle different situations and provide a series of resources that will help you on your journey through the process.
Come hang out with other parents and friends of the LGBTQ community, along with some LGBTQ people as well!  Maybe you have questions around how to handle certain situations, or how to be supportive.  We will have an open Q&A period as well.  There will also be confidential support groups following the presentation.
Lynn Marie Hill will be presenting. Lynn is a current board member for PFLAG Twin Cities and serves as secretary.  Lynn has been active in the LGBTQ community for over 23 years.  Lynn has served as Co-Chair of the PRIDE network for Ameriprise Financial, and also helped develop the Safe Place program there.  The Safe Place program is a class where employees learn how to behave appropriately in the workplace as it relates to LGBTQ people and appropriate terminology and ways they can provide support to the community. Over 1800 people have received this training to-date.
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November 15, 2016
Program 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
Support groups 7:30 – 8:45 pm.
Union Congregational Church
3700 Alabama Avenue South
St. Louis Park, MN 55418
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October at PFLAG Twin Cities

Come celebrate National Coming Out Month with PFLAG!  Join us for tips about coming out, what it means to come out, and answer to the question: “Do I really have to rent a billboard to come out or was that person just pulling my leg?” (Spoiler: they were pulling your leg.) Coming out means different things for different people, and we’re here to help you through it.
Kyle Andrew has been an activist in the LGBT community since 1998. In the past 18 years, he has served PFLAG, the Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition, Out 4 Good, District 202, and spoken at Outfront, Quorum, Century College, and at many, many Pride festivals. During this time, he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, and more than a slight sense of humor.
October 18, 2016
Program 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
Support groups 7:30 – 8:45 pm.
Union Congregational Church
3700 Alabama Avenue South
St. Louis Park, MN 55418
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September PFLAG meeting

The PFLAG September meeting program will feature Ryan Berg, author, and program manager of Avenues for Homeless Youth.
Ryan will start with a short reading from his bookNo House to Call My Home which illustrates the challenges many LGBTQ youth face while experiencing homelessness.  Learn about the various programs Avenues for Homeless Youth run and how you can support LGBTQ youth who are experiencing homelessness.
Program 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
Support groups 7:30 – 8:45 pm.
Union Congregational Church
3700 Alabama Avenue South
St. Louis Park, MN 55418
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PFLAG Twin Cities is changing.

Beginning in August, PFLAG Twin Cities will have a new meeting date and location!

PFLAG will meet on the Third Tuesday of each month in the

Union Congregational Church, 3700 Alabama Avenue South, St Louis Park, MN 55416

Programs will still run 6:30 – 7:30 pm and support groups will follow from 7:30 to 8:45 pm.

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July program and moving notice!

How can I help?  Being a better ally.

July 21, 630 pm -7:30 pm in the 3rd floor Conference Center at the Sabathani Community Center, 310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55409

Support groups will follow the program from 7:30 to 8:45 pm.

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Beginning in August, PFLAG Twin Cities will have a new meeting date and location!

PFLAG will meet on the Third Tuesday of each month in the  Union Congregational Church, 3700 Alabama Avenue South, St Louis Park, MN 55416

Programs will still run 6:30 – 7:30 pm and support groups will follow from 7:30 to 8:45 pm.

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June meeting for Pride

June is Pride Month 
PFLAG Twin Cites will be participating in Pride again this year with a booth in Loring Park and our own unit in the Pride Parade.
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Our Booth location in Loring Park on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 will be the same as last year in spot Y026, in the center of the park just in front of the Rose Garden.  Please stop by and say hello.
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We will also have a unit in the Pride Parade again this year on Sunday, June 26. We will gather near to Hennepin Avenue & North 3rd Street in downtown Minneapolis at 10:00 AM.  Everyone is welcome to join us in walking in the Pride Parade.
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Our monthly meeting on June 16 will feature sign making for Pride.  You are welcome to attend our June meeting and create your own sign to use in the Pride Parade, while on the sidelines. or in the park.  You are also welcome to come to the meeting and just hang out and chat or act as encouragement to other sign makers.  We will be providing all the materials for creating signs as well as snacks and beverages.  Everyone is welcome to attend this fun and festive activity.
Our confidential support groups will be held  at 7:30 pm following the sign making party.

3rd floor Conference Center

The Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55409
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Why God, Why?

Why God Why?! Faith in Coming Out
When someone comes out, it’s world-changing moment for them and their family and friends. No matter what level of support there is in the coming-out process, it requires everyone involved to reflect on their role and relationship to the person coming out. For families coming from faith perspectives, this includes reflecting on their relationship with their communities of faith, to the teaching and values they’ve held, and to the God or gods in which they believe.
Join us for a conversation with PFLAG Twin Cities on the role of faith and religion in the coming out process. This will be an open, respectful discussion on how religious beliefs change, adapt, or disappear in the face of coming out. Facilitating this discussion will be John Fournelle, queer theologian and board member of PFLAG Twin Cities. John has his Masters Degree in Theology and writes on the subject of queer theology for his blog, for conferences and talks, and for casual conversations at coffee shops.
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Our Twin Cities chapter of PFLAG is not affiliated with any religious organization. We are a nonprofit civil rights organization with social justice and equality for all as our biggest goals. While we are not a religious organization, we do believe that people can make a difference (faith!) and that treating others with kindness and patience are great virtues.
Thursday, May 19 at 6:30 PM
3rd floor Conference Center
The Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55409
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Our small support groups will be held at 7:30 p.m.
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Book reading and signing at PFLAG in April

Book reading and signing
When a worm meets a special worm and they fall in love, you know what happens next:
They get married!
But their friends want to know – who will be wearing the dress? And who will wear the tux?
The answer is: it doesn’t really matter.
Because Worm loves Worm.
This “irresistible” picture book is a celebration of love in all its splendid forms.

J.J. Austrian is a graduate of Hamline University’s Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults. He lives in Minnesota with his family.
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The New York Times review:
” J. J. Austrian and Mike ­Curato’s Worm Loves Worm, in which two worms of the hermaphroditic variety fall in love, brilliantly explores the idea of love between two beings, regardless of gender (or species) and despite societal ­pressures. Curato’s spare but sure silhouetted images and Austrian’s straightforward text are a perfect match to deliver the simple story of two characters who just want to declare their love and commit to each other.”

Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 PM
3rd floor Conference Center
The Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55409
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Our small support groups will be held  at 7:30 PM.
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Transgender 101

Kyle Andrew has been an activist in the LGBT community since 1998. In the past 18 years, he has served PFLAG, the Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition, Out 4 Good, District 202, and spoken at Outfront, Quorum, Century College, and at many, many Pride festivals . During this time, he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, and more than a slight sense of humor.

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On Thursday, March 17, he will be talking about all things Transgender and Gender Diversity.  If you’ve had a loved one come out as transgender, genderqueer, agender, or anything else on the gender spectrum, you might have questions about what that means and what resources are available to you, or how you can be supportive. Question and answer section to follow. Kyle promises that there will also be cookies.

Thursday, March 17 at 6:30 PM
3rd floor Conference Center
The Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55409
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Our small support groups will be held  at 7:30 PM.