PFLAG Knoxville

Fellow PFLAGer’s,

I am still wiping the tears from my eyes after watching today’s episode of the Oprah show. Today she had the mothers of two 11 year old boys that have committed suicide in the last two weeks because of bullying at school - bullying which included sexual harassment towards POSSIBLE perceived sexual identity. I know that the Knoxville chapter of PFLAG, along with the rest of the PFLAG chapters nationwide, want our young people to grow up free from bullying in their schools. We cannot rest until this is achieved.

We are all so very encouraged when we see our young people make a stand for what is right, make a stand for equality and when they lead us by their example. These are a few of the reasons that we are so honored to have some of our high-schoolers from Spectrum Cafe to be present at this month’s meeting, next Thursday, May 14th at 7:00. These courageous young people will share their stories of their experiences in their participation of the National Day of Silence, and the program they presented at the World’s Fair Site, “Breaking the Silence”.

Come be a part of this important meeting that you will not want to miss.

We look forward to seeing you!

Jaime Combs
PFLAG Regional Director
South Atlantic Region

http://pflagknoxville.org
http://pflagsouthatlantic.org

Meetings held the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

Dear PFLAGer’s,

Wow, another year has come and gone so fast that I think I may have whiplash! Hopefully you and your local chapter will be able to review some of your accomplishments in 2008 and have new goals to achieve in 2009. One thing for sure is that if anything was accomplished it was because you didn’t quit, and I see many examples of that attitude throughout the PFLAG organization. That same determination will make this a fantastic 2009 for this organization. Your enthusiasm is contagious and I want to say ‘Thank You’.

Fortunately for my partner Carla and I we were able to experience this enthusiasm and see what it can accomplish a few weeks ago in Berea, Kentucky. Berea is one of most beautiful and accepting towns that I have ever visited. You must go just to experience the richness of it’s history and character, see the handiwork of all the local artisans, and enjoy all the hospitality.

Berea is a very progressive little town with a PFLAG chapter that has seen it’s membership slowly dwindle down. Sometimes when we are in areas that seem to be so accepting it may seem that the need for a PFLAG chapter may not be necessary but the day I arrived Berea’s PFLAG president, Grover Farr, told me stories he had only recently heard of local young people who had been rejected by their families for coming out. There is such a need for PFLAG.

This PFLAG chapter that may have been struggling has also made a positive impact on lives which was apparent when Grover showed me a stained glass piece that had been given to the local chapter by a young man whose life had been touched by PFLAG.

PFLAG-Berea/Madison County has enthusiasm and determination and when the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus contacted them about hosting a Holiday Concert this chapter made things happen. Grover Farr and the PFLAG chapter took a lot of elbow grease and a lot of faith made this an evening that was the highlight of the holiday season for Carla and me. They secured Union Church for the performance that would have the audience members experiencing laughter, tears and joy for the season. The quality of the performance was undeniable and the acoustics of the large mostly wooden sanctuary with one of the most beautiful church organs I have seen. Grover and PFLAG-Berea/Madison County–kudos to you and thank you for the inspiration.

I was also able to visit the Tri-Cities PFLAG chapter in Johnson City. This is a newer chapter and boy are they on fire! The Tri-Cities December meeting featured representatives from Lambda Legal who are representing a case where I would say the victim has suffered unfair treatment from the local law enforcement agency and from the local paper. The victim in this matter was also present at the meeting and he has been without work for a year because of a press release from the police department–the pain in his voice was so undeniable. The thing even more disturbing to me is the fact that there was one voice that wasn’t heard from this incident and that was the voice of a man who would kill himself as a result of this event. How many precious lives have been lost and how many precious lives will we lose before equality is reality?

One thing that I encourage all of you to do is go see the movie MILK. The movie gives so much history to let the newer generation see how the road was paved in creating the movement we have today. I have heard from many chapters that are actively getting the movie in your area or planning to see the movie and then possibly have discussions. Milk was brought to Knoxville, Tennessee in December by the Tennessee Equality Project, Knoxville Human Rights for All and other groups. Following the well attended movie several leaders of various groups were invited to speak briefly and I was able tell a little about PFLAG and what we do.

During the last of 2008 the Southern Atlantic Region of PFLAG has experienced another travesty in Memphis, Tennessee as many of you may have heard. We have had another trans-sister shot, shot in face and hospitalized. I haven’t heard anything else about her this past week. She is the third transsexual to be shot in Memphis during the last 6 months (the two others were found dead). Then again today I read of the lesbian who was gang raped repeatedly in San Francisco. Another new day and another new year, and on this new day of this new year I will shed some tears but I will also experience hope because I see concern on the faces of the members of chapters that I meet, I see the work that you are doing and I am very confident in the leadership and commitment of PFLAG National.

Blessings for 2009,
Jaime Combs

On May 16, 2007, Sean Kennedy, a 20-year old gay man, was attacked on the streets of Greenville, South Carolina. He died of his injuries later that night. Yet, because of the lack of hate crimes legislation, his attacker may be eligible for parole in February!

Sean was a brave young man with a bright, infectious smile. But his life was cut short and justice left unserved. Now, PFLAG is joining with Sean’s mother, Elke Kennedy, and asking all of our members to write to the parole board and urge them to rule that Moller must serve his complete sentence for this heinous, anti-gay crime.

Because South Carolina – and many other states- lack protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, Moller was able to plea-bargain to involuntary manslaughter charges (considered a “non-violent crime”) and received a suspended five to three years sentence for his crime. Because of the credit he received for time served before sentencing, his full sentence means that he will be free in September 2009. And he is also eligible for parole in February, which means that he will have served only 8 months of his full sentence for Sean’s death.

The parole board is currently conducting a review on whether to grant Moller parole. It is critically important that they hear from our community, and that we each send a strong message that it is unacceptable to grant such early parole following a brutal anti-gay murder!

Please join us in writing a letter to the parole board, and ask them to deny Stephen Moller’s parole. If you have the time, please write a personal letter by hand or by computer, as those will be the most effective, and if you knew Sean or his family personally, please include that information.

Also, please let Elke Kennedy, Sean’s mother, know if you send a letter. Elke has asked that you also send her a copy of the letter, so she can have copies to take with her to the parole hearing. This will help her in building her case – and send a clear message that PFLAG families won’t tolerate anti-gay violence.

Be sure to include Moller’s full name and ID number: Stephen Andrew Moller - SCDC ID # 00328891.

Send your letters to:
Department of Probation Pardon and Parole Services
2221 Devine Street, Suite 600,
PO Box 50666
Columbia, SC 29250

Also, please be sure to send a copy to Elke Kennedy, Sean’s mother. You can send materials to her at: elke@seanslastwish.org

Or via mail: Elke Kennedy
PO Box 5697
Greenville, SC 29606

Be sure to read about PFLAG’s policy position in advocating for federal hate crimes legislation, too – to ensure that all people in all states have protections, and that future anti-gay violence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!

What: MILK Film Screening w/ Info & Q&A to Follow

When: December 14, 2008 12:30 PM

Where: Downtown West Theater

Please join the Knoxville Human Rights Group, TEP and others in hosting a special screening of MILK, the new film about the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to a major political office in America.

The screening will be followed by information and a Q&A on how YOU can get involved, whether running for office yourself, or lobbying those that represent you on behalf of your community and interests important to us.

Tickets can be purchased NOW, online at MILK tickets online.

Make sure and select the 12:30 show and do it now as the discussion and Q&A will only be at this special showing.

There will be t-shirts, posters, etc. donated by the studio and lots of good info, so I hope you’ll come join us and spread the word!