My participation with PFLAG began just a few months ago.  My fledgling status as a member has not deterred me from jumping in full force and becoming involved in whatever I can to advocate for the LGBT persons in our communities.

I am the mother of a 13 year old son who came out to his Dad and I when he was 11.  Although we had suspected this for many years and are very comfortable with his being gay, I knew that he would have a rough road ahead both socially and emotionally.  The preteen/teenage world is not always accepting of this sort of information and he has had to endure some criticism and grief for being “open and out”.  However, he is very comfortable with who he is and what he wants to become.  Both his Dad and I are very proud of him.  Not many kids his age could do the same.  PFLAG has educated and inspired me on how I can help him.

My short stint with PFLAG has allowed me to support and advocate for my son and others in the LGBT community.  I am currently working on Anti-Bullying legislation with the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance and the Illinois School Board of Education.  These two organizations have collaborated to develop a bill that will more clearly define what constitutes bullying and harassment in Illinois schools, educate faculty and staff on how to prevent bullying, in addition to developing a system to record and document bullying and harassment.  My part in this effort is to help collect signatures for a coalition that has been started to support this bill.  Finding organizations that would be willing to sign and support this bill such as schools, businesses, places of worship will aid in giving this piece of legislation substance.

My husband, son and I also had the opportunity to attend a demonstration over Valentine’s weekend outside of Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago.  This experience was definitely a first for all of us.  Picket signs in hand, what started out as apprehension and uncertainty, quickly turned to pride and confidence.  To stand with the 100 or so others who were there speaking up against the power of the Catholic Church and it’s attempt to alter Illinois’ Human Rights laws, was incredibly moving.

My most recent endeavor was to speak, as a parent of a gay son, to a group of therapists and social workers from Lakeshore Hospital in Chicago.  The goal of this presentation was to introduce PFLAG and how our organization can help them and their patients.  Myself and two other parents shared our experiences as parents of gay children from three different stages in life: teen years, mid-twenties and mid-forties.  We each got speak openly and honestly about our reactions to our children coming out, how it has affected our families lives and how it has changed our opinions  The feedback afterwards was very positive and the participants found our stories informative and inspirational.

There is so much more that can be done.  Each of us can make an impact.  Together we will make changes.  We just cannot give up or back down!