Congratulations! PFLAG South Central (Hastings) is now affiliated with national organization.

Nebraska's newest PFLAG Chapter is "PFLAG South Central (Hastings) Nebraska." The group started when Judy Sandeen started serving as the "contact person" for parents, families and friends of GLBTQ persons, or GLBTQ persons themselves, in the Hastings area, who would call in for advice, support and resources.

On the history of the group, Judy says that:

One year when four different families from the area contacted me within the same time frame, it seemed that was a sufficient number to start an actual group, so I asked all of them for permission to share contact information with each other, which they granted. Then we all came together to decide whether we wanted a group, and everyone did. The group waxed and waned for a couple of years, until we formed a leadership committee of five persons about a year ago to share the leadership role.

Patrick Sullivan, member, adds:

From then on, the group has met consistently, collected contributions from members, put on a potluck complete with Rev. Donald Hanway as our speaker and the Hastings College and High School Alliances as our guests, and setting programming for all meetings well in advance so that each meeting has an educational and support component. We now have liaisons with the college and high school groups and will continue to offer at least an annual event to which they are invited. We also support their educational efforts, as well. We now have more than 40 persons in the area on our email members list and attendance a meetings range from eight to 14 for a regular meeting, to 25 or more at our potluck.

We just recently successfully incorporated our Chapter as a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit, tax deductible organization so we can receive tax deductible dues and contributions, and affiliated with National PFLAG on April 27th.

We are looking forward to all the benefits that come with Affiliation and membership wit the national PFLAG organization, including being able to support our organization's national efforts, having an official presence on its website, free and at-cost literature (which we are eager to take advantage of for the benefit of our members and get the word out about the existence of our chapter in the communities we serve), professional training an fundraising packets, as well as many their benefits.

Judy speaks to the necessity of PFLAG in rural communities:

Folks believe they are alone in dealing with GLBTQ issues when they are in an area where the issue is not openly discussed (or if it is, it's in mostly negative terms). Having a PFLAG group reminds the people in the area that GLBTQ people do have families, friends, and allies, and that helps move their thinking away from "weird" to "part of us." Of course, it's also support for members, who otherwise feel isolated and possibly confused. It offers resources for those who are just beginning the journey, as an alternative to the false information that is so prevalent.

The initial officers of the Chapter are Patrick Sullivan, Pres., and Mary Lou Haberman, Sec./Treas., although Fran Gruba has agreed to be Treasurer after we have our first corporate meeting. The Board of Directors consists of Patrick (pat@datacc.net or patrick12758@windstream.net), Mary Lou (marylou2@windstream.net), Vicki Northrop (vltn@hotmail.com) and Judy Sandeen (jsandeen@inebraska.com).

For all those interested in coming, we meet on the third Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ (7th and Marian Rd.), Hastings. Meetings are usually over by 8:30 p.m. You can expect both a sharing/support portion and an educational portion at the meetings.

Our first official project as a new Chapter is a Membership/Contribution drive that we currently have going, with great success! Randy Kottwitz and Ben Hinds, members, have agreed to match whatever donation are made above paying membership dues to the tune of $250, so this would be a great time for anyone so inclined to join and contribute.

We are also starting fundraising in order to be a full service chapter. We are so excited to have our first fundraiser be an event at the "Q" in Lincoln on June 27th in the evening, with probably a drag queen/king show, possibly music, with a raffle and silent auctions. We plan to have many great items at the raffle/silent auctions, but chief among them is a hand-made brightly-colored, absolutely beautiful, rainbow quilt suitable for a crib, couch, or wall hanging made by Patrick's very talented daughter, Katie, out in Maryland. With regard to the auction of the quilt, we plan to have a silent or virtual Internet auction, followed by a silent auction during the "Q" event on July 25th (note date change - was June 27th), and then in the last 5 minutes of the auction toward the of the "Q" event, open the floor for live, last-minute bidding.

We know you will all want to come out and support this new PFLAG chapter, so mark July 25th on your calendars. Your attendance at the event would be greatly appreciated!

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This half of the legislative session - 90 days - will be over May 31. If you haven't asked your senator to vote for these bills, please do so. Two are on general file and are priority bills, so they may move on any time, and senators need your input. These bills will come up again next January at the second half of the session, and correspondence is kept.

LB475, the bill which amends the Nebraska Fair Employment Act to prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation is on general file.

The anti-bullying bill, LB205, is also on general file. Please ask your senator to vote for it but not the negative amendment watering it down added by Senator Erdman.

The second parent adoption bill, LB571, has had its hearing bu is still in committee. Write, email or cal these judiciary committee members that you support this amendment. Members are Senators Ashford, Chambers, Lathrop, McDonald, McGill, Pedersen, Pirsh and Schimek.

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The Lincoln Journal Star recently reported that Lincoln Pride, Inc. had canceled the scheduled GLBT Pride Celebration for 2007. The group cited several reasons for the hiatus. After this report, some motivated citizens felt it would be detrimental for Lincoln's community to go without a 'prideful' celebration and organized to create Celebrate Unity! 2007 (CU!2007).

At this point, CU!2007 is a privately held and funded organization. Although a new entity, the concept is not. For more than 30 years, June has been the traditional month to celebrate equality and unity in self. To demonstrate the difference means diversity, not detriment, CU!2007 aims to emphasize that concept to it's fullest.

The festival will showcase the talents and ambitions, diversity and 'sameness' of our wonderful city's GLBT population; to create a greater understanding and alliance between all citizens who wish to attend.

CU!2007, will run from noon to 8 p.m. on June 2 at UNL's Sheldon Memorial Art Museum's Sculpture Gardens. CU!2007 is supportive of other prideful events, including the Star City Pride celebration, but is an independent, alcohol free celebration. Slam poets, drummers, belly dancers, speakers, singers, vendors and local organizations will participate in the festival and the event will end with an open air concert. The downtown location is child and pet friendly and handicapped accessible. Queries regarding the festival may be directed to celebrateunity07@yahoo.com and we hope to see you at the CU!2007.

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