Personal Stories of Support
What PFLAG of Greater Worcester means to me:
I came to PFLAG of Greater Worcester a few years ago after I moved from Boston. I am a bisexual woman and I needed to find some friendly faces. I found them at PFLAG. Last year I came back to PFLAG and I am now the co-director of the group. When I think of Greater Worcester PFLAG I think of what the group gives to me every month. PFLAG gives me a place where I am welcome… where I can talk of what is going on in my life…. talk about what I confront in my community and the USA…without fear of hate or prejudice or judgment. I am just me… all of me…and it is okay. It offers me a space to hear others, their struggles, their journeys, their joys and their victories as well…and I learn from all those members’ stories.
Sometimes I can help someone by sharing my experience but more often I just learn from them and the courage people show in the group. PFLAG lets me know in that in these times we live in there is a place that embraces all… welcomes all…and is safe. That place is PFLAG. For those two hours we stand together, listen, share, laugh and care and we are not alone… after those two hours of the meeting I always leave with renewed energy. I go out feeling stronger, with even more pride and strength to face the world in which I live, we all live. I walk with my head held higher, my voice stronger, and my determination to fight for all GLBT and their families to live in a world that is free of hating people simply because of one single part of our identity… who we love, whether that is a parent who loves their GLBT son or daughter or a member of the GLBT.
No matter what I face that month I know that meeting is there for me, for all of us, the next month. Knowing that helps a great deal. I want to see a world in which all people are created equal. I hope to see it some day. Maybe I won’t. To me PFLAG believes it and means it right now. PFLAG does not believe you are only equal if…..
HOPE, SUPPORT AND LOVE
When my son came out to me last year I couldn’t even image the excellent source of support for him and for myself that I was going to find out there. At that time I couldn’t even see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I will never forget that day when out of desperation to see my son so depressed, unhappy and feeling miserable about himself, I went on the internet and found the phone number for PFLAG, an organization that I didn’t even know existed. I made that call and it was the beginning of a series of events that helped me and my son to go through this journey.
The person at the other end of the line was soothing and reassuring. She was full of understanding, hope and support. With her I was able to talk. It was like the beginning of my grieving process with the guilt and sense of loss and the tremendous fear for my son’s safety and the difficult road ahead of him. But she reassured me that he was going to be fine and somehow after that call I felt better. I’ve attended some of the PFLAG meetings in Worcester. They are like a family, a big family that is always there for you. I couldn’t even express my appreciation for the way they welcomed me and supported me.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HOPE, SUPPORT AND LOVE YOU PROVIDE TO PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF GLTB!!
M. U, Parent of a gay teen.
Stacy's story:
What struggle or difficulty has PFLAG helped you with directly or indirectly?
While I don’t think of PFLAG of Greater Worcester as solving a problem or difficulty for me it does provide me with support for other work I do. For example I am a GSA advisor, and as I have many concerns for the teens that I serve. PFLAG acts as a referral of sorts for me, in that I am able to access many more possibilities and supports for my GSA members and their families than I would be able to find on my own. PFLAG also gives me a place to receive support for the work I am doing, which is often not only not available in the general public, but which is often met with argument and hostile reproach.
PFLAG is a warm and welcoming place for allies, as well as the GLBT community and their families and friends. PFLAG participants never question the motives of allies the way the general public tends to. (This has always seemed comparable to questioning the motives of the white participants in the Civil Rights Movement and voter registration-Why after all should I care that those around me are being treated with dignity and equality?) I care deeply, and PFLAG is there to provide me with support, as well as information so that I cam readily advocate, educate, and support. Thanks PFLAG!!!!
I came to PFLAG of Greater Worcester a few years ago after I moved from Boston. I am a bisexual woman and I needed to find some friendly faces. I found them at PFLAG. Last year I came back to PFLAG and I am now the co-director of the group. When I think of Greater Worcester PFLAG I think of what the group gives to me every month. PFLAG gives me a place where I am welcome… where I can talk of what is going on in my life…. talk about what I confront in my community and the USA…without fear of hate or prejudice or judgment. I am just me… all of me…and it is okay. It offers me a space to hear others, their struggles, their journeys, their joys and their victories as well…and I learn from all those members’ stories.
Sometimes I can help someone by sharing my experience but more often I just learn from them and the courage people show in the group. PFLAG lets me know in that in these times we live in there is a place that embraces all… welcomes all…and is safe. That place is PFLAG. For those two hours we stand together, listen, share, laugh and care and we are not alone… after those two hours of the meeting I always leave with renewed energy. I go out feeling stronger, with even more pride and strength to face the world in which I live, we all live. I walk with my head held higher, my voice stronger, and my determination to fight for all GLBT and their families to live in a world that is free of hating people simply because of one single part of our identity… who we love, whether that is a parent who loves their GLBT son or daughter or a member of the GLBT.
No matter what I face that month I know that meeting is there for me, for all of us, the next month. Knowing that helps a great deal. I want to see a world in which all people are created equal. I hope to see it some day. Maybe I won’t. To me PFLAG believes it and means it right now. PFLAG does not believe you are only equal if…..
HOPE, SUPPORT AND LOVE
When my son came out to me last year I couldn’t even image the excellent source of support for him and for myself that I was going to find out there. At that time I couldn’t even see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I will never forget that day when out of desperation to see my son so depressed, unhappy and feeling miserable about himself, I went on the internet and found the phone number for PFLAG, an organization that I didn’t even know existed. I made that call and it was the beginning of a series of events that helped me and my son to go through this journey.
The person at the other end of the line was soothing and reassuring. She was full of understanding, hope and support. With her I was able to talk. It was like the beginning of my grieving process with the guilt and sense of loss and the tremendous fear for my son’s safety and the difficult road ahead of him. But she reassured me that he was going to be fine and somehow after that call I felt better. I’ve attended some of the PFLAG meetings in Worcester. They are like a family, a big family that is always there for you. I couldn’t even express my appreciation for the way they welcomed me and supported me.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HOPE, SUPPORT AND LOVE YOU PROVIDE TO PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF GLTB!!
M. U, Parent of a gay teen.
Stacy's story:
What struggle or difficulty has PFLAG helped you with directly or indirectly?
While I don’t think of PFLAG of Greater Worcester as solving a problem or difficulty for me it does provide me with support for other work I do. For example I am a GSA advisor, and as I have many concerns for the teens that I serve. PFLAG acts as a referral of sorts for me, in that I am able to access many more possibilities and supports for my GSA members and their families than I would be able to find on my own. PFLAG also gives me a place to receive support for the work I am doing, which is often not only not available in the general public, but which is often met with argument and hostile reproach.
PFLAG is a warm and welcoming place for allies, as well as the GLBT community and their families and friends. PFLAG participants never question the motives of allies the way the general public tends to. (This has always seemed comparable to questioning the motives of the white participants in the Civil Rights Movement and voter registration-Why after all should I care that those around me are being treated with dignity and equality?) I care deeply, and PFLAG is there to provide me with support, as well as information so that I cam readily advocate, educate, and support. Thanks PFLAG!!!!
