PFLAG Long Beach meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church at 3rd Street and Cedar Avenue in Long Beach.
Meetings generally consist of a short business session, a presentation by an invited speaker, a refreshment break and ends with a group rap session where those in attendance share what is going on in their family. It is also okay if someone just needs to listen. PFLAG offers a warm, caring and nonjudgmental atmosphere for all. There is also a variety of educational books and materials available at the meetings.
Councilman Dan Baker
Dan Baker was elected as the first openly gay Long Beach City Councilman on March 30, 1999. As such, he serves as vice chair of the State Legislation and Enviromental Affairs Committee, the Personnel and Civil Service Committee and he is also a member of the Tidelands and Harbor Committee. Dan is an eleven-year veteran, federal law enforcement officer with the US Customs Service. He currently serves as a Supervisory Customs Inspector at LAX after working at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for ten years. Dan has been a resident of Long Beach since 1988 and has a long record of community service including serving as the chair of the LB Police Chief's Gay and Lesbian Advisory Group and a former board member of Long Beach Area Citizens Involved. He graduated Magna Cum Laude form Western State University College of Law and joined the California Bar in 1998. Dan and his partner, Ted Rassier, have been together for six years.
Rebecca Lynn Prather, Student Body Vice President at UC Santa Barbara
"Becca" Prather is currently an openly proud lesbian serving as Associated Student Body Vice President at UC Santa Barbara where she is majoring in English Literature and History, with minors in Women's Studies and Ethnic Studies. She is in her second year as editor of the Women's Literary Journal, "Herstory." Becca also served as a Youth Representative to the Earth Summit of the UN in 1992 and helped draft the "Youth Agenda for the Future" which she presented to now Vice President, Al Gore. Her other leadership experiences include serving as president of her senior class at Whitter High School, being selected by that student body to be their graduation speaker and serving as an aide in the Washington office of Congressman Esteban Torres. She has received numerous awards including "The Teachers of English of America" Award for the best writing skills in all catagories and speech contest awards from the Lions Club and Rotary Club.
Cynthia & Laurie Smith
On July 10, 1999 Cynthia Ericson and Laurie Smith made a commitment to each other in front of God, family and friends, promising to love each other forever. They met three years ago, and after going through the usual couple struggles, they decided they wanted to "get married." Their service was held at the Community Church, Congregational, in Corona del Mar, with a reception held at the River Boat Museum in Newport Beach. Cynthia is an Occupational Therapist for speech and language and Laurie is a FedEx driver and a former military person discharged under the so called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Their families are in support of their marriage, offering love and presence. Of course this marriage is not legally recognized, as are heterosexual unions, at the present time. Come hear their personal story of how their journey brought them to this place in their lives.
Curtis Cannon
Curtis Cannon is the son PFLAG members, Jerry and Joyce Cannon. In 1993 he moved from San Francisco to Waco, Texas to oversee the family rental property business. Although some may view this as a curious relocation choice for a West Coast gay urbanite, his experiences in Baylor bear country have been quite enriching. Much like Jane Goodall, living among the primates, Curtis' habitation among the Bubbas has proved to be most rewarding. Since his transplanting, Curtis has been active with local organizations, including the Metropolitan Community Church; the Gay & Lesbian Alliance of Central Texas; PFLAG; the Royal, Sovereign Imperial Court of the Central Texas Empire; and the annual Gay Pride march and festival. Yes, Virginia, there is a gay community in Central Texas. If you've been at a meeting when Jerry or Joyce has spoken of their son, Curtis, is a handsome 6'7" guy who happens also to entertain occasionally as a sexy drag queen, you won't want to miss this opportunity to meet him in person.
Linda Bohm, La Mirada High Gay/Straight Alliance
In 1997, La Mirada High School teacher Linda Bohm saw the need for a Gay/Straight Alliance at her High School. "There was a boy in one of my classes who was having difficulties: suicidal and doing some drugs", says Bohm. After he came to out to her, and she came out to him, they decided to start the Gay/Straight Alliance to help kids like himself. They began underground at first, and then after much administrative roadblocks and red tape, were able to meet openly. It has been an uphill struggle, but with support from the local PFLAG and other Gay/Straight Alliance groups, they have been meeting regularly for the past two years. Bohm has seen the alliance make a positive difference in several of its members. Alliance student president, James Kiger, states "I know I'm not alone and that there are people out there that do care about you and support you. Being in the club encouraged me to come out to my dad and that has freed me to carry on a normal life." Come and here Bohm share her experiences with this potentially life-saving group.
Out Of The Past, Video Presentation with Introduction by Dan Brink
With an introduction by Dan Brink, Assistant Minister at First Congregation Church, we will be presenting a 1998 Sundance Audience award-winning documentary video entitled Out of The Past. This video explores the complicated influence of American history on the gay and lesbian community today. The film centers on the experience of 17 year-old Kelli Peterson, who attempted to form a Gay-Straight Alliance at her Salt Lake City high school last year. Her efforts were suppressed by her community and ultimately the Utah State Legislature, which went so far as to pass a law banning all extracurricular clubs in order to prevent the Alliance from convening. The film explores the historical marginalization of gays and lesbians through her eyes as she comes to terms with herself and her place in the world. Her struggle frames portraits of several gay and lesbian historical figures who have been obscured by mainstream historical accounts.
Gina Ann Glass, Transgendered Individuals
In 1993, Gina Ann Glass founded what has become the most successful transgendered support group in Riverside County, called Born Free. She followed up in 1995 by starting Mariposa, a transgender support group, for the Palm Springs desert communities. Gina's affiliate with the gay and lesbian started in 1994 when she joined a gay and lesbian square dance group in Pomona called Royalty Squares. She has served the Palm Springs PFLAG chapter as secretary for the last three years and has been PFLAG's Southern Pacific Transgendered Special Outreach Network (TSON) coordinator. Gina Ann Glass has been encouraging PFLAG chapters to include support for the transgendered and their families, along with TSON, was successful this September in getting the term "transgendered" included in the national PFLAG By-laws. In here spare time she runs her own one electrical contracting business and volunteers her professional services to the Horizon House, a domestic violence shelter for women.
Ralph De La Cruz, Columnist
A columnist with the Long Beach Press-Telegram for the past four years, Ralph De La Cruz is also a friend and supporter of the gay and lesbian community. His views toward gays and lesbians, and the issue of tolerance, is colored by experiences and friendships that extend back 20 years. As a student at the University of Texas and a worker at a residential treatment facility for youth, he became friends with many gays, and gained an appreciation for their struggle simply to be accepted in a predominantly heterosexual world. Three years ago his views on the subject were further solidified by the problems his brother-in-law encountered when he chose to come partway out of the closet. As a columnist Ralph has written extensively about tolerance and tried to spark a dialogue between gays and lesbians and the religious right. As a result, the South Coast Ecumenical Council has asked him to moderate a discussion on the subject matter this summer.
Dr. Jane Drucker, PH.D Author of Families of Value
The November meeting will feature Dr. Jane Drucker, author of "Families of Value: Gay and Lesbian Parents and Their Children Speak Out." published by Insight Books. She hold Masters degrees in special education and counseling psychology and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology: group and family dynamics. She is also a contributing columnist and the family editor of HERO magazine and is building a private practice in Encino. In her book , gay and lesbian parents from all walks of life, economic levels and parts of the country come out to tell their stories about raising a family. In their own words, they reveal how, on so many levels, the struggles and joys of parenthood are the same for everyone without regard for sexual orientation. An inspiring, uplifting celebration of diversity as well as an eye-opening contribution to the ongoing national debate over "family values", "Families of Value" is of interest to anyone concerned with the future of all children.