NOVEMBER 6, 1998 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 9

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Transgender family group receives Rainbow Award

by Karen Gross Cleveland-TransFamily of Cleveland is a support group founded by parents looking for support for themselves, their families, friends, allies and their transgendered children. The group began in April 1995 with six members at the first meeting. Attendance at the monthly meetings has grown and often there are between 45 and 60 transgender/ transsexual folks, parents, children, spouses, significant others, friends and allies.

On October 25, the group received a 1998 Rainbow Community Award at the Lesbian and Gay Community Service Center's annual meeting, in recognition of being the first TransFamily chapter in Northeast Ohio to provide support and service to the transgender community.

The national group that helps to coordinate other TransFamily groups throughout the U.S. is the Transgender Special Outreach Network (T-SON) of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Recently the group has worked to educate P-FLAG chapters and help P-FLAG become trans-inclusive.

The national P-FLAG board voted on September 12 to change their mission statement to be transgender-inclusive.

TransFamily's mission statement follows that of P-FLAG, which highlights support, education and advocacy as the major points. In addition to the meetings, the group supports SSAFE, Safe Schools Are For Everyone, along with the Cleveland Lesbian and Gay Center, P-FLAG, and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. The speakers bureau has told the transgender/transsexual story at colleges, physician seminars, and PFLAG meetings.

The web site for TransFamily is www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/4378/. The support line is 216-691-4357. To sign up to receive a monthly email newsletter, send email to KateyGr@aol.com. The newsletter is also posted on the web site.

New P-FLAG chapter

A new chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, P-FLAG Hillcrest-Cleveland, has begun meeting at Noble Road Presbyterian Church, 2780 Noble Road, in Cleveland Heights.

The group will meet on the third Monday of each month at 7 pm. The next meeting is Monday, November 16.

The chapter will offer support, information and a chance to share experiences with other parents, family members, spouses, significant others, and allies of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender (GLBT) individuals. P-FLAG Hillcrest-Cleveland and its members will work toward an environment of understanding and acceptance within families, the communities and the schools.

GLBT folks are invited to bring their parents, other family members, friends, spouses, significant others, and allies. By meeting other GLBT folks, many people come to

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realize that homosexual, bisexual and transgender people are found in every ethnic, social, and national group. In fact, one in every four families has a GLBT member. Through attendance at P-FLAG meetings, prejudicial and stereotyped views of homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism begin to dissolve, and understanding and acceptance emerges.

P-FLAG is an all-volunteer, non-profit selfhelp organization founded nationally in 1981. There are chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, as well as Canada and many other countries. Chapters offer helpline services, support groups, speakers bureaus, educational programs and advocacy opportunities.

1998

Pittsburgh

Eleventh

P-FLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

The Cleveland P-FLAG chapter meets the second Tuesday of the month, 7:30 pm at Trinity Cathedral, 2021 East 22nd Street at Euclid Ave, enter from Prospect Ave. Parking in their lot is free.

Community Groups

If you plan to attend a meeting of the Hillcrest-Cleveland chapter, please use the parking lot across Noble Road, as no parking is allowed on the side street next to the church. To get more information, please call 216691-4357.

Karen Gross is the founder and organizer of TransFamily Cleveland.

The "Community Group" column on these pages are published by the Gay People's Chronicle free of charge, as a public service. They are written by members or officers of each non-profit organization, reflecting the views of their group.

If your organization would like to submit a column for this page, contact the Chronicle's managing editor, Doreen Cudnik at 216-631-8646, toll-free 800-426-5947, or e-mail editor@chronohio.com.

Creating Change INTER

Conference

The

National Conference

for the

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Movement!

Laws

Anti-GLBT

वजन

November 11-15, 1998

Westin William Penn Hotel

Over 150 Workshops!

Equality Begins At Home: Building a Movement in Every State ¥ Civil Rights Hate Crimes ¥ Adoption and Custody Domestic Partnership Elections Fundraising Media Activism Sexuality and Gender Identity ¥ ¥ Statewide Coalitions ¥ Health Youth Organizing Volunteer Management Boards of Directors Community Centers Organizational Development Workplace

Freedom to Marry Lobbying Sodomy Laws Rural Organizing Communities of Faith Aging and Ageism Grassroots Organizing

Friday Night Event

"Change The World"

Rainbow High

"Home of the Fighting PoodlesTM

Cordially invites You

is conjunction with

11Th Annual Creating Change 1998 Conference

The Prom

Friday November 13, 1998 8:00 P.M. Westin William Penn Hotel Grand Ballroom Downtown Pittsburgh

Cash Bar

The Prom Comitiice Encourages Singles and Costumes,

Individual Tickets: $10.00 advance $12.00 at door Prom Patron $25 Available at:

A Pleasant Present, Josephine's, Banner Coin Exchange SIP. St. Elmo's, and at the Conference For information

Call: 795-8141

Discounted Tickets Youth/Limited income

The 1998 Prom has been underwritten by. The Lambda Foundatının

PLENARY SESSIONS

November 12-15

What is this Movement

Doing to My Politics?

Many Dreamers, One Dream: Justice For

All

Why Must They Erase Our Art?

Family: An Act of Faith... and Politics

Saturday Night Event

Ball A lovfTLvle, NCLTF, GLCC Present

TRIANGLE FEST OF HUMØR & MUSIC

The Diva Of Comedy

Karen Williams

3P% Chow

10 Peh.

Hits. Combr

Steve Moore

The Araling Gospel Creus Of Love

Bitch & Animal

A Fired Of Extertainment

Cross Current

Dy arts Festermance Group

In conjunction

with The NGETE Creating Change Conference

Sat. Nov. 14th 1998

8:30 pm

William

Penn Ballroom

#pattu 4 !!Bam Pran Hotel

Tickel Prices QUDU to advance. $20.00 at the door, $65.00 Priority Srating

$80.00 Benefactors Limited Amount of 400 Sportal Conference Youth Rode Tichots aflable at the NGLYF exhibit table

Limited rating

Por More Info. call 795-5141 or 422-0114

Dance to follow