Friend, Can you believe PFLAG has been around for 50 years, and PFLAG San Diego County for 40?
Fifty years ago, Jeanne Manford learned her gay son was hospitalized because a city official had assaulted him, and she decided that enough was enough. She wrote a letter to her local newspaper on April 29, 1972 and, less than a year after that letter printed, she founded the organization that we know today as PFLAG. If you’ve never seen Jeanne’s original letter, you can find a digital version here, direct from the New York Public Library archives.
Today, as powerful people assault the rights and lives of LGBTQ+ youth—transgender and queer youth, in particular—we ask you to Lead Like Jeanne, and lead with love, with your own letter to the editor in a local paper. Take this action today: This template offers a draft letter to the editor, which can be used by chapter leaders and members to send to the local press. (We encourage you to send lots of letters!)
Look for details about a PFLAG San Diego County 40th anniversary celebration sometime in the fall. In the meantime, there are plenty of opportunities in this month’s newsletter to keep you active!
Dining Out For Life 🧑🍳
You can be a lifesaver. The Center’s 16th Annual Dining Out for Life® is Thursday, April 28, 2022. Dozens of participating restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, and nightclubs in San Diego will donate a minimum of 25% of sales for The Center’s HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs. For restaurant locations: https://thecentersd.org/dofl-locations/
Here Comes The Sun, Songs Of Hope ☀️
San Diego Women’s Chorus
Celebrating their 35th anniversary, the Chorus presents Here Comes the Sun, Songs of Hope on April 30 & May 1. It is being held at Patrick Henry High School, 6702 Wandermere Drive in San Carlos. They are thrilled to announce that it’s their first in-person concert since the start of the pandemic. It is a vibrant celebration of the power of community and a tribute to the joy of renewal and hope. For tickets: sdwc.org.
Still Time for Scholarships!
Lambda Archives is accepting applications for the Larry T. Baza Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship provides a measure of financial stability to students living in San Diego, Northern Baja California and/or Imperial County region who are both LGBTQ+ and one of the following identities: Chicana/o/x, Latinx, or Chamorro (Guamanian).
Criteria: Provide proof of acceptance to or enrollment in community college located in San Diego or Imperial County Region; attach a video, audio, visual, or written essay on any obstacles you had to overcome in pursuit of attending college. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2022. You may apply here.
Apply Now
The VIDA Community is offering three $1000 scholarships to LGBTQ Latinx individuals who have made a positive impact in our community and plan to change the world for the better. Scholarships are open to those students who are or will be attending college in Tijuana, BC, Mexico or San Diego County. The scholarship deadline is May 31, 2022. The details are on the application. To apply, visit https://vida.community/scholarship.
✊ Fight Back Against Anti-LGBTQ Censorship!
PFLAG National is teaming up with Red Wine & Blue for one of two PFLAG National-exculsive sessions of RWB’s Troublemaker Training: Book Ban Edition on May 3 or May 7th. (Register at linked date)
Learn effective organizing practices, discover new ideas to make your voice heard, and hear from those on the ground already doing the work to stop censorship and ensure an honest, accurate, and inclusive education for all.
Out at the Park ⚾️
San Diego Pride’s Out at the Park will be held on Friday, May 6 as the Padres take on the Marlins at 6:40 pm. There is a “Tailgate Party” happy hour event in SD Pride’s decked-out space from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in Gallagher Square (formerly Park in the Park). Note that food and drinks are not included in the $35 ticket price, but it includes a seat in Pride’s section, a commemorative Out at the Park Padres hat, and a $10 donation to San Diego Pride. Buy individual tickets at padres.com/pride.
Support Grossmont Students
Students in the Grossmont Union High School District in East County are calling on allies to show up and speak up to support students in requesting gender neutral restrooms (GNR) for students. School bathrooms can be unsafe for any LGBTQ+ student – especially non-binary, transgender, or gender non-conforming students. We know that students will not use unsafe, gender specific restrooms on their campuses. This directly impacts their health and success as students.
Join us and other community partners on May 10, 2022, at the GUHSD governing board meeting form 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Grossmont High School Event Center – 1100 Murray Drive, El Cajon CA 92020.
Students from the Gender Sexuality Alliance Collective (GSA) at district high schools will be providing petitions for GNRs to the governing body. They have been gathering signatures and petitioning their schools throughout this school year and have gotten nowhere.
We are calling on PFLAG San Diego County members to show our support for students. Our numbers and voices are important. Advocacy is what we do. Please join us there. Contact Terrie at: tvorono@pflag.com for more information as it develops.
Eighty-Sixed
Eighty-Sixed will run from May 12-June 12 at Diversionary Theater. New York City used to be a party town, but 1986 finds everyone paralyzed with fear of AIDS. But BJ Rosenthal is determined to keep the party going — until an ex-lover becomes ill. Based on the celebrated novel of its time and set to a soaring pop score, Eighty-Sixed unearths an epidemic that shook the world to reveal a community’s ferocious fight to reclaim its future. For tickets: www.diversionary.org. The theatre is located at 4545 Park Blvd.
Tickets are free for students 16+ on Friday, May 13 at 8:00 pm or Thursday, May 19 at 7:00 pm. Call the Box office at 619.220.0097 for more info on free student tickets.
Free Community Art Workshop 🎨
South Bay Youth Center, in collaboration with the San Diego LGBT Community Center, will be hosting a hands-on art-making workshop May 13 from 4-6 pm as part of the New Children’s Museum Mass Creativity program. Youth 24 years and younger are invited to participate. The South Bay Youth Center is located at 1180 3rd Avenue Suite C1 in Chula Vista. For questions or info, please contact jsuarez@thecentersd.org.
Queer Joy Summer Youth Event 🦄
PFLAG San Diego County is proudly participating in celebrating the Queer Joy Summer Youth Event sponsored by San Diego Pride on Saturday, May 14 from 11:00am-2:00pm. This uplifting event will take place in Balboa Park at Juniper Road. The purpose is to provide LGBTQIA2+ youth (ages 10-24) with a communal queer space focused on providing and celebrating Queer Joy. Included will be Games and Non-Game activities, Resources, and Food. For those under 18, there’s a “Chill Zone” and for 18-24 year-olds, a “TAY Chill Zone” which will be a general hang out section.
Together Strong
Come and support North County LGBTQ Resource Center’s Pride by the Beach fundraiser on Saturday May 21 from 1-5 pm at 3220 Mission Ave #2 in Oceanside. Similar to the NO H8 campaign, this is a perfect photo op to share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or to frame because you’re so darn proud!
To sign up/purchase, call 760-994-1690. Photos are $30 each and are first come, first served. Please note that you are welcome to take group photos.
Inaugural PFLAG SDC Book Club!
That’s right, PFLAG San Diego County is starting a book club! We’ll be meeting on May 24th from 7-8:15 p.m. on Zoom to discuss Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen, by Jazz Jennings. The book club will be facilitated by PFLAG SDC Newsletter editor Louise Julig. At this meeting we’ll also brainstorm future titles and how often we’d like to meet. Being Jazz is a quick read, so you have plenty of time if you haven’t started yet, and there are plenty of places to find it.
If you buy the book on Amazon, be sure to sign up for Amazon Smile first (see how at the end of the newsletter) so your purchase benefits PFLAG SDC. If you’re more of an indie bookstore person, you can find it on Louise’s Bookshop.org shop (proceeds will benefit Strong-Hearted Native Women’s Coalition as well as indie bookstores) or you can request it at any local bookstore or the County library, San Diego Public Library, or Carlsbad Library. If audiobooks are more your thing, check out the indie-supporting Libro.com.
RSVP to Louise at ljulig@pflag.com and we’ll send you the Zoom link and reminders as the date gets closer. We look forward to reading with you!
Celebrate Mothers Day And AAPI Heritage Month
Please join the San Gabriel Valley Asian Pacific Islander PFLAG on Saturday, May 28 at 3:00 pm to celebrate Mother’s Day and AAPI Heritage Month. Three AAPI moms will be sharing their journey of parenting a trans child. As an added bonus, Marsha Aizumi, founder of the San Gabriel Valley AAPI PFLAG, will feature a book she has written on the subject. For the Zoom link, you may register here.
Latinx Pride celebrates the intersection of the community’s Queer identities and Latinidad on June 4th, from 3-7 pm. This year they are returning to Mujeres Brew House, 1983 Julian Avenue, for an afternoon of music, dancing, food, and performances. For questions email latinx@sdpride.org, and RSVP at bit.ly/sdlatinxpride.
Pride by the Beach is celebrating its 15th year! The community is invited to celebrate with the North County LGBTQ Resource Center on Saturday, June 11 from noon-6:00pm at the Civic Center, 300 N. Coast Highway in Oceanside. This a free family friendly pride festival- tobacco and alcohol free. There will be main stage entertainment, community stage and dance area with youth and education zones, and over 100 resource and retail vendors. And let’s not forget the yummy food!
Please join PFLAG SDC at the San Diego County Fair on Sunday, June 12 from 11:00am-6:30pm. Located within the Fairgrounds, LGBTQ organizations will gather and spread our love to the community. We need volunteers to staff our table. If you want to help spread the love with PFLAG SDC, please contact admin@pflag.com. The fair is located at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar.
Save The Dates For Pride Events
July will be a busy month. Please take note of all the Pride-related events. More info will be in the June newsletter.
July 9 : She Fest
July 13: Light up the Cathedral
July 15: Spirit of Stonewall Rally
July 16: Pride 5K Walk & Run
July 16: Pride Parade & Festival
July 17: Pride Festival
PFLAG SDC is planning on marching as we have every year prior to 2020. We understand there is some hesitancy with there still being strains of the pandemic. In June, we will take a survey to ask if there will be enough participants to march as a contingent.
🏳️⚧️ Pledge to Take the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey (also includes allies)
Please pre-register using the link below; when the survey is available, you will be sent a link to respond.
The U.S. Trans Survey (USTS) is the largest survey of trans people in the United States. The USTS documents the lives and experiences of trans people in the U.S. and U.S. territories. The request is for all trans people ages 16 and up to complete. It’s inclusive of people of all trans identities, including binary and nonbinary trans identities, and also includes allies of the trans community. It’s no secret that transgender people face discrimination and violence throughout society, from their family growing up, in school, at work, by homeless shelters, by doctors, in emergency rooms, before judges, by landlords, and police officers.
Go to https://www.ustranssurvey.org, use the button below, or look for the link on our Facebook page and website.
😍 Thank You To Our Donors! 😍
Thanks to the following individuals who donated to PFLAG SDC this past month:
William Hanson
Cheryl Sproles
Todd Stevens
Sue Swindler
And thanks to our regular monthly donors to PFLAG San Diego County. A monthly donation helps provide predictable sources of funding for our programs and scholarships and we appreciate it very much!
Anna Covici
Lonnie Brunini
Maureen Steiner
Michael Wasilewski
Support Groups
❗️Note: some support group information has changed since last month
Support groups will continue to meet virtually until further notice. Check individual group for details. We encourage you to contact your support group facilitator at any time, as they will remain excellent resources for information. The support group locations, dates, and times will continue to be posted on the PFLAG San Diego County Facebook page. You can join in any of the digital meetings. For Zoom links, contact each support group.
Do You Shop On Amazon?
If you have an account with Amazon, you can help our chapter every time you shop. Go to smile.Amazon.com and search for PFLAG San Diego County. For every purchase, our chapter will receive .05% of the dollar amount of the order. This may not sound like a lot, but it adds up. So turn your Amazon habit into support for PFLAG!
Our Vision
PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Our Mission
By meeting people where they are and collaborating with others, PFLAG realizes its vision through: Support for families, allies and people who are LGBTQ+; Education for ourselves and others about the unique issues and challenges facing people who are LGBTQ+; Advocacy in our communities to change attitudes and create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ+.
