Friend, is Graypril finally behind us? Quick before May Gray and June Gloom settle in, plan to attend some of the wonderful opportunities to celebrate our diverse community this spring. Bowling for Equality, Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, and the musical Head Over Heels, featuring songs by the Go-Go’s are just a few.
Also below are just some of the protests and celebrations PFLAG SDC has show up for this past month. Take particular note of the call to be notified to show up for our community at school board meetings amid a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry couched in the language of “keeping students safe” (but which students that would be, it’s not clear).
Save The Date! PFLAG SDC Scholarship Awards Luncheon June 3
We’ve chosen the 2023 PFLAG SDC Scholarship recipients and would love to have you to celebrate our LGBTQ+ awardees with us on June 3 from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Elijah’s Restaurant, 7061 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Kearny Mesa. This will be the first in-person Launching Leaders Luncheon Scholarship Awards Ceremony since 2019.
We invite individuals to purchase tickets to this heartwarming and “proud to honor our students” event. To sponsor or to purchase individual tickets for $70 each go to https://pflagsdc.org/scholarship-luncheon/.
We are excited to have the following committed sponsors: Congressman Scott Peters, The San Diego Foundation, Sycuan Casino, Bair Financial Planning, and Lambda Archives. In order to have a successful luncheon and fundraiser, we are seeking more sponsors at the following levels
- Presenting Sponsor: $5000
- Leadership Sponsor: $2500
- Awardee Sponsor, $1000
- Table Sponsor: $500
Sponsorship at any level entitles the sponsor to one table of eight sponsor guests, ad space in the program, listing in all printed and electronic communications regarding the event, and recognition from the stage. Higher sponsorships offer bigger ad space, mention on the PFLAG SDC website, and an opportunity for remarks at the event. The more you sponsor, the more perks!
Use the button below, or for more information or questions contact scholarships@pflag.com.
️Queer Prom
I Am Who I’m Meant To Be, This Is Me
The theme for this year’s Queer Prom is “I Am Who I’m Meant to Be, This is Me.” Sponsored by the North County LGBTQ Resource Center and Project Youth, it is taking place on April 29 from 6-9:00 pm at the El Corazon Senior Center 3202 Senior Center Drive in Oceanside. It is open to students from 8-12th grades. To RSVP and more details: https://tinyurl.com/lgbtqprom2023. For questions: lgbtqplus@projectyouth@gmail.com.
Transitional-aged Youth Storytelling Workshop At Diversionary
On May 1 from 6:00-8:00 pm, Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) 18-25 years old will have a golden opportunity — that’s also free! — to participate in this storytelling workshop.
It is a wonderful experience for TAY to build confidence to speak their truth in any situation, including learning the building blocks of storytelling and gaining the skills to communicate effectively.
Bowling For Equality: No Time To Spare!
Don’t be square – be there on Saturday, May 6 from noon-2:00 pm for the Human Rights Campaign’s 13thannual fundraiser, Bowling for Equality. It’s a fun afternoon of bowling with friends and colleagues, while supporting HRC’s fight for equality.
Bowl your hearts away at Parkway Bowl, 1280 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. To purchase tickets: https://act.hrc.org/page/123274/event/1?locale=en-US
Legacy: Lifting As We Climb
You’ve heard the San Diego Women’s Chorus sing. Now you can hear them sing along with the San Diego Chorus, an awarding winning 4-part a cappella group, on May 7 from 4:00-6:00 pm at Lincoln High School in the heart of San Diego, 4777 Imperial Ave. Tickets are $30, with discounts for youth, seniors, disabled, and military. To purchase tickets: https://sdwc.ticketleap.com/legacy-lifting-as-we-climb/
Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
The San Diego LGBT Community Center invites you to the annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast on Friday, May 12 from 7:30-9:00 am at the Hilton Bayfront hotel, 1 Park Blvd. This is the first time since 2019 the event is being held in person. It is a time to celebrate the work of our LGBTQ movement and commit to the work that lies ahead. Established in 2009, the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast is designed to bring together diverse San Diegans who support equality and justice – to celebrate the memory Harvey Milk, influential civil rights activist. Proceeds benefit the programs and services of The Center.
Honorees include Lorri Jean, past CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Jackie Biskupski, former mayor of Salt Lake City, San Diego Loyal Soccer Club, Paris Quion, and Christynne Wood. Although all honorees deserve the highest of praise, it is noteworthy to point out the accomplishments of the San Diego Loyal Soccer Club and Christynne Wood.
San Diego Loyal is a men’s professional soccer team which, in a powerful display of allyship with the LGBTQ community in 2020, sacrificed a potential place in the USL Championship after walking off the field in protest when one of their players was targeted with homophobic slurs and the referees did not enforce repercussions.
Christynne Wood became the target of vicious anti-trans hatred for simply using the locker room at the Santee YMCA. She responded with vulnerability and determination, speaking in defense of herself and the trans community at the Santee City Council.
For sponsorships, tables, or tickets: https://thecentersd.org/hmdb/
New PFLAG SDC East County Support Group
There is a new East County Support Group starting Tuesday, May 16 from 7:00-8:30 pm. Location: Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 8778 Cottonwood Avenue, Santee. It will meet on the third Tuesday of each month going forward.
Please contact admin@pflag.com if you plan to attend.
The support group is a confidential, non-judgmental opportunity to share your experiences or thoughts if you wish, or you can just listen and observe. Everyone is made to feel comfortable.
This is one of two PFLAG SDC in-person support groups. Anyone wanting an in-person support group opportunity is welcome to come, regardless of where you live. All are welcome.
GLSEN Happenings
There will be a Youth Leadership Training in East County May 20 from 10:00 am-4:00 pm at Grossmont College. Check GLSEN’s Facebook page when the event gets closer.
Comedy for a Cause will benefit GLSEN San Diego on Saturday, May 27. Doors open at 6:30 pm and show begins at 7:30 pm. The venue is Mic Drop Comedy, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego. To purchase tickets: chair@sdca.glsen.org.
Head Over Heels At Diversionary
From the visionary behind Avenue Q comes a bold new Broadway musical fairytale where Once Upon a Time crashes into our present moment. You can enjoy Head Over Heels from May 25-June 25 (extended from original) at Diversionary Theatre.
Synopsis: In the mythical land of Arcadia, the royal family is challenged to set out on a journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction. Through their adventure gender roles are upended, relationships liberated, and love is discovered in the most surprising of ways. Told to the hypnotic beat of the iconic 80’s all-girl rock band The Go-Go’s, Head Over Heels joyously unveils a path to a new world where diversity is celebrated and ladies lead!
The Diversionary is located at 4545 Park Blvd., San Diego. For tickets: https://ci.ovationtix.com/33385/production/1134604
PFLAG SDC Book Club
The next selection for the PFLAG SDC Book Club will be Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel. We’ll meet Tuesday, May 30, 7-8:15 p.m on Zoom for a discussion moderated by newsletter editor Louise Julig. You must register separately for each book club meeting. Use the link below to register.
Fun Home is a modern classic of queer literature, a graphic memoir that was adapted into a hit Broadway musical of the same name. In it Alison Bechdel charts her fraught relationship with her late father, a closeted gay man, alongside her own reckoning with her sexual identity, all against the backdrop of the family business—a funeral home.
We are proud to partner with Libélula Books and Co., a local queer-owned, Latinx-owned, Indigenous-owned independent bookstore at 950 South 26th Street in Barrio Logan. Check out their in-person location or buy the book through their Bookshop.org store. If audiobooks are more your thing, check out the indie-supporting Libro.fm.
Celebrating 16 Years Of Pride By The Beach
The community is invited to celebrate with the North County LGBTQ Resource Center on Saturday, June 3 from 12-6:00pm at the Civic Center, 300 N. Coast Highway in Oceanside. This is 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!
Your Voice Needed At School Board Meetings ‼️
What is going on in San Diego County schools? We have seen an ugly rise in protests at school board meetings from a handful of parents who think that our children should not be seen, heard, or acknowledged.
At the April 13 Rancho Santa Fe School District board meeting, PFLAG SDC board member Terrie Vorono joined community partners to speak in protest of a teacher being told to remove a rainbow lanyard and safe space stickers from their classroom; they were declared political statements. GSAs are prohibited there, and books with LGBTQ characters were removed from a book fair last year. The district has deemed LGBTQ competency training to be unnecessary. Many distressed district families reached out to us. There are laws that protect our LGBTQ students in California. We are not finished with the RSFSD.
You’ve heard the talking points about LGBTQ people. If you’d like a presence at future calls to action, please contact Terrie at tvorono@pflag.com
Even if you no longer need PFLAG for support group purposes, PFLAG SDC needs your time and passion to lead with love in our communities.
️⚧️ PFLAG SDC On Trans Day Of Visibility
On Trans Day of Visibility March 31, PFLAG SDC Members Elizabeth Santillanez and Louise Julig (top photo at right) participated in the March for Trans Rights at Balboa Park organized by Queer Youth Assemble. Also present from University Christian Church were Floyd Henson, Eileen Zamora, and Jeff Michaelson, top photo left to right front row. There were also many other Transgender Day of Visibility activities which PFLAG SDC proudly participated.
️⚧️ PFLAG SDC At Transgender Day Of Empowerment
April 7 was a big night at the LGBT Center for Day of Empowerment. Keynote speakers who shared their stories were Miss Venice Lady Pepper Price and Connor Maddocks. Tracie Jada O’Brien again awarded scholarships to many deserving Transgender and Nonbinary youth. We were happy to be there to honor the achievements of Transgender individuals and their community. From left, Bill Luna, Connor Maddocks, Vicki Luna, Nancy Colbert, Terrie Vorono. Present also was Kathe Dunn.
Day Of Protest At PLNU
On April 14 PFLAG SDC members Terrie Vorono and Elizabeth Santillanez gathered alongside students, alumni, and other allies outside Point Loma Nazarene University to protest the termination of two educators who were supportive of LGBTQ+ students on campus. Seventy current students protested on campus near the chapel. The protest was also covered by KPBS — video below.
A dozen years ago, a PLNU student awarded a scholarship from PFLAG San Diego County was afraid to be publicly acknowledged as a recipient for fear of censor or retribution from the university. We hope to again someday soon have applicants from PLNU as recipients of PFLAG SDC scholarships.
Students and allies rallied last week at Point Loma Nazarene University to protest against harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ people in schools. Video from KPBS
The SD Gay Men’s Chorus And Women’s Chorus Hit It Out At The Park
San Diego Pride was on hand for the Padres Out at the Park on April 14 at Petco Park.
Fans enjoyed the Pride pregame happy hour in Gallagher Square and sat together to cheer on the Padres. As always, the commemorative Out at the Park Padres hat scored a big hit.
First Annual Pride Military Department Resource Fair Honors Military Past And Present
On April 23, a beautiful day in San Diego, PFLAG SDC took part in the first annual PRIDE Military Department Resource Fair. It was wonderful meeting many past and current service members. We were entertained by the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Marching Band – a very successful day! Pictured above are PFLAG SDC Board Members Terrie Vorono, Nancy Colbert, and Sherry Cohen-Richards.
Sage Creek High Ally Week In Carlsbad
As part of Sage Creek High School’s GSA-Sponsored Ally Week, students, administrative staff, and faculty from Sage Creek and Carlsbad high school, as well as the Carlsbad Unified School District Superintendent filled the cafeteria on April 26 to learn about PFLAG.
Pictured L to R: Benjamin Churchill, Ed.D., Superintendent, Sarah Hunter, Educator & GSA Advisor, Annette Ottone, PFLAG SDC Regional Director, and Kurt Dearie, PFLAG SDC North County Coastal Facilitator
Thank You To Our Donors!
Thanks to the following individuals who donated to PFLAG SDC this past month:
Doug Braun-Harvey
The San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
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!
Donna and Jim Bowersox
Lonnie Brunini
B Fit by Bryann
Nancy Colbert
Anna Covici
Charles Kaminski
Stephen Miller and Michael Wasilewski
Maureen Steiner
Terrie Vorono
☎️ 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline Now In Place
The nonprofit that operates the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launched a pilot program for LGBTQ individuals, veterans, and anyone who feels they may be experiencing a mental health crisis; you may call or text 988.
One of the goals is to dramatically decrease the number of calls made to 911 in the time of crisis, as 911 wasn’t set up to address mental health needs. Please note, this new program does not track your location.
Support Groups
❗️Note: some support group information has changed since last month
Most support groups will continue to meet virtually, but some groups are returning to in-person meetings. 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.
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+.
