Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through SUPPORT, to cope with an adverse society, and EDUCATION, to enlighten an ill-informed public in order to end discrimination and secure equal rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunities for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of all human beings.
Vision: Toronto PFLAG is a charitable organization that speaks for a more accepting Canadian society by providing support, education and resources to all people who wish to grow in their understanding of sexual and gender diversity. Through Toronto PFLAG, we actively assist in the recognition and growth of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, intersex, queer and questioning persons, and their families and friends, within their diverse cultures and societies
Our President, Irene Miller, writes a monthly message. Following is the March 2012, message:
A message from your President March 28, 2012
I really enjoy reading newspapers. It has been part of my morning routine since childhood and although I have tried others, I am loyal to one local Toronto publication. For a change of pace I also read three local publications for the area near our cottage. As often happens, something that I read sticks in my mind either because it pleases me and makes me feel good, or it bothers or unsettles me.
This past week three articles affected me and I’ve been talking to people about all of them.
(1) The first article was in one of the country publications where a guest columnist, whose column is under the heading Enter Laughing wrote about how the recent unseasonably warm afternoons found him standing stock-still with his face tracking the sun like a giant peony. I could just picture it – time stopping to enjoy and follow the sun!
Then he went on to say, “We can’t help ourselves. We can no more stop this behaviour than men can stop watching pretty women in sundresses.” He continued the thought by saying about men in that blissful state “when women are out in sundresses”.… “You can tip them over like cows”.
And I thought of the men in my life, and the men in other families for whom this blanket statement did not apply.
And I wondered in how many homes where this column would be read as the only newspaper, might someone feel less ‘manly’ or wonder if their sons or brothers were somehow ‘lesser men’ for not fitting in with a stereotypically heterosexist portrait of men.
I may have ‘Entered Laughing’ but I left that column troubled.
(2) Second Article: Luckily I was soon elated to pick up a copy of Xtra (#715, March 22nd ed.) and see Brian Burke’s photograph on the cover, and a wonderful morale-boosting article by Andrea Houston filling a two-page spread.
Andrea’s article showed insights into not just Brian Burke, President and G.M. of Toronto Maple Leafs who along with his son Patrick is holding wide open the locker room door; but the Brian who is a Toronto PFLAG member and recipient of the Toronto PFLAG Ally Award, a father proud of all of his children, and like most of us in PFLAG – “an unlikely activist.’
PFLAG mums and dads are often surprised to find ourselves taking on the role of activist; and yet it is something we have to do to ensure our children, all children, are protected and supported and able to enjoy their lives fully with dignity and respect.
I know I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: PFLAGers are ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Pick up a copy of Xtra while they are still on the stands, or read it online at http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/EXCLUSIVE_Game_Changer-11732.aspx
This article will resonate with all PFLAG families, and for any youth out there who are concerned that their moms and dads, families, school mates or communities will not be supportive, Brian Burke’s story will offer hope that change is happening now.
(3) Third Article: This week the Toronto Star’s headline “Transgender contestant’s ouster from Miss Universe Canada sparks outrage over pageant’s ‘natural born’ rule”, caught my attention and the article is worth reading. It has been posted on Facebook and is generating a lot of discussion.
At Toronto PFLAG we are very lucky to have volunteers who are transgender or are family members of someone who is transgender and from them and what they share with us, we are continuing to learn much about individuals who have been much misunderstood.
I don’t know a lot about beauty pageants, but Vancouver’s Jenna Talackova is certainly beautiful, and qualifies as a Miss Universe Canada pageant contestant in the following categories: >Canadian citizen; >between ages of 18 and 27; >neither pregnant nor married; ……… but not this one…… > “natural born” female…
Quotes from a 2010 interview with Jenna note that she struggled to identify as a male, the sex she was assigned at birth. She began hormone treatment at 14 and underwent surgery at 19. “I regard myself as a woman with a history,” she said.
The article mentions how the (pageant) industry has had to adapt to cultural standards over the past decades, “changing rules to accept once-marginalized contestants – including black, Jewish and disabled women.” and “…beauty contests must follow the course of history and adapt to what has been determined as culturally relevant – including the idea that sex and gender are not black and white concepts”.
According to Vancouver-based lawyer Barbara Findlay, who specializes in equality rights and transgender issues, it is illegal to discriminate against a woman based on her gender identity.
Read the article; see at the pictures of Jenna. She looks like a lovely young woman.
<><> <><> <><> <><>
Whether you read your news in paper form at the breakfast table or on your computer or smart phones, I hope you too enjoy discussing articles you read. I hope you also enjoy reading our e-newsletters, and some back copies can be read on our web-site www.torontopflag.org Our web-site is updated frequently and has news and pictures of where we’ve been recently as well as information about our upcoming events.
A recent donation via CanadaHelps came to us in gratitude as the donors enjoy reading our monthly e-newsletters. A special thank you to the donors, and a shout out to our Editor Jim Callaghan, a long time volunteer and valued Toronto PFLAGer! Yours in Pride,
Irene Miller