SALISBURY ó The Salisbury-Rowan chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) received the PFLAG National Chapter Award for Advocacy recently at the organizationís annual convention in Washington, D.C.
Pete Bonneau, Food Lion executive and member of the PFLAG National Board of Directors, accepted the award on behalf of the local chapter.
The award recognizes a chapterís contributions in the area of advocacy, one part of PFLAGís threefold mission of support, education and advocacy. During the presentation, the chapter was cited for its successful scholarship program, having awarded 15 $1,000 scholarships to deserving Rowan County lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender students and/or their straight allies, as well as having produced Salisburyís first LGBT Pride Celebration as primary considerations for the award.
ěWe are excited, and at the same time, humbled to receive this award,î said Mike Clawson president of the local chapter. ěWith so many PFLAG chapters across the country doing such incredible work in the areas of support, education and advocacy, we are honored to be recognized in this way. Iíd like to thank our Executive Committee, our membership, supporters and benefactors for their continued commitment to PFLAGís mission and vision,î added Clawson.
Members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) chapters from across the country traveled to Washington, DC recently for the 2011 PFLAG National Convention. The activities during the four-day event included lobbying U.S. senators and representatives to support and advance the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Students Non-Discrimination Act, federal legislation that will help build safer schools for their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) loved ones.
In addition to a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill, PFLAGers from around the country enjoyed networking and attending workshops and plenary sessions on a wide array of topics, including building safer schools, fundraising strategies, dialoguing about LGBT people in faith communities, and more. Speakers and guests for the convention included Betty DeGeneres (mother of comedienne Ellen DeGeneres), who received the Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award and talked about her work as a straight ally and her life as a mom to a lesbian daughter, Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Caitlyn Ryan, director of the Family Acceptance Project.
ěI am extremely proud of the many accomplishments of the Salisbury-Rowan PFLAG chapterî said Linda Stroupe, PFLAG South Atlantic Regional Director. ěWith over 300 chapters nationwide, the receipt of the Advocacy Award is a tremendous honor. I am so thankful for the many successes of this chapter.”
The 2011 PFLAG National Convention began on Thursday, Nov. 3 and concluded on Sunday, Nov. 6.
PFLAG was founded in 1973 with the simple act of a mother publicly supporting her gay son, and is the nationís foremost family orientated ally organization. PFLAG is committed to securing full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people by providing support, education and advocacy.
PFLAG National has grown to include more than 200,000 members and supporters in more than 350 chapters throughout the United States. To learn more, please visit http://www.pflag. org or http://www.salisbury-pflag.org.