2016 Issue 3 may/jun - Focus Mid-South magazine
life MEMPHIS PFLAG GROUP MEETING ATTENDANCE DOWN, BUT LEADER COULDN’T BE HAPPIER! by Sarah Rutledge Fischer As a chemistry and physics teacher in a remote Arkansas high school, Richard Sparrow started being open about having bisexual children, and left informational youth PFLAG brochures on his desk. “I’m one of the few adults in their life that it is okay for them to be out to. I was the only contact these kids had with the outside world. I know of MAGY and support groups in Memphis, but (these) kids didn’t have cars and lived 40 to 60 miles away,” Sparrow said. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Contact Memphis PFLAG: 870.514.0185 memphispflag@yahoo.com http://community.pflag.org/Page. aspx?pid=224&chid=319&tab=6 Richard Sparrow (pictured here with his wife and children) became involved in PFLAG when his then junior-high-aged daughter was outed by a friend. At the monthly meetings of the Memphis chapter of PFLAG, the nation’s largest organization serving the families and allies of the LGBT community, attendance is down. Meetings once drew more than a dozen people, but lately they have only four or five attendees. Richard Sparrow, the chapter’s president couldn’t be happier. “Maybe, PFLAG has done its job so well, that we’ve put ourselves out of business,” says Sparrow. For an organization whose vision is of “a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression,” being put out of business would be a great thing. In 1986, when the Memphis chapter was founded, there were few resources and little information available for the families of LGBT youth. These days, with greater mainstream acceptance and a stronger media presence, the families and allies of LGBT people have a wealth of resources and information. Sparrow came to PFLAG 11 years ago when his junior high-aged daughter was Richard Sparrow now leads the Memphis PFLAG chapter that meets at the Central Library on Thursday evenings from 6 - 8 p.m. forced out of the closet by one of her friends. Coming from an evangelical background, he struggled to process what this could mean for his daughter. Despite his inner conflict, Sparrow became involved in a protest effort against Love In Action, a local organization operating a residential ex-gay program that Sparrow, as a high school science teacher, considered a form of brainwashing. At the protests, he talked with the gay and lesbian youth standing at his side and also met Dr. Arnold Drake, then president of PFLAG, who invited him to their next meeting. About a month or so later, Sparrow attended his first PFLAG meeting and found a community built on a model of listening, not lecturing. As his involvement grew, Sparrow found the work of PFLAG coming to him outside of the meetings. As a chemistry and physic teacher in a rural Arkansas high school, Sparrow started being open about having bisexual children and left informational youth PFLAG brochures on his desk. It is a tricky balance to support the LGBT students while avoiding conflict with the school administration, but Photo by Joan Allison Sparrow happily undertakes the challenge. “I’m one of the few adults in their life that it is okay for them to be out to. Because I worked in a very rural district, out in the middle of nowhere, I was the only contact these kids had with the outside world. I know of MAGY and support groups in Memphis, but I was dealing with kids who didn’t have cars and lived 40 to 60 miles away.” Of course, when these students did come out to family, Sparrow helped by providing the phone number of a nearby PFLAG chapter. Back in Memphis, Sparrow and the rest of the group stay involved in LGBT advocacy and fundraising efforts. They still meet on the first Thursday of each month, despite dwindling numbers. A year or two back, there was discussion of shutting down, but then they started seeing more parents of transgender children looking for help. The group is still needed, and they are adapting. No matter who walks through the door, they know that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or straight, the underlying truth remains the same: “Our children, no matter what happens, they are still our children.” Page 28 / www.focusmidsouth.com / MAY+JUN 2016 / The Family Issue
One, two and three week programs in movement, singing and dancing TOTS@POTS (5-6 Years) Sessions 1 & 2: June 20-24 Sessions 3 & 4: July 11-15 Junior Conservatory (7-11 Years) Session 1: June 6-17 Session 2: June 20-July 1 Session 3: July 25-Aug. 5 Senior Conservatory (12-17 years) Session: July 11-July 29 OUTFLIX AT THE BROOKS FILM SERIES presents CAROL WED • MAY 18 TH • 7 PM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT OUTFLIXFESTIVAL.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION playhouseonthesquare.org/education/.html 901.728.5631 carly@playhouseonthesquare.org O U TFL I X F E S TIV A L . o rg @OUTFLIXMEMPHIS #OUTFLIXFILM It was at this point that Eddie was glad he pre-planned his funeral. F PROOF PROOF Don’t burden the love ones in your life with the pain and stress of arranging your funeral on their darkest day. Give them the greatest gift of all: peace of mind. We make pre-planning easy. Call us today to schedule a meeting with one of our pre-planning advisers. It’s that simple. ROOF PROOF OF PROOF PROOF PROOF PROOF 3788 Summer Ave. | Memphis, TN 901-454-5795 highpointchapel.com Go Green. with Sowell & Company Realtors Visit our website for OPEN HOUSES! sowellandco.com 54 South Cooper • Memphis, TN 38104 Office (901) 278-4380 • Toll Free (888) 799-4235
- Page 1 and 2: FREE Serving the Mid-South LGBT Com
- Page 3 and 4: PROOF PRO OOF PROOF PROOF PR You di
- Page 5 and 6: Focus Mid-South is proud to announc
- Page 7 and 8: theme Illustrations Ian Chipman-Kal
- Page 9 and 10: hatiloo
- Page 11 and 12: community MEMPHIS CRISIS CENTER REC
- Page 14 and 15: lgbt ally WHAT’S FAIR IN HEALTHCA
- Page 16 and 17: lgbt advocate DIANE DUKE Increasing
- Page 18 and 19: lgbt ally lgbt ally by Robin Beaudo
- Page 20 and 21: Imagine a church that embraces many
- Page 22 and 23: cover I think we’ve got a pretty
- Page 24 and 25: 2016 SUMMER Thursday, June 2 7:30 P
- Page 26 and 27: life Drag Kings and Queens Creating
- Page 30 and 31: faith+spirituality You are in love
- Page 32 and 33: food+drink IN MEMPHIS MEMPHIS GREEK
- Page 34 and 35: lgbt youth SAGE BEASLEY IN MY OWN W
- Page 36 and 37: health+wellness 2025 2020 2014 2025
- Page 38 and 39: LATINO MEMPHIS PRESENTA { DRAG SHOW
- Page 40 and 41: life LANDYKES 50-YEAR-OLD “WIMINS
- Page 42 and 43: pet focus FAMILY PETS It’s not ju
- Page 44 and 45: travel Original Memphis PANCHO’S
- Page 46 and 47: calendar FUNDAY EVENTS MAY 5-28 Mem
- Page 48: F PROOF P PROOF PRO OF PROOF PROOF
One, two and three week<br />
programs in movement,<br />
singing and dancing<br />
TOTS@POTS (5-6 Years) Sessions 1 & 2: June 20-24<br />
Sessions 3 & 4: July 11-15<br />
Junior Conservatory (7-11 Years) Session 1: June 6-17<br />
Session 2: June 20-July 1<br />
Session 3: July 25-Aug. 5<br />
Senior Conservatory (12-17 years) Session: July 11-July 29<br />
OUTFLIX AT<br />
THE<br />
BROOKS<br />
FILM SERIES<br />
presents<br />
CAROL<br />
WED • MAY 18 TH • 7 PM<br />
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT OUTFLIXFESTIVAL.ORG<br />
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION<br />
playhouseonthesquare.org/education/.html<br />
901.728.5631<br />
carly@playhouseonthesquare.org<br />
O U TFL I X F E S TIV A L . o rg<br />
@OUTFLIXMEMPHIS<br />
#OUTFLIXFILM<br />
It was at this point<br />
that Eddie was glad<br />
he pre-planned<br />
his funeral.<br />
F PROOF PROOF<br />
Don’t burden the love ones<br />
in your life with the pain<br />
and stress of arranging your<br />
funeral on their darkest day.<br />
Give them the greatest gift of<br />
all: peace of mind.<br />
We make pre-planning easy. Call us<br />
today to schedule a meeting with one<br />
of our pre-planning advisers.<br />
It’s that simple.<br />
ROOF PROOF<br />
OF PROOF PROOF<br />
PROOF PROOF<br />
3788 Summer Ave. | Memphis, TN<br />
901-454-5795<br />
highpointchapel.com<br />
Go Green.<br />
with Sowell & Company<br />
Realtors<br />
Visit our website for<br />
OPEN HOUSES!<br />
sowellandco.com<br />
54 <strong>South</strong> Cooper • Memphis, TN 38104<br />
Office (901) 278-4380 • Toll Free (888) 799-4235
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