I discovered both PFLAG and the internet in the summer of 1992. As a long time resident of Greenwhich Village, I had fewer problems than many when I learned my son was gay and so didn't feel the immediate need to join PFLAG. It was only a year and a half later when my acceptance turned to anger at the way society treats lesbians and gay men that I sought out PFLAG, not for support but to try to change society.
My first PFLAG meeting was right after the Gay Pride Parade; when I saw a group of parents swapping photos, I knew I had found a home. One month later I became the founding editor of the newsletter and, two years later, when Brooklyn became a chapter, I became it's first president. I now serve as vice president of the chapter and continue to edit the newsletter.
At the same time I came to PFLAG, I also got my first internet connection and discovered soc.motss, the "social" newsgroup devoted to "members of the same sex" or gay and lesbian issues. Six months later I made my first post and have been a regular contributor ever since. I regularly post about PFLAG issues and coming out to parents.
I was a founding contributor to "Oasis" the online magazine for gay teens at http://www.oasis.com/ and continue to write a monthly column "the Parent's Corner."
In October 1995, I attended the Transgender Workshop at the PFLAG convention in Indianapolis and became convinced that this is the next frontier for PFLAG. As more people of all ages come out as transsexual, transgendered, or cross-dressers, their parents, family and friends will naturally come to PFLAG to find support and information.
One month later, as an outgrowth of the PFLAG conference, I became list owner of TGS-PFLAG, an e-mail list for support of parents, family and friends of transgendered people and transgendered people who want to discuss family issues. Running the list has been an educational experience for me and also a very rewarding one. We've seen the list spark the creation of several family support groups around the country and we know we are helping people. In 1996, I joined the the PFLAG T-SON core group in the hope that we can educate all PFLAG chapters to the need for providing transgender support and provide the resources they need.
In addition to my work on the internet, I have done extensive lobbying both at the local, state and federal level, including the "Moms and Dads Go to Washington" PFLAG event of March 1996. In June 1996, I received a special citation from Howard Golden, the Brooklyn Borough President, for my service to the gay and lesbian community of Brooklyn.
Emily Rizzo er5@is2.nyu.edu
TGS-PFLAG people
PFLAG-Talk/TGS-PFLAG support
PFLAG-Talk/TGS-PFLAG home
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Revised August 13, 1999
