The Out with the Stars Program

7/31/2019 The Out with the Stars Program

1/11


2/11

CO CKTA I LS

Featuring Three Olives vodka generously provided by

Proximo Spirits

HORS DOEUV RE S

Mini chicken wellingtons

Brie & Raspberry Phyllo cups

M A I N S

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Hickory Roasted Salmon

Beef Tips with Wild Mushrooms

Potato Gratin

Leafy Greens & Vegetable SaladCheese Board

Dessert Buffet

CHEF S S ELECTI O N + A S S O RTMENTChocolate Covered Strawberries, Mini Key Lime

Tartlets, Mini Pecan Tartlets, Italian Cream Puffs,Mini Cannolis, Mini Cake Brownies with Vanilla Bean

Frosting, Mini Chocolate Cakes

Tonights MenuThe Rustic Gourmet at Lambert Place


3/11

Saturday June 23, 2012

Welcome dear PFLAG family and friends!

As we look back over these 26 years, and the many recent victoriesfor the LGBT movement, we are filled with a renewed sense of hopethat change is coming. As we share our stories with friends, neighborsand coworkers, we are changing hearts and minds. Neighbors whowould not hesitate to vote for an anti-gay ordinance or law, willnow think twice before they pull the lever. Parents whose childrenhave come out to them will google PFLAG instead of kicking their

children out of the house. PFLAG will be there for them - as it wasfor all of us.

Tonight is a night for us to celebrate families, love and togetherness.If you look out over the room tonight, you will see many peoplewhose lives PFLAG has touched. Many in this room will recall theirfirst PFLAG meeting and waiting nervously outside the door. Inside,

they found friends that have become a part of their lives for all theseyears.

A big thank you to everyone whomade this evening possible. You areour STARS! Thank you for comingout in such large numbers to support

this wonderful organization!

Have a wonderful evening,Fran Brandino & Conal Charles

Co-Presidents, PFLAG Atlanta

Welcome from our

Co-Presidents


4/11

What PFLAG doesSupport Families: We work to keep families in loving relation-ships by helping them understand and affirm their gay, lesbian,bisexual or transgender family members as they come out to theirloved ones and friends

Educate the Public: We seek to dispel myths and misinforma-tion about being LGBT with our Speakers Bureau and programs

such as Safe Schools and Straight for EqualityAdvocate for Equality: We are committed to equal human andcivil rights for everyone

Our Achievements over the last 26 years

We have welcomed and supported everyone who has come to

our meetings We have a monthly educational program of speakers that

has included included leaders from the LGBT community,pastors, priests and rabbis; transgender panels, politicians,lawyers, scholars, students, panels of moms and dads (bothLGBT and straight) and others

We have a strong Speakers Bureau that will make a presen-tation anywhere requested: schools, churches, busi-nesses, conferences at no cost

We have participated in 26 years of AtlantaPride; Georgia School State Conferences (any-where in the state)

We have assisted or held state and regionalPFLAG conferences, provided training forour Safe Schools programs and helped start

new chapters in Johns Creek and PeachtreeCity

We have a terrific lending library available tothose who attend our meeting at First MCC


5/11

To all those who made tonight possible...

There is a Star that Shines Bright for Every Ticket Holder Tonight!

Our award winners - our STARS - who have excelled in beingambassadors for the causes PFLAG holds dear

Our wonderful LGBTQ community and their parents, families andfriends who support, educate and advocate on our behalf

All our silent auction donors

Our liquor tonight was generously provided by Proximo Spirits

Kevin Bryant of Lambert Place for his assistanceAmanda Hertel for being our wonderful photographer

David & Tori Stivers for being our talented emcees for tonightDavid Richardson for the sound and for being our announcer

Sean Farmer for his assistance with the table decorations and setupCut Flower Wholesale for the beautiful flower arrangements

Aaron Huffstetler for designing our logo and invitation

Nancy Mize and Grace Ann Young for being our volunteercoordinators along with our amazing volunteers

Our media and printing sponsors and partnersPrima Printers, Fenuxe Magazine, Pocket Rocket Guide and The

GA Voice

Thank you to all of the above from the bottom of our hearts!

The PFLAG Atlanta board

Acknowledgements


6/11

Out with the Stars

Parent Award Winner

Patti & Jeff EllisI thought our journey started

December 17, 1997, but actuallyit started August 31, 1981, the dayAdam was born. That day we weregiven a gift of a baby boy. Eachyear of his life was a gift and ourlove grew deeper. The day he toldus he was gay sent us to the bottom

of the mountain. We were stuckthere until we slowly began our

journey to seek the truth becausethis is our child and he was worthit. While we prayed that God wouldchange Adam, we finally came to

understand it was us, his parents, who

needed to change, not Adam.

The world we lived in used the Bible as a weapon against us.However, it was our faith that gave us strength and comfort. Thatfaith kept us searching for what God wanted us to do as Adamsmom and dad.

After much prayer we found our way to creating the Family

Acceptance website. Our blessing now is to know we can helpother families in their journey and maybe one day this will not haveto be a journey at all.


7/11

Em ElliottEm Elliott began working for LGBT

rights in college as an active memberof Wittenberg Universitys GSA andwas an outspoken advocate againsthate crimes on the campus andsurrounding area. As a field organizerfor Georgia Equality, Ems work iscurrently focused on the Safe Schools

Campaign. She uses her skills toeducate and persuade those in chargeto enact comprehensive and effectiveanti-bullying policies throughout thestate of Georgia in partnership withthe Georgia Safe Schools Coalition.

Em has been particularly supportive of establishing a safe havenfor LGBT youth. Her experience in anti-bullying work, combinedwith extensive training and work in Georgia schools, has beeninvaluable in creating a viable Georgia GSA Network. Em providesadministrative support and leverages existing relationships betweenthe Georgia Safe Schools Coalition members and current GeorgiaGSAs.

Never reluctant to travel far for LGBT causes, Em has covered thestate to conduct trainings, encourage advocacy of youth, and bepresent at meetings where she has spoken for both safer schools andpolitical action to end discrimination against the LGBT community.

Out with the Stars

Educator Award Winner


8/11

Out with the Stars

Student Award Winner

Jessica MaslankaI have always had a hard time keepingmy mouth shut. My nature to protecteven people I hardly know. In thepublic schools of Walton County, itwas obvious that I was not like theother kids. I was constantly beingharassed. When I worked to fit in, itnever really clicked.

April of my freshman year, I realizedwhy. Loving boys wasnt working for

me. After 8 months of denial, I literallyjumped out of the closet into activism. Within three months, mymom was on board as well. From my new confidence, I took stepsin stopping the harassment. And not just for myself. I began the

track to creating a GSA, I spread the word on bullying (not just ofLGBTQ kids).

I still get the harassment sometimes, the Why do you flaunt itaround so much? I just smile and keep going. Even if they do notlike that I am here, Im loud and proud and here to stay.I will never stop working to make a difference.


9/11

Out with the Stars

Nonprofit Award Winner

The Ben Marion Institute For Social Justice is steadfastly committedto promoting a culture of social justice in our Atlanta community,responding to families, schools, educators and other nonprofits inpromoting a sustainable culture that values kindness, empathy andfairness for all youth and their families.Abby Drue, founded The Ben Marion Institute in 2006 in memoryof her parents Ben and Marion, who modeled a keen sense of

fairness and kindness for their children. After over 40 years asan educator and activist for LGBT inclusion and respect, Abbycame to the realization that a new pro-active systemic approach forchanging behavior was needed for addressing the escalating cruel,and often violent, treatment of LGBTQ individuals in our schoolsand communities.

The Institutes KEF (Kindness, Empathy, Fairness) educationalcurriculums stand alone in promoting socially just, empatheticenvironments for all individuals, including LGBT children andfamilies. The Institute is unique in its understanding that pro-activesocial emotional learning must be present for the elimination ofhomophobia, discrimination and bias. We deeply believe everyoneis responsible in someway for everyone else. When this exists,

individuals may be authentically themselves without stress, pain orshame, and achieve to the best of their abilities and desired goals. Tothat end, Ben and Marion would be pleased.


10/11

2012 PFLAG Achievement

Award Winner

2012 PFLAG Achievement

Award WinnersDale & Mary Lynn MerkleIt was August 1984 and the night before our son Gordy was movingto California. He came into our bedroom, sat on the end of thebed, and said, I cant go without telling you Im gay. We wereastounded! We had no idea! And we were disappointed at that

time.

There wasnt an instant when we loved Gordy less or when wedoubted that he, indeed, knew who he was. But we needed toget educated. And we needed to learn that our children are notresponsible for fulfilling our dreams. Gordy told us of PFLAG.We read everything in the newsletters they sent (in a plain brownwrapper), but we didnt have the courage to go to the meetings.

You see, we were in the closet.

A few years later when our son Chris told us he was gay, we were ina better place. It didnt take long to figure out that if our sons weregoing to be safe and welcomed, it was up to us to work toward that.We spoke up in our workplaces, in our families, in our church andwith our friends. And we found that for most people (includingus) understanding comes with education and with getting up closeand personal. Our sons gave us a gift - we now have a broader viewof our world. That world isnt perfect so were still working at it!


11/11

The Silent AuctionOut of Town TravelWalt Disney World 4 HopperPassesSouthwest Airlines 2 tickets anywhereBarnsley Gardens 1 NightStayBluegreen Resorts two nightstayWheel of Fortune 4 VIP PassesDollywood 2 one day ticketsTennessee Smokies Minor LeagueBaseball 4 field level ticketsBusch Gardens Tampa Bay 2Tickets

Gift CardsPublix $50 Gift CardPike Nurseries $30 Gift cardIntercontinental Buckhead Hotel

$100 Gift Card for Dinner atSouthern ArtTaco Mac $50 Gift CardYard House Restaurant in AtlanticStation $50 Gift CardVarsity - Four Free MealsAnis Caf & Bistro $50 GiftCardCheesecake Factory $50 GiftCard

Panera Bread 1 loaf fresh bread eachmonth for a yearMedieval Times dinner and show for2Shakespeare Tavern 2 VIP Tickets

Music, Theater &SportsAtlanta Symphony Orchestra4 seats & parking pass to 1 of 2performances at Verizon Wireless inAlpharettaVerizon Wireless Amphitheatre2 lawn tickets and parkingAtlanta Ballet 2 tickets to theNutcrackerAlliance Theater Two Tickets

Chastain Park - Live Nation oneTable(6 tickets) ConcertAtlanta Silverbacks 4 tickets to any2012 game, scarf, and week at youthsoccer campGwinnett Gladiators 2 premiumtickets to any regular season homegameTurner Broadcasting 4 tickets toAtlanta Braves and parking pass

Around TownRitz-Carlton 1 Night Stay - SpecialOccasion PackageW Hotel Buckhead 1 Nt WeekendStayMarriott Atlanta Marquis Friday andSaturday night stayFernbank Museum 2 admissionsStone Mountain 2 one day

passesAtlanta History Center Two DualPassesCNN 2 Admission and GiftBagNellya Fencers 2 weeks of summercamp intro fencing kids ages 5-12OtherTurner Broadcasting TCM Gift

BagMria Dangerfield SpiceBasket

Jim Sheppard Cut and ColorMMT Wellness in Sandy Springs 1hour massageMMT Wellness in Sandy SpringsMakeover PackageEdgar Reeves 2 Lamps andshades

Canvas On DemandCertificatePortrait InnovationsCertificateKeurig Coffee Pods...and many more items!

Documents

The Out with the Stars Program