PFLAG to host regional conference

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Salisbury/Rowan Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will be hosting the 2008 North Carolina/South Carolina PFLAG Regional Conference Saturday, April 26, at Haven Lutheran Church.
The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PFLAG National is hosting and funding the conference, and staff from PFLAG National in Washington, D.C., EqualityNC and the South Carolina Equality Coalition will be leading workshops.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided by PFLAG National and the host chapter.
“This conference and the educational and networking opportunities it presents for us is immeasurable”, said Mike Clawson, PFLAG North Carolina state coordinator. “While we are all relatively small chapters, combining our energies and our ideas, we can make a great impact on equality in the Carolinas through support, education and advocacy.”
Todd Adrian, president of the Salisbury/Rowan chapter, said the conference ó with representation from all 18 North Carolina PFLAG chapters and six South Carolina chapters ó will provide participants a chance to share experiences and strategies on making communities safe and welcoming places to live and work for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) family members and their loved ones.
Workshop topics include PFLAG National’s “Straight For Equality” initiative; Lobbying 101; updates on anti- and pro-GLBT legislation in North Carolina and South Carolina; Safe Schools: Strategies for Working with Your Board of Education; and Membership Recruitment and Retention.
The conference is open to the entire PFLAG membership as well as the public at large. There is a nominal $10 registration fee.
For more information or to register, contact Mike Clawson at salisburypflag@bellsouth.net or call 704-213-0181.