A group of Lawrence community members soon will host their first meeting aimed at supporting people who identify as LGBTQ+ and their loved ones.
“We are very excited for our debut event and to be opening the Lawrence PFLAG chapter in the same year as PFLAG’s 50th anniversary,” Janis Guyot, president of the chapter, said in an email.
PFLAG is a national organization that offers peer support services, education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals and their family members and allies. More than 400 local chapters span the United States.
“The response has been great so far,” Guyot said. “The PFLAG National Central Regional Director is even planning on attending.”
The committee launching the Lawrence chapter consists of Guyot, president; Amy Sanchez, vice president; Amy Lee, secretary; Joan Hoffman, treasurer; Shelby Lynne; and Jocilyn Oyler. Guyot said more than a year and a half of planning and paperwork went into the chapter’s formation.
Read more about the launch of Lawrence’s PFLAG chapter in this November article.
Individual memberships for Lawrence PFLAG cost $30 annually but are not required unless a participant plans to vote during meetings. Guyot said anyone 17 or younger who attends must be accompanied by their parent or guardian.
The debut agenda consists of a cash bar, meeting, and viewing of the film “Disclosure,” which highlights Hollywood’s depiction of transgender lives in the media. View the trailer below.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, and the program runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The event takes place at Studio A in the Lawrence Arts Center’s 10th and Mass Studios auxiliary space, 1000 Massachusetts St.
After its January launch, Lawrence PFLAG will hold its monthly meetings from 6 to 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Feb. 9th’s meeting will take place at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. Locations for subsequent meetings will be determined, according to Guyot.
Email lawrencepflag@gmail.com or check the chapter’s webpage to confirm the location for upcoming meetings and updates.
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Tricia Masenthin (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at tmasenthin (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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