PFLAG Bloomington provides a safe, supportive place where sexual minorities (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people) and their family members and friends can come together to share experiences, work through problems, and educate themselves and their community.

PFLAG Bloomington's mission is to promote the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons through support, education, and advocacy. We are the local chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), a national non-profit organization with more than 200,000 members and supporters and more than 500 affiliates in the United States.

At Its Last Meeting . . .

At its July 15 meeting, Bloomington PFLAG members voted to explore a merger with the White River Valley PFLAG, based in neighboring Owen County. Results of that discussion will be shared with the membership no later than Oct. 15.

The membership also voted a contribution to St. Thomas Lutheran Church, longtime host, in honor of its retired pastor, the Rev. Walt Johnson, who demonstrated great courage in extending hospitality to PFLAG at its very beginning.

You may call the White River Valley PFLAG chapter at (812) 829-9611 or e-mail wrvpflag@gmail.com. You may visit the Indianapolis PFLAG Web site at http://www.indypflag.org, or e-mail indyPFLAG@aol.com. Call the Seymour PFLAG at (812) 498-2380 or e-mail pflag@japl.lib.in.us.

Geocities, the site that has hosted PFLAG's Web presence since it first went up in 2002, is closing down in October. With it this Web site will cease to exist. Judy Schroeder, the Webmaster for the past eight years, thanks you for visiting the site. As the proud mother of four children, including a son who is gay, she welcomes inquiries at jschroed@indiana.edu.

Bloomington PFLAG members are invited to contribute to the Indiana family scrapbook project, "Living Our Values," that puts a human face on GLBT families. Click here to read these powerful personal stories. By following the directions on the site, you can contribute YOUR story.

Kimpton Hotels now offers PFLAG members the exclusive Pride Rate of 10 percent off the Best Available Rate at any Kimpton Hotel. The price is based on availability seven days a week.. Although most of the 37 hotels in the Kimpton chain are on the East or West coasts, three of the hotels are in Chicago. Enter the special code PRI in the Rate Code field when booking a room. For more information, click here.