PFLAG Norman Chapter President’s Letter.
Dear Friends and Family of PFLAG Norman,
I want to thank you for your support in the 2023-24 fiscal year. We are excited to continue our mission of advocacy, education, and support, with the clear view of leading with love. In this last year, we have been able to be more involved with our community as we continue to face challenges in the middle of an election year. This last fiscal year was a more challenging one, with state bills targeting our trans family, members, and allies in every way possible; with more book bans, and bans on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). In the middle of it all, we have also experienced an upwelling of support and love from our citizens in Norman as well as the surrounding cities and towns. This has been expressed with words of support, attendance at support meetings, and through humble donations at our outreach events and the events we were graciously invited to.
Our monthly in-person meetings have been steady in numbers, bringing a plethora of diverse people, social and economic status, as well as a beautiful variety of ages. This has given us the opportunity to explore more options to accommodate more people and to keep providing LGBTQIA2S+ support in person and through Zoom.
Here are some accomplishments this year:
Advocacy – It has been a remarkably busy and productive time. We have participated in over fifty-seven events in this cycle, in the city, and around. This was double our participation last fiscal cycle. We marched in 3 Pride parades, community parades, twenty-eight community events with education materials in Norman and Cleveland County and 10 PFLAG organized events. This year, we also have been putting at the forefront resources to understand state policies that are anti- LGBTQ+, providing via our website a step-by-step to civic participation, changing the way our state and local representation see US as well as promoting constantly voter registration and participation.
Education – We are continuing to have special guests come every other month to provide valuable information to our members and give them the opportunity to ask questions. We have had professionals, advocates, and allies such as the Red Dirt Collective, Red Rock Behavioral Health Services (Q-Space), an inclusive local therapist, and Transition House in Norman. We also had influential figures in Oklahoma for our annual Education Panel, with personal stories of members from our community of struggle and success. These stories that are vital to the next LGBTQ+ generation and allies and are still available to view on our website. We have also provided LGBTQIA2S+ education to 16 organizations and companies that requested it.
Support – Our monthly one-hour support meetings have been consistent in numbers, although we have faced challenges with the temporary closing of the Norman Central Public Library. This led us to move to the Norman East Library where we have been loving the faithfulness of the attendees and new arrivals, always making people feel welcome to share their thoughts and experiences. We have also noticed people from surrounding cities and rural communities are making the long journey to be part of this family called PFLAG at our Thursday meetings.
Other Notes – It is humbling to have received donations from people like you, from affirming churches, and from yearly faithful donors. All of this to say that we have been able to give out hundreds of LGBTQ+ Booklets about love, support and education, gender identity flags, swag and much more for everyone to feel seen and heard. PFLAG Norman has also been getting PFLAG National attention for our love for this community, our outreach booth, and amazing board members that have dedicated their time to volunteer and provide resources for this area and beyond.
Scholarship – Lastly, thanks to your contributions we were able to offer a $3,000 scholarship this year. The winner was Leo Tyra, an amazing individual that shown that through adversity in their personal lives, they are still able to help those in need and have a positive view of their future and for our country. We are so proud of them and hope for the best in their higher education as part of our LGBTQIA2S+ community.
In conclusion, it is because of you, your donations, your membership, your concerns, and comments that we have been able to look beyond what we have done in previous years and start planning more exciting events, better ways to support, educate and promote advocacy for this new fiscal year.
This month, we are requesting you renew your membership. If you have not become a member yet, please join us. Together we will continue to carry on the mission for the Norman community and Cleveland County.
Please help us continue to make a difference for the rest of 2024 and 2025. Please check out our website at PFLAGNorman.org and click on MEMBERSHIP DRIVE to join, renew, and donate. We are grateful for your generosity and commitment towards our mission of advocacy, education, and support.
Remember, to Lead with Love, it involves YOU.
Sincerely, Jerry Arias-Watson
