“Listening Parents” are Catholic parents
who have an LGBT daughter or son, and have graciously offered to
listen to and share their experience with other Catholic
parents. We know them as loving parents. Please note, however,
that they are NOT representatives of Fortunate Families, nor do
they necessarily have special counseling skills or training. If
you contact any of these parents, we welcome your feedback on
the interaction.
| Mother of gay son |
Abele, Joan |
UT/Salt Lake City (Salt
Lake) |
84121 |
joancabele@gmail.com or 801-943-8111. Medical doctor. PFLAG
experience. Updated 1-16-09. |
| Mother of gay son |
Austin-Calkins, Genie |
ID/Boise (Boise) |
83706 |
genieac@hotmail.com or 208-331-7941. Also mother of lesbian
daughter. Updated 12-8-08. |
| Mother of lesbian
daughter |
Austin-Calkins, Genie |
ID/Boise (Boise) |
83706 |
genieac@hotmail.com or 208-331-7941. Also mother of gay son. Updated
12-8-08. |
| Mother of lesbian
daughters (twins) |
Balog, Florence |
OR/Mt. Angel (Portland) |
97362 |
sandfbalog@mtangel.net.
503-845-7850. Co-founder of Welcoming the Whole Family in St.
Andrew’s Parish, Portland, OR. Wrote
“My twin lesbian daughters”
Updated 11-26-08. |
| Father of lesbian
daughters (twins) |
Balog, Steve |
OR/Mt. Angel (Portland) |
97362 |
sandfbalog@mtangel.net. 503-845-7850. Co-founder of Welcoming the
Whole Family in St. Andrew’s Parish, Portland, OR. Wrote
“The light
has been passed”
Updated 11-26-08. |
| Father of lesbian
daughter |
Black, Jerry |
MI/Beverly Hills
(Detroit) |
48025 |
sgbgolfer@aol.com
or 248-644-4479. Member of Always Our Children, a
panel of parents and LGBT children that tell their stories in
churches. Active in PFLAG. Wrote:
“A Letter from Meg”
Updated 11-30-08. |
| Mother of lesbian
daughter |
Black, Mary |
MI/Beverly Hills
(Detroit) |
48025 |
sgbgolfer@aol.com
or 248-644-4479. Member of Always Our Children, a
panel of parents and LGBT children that tell their stories in
churches. Active in PFLAG. Wrote:
“A Letter from Meg”
Updated 11-30-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Black, Patricia |
IL/Byron (Rockford) |
61010 |
trish.black@hotmail.com or 815-234-4615. Updated 11-11-08. |
| Father of gay son |
Brady, Robert |
MD/Gaithersburg
(Washington) |
20878 |
r.f.b@rcn.com or 301-840-9496. Active in parish-based “Catholic
Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons.” Updated 11-27-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Brady, Sharon |
MD/Gaithersburg
(Washington) |
20878 |
r.f.b@rcn.com or 301-840-9496. Active in parish-based “Catholic
Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons.” Updated 11-27-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Cassidy, Susanne |
PA/Wynnewood
(Philadelphia) |
19096 |
smcnarb@comcast.net or 610-649-0698. PFLAG experience. Updated
1-17-09. |
| Mother of gay son |
Cotant, Jan |
MI/Gaylord (Gaylord) |
49735 |
jancotant@gmail.com or 231-546-3421 or 989-858-1267 (cell). Updated
11-5-08. |
| Father of gay son |
Dalke, Rich |
TX/Melissa (Dallas) |
75454 |
terri9@earthlink.net or 972-837-2334. Leader in “Outstretched Hands”
parish-based support group for parents of LGBT children. Updated
12-3-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Dalke, Terri |
TX/Melissa (Dallas) |
75454 |
terri9@earthlink.net or 972-837-2334. Leader in “Outstretched Hands”
parish-based support group for parents of LGBT children. Updated
12-3-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
de Seve, Geri |
NY/Troy (Albany) |
12180 |
michaeladk@gmail.com or 518-272-4637 or 518-421-4723 (cell). Updated
12-2-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Erickson, Rita |
WI/Tomah (LaCrosse) |
54660 |
arerick@centurytel.net or 608-374-2745 or 608-387-0714 (cell).
Updated 11-29-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Franczyk, Ann |
MA/W. Springfield
(Springfield) |
01089 |
annrun76@aol.com. 413-736-6803. Board member of Fortunate Families.
Co-founder of Always Our Children in W. Springfield, MA. Nurse
practitioner. Updated 11-27-08. |
| Father of gay son |
Franczyk, Chet |
MA/W. Springfield
(Springfield) |
01089 |
chesterff@aol.com or 413-736-6803. Updated 11-27-08. |
| Father of gay son |
Furlong, Jerry |
NE/Omaha (Omaha) |
68130 |
furlong@cox.net. 402-895-6386. Fortunate Families board member.
Member of local area ministry, “Caring Catholic Families.” Created
“Let’s Talk About Homosexuality”
— educational series Updated 11-29-08. |
| Mother of trans m>f
daughter |
Gallagher, Eleanor |
CO/Lakewood (Denver) |
80232 |
emgallagher@grdc.com or 303-986-7510. Updated 1-14-09. |
| Mother of lesbian
daughter |
Hoenigman, Ann |
OH/Gates Mills
(Cleveland) |
44040 |
annedhoenigman@aol.com or 440-449-1848. Active in parish-based
parent support group. Updated 1-6-09. |
| Father of lesbian
daughter |
Hoenigman, Ed |
OH/Gates Mills
(Cleveland) |
44040 |
annedhoenigman@aol.com or 440-449-1848. Active in parish-based
parent support group. Updated 1-6-09. |
| Father of gay son |
Lopata, Casey |
NY/Rochester
(Rochester) |
14620 |
fortunatefamilie@aol.com. 585-698-6100. Co-founder and board member
of Fortunate Families (www.fortunatefamilies.com). MDiv. Wrote
“Can
my son be Gay and Catholic”
Updated 11-26-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Lopata, Mary Ellen |
NY/Rochester
(Rochester) |
14620 |
fortunatefamilie@aol.com. 585-698-6100. Co-founder and President of
Fortunate Families (www.fortunatefamilies.com). MS in Liberal Arts
with focus on homosexuality and the family. Wrote
"God's Love Revealed: reflections on being a Catholic Mother." Updated 11-26-08. |
| Mother of lesbian
daughter |
Marian, Barbara |
IL/Harvard (Rockford) |
60033 |
natvproj@owc.net or 815-943-5504. Active in PFLAG. Spouse is Jerry
Powers. Updated 11-26-08. |
| Father of gay son |
Mascotte, Hank |
IN/South Bend (Ft.
Wayne-South Bend) |
46637 |
mascotte@comcast.net or 574-277-2684. Has a lesbian sister. Active
in PFLAG. Updated 11-26-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Mascotte, Nancy |
IN/South Bend (Ft.
Wayne-South Bend) |
46637 |
mascotte@comcast.net or 574-277-2684. Active in PFLAG. Updated
11-26-08. |
| Father of lesbian
daughter |
McDonough, Robert |
CO/Westminster (Denver) |
80035 |
morejam@myway.com or 303-920-4144. Co-founder of group working with
LGBT community and parents to make parish more welcoming. Updated
11-30-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
McGannon, Jessica |
MO/Kansas City (Kansas
City) |
64113 |
pjpbk@aol.com or 816-523-8404 or 913-461-4541 (cell). Updated
11-29-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Mohring, Mary-Ellen |
CT/Milford (Hartford) |
06460 |
maryellenmohring@yahoo.com or 203-874-7365.
Involved in local PFLAG chapters. Updated 5-20-09. |
| Mother of gay son |
Naughton, Jenny |
CA/Diamond Bar (Los
Angeles) |
91765 |
jnaughton04@gmail.com or 909-896-8362. Involved in “Always Our
Children” parish-based support group for parents of gay and lesbian
Catholics. Updated 11-26-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Nelson, Linda Karle |
MI/Farmington Hills
(Detroit) |
48331 |
tajnelson@earthlink.net. 248-489-1505. Vice-President, Fortunate
Families. Member of Always Our Children, a panel of parents and LGBT
children that tell their stories in churches. Involved in PFLAG.
Updated 11-26-08. |
| Father of gay son |
Nelson, Tom |
MI/Farmington Hills
(Detroit) |
48331 |
tajnelson@earthlink.net. 248-489-1505. Fortunate Families board
member. Member of Always Our Children, a panel of parents and LGBT
children that tell their stories in churches. Wrote
“God gave me a
gay son” for Notre Dame Magazine
Involved in PFLAG. Updated 11-26-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Ohmann, Myrna |
MN/Clearwater (St.
Cloud) |
55320 |
rjmmo320@yahoo.com or 320-223-1008 (cell). Fortunate Families board
member. Updated 11-26-08. |
| Father of trans m>f
daughter |
Pickett, Bill |
NY/Rochester
(Rochester) |
14623 |
bill@williampickett.com. 585-442-3866. Advisor to Fortunate Families
and webmaster. Wrote:
“A Parent’s Perspective: Transsexual Identity
and Wholeness” Updated 11-26-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Pluecker, Claire |
MD/Annapolis
(Baltimore) |
21401 |
cpluecker@gmail.com or 410-295-2900 or 240-606-8549 (cell). Has
experience with Catholic LGBT and parents ministry groups. Updated
11-27-08. |
| Father of lesbian
Daughter |
Powers, Jerry |
IL/Harvard (Rockford) |
60033 |
natvproj@owc.net
or 815-943-5504. Active in PFLAG. Spouse is Barbara
Marian. Updated 11-26-08. |
| Father of gay son |
Restaino, Carmen |
NJ/Pequannock
(Paterson) |
07440 |
c_restaino@yahoo.com or 973-633-6720.
Roman Catholic permanent deacon. Updated 03-12-09 |
| Mother of gay son |
Restaino, Cheryl |
NJ/Pequannock
(Paterson) |
07440 |
Carsjm1@yahoo.com or 973-633-6720.
Active in PFLAG. Updated 03-12-09 |
| Mother of gay son |
Rose, Dorene |
TX/Colleyville (Ft.
Worth) |
76034 |
Drose1415@msn.com or 817-329-7370. Member of Ft. Worth Diocese task
force for ministry with GLBT community. Updated 11-7-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Roth, Susie |
HI/Honolulu (Honolulu) |
96186 |
hi2mom@aol.com or 808-735-1631. Has presented educational sessions
on sexual orientation to school faculties and students. Updated
12-31-08. |
| Father of lesbian
daughter |
Staudenmaier, Bill |
WI/Wauwatosa
(Milwaukee) |
53213 |
414-453-8561 or 414-227-1216 between 9 and 2. No email. Updated
1-12-08. |
| Mother of lesbian
daughter |
Staudenmaier, Kathy |
WI/Wauwatosa
(Milwaukee) |
53213 |
414-453-8561. No email. Updated 1-12-08. |
| Father of trans f>m son |
Subkoviak, Mike |
WI/Madison (Madison) |
53705 |
subko@education.wisc.edu 608-833-4249. Retired educational
psychology professor. Updated 5-18-09. |
| Mother of gay son |
Tillinghast, Kathleen |
CA/Eureka (Santa Rosa) |
95501 |
mater@mac.com or 707-442-0443. Updated 11-28-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Weber, Carol |
WI/Hartford (Milwaukee) |
53027 |
cweber@netwurx.net or 262-670-0448. Member of “Gay and Straight in
Christ” parish-based support group. Wrote:
"Acceptance of a gay son." Updated 11-7-08. |
| Father of gay son |
Weber, Fred |
WI/Hartford (Milwaukee) |
53027 |
cweber@netwurx.net or 262-670-0448. Member of “Gay and Straight in
Christ” parish-based support group. Wrote:
"Acceptance of a gay son." Updated 11-7-08. |
| Mother of lesbian
daughter |
Whitehouse, Gladys |
NC/Raleigh (Raleigh) |
27613 |
gladys.whitehouse@stfrancisraleigh.com. Involved with parish-based
support group. Updated 11-26-08. |
| Mother of gay son |
Wilger, Ann |
OH/Dayton (Cincinnati) |
45429 |
annwilger@sbc.global.net or 937-299-0534. Involved in Dignity.
Updated 11-3-08. |
| Mother of lesbian
daughter and gay son |
Willaert, Andrea |
IA/Davenport
(Davenport) |
52807 |
killelea@aol.com
or 563-359-6133. Updated 12-2-08. |
