Fortunate Families believes that when
parents explore and value their stories, they are empowered to
share that story with their family circle, their faith community
and the larger society. Here are some of their stories.
| Abele, Joan |
Mother of gay son |
Story
of a Listening Parent Article in Fortunate Families
newsletter |
Although she lives in a
religiously conservative community, Joan has some surprisingly
rewarding experiences as the mother of a gay son. She feels privileged
to interact with other parents who are struggling with the official
attitudes of their churches. |
| Balog, Florence |
Mother of lesbian
daughters (twins) |
My twin
lesbian daughters |
Florence expresses
concern that the institutional church judges her twin lesbian
daughters without knowing them, and is grateful that her parish
follows Jesus' message and welcomes everyone. |
| Balog, Steve |
Father of lesbian
daughters (twins) |
The light has been
passed |
After his fearful first
sharing of having twin lesbians daughters with his church
congregation, years later Steve hears of the positive effect it made
with one parishioner. |
| Black, Mary & Jerry |
Parents of lesbian
daughter |
A Letter from Meg |
Description: Meg's
letter, telling her parents she's lesbian, brings grief and
"devastation." But through prayer, education, and PFLAG, Mary &
Jerry have emerged as better persons and now experience joy at
having a lesbian daughter. |
| Black, Mary |
Mother of lesbian
daughter |
Knowing Makes the
Difference Audio file |
Mary tells of her
concern, knowing that her daughter was hurting, but not knowing why.
Once the “secret” is known, with love and support, healing begins for
her, her daughter and the whole family. |
| Buccini, Marianne |
Mother of gay son |
From silence to advocacy – one family’s story An article in Fortunate Families newsletter |
When their son came out to them as a high school student, Marianne and her
husband went “into the closet.” Gradually, their son’s openness about his sexuality
and the advocacy work he engaged in even as a high school and college student
helped the family become more comfortable with his sexual orientation. His
example was the catalyst which helped them come out of the closet and actively
work to help people understand the truth about sexual orientation as well as to
advocate for equal rights for the LGBT community.
|
| Byers, Mary |
Mother of gay sons
(three of them) |
Rainbow
Fish Pin Ministry |
Ministries come in all
shapes and sizes. Mary wears a rainbow fish pin to honor her three
sons, but it also serves as a conversation starter and an
opportunity to impart information. Contact her if you'd like to have
one too. |
| Conneen,
Kathleen |
Mother of a
gay son |
First
Gay Pride Marching Experience Article in Fortunate Families
newsletter |
Despite
their reluctance to “walk the talk,” Kathleen and Drew march in the
Denver Gay Pride Parade with their parish parent support group. To
their amazement their marching group of 30 more than triples as they
pass through the streets of Denver. The support they experienced tide
will bring them back again and again. |
| Dalke,
Terri and Rich |
Straight
Allies to Gay Families |
Blessings
Article in Fortunate Families newsletter |
Because
they have a gay son and are involved in a parish support group for
LGBT people and their families, the Dahlke’s are blessed with a close
relationship with two sets of same gender parents who join their
parish . One of the children shares an insight about gay families and
the family of Jesus that comes from a pure and truthful heart. |
| Franczyk,
Ann and Chet |
Parents of
Gay Son |
Always
Our Children: Hope Among the Mixed Messages Article in Fortunate
Families newsletter |
Though the
institutional church speaks hurtful words about their gay son, Ann and
Chet find unexpected clergy support which helps them establish a
parish support group for LGBT people and their families in their
parish in Springfield, MA. |
| Frett,
Jackie |
Mother of gay son |
Remarkable people, powerful stories
An article in Fortunate Families newsletter. |
In the midst of some difficult setbacks to her parish ministry, Jackie experiences
the power of stories to renew and energize people of faith to become a force for
change in the lives of LGBT people and their families.
|
| Garascia, Beth |
Mother of gay son and lesbian daughter |
Pain and possibility – being a Catholic parent of gay children An article in Fortunate Families newsletter |
As the mother of a gay son and a lesbian daughter, Beth has experienced both grief
and joy in her love for her children. She has also found that letting go of
expectations and listening to others provides a path to mutual love and acceptance, a
path she hopes her Church might follow more closely.
|
| Gonzalez,
Catherine |
Active gay
ally |
Creating Change Through Christ’s
Love |
In a parish session regarding
social justice, Cathy shares her experience of being an active gay
ally and a practicing Catholic
|
| Hand, Doris |
Mother
of gay son |
Dear Bishop |
Doris
writes to a bishop, telling him about her son, and asks how the U.S.
Bishops could write pastoral guidelines for gay people without
consulting any of their parents. |
| Hickey, Jim |
Father of
lesbian daughter |
Sexual Minorities |
In a
presentation, Jim tells how he came to accept his daughter and then
shares some of what he's learned and where he stands now. |
| Hoenigman,
Ed |
Father of
Lesbian Daughter |
Emmaus
Retreat Presentation Article in Fortunate Families
newsletter |
Ed
describes how the fears he felt when his daughter came out as a
lesbian faded as he came to understand that his prayers were answered
in ways he didn’t expect. |
| Kolb, Susan |
Mother of
gay son |
My many
blessings ... |
Susan comes
to learn that having a gay son is another of her many blessings, and
shares her story whenever and wherever she can. |
| Janice |
Mother of
lesbian daughter |
My Daughter,
Christin Audio file |
Janice
describes her daughter’s teenage struggles and her own clashes with an
unsupportive school system and tensions with her church. She finds
strength in her faith in God’s unconditional love for all. |
| Lopata, Casey |
Father of gay son |
Can My Son
be Gay and Catholic? |
Casey describes how he
reconciles his understanding of Church teaching with his son's being
gay. |
Lopata, Mary Ellen |
Mother of gay son |
God's
Love Revealed: Reflections on being a Catholic Mother |
After the initial
confusion, tears, pain, and fear of learning she has a gay son, Mary
Ellen struggles for years before coming to realize how fortunate she
and her family are. |
| Mohring, Mary-Ellen |
Mother of gay son |
A Father’s Day gift---for a mother! Article in Fortunate Families newsletter |
Mary-Ellen is disappointed when fathers of gay and lesbian children are not
recognized as part of the homily on Father’s Day… another chance to validate our
gay kids seemed to be lost. Read how her pastor surprised the
congregation by finding a way to include families with LGBT children even
before the mass was over.
|
| Nelson, Tom |
Father of gay son |
An
Activist? Article in Fortunate Families newsletter |
A father responds to a
message from the cardinal about LGBT issues with a passionate outburst
during Sunday Mass. He credits a push from the Holy Spirit with making
him “an activist.” |
| Nelson, Tom |
Father of gay son |
God Gave
me a Gay Son … and I did not always think it a blessing |
Tom, Notre Dame grad,
writes movingly about his coming to terms with his having a gay son. |
| Nelson, Tom |
Father of gay son |
Father
Knows Best—Eventually Audio file |
A father relates his
own journey from believing that his son could not possibly be gay, to
affirming the goodness of that son, and the blessing his gay son is. |
| Pickett, Bill |
Father of trans m>f |
A Parent's
Perspective: Transsexual Identity and Wholeness |
Bill learns about
gender identity disorder and gender dysphoria, and supports his
daughter (formerly son) and her family through a difficult and
traumatic transition. |
| Restaino, Cheryl |
Mother of gay son |
Being
a Listening Parent Article in Fortunate Families newsletter |
As a “Listening Parent”
Cheryl relates how she has shared the suffering endured by parents as
well as their LGBT children because of some of the Church’s teachings.
As a teacher , Cheryl and her Deacon husband have experienced the joy
of giving comfort and support to other parents with gay children. |
| Szumiloski, Len |
Father of gay son |
Enfolding Gay Son
Elevates Family |
Len's Christmas
experience of family with his gay son and his partner enables him to
understand how they have enhanced his family despite a contrary
message from the church pulpit. |
| Szumiloski, Len |
Father of gay son |
Gay Agenda is Just
Human Agenda |
Len learns from his son
that so-called "gay rights" are not "special rights." |
| Wagner, Rita |
Mother of Lesbian
Daughter |
A
Mother’s Experience Article in Fortunate Families newsletter |
Their daughter’s
feeling of rejection by the Church leads the Wagners to become
activists seeking to make everyone welcome in our Church. |
| Weber, Fred & Carol |
Parents of gay son |
Acceptance of a Gay Son |
Fred and Carol move
from personal acceptance, to public acceptance, to advocacy. They
believe all people, regardless of sexual orientation should be
accepted with dignity and allowed all civil rights. |
| Word, Deb |
Mother of gay son |
A
Place at the Table Article in Fortunate Families newsletter |
At a Bible Study Deb
meets “recovering Catholics” who have become disillusioned with the
Catholic Church. Deb invites them to join her at her Church’s potluck.
The welcome they receive makes them regular visitors at the monthly
event where “all are welcome.” |
| Word, Deb |
Mother of gay son |
Down and Out
Video File requires updated Qucktime viewer.
Click to download the latest version of the free viewer. |
A television reporter interviews Deb Word about the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC) Youth Empowerment Services (YES) program. YES mentors reach out to homeless LGBT youth in the Memphis area. Deb is part of MGLCC's volunteer staff; she and her husband Steve are youth housing providers. Deb is also a Fortunate Families board member. This video first aired on July 14, 2010 on WMC-TV (www.wmctv.org), 1960 Union Avenue, Memphis TN. The reporter is Anna Marie Hartman. The photojournalist/videographer is Mike Hamlet. |
| Word, Deb |
Mother of gay son |
Parent's Journey |
Deb shares her journey
as the parent of a gay son at a November 2008 Diocese of Memphis Day
of Reflection. |
| Word, Deb |
Straight Ally to
Lesbian Woman |
Welcome
to the (Potluck) Banquet Article in Fortunate Families
newsletter |
A woman whose fear has
kept her away from a community where she could acknowledge her own
goodness finds support , friendship, and affirmation when she reaches
out to Deb. Although she never made it to the potluck, she found a
friend who loved and respected her for who she was. |