Archived Headlines/News
DISCLAIMER:
PFLAG Skagit does not promote nor endorse any political campaigns or religious institutions; links are provided for informational purposes only.
Over The Rainbow Festival Article: Skagit Valley Herald
MOUNT VERNON — Sarah Stitch wishes that when she attended high school, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues were talked about in her health class.
The 21-year-old Marysville resident said she didn’t really have anyone to talk to when she realized she wasn’t like her heterosexual classmates. It didn’t feel safe to come out of the closet until she was 18, she said.
“I got dragged into a Gay/Straight Alliance meeting, and that changed my life,” Stitch said.
Stitch was one of about 150 people attending the Over the Rainbow Festival at Mount Vernon High School.
Pride Foundation News:
Back to School
When Ian Feis [right] encountered anti-LGBT sentiments at his high school he could have ignored it. But instead, he and a group of students and teachers got active and started a GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) at Mount Vernon High School. Now, three years later, Ian is a Pride Foundation scholar and getting ready to start his second year at Lewis & Clark College. And the Mount Vernon GSA is strong and active.
Does your, or your kid's, school have an active GSA? If not, check out Pride Foundation grantee GLSEN's Jump Start Guide for GSA's to find out how to start or re-invigorate your GSA.
And for Ian, and all the Pride Foundation current and prospective scholars, we know you are already thinking about how you are going to fund your education. Pride Foundation's scholarship application will be available at PrideFoundation.org in October.
Experts agree on ex-gay "therapy": "Mental health professionals should not tell patients that they can change their sexual orientation"
There is no evidence to support the claims of some practitioners that sexual orientation can be changed through therapy, a special committee of the American Psychological Assn. reported today. Mental health professionals should not tell patients that they can change their sexual orientation and instead should help them "explore possible life paths that address the reality of their sexual orientation," according to the report, which was released at a Toronto meeting of the association and online.
From the American Psychological Association release:
The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution Wednesday stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments.
The "Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts" also advises that parents, guardians, young people and their families avoid sexual orientation treatments that portray homosexuality as a mental illness or developmental disorder and instead seek psychotherapy, social support and educational services "that provide accurate information on sexual orientation and sexuality, increase family and school support and reduce rejection of sexual minority youth."
The approval, by APA's governing Council of Representatives, came at APA's annual convention, during which a task force presented a report that in part examined the efficacy of so-called "reparative therapy," or sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE).
An unnecessary campaign against gay partners: Seattle Times editorial
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2009203965_editb11gay.html
Domestic partnerships are marriage, apply the word: Seattle Times editorial
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2009077225_edita19banns.html
Gay Marriage's Earned Victory - New York Post