Goderich Signal Star, 2011-12-07, Page 22and lesbian support group
ns chapter In Goderich
Milburn
ig nal -Star
is a new form of support in
I and it's aimed at bringing
resources, experiences and
affirmation for gay, lesbian
gender residents, along with
es and friends.
st-ever Goderich chapter of
agents, Families and Friends of
and Gays) has recently been
• and will host its second sup -
ng at S p.m. on Monday, Dec.
Goderich Library.
re three main kinds of people
• with their sexual or gender
a n, said PFLAG chapter head
oethout. 'The first is people
nding it hard to define their
n, and are needing to tails.. The
• # i = =n hat we call the'living
s, who may have experienced
with harassment, and the third
and friends or anybody who
one in their life who is strug-
ey're the one struggling"
f
G rneedngs, members provide
• d an opportunity to share sto-
ning where their confidential-
ected. PFLAG meetings also
formation to counter myths
• rmatlon about sexual orien-
gender identity. The Huron
th Unit is represents dwithin
through sexual health nurses
• d PFLAG meetings. Zoethout
• up also has the backing of the
my OPP and is registered as
chapter of PFLAG Canada.
t as black and white as gay or
said Zoethout, who has been
arried to her partner for seven
of of people struggle with try -
fine what they feel, and they
• ort:'
t moved to the Goderich area
onths ago. She said soon after
roots, she and her .wife were
hen they began to hear sto-
• uggestin a lesbian had been
in a local establishment and
ad been done about it,
ght, 'is that really going on in
• more people we talked to, the
• ecame apparent that there
he a support system."
ut says the Health Unit offers
ounseling services through
eetings, and the North Street
hurch has agreed to provide
weLl.
e people struggling with a gay
family member, It boils down
ke religion, and they say things
OesiliqesM wn Goderich Silpnel-gar
Jennifer Zoethout Goderich RAG chapter
like, '1 never thought my child would
grow up to be like this,"' Zoethout said.
My parents had a real issue when 1 came
out. They're a big farm family, and they
couldn't understand it - to make a baby
cow you need a boy cow and a girl cow ...
1 could see how much trouble they went
through, and 1 think in rural areas par-
ents don't like to talk about it"
The inaugural PFLAG meet was hosted
at the library on November 21. Zoethout
said about 15 people came out to the
meet, and represented a "good mix* of
different kinds of atendees.
"Because this is a new thing, we're still
trying to figure out what the area needs
and what we can do for Huron County."
"There's an encompassing web of help
here for people.'
You can ptarn more about the
Goderich PFLAG chapter by logging onto
their Facebook page, or by visiting the
national organization web site at www.
pflagcanada,com.
Zoethout added while Goderich
PFLAG works to find its legs, she hopes
to see the group grow.
"There are tones of [gay and leabianj
people in the area. There's a statistic that
says one in 10 teens are homosexual, but
1 think it's probably more like one in
seven. Teens are really flying under the
radar ... Sexuality is a fluid thing, and it
changes,"
.
Wednesda , December 7, 2011 • Si s nal -Star 21
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