Williamson County starts official PFLAG chapter

Coming out can be a difficult process. Anyone who has had to come out to their loved ones knows there can be sleepless nights agonizing over how people will react, tough decisions about who to come out to first and the overwhelming fear of rejection.

While it is a monumental task for the person coming out, it can also be a trying time for the parents, friends and loved ones who must sort through their feelings and come to terms with the coming out process on an entirely different scale.

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays, known nationally as PFLAG, has a long standing tradition of being a resource for the friends and family members seeking information about our country’s diverse sexual population.

According to their website, PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.
When her son came out over five years ago, Sharon Collins would drive from Franklin, Tenn., into Nashville to attend PFLAG meetings. Collins and her husband found the organization very helpful but over time the late night winter drives became hard. This spurred Collins to begin investigating how to start a chapter closer to home.

“I had been retired and thinking about doing something for people other than myself,” Collins said. “But Williamson County is a pretty conservative, southern suburb … not a progressive area, but the more I thought about it, I thought [Williamson County] really needed a chapter.”

Last year, Collins began working closely with the Nashville chapter and this past month Collins and the Williamson County chapter celebrated their one-year anniversary of hosting PFLAG meetings in downtown Franklin.

But there’s still much work to do. “Children are coming out in middle school and middle school is a difficult time for anyone,” Collins said. “There are about 18,000 children the public schools of Williamson County and if you estimate that five percent of the population is GLBT then that means there are nearly 2,000 children struggling with their sexual identities ... and that means thousands of more parents.”

While Collins recognizes fear can be a driving force in accepting a GLBT family member, Collins hopes that her experience and others like her can help communities overcome the fear. “Not only do we provide a judgment-free space for family and friends to speak but we also have speakers who are members of the GLBT community so that parents can see that it does get better … because it does.”

Collins and the Williamson County chapter meet the second Monday of every month at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Franklin from 7-8:30 p.m. Collins urges parents, friends and family members who are looking for resources to realize that there is one in their own backyard.

For more information on PFLAG-Franklin contact via email pflagfranklin@gmail.com or by phone (615) 591-5324.
 

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less