PFLAG Waterville

PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Our mission is to build on a foundation of loving families united with LGBTQ people and allies who support one another, and to educate ourselves and our communities to speak up as advocates until all hearts and minds respect, value and affirm LGBTQ people.

Uniting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) with families, PFLAG Waterville, a chapter of PFLAG National, meets at 5:30pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.  All those interested in promoting the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons are invited to attend.  Priorities of the meetings are maintaining confidentiality and providing support (e.g., learning of specific support groups, learning how to help/support children who have self-identified).  If there is remaining time, other topics (e.g., planning events) are discussed.

Due to COVID-19, we currently hold virtual meetings.  When Pleasant Street Methodist Church reopens to outside groups, meetings will return to 61 Pleasant St., Waterville.  At that time, we hope to have a hybrid meeting with people being able to be physically in attendance and others participating via ZOOM.

Email watervillepflag@gmail.com or call (207) 872-7564 to:

  • receive a ZOOM meeting invite
  • ask a question
  • obtain a membership form

Go to Facebook at PFLAG Waterville for meeting updates and weather cancellations, special events and more.

Events

PFLAG Waterville organizes and co-organizes presentations with local churches and the Allied Youth Theatre.  These public events have included:

  • Wayne Maines, author of Becoming Nicole, speaking about his experiences having a transgender daughter
  • Gender Revolution video screening with follow-up discussion,
  • The Year We Thought About Love, Allied Youth Theatre
  • annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, including the 2020 virtual TDOR memorial
  • Suicide Awareness Prevention workshop (focusing on LGBTQ+)
  • Portland PRIDE parade participation
  • Waterville June PRIDE Days, promoting chapter and distributing material
  • Book discussions with authors

HOW TO BECOME INVOLVED

Chapter Events

  • Screening films and facilitating discussions
  • Presenting panels of speakers on relevant topics
  • Hosting social events
  • Sharing your ideas

Organizational Support

  • Developing ideas and panning events
  • Networking with other PFLAG chapters
  • Serving as liaisons with other organizations
  • Leveraging Social Media
  • Sharing your ideas

Promotional Support

  • Talking to individuals
  • Speaking to groups
  • Designing Ads
  • Writing articles
  • Distributing brochures
  • Sharing your ideas

PFLAG WATERVILLE’S HISTORY

Charlie Kelly has  a keen interest in people and institutions being more inclusive of LGBTQ+ persons. The 30-year relationship he and his late wife Carol enjoyed with their gay daughter and her partner explains the desire to offer comfort, support and knowledge to parents and friends who want to understand homosexuality in order to protect and strengthen their relationships. Familiar with the PFLAG mission, Charlie decided to pursue the creation of a PFLAG chapter for this area.

In 2010, Charlie “dream caught” with REM’s “Dream Catcher,” Faye Nicholson, and PFLAG Waterville became a REM Community Initiative. Other individuals, including Sharon Saunders, Mack and Celia Williams, and Danielle Bartz began meeting with Charlie and Carol.  After five years of developing a local PFLAG chapter, the group officially incorporated in Maine in 2015.

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