By Janice Anderson

PFLAG Houston will not hold our general meeting nor small group meetings until after the CDC guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic say it’s safe. Instead of the usual general meeting in April, we will have a podcast interview with our scheduled guest speaker, Lou Weaver.

Lou Weaver is a queer transgender man and a leader in Houston’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. Weaver is a sought-after speaker on transgender topics across Texas. Weaver is an engaging and thoughtful facilitator of tough, personal conversations on sexual and gender minorities.

Weaver will talk about vocabulary surrounding our LGBTQ+ loved ones, inclusive language, and why it matters so much to the ones we love.

Author James Howe writes in the children’s book The Misfits, “Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit.” The middle school main characters are working on a no name-calling campaign, but the sentiment applies to any words we use with our loved ones

When our loved ones come out to us, so many of the mistakes parents make are errors in vocabulary. We want to support our children but then stumble over new vocabulary. We don’t always know words like pansexual or nonbinary until we hear them used by our children, students or loved ones. We do not fully understand how important the right words can be.

Even with the best of intentions, we can throw up walls of misunderstanding when talking to our children. If we use the wrong word in the wrong way. Our children can shut down the conversation with, “You just don’t understand!” And they are often right. But we can learn!

Join us and listen to our podcast posted April 5 on our website, PFLAGHouston.org.

After the pandemic. We will not be holding small group meetings until the danger of COVID-19 has passed. If you have any questions, concerns or want to speak to a parent about your loved one, our Helpline is open: helplinePFLAGhouston@gmail.com or call the PFLAG Helpline at 713-467-3524. When we do reconvene after this crisis is over, we have the following groups to support you:

PFLAG Houston has four other small groups that meet during the month to share support throughout the metro area:

Third Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. Bering United Methodist Church. 1140 Harold Street, Houston, Texas. Use entrance beside the back parking lot.

Fourth Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, Fellowship Hall. 17503 El Camino Real Drive, Clear Lake, Texas.

Fourth Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. First Christian Church, 22101 Morton Ranch Road, Katy, Texas. Enter through front doors.

Last Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 2314 N. Grand Boulevard, Pearland, Texas. Use the Jasmine Street entrance, room B211 in the Bethel Building.

PFLAG Houston is committed to supporting families and educating the public about LGBT issues, and invites all to consider the group’s numerous volunteer opportunities. PFLAG Houston is also passionate about advocacy to ensure equal human rights and end discrimination. PFLAG Houston invites all family members, parents and/or youth who are having problems with coming out issues, and welcomes everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, ethnicity or political persuasion. The group is proud of its rich history and the continued contributions of members and invites all to learn more about the organization and join in efforts to create a more diverse, accepting society. Find a home in PFLAG.

For information about support, upcoming events and meetings, as well as up-to-date news relevant to PFLAG Houston’s family and friends, visit PFLAGHouston.org, email janice_anderson@yahoo.com, or call the PFLAG Helpline at 713-467-3524.