There is a great organization called Parents And Friends of Gays And Lesbians (PFLAG) which specializes in counseling families with gay children (and helping gay children with less-than accepting families. They run support groups that address the “let’s read this book” and “let’s see this movie together” and “can we just talk about it, please”.
I am proud to say that the mother of DR Jay and myself was a charter member of the South Orange (CA) chapter of PFLAG, and was its treasurer from its inception until very recently. It's a terrific organization.
There's a funny story that goes with this.....
As one of the PFLAG fundraisers, they were selling those plastic rainbow mobiles (the ones where the plastic is translucent, concentric ovals). Nice idea, but not necessarily everyone's taste. Not mine, and not my dear partner's.
Just before we were moving up to Rochester, we had some dear friends over for dinner, in the midst of boxes and piles of things to throw out. (I felt a bit guilty about throwing out something my mother gave me...) My friend Larry, who has known my mother for many years, and who exchanges holiday cards with her, happened to notice said mobile. I told him I plum forgot that my mother sent one for their house upstate.
"Oh, how sweet....blah blah blah..."
And we go on to chat about other things and whatnot....
As they were about to leave, Larry mentioned that he would dash a thank you note to my mother later that week......
PLEASE DON'T!, I practically scream.
"Why not?"
(Said sheepishly....) "'cause she didn't really send it for you, and we just can't throw out something that was for a good cause....but it's hideous and we don't want it, but have a problem throwing it out....."
"It IS hideous, isn't it?"
PS, we tossed it down the incinerator when we walked them to the elevator.
PPS: Jay, please don't tell mom......
