PFLAG Washburn celebrates fifteen years
PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay celebrated their 15th Anniversary on April 18, 2024!
PFLAG unites people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) with families, friends, and allies. Over 65 people attended the 15th Anniversary celebration on April 18. It was the first event held in the new resource center and gathering space at 522 Chapple Avenue in Ashland.
Founding PFLAG Washburn members (left to right) Sandy Olson, John Higney, Gina Emily, Dick Olson.
Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center provided refreshments and mental health information for the party. Many continued the celebration by attending the movie Prayers for Bobby at Ashland’s Bay Theatre.
Because of a generous grant from Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center, FREE copies of The Little Book of Love from the Chequamegon Bay and The Divine Spark, Second Edition were given away to attendees.
FREE copies of The Little Book of Love from the Chequamegon Bay and The Divine Spark, Second Edition made available to attendees.
"We were humbled to receive $10,000 from the local group 100 Who Care. Because of their amazing vote of support, we are now able to provide a safe LGBTQ+ gathering space at 522 Chapple Avenue. With generous grants from The Apostle Islands Chequamegon Bay Community Foundation and the Washburn Community Education Foundation, we have been able to equip our space with resources, furnishings and technology equipment." said Nancy Hanson, PFLAG Washburn Chapter founder.
PFLAG Washburn’s next events will be taking place at the 522 Chapple Avenue LGBTQ Resource Center Thursday evenings in May from 6:30-8:30 pm:
May 2- Open Mic, come and share your talent!
May 16-Board Game Night, come and have fun!
May 23-Planning for Pride, Join PRIDE organizers Billy & Sarah
May 30-Jam Session, come and bring your instrument!
Kristina St. Arnold (left) and Danielle Nepstad (right) won awards for their volunteer efforts to support, educate and advocate for those in the LGBTQ community.
Left to Right - Kate Stolp (PFLAG’s volunteer executive director from 2021-2023), Mark Ricker (PFLAG Washburn President), Nancy Hanson (PFLAG Washburn Founder & Board Member)
A Brief History of PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay
On February 6, 2009, a group of Chequamegon Bay area people gathered to decide if they should start a Lutherans Concerned chapter at Messiah Lutheran Church in Washburn. Lutherans Concerned (now called Reconciling Works) is a national, non-profit organization committed to accompanying people and ministry settings in their journey of supporting LGBTQIA+ people. Ardys Davis, Yvette Fleming, Dianne Judd, Carri Hoagland, Nancy Hanson, Bill Luckenbill, Dick and Sandy Olson, Lois Osterberg, Don and Audrey Swedberg met at John and Cathy Odell’s home.
Kathy Shattuck from Trego, WI also attended these meetings as the Lutherans Concerned representative. Kathy suggested the group consider starting a PFLAG chapter rather than a Lutherans Concerned group. As much as she believed in Lutherans Concerned, Kathy heard the group’s goal of “outreach to LGBTQ people and loved ones.” Since churches were not yet places of 100% LGBTQ support, a non-church presence might attract more people. So, this group decided to start a local PFLAG chapter. The acronym PFLAG originally stood for Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Now PFLAG supports all within the LGBTQ spectrum. Kathy Shattuck attended the April 18, 2024 event. “Knowing that there was and still is church hate out there, I recommended this group of passionate family members and friends start a PFLAG group.”
PFLAG Washburn’s first meeting was April 29, 2009. The movie Prayers for Bobby was shown at the Washburn library. Nineteen people attended. Pastor Jim Imse from Mellen attended this and almost every monthly meeting until his untimely death in 2014. Jim was known for bringing fresh flowers and known for saying, “I’m a pastor, and on behalf of all of you who have been hurt by religious messages, I apologize."