About the Abilene Chapter
Marching in the Dallas Pride Parade
In the fall of 2000, a group of concerned parents and other individuals began meeting at a local coffee house in Abilene for support of gay and lesbian issues. Led by Jim and Ann Surles, a couple who helped start a PFLAG chapter in Fort Worthsome 20 years ago, they helped in the formation of what is now known as PFLAG of the Big Country.
From the months of January to May, the newly forming group (which met informally at first) seemed to flounder. But in the latter part of May of 2001, a formal meeting was called as the vision for PFLAG in Abilene was becoming more apparent as a need in the city. This led to the first formal meeting, held at Exodus Metropolitan Community Church.
Out of that first formal meeting, officers were elected to create a board of directors. Elected to lead was the chapter’s first president, Thomas Squiers – a proactive gay rights advocate and leader. For several months, the newly forming group met twice during the month at the Metropolitan Community Church, working on gaining new members and spreading the word of their existence in Abilene and the Big Country.
In June of 2001, the first “Pride And Family Day” picnic was held in Abilene at Will Hair Park, which attracted nearly 100 participants. Of that gathering, it generated several new memberships and attracted several others’ interest.
By the fall of 2001, PFLAG began meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Abilene. The purpose for this move was due to a lack of heterosexual participants in the newly forming group. It was noticeable that very few parents were attending, while other gay and lesbian advocates and GLBT persons were actively participating. One member of the board, who was also a member of Exodus MCC, made the statement that it might be a good idea to move the meetings to a place that is more a neutral grounds.
At the beginning of 2002, the Abilene group began working on becoming established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the IRS, becoming incorporated in the State of Texas, and becoming chartered as a chapter with PFLAG National. All of that took place during 2002. It was a year of making things happen. It was also during that year that PFLAG of Big Country (first called PFLAG Abilene) participated in its first gay pride parade in Dallas.
By the fall of 2002, the chapter was growing and was needing more space that what the Unitarian Fellowship could provide. That is when St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, a welcoming church for the gay and lesbian community, opened their doors to PFLAG.
After the first of 2003, PFLAG of the Big Country received much attention as the local newspaper, the Abilene Reporter-News, featured the chapter on its front page with the headline: “PFLAG Fosters Acceptance.” That article made many others aware of the chapter’s existence in the community. The first meeting of the year (which followed the article’s printing) brought many new members. People came from several miles and from other counties to see what the chapter was about. Some even traveled as far as two hours away to attend the meeting.
From this point forward, PFLAG of the Big Country began its working on support, education and advocacy – helping parents, families and friends to cope with subjects of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Abilene chapter began providing workshops at places of business, churches and worked with school counselors in providing materials on homosexuality, bisexuality and transgerism. One of the most successful workshops, led by Thomas Squiers, was when the local BlueCross and BlueShield offices invited the chapter to come and speak about the chapter and about GLBT rights – a part of the company’s diversity initiative.
Today, PFLAG of the Big Country continues to be a voice of diversity in Abilene and the Big Country. We continue to fight discrimination of our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender loved ones in the work place, in schools, in universities, in places of worship, and in other circuits by providing information and education.
From the months of January to May, the newly forming group (which met informally at first) seemed to flounder. But in the latter part of May of 2001, a formal meeting was called as the vision for PFLAG in Abilene was becoming more apparent as a need in the city. This led to the first formal meeting, held at Exodus Metropolitan Community Church.
Out of that first formal meeting, officers were elected to create a board of directors. Elected to lead was the chapter’s first president, Thomas Squiers – a proactive gay rights advocate and leader. For several months, the newly forming group met twice during the month at the Metropolitan Community Church, working on gaining new members and spreading the word of their existence in Abilene and the Big Country.
In June of 2001, the first “Pride And Family Day” picnic was held in Abilene at Will Hair Park, which attracted nearly 100 participants. Of that gathering, it generated several new memberships and attracted several others’ interest.
By the fall of 2001, PFLAG began meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Abilene. The purpose for this move was due to a lack of heterosexual participants in the newly forming group. It was noticeable that very few parents were attending, while other gay and lesbian advocates and GLBT persons were actively participating. One member of the board, who was also a member of Exodus MCC, made the statement that it might be a good idea to move the meetings to a place that is more a neutral grounds.
At the beginning of 2002, the Abilene group began working on becoming established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the IRS, becoming incorporated in the State of Texas, and becoming chartered as a chapter with PFLAG National. All of that took place during 2002. It was a year of making things happen. It was also during that year that PFLAG of Big Country (first called PFLAG Abilene) participated in its first gay pride parade in Dallas.
By the fall of 2002, the chapter was growing and was needing more space that what the Unitarian Fellowship could provide. That is when St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, a welcoming church for the gay and lesbian community, opened their doors to PFLAG.
After the first of 2003, PFLAG of the Big Country received much attention as the local newspaper, the Abilene Reporter-News, featured the chapter on its front page with the headline: “PFLAG Fosters Acceptance.” That article made many others aware of the chapter’s existence in the community. The first meeting of the year (which followed the article’s printing) brought many new members. People came from several miles and from other counties to see what the chapter was about. Some even traveled as far as two hours away to attend the meeting.
From this point forward, PFLAG of the Big Country began its working on support, education and advocacy – helping parents, families and friends to cope with subjects of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Abilene chapter began providing workshops at places of business, churches and worked with school counselors in providing materials on homosexuality, bisexuality and transgerism. One of the most successful workshops, led by Thomas Squiers, was when the local BlueCross and BlueShield offices invited the chapter to come and speak about the chapter and about GLBT rights – a part of the company’s diversity initiative.
Today, PFLAG of the Big Country continues to be a voice of diversity in Abilene and the Big Country. We continue to fight discrimination of our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender loved ones in the work place, in schools, in universities, in places of worship, and in other circuits by providing information and education.
Tidbits:
- The chapter’s first president, Thomas Squiers, co-founded the PFLAG Texas State Council, which developed in 2002 and still serves as the Council’s webmaster. Today, he is a public figure in the Episcopal Church and lives in Fort Worth with his spouse, Jason Tardiff.
- PFLAG of the Big Country helped start a sister-chapter in San Angelo in 2004.
- PFLAG of the Big Country received The Pioneer Award by PFLAG National in 2003 at a state award ceremony held in Dallas, in which Judy Shepard was the key speaker. The award was received by then president Thomas Squiers.
- PFLAG of the Big Country is listed with the United Way of the Big Country as a respected support network
- PFLAG of the Big Country participates each year with other Texas PFLAG chapters in the annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, held in Dallas.
- In 2006, PFLAG of the Big Country held its first major fund raising event at The 220 Club, in which door prizes and a silent auction took place. To make this all possible, more than 50 local businesses sponsored the event and donated items and services.