Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc. et al v. Camdenton R-III School District et al

Filing 9

SUGGESTIONS in support re 6 MOTION for preliminary injunction filed by Ann Elizabeth Blackwell on behalf of Plaintiffs Campus Pride, Inc., Dignity, Inc., Matthew Shepard Foundation, Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit A-1, # 3 Exhibit A-2, # 4 Exhibit A-3, # 5 Exhibit A-4, # 6 Exhibit A-5, # 7 Exhibit B, # 8 Exhibit C, # 9 Exhibit D, # 10 Exhibit E, # 11 Exhibit F)(Related document(s) 6 ) (Blackwell, Ann)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
CENTRAL DIVISION
______________________________________________
)
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc., )
et al.
)
)
Plaintiffs
)
) Case No. 2:11-cv-04212
v.
)
)
Camdenton R-III School District, et al.
)
)
)
Defendants
)
______________________________________________ )
DECLARATION OF JODY M. HUCKABY
IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION
FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, Jody M. Huckaby hereby declares as follows:
1.

I am the Executive Director of the national organization for Plaintiff Parents,

Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc. (“PFLAG”), am competent to testify and have
personal knowledge of the matters in this Declaration.
2.

I make this Declaration in support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary

Injunction.
3.

PFLAG is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of California. Its

business address is 1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 660, Washington, D.C., 20036.
4.

PFLAG’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of lesbian,

gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) persons, their families and friends through: support, to
cope with an adverse society; education, to inform the public; and advocacy, to end
discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about

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sexual orientation and gender identity and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of
human diversity.
5.

PFLAG is the nation’s foremost family-based organization committed to the civil

rights of LGBT people. Founded in 1973 by mothers and fathers, PFLAG has 200,000 members
and supporters in more than 350 chapters throughout the United States, including seven chapters
and approximately 1,669 members in Missouri. PFLAG’s Missouri chapters include PFLAG
Columbia/Mid-Missouri, PFLAG Kansas City, PFLAG Kirksville/NE Missouri, PFLAG Mineral
Area, PFLAG Springfield, PFLAG St. Charles, and PFLAG St. Louis.
6.

PFLAG maintains a website at www.pflag.org that provides information about

PFLAG chapters and resources, provides links for LGBT persons and for families and friends of
LGBT persons, and offers advice aimed at keeping families together. PFLAG’s website does
not contain pornography or sexually explicit content.
7.

A number of PFLAG’s local chapters and affiliates maintain websites, including

pflag-austin.org, pflag-eastbay.org, pflag-nb.org, pflag-palatine.org, pflag-phoenix.org, pflag.ca,
pflag.communitypoint.org, pflag.org, pflag.org.au, pflag.us, pflagaa.org, pflagaustralia.org.au,
pflagboulder.org, pflagcanada.ca, pflagcd.tripod.com, pflagcolumbiasc.org, pflagdayton.org,
pflagdc.org, pflagdenton.org, pflagdetroit.org, pflagdownriver.org, pflagftc.org, pflaghilo.org,
pflaghouston.org, pflagjtown.org, pflagkc.org, pflagla.org, pflaglubbock.org,
pflagoahu.blogspot.com, pflagpensacola.org, pflagphila.org, pflagphoenix.org, pflagsanjose.org,
pflagshreveport.org, pflagsouthoc.org, pflagtucson.org, and pflagtulsa.org.
8.

PFLAG envisions a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse

sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity and equality for all will we
reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. Unfortunately, far too

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many families struggle with accepting their LGBT children, compounding the isolation, stigma
and discrimination these young LGBT people endure.
9.

To more fully support these youth, PFLAG communicates through a variety of

resources, many of which are made available online. For young people struggling to find
support, our website offers “Coming Out Help for Families and Friends”
(http://community.pflag.org/page.aspx?pid=539), which helps young people locate supportive
resources and guidance on how to talk to a family member about their sexual orientation and/or
gender identity. These resources include:


Finding a PFLAG chapter. PFLAG chapters exist in every state.



The PFLAG Family Story Center. Stories from real PFLAG families
providing a better understanding about the coming out process and how
PFLAG can help.



Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About LGBT People. General
answers to many common questions about LGBT communities.



Terminology. General dictionary of terms and facts.



Our Daughters and Sons: Questions and Answers for Parents of Gay,
Lesbian and Bisexual People. One of our most popular publications, this
is a "must read" for parents and children working to form new and honest
relationships after a child comes out. This booklet answers several
commonly-asked questions about having a gay child and includes a list of
related resources.



Welcoming Our Trans Family and Friends. Another popular publication
that provides transgender children and their parents resources to help forge
stronger familial relationships after a transgender child comes out.



PFLAG’s Diversity Network. Resource identifying the unique challenges
experienced by families of color when a loved one comes out. It provides
community-appropriate resources as well as PFLAG information in other
languages.

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


Straight for Equality. Resource for allies of LGBT individuals who do not
have a friend or family member who is LGBT.



Tips for the holidays. Guidance on how to respond to LGBT issues that
may arise during family visits at home.



10.

Dos and Don’ts for Families and Friends. Guidance for family members
and allies after a loved one or friend comes out to them.

Gender Spectrum. Creating a gender sensitive and inclusive environment
for all children and teens through education, training and support.

Because of the high costs of printing and mailing, all of PFLAG’s top

publications are made available online for no cost.
11.

In addition to these resources, PFLAG’s website also provides information to

LGBT students on how they can claim their federal civil rights if they have experienced bullying,
harassment and/or discrimination by filing a claim with the U.S. Department of Education’s
Office for Civil Rights. This resource is available at www.pflag.org/claimyourrights. PFLAG
also offers ways that school community members can take action to build safer schools.
Resources related to safe schools advocacy are found at
http://community.pflag.org/page.aspx?pid=1011.
12.

PFLAG National is charged with cultivating, resourcing and serving over 350

chapters. One of the primary ways the organization equips these chapters to more fully support,
educate and advocate on behalf of LGBT communities, including LGBT students, is by sharing
helpful resources and guidance on our website. If, for example, a young student does not have
access to a Gay-Straight Alliance or an LGBT youth center or program, one common place they
search for supportive resources is by visiting our website. The coming-out guidance and safer
schools resources we provide have offered enormous support to LGBT young people nationwide.

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13.

On a national level, PFLAG’s website had 423,546 visits and 1,561,610 page

views over the past year. In Missouri, it had approximately 4,584 visits with about 19,236 page
views for an average of 382 visitors viewing 1,623 pages per month.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on August _15_, 2011

________________________
Jody M. Huckaby

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