First Christian Church-Vallejo will present on Saturday March 28th at 2:00 pm, the viewing of "Anyone and Everyone" a documentary about young adults coming out to their families. This is a moving documentary regarding a sensitive family and religious subject, and the struggles families face when a son or daughter asks their parents, "have you ever wondered if I might be gay"? The documentary examines the fear, and the love as the family unit hangs in the balance.
The video is an hour long and will be followed by a half hour panelist discussion. The panelists will consist of compassionate professional psychologists and religious leaders who are committed to being supportive of LGBT people and parents of LGBT children.
The parents in the documentary also talk about struggling with the pain of their sons and daughters dealing with not being accepted by relatives or friends, and being ostracized by religious congregations.
"It was so evil and so bad that we almost couldn’t talk about it... You just had the idea it was so terrible that it was unspeakable," said a Mormon mother in the film.
"Having heard all these awful things and what homosexuality was and then having a member of your family, a person that you have seen, a child that you have seen since the child was born, a person that was absolutely wholesome, good, kind, gentle and that put together with the word lesbian didn’t add up," said a Hispanic mother.
This film is especially important since up to 26% of gay teens who come out to their parents or guardians are told they must leave home. Of the approximately 1.6 million homeless American youth, 20-40% identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Nearly 40% of LGBT (GLBT) students report being physically harassed. In a 2001Department of Health study of youth in Massachusetts, about 40 percent of gay and lesbian students attempted suicide, compared to about 10 percent of their heterosexual peers.
The film also depicts meetings of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) where people get support and help.
The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ in Vallejo offer themselves as safe haven for people who are struggling with their identity and purpose in life. One can not truly know oneself until you are honest with yourself.
John Grose, Moderator, First Christian Church
If you wish to attend, please call the churches phone number and let us know how many are coming.