2013 -- H 6215

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LC02657

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING MYRA SHAYS’ FIFTEEN YEARS OF SERVICE, DEDICATION, AND

LEADERSHIP TO THE GREATER PROVIDENCE CHAPTER OF PFLAG

     Introduced By: Representatives Ajello, Ruggiero, Shekarchi, Cimini, and Handy

     Date Introduced: June 06, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Myra Shays has dedicated the past fifteen years working tirelessly as

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founder and past-President of the Greater Providence Chapter of the Parents, Friends & Families

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of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); and 

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     WHEREAS, PFLAG is a grassroots, family-based support organization started in 1973

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by a couple "who could no longer tolerate the bigotry and hatred suffered by their child and

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millions of others"; and

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     WHEREAS, Four decades later, PFLAG has expanded to over 350 chapters located in

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the United States and eleven other countries and is comprised of about 200,000 people; and

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     WHEREAS, While living in New York City, Myra Shays became a member of the New

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York chapter of PFLAG when one of her daughters told her she was gay.  The organization

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brought Myra acceptance and understanding and the "urgency of the PFLAG mission" impelled

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her to become more involved.  She served on the New York Chapter's Board and also marched in

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the five-mile-long Gay Pride Parade every year; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1994, Myra moved to Rhode Island to be near her grandchildren and

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daughter and found there was no Providence chapter. Since PFLAG is a grassroots organization,

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in 1998, she founded the Greater Providence Chapter; and

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     WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, the organization blossomed with many members

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contributing their talents, creating a website, brochure, mailing lists, and book lists, as well as

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forming and joining the organization's Board of Directors. Myra led the monthly support group

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meetings and provided support to parents and families on a one-to-one basis by phone, email, or

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in person; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, Myra testified at the State House for Marriage Equality

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numerous times, marched in Gay Pride parades in Providence, and staffed a PFLAG booth every

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year at the Gay Pride Festival.  She responds to requests from schools for presentations to

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students and writes for the chapter newsletter, speaks on radio and TV, and has published

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numerous Op-Eds and letters to editors; and

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     WHEREAS, It is said that if you want something to get done, ask a busy person, and that

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person would surely be Myra Shays.  In addition to her work with PFLAG, she volunteers as a

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writer, proofreader, and Resources editor at the Options LGBT News magazine, was a responder

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on the LGBT Helpline, and has been a volunteer judge for the Academic Decathlon.  She is active

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in the Jewish Seniors Agency, visiting residents in nursing homes, is co-manager of the library in

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her synagogue, where the weekly Bible study is a highlight of her week, and has served as

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publicity chair for the RI chapter of Hadassah; and

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     WHEREAS, Over the years, the Providence Chapter of PFLAG has been a life-line to

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hundreds of parents and families, guiding them though the journey to understand the sexual

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orientation of their LGBT children.  The organization's and Myra's philosophy on life should well

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be the mantra for all families and people around the world: simply to love and accept one another;

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now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby honors and thanks Myra Shays for fifteen years of dedicated

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service to the Greater Providence Chapter of PFLAG and to decades of devotion to the betterment

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of our world; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Myra Shays.

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LC02657

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