"Listening Parents" are Catholic parents of a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender daughter or son who have graciously volunteered to listen to and share their personal experience with other parents. While the Listening Parents do not act as representatives of Fortunate Families, we know them as loving parents. If you contact a Listening Parent by e-mail, please be sure to put "Listening Parents" or "Fortunate Families" on the subject line, as unidentified e-mails may be discarded as junk mail. We welcome any feedback you care to provide on your experience of contacting a Listening Parent.

Download Listening Parents brochure.              Download Listening Parents flyer.

All viewers are invited to download, print, and display the brochure or the flyer wherever it will reach people who may need it -- with permission from whoever has responsibility for the display area. Having copies available for people to take would be even better! We appreciate whatever you can do to get the word out about the Listening Parents Network.

Click the column header to sort by ,State/City, ZIP, Kinship, or Name

STATE/CITY(Diocese where reside)

ZIP KINSHIP NAME CONTACT AND OTHER INFORMATION
CA/Diamond Bar (Los Angeles) 91765 Mother of gay son Naughton, Jenny jnaughton04@gmail.com or 909-896-8362. Involved in “Always Our Children” parish-based support group for parents of gay and lesbian Catholics.
CA/Fullerton (Orange) 92831 Mother of gay son Hand, Doris storyhand@sbcglobal.net or 714-871-4815. Member of Koinonia, diocesan ministry to the Catholic gay community. Member of PFLAG Speakers Bureau. Wrote “What keeps you in the Church?”
CA/Moreno Valley (San Bernardino) 92553 Mother of gay son Madrid, Bette damionsmom@msn.com or 951-653-9713. Masters in marriage and family therapy. Member of Bishop’s Commission on Ministry to Families of Gay and Lesbian Catholics, and facilitator of parents support group.
CA/Palo Alto (San Jose) 94303 Mother of lesbian daughter Idzik, Ann idzika@gmail.com of 650-493-7350. Retired educator.
CA/Pleasanton (Oakland) 94566 Father of lesbian daughter Harmuth, Michael pflagdad_98@yahoo.com or 925-426-8848. Fortunate Families board member. President and office director of Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministry (CALGM). Diocesan ministry  and PFLAG experience.
CA/Rocklin (Sacramento) 95677 Mother of gay son Kolb, Susan susanmarie_kolb@yahoo.com or 916-425-0013.  Active in PFLAG. Wrote “My many blessings …”
CA/Sacramento (Sacramento) 95816 Mother of lesbian daughters Skonieczny, Kay kays@stfrancisparish.com or 916-443-8084 x111. Has two lesbian daughters. Parish pastoral minister. Wrote “Grace and gratitude abound where love and forgiveness live.”
CA/San Jose (San Jose) 95122 Parents of gay son Johnson, Helen & Ted tjhj12@sbcglobal.net or 408-210-5518 (Ted) or 408-258-8416 (Helen). Involved in diocesan ministry. PFLAG experience. Helen has HIV/AIDS caregiver experience.
CA/Santa Barbara (Los Angeles) 93105 Parents of lesbian daughter Schneider. Joe & Kathie autohaus@silcom.com or 805-687-4338. Leaders of support group for Catholic parents of LGBT persons.
Canada/BC/Vancouver (Vancouver) V3M 1X5 Mother of gay son Murray, Marnie marvmarn@hotmail.com or 604-525-5123. Teacher.
Canada/ON/Ajax (Toronto) L1T 3K5 Parents of gay son & lesbian daughter Hyland, Mike & Mary mikehyland@rogers.com or 905-686-7106. Mike is parish RCIA coordinator. Mary is step-mother.
Canada/ON/Camlachie (London) N0N 1E0 Parents of gay son Payne, John & Gerry 519-869-4331. Part of parish discussion group.
Canada/ON/Kitchener (Hamilton) N2B 3H1 Parents of gay son Beck, Nick & Sylvia nbeck@sympatico.ca or 519-576-6837. Experienced with temporary care and shelter for homeless gay and lesbian youth. Speak Hungarian.
Canada/ON/Sarnia (London) N7T 7H6 Mother of gay son Nichols, Marianne mariannenich@gmail.com or 519-869-4024 or Skype (marianne.nichols). Only reachable by email until after August 2. 2010. Teacher. PFLAG experience.
CO/Lakewood (Denver) 80232 Mother of trans m>f daughter Gallagher, Eleanor egallagher8@gmail.com or 303-986-7510.
CO/Thornton (Denver) 80035 Father of lesbian daughter McDonough, Robert morejam@myway.com or 303-920-4144. Co-founder of group working with LGBT community and parents to make parish more welcoming.
CT/Middlebury (Hartford) 06762 Mother of lesbian daughter Levine, Marian marianlevine@gmail.com or 602-571-8362. Former teacher, hospice volunteer, PFLAG experience.
CT/Milford (Hartford) 06460 Mother of gay son Mohring, Mary-Ellen maryellenmohring@yahoo.com or 203-874-7365. Involved in local PFLAG chapters. Wrote: “A Father’s Day Gift for a Mother.”
FL/Ft. Myers (Venice) 33912 Mother of gay son Mattras, Paula paulaczech@comcast.net or 239-561-5720 (email checked when traveling). Facilitation experience with parish support group for families of LGBT persons. PFLAG experience. Speaks Czech.
FL/Miami (Miami) 33015 Mother of gay son del Cristo, Rebeca rebecadelcristo@hotmail.com or 305-829-9019 (h) or 305-318-2022 (cell). Fortunate Families board member.  Spanish-speaking. Teacher and Gay-Straight-Alliance club sponsor. PFLAG experience. Spiritual companion.
FL/Palm Coast (St. Augustine) 32137 Parents of gay son Jacobs, Karyn & Jim letgoe2@aol.com (Karyn) or letgoa52@aol.com (Jim) or 386-503-1710 (Karyn) or 386-793-7595 (Jim). 12-step support group experience.
GA/Lilburn (Atlanta) 30047 Mother of gay son Farrell, Kathy kfarrell4@att.net or 770-564-0532. Certificate in Spiritual Formation from Columbia Seminary. Listed in “Friends for the Journey: Spiritual Directors of Middle and North Georgia.”
HI/Honolulu (Honolulu) 96186 Mother of gay son Roth, Susie hi2mom@aol.com or 808-735-1631. Has presented educational sessions on sexual orientation to school faculties, students, and parishes. Advocated at state capitol.
IA/Davenport (Davenport) 52807 Mother of lesbian daughter & gay son Willaert, Andrea killelea@aol.com or 563-359-6133. Masters in Pastoral Studies with an integrated project/thesis on Homosexuality and Catholic Church Teaching. Spiritual Director.
IA/Des Moines (Des Moines) 50315 Parents of gay son Mc Coy, Mary Ann & Bill mary_ann50@gmail.com or 512-288-2605. Mary Ann is former director of religious education.
ID/Boise (Boise) 83702 Parents of gay son Curtis, Don & Susan opadlc@cableone.net or 208-344-3434. Both retired and active in Human Rights organizations. Susan is an RN. Volunteer parish ministers.
ID/Boise (Boise) 83706 Mother of gay son & lesbian daughter Austin-Calkins, Genie genieac@hotmail.com or 208-331-7941.
IL/Byron (Rockford) 61010 Mother of gay son Black, Patricia Trish.black@hotmail.com or 815-234-4615.
IL/Chicago (Chicago) 60626 Parents of lesbian daughter Bowers, Mary Jo & Norm mjb@maryjobowers.com or 773-274-1981. Parish ministers. Mary Jo is a social worker. Norm is a psychologist.
IL/Clarendon Hills (Joliet) 60514 Parents of gay son Frett, Dan & Jackie D_frett@hotmail.com or jackiekf@aol.com or 630-920-1444. PFLAG and parish ministry experience. Jackie wrote: “Let Me Sow Love”; “Always Our Children: Accepting God’s Plan and the Church’s Ministry”; "Finding our place”; “Always Our Children: Bulletin insert from Notre Dame Parish”; “This won’t happen again!”; “Remarkable people, powerful stories”
IL/Harvard (Rockford) 60033 Parents of lesbian daughter Marian, Barbara & Powers, Jerry natvproj@owc.net or 815-943-5504. Active in PFLAG.
IL/McHenry (Rockford) 60050 Mother of gay son Weaver, Toni twweaver@earthlink.net or 815-385-9068. MA in theology. PFLAG leader experience. Wrote: “Dear (Boulder) Pastor”.
IN/South Bend (Ft. Wayne-South Bend) 46614 Parents of gay son & lesbian daughter Garascia, Beth & Tony agarascia@sbcglobal.net (Tony) or bgarascia@sbcglobal.net (Beth) or 574-287-0904. Tony worked for the RC Church in different capacities for 29 years and is now a counselor. Beth is chair of a GLBT issue team for the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative. Both have PFLAG experience. Beth wrote: “Pain and possibility: Being a Catholic parent of gay and lesbian children”; “A place at the Marianist table 2010”
IN/South Bend (Ft. Wayne-South Bend) 46637 Parents of gay son Mascotte, Hank & Nancy mascotte@comcast.net or 574-277-2684. Hank has a lesbian sister. Nancy was a therapist at Saint Mary's College and Notre Dame, and Hank was a Catholic priest. Both facilitate the local PFLAG chapter and are members of the Marianist GLBT outreach team.
MA/Arlington, (Boston) 02476 Mother of gay son Kean, Patty pkean@curry.edu. Educational therapist working with students in higher education. Wrote “An insight into the Blessed Mother”
MA/Needham (Boston) 02492 Parents of gay son Geishecker, Brenda & Jack krewgle@gmail.com or 781-444-4884. Wrote 2008 open letter to U.S. bishops (and collected other signatures) protesting USCCB and K of C financial support for California Proposition 8.
MA/Quincy (Boston) 02169 Parents of trans f>m son Garber, Ken & Marcia mag1022rn@comcast.net or 617-472-5189. Marcia is RN. Dignity Boston members, with PFLAG experience. Both involved in trans-activism.
MA/W. Springfield (Springfield) 01089 Parents of gay son Franczyk, Ann & Chet annrun76@aol.com (Ann) or chesterff@aol.com (Chet). 413-736-6803. Co-founders of Always Our Children in W. Springfield, MA. Ann is a Fortunate Families board member, and a nurse practitioner. Chet is a pediatrician. They wrote: “Always Our Children: Hope amongst the mixed messages”. Ann wrote: “Educating Educators”.
MA/Westborough (Worcester) 01581 Mother of lesbian daughter Malone, Sue mathafter@yahoo.com or 508-366-2050 or 508-330-4558 (cell).
MA/Westborough (Worcester) 01581 Mother of lesbian daughter McCann, Suzanne 508-366-8727 or mccann.sue@gmail.com (checks weekly).
MD/Annapolis (Baltimore) 21401 Mother of gay son Pluecker, Claire cpluecker@gmail.com or 410-295-2900 or 240-606-8549 (cell). Has experience with Catholic LGBT and parents ministry groups.
MD/Cambridge (Wilmington) 21613 Parents of gay son Nugent, Jenny & Pat jennynuge@msn.com or 410-228-8382. Both active with parish social justice committee, parish council and RCIA.  Wrote: “Dear Bishop Malooly”
MD/Gaithersburg (Washington) 20878 Parents of gay son Brady, Robert & Sharon r.f.b@rcn.com or 301-840-9496. Active in parish-based “Catholic Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons”. Bob has an MA in spirituality and pastoral care, and is a Stephen Ministry leader.
MD/Glen Arm (Baltimore) 21057 Mother of gay son Durkin, Erma ermdu@comcast.net or 410-592-8453. Many years in Catholic religious education. Active in parish ministry and PFLAG.
MD/Lutherville (Baltimore) 21093 Mother of gay son Hillis, Susan susanehillis@yahoo.com or 410-252-3484. PFLAG experience.
MI/Beverly Hills (Detroit) 48025 Parents of lesbian daughter Black, Jerry & Mary sgbgolfer@aol.com or 248-644-4479. Members of Always Our Children, a panel of parents and LGBT children that tell their stories in churches. Active in PFLAG. Mary wrote “A Letter from Meg” and narrated “Knowing Makes the Difference” (an audio file).
MI/Detroit (Detroit) 48223 Mother of lesbian daughter & gay son Anderson, Artemae jerryartemae@hotmail.com or 313-836-2389. Commissioned spiritual director.
MI/Farmington Hills (Detroit) 48331 Parents of gay sons Nelson, Linda Karle & Tom tajnelson@earthlink.net. lindakarle@earthlink.net 248-489-1505. Linda is President, Fortunate Families and Tom is a board member. Members of Always Our Children, a panel of parents and LGBT children that tell their stories in churches. Involved in PFLAG. Tom wrote: “God gave me a gay son” for Notre Dame Magazine; “Stories make a difference: An activist is born”; “An activist?”; "Letter from a father of a gay son", and narrated “Father Knows Best—Eventually” (audio file).
         
MI/Gaylord (Gaylord) 49735 Mother of gay son Cotant, Jan jancotant@gmail.com or 231-546-3421 or 989-858-1267 (cell).
MI/Midland (Saginaw) 48640 Parents of 3 gay sons Smith, Lyle & Debra Debralasmith@gmail.com or 989 948-1899. PFLAG board member experience.
MI/Orchard Lake (Detroit) 48323 Parents of gay son Byrd, Thomas & Teresa teresaabyrd@comcast.net or 248-681-9311. Thomas is an MD. Teresa is an advanced practice nurse.
MN/Bloomington (St. Paul/Minneapolis) 55431 Father of gay son Burg, Ed efburg@gmail.com or 952-881-6170. Stephen Minister trained. Member, Catholic Pastoral Committee for Sexual Minorities in St. Paul MN.
MN/Clearwater (St. Cloud) 55320 Mother of gay son Ohmann, Myrna rjmmo320@yahoo.com or 320-223-1008 (cell). Fortunate Families board member. Wrote “Minneapolis Vigil”.
MO/Kansas City (Kansas City) 64113 Mother of gay son McGannon, Jessica pjpbk@aol.com or 816-523-8404 or 913-461-4541 (cell).
NC/Raleigh (Raleigh) 27613 Mother of lesbian daughter Whitehouse, Gladys gladys.whitehouse@stfrancisraleigh.org. Involved with parish-based support group.
NC/Charlotte (Charlotte) 28277 Parents of gay son Martel, Ed & Cathy er_martel@yahoo.com or 704-542-6525. PFLAG experience. Diocesan ministry experience.
NC/Raleigh (Raleigh) 27615 Father of gay son Pietrus, Joe jpietrus@nc.rr.com or 919-609-8425. Co-founder and former coordinator of Always Our Children support group, Cathedral of St. Matthew, Washington DC.
NE/Omaha (Omaha) 68130 Father of gay son Furlong, Jerry furlong@cox.net. 402-895-6386. Fortunate Families board member. Member of local area ministry, “Caring Catholic Families” and parish ministry. Created “Let’s Talk About Homosexuality” — educational series. Wrote “GLAAD series suggests ways to more effectively discuss issues of LGBT justice with undecided Americans”; “Catholic LGBT ministries address a particular need—Often with the involvement of PFLAG people”; “Fortunate Families co-sponsors ad decrying action against children of lesbian couple”
Nicaragua/Managua (Managua) Hippos Parents of lesbian daughter Walsh, Tom & Duarte, Julia thomas.tomas@gmail.com and julia.duarte@gmail.com or +505 8432 6952. Tom is bilingual in English and Spanish; Julia prefers Spanish. Both experienced in parish LGBT ministry.
         
NJ/Pequannock (Paterson) 07440 Parents of gay son Restaino, Carmen & Cheryl c_restaino@yahoo.com (Carmen) or Carsjm1@yahoo.com (Cheryl) or 973-633-6720. Carmen is a Roman Catholic permanent deacon. Cheryl is a retired teacher, and is active in PFLAG with experience in leading beginner’s meetings. Cheryl wrote “Being a Listening Parent”.
NY/Brooklyn (Brooklyn) 11238 Mother of lesbian daughter Palms. Rosemary Grebin rgpalms@gmail.com or 718-638-7365. Involved in parish LGBT ministry. Wrote: “A ministry grows in Brooklyn”
NY/Fairport (Rochester) 14450 Mother of lesbian daughters Newman, Shirley Drnqball@aol.com or 585-425-9347. Mother of 2 lesbian daughters. Stephen minister and teaching assistant experience. Wrote “Speaking up”.
NY/Floral Park (Brooklyn) 11004 Parents of gay son Butvick, Bill & Kathryn butvietis@aol.com or kbutvick@aol.com or 347-528-7165 (Bill) or 917-568-8687 (Kathryn). Kathryn is an RN with Ph.D. in Psychology.
NY/Rochester (Rochester) 14620 Parents of gay son Lopata, Casey & Mary Ellen fortunatefamilie@aol.com. 585-698-6100. Co-founders and board members of Fortunate Families. Casey has MDiv. Mary Ellen has MS in Liberal Arts with focus on homosexuality and the family. Together wrote “Dear Pope …” ; “Suggestions for Addressing Gay and Lesbian Related Legislation.” Casey wrote: “Can my son be Gay and Catholic”; “Moral Values”; “Not Master Builders”; and “The sin of heterosexism?”. Mary Ellen wrote “God's Love Revealed: reflections on being a Catholic Mother”.
NY/Rochester (Rochester) 14623 Father of trans m>f Pickett, Bill bill@williampickett.com. 585-442-3866. Advisor to Fortunate Families and webmaster. Wrote: “A Parent’s Perspective: Transsexual Identity and Wholeness”
NY/Troy (Albany) 12180 Mother of gay son de Seve, Geri michaeladk@gmail.com or 518-272-4637 or 518-421-4723 (cell).
NY/Weedsport (Rochester) 13166 Parents of gay sons Cichello, Eileen & Sam ecichello@gmail.com or 315-834-9725. Have 2 gay sons.
OH/Brecksville (Cleveland) 44141 Mother of gay son Buccini, Marianne marianne.buccini@gmail.com or 440-759-8524. MSW. Community college counselor and LGBT Safe Zone trainer. PFLAG experience.
OH/Columbus (Columbus) 43085 Mother of gay son Barkhurst, Kathy Media32@hotmail.com or 614-736-1256 (cell). Teacher and Newman community experience.
OH/Euclid (Cleveland) 44143 Mother of lesbian daughter Buchanan, Joyce mjpbuchanan@yahoo.com or 216-486-2176. Member of diocesan Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry Council, and speaker. Facilitator of parish parent support group.
OH/Gates Mills (Cleveland) 44040 Parents of lesbian daughter Hoenigman, Ann & Ed annedhoenigman@aol.com or 440-449-1848. Active in parish-based parent support group. Ann wrote “Parents of homosexuals speak in Catholic Schools in Cleveland Diocese”. Ed wrote “Emmaus Retreat presentation”.
OR/Mt. Angel (Portland) 97362 Parents of lesbian daughters (twins) Balog, Florence & Steve sandfbalog@mtangel.net. 503-845-7850. Co-founders of Welcoming the Whole Family in St. Andrew’s Parish, Portland, OR. Florence wrote “My twin lesbian daughters”. Also founded and facilitated a parents support group in the archdiocese. Steve wrote: “The light has been passed” ; “A story of trust”; “A Reality Check”; “Assumptions”; “Being called out, again”; and “A bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out … (Isaiah 42:3)”.
PA/Wynnewood (Philadelphia) 19096 Mother of gay son Cassidy, Susanne smcnarb@comcast.net or 610-649-0698. PFLAG experience.
TN/Memphis (Memphis) 38104 Parents of gay son Word, Deb & Steve debword@hotmail.com or 901-274-4039. Deb is a Fortunate Families board member. Part of parent support team in diocesan ministry with gay and lesbian persons. Deb wrote: “Parent’s Journey”; “A Place at the Table”; “Offended by homily? Write!”; “Welcome to the (potluck) banquet”; and “Dusty feet disciples”; "Dear Bishop"
TX/Colleyville (Ft. Worth) 76034 Mother of gay son Rose, Dorene Drose1415@msn.com or 817-329-7370. Member of Ft. Worth Diocese task force for ministry with GLBT community.
TX/Melissa (Dallas) 75454 Parents of gay son Dalke, Rich & Terri terri9@earthlink.net or 972-837-2334. Leaders in “Outstretched Hands” -- parish-based group that supports GLBT Catholics and parents of GLBT persons, and provides education to the parish. Wrote: “Blessings!!!”
UT/Salt Lake City (Salt Lake) 84121 Mother of gay son Abele, Joan joancabele@gmail.com or 801-943-8111. Medical doctor. PFLAG experience. Wrote “Story of a Listening Parent”.
VA/Haymarket (Arlington) 20169 Father of gay son Kehoe, Tom kehoetom@comcast.net or 703-753-2906. Co-founder of Catholic support group for GLBT persons and their families.
VA/Richmond/Henrico (Richmond) 23228 Mother of gay son Lowenhagen, Veronica veabl@aol.com or 804-241-8695. Parish work experience and volunteer experience with parish youth.
WA/Kirkland (Seattle) 98034 Mother of gay son Cass, Marilyn macass@comcast.net or 425-820-7466. PFLAG and Catholic parent support group experience.
WI//Madison (Madison) 53705 Mother of lesbian daughter Thomas, Chris clt@tds.net or 608-231-3086. Facilitated organization of parish parent support group. Wrote “For thousands of years”.
WI/Chetek (Superior) 54728 Parents of lesbian daughter Smith, Jim & Mary Jean Jim: wndpsalm@chibardun.net or 715-458-2224 or 715-642-3786 (cell). MA in pastoral ministry. Certified spiritual director. Extensive experience in parish and retreat house ministry, and as parish pastoral associate and pastoral administrator.
Mary: marijean@chibardun.net of 715-458-2224 or 715-642-3787 (cell). Nursing background. MA in pastoral ministry. Certificate in CPE (chaplain). Extensive experience in parish and retreat house ministry. Parish pastoral associate experience. Wrote “Letters can make a difference”.
WI/De Pere (Green Bay) 54115 Parents of gay sons Larkey, John & Loretta rettmac@aol.com or 920-336-8739. Have two gay sons. Members of St. Norbert College worshipping community. Loretta is a trained social worker and works as a psychotherapist.
WI/Hartford (Milwaukee) 53027 Parents of gay son Weber, Carol & Fred cweber@netwurx.net or 262-670-0448. Members of “Gay and Straight in Christ” parish-based support group. Wrote “Acceptance of a gay son”.
WI/Madison (Madison) 53705 Father of trans f>m son Subkoviak, Mike subko@education.wisc.edu 608-833-4249. Retired educational psychology professor.
WI/Tomah (LaCrosse) 54660 Mother of gay son Erickson, Rita arerick@centurytel.net or 608-374-2745 or 608-387-0714 (cell).
WI/Wauwatosa (Milwaukee) 53213 Father of lesbian daughter Staudenmaier, Bill 414-453-8561 or 414-227-1216 between 9 and 2. No email. Wrote "Dear Cardinal George"

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