News & Views
Volume 2, Issue 18 June 2018
Insights: Anecdotes and Opinions Nine Debutnates Come Out, More Than 100 Show Up, Celebrate
By Jerry Thacker PFLAG Beaumont Vice President
Attending the first ever Beaumont PFLAG Coming Out Ball was wonderful. I had attended one other Coming Out Ball a couple of years ago at the MCM Elegante, so I knew
pretty much what to expect. The Ball this year was held at the Beaumont Country Club. Arriving at the Country Club at dusk was a new experience for me. It was a beautiful start to the night. The weather was gorgeous. I met my table mates at the door and found my table. The decorations were simple and elegante. The tux gift bag that contained the souviner shot glass was adorable. As guest arrived, I greeted those who I knew and introduced myself to those I didn't know. Guests were enjoying visiting with one another as they sipped their complementary cocktails. The energy in the room was evident as the debutants were about to be presented. One by one, each debutant was presented by their escort, as Beth Gallaspy, read a brief bio on each debutant. Beth was a wonderful choice for emcee.
After all debutants were presented and were standing in a line on the floor, they broke out into their dance number "This is Me" from the Greatest Showman Soundtrack. The freedom and energy they exuded was infectious. It was definitely the highpoint of the evening. As the evening progressed, awards were given to Baylor Wortham as Ally of the Year and to Lois Morgan-Roy as Lifetime Ally. Fran Watson who will also we the Beaumont Pride Grand Marshal was given an award and an opportunity to share a little about herself. Beth Gallaspy began the live auction and before she got too far into it, debutant Andrew McCluskey grabbed the mic and took over. Andrew is a born auctioneer and electrified the room. People were bidding and bidding
Continued Page 2 as Insights
Monthly Book Pick: Douglas King’s Collection By Nolan Thornal PFLAG Beaumont Debutante Cocordinator
Local author Douglas King is a true believer in the importance of the written word to capture, express, experience, and celebrate the richness and humor, the hopes, dreams and fantasies of the gay community. The High Range is an action/adventure story joining together an out and proud FBI agent and a closeted federal park ranger to investigate murders high in the Park tundra regions. One
thing about the FBI agent…he always gets his man. The Succession follows the gay Chief of Staff for the British Prime Minister in horror and confusion resulting when the British royal family and most of the lawmakers including possibly the Prime Minister, are killed in one monumental act during the opening of Parliament. The Fabergé Conspiracy pits an introverted, historical researcher with a secret past against/with the young, flamboyant art and fashion editor to investigate and develop the story about a spectacular
Kremlin theft. The two have nothing in common. The Q Factor is about an exclusive boarding school for exceptionally talented, gay high school students. The students find themselves subjects of a deadly experiment, and their haven quickly becomes a prison of terror where the only way out is death. Purple Wings is a fantasy novel where the human world crosses paths with the world of witchcraft, fairies, and demons. A human boy falls in love with a boy who is not so human, endangering friends, family, and a whole other
world.
See King’s Author’s Page at www.amazon.com//e/B00ACKPRRY.