Name: Carolyn Martinez Golojuch
Age: 50
Position: Board member, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Education: University of Hawaii
Pastimes: Family

Today, she heads the Oahu chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, an international organization providing support for gay, lesbian and bisexual people and their loved ones.

Golojuch, 50, last month became the first person from Hawaii to be named to the national board of PFLAG. The 21-member board, based in Washington, D.C., governs the direction of the group, which has 425 chapters and more than 65,000 members worldwide.

Its basic tenets: Education, advocate and support, with a heavy dose of love, Golojuch says. For example, parents whose children are gay or lesbian should remember that their love for their child started at birth and has not diminished with this new information.

"This is a blessing that your child trusted you enough to come out," she said. "Think of all the parents that have gay sons and daughters. Those people are so afraid of coming out that they don't."

"Think of that. Your child has just given you the academy award for the year for parenthood because they trust you," said Golojuch, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for state representative for the 42nd district this fall.

The resurgent Oahu chapter, which began in the early '80s, offers a hot line for those seeking help: 972-9050.

In January, the chapter will launch Friends of PFLAG, a new program for people who support PFLAG's efforts. Golojuch, available to speak to community groups, also works with Gay and Lesbian Youth Support, which targets teenagers.

"Love is the bottom line," she said. "All I can do is speak from my experience. I realized then that I loved my children before they were even born."