Why join PFLAG?
When the results of the November 5, 2024 presidential election were in, I knew there would be many communities that would be facing increasing challenges from the new, conservative administration. What would I do about it? I had to do more than post on social media.
In January 2025, during the newly elected president's inaugural address, I made my decision. When I heard the president say, "As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female," I knew that in some way I would lend my support to the LGBTQ+ community. For in that brief sentence, he had basically told the many trans people in our nation that they are living a lie or lying about who they are, or whatever.
In March 2025 I joined the Great Lakes Bay chapter of PFLAG. In 2022, while serving as interim pastor at a local Lutheran Church, I was leading am adult discussion series on "hot topics," including our church's history with gay and lesbian people. We took a field trip to a nearby PFLAG meeting. We were warmly welcomed and heard the stories of many of the members in attandance that day. So it seemed natural for me to return to this group.
At the first meeting I attended as a member, I volunteered to be part of the chapter's newly formed Advocacy Team. PFLAG is all about support, education and advocacy. We are working to find ways to inform school administrators, teachers and counselors about the support parents and students can find from PFLAG. We also monitor bills passing through the legislature. We organize sign painting workshops in advance of local sidewalk protests.
At our September meeting, the video below was shown. I thought it was very powerful testimony to the work of PFLAG.
In January 2025, during the newly elected president's inaugural address, I made my decision. When I heard the president say, "As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female," I knew that in some way I would lend my support to the LGBTQ+ community. For in that brief sentence, he had basically told the many trans people in our nation that they are living a lie or lying about who they are, or whatever.
In March 2025 I joined the Great Lakes Bay chapter of PFLAG. In 2022, while serving as interim pastor at a local Lutheran Church, I was leading am adult discussion series on "hot topics," including our church's history with gay and lesbian people. We took a field trip to a nearby PFLAG meeting. We were warmly welcomed and heard the stories of many of the members in attandance that day. So it seemed natural for me to return to this group.
At the first meeting I attended as a member, I volunteered to be part of the chapter's newly formed Advocacy Team. PFLAG is all about support, education and advocacy. We are working to find ways to inform school administrators, teachers and counselors about the support parents and students can find from PFLAG. We also monitor bills passing through the legislature. We organize sign painting workshops in advance of local sidewalk protests.
At our September meeting, the video below was shown. I thought it was very powerful testimony to the work of PFLAG.
More information about PFLAG is available...
From the website of the national office: https://pflag.org/
From the website of our Great Lake Bay Chapter: https://www.pflagglb.com/
From our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PFLAGGLBR
And if you'd like a copy of our latest newsletter, email me and I'll send it along.
From the website of the national office: https://pflag.org/
From the website of our Great Lake Bay Chapter: https://www.pflagglb.com/
From our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PFLAGGLBR
And if you'd like a copy of our latest newsletter, email me and I'll send it along.
