Dear John, First and foremost, I hope you and your family are healthy, and that you are doing all you can to keep yourself and your community safe. I am doing my part by working from home, as is the rest of the PFLAG National team. We are grateful to be able to continue the work in service of PFLAG’s mission -- especially now -- and we are here for you and your family. So many people are feeling isolated and afraid, possibly dealing with illness, loss of work, childcare, eldercare, visitation, paying bills, or just keeping refrigerators filled and dry goods stocked. In communities across the country, there are LGBTQ+ kids who will be home with unsupportive parents, and those parents will now need the critical support provided by our 400 chapters across the country. | |
We have been working tirelessly to create new resources and avenues of support for PFLAG members and supporters, as well as for the PFLAG Chapter Network. In the last two weeks we have: - Provided critical guidance to our chapter leaders for hosting digital support meetings;
- Reinforced the use of and access to our PFLAG National publications, all available online for free download;
- Provided guidance for accessing our copious educational resources through PFLAG Academy Online, our online learning program;
- Created a brand-new newsletter, PFLAG Connects, which offers digital tools and resources to strengthen PFLAG’s pillars of support, education, and advocacy -- all of which are critical, especially in the midst of this global crisis;
- Launched a digital advocacy campaign for Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, #TransKids #SoFierce, to continue the fight against 200+ anti-transgender and anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures across the country; and
- Launched a new live version of Something to Talk About, PFLAG National’s monthly series that creates conversation about LGBTQ+ issues, courtesy of our Learning & Inclusion team.
And that’s just in the first two weeks. As you can imagine, this crisis is having an impact on PFLAG’s resources. That’s why I’m urgently reaching out to you; there’s never been a more critical time to support PFLAG. I know that many people are dealing with economic uncertainty and job instability right now. If you are one of them, I understand, and thank you for the many ways you support PFLAG. However, if you are able to offer even the smallest gift to PFLAG at this time, we would be grateful. Thousands of LGBTQ+ people and their families are depending on supporters like you, right now. I can’t say it enough: Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for making the work possible, the coming-out moment easier, and the parent and family journey to acceptance smoother. Stay safe and well,  Brian K. Bond
Executive Director
PFLAG National P.S. As I mentioned, we’ll be taking Something to Talk About live for the first time today, Thursday, March 26th! Join us on Facebook at 4:30PM ET/1:30PM PT to discuss the effect the coronavirus will have on Pride this year. | |