Learning With Love: The 2025 PFLAG National Convention

Learning With Love: The 2025 PFLAG National Convention begins this Friday, October 9th! Not able to attend in-person? We'll be livestreaming our opening keynote, plenaries, and closing luncheon! Be sure to tune in:

• Friday, October 10th at 3:30pm CT / 4:30pm ET for our opening keynote with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, followed by Crafting Intentional Partnerships to Build Community, a dynamic panel on building cross-movement solidarity.
• Saturday, October 11th at 12:30pm CT / 1:30pm ET for our luncheon plenary, Fighting For Our Pride, a new campaign rooted in PFLAG’s powerful unity of families and LGBTQ+ people. We'll also be presenting The 2025 Flag Bearer Award to Rep Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman (IL-09), and The 2025 Starr Award to Sheila Lopez, Founder of PFLAG Phoenix Native and founding member of the PFLAG National Two Spirit and Indigenous Parent and Family Advisory Council.
• Sunday, October 12th at 12pm CT / 1pm ET for our closing keynote with actor/advocate Khary Payton (The Walking Dead).

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube to join us virtually!

It's Banned Books Week!

Let’s leave dystopia where it belongs—in fiction. The fight against book bans has been ongoing for decades, but the past few years have seen a marked uptick in censorship against anything LGBTQ+. These bans are cruel and divisive, leaving LGBTQ+ youth without stories they can see themselves in, blocking opportunities for youth to learn about and grow empathy for marginalized communities, and sending the message that LGBTQ+ lives are an inherent taboo. 

“Censorship is never the path to truth. All of our lives are enriched when our libraries and schools provide the books that allow us to see ourselves, understand others, and discover the world.” —Barbara Stripling, Banned Books Week Coalition chair

As proud partners of the Banned Books Week Coalition, we staunchly believe that EVERYONE deserves access to diverse stories, inclusive education, and the freedom to learn. If you want to get involved in protecting our right to read, visit BannedBooksWeek.org for events, resources, and direct actions you can take to fight against censorship.

Monday, October 13th is Indigenous Peoples' Day

The PFLAG National office—which we respectfully acknowledge is on Piscataway and Nacotchtank (Anacostan) land—will be closed on Monday, October 13th, in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day. There will be no issue of We Lead on that day.

We are PFLAG proud to honor the community all year long, including by investing in Bay Bank, founded and solely owned by the Oneida Nation.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.

October 11th is National Coming Out Day

This Saturday, on National Coming Out Day, we celebrate the courage it takes to live authentically and recognize everyone who chooses to share their true selves with the world—whenever and however they feel safe doing so. Your identity is valid and you are loved just as you are. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Coming out is a personal journey, and it’s one you should never feel pressured to take. Especially now, during this incredibly turbulent time--centering your safety matters. Whether you're out, thinking about it, or not ready yet—PFLAG loves you, supports you, and will be here for you every step of the way.