Dear John, When I first came to the U.S. for college, I was thousands of miles from home in Pakistan — living in a dorm, building new friendships, and learning how to expand my sense of family far beyond my roots. It was my first real Thanksgiving here, and even though I was away from my biological family, I felt welcomed and connected thanks to the people I met. When I married my husband from India, our relationship brought together two cultures, religions, and nations with a long history of division. Creating a shared life in that context wasn’t always simple — but here in the U.S., our local community became the place where we were fully welcomed. Our circle of friends and chosen family grew into a powerful source of love, stability, and belonging for us and for our child. So when our child came out as LGBTQIA+, I suddenly felt incredibly alone. I wanted to be the strongest, most informed parent I could be — but like many immigrant parents, I needed to navigate deeply rooted cultural and religious questions. I wasn’t always sure where to turn for guidance. What I needed was support, community, and a place where I could learn how to show up fully for my child. Thanks to PFLAG and, in particular, the PFLAG Connects program for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) families, I found exactly that. Through PFLAG, I connected with other parents, accessed invaluable resources, and learned how to advocate — not only for my child but for the broader AANHPI LGBTQ+ community. PFLAG also gave me the confidence to embrace my identity as a proud rainbow mom within my own South Asian circles, and to support other parents who were navigating similar journeys. Today, I am deeply honored to serve on the PFLAG National Board. My commitment to PFLAG comes from a place of gratitude: gratitude for the support we received, and a desire to pay it forward. This Thanksgiving, I’ll be giving thanks with my found family — our close, LGBTQIA+ affirming circle of “aunties,” “uncles,” and friends. We’ll share food, laughter, stories, and love — and we’ll also renew our commitment to PFLAG and its mission of support, education, and advocacy. I invite you to join me in giving back to PFLAG this season. Your support helps build that same welcoming, loving community for others — families like mine, and many more who are searching for a place where they can truly belong. |
