PFLAG Connects

Dear John:

We are nearing the one-year mark since COVID 19 moved us all to the virtual world. With so many online meetings--and for PFLAG members and supporters, that includes PFLAG Connects meetings--it's easy to get burned out, whether you're facilitating those meetings or attending them. Check out our Support section for the next few weeks for ways to show love to yourself and others in this intense, virtual world.

Take care of yourself

Support

Self Care for Virtual Meeting Participants

On-camera meetings can lead to burnout, which can in turn lead to frustration and exhaustion, even for the most dedicated participants. Here are some self-care tips that we hope will help you hit the personal reset button!

  • If you typically participate in meetings in one part of your home, consider changing up your environment, by moving to another more comfortable spot, whether with a laptop in a comfy chair, laying on your couch, or even from bed with a lap pillow for your device.
  • Even if you’re about to attend an online meeting you love, doing so after a long day of work meetings can make your favorite virtual meetings a challenge or chore. Make sure to take some time away from screens before joining non-work virtual meetings, whether to change clothes, eat a meal, take a walk, or take a nap. Taking a break can make a difference.
  • And finally: Give yourself permission to sit some virtual events out! Many events are now recorded, and you can watch at a time that works better for you. 

Education

Three Steps to Being a Better Disability Rights Advocate (While You’re Stuck at Home)

Just because you’re staying in doesn’t mean your learning should slow down! So, stay safe and take these steps to engage:

  1. Learn: Check out research about the experiences of LGBTQ+ people living with a disability in the US from the Movement Advancement Project and recommendations for educators and parents advocating for LGBTQ+ students with disabilities from the Human Rights Campaign. 
  2. Watch: Check out last week’s Something to Talk About Live with Jean-Marie Navetta and Dara Baldwin, focused on the experiences of people who are LGBTQ+ and also living with a disability.
  3. Share: Use social media to elevate the voices and stories of LGBTQ+ and disability rights advocates in their own words. Respect Ability and the Queer Disability Project are great resources to help you get started.
3 steps to being a better disability rights advocate
Open Enrollment

Advocacy

Open Enrollment "Do-Over" Period to Begin One Week From Today

People who missed open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance late last year will get another opportunity to sign up, starting next Monday, February 15th. President Biden signed an executive order last month creating an extra, three-month enrollment period, where consumers can again shop for coverage on HealthCare.gov, the federal insurance marketplace, which serves three dozen states. 

Learn more from this helpful piece from the New York Times, and then be a healthcare advocate for your LGBTQ+ loved ones and their families, by letting them know they will have another three months to enroll!

Something to Talk About...Live!

Join PFLAG National live this Thursday, February 11th at 4:30 PM ET/1:30 PM for Something to Talk About Live. This week, we’re talking about asexuality, using the essay "How I Discovered My Own Asexuality Without Knowing It," from BuzzFeed News. We'll be joined by the author, Angela Chen!

You can watch us live on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and now on LinkedIn, too! 

For more information, including a link to this week's article and the questions, visit http://www.straightforequality.org/something-to-talk-about-live-february-11-2021.

Remember: We're here to help. Find us all at pflag.org/about/our-people.

Let’s stay safe, stay healthy--and stay connected.

We're here for you,
Team PFLAG National

PFLAG National
(202) 467-8180 | [email protected]

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