| Dear John: With our apologies, a very late email today, after some technical issues—but we’re glad this week’s PFLAG Connects is now on its way to you! We've got important ways to connect this week, especially for Equality-minded PFLAG members and supporters. We need you to join us for a virtual LOBBY DAY for the Equality Act; please check out the Advocacy section below to get registered. Here are some helpful connection resources! |
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| Support Q Chat Space: Great peer support for LGBTQ+ youth On last week's episode of Something to Talk About Live, we discussed the impact of COVID on the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth; we'll keep that conversation going in the weeks ahead. It's a good time to remind our members and supporters that we're proud to partner with our friends at CenterLink and Planned Parenthood on Q Chat Space. Q Chat Space provides online discussion groups for LGBTQ+ teens ages 13 to 19. It is not a forum. It is live and chat based, with conversations facilitated by experienced staff who work at LGBTQ+ centers across the country. Learn more and check out the list of upcoming chats! And remember, if you or someone you know are in immediate crisis, please visit pflag.org/hotlines for time-sensitive support. |
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| Education Three Steps to Being a Better Local Advocate (While You’re Stuck at Home) Taking action on critical legislation is important, especially at the state and local level, where laws passed can directly impact our LGBTQ+ loved ones, both positively and negatively. Here are three steps to help you engage! - Learn: Take some time to learn about and track LGBTQ-related legislation in your state, county, and city or town and the work being done by your statewide equality group. These resources will help you can stay up to date on the issues that are being debated by local leaders and/or may be on your ballot in the future.
- Watch: "The Equality Act: Taking Action to Advocate for Crucial Legislation," now available from PFLAG Academy Online On Demand," will help you learn about the Equality Act and how to advocate for this crucial legislation in your community. You can also check out this 2020 video from HRC about how one trans teen used his voice to oppose anti-trans legislation and won.
- Share: Use social media, text messaging, phone calls, and even video chats to work with your neighbors to organize around local issues that would impact you and your LGBTQ+ loved ones. Most critical right now? The hundreds of anti-trans bills being advanced in over 30 states. Take action--and ask others to join you--at pflag.org/protecttranskids.
Bonus: Confirm that you’re registered to vote; as a registered voter, you can vote for who will represent you in local and state offices, support/oppose ballot initiatives, and engage in town hall events and/or town meetings. You can also look up your municipal, county, state, and federal representatives using this great tool from PFLAG National! |
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| Advocacy Take Action: Equality Act Lobby Day PFLAG National, in coalition with HRC, NEAT, FFAA, and others, is planning a Lobby Day on Wednesday, April 21st to urge key Senators to pass the Equality Act. We need your voices and your stories to help convince Senators to vote YES. We also need your voices to THANK legislators already committed to voting yes--they are currently hearing from an overwhelming number of people in opposition, and we want them to know that our voices and our love are LOUDER. Sign up to lobby NOW (and be sure to sign up as a member or supporter of PFLAG in the drop-down menu). All are welcome to participate; we particularly need voices from Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin to make the case for the Equality Act to key swing votes in the Senate. Please invite friends and family and all who care about Equality to join us! |
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| | | 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 |
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