Support

Join us for our next PFLAG Connects: Communities Black/African American Meeting

Get ready for our next PFLAG Connects: Communities Black/African American meeting. We are having great conversations led by amazing facilitators, and we'd love to have you with us!

If you’re Black/African American and looking for a space to talk about your own experience as an LGBTQ+ person or looking to support your LGBTQ+ loved one, please consider joining us for our next meeting on Tuesday, February 8th. We’ll be meeting at 8:45pm ET / 7:45pm CT / 5:45pm PT.

Register now to join us--we look forward to welcoming you!

Education

Three Steps to Being a Better Ally for Black History Month 

Tomorrow, February 1st, begins Black History Month. Here are some resources to help you be a more informed ally throughout the month:

1. Learn: Take the time to learn about the stories and accomplishments of Black LGBTQ+ heroes and pioneers – all year long. Read some articles including "16 queer Black pioneers who made history," "10 Black Queer Trailblazers You Should Know," and "Black Heroes of the LGBTQ Community."
2.  Watch: Revisit some past episodes of Something To Talk About Live! including episodes about a Black father and his two Queer sons, and honoring Black LGBTQ+ trailblazers. PFLAG National also recommends documentaries like Brother Outsider about the life of Bayard Rustin, I am Not Your Negro about the life of James Baldiwn, and Pay it No Mind about the life of Marsha P Johnson. 
3. Share: Use social media to elevate the voices and stories of Black LGBTQ+ advocates making history right now. These articles from Essence and Do Something will help you get connected with these young game changers on Instagram.

Advocacy

TODAY is the deadline to secure regular health insurance coverage for 2022

TODAY, January 31st, is the 2022 deadline for health insurance registration for regular coverage for this calendar year. Please remind everyone in your family and friends circle to tend to this important benefit today. Only life-changing events,  such as changes to marital status, allow registering later.

As part of the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), LGBTQ+ people are protected on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity against discrimination in health insurance coverage, explicitly through Section 1557. 

The law and its inclusion of covering LGBTQ+ people includes annual renewal periods in which to register for coverage through state or the federal health insurance exchanges. LGBTQ+ people and their families can easily identify optimal coverage packages through Out2Enroll, a PFLAG National partner since 2010.

Out2Enroll also includes detailed information for transgender or nonbinary people through the handy Transgender Health Insurance Guide, so that insurance programs including gender affirming care can be identified and selected, state by state.

Visit out2enroll.org today, and #GetCovered!

Something to Talk About...Live!

"Parental Rights in Education" Bills Will Hurt Marginalized Youth

The Florida state legislature is considering a bill that many argue will hurt LGBTQ+ youth and force them back into the closet. Join us live this Thursday, Feb 3rd at 4:30pm ET/1:30pm PT for Something to Talk about Live! as we'll discuss Jo Yurcaba’s article in NBC News, “Chasten Buttigieg says Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill will push kids 'back into the closet’.”

We'll be joined by special guest, Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida.

You can watch live on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

For more information--and to check out our discussion questions in advance--visit pflagnation.al/STTALive-020322.