Dear John,

After yesterday’s events in Alabama--some of the worst attacks we’ve seen on our families to date--and continued attacks on our loved ones in Texas and across dozens of states, it’s not surprising that PFLAG members and supporters everywhere have been reaching out to us, asking how they can support families in places where these assaults on the rights and wellbeing of trans and nonbinary kids are happening.

Here are three ways you can take action with families in Alabama and Texas, right now:

• Contact Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and tell her to veto SB184 and HB322. Passed in the legislature yesterday, SB184 would criminalize the provision of best-practice medical care for transgender minors, punishing parents and doctors with up to 10 years in prison. HB322 would ban trans students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity and limit LGBTQ+ content in K-12 public schools.
• Send a message to Texas DFPS and urge them not to comply with this unconstitutional order, and honor the injunction. Urge them to listen to the medical experts and protect transgender kids. 
• Contact Governor Abbott and tell him to listen to loving and supportive families and stop bullying trans kids.

What’s happening to families in Alabama, Texas, and across the country is traumatic and frightening--and sadly, these are only two of dozens of states where our families are being hit -- hard. 

• Numerous states have passed laws preventing trans kids from getting gender-affirming care. Alabama passed a felony ban on gender-affirming care for anyone under 19, while other states, like Idaho, have introduced laws so extreme they not only criminalize medical treatments for trans youth, but also make transporting a child to another state to receive that care a felony. 
• “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” is now law in Florida, and Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and more states inevitably to come have introduced their own more extreme bills preventing accurate, honest, and inclusive education for kids of all ages.
• Anti-trans sports bills continue to spread—and pass—across the country like wildfire. 

And, of course, every state is seeing local attacks on school boards and libraries, banning books and preventing kids from critical thinking and asking questions that help them make decisions for themselves

Here are four ways to show up and advocate for our families, across every state:

• Learn more about anti-trans bills being debated in states across the country. If an anti-trans bill is active in your state, take action to stop it; let your state Senators and Representatives/Assembly Members know that you expect them to #ProtectTransKids and their families.
• Our Partners at Red, Wine, and Blue provide fantastic training to organize and fight back against censorship in schools and libraries. (Watch for two upcoming training sessions just for PFLAG members in the coming weeks!)
• Use this suggested template to write a letter to the editor, in the spirit of PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford. Fifty years ago, after her gay son was hospitalized because a city official had assaulted him, she wrote a letter to the NY Post—less than one year later, PFLAG was born. If you’ve never seen Jeanne’s original letter, we encourage you to take a look at it, direct from the New York Public Library archives. Lead like Jeanne, and raise your voice in support of families everywhere by sharing YOUR family’s story.
• Remember that the best way to protect LGBTQ+ kids and families is to have federal non-discrimination protections in place. Call your Senator and tell them to pass the Equality Act NOW!

At moments like this, when things can feel so scary and so hopeless, I’m reminded of this quote from Fred “Mister” Rogers, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

PFLAGers are always the helpers. Thank you for showing up for families everywhere.

With gratitude,
Brian K. Bond, Executive Director
PFLAG National