In a year when officials from the State House to the school board have criminalized parenting, PFLAG parents and caregivers have risen up in support of their LGBTQ+ loved ones and for their communities.

Register now to join us this Sunday for PFLAG Parent Day, where we'll honor and celebrate all people who lead with love for LGBTQ+ youth! This free virtual event takes place Sunday, May 22nd, at 2pm ET/11am PT.

Join us and our host, 2022 Tony Award nominee Matt Doyle as we honor five-time Emmy Award and 2022 Tony Award nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson with the Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award, presented to him by George Takei. We'll also welcome special guests including Hayley Kiyoko, Busy Philipps, Big Freedia, Top Chef Melissa King, Harvey Guillén, Avi Roque, James Martinez and Michael Cimino of Love, Victor, Pose co-creator Steven Canals, and Fire Island's Torian Miller. With a musical performance by Funny Girl's Ramin Karimloo, and more talent to come!

Visit pflag.org/ParentDay to register to attend--and help support PFLAG's programs while celebrating all of the parenting people who are making a difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth.

Support

Let's come together with Pride, via PFLAG Connects: Communities

By now, you have probably come across our PFLAG Connects: Communities (PCC) program. As a reminder, these are virtual meetings held monthly for communities of color; namely, the Black, Latino, and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, with facilitators from some of our incredible chapters across the country. 

We have heard from our participants that faith and religion plays a large role in their loved ones’ (and their own) coming-out journeys. That is why we are elated to welcome three faith leaders from the Black, Latino, and AAPI communities to speak to our families for our Pride edition PCC meetings.

If you have not yet shared PFLAG Connects: Communities with your networks, this is the perfect time to do so! If there are folks in your chapters who are part of these three communities and who would like an opportunity to speak to experts in the faith space, please share this resource with them. For information about this program (and links to register), please visit pflag.org/connects/communities.

Any questions? Email Laura Galeano, PFLAG Connects Manager.

Education

Three Steps to Being a Better Advocate for Inclusive Sex Education

May is Sex Ed for All month. Here are great resources from some of our wonderful partners, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Advocates for Youth, and more.

1. Learn: Visit the Sex Education Collaborative to learn about Sex Ed For All Month and take part in any activities to promote inclusive sex education. Take a look at some resources from Planned Parenthood about the importance of sex education and some tools to teach it. Check out pflag.org/policystatements which includes details about our Board-approved policy statements on inclusive sexuality education, HIV and STD prevention, reproductive rights, and safe and welcoming schools. Also check out the Our Whole Lives curriculum from the Unitarian Universalist Association. 
2. Watch: Watch this PFLAG Academy Online learning session, “LGBTQ Sex Ed: Health, Rights, and Pleasure,” which focuses on the “triangle approach” to sex education that was formulated by the Global Advisory Board for Sexual Health and Wellbeing. The Sex Education Collaborative has videos on diverse topics, including focusing on intersectionality in sex ed, having conversations with family members, improving existing sex education curriculum, and tips to teach sex education remotely.
3. Share: Use social media to share LGBTQ+ inclusive sex ed resources and curriculum from organizations like Advocates for Youth and Planned Parenthood. Be sure to follow and share resources from fantastic organizations like Scarleteen and More Than Sex Ed. Finally, no matter where you’re posting and sharing, be sure to use #SexEdForAll to uplift the shares!

Advocacy

Let's fight anti-LGBTQ+ censorship

Join the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ censorship! There has been a recent movement all over the country to remove books from schools and public libraries, and to prevent honest, accurate, and inclusive education from being taught in classrooms. Make no mistake: This is a coordinated partisan effort to censor “divisive” topics--like talking about our families.

Use PFLAG’s tools and resources to fight back against anti-LGBTQ+ censorship. Together we'll ensure that there are more books and curriculum about a diverse array of people and history available to all kids.

Something to Talk About...Live!

What Is The Role Of Business In LGBTQ+ Equality?

More than half of people who are LGBTQ+ are not out at work. When asked why, nearly most say their primary reason for not being out had to do with fear of not being promoted if their coworkers and supervisors found out. 

Join us this Thursday, May 12th at 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT for Something To Talk About Live, where we will be discussing Holly Quinn’s article in Technical.ly, “How to ensure your workplace is LGBTQ friendly” with Deena Fidas, Managing Director and Chief Program & Partnerships Officer at Out & Equal and Sabrina Kent, Executive Vice President, Programs & External Affairs at NGLCC. 

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

To learn more--and to check out our discussion questions in advance--visit pflagnation.al/STTALive-051922.