Participating in Town Halls

Attending a town hall is a powerful way to advocate for the issues affecting your community and hold your elected officials accountable. You can participate on your own or organize a group to make your message even stronger.

If you plan to attend a Town Hall—whether as part of a chapter, a group of PFLAG advocates, with your family, or on your own—let us know! PFLAG National is always happy to support you, and keeping us informed also allows us to track advocacy efforts happening across the country. Email the Advocacy Team at advocacy@pflag.org. 

Here are some tips to help you prepare for attending a town hall.

During the Town Hall

• Prepare in advance. Develop thoughtful arguments, specific points, good data, and a clear agenda. Ask short questions that focus solely on the issue you are there to address.
• Connect with staff: Identify staff members ahead of time and ask if there’s a process for registering to ask a question.
• Attend in a group. If possible, participate with your chapter, coalition partners, or another group. Consider wearing the same color or button to show unity. A visible group with a shared agenda is harder to ignore.
• Bring your personal story. Limit your story to about one minute, explaining why the issue is so important to you personally and how it affects you and your loved ones.
• Be respectful. Speak politely, and avoid carrying disrespectful signs or standing near those who do.
• Hold your ground. Don’t allow the elected official to dodge your question. Maintain a respectful insistence, and never interrupt a speaker, whether a legislator, staffer, or attendee.

After the Town Hall

• Follow up: Reinforce your presence and comments by following up after a town hall meeting with a phone call or email to the office of your elected official. Send along any resources that support your position. Additionally, make sure to thank the organizers of the town hall.
• Keep Engaging: Continue attending town halls and showing interest—consistent participation makes it harder for your voice to be ignored.

Share Your Experience: Talk about your town hall experience with friends, family, and on social media. If you are speaking as a PFLAG chapter or member, remember not to make statements supporting or opposing political parties, in accordance with 501(c)(3) guidelines.