Thank you to everyone who joined us for We Are the Change: The 2021 PFLAG National Convention. This inclusive virtual event took place Friday, Oct 22 - Sunday, Oct 24, 2021 and allowed for folks to join us as they are, from wherever they are, for three days of listening, learning, and connecting, PFLAG style. 

If you have any questions about the convention, please email [email protected]. See you in 2023!

From October 22-4, 2021, PFLAG leaders, members, and supporters from more than 400 chapters joined virtually to participate in We Are the Change: The 2021 PFLAG National Convention, PFLAG’s biennial National Convention. For three days, participants networked, shared best practices, and learned strategies to fulfill the organizational mission of LGBTQ+ support, education, and advocacy within their communities.

The convention featured workshops, roundtable discussions, and plenaries where leaders in the LGBTQ+ community provide insight, expertise, and training for advocates, organizers, and professionals in all fields.

Friday, October 22

(all times Eastern)

3:00 - 4:00pm Annual Meeting

4:15 - 5:30pm Caring for the Changemakers: Confronting and Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Health

 

Saturday, October 23

(all times Eastern)

12:00 - 1:30pm Regional Meetings

2:00 - 3:00pm Workshop Session 1

3:15 - 4:15pm Generations and Change: Navigating Grassroots Advocacy and Organizing

4:30 - 5:30pm Networking FUN

 

Sunday, October 24

(all times Eastern)

12:00 - 1:00pm Workshop Session 2

1:30 - 2:30pm Workshop Session 3

2:45 - 3:45pm Chapter Awards

Friday, October 22nd
4:15 - 5:30 PM Eastern

Caring for the Changemakers: Confronting and Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Health

As people around the world saw their lives transformed by the Covid-19 pandemic, conversations about self-care became mainstream. However, these discussions on how to maintain our own mental health while assisting others have often failed to address some of the biggest issues we face -- namely, navigating the powerful stigma around mental health and mental illness, from which no one is immune. In this conversation, we’ll look at the challenges of caring for those who are advocates for the LGBTQ+ community and how the pressures of isolation have affected them, discuss how stigma around these topics remains strong, even in inclusive spaces where we often expect to find more awareness, and how we help to both identify and break down these barriers as we care for ourselves and the communities we serve.

This plenary will be moderated by PFLAG National Board Member Antón Castellanos Usigli. The panelists are Hansel Arroyo, Claudette Green, and William Placek.

Saturday, October 23
3:15 - 4:15 PM Eastern

Generations and Change: Navigating Grassroots Advocacy and Organizing

For the first time in history, four generations are working alongside each other in the workplace -- and in the fight for equality. And while much has been written about finding ways to effectively function together in workplace settings, navigating the generational challenges while working to transform hearts and minds in LGBTQ+ grassroots organizing is far less discussed. And when our unique cultural backdrops and ways of organizing come together, the path forward isn’t always clear and can be marked with conflict. In this interactive discussion, we’ll examine the key cultural backdrops for three generations of LGBTQ+ advocates and look at how these experiences color understanding of the issues we face. We’ll also delve into the different methods of civic engagement and organizing and how they’ve changed over time. How can we better understand the places people have come from to be more open to understanding? In what ways can we incorporate the best elements of different kinds of organizing to create responsive, diverse, and effective strategies to achieve equality?

This plenary will be moderated by journalist and author Eric Marcus. The panelists are Kylar Broadus, Aditi Hardikar, and Sue Hyde.

Saturday, October 23
12:00 - 1:30 PM Eastern

Regional meetings are a place to connect with other PFLAGers in your region. It's a meeting run by your volunteer Regional Director, and a place for you to get to know more about what's going on, share your vision for PFLAG, and to be in touch with others locally.

The PFLAG regions are:

Central (IA, KS, MO, NE)

Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Gulf (AL, FL, GA, MS, PR)

Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, VA, WV)

Mid-Pacific (Northern CA, NV)

Mountain West (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)

Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

North Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA)

Northern Plains (MN, ND, SD, WI)

Pacific Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA)

South Atlantic (KY, NC, SC, TN)

Southern (AR, LA, OK, TX)

Southern Pacific (Southern CA, HI)

At the 2021 PFLAG National Convention the Northern Plains & Central and Mid-Pacific & Southern Pacific regions met together.

Saturday, October 23
4:30 - 5:30 PM Eastern

Hosted by the PFLAG National staff, these networking opporutunities are a great way to meet PFLAGers from accross the country, share better practices, and learn new skills! 

Chapter Speed Dating

Gather with PFLAGers around the nation and connect over conversation about your chapter, its community engagement, and all things PFLAG.

Annual Chapter Responsibilities Jeopardy

Chapter Hub. Membership Dues. TAXES… Come learn the in’s & out’s of annual responsibilities, in an entertaining, engaging environment! You just may be the next Chapter Responsibility Champion!

PFLAG Scavenger Hunt

Join us for a digital scavenger hunt! This activity is a game of handling crazy prompts, seeking missions, and using your own household items in unique ways. Come and participate in this innovative digital activity, which you could use for your very own chapter!

Curating Chapter Socials & Refining Community Engagement

Come and exchange your best ideas for engaging your membership and local community. Garner new ideas, explore new programming and engagement concepts, while also taking time to mingle and connect with your peers. 

Public Relations: Getting Ready for Your Closeup

Getting media attention is a great way to raise awareness about equality for LGBTQ+ folks in your community and let people know your chapter is a trusted resource.  Join the conversation to exchange ideas and best practices that work for focusing the media spotlight on your chapter’s good work! 

Social Media Skill Swap

Are you looking to ramp up your Chapter’s social media efforts? Have you had wins with your Chapter’s social media you’d like to share? Want to pick the brain of PFLAG National staff around social media? Join us here to share and discuss strategies to coordinate an effective social media presence.

Equality for Everyone, Everywhere, At All Times: Writing Letters to Your Senator

It’s time for comprehensive federal legislation that protects all of us from discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity. Join PFLAGers from across the country in writing letters to your Senators in support of federal updates to the Civil Rights Act. 

Caucus Room: Rural Organizing

Gather with PFLAGers who live in similar geographic areas. This will be an opportunity to discuss the unique challenges, characteristics, and opportunities of your PFLAG chapter.

Caucus Room: City Organizing

Gather with PFLAGers who live in similar geographic areas. This will be an opportunity to discuss the unique challenges, characteristics, and opportunities of your PFLAG chapter.

Hybrid Meetings/PFLAG Connects

As PFLAG chapters come out of “Zoom hibernation”, hybrid meetings are the perfect way to start thinking about in-person activities again. Come learn from your peers about how you can leverage your experiences from your virtual meetings, while still catering to your in-person audience!

From October 22-24, 2021, nearly 600 PFLAG leaders, members, and supporters from all 50 states--and more than 400 chapters--virtually participated in We Are the Change: The 2021 PFLAG National Convention, PFLAG’s biennial National Convention. For three days, participants networked, shared best practices, and learned strategies to fulfill the organizational mission of LGBTQ+ support, education, and advocacy within their communities.

Sponsoring We Are the Change: The PFLAG National Convention demonstrates your company or organization’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality. Your sponsorship provides a great opportunity for visibility among prominent leaders and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community. Through the complimentary registrations that are part of your sponsorship benefits, your employees will learn how to better support a workplace environment of inclusion that they can take back to your company.

For more information and to secure your partnership, contact Maggie Ardiente, Director of Development, at [email protected].

Presenting Sponsor: $25,000

  • “In Partnership With [Company Name]” in all pre-convention electronic marketing, event webpage, and sponsor scroll 

  • Verbal recognition at the Friday Opening Plenary and the Sunday Chapter Awards

  • Up to three minutes of pre-recorded speaking time or showcase of company’s DEI video during Opening Plenary

  • Promotional insert, brand product, or co-branded item in convention gift box (must be shipped by DATE, meet certain size dimensions, and be pre-approved by PFLAG)

  • Four (4) dedicated social media posts thanking sponsor leading up to convention

  • Two (2) social media posts thanking all sponsors leading up to convention

  • Twenty-five (25) complimentary convention registrations 

  • Virtual exhibit table

 

Premier Sponsor: $15,000

  • Stage recognition at the Friday Opening Plenary and the Sunday Chapter Awards

  • Logo in all pre-convention print and electronic marketing, event webpage, and sponsor scroll 

  • “Special Thanks to [Company Name]” on intro screen during Sunday Chapter Awards

  • Co-branded item in convention gift box (to be mutually determined by sponsor and PFLAG)

  • Three (3) dedicated social media posts thanking partner leading up to convention 

  • Two (2) social media posts thanking all sponsors leading up to convention

  • Twenty (20) complimentary convention registrations 

  • Virtual exhibit table

 

Ally: $10,000

  • Logo in all pre-convention print and electronic marketing, event webpage, and sponsor scroll 

  • “Special Thanks to [Company Name]” on intro screen during Saturday Plenary 

  • Two (2) dedicated social media posts thanking partner leading up to convention 

  • Two (2) social media posts thanking all sponsors leading up to convention

  • Fifteen (15) complimentary convention registrations 

  • Virtual exhibit table

 

Champion: $5,000

  • Logo/name in all pre-convention print and electronic marketing, event webpage, and sponsor scroll 

  • “Special Thanks to [Company Name]” on intro screen during one (1) PFLAG-led Workshop Session (as chosen by PFLAG National)

  • One (1) social media post thanking partner leading up to convention 

  • Two (2) social media posts thanking all sponsors leading up to convention

  • Ten (10) complimentary convention registrations

  • Virtual exhibit table 

 

Advocate: $2,500

  • Logo/name on event webpage and sponsor scroll 

  • Two (2) social media posts thanking all sponsors leading up to convention

  • Five (5) complimentary convention registrations

  • Virtual exhibit table

 

Friend: $1,000 

  • Logo/name on event webpage and sponsor scroll 

  • Two (2) complimentary convention registrations