Black / African American Community

PFLAG Connects: Communities is a program of PFLAG National, offering safe, virtual support meetings for people with shared backgrounds and experiences. These meetings serve as opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community, parents, and families, to gain support, ask questions, and learn from others who have been through similar experiences. Visit PFLAG Connects: Communities for more details on all support group offerings.

PFLAG Connects: Black/African American Community meetings are open to parents, family members, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who identify as Black, African American, or as part of the Black Diaspora.

These meetings are only available for individuals 18 years of age or older. For assistance in locating local support for those 18 and under, please contact your nearest PFLAG chapter by visiting pflag.org/find.

PFLAG Connects: Communities meetings begin with a welcome and introduction to the PFLAG Connects: Communities Program. Then, the host and facilitators will introduce themselves, and review the meeting ground rules with the participants.

The facilitators then introduce suggested meeting topics and/or allow participants to introduce themselves.

Finally, the space is open for anyone who has something to share or a question for the group—attendees are always welcome to just listen!

The ground rules and norms for every support group meeting are:

• Be honest about your feelings and thoughts
• Use “I” statements
• Listen to actually listen, not to respond
• Turn off electronics to avoid distractions/disruptions
• Respect everyone’s time and ideas and share the space
• Respect confidentiality
• Do not record audio or video of the session at any time

Hosts may invite participants to share any additional ground rules or norms for consideration during the meeting.

We pride ourselves in meeting individuals where they are in their journey of accepting and supporting their LGBTQ+ loved ones and friends. Participants are not required to participate in discussions but are encouraged to consider sharing once they feel comfortable.

Step 1: Select the PFLAG Connects: Communities meeting that you identify with.

Step 2: Fill out and submit the registration form.

Step 3: Save the confirmation email you will receive immediately following registration.

Step 4: Join the meeting on time. You may join the waiting room up to 10 minutes before the start time. At the scheduled start time, the host will begin admitting participants to the meeting room. Twenty (20) minutes after the meeting’s starting time, the host will lock the meeting and no more participants will be admitted.

We understand if you are running a little late. Please note that meetings will be locked 20 minutes after the scheduled start time to avoid interrupting active discussions.

In the event that you get dropped from a meeting due to technical issues, please respond to your confirmation email and ask to be let back in. The host will follow up with instructions for rejoining the meeting.

PFLAG Connects: Communities meetings are open to individuals that identify with select populations or identities and who are seeking support and/or community. While PFLAG is a welcoming place for allies to every community, PFLAG Connects: Communities creates safe meeting spaces for people who are not allied with a community, unless they are also part of that community.

For assistance in identifying general local support, please contact your closest PFLAG chapter by visiting pflag.org/find.

PFLAG Connects: Communities meetings are open to individuals that identify with select populations or identities and who are seeking support and/or community. While PFLAG is a welcoming place for allies to every community, PFLAG Connects: Communities creates safe meeting spaces for people who are not allied with a community, unless they are also part of that community.

To access a library of resources for both allies and members of the LGTBQ+ community visit https://pflag.org/find-resources.