Meeting With Elected Officials

Meeting with a lawmaker is one of the most powerful advocacy actions you can take, and an excellent way to begin building a lasting relationship. By sharing your lived experiences, you bring invaluable expertise on how legislation impacts you and your loved ones. With thoughtful preparation, these meetings can have a lasting impact.

PFLAG National is always happy to support you in preparing for your conversation, and keeping us informed also helps us track PFLAG advocacy efforts nationwide. Email the Advocacy Team at Advocacy@pflag.org to get support or—most importantly—to report out on your legislative meetings!

Here’s how to prepare for a meeting with a legislator.

During Your Meeting

• Introduce yourself. Mention that you are a constituent, as well as any ties you have to  your community, like your membership to a PFLAG chapter of PFLAG National.
• State the issue. Clearly explain the topic you’re there to discuss, and ask if your legislator or their staff is familiar with it. If they are not, that’s okay—your role is to provide information and help them understand the issue.
• Talk about the issue. Have one to two powerful talking points ready about the issue you’re addressing. See our issues area briefs for  support.
• Make it personal. Relate the issue and your ask to a personal experience and a local need. Use your passion and emotion to your benefit.
• Make the ask. Ask for your elected official to support or oppose the issue, policy, or legislation you have discussed, acknowledging that they may not feel ready to commit to your position yet, but ask that they keep an open mind. If you are speaking to a staffer, know that the staffer may not be able to commit to a policy stance on behalf of your elected official.
• Offer to be a resource. Leave behind materials, like issue briefs, and offer to follow up with additional resources after the meeting. If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t guess—promise to follow up with accurate information. Emphasize your commitment to maintaining an ongoing  relationship as a trusted LGBTQ+ community voice.
• End on a positive note. Conclude with a unifying or affirming message, and thank your elected official or their staff for their time.

After Your Meeting

• Offer Thanks. Send a note to your elected official thanking them for meeting with you. Restate any commitments made and reiterate your request.
• Follow Through. If you promised additional information for the lawmaker, be sure to include that along with your note. Offer again to be a resource to your elected official and stay connected with them.

Let PFLAG National Know. Email Advocacy@pflag.org to debrief your meeting and brainstorm next steps.