Looking for ways to keep the conversation going about LGBTQ+ issues with your ERG, community group, or PFLAG chapter? Welcome to Something to Talk About, a monthly series designed by PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program to...
Talking Inclusively: December 2019
Welcome to Talking Inclusively, a monthly series designed by PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program to create conversation about intersectionality, LGBTQ+ issues, inclusion and more! Each month we’ll offer an article on diverse topics and suggest a few questions that you can...
Blog
When Someone Comes Out: A PFLAGers Guide to Demonstrating Support and Acceptance
The term “coming out” has become so mainstream that many people assume that the word—and the actions it entails—are simple. However PFLAGers know that it can still be a harrowing...
On Demand
February 27, 2019
The Unknown Depths of a Parent's Love
You never know how much love you have for your child until you’re challenged. Being a southern Black woman from a traditional background prepared me to raise my children well, but when one of my children came out to me...
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February 25, 2019
PFLAG National Responds to UMC Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, PFLAG National—the nation’s first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their families, and allies—issued the followin
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Training Toolkit: When Someone Comes Out: Demonstrating Support and Acceptance
Thank you for joining PFLAG National's learning session! On this page, you'll find additional resources to expand your learning -- and hopefully help answer any questions that you may have.
PFLAG...
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January 2, 2019
PFLAG Helps Teen Come Out
"His dad’s acceptance evolved rather quickly. Within a year of Adams transition, Mr. Miller was attending PFLAG meetings regularly and even marched in Atlanta’s Pride parade with the PFLAG chapter."
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December 16, 2018
Just one gay acquaintance can change hearts and minds on LGBTQ rights
"Those who were previously opposed or ambivalent about gay and lesbian people can change their hearts and minds," Owen said.
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September 27, 2018
Three mothers form South Bay chapter of PFLAG
"Linda Reeves, along with two other mothers of gay children — Cindy Byrne and Tina Sarafa — will soon launch the first Manhattan Beach and South Bay chapter"
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Talking Inclusively: December 2018
Welcome to Talking Inclusively, a monthly series designed by PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program to create conversation about intersectionality, LGBTQ issues, inclusion and more! Each month we’ll offer an article on diverse topics and suggest a few questions that you...
Blog
Sam Thoron, former PFLAG president, dies at 79
Sam Thoron sold insurance and raced sports cars — but he was better known for changing the lives of thousands of straight families with gay children.
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Family Acceptance Within Families of Color
In January 2018 the “Best-in-Show” series began, featuring the highest rated sessions from the PFLAG National Convention in Portland, OR. This month we're joined by chapter leaders from PFLAG chapters...
On Demand
Training Toolkit: Family Acceptance within Families of Color
Thanks for participating in “Family Acceptance Within Families of Color” with Marsha, Kelly, Monica, and Sheila. One of our key goals is to help you take the information that you...
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PFLAG National Board Member Susan Thronson "Won't Be Denied"
"Family acceptance for LGBTQ youth who face homelessness and attempt suicide at tragic and unacceptable levels.
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Keeping Siblings Seen and Supported with Dr. Anderson and Mr. Doherty
Gender diversity impacts everyone in a family. When a family stands out for any reason, each member is likely to handle this differently. In the community, siblings of gender...
On Demand
Nuestros Seres Queridos Trans: Una Nueva Traducción al Español
Estamos muy orgullosos de anunciar el primero de nuestras nuevas traducciones actualizadas en Español de todas nuestras publicaciones nacionales de PFLAG. La miembro de la junta Isolda Atayde lidera el...
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Disney's ANDI MACK: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Self-Acceptance
ANDI MACK, an immensely popular show on the Disney Channel, has its season two premiere this Friday night (8pm ET/PT)...and is a ground-breaking episode: One of the lead characters begins a coming-out process that will continue throughout the season.
If...
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Coming Out Day 2017: Creating the Safety and Extended Family Support System We Need
It’s National Coming Out Day, and PFLAG is thrilled to celebrate our own coming out day--nearly 45 years ago--alongside all of the amazing LGBTQ people in queer history, in our networks, and across the nation, who have had the strength...
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Gender Basics for Parents with Joel Baum
Discussions of gender are everywhere these days. Unfortunately, these discussions can leave us more confused than ever. Whether for your own information, or to help you support parents of...
On Demand
Happy #BiWeek... What Will YOU Do?
I was really fortunate to come into national LGBTQ work as the Bi movement was exploding.
Some of my first friendships in my now 30-year life in DC were with intrepid Bi activists. I watched Bi leaders fight for inclusion...
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August 27, 2017
#ParentsComingOut Coverage
PFLAG's #ParentsComingOut video, in partnership with 3M, was shared far and wide, not just in social media but in the press too!
Here's just some of that coverage:
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A Note to My Kid: #ParentsComingOut
Family support makes a transformative difference in the lives of people who come out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. And when parents and families share their stories--coming out in support of their LGBTQ children and loved ones--they not...
Blog
July 10, 2017
PFLAG and other pro-LGBT organizations advocate at Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting
Liz Owen, director of communications for PFLAG National, attended the Phoenix event and says it confirmed that LGBT acceptance is a value that r
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PFLAGers Take Pride
For the past month, parades, marches, festivals, workshops, picnics, and parties have taken place around the world to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, which honors the Stonewall riots which took place in 1969 in New York City. PFLAGers...
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Parents: Quick Tips for Supporting Your LGBTQ Kids--and YOURSELF--During the Coming-Out Process
When a loved one comes out, reactions vary, from “Now that I know, what can I do to support my child?” to “How will I ever handle this?” For some people, it’s a combination of these two reactions…and more. There...
Blog
Health Risk Behaviors among Gender Expansive Students with Alison Gill
In addition to transgender youth, gender expansive (also called gender nonconforming or nonbinary) youth are receiving a great deal of attention in the media and among educators and policymakers. However,...
On Demand
April 20, 2017
Trans Student's Journey to Activist...and President of PFLAG Pasadena
Today, Aiden, 28, is pursuing his master’s degree, married, and is an activist in the LGBTQ community as president of the Pasadena chapter of PFLAG, an advocacy group.
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Training Toolkit: Powerful Partnerships...Making Diversity & Inclusion Successful in PFLAG Chapters
Thanks for participating in PFLAG National’s Powerful Partnerships...Making Diversity & Inclusion Successful in PFLAG Chapters. One of our key goals is to help you take the information that you learned...
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January 16, 2017
Psychology Today Recommends PFLAG on Blog
This is a national support and advocacy group primarily for parents of LGBT people that has hundreds of local chapters, so there is likely to be one near you.
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Welcome, REAL O'NEALS Fans!
Welcome to fans of The Real O'Neals! We're so glad you're watching the show, and so glad you found us here at PFLAG.
...
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December 17, 2016
Psychology Today Suggests PFLAG to Readers
Show support and acceptance of your child even if you are struggling with your feelings...You can join your local chapter of PFLAG to find groups and activities that support gay, lesbian, bisexual
news
December 15, 2016
Organizations Provide Holiday Assistance for At-Risk LGBTQ Youth
Elizabeth Kohm, the organization's interim executive director, told NBC Out PFLAG begins to think about its holiday strategy as early as September.
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December 9, 2016
A PFLAG Founder Remembered: Adele Starr
Just as it would be impossible to tell the story of PFLAG without telling the story of founder Jeanne Manford, it would be impossible to tell the story of PFLAG National without telling the story of Adele Starr. So we...
Blog
November 29, 2016
OK Gazette Profile of PFLAG RD Kay Holladay
When Kay Holladay’s son David came out to his family at age 16, there were no tears or confusion and there was no teeth-gnashing or condemnation.
news
September 6, 2016
Dear Abby Recommends PFLAG
DEAR ABBY: I'm a 26-year-old who is about to come out as transgender. I was born a male and will be transitioning into a female.
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Our Children
OUR CHILDREN offers a fresh eye for families and others about what to do when a loved ones comes out.
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LDS Church and Suicide Prevention
This past November, LDS church leaders declared those in same-sex marriages apostates. The resolution prevents children of such couples from becoming church members or partaking in baptism until after the...
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May 17, 2016
NQAPIA’s API Family Acceptance Campaign
Right on the heels of Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month, the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) has just announced the launc
news
Copyright and Marriage Equality Act
This bill redefines “widow” and “widower” in federal copyright law to include surviving spouses in all legal marriages valid at time of death for the...
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The Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act
The Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act amends sections of Title 38 of the US Code to give all LGBTQ veterans and their families access to their VA benefits regardless of their...
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Every Child Deserves a Family Act (ECDF)
ECDF would prohibit any child welfare service provider receiving federal assistance and involved in adoption or foster care placements from...
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Adoption and Foster Parenting
Marriage equality became the law of the land with the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States on June 26th, 2015. Yet for same-sex...
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Faith In Our Families
Discovering that a loved one is LGBTQ+ can pose new questions about your faith and may prompt you to re-evaluate beliefs that you previously took for granted. By using personal...
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One Mother's Voice: PFLAG Cofounder Recalls Group's Beginnings
One mother's support and acceptance of her gay son led to the creation of a national support group for gays, lesbians and their families.
Jeanne Manford needs few words to make the most complex questions simple. "I loved him," she...
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Recommended Reading: Coming Out
The reading list below is an excellent starting point in your coming-out journey ahead, since many of the titles listed cover the process both for those who are navigating a...
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Faith FAQ
For many people of faith, coming out or learning a loved one has come out can bring up several questions. PFLAG offers some answers, advice, and considerations for working through these difficult questions.
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Meet Another 2015 PFLAG National Scholar!
In our most recent edition of the PFLAGPole (Winter 2016), we were excited to highlight some of the LGBTQ and ally youth who received scholarships from PFLAG National and our funding partners, including Dow (GLAD)...
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A note from Mormon mom Kathleen to her friend Emily
When her son Charlie* came out publicly, Mormon mom Kathleen* received mostly positive feedback,
...Blog
A letter from Laurin to her son, Danny
I tell my son I love him all the time. I also tell him that I'm very...
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A letter to my unborn child...
Dear...you:
Yes you, you in there, the one who keeps kicking me, and whose hiccups I'm feeling all the time (are you drinking in there??), and whose sonogram started out looking a bit like a kidney bean and now looks...
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A gay son's open letter to his parents...can this rift heal?
Normally the letters we share are uplifting, supportive, affirmative...unconditionally loving. Today, however, we're sharing an article about this letter from gay blogger Patrick Bradley--which was originally published by Out magazine--courtesy of our friends at...
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S4E: Allies and the Holidays
Holiday time can be incredible--seeing family and friends, parties, gift exchanges. At the same time, they can be stressful when we find ourselves sharing space with people whose opinions on LGBT equality are…well, not exactly where we’d hope they’d...
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Until I See Skylar Again...
We are proud to share this piece from PFLAG mom and National board member Marsha Aizumi, though heartbroken that we have to. With thanks to Huffington Post Gay Voices, where it was originally posted.
***
There are...
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Mom gives trans daughter a wonderful surprise
Late last month, a mom gave her teenage trans daughter a wonderful surprise...a gift she had been waiting a very long time for.
Said mom in the description of the video she shared of the moment on...
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Family, Faith and PFLAG
Today, we hear from our Executive Director, Jody Huckaby, about his experience attending the Pope's visit to the White House.
I took the day yesterday to spend time with my sister, Joan. We started the day at 3:30 AM...
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A Note from Lizbeth About Her Sibling
We received the following note just yesterday, and thought it was a perfect sentiment to share here on...
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Two East-Coast Gender Conferences Began With One PFLAG Family’s Dream
In 2008, we were reeling from learning that our 15 year old “son” identified as a trans girl. I was desperate for support for my child, myself, and my family. We felt alone and frightened and had not yet found...
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A note from Amy to her daughter, M
Dear M,
Today marks one year that your life changed. That our family's life changed. Our foundation shook just like the steps of your school bus as you sprinted home on your last day of 4th grade. This was the...
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A letter from Brynn to her daughter, Eleanore
Brynn Tannehill is a research scientist, advocate for transgender inclusion in the military and writer. Brynn and her wife, Janis, recently moved to Washington, D.C., with their three children.
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Huffington Post: I'm A Mormon Mom Taking A Stand For All The Gay Kids In Our Church
We had to share this lovely--and loving--piece, originally published over at the Huffington Post Religion vertical, from Diane Oviatt, a pediatric oncology nurse and an active church member working with the children in her local congregation.
When her...
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Being Transgender for Our Child
Six months ago, our ten year old began to identify as transgender. This after spending years trying to explain it and find a way to fit in at school and...
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A Note to Logan from "Proud Mom" Carly
Carly originally shared this letter on her blog, and we're honored to share it here as well. Thanks, Carly!
I will start by saying that this Journey has not...
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Another visit with Mimi Lemay and her son, Jacob
Back in March, we were so honored to share this beautiful letter from Mimi Lemay
...Blog
A Note From Marsha to Her Son, Stefen
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| Marsha Aizumi with Stefen, her straight ally son |
Dear...
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A Letter to Jacob From His Mom, Mimi
This is an extraordinary and powerful letter, that we are so grateful to its author to be able share with you today. It was originally posted here, at medium.com.
Thank you, Mimi, for sharing your story--and your letter to...
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A Letter to My (Possible) Son...from mom
This piece, by writer Lily Burana, was originally published by Dame Magazine. Thanks to Dame and Ms. Burana for letting us share it with you here at A Note to My Kid. To hear more...
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A message of hope and love from the mom of a transgender youth
As a facilitator for Trans Youth Education and Support (TYES), an affiliate of PFLAG, I hear and observe incredible transition stories every day: the young child who hated having his picture taken before he transitioned, who immediately afterward...
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The Thorons: A Legacy of Love
Today we hear from Jeff Johnson, a Communications and Policy intern with PFLAG National. Jeff had the opportunity to meet with longtime PFLAG leaders Sam and Julia Thoron. Following is his report on their journey to becoming dedicated PFLAG leaders,...
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A revised birth announcement for Kai Bergert, from his parents Yolanda and Guy
Normally, we would hate to print a retraction. But when it's THIS kind of retraction, well, how can we resist?
Yolanda Bogert and Guy Kershaw...
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A Note to Dear Abby From 'Hurting in Houston'
PFLAG is grateful to have a long and lovely history with Dear Abby. In fact, it was she...
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A Note to Miles From his Mom, Erika
Dear Miles:
I think you already know how proud I am of you, and daddy feels the same way. You're a smart, funny, hard-working, and talented young man. You're also a...
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Do Unto Others: An Open Letter from Violet About Her Gender Nonconforming Child
We're honored to share this open letter from Violet, the mom of a gender nonconforming child. Her words are powerful, moving...and we thank her for letting us share them here.
...
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And then sometimes, the kid supports the parents...
We got this sweet video from Lance, whose mom Leslie is the Vice President of PFLAG Fresno. Lance surprised his mom by driving from his home in LA up to Fresno to march with her in the Fresno Pride...
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To My Son. From Me. Your Mom.
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A note to my beautiful daughter Becca, from Jill
Dearest Becca,
I want to begin by saying how proud I am to be your mom and how impressed I am by your bravery and...
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A son comes out to his mother...but it's not her reaction to his news that is the surprise!
This video has gone viral in the last two weeks, and we aren't surprised! Well, not as surprised as Hayden Smith, the nervous young star of this raw footage, who decided to record his mother's reaction to him coming out....
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A dad’s surprising response to his gay son’s heartwrenching ‘coming out’
Today, courtesy of our friends at lgbtqnation, we bring you this wonderful letter to James from...
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Video: Speak Up with Jimmy Nguyen
Okay, perhaps this is a bit meta, but we couldn't resist sharing this HuffPo video, Digitially Speaking. Why? Because it's all about notes to LGBTQ kids from their parents, and it features A Note to My Kid!
With thanks to...
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A letter from one dad to Michael Sam's dad
Our letter today comes to us courtesy of our friends at outsports.com. Like most of you, we were disappointed to hear that the NFL's first openly gay player, Michael Sam, was cut from the Rams. As we...
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A Letter to my Dad, from Kristin
Today at ANTMK we have a special letter, from Kristin Beck to her dad. Kristin is a former US Navy SEAL who gained public attention in 2013 when she came out as a transgender woman. As an activist and advocate...
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A Letter to Blake From His Mom, Susan
Dear Blake,
You are the bravest person I have...
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A Letter to the World from Debi about Her Trans Kid
We received, via Facebook, a note in the form of a video link, asking us to take a watch and a listen as a woman took on the myths about transgender kids.
We watched and, well needless to say, we...
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An oldie but a goodie...A letter from Dad to Nate
It's not quite Throwback Thursday yet, but we couldn't resist revisiting this wonderful letter from a dad in Michigan, to his high-school age son, Nate.
The note first appeared on the Facebook page of an anti-homophobia organization, then went immediately viral....
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To Annie From Her Mom, Vanessa: God Is Great, and Annie is Awesome!
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| Annie and her mom, Vanessa |
...
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From RAISING MY RAINBOW: This Is How A Father Should Love
Normally we don't share other blog posts here at A Note to My Kid. But this was such a special post, from one special parent to another, we couldn't resist. We hear so often about the mothers...this Father's Day post was just to gorgeous to ignore.
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A Note from Dad to Holly: Beautiful Blonde Hair of June
My daughter recently posted an Instagram that I want to respond to. Now I won't...
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A Note to Mom and Dad From Pete
Mom and Dad,
I know you don't support me or who I am and I currently feel that you never will, although I hope that one day you and the rest of our extremely large family will come around....
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A Poem to Tristan from Mom
We received the following via email:
Hello. My name is Dawn Jaksons and I'm a PFLAG mom in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Our son came out to us when he was 14. We told him we loved him no matter what. Accepting
...
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Dear Abby Gives A Special Shout-Out to PFLAG Lubbock!
The relationship between PFLAG and advice columnist superstar Dear Abby goes back years. In fact, in the early 1980s when her syndicated column mentioned PFLAG as a resource for parents of gay children, PFLAG’s National Office--which at the time was the...
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A Note to Jacob from Dad
Jacob, I write this letter to you to let you know just how much I Love you.
I wish there was another word besides ‘Love’ to say because I feel the word love has lost it’s true meaning, It has...
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