1814
0
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a month in which people in the community affirm their identities, celebrate their culture, demonstrate their solidarity and assert their humanity. 39 percent of LGBTQ+ young people considered suicide in the past year, including 46 percent of transgender and nonbinary young people. More than 1 in 10 LGBTQ+ young people attempted suicide.
Now more than ever, inclusion and visibility matter. At PFLAG, we are deeply committed to serving members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies and working together to create an equitable and safe world. Volunteers with PFLAG are always happy to connect with individuals and families to help them take steps to being a stronger, more empowered ally.
Many are not yet familiar with PFLAG, but our history is vast and important. PFLAG was founded over 50 years ago in New York’s Greenwich Village, just steps from the historic Stonewall Inn. What began as a small group of parents advocating for the rights and safety of their children, has grown into the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. Currently there are over 400 chapters across the US. In Georgia alone, we’ve grown to 16 separate vibrant and active chapters.
Our Peachtree City chapter reaches our expanded community, serving Fayette, Coweta, and Spalding counties. The work today includes fighting for intersectional justice, fostering community outreach, building meaningful connections through support meetings and social gatherings, offering resources to individuals and businesses seeking to support their LGBTQ+ friends, colleagues, and family members, and advocating for just, equitable, and inclusive legislation and policies. LGBTQ+ people and those who love them know firsthand the impact of discriminatory laws, and no one is better suited to advocate against harmful legislation than PFLAG members and supporters. We can assist in securing LGBTQ+ health resources and providing the tools needed to thrive, succeed, and live their best life.
Our chapter’s involvement stretches beyond just that. We work to engage with our community to broaden the minds of those who may not understand just how important LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms are. In addition to our monthly support meetings, we offer community based events where both queer people and allies can come together and share in activities like book club, board game nights, and crafting events to build stronger relationships and community.
Our PFLAG chapter also offers a Helping Hands fund, where we can support the members of our chapter with emergency funds to assist them in times of crisis. This fund encourages LBGTQ+ members to live freely and without fear. It’s so important to us to commit to outreach for those who are not provided the same kind of support they may need in their day to day life. It is our honor to provide support to LGBTQ+ members of our chapter, while advocating for them both inside and outside of our organization.
We also work with specific groups in regard to their allyship. Grandparent, Latina, Military, Black, and the AAPI community are each given space to volunteer and contribute to issues facing the LGBTQ+ members of their population. We’d love to connect with anyone looking for resources, guidance, or support. PFLAG Peachtree City can be found online at pflagptc.org and on Facebook and Instagram.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.