The people who are at PFLAG meetings are everyday people. We come from various backgrounds, occupations, and age groups. Some of us have gone through similar experiences to what you may be facing with your LGBTQ+ loved one. Sometimes we are still struggling with being a parent or family member of a loved one who is LGBTQ+. Many of us come to PFLAG just to share stories and enjoy the company of other PFLAG members. Many of us have had to struggle with being LGBTQ+ or having an LGBTQ+ child, and being in a church or temple that rejects LGBTQ+ people. You are welcome at PFLAG. We will support you.

No. You can drop into our meetings which run year-round, no matter what.

Everyone! There are many different types of people who come to PFLAG meetings. All are welcome. You will always have a home with PFLAG, whether you want support now or whether you'd like to stick around for a while!

The people who are at PFLAG meetings are everyday people and come from various backgrounds, occupations, and age groups.

Everyone comes to PFLAG meetings for different reasons.

Parents and family members come to get support from other parents and family members who have been through similar experiences.

Spouses of LGBTQ+ persons come because they want to support their spouses and their families.

Allies and friends come to meetings to:

* support a friend who is LGBTQ+

* learn how to handle LGBTQ+ issues that face them in today’s society, and how to advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ people

* learn what transgender or non-binary gender is all about.

* to connect with other folks in their community who care about and are working for equal rights for LGBTQ+ folks

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) people come to a PFLAG meeting:

* to learn from other family members and allies how they can tell the people in their own lives that they are LGBTQ+.

* to help other people adjust to the news that someone they know is LGBTQ+.

* to create a family of choice to replace the family they lost when they came out.

We understand that it can be difficult to be a newcomer and to come to a meeting for the first time. We’ve been through that experience. We'll try to arrange a meeting with an experienced PFLAG member so you can talk about your experience prior to your joining us in one of our regular monthly meetings. This is often just a casual get-together over a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop. Some people bring their friends or someone else they trust to PFLAG meetings. We welcome anyone who walks through our PFLAG door.

PFLAG members talk about all kinds of things. Some share the news that their LGBTQ+ child or loved one has come out to their family. Others may know or suspect their child or loved one is LGBTQ+, but their child hasn't come out to them yet. You might hear people discuss concerns about family members, friends, or co-workers who are not accepting of LGBTQ individuals. It's common to hear how someone has become much more aware of LGBTQ+ inequality and the insults they witness in their everyday lives. We'll sometimes share news stories affecting LGBTQ+ individuals and/or the community.

No matter what your individual story is, you may like to hear what other people have done regarding their own "coming out" about having an LGBTQ+ child or loved one. It's not uncommon to share feelings of grief or a sense of mourning over the hope and dreams we had pictured for the future. It's so very helpful to hear from those who went through this a long time ago and share all the happy stories of how it truly gets better... way better!

No. We take time to celebrate our loved ones. We talk, we enjoy each other’s company, and we have great refreshments! We also always support those who are struggling, since we've all had our own struggles and know how helpful it is to have someone to talk to who understands what we're dealing with.

People come as often as they want. You are under no obligation to attend every PFLAG meeting, ever. We hope that you find the PFLAG chapter a welcoming and interesting community. If a meeting is not the right event for you right now, we host several social events throughout the year and we would love for you to join us! Check our website and sign up for our newsletter for details.

It's common to have people come back because they want to give support to others who are coming to a PFLAG meeting for the first time.

Not all meetings are the same. If a PFLAG meeting is not what you expected, let us know. We can give you feedback on whether you experienced a "typical" meeting or not. If you didn’t feel you got what you needed from a PFLAG meeting, we encourage you to talk with a PFLAG board member to make sure that we hear your story and your concerns. That's how we can best ensure we're meeting the needs of our members.

You don’t have to be an official dues-paying member, but we hope you will consider supporting PFLAG by joining the chapter. Membership supports the chapter’s expenses and helps cover the cost of our initiatives.

You can also support the chapter by making donations or volunteering your time.