What to expect at our PFLAG meetings
Someone who is considering attending an Olympia chapter PFLAG meeting for the first time may be understandably nervous. It is natural to wonder: What's it like? What if I see people I know? Will I have to talk to everybody?
The Olympia chapter meets in a large meeting room in a local church. At the inside door there is a sign-in table where everyone can sign in, get a nametag, and sign up to get our newsletter. There is a member there to welcome new and old members alike. The library is usually set up early, so before we start people can look at our collection of books, pamphlets, videos, and other items there or visit with each other. If you see people that you know, it's good to remember that if they are at a PFLAG meeting the chances are they have a similar reason for being there as you do.
The meeting starts with everyone sitting in a circle. The chapter president or another designated member explains the format and reminds everyone that everything said is confidential. Then we do a round of introductions where we encourage people to briefly say who they are, why they are with us, and relate any special news they may care to share. Typically between 20 and 35 people attend the meetings. During introductions no one is expected to say anything more than they absolutely want to.
After the introductions there are announcements, which may be advocacy related or community events. Then we break into two groups. We have a lot of glbt (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered) members, and they stay in that meeting room for support with each other while parents, family members and straight allies go to another part of the building for some time together. We started splitting like this because we sometimes have had parents who were in the beginning of their journey, and they seemed to need time apart from our glbt members (but with knowledgeable straight allies) to not feel so embarrassed and uncomfortable with all they were struggling with or what they didn't know. This is a time where - if they want - people can talk about personal concerns in a smaller group with people who may have gone through similar experiences. Our glbt members use this time in a similar way, and may focus on issues like dealing with their families, coming out, etc.
After the support time we get back together and have some time for snacks, socializing and checking out the chapter library. Then the last hour or so is for our program, which may be a guest speaker, watching a video, a discussion on a specific topic or some special event.
We meet on holidays if the meeting falls on one. In August we have a picnic at a local park - it's a potluck and it runs about an hour and a half longer than our regular meetings. We invite other nearby PFLAG chapters, other local glbt groups, and friends and allies to join us for that picnic.
We hope you will join us!
Also read: Frequently Asked Questions about PFLAG-Olympia Meetings, and please answer our online survey: What can we do to make it better?
or return to the Olympia PFLAG homepage