PFLAG-National – Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a USA national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 350 affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots network is cultivated, resourced and serviced by the PFLAG National Office in Washington, D.C. (“the other Washington”) with a national Board of Directors and 13 Regional Directors. They have an interactive map of chapters on the website.
PFLAG National has a YouTube channel: PFLAG: A Journey of Love
Pacific Northwest PFLAG – a five-state region including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon & Washington. The site has a list of state chapters with contact information and events. It also has vision & mission statements, military support, a list of books providing more information; internet resources listing general & youth websites, transgender websites, intersex websites & faith support websites.
The listserv allows PFLAG members in Washington State to communicate ideas and events through email which are important to all Washington PFLAG chapters. See http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PFLAG-WA-State/
Also is a listserv for the region (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon & Washington). This is a moderated group, so all messages posted to the group will be approved by one of the region moderators before being mailed to the entire group. To join the group, send an email to .
Straight for Equality is a national outreach and education program created in 2007 by PFLAG National to empower new allies who, unlike a more traditional PFLAG member, don’t necessarily have a family connection to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, providing interactive and engaging ally training, resources, programs, and more for allies committed to creating diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplaces and communities. http://www.straightforequality.org/
7 in 10 people have a gay relative or friend.
Find out how you can help support them and make your corner of the world just a little (or a lot) better.
For Parents, Guardians and Family Members of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Two-Spirit, Transgender, Intersex or Questioning Youth – an excellent brochure composed in 2011 by Carolyn Wagner, past vice-president of PFLAG National, with input from many parents who have known and experienced the challenges and blessings of raising a child whose sexual orientation and/or gender identity is different from their parents, edited by Gabi Clayton.
Two versions – one to read online, one to download and print with room for your organization’s name and information on the back page.
Formatted for printing (134 KB pdf format)
Formatted for reading online (113 KB pdf format)
School Climate Survey – a survey to give out to students at your school. Created by PFLAG-Olympia, inspired by GSA Network with our thanks! (pdf format)
School Climate Survey For Teachers, Staff & Personnel – a survey to give out to schoolteachers, administrators, staff and personnel, created by Gabi Clayton, inspired by GSA Network with our thanks! (pdf format)
Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA Network) is a next-generation racial and gender justice organization that trains Trans, Queer, Two Spirit and allied youth leaders to organize an intersectional movement for safer schools and healthier communities. GSAs are here to stay.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) National Help Center – Peer support staffed by trained LGBTQIA+ identified community members, never bots or Ai ; a safe space; respect to those who seek our help; acceptance and affirmation; supportive listening, not advice; answers to factual questions; resources locally, nationally, and internationally. We do this every day we are open through our hotlines, online chat programs, email services, and publicly accessible online databases of resources. Nationwide (USA), toll-free information, referral and peer-counseling line for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning people of all ages.
Tapestry, PFLAG-Olympia’s Outreach Project for African American History Month
In July 2009 PFLAG-Olympia was chosen to participate in PFLAG National’s new diversity outreach pilot program, Tapestry! We put together a program on Bayard Rustin and Black History Month and this resource packet. (pdf format – may need to be downloaded to be seen properly)
The GLBTQ Trivia Game – We played this at our January 2008 meeting instead of having a program. Everyone learned some things, and it led to some great discussion. The questions are from information we gathered in various places. We played it by having one person read the questions and we went around in a circle for answers, then if that person didn’t know we opened it up to others. After answer(s) were given the person reading the questions confirmed what was said or read the answer on the sheet.
Other Resources
TransFamilies inspires hope for parents of gender diverse children by providing them with the guidance, understanding, and community they need to best honor their child’s unique gender pathway. TransFamilies is a nonprofit organization that has been supporting transgender people and their families since 2008. Formerly called Gender Diversity, we are also the force behind the annual conference Gender Odyssey. Today, we run parent support groups, a trans youth leadership program, special topics groups, and youth support groups, with more programs in development. Before COVID-19, our groups were all in person. Now they are all online, here, available for families everywhere.
Capital City Pride
– Olympia, Washington. Serving as the watershed event of the year, Pride Day marks the civil rights gains in the past year, showcases youth activists new to community work, and honors long time activists for their enduring commitments. On a more personal level, Pride Day is often a mixture of all the milestone events of life wrapped into one, becoming in a sense our Mardi Gras, our 4th of July parade, our biggest political rally, our homecoming, our community-wide ice cream social to bring our families to.
COLAGE – COLAGE unites people with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and/or asexual parent into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture and empower each other to be skilled, self-confident, and just leaders in our collective communities.
Gender Alliance of the South Sound (GASS) – Tacoma, WA – a support and social group for crossdressers, transsexuals and other transgendered individuals, serving Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap and King counties in Washington state – Tacoma, Olympia, Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, Puyallup, Bremerton, Sumner… or any of the other cities in the South Puget Sound region. G.A.S.S. meets regularly in downtown Tacoma and is open to all individuals who wish to learn more about their own unique inner self, and to meet and mingle with others who are likewise on this voyage of discovery. We welcome anyone upon the vast transgender spectrum: crossdressers, transsexuals M-to-F and F-to-M), intersexed individuals, as well as spouses, significant others, friends and family.
LGBT Veterans Health Service – Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health care services. High quality, respectful, personalized care. All veterans welcome. For more information contact Katy McDermott, LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator, (206) 277-3233. Click here for informational brochure.
GLSTEN– Comprehensive Policies, Supportive Educators, Youth Engagement, and Inclusive Curriculum form the pillars of Glisten’s work. When in place, LGBTQ+ youth experience less harassment and discrimination and do better in school. Glisten’s national and local public policy work advocates for policies that guarantee youth’s right to quality and equitable education. Educators play a vital role in protecting LGBTQ+ youth from harassment and implementing an inclusive curriculum.
Generation LGBTQIA– New York Times article by Michael Schulman, published January 9, 2013 – ”If the gay-rights movement today seems to revolve around same-sex marriage, this generation is seeking something more radical: an upending of gender roles beyond the binary of male/female. The core question isn’t whom they love, but who they are – that is, identity as distinct from sexual orientation.”
Pizza Klatch offers facilitated support for GLBTQ youth and their allies in Thurston County, Washington. The support is offered during high school lunch periods, with free pizza, to provide a convenient and safe forum for the discussion of topics important to these youths. Pizza Klatch is a grassroots collaboration between school counselors, faculty, and GSAs (Gay Straight Alliance clubs) from Timberline and North Thurston High Schools; therapists in the community (including an LICSW who consults and supervises all the facilitators every month); PIPE (Partners in Prevention Education); Stonewall Youth; and St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church.
Pride Foundation – a donor-supported community foundation which supports transformative philanthropy through programs and initiatives – scholarships, grants, advocacy, and community leadership – that help people find joy and strength. Through in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington State, Pride Foundation donors and volunteers are helping transform our communities and culture.
Safe Olympia – Learn about the Olympia Police Department’s Safe Olympia Initiative to reduce hate crimes against our lesbian, gay, transgender and questioning visitors and residents.
Sound Alliance of Older LGBTQ+ (SAOL) (formerly known as SAGE Olympia) promotes the wellness of LGBTQ elders in the Thurston County area, with a range of services and activities. See them on their website here and on Facebook here.
Stonewall Youth – Founded in 1991, Stonewall Youth is a youth-led organization that empowers LGBTQ2S+ youth to speak for themselves, support each other, educate our communities, and work for social justice. “Most of our programming is for youth age 21 and under. We periodically host drop-ins and other activities for youth ages 18-24. We serve three primarily rural counties in southwestern Washington: Thurston, Mason, and Lewis.”