Welcome to PFLAG Phoenix — Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Officially, that’s our name. However, the name does not accurately represent what PFLAG is all about. Since PFLAG’s beginnings back in 1973, our vision and mission have grown and so has the diversity of the people we serve. Today, our name really should be “Parents, Families, and Friends of/and Lesbians and Gays…and Bisexual, Transgender, and ‘Questioning’ Individuals” — but, who can pronounce “PFLAGBTQI”?!? So, until a better name comes along, we’ll just hang onto the original moniker, “PFLAG” and the acronym “LGBTQ+” when referring to our ever-widening spectrum of diversity. We invite you now to sit back, relax, and explore our information-packed website!.
So what is PFLAG’s vision and mission? So glad you asked!
PFLAG’s Vision and Mission
PFLAG’s Vision:
We, the parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize this vision.
PFLAG’s Mission:
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through:
- support, to cope with an adverse society
- education, to enlighten an ill-informed public
- advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights
PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
Who We Are
- We are the Phoenix/Valley of the Sun chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), a non-sectarian, non-
profit, 501c3 tax-exempt grassroots organization. Our chapter was established on November 18, 1978. (That’s our beloved Boots Reed pictured on the cover of AHRF News, showing off her dazzling Pride hat. Boots and her also-beloved husband, Ray, were two of the original Phoenix chapter members and are former chapter presidents.) - We are an all-volunteer organization made up of mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and supporters of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and “questioning” (GLBTQ) individuals. GLBTQ men and women also participate and are welcome in our organization. [Note: We use the acronyms “GLBT” and “GLBTQ” synonymously with the catch-all term “gay” for brevity throughout our website, unless otherwise indicated.]
- Our members come from all walks of life and all areas of the Valley, and together we represent most religious backgrounds, political affiliations, age groups…you name it, we’ve probably got someone who fits the bill! Our most common trait is that we are all committed to supporting our GLBT loved ones while helping others just beginning their journey to do the same, and to educating the public and our political representatives about issues which impact the lives of our loved ones.
- The goal of our chapter is the same as that of the national PFLAG organization we are affiliated with – “Keeping Families Together.” The national organization currently has in excess of 70,000 members. PFLAG chapters are located in over 400 communities in the United States and also in other countries. To find out more about the national organization, check out the PFLAG National website. To locate another PFLAG chapter in Arizona, in another state or in another country, check their directory of PFLAG chapters.
PFLAG Phoenix members march the streets of Phoenix proudly as part of the Phoenix Pride parade
What We Can Do For You
We can do many things to assist you, depending on your specific situation and needs. Below is just a partial list:
- We can begin to comfort and support you now through the information provided on our website.
- Utilizing our best “asset”, our caring volunteers, we can comfort and support you through our monthly local support meetings which meet at various locations across the Valley.
- While waiting for the next scheduled support meeting, we can comfort and support you through our confidential helpline (602-843-1404) or via email. In many cases, we can even put you in touch with someone who has faced a similar experience such as yours, if you prefer.
- We can help you gain knowledge and new insights (which you might choose to pass along to whomever you know who needs the information) through our Education page.
- We can help you get more involved in the community through our Advocacy page, or get you directly involved in our chapter through our Board of Directors to our chapter/board of directors) or by Volunteering.
- We can provide speakers to your company (e.g., for diversity days, health fairs), community group or church group through our Speakers Bureau.
What Is “PFLAG”?
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 250,000 members and supporters and more than 500 chapters, state councils and affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots network is cultivated, resourced and serviced by the PFLAG national office, located in Washington, DC, the national Board of Directors and 14 Regional Directors.
PFLAG Phoenix is an independent, affiliated chapter of the national organization. PFLAG Phoenix is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, income tax exempt organization. PFLAG Phoenix shares the vision and mission of the national organization, and through our generous volunteers, works towards achieving and fulfilling both.
PFLAG Phoenix Non-Discrimination Policy
PFLAG Phoenix is committed to fair employment/volunteer recruiting practices and equal employment/volunteer opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin/ancestry, age, sex, disability, marital status, personal appearance, education, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.