After a glorious month of Pride festivities and shenanigans (see below), we capped it all off with a conversation with Kathy Halbrooks, PFLAG National Board Member and former Co-Chair, now Community Liaison, of PFLAG Nashville.
PFLAG is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. Founded in 1973 by the parents of a gay man who was beaten at a protest, PFLAG, as Kathy explained, used to stand for "Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays," but the organization has broadened to include all gender identity populations.
Kathy tells us about how PFLAG offers support to those at all stages of their LGBTQ+ journey, as well as to their families and friends who are looking for ways to understand and support them. PFLAG offers a variety of services, from physical and mental healthcare to advocacy work and group meetings.
PFLAG also advocates against harmful legislation to the LGBTQ+ community.
But the core of PFLAG are the personal stories from the communities they serve. Many of those personal stories end with someone telling PFLAG: "You saved my life." Learn more at PFLAG.org and PFLAGNashville.org.
Kelli also reminds Sue that "A" is actually a vowel.
Of course, the podcast wouldn't be complete without Kelli's Huggy of the Day (and how President George H.W. Bush gets pulled into this, we still don't know), the Pride Parade After-Party at Dee's, and how Kelli moved 44 tons of gravel.
And we think we're going to do a mini-video talk about the Westboro Baptist Church. Stay tuned.
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