Advocacy Work
Educating the Public
Metro DC PFLAG members can participate in panel discussions with other guests (arranged by Metro DC PFLAG or the host organization) or speak individually. Diversity days, staff meetings, community roundtables, workshops, classes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner meetings, and school assemblies are all great venues for our speakers. Parents, family members, and friends and, sometimes, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people present basic facts and share their personal stories. When we put a face on the issue, it becomes less threatening. Experience has taught us that in the overwhelming majority of instances, we can actually moderate stereotyping.
If you want Metro DC PFLAG to be part of your next event, email us at info@pflagdc.org.
Educating Law and Policy Makers
Educating lawmakers and policymakers is a critical component of our mission. Chapter members testify at public hearings and communicate personally with political and community leaders to increase support for LGBTQ-friendly policies, services, workplaces, and learning environments.
Throughout the year, Metro DC PFLAG is asked to provide testimony at school boards, city and county council meetings and, occasionally, state and federal legislative hearings. The people that invite us are most interested in having citizens from their district testify. In addition to testifying at public hearings, calls, emails, and letters are very effective.
If you want to invite Metro DC PFLAG to join you in your next advocacy work, email us at advocacy@pflagdc.org.
Advocacy Work Examples
Since 2002, Metro DC PFLAG has been at the forefront of local advocacy for LGBTQ students in our public schools and in the struggles for civil marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws. You can read about our successful efforts in Montgomery County Public Schools by following these links:
Successful Public School LGTB Curriculum Advocacy
Commentary: We can’t opt out of diversity in our schools and communities
Opinion: MoCo LGBTQ+ opt-out debate should focus on facts, not misrepresentations
We continue to work with families in the Montgomery County school system and in similar efforts in the metropolitan area and welcome your involvement. If you are interested in advocacy, please contact Mark Eckstein and/or David S. Fishback, or email us at advocacy@pflagdc.org.
Metro DC PFLAG also advocates for an LGBTQ+ curriculum in the DC area. You can read more about it here:
Making history: teaching of LGBT+ rights gains momentum in United States