PFLAG: What it actually is

Many people have heard of PFLAG, but surprisingly few know what happens when someone walks through our doors.

Some imagine political meetings. Others assume our support groups are only for LGBTQ people. Neither is true.

PFLAG exists for families.

Every month, parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, friends, educators, and LGBTQ people gather in the same room. Some arrive with questions. Others come carrying grief, fear, confusion, or loneliness. Many simply want to understand someone they love.

No one is expected to have all the answers.

Our meetings aren’t about telling people what they should believe. They’re about creating a place where people can ask honest questions without fear of ridicule or condemnation. We believe conversations happen best when people feel safe enough to listen as well as speak.

Many parents tell us they worried they would lose their child. LGBTQ people often tell us they feared losing their family.

Support groups help bridge that distance.

We don’t ask anyone to abandon deeply held beliefs. We simply invite people to better understand one another.

In a world where shouting often replaces conversation, we believe listening is a radical act of kindness.

If you’ve ever wished there were a place where difficult conversations could happen with respect and compassion, that’s exactly what we’re trying to create.

You don’t have to have all the answers to walk through our doors.

Sometimes showing up is enough.

JEFF WICKHAM

President, PFLAG Coeur d’Alene/Kootenai County