Emphasis on Education Sets Us Apart
Since the creation of our chapter two years ago, we’ve strongly emphasized education as a part of our monthly meetings. As parents of LGBTQ+ kids, each of us felt overwhelmed by our lack of knowledge and understanding when our kids first came out to us. This can be especially true for parents of trans/gender expansive kids –they are so far ahead of us on a very steep learning curve.
We see that mirrored by new parents attending our meetings every month. What does it mean to be “non-binary”? What’s a hormone blocker, or a binder? How do we best approach our kid’s school about a possible gender transition? How can we best help our kids navigate the world as an LGBTQ+ person?
A lot of our initial fear and anxiety revolves around uncertainty and lack of information. It’s natural that information gives all of us a better sense of control, a belief that we can master the challenges we’re facing. But many parents don’t know where to turn for answers to their questions. They don’t necessarily have friends fluent in the language of the LGBTQ+ world. PFLAG becomes a reliable information superhighway and a lifeline.
Twice every month our chapter presents a speaker to address topics of interest to our parent attendees, their kids and members of our LGBTQ+ community. We’ve heard from local leaders in the LGBTQ+ community and experts and, in one of the bright spots of our new virtual existence, we’ve been able to access diverse speakers all over the country.
Some of our presentations in 2020 have included:
Reverend Megan Rohrer (they/them/theirs), Pastor Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, San Francisco. Rev. Megan is the first openly transgender pastor in the ELC, a social justice activist, and a positive, loving force on an episode of last season’s Queer Eye. Rev. Megan is a beautiful proponent of radical love and acceptance and they blew our minds discussing theological support in the gospels for the presence and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people.
Vaughn Darst (he/him/his) is a registered dietician who specializes in treating eating disorders in underserved populations, including transgender and nonbinary individuals. His personal history, as well as his MS in nutrition and BA in Critical Theory and Cultural Studies, with a concentration in Transgender Studies, uniquely qualify him to speak to “Body Image and Eating Concerns in Gender Diverse Youth.”
Christine MacInnis (she/her/hers), MA, PPS, LMFT, is a K-8 school counselor, a therapist who specializes on working with gender expansive youth and a dedicated volunteer for our PFLAG chapter. She offered great perspective on the disproportionate impact COVID isolation has on LGBTQ+ youth and guidance on how parents and educators might ease their burden just a bit in her presentation, “Social Distancing: Supporting Your Gender Expansive Child Through Changing Times.”
Sophia Hastings (she/her/hers) from Brave Trails LGBTQ+ Leadership Camp spoke to us about the importance of summer camp and the joy and empowerment LGBTQ+ kids in particular get out of the summer camp experience.
Rebby Kern (they/them/theirs) is a nationally-recognized social justice activist and yoga instructor. They led us in a vital discussion about intersectional bias that weighs most heavily on LGBTQ+ persons of color in their presentation, “Race, Gender & Bias; A Community Conversation.”
Drew Droeg (he/him/his) is an actor, comedian, writer, director, and an alum of the Groundlings and the Upright Citizens Brigade. Most recently, he worked with Rupaul on “AJ and the Queen.” Drew led us through a light-hearted review of his career in the entertainment industry and the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in media in his presentation, “Telling Our Stories.”
The other wonderful benefit of our speaker series is that it gives us the opportunity to build stronger partnerships with local activists and resources. Presentations by Sal Navarro of El Camino College, David Crowley, GSA advisor at San Pedro High School, and Kathie Moehlig, founder of TransFamily Support Services, among others, have forged closer ties that continue to serve our local LGBTQ+ community.
These are just a few of our many inspiring and informative speakers from this year. You can see a full list of our presenters at this link on our website.
We welcome suggestions for speakers or topics you would like to know more about. We are always on the lookout for more information to present to our chapter.
2020 Speakers
December
General Meeting: Antón Castellanos Usigli, MPH - “LGBTQ+ Sex Education: Health, Rights, and Pleasure”
Gender Expansive Meeting: Christine MacInnis, MA, PPS, LMFT - “Surviving Our New Normal: Holiday Style”
November
General Meeting: Isabelle Royer - “Support, Self Care, and Community”
Gender Expansive Meeting: Dr. Amy Weimer, Director of UCLA Gender Health Program
October
General Meeting: David Crowley, GSA advisor San Pedro High, creator of LGBTQ+ library - “Why We Need GSAs!”
Gender Expansive Meeting: Dr. Paria Hassouri, peditrician + author - “Found in Transition: A Mother’s Evolution During Her Child’s Gender Change”
September
General Meeting: Sal Navarro, Counselor El Camino College - “El Camino College LGBTQIA+ Safe Zone Project Initiative: Working Together Towards Justice for All”
Gender Expansive Meeting: Rebby Kern, activist, yoga instructor - “Race, Gender & Bias; A Community Conversation”
August
General Meeting: Kathie Moehlig, Founder of TransFamily Support Services
Gender Expansive Meeting: Vaughn Darst - “Body Image and Eating Concerns in Gender Diverse Youth”
July
General Meeting: Reverend Megan Rohrer, Pastor Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, San Francisco - “Religious Acceptance in the LGBTQ+ community”
June
General Meeting: Jamie Curtis, Director of Chapter Engagement for PFLAG National
Gender Expansive Meeting: Beck Gee-Cohen, MA, CADC-II, “Mentorship and the Importance of Connection on the Journey of Gender”
May
General Meeting: Drew Droege, actor, comedian, writer, director - “Telling Our Stories”
Gender Expansive Meeting: Bridget Sampson, Certified Life Coach - “Communicating and Coaching Through Transition”
April
General Meeting: Sophia Hastings, “Camp Brave Trails; Summer Camp for LGBTQ+ Youth”
Gender Expansive Meeting: Christine MacInnis, MA, PPS, LMFT - “Social Distancing: Supporting Your Gender Expansive Child Through Changing Times”
March
General Meeting: Christine Chastain - “Love Thy Neighbor: LGBTQIA+ Individuals and Religion”
February
General Meeting: Huang Lam, LAMBDA Legal - “Legal rights for LGBTQ people”
Gender Expansive Meeting: S Hultquist, MS - “Navigating Our Children’s Queerness: A Workshop for Parents of LGBTQIA folks”
January
General Meeting: Justin Tindall, It Gets Better Project
Gender Expansive Meeting: Linda K. Reeves, LMFT - “What You May Not Know About Your Child's Gender Journey”