Advocacy
Championing LGBTQ rights
Discrimination is our biggest threat
Parents and LGBTQ persons alike dread the injustices overt and subtle inflicted on members of our community, particularly when they are legitimized by laws and government regulations. Action is the best antidote to fear. This page is about why and how to take action against discrimination and promote equal rights for every member of the LGBTQ community.
A majority of states do not have laws protecting LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. LGBTQ rights are threatened by “religious exemption laws,” which allow government employees, contractors, and for-profit businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people based on religious beliefs or moral convictions regarding same sex marriage, sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the current administration, Federal regulations have rolled back existing protections against LGBTQ persons in health care, education, social services and the military.
The hard-won rights of the LGBTQ community are under attack by forces in local, state, and federal governments. But the united voices of parents, family members, straight allies and LGBTQ persons are powerful. To help you take action we are providing links to information about legislation, executive actions, and court cases that threaten LGBTQ liberties.
Over 1000 rights granted to heterosexuals through civil marriage are denied to gay families, including families with children. In many states gay partners cannot make medical decisions for each other, be recognized on their partners’ health insurance policy, or inherit property from one another without a lot of legal paperwork, and sometimes, not even then. Non-biological parents in a gay partnership may have no parental rights if their partners die.
Discrimination against LGBTQ persons exists, and makes their lives more difficult. Many of us feel the need to speak out on behalf of our children and friends who are unjustly deprived of fundamental human and civil rights. That’s why advocacy is an important part of PFLAG’s mission.
PFLAG Los Angeles’s Speakers Bureau is our main voice in the community. At no charge trained and dedicated PFLAG Los Angeles members visit middle and high schools, college and university classrooms, businesses, community organizations and other groups to describe their experiences, answer questions, and raise awareness regarding diversity issues. If you are interested in joining the Speakers Bureau or scheduling a presentation, you can find more information on the Speakers Bureau page.