Parents of Pride Conference
Supporting Families, Educating Allies, Advocating for Equality
For Parents and Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Children
Conference Begins In:
Why Attend #POPCon2026?
Join PFLAG Los Angeles for our inaugural online conference designed specifically for parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth. This day-long virtual event features expert-led workshops covering Education, Support, and Advocacy - the three pillars of PFLAG's mission.
🎓 Education
🤝 Support
📢 Advocacy
Partner Organizations
Co-hosts and Moderators
PFLAG Los Angeles
President
she/her
Farrah Dodes
Bio: Farrah is a dedicated community leader and longtime advocate for equity and inclusion. A Filipina American, she has served as President of three nonprofit organizations and was endorsed by Moms in Office for her School Board candidacy. Her passion for creating safe, affirming spaces is deeply personal: she is the proud parent of a non-binary, neurodivergent child. Farrah is honored to lead PFLAG Los Angeles alongside this vibrant and compassionate community.
PFLAG Los Angeles
Vice President
he/they
Anthony Eftimeo
Bio: Anthony is a dedicated training specialist and non-profit leader with extensive experience in anti-bias education and LGBTQ+ advocacy. They are deeply committed to community equity, working to foster understanding and inclusion across diverse populations. Currently, Anthony actively supports families and the LGBTQ+ community through his board service and involvement with PFLAG Los Angeles.
Keynote Speaker
Ace Dad Advice
Writer and Queer Identities Educator
they/them
Cody Daigle-Orians
Bio: Cody Daigle-Orians is a writer and queer identities educator with a focus on asexual, aromantic, and agender identities. They're also the creator of the social-media based aspec education project, Ace Dad Advice. They've written two young adult ace and aro nonfiction resources, and they are the author of the first aroace picture book, LOVE LOOKS LIKE LOLA.
Presenters
Equality California
Program Director
she/they
Erin Arendse
Bio: Erin is the Program Director at Equality California, leading the organization's programs aimed at reducing disparities in LGBTQ+ health and well-being, empowering LGBTQ+ leaders, and increasing civic participation within the LGBTQ+ community. She also oversees the organization's grants fundraising strategy. Prior to joining Equality California, she was the Senior Manager for Grants and Compliance at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and worked as a freelance and volunteer grant writer for a number of organizations. She graduated from California State University Long Beach with an M.A. in English and is a former English professor.
interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth
Associate Executive Director
they/she
Bria Brown-King
Bio: Bria is a Black, queer, non-binary, and intersex person. Bria is the Associate Executive Director at interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth. Bria got their start in intersex advocacy in 2018 as an interACT Youth Advocate. In 2019, they became the first openly intersex person to speak about intersex issues on the steps of the Supreme Court. In their current role, Bria facilitates education on intersex issues, works to close the gap in intersex-affirming research and data collection, and serves on multiple advisory boards, representing intersex people nationally and internationally.
PFLAG Los Angeles
Program Manager
they/them
Jude Schoenfeld
Bio: Jude Schoenfeld (they/them) is a professional facilitator and LGBTQ+ policy and curriculum consultant. They were previously the Coordinator of LGBTQ+ Programs for New York City Public Schools before moving to Los Angeles and working with History UnErased's "The Past Is Always Present" Educational Theater Project with high school students on the West Coast. They also serve as the Program Manager for PFLAG LA, and run an annual Fall festival for trans, nonbinary, and gender queer filmmakers.
Panelists
Parents of Trans Youth
Founder and CEO
she/her
Mandy Giles
Bio: Mandy is the parent of two transgender young adults and the founder and CEO of Parents of Trans Youth, a social impact business providing learning, support, and community to parents and caregivers of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse kids and young adults. She has been heavily involved in advocacy work since 2021 and has testified before the Texas Legislature dozens of times. Mandy is a past president of PFLAG Houston and the recipient of the Equality Texas 2025 Business Champion Award.
Engender Love
Gender educator, retired OB/GYN
she/her
Shannon Panszi, MD
Bio: Shannon Panszi, MD, is a retired OB/GYN and gender educator who has spent over a decade supporting families of transgender and nonbinary children. She has facilitated parent support groups with TransFamilies for more than four years, working with parents of children ranging from early childhood through adulthood. Her experience includes coaching parents through understanding and acceptance, consulting with schools on supporting gender-diverse students, developing inclusive human growth and development curricula, and speaking nationally on sexual health education for gender-diverse children. Shannon has also educated healthcare providers for over a decade, completed a transgender advocacy fellowship with FORGE, and contributed to Rethinking Sexism, Gender, and Sexuality and Parents magazine.
Align Performance
President and Coach
he/him
Orlando Bishop
Bio: Ask Orlando and he will tell you simply, “I’m a coach. That’s what I do.” The creator of the Align methodology has spent his life coaching people, from elementary school students to C-suite executives to the professional women football players of the X League’s Los Angeles Black Storm to develop and execute on strategies that “align who you are, where you are, and where you want to go.”
Conference Schedule
Welcome and Opening Session
Energizing welcome and event orientation with our co-hosts: PFLAG Los Angeles President Farrah Dodes (she/her) and Vice President Anthony Eftimeo (he/they).
Keynote Speaker: Cody Daigle-Orians
Cody (they/them) is a writer and queer identities educator with a focus on asexual, aromantic, and agender identities. They're also the creator of the social-media based aspec education project, Ace Dad Advice. They've written two young adult ace and aro nonfiction resources, and they are the author of the first aroace picture book, LOVE LOOKS LIKE LOLA.
Know Your Rights: A Primer on California Protections for LGBTQ+ Students
This workshop will provide the parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ students a walk through core rights that exist in California's public schools. Participants will leave the workshop with a list of key sections in California ed code and with actionable strategies for responding to violations of student rights. This workshop is for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice. Provided by Erin Arendse (she/they) @ Equality California
Parents as Advocates: Understanding Intersex Rights & Care
Workshop details to be determined. Provided by Bria Brown-King (they/she) @ interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth
Lunch Break
30-minute break for meals and refreshment
Workshop #3
Workshop details to be determined. Provided by Jude Schoenfeld (they/them) @ PFLAG Los Angeles and Lainie Pascall (they/she) @ PFLAG Tri-Valley
Panel Discussion
Hear from gender educator and retired OB/GYN Shannon Panszi, MD, alongside parents Mandy Giles (she/her) and Orlando Bishop (he/him). Moderated by PFLAG Los Angeles Vice President Anthony Eftimeo (he/they). Q&A to follow. Provided by PFLAG Los Angeles
Closing Session
Wrap-up and next steps with co-hosts PFLAG Los Angeles President Farrah Dodes (she/her) and Vice President Anthony Eftimeo (he/they).
Our Generous Sponsors
This free conference is made possible by the support of our amazing sponsors who share our commitment to LGBTQ+ families.
🌈 PRIDE CHAMPION
Exclusive Presenting Sponsor
🏳️🌈 FAMILY ADVOCATES
💝 COMMUNITY ALLIES
Frequently Asked Questions
This conference is designed for parents, caregivers, family members, and allies of LGBTQ+ youth. Whether you're newly supporting an LGBTQ+ child or seeking to deepen your knowledge, this event provides practical insights you can apply in your family and community. Attendees must be 18 years or older.
Nope! Registration is completely FREE thanks to our generous sponsors.
Yes, the sessions and panel will be recorded and made available on our YouTube channel for future viewing. This allows you to revisit content or share with others who couldn't attend live.
While we encourage full participation to get the most value, we understand that schedules can be challenging. You're welcome to join for the sessions that work best for you. Recordings will be available for sessions you miss.
You'll need a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet connection and audio capabilities. We'll be using Zoom, which is free to download.
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