CIRCA, Trans Legal Help, and Youth Wellness | October Newsletter

Community

Oct 21

*PFLAG Vice President Anthony Efitmeo at the PFLAG Southern Pacific Regional Summit in Irvine.*

There is an irreplaceable energy when people who care deeply about our LGBTQ+ community sit down face-to-face. We compared notes on what’s working, had honest conversations about the challenges and anxieties our families and communities are navigating right now, and worked together on practical ways to support one another. Whether the topic was local advocacy, running sustainable support groups, or simply showing up for one another, one thing was clear: none of our chapters are doing this work alone.

Leaving that room, the overall feeling wasn't just relief. It was renewed commitment. Seeing the dedication of our Southern California chapters gave all of us a boost of resolve for the work we’re continuing right here in Los Angeles. Our mission has always been rooted in love, and that bond only grows stronger when we lean on each other across chapter lines.

As we head deeper into this season with busy school schedules, family gatherings, and community events, remember that PFLAG LA is here for you. Thank you for showing up for one another, for sharing your stories, and for being the foundation of this community.

Best,
**Anthony Eftimeo** (He/They/Them)
Vice President, PFLAG LA
*Photo credit: Kristen Rutherford*

**Our New Events Calendar Is Live**
Keeping track of what’s happening at PFLAG LA just got a little easier. We now have a public events calendar on our website, so upcoming meetings, programs, and community events are all in one place. Check it out at **pflagla.org/upcoming-events** and see what’s coming up.

**PFLAG LA Joins CIRCA Queer Histories Festival**
We’re glad to be supporting We Are Family, an October 26 event presented as part of the CIRCA Queer Histories Festival. PFLAG LA is a co-sponsor of the conversation, which brings together LGBTQ+ people and families to talk about history, community, and what family can look like. For more information, visit **oneinstitute.org/circa**.

**Catch Up on the PFLAG LA Podcast**
If you’ve missed a few episodes of the PFLAG LA Podcast, this is a good time to catch up. Recent conversations have featured authors, advocates, and other LGBTQ+ voices talking about the issues affecting our community and the people behind them. **Listen to the latest episodes** — or go back and find one you missed — wherever you get your podcasts.

**Want to Get More Involved in PFLAG LA?**
PFLAG LA runs on volunteers, and there’s room for all kinds of involvement. Maybe you have a few hours to help with an event. Maybe you’re interested in communications, support programs, or advocacy. Or perhaps you’ve been thinking about taking on a bigger role. However you want to contribute, we’d love to hear from you. **Take a look at our current opportunities on Idealist**.
*For more news and updates, visit* ***pflagla.org/updates***.

**Stacia Kato** (she/her) is the proud mom of a transgender daughter and a longtime PFLAG volunteer whose work now reaches across the region.

She serves as Regional Director for PFLAG’s Southern Pacific Region, supporting 18 chapters across Southern California and Hawaiʻi. Her own connection to PFLAG began after her daughter came out at 16. What started as a search for support for her family eventually became a much bigger commitment to helping other families find that same kind of understanding and community.

**What part of PFLAG’s work feels most meaningful to you?**
Many times, after sharing the story of our own coming-out journey, I’ve seen the relief on a parent’s face when they realize they’re not alone and that their child will be fine.

**Why do spaces like PFLAG matter, especially right now?**
There are many wonderful organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community. What makes PFLAG different is its focus on the family and friends of LGBTQ+ people. PFLAG creates a place where family members can ask sensitive questions, share their concerns, learn from people who have traveled the coming-out journey before them, and hear directly from LGBTQ+ people. We all grow through that process. It’s a unique, intergenerational dialogue that can build understanding, compassion, and allyship.

What would you say to someone who’s considering getting involved with PFLAG?
Don’t think. Just do. You already know the community needs help, and they can’t do it alone. Real positive change happens when allies add their strength. Bad things happen with complacency.

Are there other causes or issues you’re especially passionate about?
I’m especially passionate about the intersection of Asian and LGBTQ+ identities. It breaks my heart knowing there are still so many LGBTQ+ people who have been rejected or harmed by their families and the broader community.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Let your loved one lead. You’re probably not an expert on their lived experience as an LGBTQ+ person. Lead with love and curiosity instead of immediately offering advice. Be open to learning, and you may be amazed by how loving, empathetic, and accepting the LGBTQ+ community is. I often say I’m the lucky one that my child came out, because otherwise I may never have known how beautiful this community is.

To nominate a volunteer for Community Spotlight, email info@pflagla.org.