PFLAG Vancouver comes closer to home

PFLAG Vancouver is pleased to announce the start of monthly meetings in Surrey. Starting on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every month at Sunnyside United Church, 15639 24 Ave. from 7-9 p.m.

PFLAG was founded over 35 years ago in the U.S. by parents to help themselves and their family members understand and accept their non-heterosexual children. While the original acronym stood for parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays, today’s PFLAG is also inclusive of bisexual, transgender and non-binary persons. But PFLAG doesn’t exist only for the parents, family and friends; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and non-binary persons are also welcome to its meetings.

There are now over 3,500 chapters world-wide. PFLAG Canada, a charitable organization, is the national body and PFLAG Vancouver is one of its local chapters. Monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at the Roundhouse in Yaletown.

In recent months, the Vancouver meetings have been attended by a growing number of persons who live south of the Fraser River. “There is a demand for meetings closer to home," according to Lisa Salazar, a member of PFLAG Vancouver who lives in Surrey. Making the trip into Vancouver through the tunnel or over bridges, especially during the fall and winter months is a huge impediment. “We are delighted and grateful that Sunnyside United Church has opened their doors to us,” said she.

The PFLAG Canada website explains, “The ‘coming-out’ process can be a critical time for families. When the adjustment period is particularly long or painful…People cannot always rise above the challenge of accepting themselves or their family member.” PFLAG offers support for today, and hope for a better tomorrow by providing education, peer support and community building.

For more information, contact PFLAG Vancouver at [email protected], attention Lisa Salazar, or call (604) 626-5667.