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Greetings from PFLAG Portland, Maine’s only active PFLAG Chapter!  As the consequences of last month’s US election approach, I want you and your LGBTQ+ loved ones to know that you are not alone!

While the PFLAG National staff in DC are gearing up to defend our rights in the courts and federal government over the next four years, we at the PFLAG Portland Chapter are preparing to provide personal support, education and advocacy for our LGBTQ+ allies and loved ones all across Maine.  We bend the arc of justice one heart, one family at a time!  We can’t do this important work without the support of our volunteers, members and friends like you!

Thanks to past support from allies like you, 2024 was a full year for PFLAG Portland!  Every month both new and returning folks from across Maine (and beyond!) connected and encouraged each other at our monthly confidential support meetings. In addition to monthly groups, we continued to respond to requests for one-on-one support from folks who aren’t yet comfortable in a group setting.  Maintaining our capacity for this work will be especially important over the next four years!

In March 2024, we partnered with MaineTransNet to host a special support meeting in the wake of the death of trans youth Nex Benedict.  Attendees from Aroostook County to Kittery joined our zoom and, with guidance from Pete Franzen LCPC, processed our grief, fear and anger.  In November we again held space for this grief as hosts for the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil, held in-person at the Equality Community Center and streaming.

In the summer, we celebrated Pride month at so many events across southern Maine:  the Pride! Portland festival and parade, Brunswick Pride, the first ever Windham-Raymond Pride, and Gorham Pride.  We were again honored to attend the Governor’s LGBTQ+ Pride Garden Party. At these events we shared our support and spread our message of love and hope to so many young people and families.

Our advocacy efforts this year included amplifying the work of MaineTransNet and Maine Womens Lobby to pass the “Shield Law” that protects Maine providers of gender affirming medical care from attack from non-affirming states.  We also met with Senator Collins’ staff working to educate her on the importance of allowing the Biden administration’s Title IX rules preventing discrimination in schools to go into effect.  (They are in effect in Maine, but on hold in some states where court challenges have been raised.)

This fall began with our third PFLAG Family Picnic at Wolf’s Neck State Park in September.  We sponsored a panel at the Belfast Poetry Festival “Writing Our Own Narratives: A Poet Panel on Transgender Ecologies, Ancestry and Legacy” organized by trans poet t love smith, who also joined us at the TDOR Vigil.

Our PFLAG Portland chapter leaders joined in the Northeast Regional training session in October, to connect with and learn from other chapters across New England.  We also met with the outgoing officers of PFLAG Waterville to learn from their experiences.  With the loss of that chapter, we extend a warm welcome to any allies across Maine, but especially from the greater Waterville area, to join our chapter!  We also continue to strengthen our own skills this winter at facilitation trainings by PFLAG National.

While over 200+ people receive our monthly newsletters and invitations to our support meetings, our financial support in 2024 came from less than 20% of those households.  As we look ahead to our programming for 2025, we would love to have your support too!

We need your help more than ever!

In 2024 our board started a strategic planning process focusing on strengthening our board and volunteer capacity.  2025 will open with Part 2 of our strategic planning efforts as we look to broaden the programming that we offer to families and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, and especially to LGBTQ+ youth.  We hope to deepen our partnerships with MaineTransNet, EqualityMaine and other fellow-tenants at the Equality Community Center as we develop more in-person opportunities to connect.  We would love your input and feedback on our programs, and are always interested in growing our group of volunteers.

Please join us today to financially support the work of PFLAG Portland Maine, so that we can continue strengthening the network of LGBTQ+ allies across Maine!

• Join PFLAG, or renew, with a $30 annual membership donation (includes membership in PFLAG National!)
• Consider making an additional donation of $25, $50, or $100 over your membership. Automatic monthly gifts are greatly appreciated!
• Visit: https://www.pflagportlandmaine.org/donate to be taken to our website for credit card and PayPal options

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Sarah, Susan, Rebecca, Staci, Andrew, and Cate

PFLAG Portland Maine Board of Directors