Working to achieve LGBTQ+ equality by changing hearts, minds, and laws at the local, city, and state levels.
Advocacy
As a national organization, PFLAG’s roots are in activism and advocacy, starting nearly 50 years ago with one mom in New York who took to the streets with a homemade sign, advocating for equality and justice for her gay child.
Greater Boston PFLAG is proud of our own long history of state and local advocacy. We continue to build on that legacy, working to achieve LGBTQ+ equality by changing hearts, minds, and laws at the local level, at the city and state level, and supporting PFLAG National’s efforts at the federal level to effect critical and long-overdue change.
We advocate on behalf of our members and do our best to reflect their values in our priorities and empower their capacity to take action through our work. Four primary areas of our advocacy work are: LGBTQ+ Equality, Community Justice, LGBTQ+ Kids & Families, and LGBTQ+ Health.
Please Email Us At:
communications@gbpflag.org to share information about current advocacy efforts, legislation, and other local events that matter to you or if you are interested in partnering in our work.
Our Current Legislative Efforts
Gender Neutral Identification/Gender Marker ‘X’ (H.3126)
This bill would give Massachusetts residents the ability to choose an ‘X’ gender marker on all state ID documents and forms (as opposed to being limited to ‘M’ or ‘F’). The bill represents a step forward in ensuring that everyone has access to documentation and IDs that accurately reflect their authentic gender identity. Learn more about why this legislation is so critical and how you can make a HUGE difference in five minutes or less!
National Advocacy
Visit PFLAG National’s website to learn more about the national legislation we and the other 400+ PFLAG chapters across the United States are fighting for–and pushing against–alongside our LGBTQ+ loved ones and their families. Together, united, we can effect change. What happens in states across the country affects us all – in order to attend college, take jobs, travel, visit family, to safely play sports at home and out of state, and attend events and more.
The Massachusetts Parentage Act (S. 1133/H.1714)
The MA Parentage Act (MPA) updates our state laws so that it protects all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Among other important protections, the MPA provides clarity on how to establish parentage for children born through assisted reproduction, surrogacy, and to same-sex parents who aren’t married, all critical protections for LGBTQ+ families in our communities. As part of our support, we are part of the Parentage Act Coalition. Learn more about the Massachusetts Parentage Act and what you can do.
We continue our other advocacy efforts and will keep our community informed about updates and other opportunities to get involved through our social media and monthly newsletters!
Please contact us at communications@gbpflag.org with coalition and advocacy partnership opportunities and interest.
2023 Updated Comprehensive Health & PE Curriculum
Governor Maura Healey's administration has proposed an updated draft of the Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Curriculum Framework to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) this month. The LGBTQ+ inclusive, medically accurate, and developmentally- and age-appropriate framework outlines guidelines for health and physical education for preK-12 public school students in Massachusetts. It would compel the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to update the existing Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework, which was last updated in 1999, almost a quarter of a century ago.
The DESE heard a presentation on the draft framework at its meeting on June 27 and voted to send it out for public comment. Educators, parents, advocates, and members of the public have 60 days to comment on the draft framework, which can be viewed here on the mass.gov website. After the public comment period, DESE will consider the feedback and bring the draft back to the Board for a vote on adoption.
Click HERE to see what you can do before August 28, 2023
LOCAL SERVICES | LOCAL SUPPORT
Family and community love and acceptance are key to building a world in which LGBTQ+ individuals are safe, supported, included, and free to succeed and thrive in all areas of their lives.
