A Stratford-area couple starting up Perth County’s first Pflag Canada chapter say they want to share with others the lessons they learned after their oldest child opened up about their place in the 2SLGBTQ community a little over two years ago.
A Stratford-area couple starting Perth County’s first PFLAG Canada chapter say they want to share with others the lessons they learned after their oldest child opened up about their place in the 2SLGBTQ community a little more than two years ago.
“When our child came out, we joined the London PFLAG group and just received great encouragement and support,” said Laura Taylor, who’s volunteering to launch the national charity’s newest branch with her partner, Mark Dawson. “We wanted to bring that closer to home.”
“PFLAG is a pretty fascinating organization because it’s all volunteers. Our initial goal is to be a place of support … for parents and others who are working with people who are coming out or under the rainbow and then we’ll see where it takes us.”
PFLAG Canada was founded by parents who wished to help themselves and their friends and family understand and accept their 2SLGBTQ children. Following in the footsteps of its 50-year-old American counterpart, and a couple of early branches in Vancouver and Toronto, the Canadian charity was nationally registered in 2005 and has since grown its network to more than 50 chapters across the country.
“The coming-out process can be a critical time for families,” PFLAG Canada’s website says. “When the adjustment period is particularly long or painful, relationships can become permanently damaged, resulting in a lifetime of emotional scars. People cannot always rise above the challenge of accepting themselves or their family members, and the results can be devastating, even fatal.”
Among the largest hurdles members of the 2SLGBTQ face when they open up about their sexuality or gender is “rejection,” said Donny Potts, PFLAG Canada’s vice-president.
“We are there to support (people through) that,” he said. “The need has grown in Canada. The largest need for support right now is in the transgender community. That is across the country our biggest demand or need for support and education.”
Taylor and Dawson have lived in Mitchell since 2006 and recently started volunteering with the Stratford Pride Community Centre.
Even though they were accepting when their own child opened up, “I learned that I had a lot to learn,” Dawson said. “I think that’s probably true of a lot of people. We’re OK with things in the world, but until they directly impact us, sometimes I don’t (think) that we realize how little we may know.”
Taylor said the conversations they were able to have with other parents through the London PFLAG group were invaluable. She said the group shared “the joy of seeing your child take courageous steps to living their true self,” difficulties with family or friends who were less supportive, and fears about their children “living in a world where some people will not just leave them alone.”
“We also could educate ourselves and inform ourselves about all the different aspects of people who are (2SLGBTQ),” Taylor said.
Taylor and Dawson plan to start by offering similar opportunities for parents in Perth County. So far, they’ve launched has Facebook page to let people know the branch is opening.
“We had a feeling that it could be a good thing for Stratford,” Dawson said. “The response has been pretty phenomenal so far.”
Afterwards, Taylor and Dawson hope to become another advocate for 2SLGBTQ in the region and participate in events such as the annual Pride parade.
“The visibility thing is so important for all marginalized people,” Taylor said. “It signals safety.”