PFLAG, a national organization that supports LGBTQ+ people and their families, is launching a chapter in Eden Prairie.
The chapter was created as a project of the Eden Prairie United Methodist Church to provide support for several members of the congregation.
PFLAG was originally an acronym for “Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.” Later, it was expanded to mean “Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.” Today, PFLAG is no longer expanded, as the organization has evolved to cover all LGBTQ+ people.
The national organization was founded in 1973 by Jeanne Manford and her husband in New York City. Their gay son, Morty, had been beaten at a protest in 1972. Since then, the organization has grown to hundreds of chapters and more than 325,000 members. PFLAG bills itself as “the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQ people and those who love them.”
Although the local PFLAG was started to fill the needs of the local Methodist congregation members, PFLAG is non-sectarian. Hannah Walker, chapter vice president, said, “We’re excited to get a PFLAG chapter up and running in Eden Prairie and look forward to seeing how we can best provide support and education in this community.”
The National PFLAG website provides comprehensive information about the organization. To get information about EP’s PFLAG chapter as it launches, complete the Interest Form to get on the contact list. Eventually, the chapter will be searchable on the PFLAG national website.
Meetings will be in Eden Prairie and can be attended either in person or via Zoom.
Comments
We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.