Schedule

Sessions

Standing Up for LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers with Kenan Arun (he/him), Executive Director, LGBT Asylum Project

We will be exploring how bold, visible, and compassionate advocacy can transform the lives of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Through real-world examples from The LGBT Asylum Project, this session will highlight the challenges asylum seekers face, the impact of community-driven legal support, and the power of standing up for those seeking safety. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how each of us can help create a more just and welcoming future.

Safety First: Exploring Chapter Safety Planning with Veronica Oberholzer (she/her), President, PFLAG Oakland/East Bay

Join us to explore practical strategies for creating a safer, more prepared chapter for everyone. Learn how to develop a written chapter safety plan, identify safety considerations for both virtual and in-person spaces, and build the confidence to respond thoughtfully to a variety of situations while maintaining a welcoming environment.

Speaking Truth to Power and Building Bridges within Local School Districts with Jessica G and Lainie Pascall

Join us to explore how to build relationships within our local school districts and communities to develop support systems for LGBTQ+ families and their children. Learn how to build bridges between those with differing perspectives, support educators and GSAs, and advocate for change as a community member or parent.

How to Grow a Diverse Chapter: Stories from the Asian-American Ethnoburbs with Anu Gupta, Lucy Shen, and Amaya Wooding

Building a diverse and intersectional community is always easier said than done, and can often feel like fruitlessly hitting your head against a wall. If you’re feeling a lack of diversity in your chapter’s membership or board and are looking for ways to break the stalemate, this is the talk for you! We’ll share our experiences from the Asian-American ethnoburbs of San Ramon, Danville, and the Tri-Cities (Fremont, Union City, and Newark), covering common pitfalls and strategies for reaching people outside our bubbles. We’ll also work through some scenarios as a group activity, all drawn from our own real-life experiences.

Loving Our Inner Children Out Loud: An Offering of Care to the Queer and Trans Children Within With AJ Johnson, Empowered Mind Therapy Center

Join us for an experiential workshop exploring the needs of our queer and trans inner children and offering our younger selves the safety, belonging, joy and affirmation that are our birthright. Through guided meditation, participants will practice offering compassion to younger versions of themselves while reflecting on what it means to feel seen and to experience authentic connection in today’s world.

Advancing PFLAG’s Mission Through Mental Health Partnership Presented by Atlas Sanogo and Dr. John Pachankis, Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative, Yale School of Public Health

Join leaders from the Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative to understand how mental health insights can help build parent support. Learn how science can reveal new knowledge about families of LGBTQ youth and how the Yale School of Public Health is working to translate this knowledge into evidence-based guidance for PFLAG group facilitators nationwide. We will also share discoveries from psychiatric epidemiology, clinical trials, and implementation science that are being used to improve LGBTQ people’s lives worldwide.

Lunch Session: State Legislative Advocacy, 2026 Advocacy Activities, and Ideas for Improvement with Kiki Flaherty

Are you interested in making change within the state legislative system but unsure where to start? Join this session to learn practical ways to engage with State leaders, take advocacy action, and hear lessons from past PFLAG Chapter advocacy successes. Grow the activist in you!

General Plenary Speech: Mere Abrams

Mere is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and longtime advocate for transgender and gender-expansive people and their families. Mere previously held a leadership role at UCSF’s Child and Adolescent Gender Center and has worked with organizations including PFLAG, FOLX Health, and Good Inside. Mere has been a trusted and compassionate support group facilitator, helping families navigate questions of identity, transition, acceptance, and love.

A day designed to
inspire and energize.

We’ll be updating this page as more information becomes available.