PFLAG at Glenbrook North High School – by Alan J.

In January, two members from the Chicago Metro PFLAG Chapter and one member from the Deerfield PFLAG Chapter visited Glenbrook North High School to discuss the purpose and benefit of PFLAG for both students and the parents of students who attend GNHS. One member was a PFLAG mother of a gay son, the second member a PFLAG father of a gay son, and the third member, myself, is a gay male. The three of us met roughly fifteen faculty members which included both teachers and school counselors.

During this time, the two parents discussed their experiences with their children coming out and some of their worries that their children might face in the school. The PFLAG father discussed his son’s coming out story and how he and his wife had been attending PFLAG meetings ever since. He explained the impact PFLAG has had in his life and the great support every member receives from one another at the meetings

The PFLAG mother recounted her son’s struggles with coming out and her search for a support group that would help her cope with this change in both her and her son’s life. She found PFLAG and stated how much it helped her during her time of struggle. Now a PFLAG veteran, the PFLAG mother attends the monthly meetings to provide others the assistance they need that she once needed herself.

After both parents spoke, I explained the importance of PFLAG from the LGBT perspective. Although the organization is called Parents, Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays, it is not for the parents, friends, and families alone. I explained that despite being a volunteer with PFLAG, I attended the meetings to gain support from the parents and provide support for the parents as well. I told the faculty that PFLAG would be a great resource to provide to LGBT students and their parents because we provide a wonderful support to those who need it the most.

We asked if any of the faculty had had any LGBT students come out to them or in need of support for themselves or family members. Two of the school counselors responded that two students had come out to them but that both students’ parents were very welcoming to their LGBT child. However, the counselors were pleased to have our information in case a student or parent were in need of our help.

A few of the PFLAG members were fearful that the faculty would not be receptive to our presence there and would forget about us as soon as we left. However, the response we received was phenomenal. A few of the staff asked us additional questions that we hadn’t covered and were quite excited to have us come and speak with them. We collected contact information from the staff who wanted to be kept updated with information on PFLAG happenings and future meetings. As we left, every faculty member thanked us for our time and many gave us warm, friendly smiles signifying their pleasure with our time with them.