Dear PFLAG Supporter,

Happy Election Day, PFLAGers! A heads up that the PFLAG National offices are closed today so that all staff can participate in the election process.

We have been blown away by the outpouring of support we have seen from our chapters, members, and supporters. No matter the outcome of today’s election, PFLAG has made a big impact on this election and that is due to you and your hard work. 

Stay tuned in the days following the election for details on an organization-wide town hall, where we’ll discuss the election results, what they mean for our community, and how you can continue advocating for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones.

Additionally, on Nov. 6th, LGBTQ+ movement organizations—including PFLAG National—will circulate a shared statement of unity and uplift for the LGBTQ+ community. Please complete this form by TODAY, Nov. 5th at 1pm ET to add your chapter’s name.

Many of you have already voted, are volunteering at the polls today, and doing your last-minute, get-out-the-vote outreach—and the day isn’t over yet! If you haven’t made your way down to the polls, here’s your reminder to do so, and bring your friends and families too. If you need to find your polling place, have an issue in line, or are looking to learn more about your ballot, head to www.vote411.org/pflag.

A reminder that we have a password-protected, for PFLAG chapter leaders-only Election messaging brief for you in the Member Portal. Since first sharing it last Tuesday, we’ve made further updates, and we hope it will provide strong guidance on how to handle press, media, and social media in the days and weeks ahead. 

Remember that there may not be a clear winner on election night, and that most delays are because election officials across the country are exercising their duty to ensure that every eligible vote is counted. Every ballot that is cast must be carefully counted, and some states can’t start counting votes until after polls have closed on election night. We need to be patient so election officials can take the time to make sure every eligible vote is counted accurately. 

Patience is hard when so much is at stake and you’ve been putting in months of work. So how will you take care of yourself?

If you hear the phrase self care and don’t know what that means to you, we’ve put together this conversational PFLAG Guide to Self Care in Busy Times. Use it as a reflective tool - read through the sections that speak to you. Share it at your next board meeting! Ask your fellow chapter leaders what suggestions they want to take, or talk as a group about how you can care for each other. 

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the suggestions. Click on the link above to dive in!

  • Log off.
  • Reconnect with why you do the work.
  • Help each other out.
  • Help out in your wider community.
  • Have some real-world fun.
  • Slow down your PFLAG work.
  • Know when to ask for help.

Today and in the days and weeks after Election Day, if you have any elections-related questions please reach out to our Advocacy team at advocacy@pflag.org. If you have any press or social media questions, please reach out to the Strategic Communications team at comms@pflag.org.

Rural Think Tank Alert

This month’s Rural Think Tank will be focused on election response, knowing that rural communities will be affected differently than other areas. We don’t know yet what the results of today’s election will be, not only on the presidential level, but down ballot as well. By the time the Rural Think Tank rolls around on Thursday, November 14th at 4pm PT/7pm ET, we will have received the results and had some time to process. The next step of course, is figuring out how your PFLAG chapter will be affected and what action steps need to be taken.

Register now to participate in this election-focused facilitated peer discussion space for rural chapter leaders!

 

Regional Resilience Roundup

Having proactive conversations about safety, contingency planning, and making sense of what comes next are all important pieces of safety planning for everyone. Safety Planning for PFLAG Chapter Members is a publicly shared guide that can be accessed by your chapter members directly, covering some of the most frequently asked questions, concerns, and requested resources related to individual and family safety planning.  

Please share the guide using this link: pflagnation.al/SafetyPlanning-PFLAGChapterMembers

Stay safe,

Eddy Funkhouser (they/he)

Eddy Funkhouser  |  Chapter Engagement Coordinator
Western Region: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Pronouns: they/he
PFLAG National | P: (202) 467-8181 | pflag.org | straightforequality.org

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