Mission of the Salisbury Maryland PFLAG Chapter
PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. By meeting people where they are and collaborating with others, PFLAG realizes its vision through:
Because, together we are stronger.
- Support for families, allies, and people who are LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning)
- Education for ourselves and others about the unique issues and challenges facing people who are LGBTQ+
- Advocacy in our communities to change attitudes and create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ+
Because, together we are stronger.
Who Are We
Who we are: PFLAG, originally called Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays" today it is known simply as PFLAG. The organization is a non-profit coalition of LGBTQ+ persons, their families, friends, and allies who provide support, education and advocacy services for the entire LGBTQ+ community and their families. With beginnings in 1972, today PFLAG is a national organization with over 200,000 members in more than 400 chapters in all 50 states in the USA and several foreign countries.
Salisbury PFLAG was formed in 2015, and has been making a difference in the community ever since it was founded. Highlights include: introducing Maryland's first, and only, rainbow crosswalk; assisting in the production of a LGBTQ+ climate survey and needs assessment report; establishing the Rainbow Fun Run and LGBTQ+ Community Fair with the Lower Shore LGBTQ Coalition; collaborating with FreeState Justice to collect information to influence legislative action; working with the City of Salisbury on Pride on the Plaza which included a rainbow flag raising and a formal declaration of Pride Month; working with Preservation Maryland to collect LGBTQ+ history; influencing the passage of a gender neutral bathroom ordinance in the City of Salisbury; introducing Salisbury Pride Parade and Festival; hosting numerous community building events; and much much more . We welcome you to learn more about us and consider joining our family.
Salisbury PFLAG was formed in 2015, and has been making a difference in the community ever since it was founded. Highlights include: introducing Maryland's first, and only, rainbow crosswalk; assisting in the production of a LGBTQ+ climate survey and needs assessment report; establishing the Rainbow Fun Run and LGBTQ+ Community Fair with the Lower Shore LGBTQ Coalition; collaborating with FreeState Justice to collect information to influence legislative action; working with the City of Salisbury on Pride on the Plaza which included a rainbow flag raising and a formal declaration of Pride Month; working with Preservation Maryland to collect LGBTQ+ history; influencing the passage of a gender neutral bathroom ordinance in the City of Salisbury; introducing Salisbury Pride Parade and Festival; hosting numerous community building events; and much much more . We welcome you to learn more about us and consider joining our family.
Why Salisbury PFLAG?
- Community – We meet each month in Salisbury and are dedicated to providing a forum and meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community, their families, and friends. We also hold a number of additional community building events throughout the year.
- Resources – We offer suggestions for contacts, people, and resources in our community. Some of the best resources are the PFLAG Salisbury members themselves!
- Education - We seek to dispel the myths and misinformation that surround sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Support -We work to keep families in loving relationships by helping them understand and affirm their gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, or pansexual family members. We provide allies with the tools to stand up to the harassment and discrimination against their LGBTQ+ friends and family.
- Advocacy -We seek to change hearts and minds, often one person at a time. Though times have changed and there is greater acceptance and visibility of LGBTQ+ people, there is still great need and work to be done to ensure basic rights and opportunities for all individuals regardless of one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
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Rainbow Crosswalk
Salisbury PFLAG is proud to have introduced Maryland's first, and only, rainbow crosswalk in 2018. Meetings
Our regularly scheduled meetings are the second Monday of each month from 6:30 until 8 pm at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, Maryland. Our youth meetings are held Tuesdays via Zoom and are moderated by a Salisbury PFLAG board member and a licensed therapist. Salisbury Pride Parade and Festival
We are pleased to partner with the City of Salisbury to bring you the Salisbury Pride Parade and Festival |
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Guide To LGBTQ+ Parenting
If you are a parent wondering how to support your LGBTQ+ child, we are here to assist you. Resources
We are happy to provide resources to help, support, and affirm our LGBTQ+ community and allies. QTBIPOC
QTBIPOC stands for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous People of Color. QTBIPOC are acknowledged to encompass some of the most marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community existing at the intersection of racism, ethnocentrism, xenophobia, queerphobia, and transphobia |
We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity." -George Takei.
OUR OBJECTIVES
1.Create supportive, inclusive, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ people.
2.Develop people into strong LGBTQ+ allies.
3.Promote and assist in the development of local organizations and businesses which are inclusive and welcoming for LGBTQ+ people.
4.Increase visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in Salisbury and the surrounding areas.
5.Advocate for legislative changes which protect LGBTQ+ people.
2.Develop people into strong LGBTQ+ allies.
3.Promote and assist in the development of local organizations and businesses which are inclusive and welcoming for LGBTQ+ people.
4.Increase visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in Salisbury and the surrounding areas.
5.Advocate for legislative changes which protect LGBTQ+ people.
WHAT WE DO
Individuals and Families:
1.Monthly meetings provide LGBTQ+ people and their friends and family opportunities to connect and socialize.
2.Weekly meetings for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-18 provide a safe, supportive environment for youth to connect with peers.
3.Work one-on-one to provide peer support for LGBTQ+ people and help families and friends develop into allies.
4.Connect LGBTQ+ people to affirming medical and mental health providers.
Organizations:
1.Provide consultation and trainings to organizations (businesses, nonprofits, and schools) looking to build inclusive spaces and adopt inclusive practices.
2.Assist local schools with the development of Gender and Sexuality Awareness clubs.
3.Assist the formation of other grassroots LGBTQ+ support and advocacy groups in our area, including: finding meeting space, advertising, informal consultation on best-practices, and providing additional resources.
Community:
1.Engage in community outreach: tabling at events such as Third Friday, National Night Out, and more.
2.Promote community visibility through public educational and Pride events
3.Maintain Salisbury’s rainbow crosswalk.
Macrosystemic:
1.Conduct periodic assessments of local community needs.
2.Collaborate with the local Salisbury City government on inclusive policies, such as the City’s all gender bathroom ordinance.
3.Scorecard local and regional candidates for office during election cycles.
4.Voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives during election cycles.
5.Submitting written testimony on State of Maryland legislation which impacts LGBTQ+ people.
1.Monthly meetings provide LGBTQ+ people and their friends and family opportunities to connect and socialize.
2.Weekly meetings for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-18 provide a safe, supportive environment for youth to connect with peers.
3.Work one-on-one to provide peer support for LGBTQ+ people and help families and friends develop into allies.
4.Connect LGBTQ+ people to affirming medical and mental health providers.
Organizations:
1.Provide consultation and trainings to organizations (businesses, nonprofits, and schools) looking to build inclusive spaces and adopt inclusive practices.
2.Assist local schools with the development of Gender and Sexuality Awareness clubs.
3.Assist the formation of other grassroots LGBTQ+ support and advocacy groups in our area, including: finding meeting space, advertising, informal consultation on best-practices, and providing additional resources.
Community:
1.Engage in community outreach: tabling at events such as Third Friday, National Night Out, and more.
2.Promote community visibility through public educational and Pride events
3.Maintain Salisbury’s rainbow crosswalk.
Macrosystemic:
1.Conduct periodic assessments of local community needs.
2.Collaborate with the local Salisbury City government on inclusive policies, such as the City’s all gender bathroom ordinance.
3.Scorecard local and regional candidates for office during election cycles.
4.Voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives during election cycles.
5.Submitting written testimony on State of Maryland legislation which impacts LGBTQ+ people.
Together We Are Stronger
We are so glad you found us. Whether you are a parent of a LGBTQ+ person, an ally, or a member of the LGBTQ+ community we are here to help, support, and affirm you without questions or reservation.
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PFLAG Salisbury is 100% volunteer-run and operates almost entirely on charitable donations.
If you support PFLAG Salisbury, please consider making a donation by clicking the donate button below.
If you support PFLAG Salisbury, please consider making a donation by clicking the donate button below.
Executive Director: Mark DeLancey
Email: SalisburyPFLAG@outlook.com
Email: SalisburyPFLAG@outlook.com