NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON’S WELCOME

As the National Spokesperson for PFLAG in Australia I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the website and home page of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Brisbane.

PFLAG is an international peer support group that has been operating in Australia for over 30 years. There are groups in all States of Australia operating independently and at different strengths. All groups are 100% voluntary, have no political bias and are non-religious. As part of a national group in Australia, we feel we have a stronger voice, allowing us to speak out against the discrimination, injustice and homophobia that still exists in society today. PFLAG Brisbane operates under the auspice of the Queensland Association Healthy Communities (QAHC) formerly the Queensland AIDS Council.

At present, the gay community is one of the last minority groups in Australia that lives with discrimination, inequality and injustice. Several other first world countries have recognized the need to grant same sex couples their human rights and Australia federally in late 2008 removed the economic discrimination, but there is still more work to be done to gain total equality.

As parents with sons and daughters who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) we believe, to enable them to have truly fulfilling lives, it is important that they are able to live their lives with honesty and integrity without fear that if they disclose their sexual orientation, they will suffer discrimination, ostracism or abuse.

PFLAG, even though primarily a support group for parents, strives to support lesbians, gays, bisexuals transgender and intersex who are, or fear they may be, abandoned by their families. We do this by providing information to them while they are going through the process of “coming out” and later offer support and information to their families. For those who are not accepted, they know they are welcome and supported by our group.

We feel that it is important to not just support our children, but to stand beside them.

Shelley Argent (view profile)
NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON - PFLAG AUSTRALIA