Pride 2021 spotlight: PFLAG
This organization provides all the tools you could need to be an ally to LGBTQ+ friends in the outdoor and wellness communities.
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Throughout the month of June, we’re highlighting organizations and initiatives that advocate for greater outdoor access among the LGBTQ+ community. Today’s feature is PFLAG, a group that provides resources for LGBTQ+ allies.
Are you a parent, friend, or co-worker of a gay hiker, cyclist, yoga teacher, or fitness instructor? Have you heard their stories of feeling marginalized, excluded, or worse in settings that should be open and welcoming to all? Then PFLAG is for you.
Allyship is essential to making all sports and outdoor spaces welcoming and inclusive. The first and largest organization of its kind, PFLAG was founded to serve LGBTQ+ folx along with their parents, families, and friends. It doesn’t operate exclusively in the outdoor space, but it does offer a ton of incredible resources for people who are looking to be allies, as well as resources for those looking to come out of the closet.
Read more: Get to know Brave Trails, a summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth
Being an ally isn’t about being political, but it is about creating a space that is safe and welcoming for identities that may be different than yours. Allies take the burden off of under-represented communities to advocate for themselves, which is important whether you’re at the trailhead, in a yoga studio, or working an outdoor industry trade show. In spaces such as these, creating an environment where LGBTQ+ people can feel comfortable being their authentic selves will lift up the whole community and experience.
Start your ally journey, or learn new ways that you can be an even more effective ally here.
