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Learn More About PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside

About

Uniting the LGBTQ+ community and allies through Support, Education, and Advocacy

Who We Are

Welcome!

PFLAG is an organization working to create a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people. We support families, educate allies, and advocate for equality through our network of supporters, members, and chapters across the country. PFLAG Bellevue / Eastside is committed to advancing equality through our core principle of “Leading With Love” through the following:

  • Support for LGBTQ+ people and their family and friends.
  • Education for ourselves and others about the unique issues and challenges facing people who are LGBTQ+.
  • Advocacy to expand attitudes and create communities and policies that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ+ and those who love them.

What We Believe

PFLAG is often the first place people turn to when they or someone they love has just come out or is questioning their sexuality and/or gender. But we are also a place of ongoing connection for LGBTQ+ people, family, and allies, where together we find acceptance, affirmation, and, for those who are interested, opportunities to actively move equality forward together.

As the extended family of the LGBTQ+ community, we stand behind our successful track record of creating change the PFLAG way.

  • We have no affiliation with any political party or religion.
  • We do not advocate for political candidates.
  • We do advocate for policies and laws that lead to equality.
  • We uphold respectful dialogue to engage and persuade people.
  • We trust in the power of our stories to open hearts and minds.
  • We believe we are all on a journey to LGBTQ+ equality.
  • We build bridges with others at different points on this journey.
  • We know that change is possible because we see it happen every day.
  • We lead with love. PFLAG began from love and it remains our calling card.
  • We work for a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed.

Wherever you are on your journey—starting out or a long-standing member or ally of the LGBTQ+ community—PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside is here for you.

Our History

Our history begins with Jeanne Manford, a mother whose love for her gay son and belief in his right to equality set into motion PFLAG National, our nation’s largest support and advocacy group for the LGBTQ+ community. Many PFLAG chapters begin similarly—a parent wants to help their child, meets like-minded parents, and a new PFLAG chapter is born.

Our chapter was founded by parents in April 22, 1996 as an outgrowth of Seattle PFLAG, to focus on LGBTQ+ people and their families and allies in the Eastside. Since then, we have held monthly support meetings in Bellevue, staffed our information table/booth for a wide array of events, spoken at schools, hospitals, and other venues, marched in Seattle Pride and numerous Eastside community parades, promoted safe schools, fund scholarships for young changemakers, and advocated for legislation to bring equality. In 2018, we added a second monthly meeting located in Bothell to expand our services (which ceased meeting when COVID brought all gatherings to a halt).

Achievement Highlights

Our chapter members bring a special level of innovation, enthusiasm, and drive toward the PFLAG goals of support, education, and advocacy. Here are just a few highlights:

  • We created our scholarship program in 1999. Conceived by chapter member Alex Pava, it continues to be one of our most rewarding services. Administered by the Pride Foundation, it attracts applicants across our region. As of 2025 we’ve awarded over $60,000 in scholarships.
  • We produced videos Love, PFLAG 1, and Love, PFLAG 2  with the gay adult child of  PFLAG members and his family, friends, and supporters, all standing for equality marriage. Conceived by PFLAG former chair Lori Brown in support of Referendum 74, they remain compelling testaments.
  • We constructed our well-known Closet Float for our parade contingent based on the idea of former chair Wendy Wartes, one of our chapter’s founding member.
  • We created our neon-colored “I’m Loved by PFLAG” stickers, designed by several PFLAG moms, which we widely distribute to participants at parades, festivals, and other events.
  • We celebrated our 20th anniversary with a successful musical benefit featuring the nationally known ensemble Captain Smartypants. From the proceeds, we rewarded three additional student scholarships in 2017.
  • We maintained our support meetings uninterrupted through COVID by quickly adopting virtual meetings and in October 2022 were one of the first Washington state chapters to resume in-person meetings. We continue our meetings in hybrid form to maximize our support reach.
  • To respond to heightened challenges, our chapter’s leadership has stepped up public comment efforts at city councils, supporting corporate employee groups that are relatively new to LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts, and made repeated tabling appearances at Pride and general community festivals in outlying areas such as Fall City and Maple Valley.