This afternoon was very special and one I’ll never forget. At the 2015 PFLAG National Convention Awards Luncheon, I enjoyed lunch with my husband Matt, PFLAG Executive Director Jody Huckaby, Caitlyn Jenner’s sister Pam Mettler, Betty DeGeneres and others. Then, I was awarded the PFLAG Flag Bearer Award.
The PFLAG Flag Bearer Award honors outstanding LGBTQ advocacy outside of the PFLAG framework and acknowledges the recipient’s accomplishments and lasting contributions to the safety and/or equality of our LGBTQ children, family and friends.
Following is my acceptance speech. I hope you’ll read it and understand how important PFLAG is to me and how thankful I am to be the 2015 PFLAG Flag Bearer.
Days after my brother came out 23 years ago, my aunt sent my mom a packet of literature from an organization called PFLAG. On top of the photocopies was a note that read, “When you are ready, I think you should check out PFLAG.”
My mom wasn’t ready, so I went by myself. And I fell in love with PFLAG, because at that time, they were the only group of people to tell me that there was nothing wrong with having a gay brother.
Five years ago when my youngest son started showing signs of being transgender or gender nonconforming, I knew where I needed to go to feel love, acceptance and support. I went back to PFLAG.
PFLAG is the most supportive support group I’ve ever seen; it’s good for my soul; it’s what church should feel like.
On my blog, in my book and when I speak, I tell friends, families, allies and members of the LGBTQ community, if you don’t know where to go, go to PFLAG.
PFLAG also taught me that one mom can make a difference. I used to say “I’m just a mom.” After learning about PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford, I started leaving off the just. I’m not just a mom. I’m a mom. And as Jeanne showed us being a mom is a very powerful thing. Moms can be fierce advocates and world changers.
Thank you PFLAG, I value this recognition more than you will ever know. And thank you to my amazing husband Matt I couldn’t have a better partner in life or on this unique parenting journey. You prove that dads are pretty cool too.
Raising My Rainbow 
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Wow, so wonderful! I was behind on reading the blog so I just now saw this entry. What a wonderful thing, and well deserved!
Dear Lori, CONGRATULATIONS on this well deserved honor & THANK YOU for the encouragement, support, knowledge, & information you share with us. Cathilee
Congratulations! Very well-deserved!
Congrats
Congratulations and thank you for your advocacy.
Well deserved…you are an inspiration, and PFLAG sounds invaluable. I will check it out.
Congratulations, Lori! It is a well-deserved honor! So proud and happy for you!
C.J. is lucky to have such great parents, but you’re clearly helping countless young people by sharing your journey. Congratulations, and thank you!
congrats, you deserve it. It’s a wonderful thing you do for all humanity.
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations Lori! What a great honor.
Congratulations Lori !! You deserve this award for being the wonderful person you are. And your family is wonderful too !!
Congratulations on being recognized for your accomplishments. You really are an amazing mom! Wish there wee more parents out there like the both of you!
Congratulations! I love that you dropped the “just” from just a mom. Yes, mothers are powerful change agents in the world. We just don’t read enough about them in our school history books. Rock on, sister!
You have played a role in countless other families, and helped us understand gender and let us know we are not alone on this journey. Congratulations on a well deserved accolade.
So well deserved — congratulations!
Well done!
Congratulations Lori! Well deserved and thanks again for all that you do from another Mom who travels a similar road. 😊
Well done, Lori. A richly deserved accolade.
By the way, I have to say that Matt is looking marvellous in that photo at the end… 😉
Good for you Lori. Don’t kid ourselves about transgender.. Its just a different look on masculinity, or femininity for that matter, not good or bad just different. What we do or wear or be is not defining who we are. The status quo is changing and quickly. I sincerely doubt in this specific case case you can define cj as this OR that. Maybe both AND. It doesn’t matter. He is a boy, a human boy, and it is our definition of that that is skewed. Don’t ever buy into a narrow defination of what that means. You seem to get this.
Congrats 🙂
I wish I had an award to give you. I can only say thank you, thank you, thank you.