Join Us for a Holiday Party on Sunday, Dec. 14

In this issue: Holiday Party, How to 'Ally' for the Holidays, Sutter Health Call to Action

Our Annual Holiday Party: Sunday, December 14

You and your family are invited to join us this Sunday, December 14 from 1-3 pm for our annual holiday gathering at a private home in Berkeley. Outdoor space will be available. Please bring a snack to share; we will supply the rest.

To join us, just reply to this email to RSVP and we will send you the address. We look forward to seeing you at this casual holiday gathering.

Please note, there is NO chapter/support meeting in December. We hope you can join us at the holiday gathering instead.

Between meetings, our board is still here to connect with you one-on-one. Email pflagoeb@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 510-562-7692 and we will call you back.

Support Your LGBTQ+ Loved Ones this Holiday Season

With winter holidays approaching, people are gearing up to spend time with family and share holiday traditions. The holidays are meant to be a time for joy and togetherness, but they can also feel particularly fraught for many people who are LGBTQ+.

While there are countless articles about how to handle holiday stress and conflict, there isn’t a lot out there about how allies can be part of creating spaces that celebrate and affirm their LGBTQ+ family and friends at this time of year.

PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program, and Your Trans Cousin on Substack, have some great resources for how to navigate family gatherings and be a visible, vocal, and active ally to the LGBTQ+ people in your life this holiday season. Click the links below:

How to “Ally” for the Holidays

Going Home For The Holidays…Or Any Days

How to Support Trans & Nonbinary Kids During the Holidays

PFLAG Academy Online is also offering a webinar on how to actively love and support your LGBTQ+ loved ones over the holidays, why this support is so vital, and how to get it right. This session covers both sexual orientation and gender identity, and is open to caregivers of all types.

WEBINAR: Celebrate + Affirm for the Holidays: Being a Supportive (and Festive) Parent & Caregiver

Tuesday, December 16, at 5:30 PM Pacific Time

And remember: if you need immediate support, our board is here to connect with you one-on-one. Email pflagoeb@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at 510-562-7692 and we will call you back.

Call to Action

Stop Sutter Health from Ending Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth

Email and Call Sutter Now!

Without notice or explanation, Sutter Health has told its providers that it will end gender-affirming care for patients under age 19. While the Trump administration is attempting to ban access to vital care for trans kids, nothing legally requires Sutter to end these services now. Indeed, Sutter would be acting contrary to California law.

PFLAG Oakland/East Bay stands with Rainbow Families Action and parents who are demanding that Sutter reverse course, protect continuity of care, and honor the right of trans and gender-diverse youth to evidence-based, life-affirming healthcare.

While the ban is expected to take effect on December 10, according to reports, families have already put enough pressure on Sutter that there seems to be a lot of chaos and resistance internally.

Here’s what you can do right now to turn up the pressure and help Sutter families:

Email and call the leadership of Sutter and let them know this isn't ok. You don't have to be local to send an email. We have the backs of all of our families and if they want to cut off kids who go to Sutter, they'll have to go through ALL of us. Here's all the information, including an email template, the phone number, and ways you can help on social media:

Take Action for Trans Kids

For more information:

Read Rainbow Families Action’s statement

Read KQED’s article

Make the Yuletide Gay: Oakland Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Concerts

Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 in Oakland

Sunday, December 14 in Lafayette

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with music that warms the heart? From timeless carols to contemporary holiday hits, join the Oakland Gay Men's Chorus at this concert that is a musical toast to the season!

Get tickets here!

A progress pride flag against a blue sky

In the News: Positive Developments

PFLAG National honors Rep. Maxine Waters. At PFLAG National’s Love Takes Justice reception on November 18th, former Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank presented PFLAG’s Champion of Justice Award to longtime LGBTQ+ advocate and ally Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43). Previous honorees include the late Rep. John Lewis, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), and former Rep. Barbara Lee.

Maine - Human Rights Commission sues five districts over anti-trans policies. The Maine Human Rights Commission has filed a lawsuit against MSAD 70 in Hodgdon, RSU 24 in Sullivan, RSU 73 in Livermore Falls, the Baileyville School Department, and the Richmond School Department, arguing the school districts have adopted policies that create a "hostile educational environment for gender-nonconforming students." The policies that triggered the lawsuit include anti-trans athlete bans, anti-trans facilities bans, and policies only recognizing two sexes aligned with sex assigned at birth.

Massachusetts - Gov. Maura Healey supports transgender member of Commission on Status of Women amid anti-trans attacks. Giselle Byrd, a Black transgender woman, has received death threats and racist and transphobic attacks online following her appointment to the Commission on Status of Women. Gov. Healey, who appointed Byrd to the Commission, defended Byrd, saying "Giselle Byrd is a highly respected leader in the Boston Arts community who is committed to the advancement of women."

Virginia - Legislative leaders announce repealing same-sex marriage ban from state constitution as one of their priorities for 2026 legislative session. House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) announced on November 17th that repealing the state’s defunct constitutional ban on same-sex marriage would be among majority’s legislative priorities for 2026.

Washington, D.C - Supreme Court Denies Request to Revisit Same-Sex Marriage Decision. The U.S. Supreme Court last month turned down a request that it consider overturning its landmark decision to legalize same-sex marriage a decade ago.

Local, Virtual Support Meetings

Ongoing Events

Oakland LGBTQ Center Town Youth Club (Second and Fourth Fridays)
PFLAG Connects Communities: Moderated online meetings for Families of Color, Military Families, Grandparents, Dads, and Parents & Caregivers of Gender Diverse Youth
Pacific Center for Human Growth Peer Groups
Oakland LGBTQ Center Events

Join or Donate

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