In this issue: October Meeting, PFLAG Votes 2026, and California legislative wins | | |
Our October Meeting
The Power of Connection: How Families can Support Their LGBTQ+ Loved Ones
Tuesday, October 27, 7 PM
We learn from stories about others' journeys of understanding and acceptance. In October, we welcome Janna Barkin (she/her), author, speaker, group facilitator, and parent coach, for a heartfelt talk about family acceptance, hope, and the power of connection. Janna will draw upon her experience as the mother of a transgender son to share insights and stories that highlight how families can support their LGBTQ+ loved ones, foster understanding, and remind parents, grandparents, and allies that they are not alone.
Janna Barkin is a passionate advocate for transgender youth and the facilitator of support groups, including online groups for PFLAG National. She is the author of He’s Always Been My Son and A Grand Love: Stories for Grandparents of Transgender Grandchildren, both Amazon #1 bestsellers and both available in our PFLAG library. A lifelong educator and student, Janna leads multiple support groups, speaks widely, and shares guidance, encouragement, and stories that foster understanding, compassion, acceptance, and hope.
After the program, we will hold space for confidential sharing and support. Meetings are held from 7-9 PM in the Campbell Room at St. John's Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Avenue in Berkeley (look for the PFLAG banner). Masks are optional. We ask that you not attend if you are feeling unwell or if you've been in contact with anyone who is unwell.
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.
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Upcoming Meetings
For our November meeting, we will offer community and confidential sharing and support in small groups at our usual location. Given the proximity to Thanksgiving, it will be a shorter meeting without a formal program, but we want to offer you the opportunity to gather and support each other for those who are available.
In December, we will not have a regular monthly meeting. Instead, you and your family are invited to join us for our annual holiday potluck. We will send an update with details on the date and location.
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Advocacy
PFLAG Votes 2026: Turning Pride into Power
With the election less than a month away, LGBTQ+ people are more motivated than ever to vote in November. A study by the HRC Foundation found that 92% of registered LGBTQ+ voters “definitely” plan to vote in the upcoming midterms, compared to 68% of non-LGBTQ+ voters who say they will “definitely” vote.
Katie Blair, PFLAG’s VP of Advocacy, described the enthusiasm she is seeing for PFLAG’s Turning Pride into Power campaign to mobilize chapters and supporters to vote. “Our families know firsthand what’s at stake this election,” she said. “They are feeling the impacts of anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric in their communities, at their schools, in their conversations.”
Now is the time to volunteer and get involved if you aren’t already. Volunteers for PFLAG and other LGBTQ+ organizations are contacting voters across the country to get out the vote and to make sure voters have the information they need to cast their ballots in November. PFLAG Votes has two opportunities coming up for folks to help out:
October 21 | Phone Bank With One Colorado
5 PM Pacific Time / 6 PM Mountain Time
This November, Coloradans will vote on two anti-trans ballot measures that would impact trans youth and their families. You can join One Colorado to reach voters and help them understand what’s at stake. Register here.
October 28 | Phone Bank With Progress Arizona
4:30 PM Pacific Time / 5:30 PM Mountain Time
Arizonans will also be facing an anti-trans ballot measure in November. You can join Progress Arizona to educate voters across the state and make sure they have a plan to cast their ballot in November. Register here.
Additionally, Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) is partnering with organizations including the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), the LGBTQ Task Force and others to host weekly virtual volunteer phonebanks supporting states facing anti-trans ballot measures and other attacks.
Folks can sign up to call voters in states where anti-trans measures are on the ballot. A4TE will host multiple phonebanks each week, so you’ll have many opportunities to get involved, connect with voters, and share important information about the upcoming elections.
You can help recruit volunteers for in-person actions, call and connect directly with voters, or make sure people follow through on the events they’ve signed up to volunteer for.
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2026 Legislative Session
Governor Newsom Signs Key LGBTQ+ Protections into Law
The 2026 California legislative session ended last month in Sacramento, and there is much to celebrate.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of legislation protecting LGBTQ+ Californians, including all nine Equality California-sponsored bills that reached his desk. These new laws will support transgender veterans, strengthen safety at LGBTQ+ community events, expand privacy protections for transgender and nonbinary people, protect young people from conversion therapy, support LGBTQ+ families and students, and expand access to lifesaving long-acting PrEP.
The Governor also previously signed budget measures that included critical funding to protect access to transgender health care for TGI youth on Medi-Cal, establish a grant program to stabilize and expand California’s transgender health care provider network, and restore access to culturally competent crisis counselors for LGBTQ+ youth through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Unfortunately, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 2164, a bill that would have protected gender-affirming and abortion care providers from extradition to face criminal charges in other states. While he agreed with the importance of protecting these services, he said in his veto message that he’s reluctant to limit the discretionary powers of future governors.
Equality California will share more in the weeks ahead about what these new laws mean for our communities. In the meantime, the organization expressed its gratitude to Governor Newsom, the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, bill authors and legislative partners, and all of those who supported its legislative package this year.
For a full list of bills, visit eqca.org/legislation
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PFLAG Online
Be Kind, Rewind: Recognizing Your Role in Building Inclusion
Tuesday, October 27, 5:30 PM PT
Presented by the PFLAG National Learning & Inclusion Team
We are all products of our upbringing, environments, biases (known and unknown), and daily stressors. Even if we don’t totally understand the effect we are having on others, it is important to consider the impact our behavior has on our loved ones, chapter members, and communities.
Whether it’s the beginning of your kindness journey, or you want a refresh on the best ways to be mindful, join the PFLAG National Learning & Inclusion team to get helpful tips to be kinder and more inclusive. In this session, participants will:
- Acknowledge what’s happening in the world right now and how exclusion and unkindness can show up in our work as PFLAGers;
- Consider some of the ways that good, well-intentioned people do some not-so-good things when interacting with one another, and some reasons why that can happen;
- Discuss individual and organization-level changes we can make to build kind, inclusive spaces for our chapter and community members; and
- Talk together about what comes next because this is just the start of the work we need to do to create welcoming and inclusive spaces.
There will be time for Q&A, so be sure to bring your questions!
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In the News: Positive Developments
Serbia - World’s first openly lesbian head of state takes office. Ana Brnabić has taken office as Serbia’s acting president following the resignation of President Aleksandar Vučić. Brnabić previously served as Serbia’s Prime Minister and the president of the National Assembly. She is the first openly lesbian woman to serve as any country’s head of state.
United States - Federal judge rules Trump Administration illegally withheld funding to organizations combating domestic violence and sexual assault. In a September 29th ruling, Judge Melissa R. DuBose held that the Administration illegally attempted to withhold federal grants from over two dozen domestic violence and sexual assault prevention organizations by imposing arbitrary conditions on the grants. One such condition was that grantees could not promote “gender ideology.”
Pennsylvania - Community shows up to school board meeting to support transgender homecoming queen. Fairview High School upperclassmen elected a transgender girl, Sammi, as homecoming queen. Sammi received harassment online as a result, so a Fairview teacher organized a group to attend the school board meeting on September 28th, where dozens spoke out to support Sammi.
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Local, Virtual Support Meetings
Ongoing Events
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