Mt. Pleasant PFLAG: a resource for the community

MT. PLEASANT - The Mt. Pleasant PFLAG chapter is looking to be a local resource for parents and schools.

PFLAG is a national organization that provides a community and space for parents, family members and allies of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals.

The Mt. Pleasant chapter held its inaugural meeting on Nov. 19, where board members and local residents gathered at the Mt. Pleasant library for the first time since the group received its official designation. Bob Mueller, the president of the local chapter, noted that they started the process to receive its official designation in August. Generally, it takes about three months for a chapter to get approved.

Mt. Pleasant PFLAG was started after members of the community saw a need to provide resources and information on LGBTQ+ issues. Following an incident at the Mt. Pleasant Middle School in May of this year, during which miscommunication among school administrators resulted in posters promoting the school's GSA club were taken down, Mueller said he felt it was important to create a local group to address concerns and educate the community.

Mueller hopes the chapter will be a support for parents who may have children who identify as LGBTQ+ and are in the process of coming out. Currently the group has about 15 members.

'It's just a conversation for them and to comfort them as much as anything. It's not the end of the world like it used to be,” Mueller said.

Mueller also hopes to make the chapter a local resource to support schools and students.

'We're going to try to meet with the Middle School and offer our services in developing the [GSA] program,” Mueller added.

In addition to its work with local schools, the chapter curated an online library that has resources and reading materials on LGBTQ+ issues and information about PFLAG. The group also anticipates doing advocacy work and lobbying legislators, including working with other organizations like Iowa Safe Schools, whose goal this year is to address conversion therapy.

During their first meeting, the chapter did a reading of a poem by Micky ScottBey Jones called 'Invitation to Brave Space,” and discussed setting up meetings with local school administrators. The group also highlighted important dates including Dec. 1, which is World AIDS Day.

The chapter's next meeting will be on Dec. 17 at the Mt. Pleasant Library and will begin at 6 p.m. For parents and local residents seeking resources on LGBTQ+ issues, the Mt. Pleasant PFLAG Google drive can be accessed through the chapter's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pflagmountpleasant/.