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Marching through the streets of New York City in the year 1972, a mother, Jeanne Manford, took the love she held for her gay son and her indignation of the worldÐÔÊӽ紫ý treatment of him and sparked a movement that led to the creation of PFLAG.

Fifty years later, a mother in Rome, inspired by her love for her trans son, followed in ManfordÐÔÊӽ紫ý footsteps and opened the Rome chapter of PFLAG, creating a much needed resource for the queer community in Rome.

The start

Six years ago, Lynn GreenÐÔÊӽ紫ý life changed when her son Ash came out as trans.

She was honored that her son felt safe enough to come out and began looking into how she could best support him. When looking for resources, she found a lack of any queer support organizations within the community.

“I looked for resources in our area, and there was nothing, so I didn’t know who to talk to,� Green said.

After a while, she was introduced to the president of the PFLAG chapter in Johns Creek, which was the closest queer organization she could find. The pandemic had already started so meetings were virtual which meant she could attend them easily online.

In the virtual meetings she heard from parents with trans children and other members of the queer community, finding the support system she needed.

“ThatÐÔÊӽ紫ý where I found other parents who had walked the exact same path I was walking,â€� she said.

While the quarantine was still in place, she continued to attend virtual meetings at both the Johns Creek and Sandy Springs chapters. However, when everyone started transitioning back to in-person meetings, she needed to find a more effective way to connect with the community.

She asked around town if anyone would be interested in opening a Rome chapter, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Around 30 people showed up for the first planning meeting, and that was only the people who were comfortable outwardly supporting the endeavor, Green said.

After garnering support from the community and receiving approval from PFLAG National, Green opened the Rome Chapter in June 2021.

The community impact

In the four years PFLAG has operated in Rome, the chapter has grown exponentially, reaching people with monthly support groups, social outings and outreach activities.

“We are a safe space all year round,� Green said.

Green brought to Rome a resource that was lacking and provided a safe space for people in the queer community and their support systems to come together.

“ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý something that was needed, and I think a lot of people were scared to do it,â€� Green said. “It was scary, but I couldn’t not do it because I saw the impact it had on me and my family.â€�

While the PFLAG chapter in Rome has helped the queer community, Green and board member Andrea Battles de Young feel that more can be done to reach the younger population.

There is only one school in the Rome and Floyd County area that has a queer student organization and that is Darlington School.

Neither the city nor the county schools have ever had a student group for their queer students. Due to the lack of support groups and safe spaces within the area for teenagers, many students and young adults don’t feel comfortable being themselves.

“A lot of kids in this area are so timid because it is such a rural area and they’re not surrounded by the most positivity,� Battles de Young said.

Over the years, Green has reached out to counselors at local schools to provide them resources and see about partnering with them to give the students a group, but it hasn’t gone anywhere. Every once in a while, teachers will reach out to her and ask for ways to make their classrooms more inclusive and supportive for their students, but she has never heard from school leaders.

To give kids a safe space to talk, PFLAG hosts a monthly teen support group. The people who run the group are thoroughly vetted, and only approved adults are allowed to run the group. The group provides the teenagers not just a safe space, but a safe person to confide in.

“One supportive adult can reduce the likelihood of a suicide attempt for a gay or trans child,â€� Green said. “ThatÐÔÊӽ紫ý huge because it used to be one supportive parent, but now itÐÔÊӽ紫ý one supportive adult. So anybody in our community can be that one supportive person to make an impact on a childÐÔÊӽ紫ý life.â€�

While the group provides teenagers with the space to talk, Green and Battles de Young agree that they are not reaching as much of the community as they could. The group has around 15 teenagers attending every month, with most attendees hearing about it from their friends.

“I think our teen group has the possibility of growing exponentially,� Green said.

The organization hopes to reach more teenagers and their parents with information about the support groups, so they know they have a place to come and learn.

“Come on in, ask the questions, talk to people who have been through it, get the support,� Battles de Young said. “There is no wrong question; everyone has to start somewhere.�

PFLAGÐÔÊӽ紫ý mission

PFLAG was created by a mother to bring together people from the queer community and their support systems, providing them with a space to ask questions, learn and grow.

ThatÐÔÊӽ紫ý what Green wants people to remember. This organization is for everyone, not just those who identify as queer.

As a queer organization based in a more rural area there has been some backlash, Green said. Like any group, there are people who don’t like it or support it, but all Green asks is that people have empathy and try to understand.

A quote that Green heard in a training session recently said it best:

“Understanding isn’t always agreeing, but itÐÔÊӽ紫ý choosing to humanize, recognize and empathize even amongst differences.â€�

ThatÐÔÊӽ紫ý what Green asks the community to do.

“The focus on the queer community right now is just dividing our communities, but at PFLAG our purpose it to bring communities together and to lead with love,� Green said.

And most importantly, Green wants people to remember that queer people aren’t just their labels, they are dynamic individuals.

“I have a trans son, but I also have a son who is taking all advanced classes at school,â€� Green said. “He was the assistant stage manager, heÐÔÊӽ紫ý an artist, heÐÔÊӽ紫ý all of these different things. Being trans is just one part of him, and I don’t think any of us wants to be known by only one of our characteristics. There is so much that goes into people.â€�