In America today there are millions of parents with gay daughters and sons who are victims of social, political and economic oppression. Gay people in many communities are still obstructed by prejudice in their pursuit of happiness and in striving to live their lives with openness and dignity. But homosexuals are not the only victims of this oppression; it also touches their friends and families.
We as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays feel that the time is right to join together to appeal to the public conscience in order to achieve equal opportunities for our lesbian daughters and gay sons by working for the same basic human rights, liberties and opportunities for them that are enjoyed by others.
This page will be updated as often as possible with news of our legislative advocacy activities.
Conversion Therapy & The "Ex-Gay" Movement
Military (Don't Ask, Don't Tell)
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Click here to find a PFLAG chapter near you.
Let California Ring is a public education campaign to open hearts and minds about the freedom to marry and the respect, support, protections, and responsibilities that come with marriage. Every day, gay and lesbian Californians are denied the freedom to marry the person they love.
The Gay & Lesbian Center in Long Beach serves over 21,000 people a year and include an array of services, legal assistance, employment referrals, rental and roommate referrals, a hate crimes hotline, mental health referral, women's health programs, cultural and social activities (including a Film Festival), educational forums, and HIV prevention and support programs. The Center provides meeting space for more than 40 community groups each month. The Center also continues to be at the forefront of LGBT activism and advocacy with the Marriage Equality Project.
The Gay & Lesbian Center in Orange County provides a wide continuum of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) services including: support groups, computer instruction, tobacco prevention and control, counseling, youth programs, HIV/AIDS prevention, social activities, newsletter, web site, referrals, library, special events, a senior program, and meeting space for more than 15 groups.
The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.
HeartStrong is a non sectarian organization established to provide outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and other persons adversely affected by the influence of all denominations of religious educational institutions. HeartStrong is also committed to educating the public about the persecution of GLBT’s and others at religious educational institutions.
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs. Click here to learn how to start a GSA.
Understanding Prejudice is a great place to start understanding the basics of ally work. The purpose of the site is to offer educational resources and information on prejudice, discrimination, multiculturalism, and diversity, with the ultimate goal of reducing the level of intolerance and bias in contemporary society.
Tolerance.org is a principal online destination for people interested in dismantling bigotry and creating, in hate's stead, communities that value diversity. Through its online well of resources and ideas, its expanding collection of print materials, its burgeoning outreach efforts, and its downloadable public service announcements, Tolerance.org promotes and supports anti-bias activism in every venue of life.
GAY, LESBIAN AND STRAIGHT EDUCATION NETWORK (GLSEN)
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, envisions a future in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless or sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
Equality California, along with Equality California Institute and the Equality California PAC, share a mission to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. EQCA is California’s LGBT civil rights and advocacy organization. Equality California leads efforts for LGBT civil rights at the state level through an array of strategies including sponsoring legislation and leading efforts to ensure their passage, lobbying legislators and other government officials, building coalitions, and empowering other organizations and individuals to engage in the political process.
ORANGE COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION (OC HRC)
OC Human Relations provides programs in partnerships with schools, corporations, individuals, cities and foundations to eliminate prejudice, intolerance and discrimination.
CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE (CCEJ)
The California Conference for Equality and Justice is a premier human relations organization in southern California. A not-for-profit, human relations organization dedicated to fighting bigotry, bias and racism in America, CCEJ views its fundamental role as breaking down the distance between people by promoting understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution and education.
Targeting gays through mainstream magazines is not nearly as cost effective as using the gay press...The Advocate reaches a more consistently upscale audience...After all gays and lesbians are early adopters who spend more than average on discretionary goods and services.
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
California has a great Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender statewide organization. For those of you who remember Life Lobby, CAPE has assumed some of their role. CAPE held their first major event "Equality Begins At Home" in Sacramento on March 21, 1999. For more information, call 415-252-0810, or e-mail: calcape@aol.com
The 5K Walk-a-thon, 5K Run and 5K Pet-Walk that raises funds for the beneficiary agencies that provide HIV/AIDS services and education to our Long Beach citizens. Since 1989 this event has help raise $2.0 million dollars to over 30 beneficiary agencies in the greater South Bay and Long Beach area.
AIDS WALK ORANGE COUNTY / AIDS SERVICE FOUNDATION(ASF)
There are currently more than 1 million people in the United States living with HIV/AIDS. They are men, women and children and they are our friends, families and neighbors. Orange County AIDS Walk continues the fight against this devastating disease and raises much needed funds for all those affected by HIV/AIDS in Orange County. Food, housing and access to medication are just a few of the many services that your participation will help provide to the thousands of Orange County residents living with HIV/AIDS.
A non-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization was formed upon its official separation from One in Long Beach, Inc at the end of 2004. The foundation operates AIDS Walk Long Beach (formerly AIDS Walk of Greater Long Beach) as one of its program and is charting a course for developing educational and HIV/AIDS prevention programs that affect the lives of our Long Beach and South Bay citizens.
LONG BEACH LESBIAN & GAY PRIDE, INC.
While the main project of Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, Inc. is the annual Pride Parade & Festival, the organization operates year-round and sponsors other philanthropic projects. Over the past several years, the Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival & Parade has become the 3rd largest in the nation, now attracting over 75,000 participants over the two-day celebration. More than 200 marching groups and floats comprise the parade entries since 1995, representing various religious, human service, governmental and social organizations.organization was formed upon its official separation from One in Long Beach, Inc at the end of 2004.
Whether you have left the church or are still there, Freedom 2 B[e] is a non judgemental, safe place to assist people on their journey to reconciliation. Freedom 2 [B]e is doctrinally neutral. We are not a church or religious community and do not require adherence to any particular teachings or understandings.
Queerly Divine Ministries is devoted to empowering members of the queer community (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning) by affirming their inborn Divinity and equality, while reclaiming relationship with family, spiritual affiliation and community.
California Faith For Equality educates, supports and mobilizes California's faith communities to promote civil marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and safeguard religious freedom.
BEYOND EX-GAYBeyond Ex-Gay is an on-line community and resource for those of us who have survived ex-gay experiences. So often healing comes through community and through sharing our stories and experiences with each other.
The largest free-access HIV/AIDS database base on the web. Over one million files, fully-indexed, cross-referenced, and keyword searchable.
The complete HIV/AIDS resource.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES OFFICE OF AIDS
A wealth of statewide information, programs, and services.
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)
Comprehensive information on AIDS / HIV matters for the US.
ORANGE COUNTY (CA) HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The Office of HIV Programs (OHP) coordinates HIV/AIDS care, treatment, support services, and HIV/AIDS prevention services for Orange County.
For information on global issues around HIV and AIDS.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
More information about the impact of HIV and AIDS on the world.