PFLAG Talks
Speaker Series
Our speaker series hosts nationally recognized experts, providing our community with information and inspiration. This Series features online LGBTQ webinars, policy discussions, parenting talks, and educational events covering: trans youth rights, gender-affirming care, LGBTQ history, family acceptance, anti-LGBTQ extremism, and legislative updates.
Watch past recordings or register for upcoming virtual LGBTQ events.
Conversion Therapy Survivor Stories: Shame, Recovery, and the Push to Ban It
Dr. Lucas Wilson spent four years in a conversion therapy program at Liberty University—and only learned that’s what it was years later. Now the editor of the survivor anthology Shame, Sex, Attraction, Wilson unpacks the euphemisms that hide these programs (“discipleship,” “biblical counseling”), the shame-versus-guilt tactics they rely on, why survivors hesitate to name it as abuse, and where conversion therapy bans stand across the U.S. and Canada. A candid conversation about survival, recovery, and accountability.
July 22, 2026, Virtual
Trans Students in Schools: Anti-Trans Laws and the Pedagogy of Refusal
Dr. sj Miller—scholar-activist, educator, and author of We Refuse to Disappear—breaks down the fast-growing wave of anti-trans legislation reshaping American schools (778 bills across 43 states in 2026) and what a “pedagogy of refusal” means for educators who won’t abandon their students. You’ll hear real stories of teachers protecting trans kids, why schools became a battleground for democracy, and how anyone—inside or outside the classroom—can push back.
May 19, 2026, Virtual
Intersex Rights and Bodily Autonomy: What Families Need to Know
Bria Brown-King, Associate Executive Director at InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth, explains what it means to be intersex, why nonconsensual surgeries on intersex children still happen in the U.S., and how anti-trans legislation directly harms intersex people. A clear, compassionate talk on intersex rights and bodily autonomy—what parents, families, and allies need to know, and how to take action whether or not you’re intersex.
April 22, 2026, Virtual
Moms for Liberty: School Boards, Book Bans, and How to Push Back
Dan Clark (Stop Moms for Liberty) explains how Moms for Liberty gains influence through local school board politics, “parental rights” messaging, and coordinated book/curriculum challenges that often target LGBTQ+ inclusion. You’ll hear practical ways communities can respond—monitoring agendas, emailing trustees, showing up at meetings, and organizing alongside students, educators, and neighbors.
February 17, 2026, Virtual
LGBTQ Asylum: How It Works and How to Help
Kenan Arun, Executive Director of the LGBT Asylum Project, breaks down the basics of LGBTQ+ asylum—what asylum is (and isn’t), how cases move through the system, and what makes a strong application. The conversation also highlights how community support and volunteers help asylum seekers pursue safety and dignity.
January 14, 2026, Virtual
Russia’s Anti-LGBTQ Playbook: Why Autocrats Target Queer Lives
Dr. Alexandra Novitskaya examines how LGBTQ+ people are often framed as a “threat to the state” in Russia and beyond—and why these narratives repeat across authoritarian movements. A conversation about propaganda, policy, and how families and allies can respond with clarity and compassion.
November 4, 2025, Virtual
Magnus Hirschfeld, Nazi Book Burnings, and Queer History
Daniel Brook, author of “The Einstein of Sex“, the story of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld and the Institute for Sexual Science in Weimar Berlin—whose work was targeted in the 1933 Nazi book burnings. This talk connects queer history, censorship, and scapegoating politics to the challenges we face today.
September 16, 2025, Virtual
Trans Youth Legal Rights: Federal Changes vs California Protections
Ora Prochovnick offers a clear, up-to-date overview of the legal risks and protections impacting trans youth and their families—federal shifts, California safeguards, and real-life implications for schools, healthcare access, IDs, and travel. Not legal advice—consult a qualified attorney or legal aid resource.
July 15, 2025, Virtual
Trans Athletes in Sports: Science, Fairness, and Inclusion
Dr. Joanna Harper discusses the science and policy debates shaping trans and intersex athlete inclusion in sports. Dr. Joanna Harper, is a scientist, author, and expert on transgender and intersex athletes. She has advised organizations like the International Olympic Committee on gender eligibility policies and authored Sporting Gender, a book exploring the science and debate around gender-diverse athletes.
May 28, 2025, Virtual
Joy-Centered Support for Trans Kids: Hope Without Burnout
Ben Greene, trans advocate and author of My Child Is Trans, Now What?, shares a joy-centered approach to supporting trans kids—balancing resilience, community, and practical action. You’ll leave with grounded ways to resist fear-mongering, protect your wellbeing, and keep showing up with love.
April 22, 2025
Trans Teen Stories Beyond Headlines: Nico Lang on American Teenager
Nico Lang, award-winning journalist and author of American Teenager, shares how this book came to be—and why centering trans teens’ voices matters. A thoughtful conversation about storytelling, safety, family support, advocacy pressures, and finding joy in a turbulent era
March 20, 2025, Virtual