PFLAG Rockford Chapter is the 2nd to become INTERSEX Inclusive.

I am excited to announce, and celebrate that PFLAG Rockford Illinois is the second PFLAG Chapter to responsibly include intersex. My chapter, PFLAG of Jacksonville is the first. This happening after they made me their Director of Gender/INTERSEX Education. It is my goal now to help other PFLAG chapters add the “I” responsibly.

While traveling to the PFLAG’s National conference in Portland, this October 2017, I met Phyllis Gallisath the Founder and President of PFLAG Rockford Chapter. It was one of those serendipitous moments, where we discovered ourselves sitting on the plane together during my connection in Chicago. We introduced ourselves and quickly learned that we were both headed to the same conference! This was the beginning of a new and amazing relationship and some very long educational discussions around intersex.

During that time Phyllis opened her heart and her mind while learning the differences between LGBTQ and the special needs of us intersex people. While also seeing that a good number of us intersex people and parents of intersex kids, are without inclusive community and supports due also identifying as LGBTQ+.

I gave my presentation at the National Conference, as a workshop, and during it, I talk about adding the “I” responsibility to LGBTQ+. It is very important to me that the “I” is added with full responsibility and not carelessly. My job going to PFLAG’s National conference was in honor of all us intersex people and the parents of intersex kids. I am very excited to be doing this work! This would not be happening without my friends and supporters from Jacksonville PFLAG Chapter, so a huge thank you to them too!

Thank you, Phylis, for making your PFLAG Chapter the second!