If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and nonjudgmental person to talk to NOW,
contact The Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386.
It’s free, confidential, and available nationwide.
In the Portland Metro Area,
dial 9-1-1 for emergencies,
(503) 988-4888 for mental health crisis
You can also find other hotline providers on the PFLAG National website.
Peer Support is the foundation of PFLAG. If you are just starting to learn about what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender – or are a family member or friend of someone who is – you may have hundreds of questions to ask. One of the things PFLAG Portland has learned in its 40+ years is that everyone’s situation is different. The best way to get answers tailored to your needs is to talk to someone at PFLAG Portland. We offer 4 types of support: support meetings, educational pamphlets, hotlines, and programs.
Please note: PFLAG is not affiliated with any religion or faith community but often partners with supportive faith communities. In-person chapter meetings may be held at a faith organization’s community center, provided that the host organization is actively welcoming and supporting LGBTQ individuals and their families. These meeting spaces, generously donated for PFLAG Portland’s use, are free of religious iconography.
We recognize that for many in our community entering a place of worship is a painful experience. If that’s the case for you, we’re here to help – give us a call or email.
Support Meetings
PFLAG Portland offers two types of support meetings: in-person Chapter Meetings and online Support Circles. Both are safe spaces where you can learn, share, or simply be yourself in a supportive and friendly environment filled with LGBTQ persons, family members, friends, and allies. Here’s a typical agenda:
- Announcements to keep you in sync with the LGBTQ community;
- An entertaining and informative program on a topic of the day, often a guest speaker;
- An opportunity to socialize;
- Support Groups where you can share your story or just listen to others – the heart of PFLAG.
Our in-person Chapter Meetings are walk-in. For more information on how our on-line Support Circles work and how to register, visit our Online Support Circle Guide.
Personalized Support
Sometimes it’s inconvenient or just plain uncomfortable to share your concerns and questions in a Support Circle. If your support needs are non-urgent, contact us and request an online Private Circle with a PFLAG Volunteer. We’ll do our best to meet you where you are.
Call our helpline, 503-232-7676 – for non-urgent information and private requests only – and a volunteer will respond within 24-48 hours.
Or – drop us a line at info@pflagpdx.org.
PFLAG CONNECTS: Communities
PFLAG National hosts several online support circles.
PFLAG Connects: Communities (PCC) provide a safe, virtual, moderated space where people with shared experiences can connect each month. PFLAG National’s current communities gather people of Latino, Black/African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander backgrounds—as well as military families (in partnership with our friends at the Modern Military Association of America [MMAA]), families with gender-diverse loved ones, and grandparents—to gain support, ask questions, and learn from others who have been through similar experiences. These meetings cater primarily to family members of LGBTQ+ people and also welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The meetings are facilitated by members of the community who are either LGBTQ+ themselves or have a loved one who is LGBTQ+. The meetings are free to the public and do not require PFLAG National or chapter affiliation.
Visit the PFLAG Connects: Communities webpage on the PFLAG National website.