Why I’ve stuck around Toronto Pflag

I’ve been a Toronto Pflag volunteer since 2015. Someone recently asked me why I’ve stuck around for so long and why I still continue to do this work. The long answer could probably fill a novella.

It all began in 2014. Our family had been attending the Pride Parade every year together, but in 2014, something special happened. The crowd around us started cheering, screaming, clapping, and going wild when one particular group approached. Wondering who they were, I googled Toronto Pflag on the spot. When I realized that they were parents of 2SLGBTQIA+ kids supporting other parents, that was my turning point. I promised my spouse and three kids then and there that I would be marching with Toronto Pflag the following Pride. And the rest is history.

I’ve worked with many talented people on the Board of Directors over the years; run support groups with compassionate facilitators; met amazing individuals doing school presentations, corporate workshops, and numerous panels; and made incredible friends along the way. I found it incredibly satisfying when I would educate corporations and insurance companies in the early years about why they should cover gender-affirming care. I enjoyed doing podcasts and webinars, and speaking at medical conferences to health care providers. I even had the great privilege of speaking to the Standing Committee on Health at the House of Commons in Ottawa, representing Toronto Pflag. These have all fueled my passion.

I wanted to show parents the same kindness and respect that I was shown when I first joined Toronto Pflag. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a parent come to their first support meeting struggling to accept their child, and then witnessing their transformation as they attend month after month until they are affirming of their child. Hearing a parent say that they don’t feel alone because they have a community of other supportive parents around them, or watching a parent who struggled at first become a true advocate for their child—those are some of the reasons I continue to do what I do. Changing hearts, changing minds. The process can take time but it’s worth it.

We know that kids are better off when their parents are supportive and affirming. I joined Toronto Pflag to try to keep families together by helping parents and their kids. I once overheard one of my kids tell a friend that I was changing the world, one parent at a time. That really hit home. My passion is supporting others and it’s what has driven me to help others all these years. And that’s really why I’ve stuck around for so long!

Giselle (she/her), Toronto Pflag Vice President