PFLAG Rome Georgia Chapter

What. A. Weekend.

Between the Juneteenth Fest, parade, and Father’s Day Pre-Pride Potluck, we had so many amazing experiences and failed to capture photos of most of them.

Thank you to the Rome-Floyd NAACP, the Juneteenth Fest Committee, Free Mom Hugs- Georgia, and our board members who all contributed to a weekend of celebration, honor, and community.

We are going to take a few days to sleep, organize, and be ready to celebrate next weekend at Rome Georgia Pride ! We can’t wait to see you at the march, the park, the church service, and the documentary screening for another weekend of love, diversity, and celebration.

Find all the details at www.pflagromega.org/event

If you don’t receive emails from PFLAG National, we wanted to share this here. Several of our board members were fortunate to meet Khary Payton at the national conference last fall. What an amazing, genuine person, actor, writer, producer, and most importantly, dad. Read his letter about Father’s Day below, and if possible support PFLAG National or our local chapter today in honor of any faith figures in your life.

***

When I found out I was going to be a dad, I started writing the story immediately. I’m an actor, a producer, a writer—this is what I do.

I had the whole thing mapped out. The games of catch in the backyard. The graduation. The daddy-daughter dance. I was the producer, the writer, the director—I had this film in production before the first scene was ever shot.

Then my kid picked up the pen.

My son Karter is transgender. He told me when he was nine years old. He’s a senior in high school now. He is thriving. And I want to be honest with you the way I wish someone had been honest with me back then: I wasn’t fine with it. Not at first.

Not because I didn’t love him — I loved him more than anything. But because I was so focused on the story I had written that I wasn’t paying attention to the one he was writing for his own life. I was so worried about what the world would think that I lost sight of what my own kid was going through.

I think a lot of parents know that feeling. Maybe you’re in it right now. If you’ve ever been that parent, as I have, I hope you’ll join me in supporting PFLAG National for Father’s Day.

Here’s what I learned: you don’t have to understand everything to show up. You don’t have to have it figured out. If you think you know everything, you are definitely missing something. You just have to try. One day. Then another. Then another. That’s how love works when it’s doing its job.

PFLAG gave our family something I didn’t know we needed: the knowledge that we were not alone, and the space to figure this out together. PFLAG gave me the safe meetings, the resources, the publications and, most importantly, the other parents who started just as lost as I was and who were now sharing their hope and determination with me. That’s what PFLAG is. That’s what your support makes possible.

This Father’s Day, I’m asking you to give to PFLAG — for every parent who is still in the middle of a rewrite. For every kid waiting to see if their family will choose them. For every dad like me who needed someone to say: put down the script. Your child is writing it and has something beautiful to show you.

I am so proud of my son. I am so proud of the story he is writing — one that is more original, more courageous, and more alive than anything I could have come up with on my own.

Turns out, I didn’t need to be the writer.

I just needed to be in the audience, cheering him on.

With love and gratitude,

Khary Payton (he/him)
Actor, Advocate, PFLAG Dad

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/b6f0ca3e-554a-4408-85b6-6360c0bfbfb7

https://give.pflag.org/page/99413/donate/1?locale=en-US

It’s not too late to join us this afternoon for our Pre-Pride Potluck! Bring a side or dessert, or just bring yourself! We always have enough food for everyone! Just please RSVP so we know how many lovely people to expect!

www.pflagromega.org/event

In addition to having Free Mom Hugs- Georgia there, we will also have dads there to “play catch with a dad”! Whether you want to toss a baseball ⚾️ or a frisbee, we’ll have affirming dads on hand ready to play! Check out this article, which seems especially important on this Father’s Day. Whether you have an affirming dad, or one who hasn’t come around yet - we’re here for you, all year long. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤎🖤

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/06/crying-in-my-arms-people-are-moved-to-tears-as-these-dads-come-to-pride-to-play-catch/

"Crying in my arms": People are moved to tears as these dads come to Pride to play catch - LGBTQ Nation "A young man was passing by our booth and shouted to his friends, 'That's my Dad! That's the Dad I was telling you about!'"

Today’s the day! Come join us and so many other community groups and organizations as we walk in the Juneteenth parade downtown Rome! The parade starts at 11am, and line-up begins at 9:45am on 1st Ave. Look for us with the PFLAG Rome banner and join us! Afterwards, spend some time downtown supporting our amazing local businesses! 🛍️

❤️💛💚✊

On this day in 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to ensure that all enslaved people be freed, as declared by the Emancipation Proclamation signed a full two and a half years prior. Known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and most commonly referred to as Juneteenth, this anniversary is cause for celebration as well as reflection.

The history of the United States is one riddled with battles for freedom, justice, and equality. Our African American loved ones, including and especially those who are LGBTQ+, still fight discrimination due to their marginalized identities.

Our PFLAG Connects: Black/African American Community offers virtual meetings for parents, family members, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who are Black or African American. To those seeking connection and understanding, visit pflag.org/connects/communities/black

PFLAG National is closed today to celebrate and honor Juneteenth. ❤️🖤💚💛

🌈🍽️ Pre-Pride Potluck with PFLAG Rome 🍽️🌈
Sunday, June 21st | 4-7 PM
RSVP at www.pflagromega.org/event

Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly Pre-Pride Potluck as we celebrate a joyful Pride season and enjoy each other’s company in community. Free Mom Hugs- Georgia will be there all day, too, so come get your hug, high-five, or fist bump! 👊

📍 We’ll be gathering at Etowah Park inside the Rec Center. There are tennis courts, a skate park, a playground, and walking trails if the rain holds off—so bring your energy (and maybe a racket or a board)!
🌭 PFLAG will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, and paper products
🥗 Bring your favorite side or dessert, and a game to play - or play one of ours! There will also be BINGO!

We also want to gently acknowledge that this day is Father’s Day, which can be joyful, complicated, or even painful for some of us. However you’re feeling, you are welcome just as you are.

Let’s share food, space, and love. 💖

Join us this weekend as we celebrate freedom, resilience, and unity! ✊🏾✨ We are honored to join the Rome-Floyd NAACP, local businesses, and community organizations for Rome’s annual Juneteenth celebrations.

Due to unpredictable weather, Friday’s Juneteenth fest has been moved *indoors* to Lovejoy Baptist Church.

And don’t forget to RSVP for Sunday’s Pre-Pride Potluck with PFLAG Rome and !

Find all the details at www.pflagromega.org/event

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

TGIF! For this week’s , Claire shares some of her favorite LGBTQ+ books for Pride! Let us know some of your favorites in the comments!

The books included are below:

Congratulations, The Best Is Over - R. Eric Thomas
Heated Rivalry - Rachel Reid
The Celebrants - Steven Rowley
Come & Get It - Kiley Reid
The Duke - Anna Cowan
The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune
One Last Stop - Casey McQuiston
Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Should we be celebrating Pride? 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Celebrate. Remember. Recommit. Grieve.

https://realmamabears.substack.com/p/should-we-be-celebrating-pride

Rome Georgia Pride

Should We Be Celebrating Pride? by Liz Dyer