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PFLAG Portland, OR
About PFLAG Portland, OR
Founded in 1977 by parents Ann and Bill Shepherd and Rita and Charles Knapp in response to their children coming out, PFLAG Portland has evolved into a vital community institution serving the Tigard and Portland area. What began as Parents of Gays meeting monthly in a living room grew into one of the nation's most established PFLAG chapters, with a remarkable 40-year history of supporting LGBTQ individuals and their families through profound social and legal changes. The chapter's journey reflects Portland's own evolution—from the ballot measure battles of the 1990s and early 2000s through marriage equality victories and into today's focus on transgender rights and community resilience. PFLAG Portland's commitment extends beyond support to include intentional community-building with Portland's communities of color, launching the PFLAG Portland Black Chapter in 2009 as the first PFLAG chapter created by and for the Black LGBTQ community. As part of the national PFLAG network—which includes over 200,000 members and supporters across nearly 400 chapters—PFLAG Portland connects local families to a broader movement while maintaining deep roots in the Tigard and Portland communities. Today, the chapter combines traditional in-person gatherings with innovative online support circles through PFLAG Connects, adapting to how community members live and work while honoring its founding principle of keeping families strong. PFLAG Portland remains committed to celebrating the wonderful diversity of LGBTQ neighbors and creating spaces where acceptance becomes celebration.