Use Restrictions

The collection is open for use; however, due to copyright restrictions, the videos on the Richmond Gay-Straight Alliance Resource CD may not be reproduced or disseminated without the copyright holder's permission.

Access restrictions

The collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Richmond Chapter records, 1988-2002, Collection # M 566, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Michelle Archer, a former president of the PFLAG Richmond Chapter.

Biographical / Historical Information

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), founded in 1973, is a United States-based national organization that supports LGBTQ+ people and their families. PFLAG has a network of hundreds of chapters with over 325,000 members and supporters. Their mission is "to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and [transgender] individuals, along with their families and allies, by 1) providing support to those who need it, 2) educating family and communities regarding sexual orientation, gender identity and LGBT issues, and 3) advocating to end discrimination and advance equality for LGBT people.

The Richmond chapter of PFLAG started in the early 1990s. The chapter holds monthly group meetings to support LGBT community and their families, has a presence at Richmond Pride, Virginia TIES, and Transgender Day of Remembrance.

References: "About Us." PFLAG. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://pflag.org/about-us/ "About Us." PFLAG of Richmond. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://pflagofrichmond.org/about-us

Scope and Contents

The Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Richmond Chapter records documents support for and attitudes around LGBTQ+ youth in the 1990s and early 2000s in Richmond, VA, and other parts of the south. The collection also documents how various LGBTQ+ identities were understood or explained to allies and others during this time period. The collection does not contain many administrative records documenting the activities of the PFLAG Richmond Chapter.

The collection contains newsletters, pamphlets and brochures, articles and resources about LGBTQ+ youth, flyers, meeting minutes, forms, event planning materials, correspondence, photos, newspapers and clippings, and a Richmond Gay-Straight Alliance resource CD.

Richmond Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) resource CD includes .pdf and .mov files. Video files are MTV PSAs on homophobic slurs and Matthew Shepard. The .pdf files include documents on GSA activities and icebreakers, tips for finding new members, tips on starting a GSA, the 2001 National School Climate Survey, advice from GSA leaders, gay and lesbain history, handbooks (general and Richmond-specific), resources on anti-bullying initiatives, frequently asked questions, and more.

For a complete listing of included issues of PFLAGpole newspaper, see the scope and content note for that folder.

Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically with the exception of newspapers, which are in an oversize box at the end of the collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Archer, Michelle
• Bisexual people -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Gay rights -- Virginia -- Richmond.
• Gays -- Virginia -- Richmond
• LGBTQ+ people -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Lesbians -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Parents of sexual minority youth
• Parents of transgender children
• Transgender people -- Virginia -- Richmond