PFLAG "National" has been writing and talking about Straight for Equality for the last two years, so we're thrilled to announce that today, you, as a PFLAG member or supporter, can be part of this exciting new project before it goes public next month!

Straight for Equality is PFLAG National's new multiyear initiative targeting straight people who - unlike many more "traditional" PFLAGers - do not have a family member or close loved one who is gay, but who have the same values and can be allies in helping advance equality. All they need is an invitation to a home where they can learn more, feel comfortable to go through their own coming out process as an ally, and be part of an ever-expanding community of engaged, out, and proud advocates for fairness.

PFLAG is that home, and Straight for Equality extends the invitation.

Who knows the challenges that straight people face around this issue better than PFLAG? Whether you're a PFLAG parent, family member, friend, or a GLBT person, you know first-hand the ripple effect that coming out in a family can have. We've all seen amazing things happen as a result of these experiences. People become engaged in support, education, and advocacy to help change hearts and minds about GLBT people and, in doing so, change the world.

It's now time for PFLAG to take that next step beyond the family and close friends, and Straight for Equality is the way we're going to do it.

The Straight for Equality project will create a venue where allies can openly overcome any barriers that they have to being supportive, give them a way to connect with other allies and with PFLAG, and provide them with the resources that they need to make changes - large and small, formal and informal - to be part of the effort to move equality forward.

As a national outreach and education effort, Straight for Equality will focus its work in three primary arenas: home, workplace, and community. PFLAG National is leading this effort with the wise counsel of a great advisory committee with members from diverse backgrounds who are providing us with a wealth of expertise. We owe much of our initial inspiration to Ian Ayres and Jennifer Gerarda Brown, co-authors of Straightforward: How to Mobilize Heterosexual Support for Gay Rights. They have helped to shape our thinking and to motivate us into action.

For PFLAG chapters - our PFLAG family - Straight for Equality will help open more doors for across the country. Many have seen an increasing number of allies joining their efforts, and this program will help attract more who are committed to equality to become committed to our mission. This project will provide some new resources to increase chapter visibility in your communities.

Of course, we can't make this project a success without you.

We need your help today. Make Straight for Equality a success now!

The official launch of Straight for Equality will be on October 11 as part of the PFLAG National Convention. But when that happens, we want to be able to tell the world how many people are already taking part in the effort - and we know you can help.

If you identify as straight, go to our website and sign the Straight for Equality pledge. Then pass the link to the Straight for Equality website - www.straightforequality.org - to as many of your straight friends, colleagues, and family members as possible and ask them to sign the pledge too.

If you identify as GLBT, there's a way for you to help too. Think about all of the amazing straight individuals in your life who have supported you. Now send the pledge link to these people and ask them to sign.

With your effort, PFLAG will be able to launch this great initiative in a big way so that we'll have a huge number of people already committed to the goals of Straight for Equality by the time we officially unveil the full project on October 11.

And we hope you will be with us in Washington, D.C., October 11-14 for our National Convention (you can still register and get a room at the convention hotel at a great rate!). If you can't be there, please know that your support of the project today will help make it a success. Be sure to log on to the Straight for Equality website on October 11 to access the first Straight for Equality tools, including a special chapter-focused field guide to the project.

This is an exciting time for all of us to renew our commitment to moving equality forward, and we're thrilled to have your support!

John R. Cepek, PFLAG National President 

Jody M. Huckaby, PFLAG National Executive Director

Lars Clausen won three national publishing awards for his book, Straight Into Gay America, and realized, "I want people to read the story more than I want them to buy my book." So now at www.straightintogayamerica.com everyone can download his award-winning book free.

Straight Into Gay America covers Clausen's 1,000-mile unicycle ride for GLBT equality. The foreword by PFLAG's own Jody Huckaby calls the book, "nothing less than a sacred journey."

Lutheran Pastor Stephen Simmonds also believes Clausen is on the right track. "I downloaded your free ebook yesterday, and read fifty pages before looking up. Awesome writing and reflection. One of those rare books that springs ahead of the 'I should read' shelf and becomes, 'I can't put it away.'"

Clausen's work is a perfect example of PFLAG's Straight for Equality program in action, and it's easy for all of us to help. First click for your free copy at www.straightintogayamerica.com. Then give it away. Who can you share it with? Your PFLAG chapter? Family and friends? Church? Your favorite candidate for president?