Re: Recent college graduate tells her coming out story (Oct. 11)

Thank you for the report from Justin Willner on the experience of Dana Speesler when coming out to her family as a lesbian. Willner and Voice readers will be glad to know that parents faced with such a situation do not have to struggle alone. For more than four decades, PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) has been providing friendship and support to families wanting to understand and accept their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children. The stories that members relate about their own journeys to acceptance in the past are uniquely helpful to newcomer parents. LGBT people are also welcome at PFLAG as they seek to come out into the embrace of their families.

PFLAG is a grassroots, self-supporting, volunteer organization with no religious or political affiliation. Mental health professionals sometimes refer clients to PFLAG as an adjunct to professional treatment. PFLAG of Greater Providence (pflagprovidence.org) meets monthly and serves the entire state and southern Massachusetts.

Myra Shays

Founder, PFLAG/Greater Providence