About Us

A Brief History

The Louisville PFLAG chapter was founded by three dedicated mothers of gay children, sparked into action after participating in Louisville's inaugural gay march, the March on Justice, in June 1987. Their collaboration initiated the formation of the local PFLAG chapter, fueled by information from PFLAG National. Attending a PFLAG National conference in Washington, D.C. in October 1987 further fueled their enthusiasm, leading to the official establishment of the Louisville chapter on November 13, 1988.

Initially gathering at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Louisville, the chapter steadily grew over the years. Notable milestones include adopting the first set of Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation on July 3, 1991, and obtaining certification as an incorporated body on July 22, 1991, under the name PFLAG of Metropolitan Louisville.

Since September 9, 1989, the chapter has been actively engaged in various activities, including panel discussions on homophobia and transphobia, advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights resulting in the passing of the gay rights ordinance in 1999, presentations to schools and counseling associations regarding the needs of LGBTQIA+ students, outreach to local churches and colleges, and participation in Pride events such as Kentuckiana Pride and Louisville Pride.

One of the key initiatives of PFLAG Louisville is the Bruce and Margaret Lincoln PFLAG Scholarship, awarded annually to students across the Commonwealth. The scholarship program accepts submissions in the fall, with selections announced in the spring.

Advocacy remains a core focus for PFLAG Louisville, with members actively lobbying in Frankfort to address issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community and their loved ones.