PFLAG Family Joins President Obama at White House Reception to Commemorate Stonewall

PFLAG Family Joins President Obama at White House Reception to Commemorate
Stonewall

PFLAG Mother and Son Ask President and First Lady to Speak Out for Families
and LGBT People to Create Safer Communities

WASHINGTON, June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A PFLAG mother and son asked
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to support equality for
lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and bisexual (LGBT) individuals and their
families at the White House today.

"A supportive environment makes a world of difference, and we are hopeful the
President and First Lady will take the initiative in making our country a
safer place for all of our family members," said Carmen Robello, a member of
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

She is a member of PFLAG's Families of Color and Allies of New York City and
Newark, New Jersey chapters, both dedicated to providing support for families
across diverse communities.

Robello and her son Louie, were invited to a special reception at the White
House to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the event
identified as the starting point for the LGBT equality movement in the U.S.

"We were incredibly honored to meet with the President and First Lady, and
tell them our story, and how anti-LGBT violence and harassment create problems
not just for LGBT people, but for their families and communities," said
Robello. "My son and I asked the President and First Lady to speak out and
become more visible in denouncing anti-LGBT discrimination."

Louie Robello experienced anti-LGBT harassment in his high school years. He
later founded his high school's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and went on to be
elected his class president.

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with
an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and
advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue
about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society
that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Learn more at www.pflag.org
today.

SOURCE Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

Adam Ratliff of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG),
+1-202-467-8180, extension 212, aratliff@pflag.org