For our March meeting, we’ll be diving into George M. Johnson's powerful memoir-manifesto, All Boys Aren’t Blue. This book explores the complexities of identity, family, and self-discovery through a series of personal essays that are both heartfelt and eye-opening.

Whether you’ve already read it or want to join in for the first time, we’d love to have you!

You can purchase or rent the book at the links below to get started.

We look forward to an engaging and meaningful discussion—see you there!

Amazon

Sussex County Library

Library Audio Book

Join Us for a Coffee Meetup at Café e Dolci!

Come sip, chat, and connect with us at Café e Dolci! We're excited to bring people together for great coffee, meaningful conversations, and community-building. Bring friends, meet new faces, and enjoy a relaxed morning in a welcoming space.

☕ Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
☕ Time: 10:00 AM
☕ Location: Café e Dolci, Franklin, NJ

Join us for a Community Support Meeting on February 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM.

PFLAG community support meetings provide a welcoming and safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and allies to connect, share, and grow. Whether you’re looking for guidance, celebrating milestones, or seeking understanding, we’re here for you. We can be your biggest cheerleader during the good times and the shoulder you need to cry on during the challenging ones.

You’re not alone—come and be part of a supportive and uplifting community.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with style and sparkle at The Stanhope House on Friday, February 14th, at 8:00 PM. Enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring the fabulous Cookie Doe and an incredible lineup of drag performances.

Bring your friends, partners, or come solo to experience a night full of glamour, laughter, and love! Don’t miss this perfect way to make your Valentine’s Day one to remember.

Location: The Stanhope House
Time: Doors open at 7:00 PM

Start: Show starts at 8:00 PM

Tickets are $20 per person at the door, or you can order tickets online for $15 per person HERE!

To reserve a table, follow the directions below, which are directly from Stanhope House’s website.

To reserve a table for 6 or more kindly text 973-271-6432 on the day of show you are attending.
Our doors open at 7 unless otherwise stated. Your reserved table will be held for 30 mins after doors open (so get there before 7:30pm). This is the only means to reserve a table, we will not respond to emails or phone messages. Thank you for you cooperation.

Join us for a cozy coffee and lunch meetup at Scout Goods in Glenwood, NJ, on Saturday, January 18th, 2025, at 1:00PM!

We’re excited to connect over great coffee, delicious food, and meaningful conversation. Bring your friends, meet new people, and enjoy a relaxed morning of community-building in a welcoming space.

We can't wait to see you there!

Parking Info: The main parking lot is a bit small, but there’s additional parking just across the street in a small dirt lot/pull-off area.

The coffee shop is located by Fox & Bear Lodge at the corner of Glenwood Rd and McAfee Glenwood Rd. It’s right passed Pochuck Valley Farms.

Join us for our Community Support Meeting on Wednesday, January 15, as we engage in an important discussion on “How to Be an Advocate.” Together, we’ll explore how to advocate effectively, amplify your voice, and identify meaningful ways to support the LGBTQ+ community. Advocacy takes many forms, and allies play a crucial role in fostering change—after all, “ally” is a verb!

This session will focus on actionable steps for being a better advocate, including insights on effective allyship, building awareness, and initiating conversations for change. Whether you are part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, your voice matters. Join us as we work together to make a difference!

Our December meeting is going to be a community support meeting. Our meetings provide a safe and confidential space for LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, friends, and allies. These meetings offer a blend of emotional support and practical guidance, helping attendees foster acceptance and understanding within their families and communities.

This meeting will focus on talking about the upcoming holidays and communication. We will be having a potluck for all to enjoy as we sit around eating, drinking, and talking about what’s going on in our lives. We can be the shoulder you need to cry on or the person you need to be a cheerleader.  We look forward to seeing everyone :-)

Sign up to bring a dish here via Sign Up Genius!

Mark your calendars! Join us for a coffee meetup at Café e Dolci in Franklin, NJ, on Sunday, November 24th, 2024, at 10 AM. We're excited to gather for great coffee, conversation, and community-building, you could even grab some breakfast.

We're also proud to highlight Café e Dolci as another local LGBTQ+ ally business. Their support makes events like these even more meaningful, helping foster inclusivity and solidarity in our area.

Bring friends, meet new people, and enjoy a relaxed morning together!

Our November meeting is going to be a community support meeting. Our meetings provide a safe and confidential space for LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, friends, and allies. These meetings offer a blend of emotional support and practical guidance, helping attendees foster acceptance and understanding within their families and communities.

This meeting will focus on talking about the upcoming holidays and communication. We will have refreshments for all to enjoy as we sit around eating, drinking, and talking about what’s going on in our lives. We can be the shoulder you need to cry on or the person you need to be a cheerleader.  We look forward to seeing everyone :-)

We will also be discussing Transgender Day of Remembrance to start our meeting. Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

“Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.”
– Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith

For our October meeting we will be having a book discussion on “Becoming Nicole” by Amy Ellis Nutt. We wanted to make sure everyone has enough time to read the book before the meeting, but don’t feel like you need to read the book to come. You can buy the book from Amazon, or you can borrow it from the local library or buy a used version from ThirftBooks.com. Links below

• Buy from Amazon

• Borrow from Sussex County Library << eBook and Audiobook available too

• Borrow from Sparta Library

• Buy from ThiftBooks

When Wayne and Kelly Maines adopted identical twin boys, they thought their lives were complete. But by the time Jonas and Wyatt were toddlers, confusion over Wyatt’s insistence that he was female began to tear the family apart. In the years that followed, the Maineses came to question their long-held views on gender and identity, to accept Wyatt’s transition to Nicole, and to undergo a wrenching transformation of their own, the effects of which would reverberate through their entire community. Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Amy Ellis Nutt spent almost four years reporting this story and tells it with unflinching honesty, intimacy, and empathy. In her hands, Becoming Nicole is more than an account of a courageous girl and her extraordinary family. It’s a powerful portrait of a slowly but surely changing nation, and one that will inspire all of us to see the world with a little more humanity and understanding.

Named One of the Ten Best Books of the Year by People • One of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times Book Review and Men’s Journal • A Stonewall Honor Book in Nonfiction • Finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Nonfiction

Equality in Motion:

We will have a 30 minute flow with instructor Audris Torres.  Garden State Equality will provide 12 mats, or bring your own!

It will be held in the little mindfulness garden at Sparta United Methodist Church.

REGISTER HERE!

Equality in Motion is Garden State Equality’s largest annual community fundraiser. This year – Garden State Equality's 20th anniversary – Equality in Motion is more inclusive, equitable, bigger, and better than ever.

Location and Date

• Saturday, October 12: Sussex County (with PFLAG Sussex County & Sussex County Pride)

A Note on Accessibility

Equality in Motion used to be known as the Equality Walk. Accessibility and equity are at the heart of why we rebranded the event. We want everyone to be able to take part in Equality in Motion, no matter how you move or where you live. That’s why, in addition to new locations, we’re also offering a daily motion (and more) challenge so you can get involved from anywhere! Stay tuned for details.

Our September meeting will be about bullying. We will discuss different ways to handle bullying.

In an effort to combat the pervasive issue of bullying, we’re hosting a pivotal meeting titled United Against Bullying: A Community Conversation.

Our address is followed by a dynamic discussion session where attendees are encouraged to share their own experiences and concerns. This open dialogue is designed to build understanding and empathy, as well as to identify specific issues facing the Ridgewood community.

United Against Bullying: A Community Conversation aims to empower everyone involved to be active participants in creating a safer and more inclusive environment. By coming together and sharing their voices, the community takes a unified stand against bullying and commits to making lasting change.

Join us for Wing Night at Krogh’s Brew Pub on Tuesday September 17th, 2024 at 6:00pm.  We are asking everyone to RSVP so we can reserve a table to ensure we all sit together.  We will call or text you the day before to confirm that you will be attending.  The event is free, but you can buy drinks and food if you would like. Also, don’t feel like you have to get wings, their full menu will be available! RSVP at the Link Below!

https://forms.gle/Jz5uPj9K3axxHUQR9

Check out the details below about Krogh’s Giving Tap for the month of September.

Our August community support meeting is going to be just that, all about support. This meeting will focus on talking with each other about the successes and struggles of our LGBTQ+ loved ones. We will have refreshments for all to enjoy as we sit around eating, drinking, and talking about what’s going on in our lives. We can be the shoulder you need to cry on or the person you need to be a cheerleader. We look forward to seeing everyone :-)

Join us for karaoke at O'Reilly's Pub & Grill on Friday August 16th 2024 at 8:30pm.  We are asking everyone to RSVP so we can reserve a table to ensure we all sit together.  We will call you the day before to confirm that you will be attending.  The event is free, but you can buy drinks and food if you would like.  

RSVP Here >> https://forms.gle/iSnsR7DTDGfLPoS8A

Join us for a meeting about story telling presented by Mackenzie from PFLAG National on Wednesday July 16th 2024 at 7:00pm.  They were our very first presenter when we had our first ever PFLAG meeting.  

This meeting is a well-crafted and confidently delivered personal story about LGBTQ+ and ally experiences.  It can be one of the most important resources in any changemaker’s toolbox. Leveraging PFLAG’s 50 years of experience as the nation’s original ally organization, this session will:

• Introduce the many ways our personal stories can transform the way people see and relate to one another and help to bridge gaps

• Discuss the key elements of effectively tell personal stories and develop your own narrative using the story arc model

• Review strategies for developing your unique storytelling style for one-on-one conversations and presentations to groups

• Create and share your two-minute personal story and get feedback from other participants.

We look forward to seeing everyone :-)

The NJ Film Fest is being hosted in Sparta again!  Join us for a movie on Sunday July 14th at 1:30pm.

“Finding Freedom” - STUCK IN GREECE: AN LGBT REFUGEE CRISIS

When brought to Athens, Greece in 2016 for a screening of his film DADDY, filmmaker Gerald McCullouch unexpectedly meets a group of LGBT refugees fleeing persecution from their communities, their governments and their own families who now find themselves trapped in Greece. Confounded by their circumstances, he is compelled to document his education of a crisis facing countless members of his community who came to Greece under desperately different circumstances.

Tickets are $12 for this film and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to PFLAG Sussex County!

Make sure to pick the “Finding Freedom” movie when selecting tickets at the link below.

https://filmfreeway.com/NJdocfest/tickets

Morris County Pride produces entertainment-based events in Morris County as a platform for visibility, acceptance, inclusion, education, and resources for the LGBTQI+ community. 

Morris County Pride is produced by EDGE NJ, New Jersey’s LGBTQ+ and HIV+ community center. All donations and funds raised by this event directly support the specialty programming and services at EDGE New Jersey.

In honor of Pride Month, our June community meeting is going to be about the Stonewall riots and protests. We’ll watch a short documentary called “Forever Stonewall”. "Stonewall Forever” brings together queer activists, experienced and new, to look at the movement for LGBTQ equality before, during and after Stonewall. It highlights trans people, people of color and homeless people who were at the forefront of the movement, and who have often been erased from the narrative. It explores how the activism of today stands on the shoulders of the activists who have come before. And it asks us all to recognize the legacy of Stonewall that remains today, when the struggle for queer rights is far from over.

We will discuss the importance of having a community space, the importance of role of allies, the importance of Advocacy and establishing our presence, as well at what additional things can PFLAG Sussex County do?

We look forward to seeing everyone :-)

Montville Township Pride Day provides free family fun, resources, and an opportunity to show our pride! We are proud to live in an inclusive and diverse community. We look forward to seeing you at our second annual Pride event on June 15th from 1-4 at The Montville Township Library parking lot. The event will be in the Pio Costa building if there is inclement weather.

Sussex County Pride began in 2017 as an event run by a women's advocacy organization. When the local chapter dissolved in 2019, Sussex County became its own organization, continuing to bring Pride events to the area, advocate for the community, and foster safe spaces for the queer community.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday May 15th and will be an informational meeting about hate crimes. I’m sure some attendees have noticed the presence of local FBI agents and Sparta Police Detectives at our meetings. They have been such a huge support of our meetings and we are so grateful for them showing up. They have offered to speak at our upcoming meeting about hates crimes: what classifies as a hate crime, ways to report through local, state, and federal channels, and resources that are available.

We look forward to seeing they’re presentation to learn more and ask the questions we’ve all had on our minds.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday April 17th and will be a support group discussion facilitated by one of our Board Members, who is the parent of a transgender child. Zoe Heath, President of Sussex Pride, will be joining us during first part of meeting to solicit input on community activities we would like to see part of Sussex Pride Celebration, which will be taking place on Saturday June 8th. Meetings take place from 7pm to 9pm in Demarest Hall in SUMC and will have refreshments available.

Paint Your Pet Workshop

Join us for a fun evening of painting. Lisa Hess from Treehouse Crafts has been painting Custom Pet Portraits since 2007 and will be sharing her knowledge with you. She will create a detailed hand drawn portrait of your pet prior to the workshop and will provide you with all the supplies you will need to create your very own Pet Portrait. By the end of the workshop, you will have completed an 11x14 portrait on gallery wrapped canvas.

Your pet's photo can be sent via email to Lisa at info@treehouse-crafts.com no later than April 8th. Be sure to provide a clear photo of your pet's head and chest, your pet's name and background color you prefer. Due to the length of the workshop, only one pet per canvas will be allowed.

*Class has limited seating. No painting experience necessary. Due to the customized nature of this workshop, there will be no refunds available. Feel free to pack your drinks and snacks.

Deadline to register and send in your picture is April 8th. Tickets are $55 per person.

Get Your Tickets and Instructions Here!!

Unfortunately this event is not wheel chair accessible, but keep an eye out for the next event which will be.

We will be having a book discussion with Mary Ann Horton, author of Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America on Wednesday, March 20th 2024 at 7:00PM. Mary Ann is offering PFLAG Sussex County a special price as well as a personalized signed copy!! The price for the book with shipping and taxes using the promo code will be $23.00.

You can purchase your personalized signed copy below. Use Promo Code PFLAG-Sussex.

https://maryannhorton.com/mary-ann-horton/signed-copies/

“To have invented the email attachment is one thing. To have done so while transitioning from male to female and paving the way for Trans rights in the workplace is quite another. Trailblazer is a brave and powerful memoir that is both touching and thought-provoking and absolutely worth the read for those who care about equality.

As a child, Mark Horton loved wearing women’s clothes. Short denim skirts, high heels, anything that made him feel like a woman. As he grew, he hid his proclivities in favor of a more traditional home and work life. But soon the question “who am I, really” was too loud and Mark began to make room for Mary Ann.

In her debut memoir, Mary Ann Horton recounts her search for her true self and reveals the intimate details, both professional and personal, of her transition from male to female. From navigating the dissolution of her marriage to parenting young boys, to “coming out” to coworkers, Mary Ann balanced both her responsibilities and staying true to herself. But not without struggle. She would quickly learn the challenges and heartbreak that came with navigating the maze of social, medical and legal rights afforded, or rather not afforded to the Trans community.

As Mary Ann fully became Mary Ann, her voice grew and with it a commitment to advocacy and activism. Aided by her indomitable spirit, Mary Ann became a powerful force for the acceptance of transgender benefits and rights, first at Lucent Technologies, blazing the trail for corporate America to follow.”

We hope you enjoy her book as much as we did and join us to discuss her book with her on March 20th.

We will be hosting a community movie night on Friday March 1st from 6:00-8:30pm. The movie will start promptly at 6:30pm. We will be showing the movie “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.” There is no charge to attend this event.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Feature film adaptation of the musical about a teenager from Sheffield, England who wants to be a drag queen. The musical follows and is based upon the true-life story of 16-year-old British schoolboy Jamie Campbell, as he overcomes prejudice and bullying to step out of the darkness and become a drag queen.

Watch the movie trailer HERE! Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, strong language, and suggestive material

BYOCC (Bring Your Own Comfy Chair) We are asking everyone to bring your own comfy chair to sit on to watch the movie. We will have metal foldable chairs, but they are not the most comfortable to sit on for a long time.

Popcorn, drinks, and a hot chocolate bar with be provided. Please feel free to bring your own snacks.