Statement of Position
The Eighth International Convention of PFLAG voted to adopt the following statement:

We who are parents, families and friends of lesbian and gay persons have learned that they come from families from all corners of the earth, from every culture, religious and ethnic group. Their homosexual orientation is neither chosen nor something they are taught to be and it is not "just a stage they go through."

There is no pattern to the kinds of families they come from--dominant or submissive mothers, weak or strong fathers, single parent homes or "model" families. A gay son or daughter may be an only child, the youngest, middle, or oldest child, with siblings who are not gay.

We who are parents have learned to be free from any burden of guilt for our children's sexual orientation and we recognize their expression of love as natural for them and moral.

We view rejection of a gay child by his or her family as a tragedy. We share this stance with you because we are members of close-knit families who are pro-family in every sense and who affirm "traditional values." We respect the truth; recognize the reality of individual differences; honor the right of each person to be who he or she authentically is. We love and affirm our children with pride and are committed to their entitlement to full civil and human rights.