FALL 2025 Newsletter - PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay

Fall 2025

Advocacy, Education and Support for LGBTQ+ People and Those Who Love Them.

A message from the board of PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and welcome the community to a fresh start for our local PFLAG chapter. My name is Liz Yohn and I am the newly elected board president for this chapter of PFLAG. I moved to Ashland in the spring of 2024, and after years of activism and organizing in Milwaukee and Chicago, I am thrilled to be making a life for myself here. There is so much to love about the Chequamegon Bay area. One of its most powerful draws for me is its vibrant LGBTQIA+ community. I am grateful to feel at home here. We are also welcoming several new board members. Learn more about the chapter board members, new and continuing, here:

https://pflagwashburn.squarespace.com/boardmembers.

On behalf of the entire and unified board of your local PFLAG chapter: This is your invitation to join us.

I came to PFLAG as a place where I hope to make new friends, learn more about my local community, and offer my advocacy and organizing experience in meaningful ways. The message of this letter is to share the news that it is a brand new day for PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay. This new board of directors is a collaborative-minded, fun, safe, diverse group of new, continuing and honorary officers. We believe that the chapter should focus on taking meaningful actions in supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQIA+ people and those who love us.

How can we be the local hub of support, education and advocacy for our friends and family, schools, students and teachers, law enforcement, local businesses, religious community, health care providers, seniors, and so many others? Come and tell us. Bring your heart, share your vision. We want to build the community we crave and build coalitions with organizations like-minded around the serious issues we face locally, nationally and globally.

We are excited about our future. We have several events planned for October, with much more to come. Keep an eye on our social media as we grow in fulfilling our mission, working and playing, growing and learning together. Bring your ideas, your strengths, your joy. Expect to be asked what you think we should do next, and believe in the unity that makes things happen. To borrow words from reproductive justice champion Loretta Ross, "When people think many ideas and move in one direction, that is a movement."

Get started here:

Liz Yohn, Board President, PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay

Upcoming Events

Unity, Action, Progress - GLMA Conference Highlights - October 23 (6:30 pm)
Halloween Drag Show - October 25 (9:00 pm)
Spoopy Crafting Night - October 30 (6:30 pm)
November Board Game Night - November 13 (6:30 pm)
December Board Game Night - December 11 (6:30 pm)

See our EVENTS page for more details, updates, and additional opportunities.

Checking in with a 2022 Scholarship Winner

My name is Alex Skoraczewski and I received a PFLAG Youth Engagement scholarship when I graduated from Drummond High School in 2022. With that scholarship, I am currently attending Stanford University in California to pursue a degree in mathematics, with additional work in classics and disability studies. On campus, I have participated in the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB), Stanford Rural Engagement Network (SREN), Out in STEM (oSTEM), and the mathematics directed reading program. I have been a resident assistant with the Leland Scholars Program (LSP), a bridge program for incoming first generation and/or low-income students, as well as during the academic year. I have done research with the math department, and worked for tech support and with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE).

I will be spending the upcoming summer as a Haas Center Education & Youth Development Fellow, working with the PACER Center in Minneapolis, MN. Most importantly, I have had the opportunity to find and build community. While I have certainly encountered bad days and difficult quarters, I have been consistently surrounded by amazing classmates, coworkers, and friends that have supported me every step of the way. My community has truly gone above and beyond to make me feel supported and welcomed at Stanford and beyond, and I am incredibly grateful to PFLAG for helping to make my education here possible.

October - LGBTQ+ History Month

LGBTQ+ History Month feels more important than ever this year! 2025 seems to be a nonstop assault on LGBTQ+ history and identities nationwide. Time and time again history has shown that we cannot, and WILL not, be silenced or erased! Efforts to silence, vilify, and keep the LGBTQ+ community and our loved ones in the dark and hidden will fail.

We challenge you to commit yourself this LGBTQ+ History Month to learning about those who came and fought before us, LGBTQ+ people and allies alike. The pursuit of knowledge is not only a counterattack to this era of censorship, but it will ground, inspire, and motivate you to take action.

For a number of excellent LGBTQ+ history resources—including PFLAG Academy Online Learning Sessions, podcasts, websites, books, and essays, please visit: https://pflag.org/resource/lgbtq-history-month-resources/

Our healthcare system is facing serious threats, and millions could soon lose coverage or face skyrocketing costs. Without action from Congress, enhanced premium tax credits, currently helping over 20 million people afford healthcare, will expire at the end of 2025.

This would not only push people out of coverage but also jeopardize access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care. We must demand that Congress make these credits permanent to keep healthcare affordable and accessible for all. Join us to ensure our healthcare remains affordable by contacting your Congressperson now!

Support Resources Are Available

Recently, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline’s LGBTQ+ youth services was shut down. This decision will have potentially devastating consequences to LGBTQ+ people of all ages. Fortunately there are other resources and always other people that are ready to help. The following organizations are here to assist those in crisis. Additionally, please check out our PFLAG WCB Resources page for other organizations and resources (local, regional, and national) covering a number of topics and issues.

Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
LGBTQ National Youth Talkline: 800-246-7743
The Trevor Project Youth Call Line: 866-488-7386
The Trevor Project Youth Text Line: Text ‘START’ to 678678
Crisis Text Line: Text ‘HOME’ to 741741
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition: 855-624-7715

Become a Member or Renew Your Membership

When you no longer need PFLAG, PFLAG needs you! Become a member of PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay or renew your membership today! Annual dues are $30.00 per individual or $40.00 per household (other options are available) and are good through September 30 each year! Donations are also welcome.

Pay your membership dues or make a donation on our website, https://www.pflagwashburn.org, or you can send a check to the address below. If you have any questions or would like to discuss ways to get involved, contact us at:

P.O. Box 434
Washburn, WI 54891
info@pflagwashburn.org

PFLAG WCB Is Seeking Item/Supply Donations

Help us equip our LGBTQ+ Resource Center!

Have you been interested in helping PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon, but are looking for another way besides volunteering time or just a monetary donation? We now have a webpage established that lists essential items to support our program for the LGBTQ+ community in the Chequamegon Bay area. The list includes items that directly equip the resource center or help in the delivery of our mission and programming.

If you are interested in helping us in this way please visit our CHAPTER REQUESTS page.

Stay Connected

To stay updated on the latest news and actions from PFLAG National, be sure to:

Stay current with PFLAG National by visiting https://pflag.org/
Keep in touch with PFLAG National on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PFLAG/
Follow PFLAG National on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/pflag.org
Watch PFLAG National on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@pflag

Newsletter Contact Information

Website: https://www.pflagwashburn.org/
E-mail: info@pflagwashburn.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pflagwcb
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/pflag-cheqbay.bsky.social

Our mailing address is:
PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay
PO Box 434
Washburn, WI 54891

Our physical office location is:
522 Chapple Ave, Suite 102
Ashland, WI 54806

We appreciate your support: PFLAG Washburn-Chequamegon Bay is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and an official chapter of PFLAG National. Your financial support pays for the materials needed to carry out our mission of community outreach, support, and education. Your help will make a difference in our community and is greatly appreciated. Thank You!