Strong Family Launch
Austin nonprofit celebrates launch, aims to build strong families for LGBTQ youth
What: Strong Family Alliance launch event
Where: Departure Lounge
The lowdown: Members of Austin advocacy organizations, donors, and volunteersgathered last week for the launch of a new Austin-based nonprofit, the Strong Family Alliance. The organization, founded by Janet Duke, aims to "save lives and preserve families by supporting parents of children in the LGBTQ community."
The launch event included a panel discussing different aspects of the coming out experience. “Coming out doesn’t just happen to the child, it happens to the family. Parents often worry whether to tell their friends and family that their child is LGBTQ. It’s our goal to help parents see the coming out as a process for both the parent and child,” said Duke in a release.
The event also served to introduce the organization's inaugural National Parents Coming Out Day on October 12. Held the day after National Coming Out Day, the purpose of the day is for parents to come out as an ally to support their LGBTQ children.
Who: Janet Duke, Ransom Duke, Johanna Duke,David Wolfson, Laura Yeager, Stacy Armijo, Joan Swartz, Shailagh Clarke, Jen Smith, Nathan Smith, Sarah Kapostasy, Kendra Wright, Kirk Wright.