In recognition of LGBT Pride Month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office hosted representatives from the Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Greater Boston PFLAG aims to change attitudes and create an environment of understanding so that gay family members and friends can live in a world that is safe and inclusive. The organization works to create environments of understanding so that all people can live with dignity and respect through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten the public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Greater Boston PFLAG also provides opportunities for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
Pam Garramone, Executive Director, and Deb Peeples, Board President, along with Amir Dixon and Zachary Kerr, spoke about Greater Boston PFLAG and shared their personal stories involving a wide variety of LGBT issues. Pam and Deb recently returned from the White House to receive recognition for the important work that they do on behalf of the LGBT community. Amir, 23, is an award winning writer, producer, filmmaker and activist who in 2011 became the youngest board member of the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition of Boston (HBGC). Zachary, 19, is a recent high school graduate and member of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBT Youth. He has been working to address the needs of transgender students.
In March 2013, the Department of Justice established a formal LGBT Special Emphasis Program. The formal designation of a LGBT Special Emphasis Program helps to institutionalize program activities that are currently in place to support the recruitment, retention and development of LGBT employees. The designation also complements existing Special Emphasis Programs which are designed to further develop a diverse and talented DOJ workforce.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
