Creating change, one parent at a time
From sharing your story with friends and neighbors to marching on the steps of the statehouse, there are many ways to advocate for change and create a world where your children are celebrated and respected. By living authentically, centering pride, and embracing your truth, you can build a more inclusive future for all families — and Family Equality is here to help you make a lasting difference.
Understanding the legal landscape
In recent years, there has been an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ laws targeting schools. In 2022, Alabama and Florida passed the first “Don’t Say Gay and Trans” bills, prohibiting discussions about LGBTQ+ people and topics in classrooms. Since then, six other states have followed suit, while others have pushed for legislation banning books that feature LGBTQ+ themes.
While this trend is undoubtedly troubling, it’s the result of a small, but loud, extremist minority. In reality, these laws are widely unpopular with the majority of Americans. In order to push back against these harmful policies, we need to come together and get loud! That’s where you come in: By speaking up and advocating for your family, you give a voice to the millions of Americans who share the same values of inclusivity and acceptance.
Where and how to speak up
Whether through oral, virtual, or written testimony, you can speak up for the values of inclusivity, joy, and authenticity in school board meetings, state legislatures, city councils, and local media.
For many, the idea of participating in these conversations can feel overwhelming at first. But, sharing testimony is just a fancy way of describing what it means to share your truth and speak from the heart. You are the expert of your own story, and you have a majority of Americans on your side, cheering you on in the movement for a future where children are respected, celebrated, and safe.
As you move through these conversations, consider the following tips and tricks (adapted from We Make the Future Action’s framework for progressive victories) for organizing your thoughts, staying focused, and speaking with confidence.
Start with universal, shared values
Begin by sharing what you’re fighting for — not what you’re fighting against. This establishes a common ground and makes your statement more memorable.
| Instead of… | Try saying… |
| 🚫 “These laws are bad and un-American!” 🚫 “We have to oppose LGBTQ+ censorship!” | ✅ “We all want our children to learn the truth about the past, so they can build a better future.” ✅ “Every child deserves a learning environment where they feel safe and supported.” |
Name who is responsible for sowing division.
Often, we view hateful actions as the result of some intangible and unstoppable social force. In reality, real people drive anti-LGBTQ+ policies and legislation — and, often, they’re people who fail to represent the needs and desires of the majority of people they serve. Failing to acknowledge who, exactly, is to blame can create a sense of hopelessness or suggest that these policies are just the status quo.
| Try saying… |
| ✅ “Certain politicians who want to see public school teachers struggle, so they push these anti-LGBTQ+ rules in order to make things harder on them” ✅ “Extremist groups like Moms for Liberty who have a lot of money are pretending like they are concerned parents so that they can spread misinformation about our community.” |
Remember to define the opposition narrowly. By calling out a political party, religious organization, or large subset of people, you run the risk of naming groups that your audience might be a part of. Instead, name the specific group or individual within those parties that are pushing this extreme agenda.
Be specific about the change you want to see.
Whether you’re rallying up “no”s on a bill or working to institute a new anti-bullying policy, name the specific action that you want to see. It helps if you can point to examples in other schools to show that these steps are a choice that can be taken by and for your community.
| Try saying… |
| ✅ “It is entirely possible to create more free and safe classrooms for our youth.” ✅ ““We aren’t inventing the wheel, if parents could do that there they can do it here.” |
End with hope.
Sometimes, even when people agree with our values, they’re hesitant to act because they don’t believe our solutions are possible. It’s our job to show them the path to a better future by describing a world where we all lived up to the universal value you named at the start.
| Try saying… |
| ✅ “When every student learns the complete history of our country, they will be prepared to step into the world and use their courage, kindness, and knowledge to create a better world for all of us.” ✅ “When we ensure that the school curriculum is inclusive regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, we will create a school where every student feels safe.” |
Don’t add fuel to the fire!
It’s important in your testimony not to repeat what the opposition is saying, even if you’re trying to refute it! By saying “we are not groomers” or “we are not indoctrinating children,” you unintentionally call attention to those arguments and spread that message. It also diverts the focus from our shared values and your vision for a better, more unified future.
Unsure where to start? To make it easier for you to make your voice heard, use Family Equality’s draft testimony as a starting point! Upon clicking this link, you’ll be prompted to make a copy of Family Equality’s document for you to edit as you’d like!
We know that taking on advocacy can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it by yourself! Amplify your impact by connecting with others!
Nikhil Vashee (They/Them)
Director of Education Law and Policy, Senior Policy Counsel
This information was prepared and distributed by Family Equality.
info@familyequality.org | www.familyequality.org
Family Equality exists to create a world where everyone can experience the unconditional love, safety, and belonging of family. Our mission is to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community.