Be Kind, Not Just Nice: Transforming Your Conversations

We all know the phrase "if you're not going to say something nice, then don't say anything at all." But what do we do when being kind means not being so nice? Join the PFLAG team to learn some of the skills you need stand up for what you believe in without becoming unkind yourself so you can transform your conversations.

In this session we will:

Review the strategies from “Be Kind, Rewind: Recognizing Your Role in Building Inclusion” to help ensure we are doing what we can to treat others kindly;

Discuss new strategies to deal with unkindness without becoming unkind ourselves;

Develop skills to determine when something is being said, or questions are being asked, about LGBTQ+ equality in good faith or in bad faith;

Consider how to use these strategies and skills in different settings – including when speaking with friends and family, at work, in community organizing, and online; and

Get resources to help inform your kindness strategies into the future.

Jamie Henkel (she/her)

Vice President, Learning & Inclusion

PFLAG National

Jamie Henkel is the Vice President, Learning & Inclusion at PFLAG National. She is the program’s lead trainer and oversees the development of new publications and learning sessions for PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program. Since 2012 she has been the lead architect of PFLAG Academy Online, a monthly webinar program. Jamie lives in Portland, OR with her cat and partner. She enjoys day hiking (but not backpacking) and everything else that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Mackenzie Harte (they/them)

Learning & Inclusion Manager

PFLAG National

Mackenzie Harte is the Learning & Inclusion Manager at PFLAG National, contributing to a team that has trained tens of thousands of allies since Mackenzie started in March of 2021. Prior to their time at PFLAG, Mackenzie worked with the GLAAD Media Institute to train over 12,000 activists and advocates across the globe, as well as managing Bisexual+ Awareness Week (#BiWeek) in 2019 and 2020. Mackenzie currently resides in New York City with their cat Saoirse, and is a (song)writer and staunch devotee of Carly Rae Jepsen in their spare time.