PFLAG's work is, without a doubt, some of the most important, and heroic, in our community. In addition to helping family members and loved ones understand, accept and love their LGBT family members and friends, PFLAG also brings together the most powerful constituency in our community - one composed of allies who believe in full equality and a world that embraces everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. With more than 500 chapters in communities from coast to coast, PFLAG has been the resource for fostering loving families and important progress.

One of the primary reasons I wanted so much to work with PFLAG is because of my own mother. At age 16, I came out quite suddenly, and quite matter-of-factly when, one day, I brought someone home (a male classmate) and simply said, "He's my boyfriend."

My mom - a single mother in rural Virginia - didn't skip a beat. She smiled, said 'OK,' and treated me just as she always had . . . as her son, and as someone she loved.

My boyfriend, however, wasn't quite as lucky. When he came out, his mother threatened to disown him. She accused me of 'turning' her son gay (oh, to have such power!) and was adamently opposed to him spending any time with me. So, it was at my mother's house that we were able to be ourselves, be accepted and be loved.

I will never forget my mom's unconditional acceptance, or my boyfriend's mom's initial rejection. And PFLAG crosses the divide between the two, organizing supportive parents to speak up and work for change, and supporting parents having a difficult time with a child's coming out. In my opinion, there is perhaps no more important work anywhere in the world.

PFLAG's support, education and advocacy programs truly do produce a sea change that resonates in our homes, our communities, our schools & workplaces, and our government. There is, as I have said so many times before, no force on earth more powerful than the love of a parent for their child.

From their Straight for Equality program to their get out the vote initiative, and everything in-between, PFLAG is rallying those voices and moving the ball immeasurably forward on equality for us all.

And so I am honored to be joining Jody Huckaby and the rest of the PFLAG family - including their staff, board, regional directors and chapters - as they continue this amazing work. PFLAG's members truly are the irreplaceable allies in our movement, and I couldn't be more proud to be part of their efforts.

(And, of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't encourage Bilerico readers to cheer my new work by logging on and supporting PFLAG with a tax-deductible donation!)

This is an amazing new chapter for me, and I'm so happy to be starting it with such an incredible group of people.