PFLAG SCV and local GSAs hosted the Give ’em Hope barbecue Saturday with live music, a stamp unveiling and more following Harvey Milk’s birthday on May 22. 

The Santa Clarita branch of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and the Gay and Straight Alliance’s of Santa Clarita teamed up on Saturday to host the first PFLAG Give ‘em Hope barbeque in Stevenson Ranch in honor of Harvey Milk Day.

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“The goal of today is allow the community and families to have a happy fun day, honor Harvey Milk and get awareness about this incredible man and let the world know about PFLAG and the GSAs,” said Cheryl Bernstein, Outreach Chair for PFLAG SCV. “I’m so happy to be in Santa Clarita doing this. It’s a beautiful day where people are celebrating and there’s a lot of love and support.”  

The event was held from 2 pm to 6 pm at Stevenson Ranch’s Richard Rioux Park and attendees were able to enjoy live music, photo booths for families to take pictures and face painting in the kids area.

Bernstein said unity banners were provided by the Hart District and COC GSAs and were set up for participants to write encouraging messages on.

“We have the unity banners, which are sort of like yearbooks,’ Bernstein said. “They are big banners and everybody gets to come in and sign their best wishes.” There is one for each of the high schools and one for COC. When the event is over they get to take the banners back to the schools to hang them there.”  

Bernstein said the support of the community had made a huge impact, even before the event began.

“Whole Foods put up flyers at the check stands for us to advertise the event and our kids would go in and send us pictures,” Bernstein said. “They were crying; they were so excited that Whole Foods and our community was celebrating. It’s bigger than this event. Its spread throughout this whole valley. Our kids feel it, our volunteers feel it and everyone feels it. No matter how today goes, thats amazing.”  

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The event came two days after the birthday of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and included a Harvey Milk stamp unveiling by the US Post office.

“We’re having the post office come around 4 and the’re doing a stamp unveiling. “The post office is going to unveil the Harvey Milk stamp and PFLAG has bought 150 of the stamps to give out to people.”

2 photo booths were set up at the event where participants could dress up in costumes and take pictures with their families and friends.

For more information about PFLAG SVC visit their website, here.

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