PFLAG Votes Together: Crafts, Care, and Community at the Polls

Cast a spell, cast a ballot: showing up at the polls together

Civic power in Pinellas County does not happen from the sidelines; it is built on the ground through joy, solidarity, and unwavering community presence. Outside and inside the polling location at Countryside Rec Center & Fields, PFLAG Safety Harbor & Greater Pinellas showed up in full force for Party at the Polls, transforming an ordinary voting day into an inspiring celebration of collective care, creative expression, and civic action.

Our grassroots turnout was so spirited that PFLAG National spotlighted our chapter across their national social media channels under the banner PFLAG Votes Together! Chapter leaders, organizers, youth, and families gathered shoulder to shoulder: Wendy, Lindsey, Brendan, Shannon, Adam, Jenn and her son Sheamus, Charles representing our Dunedin Satellite, Allison and her kids, and many more neighbors from across Greater Pinellas. Together, we proved that protecting our families and exercising our fundamental right to vote can be joyful, accessible, and deeply empowering.

Community care in action: playground hugs, baseball banter, and witch jars

At its heart, community care is about making civic spaces welcoming and accessible for families of every generation. Rather than navigating voting lines with stress, families were met with warm conversation, shaded rest areas, and vibrant hands-on craft tables.

While parents and caregivers took turns stepping inside to cast their ballots, kids and youth headed to the playground, climbing rope towers and turning outdoor play into a celebration of connection. Back under the lights, laughter erupted around our interactive ballot box: voters were handed colorful pom-pom balls to cast their official vote in our Best Witch jar showdown, choosing among iconic sorceresses: Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus), Elphaba, Glinda the Good Witch, and more.

Civic joy extended right down to friendly athletic banter, with chapter organizers repping local Tampa Bay Rays spirit alongside Milwaukee Brewers jerseys to bridge sports and civic engagement. In a world that often demands conformity, our community created an environment where everyone could relax, play, and just be themselves.

Speaking up and showing up: our values on the line

Between trips to the ballot booth and conversations across the table, attendees picked up markers, watercolors, and paper to create personal "Why I Vote" cards. Laid out together, these handmade cards captured the multifaceted reasons our families show up on election day:

• Protecting our children: One illustrated card declared with striking clarity, "My kids deserve an inclusive future!" alongside portraits of children wearing pride shirts. Another painted card featured the transgender flag boldly affirming, "Trans Rights Are Human Rights."

• Defending the freedom to read: In a state where book challenges continue to target LGBTQIA+ and history titles, our members held up hand-drawn badges declaring, "I'm with the Banned," and signs asking, "Witch Way to Equality? VOTE."

• Caring for our Florida home: Environmental justice was front and center, with hand-drawn cards reminding neighbors that "Florida nature has value beyond dollars," featuring smiling green manatees and drawings of the Everglades reminding us that our waters and wildlife need protective stewardship.

• Broadening human dignity: Hand-painted cards proclaimed, "We the people means everyone," "No human is illegal," and "Black Lives Matter," grounding our chapter’s work in intersectional solidarity.

Voting is our collective defense against policies designed to diminish public education, restrict healthcare access, and marginalize vulnerable families. By being visible at polling locations with our chapter banner and "Fighting for Our Pride" signs, we send an unmistakable message to local officials and neighbors alike: our community is organized, educated, and unapologetically here.

Looking ahead: our voices carry far beyond election day

Elections are critical milestones, but the solidarity we build at the polls stays rooted in our parks, schools, and living rooms twelve months a year. We vote because our children deserve a state where they can learn without censorship, access affirming healthcare without roadblocks, and thrive in safety. When we organize together, care for one another, and show up at every level of civic life, fear has no foothold in Greater Pinellas.

Stay connected with PFLAG Greater Pinellas

Our advocacy, education, and community care happen year-round. Join our upcoming gatherings across Pinellas County:

• Dunedin Satellite Meeting: First Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM in Dunedin. A dedicated local peer support space for Dunedin-area families, youth, parents, and allies looking for connection close to home.

• 18+ Art Nights: Second Monday of every month at 6:30 PM at SHAMc (Safety Harbor Art and Music Center). A low-sensory creative workshop for adult LGBTQIA+ community members and allies to craft, paint, and create zines.

• Community Nights: Third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 PM in Safety Harbor and Greater Pinellas. A relaxed, multigenerational gathering with shared dinner, casual games, and mutual support for the whole family.

• Monthly Chapter Support Circle: Third Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM in Safety Harbor (with hybrid online access). Confidential, facilitated peer support circles for parents, caregivers, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Visit our events page for full venue details, directions, and registration.