the nation's largest organization for families, friends, and allies of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people— honors Esther Jenner Avry, Caitlyn Jenner’s mother, with the 2015 Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award. The award was accepted on Avry’s behalf by daughter Pam Mettler, presented by Betty DeGeneres at the 2015 PFLAG National Convention: We Are the Change, which will take place in Nashville, Tennessee later this week.
The Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award honors a person who uses their visibility to help advance the PFLAG mission. The award is named in honor of DeGeneres—mother of Ellen DeGeneres—who has used her public stature to educate diverse groups, primarily outside of the PFLAG chapter network, about the vital role of parent, family, and ally support and affirmation of people who are LGBTQ.
DeGeneres is a longtime member of PFLAG, who over the years has helped to provide support to the many families who seek out PFLAG after a loved one comes out as LGBTQ.
Caitlyn's mum
"I am thrilled that PFLAG National has chosen to honor Esther, says Betty. PFLAG was there to support me when my own child came out, and in the decades since, my work with PFLAG has meant so much to me," said DeGeneres. "Getting to know Esther over the last few months, seeing the unconditional love and support she has brought to Caitlyn, there is no doubt in my mind that she is becoming a strong PFLAG advocate for people who are LGBTQ, their families, and friends."
Like DeGeneres, Avry and her family know that family support is a crucial part of the PFLAG mission, and absolutely essential to the health and wellbeing of all people who are LGBTQ.
"I am so honored to receive this award from PFLAG National, especially from my new friend—and PFLAG inspiration—Betty DeGeneres," said honoree Esther Jenner Avry. "While I know there are many involved in the organization and its chapters that are equally or more deserving, I am looking forward to learning from them about how to continue to use this new platform to make the lives of people who are transgender, and their families, happier and safer."
Daughter Caitlyn Jenner shared, “My mother Esther has been so willing to learn and to help other families of transgender people learn the importance of love and support on this journey. It is lovely to see her being honored for her efforts."
Her daughter Pam, too, looked forward to the honors, stating, "I am thrilled to attend the PFLAG National Convention in Nashville this weekend, to represent my mother Esther and our family in accepting the Betty DeGeneres Advocate award on my mother's behalf. We are of course so proud of Cait, but together as a family we are especially proud of our mother for supporting Cait’s journey in a way that will help to affirm the lives of so many others."
“We applaud Esther Jenner Avry for the incredible support she has given her daughter Caitlyn, as well as the unconditional love she has shown throughout Caitlyn’s continuing journey,” said PFLAG National Executive Director Jody M. Huckaby. “Esther exemplifies what it means to be a PFLAG parent.”
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