Civic Clarity: Decoding Policy & Power

 This event is offered virtually only, online via video conference and by phone. Please register in advance to receive access information.

Our Family Coalition invites LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and caregivers to a vital virtual town hall focused on policy measures that directly impact our community. 

This interactive conversation will feature speakers from GLAD Law, Family Equality, and Equality California, who will share insights on key policy areas affecting LGBTQ+ families, including education, family protections, and transgender protections. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of proposed and emerging policy changes, what they mean in practice, and how they may affect families navigating schools, healthcare systems, and legal protections.

Designed to be both informative and community-centered, this town hall creates space for learning, reflection, and collective engagement. Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Learn about current and proposed policy changes impacting LGBTQ+ communities

• Ask questions and clarify how these policies may affect their families

• Share concerns and lived experiences in a supportive, affirming environment

• Engage in collective conversation about advocacy, equity, and inclusion

This is your opportunity to stay informed, build collective power, and ensure LGBTQ+ families’ voices are heard. Together, we can strengthen our understanding, support one another, and work toward meaningful change.

Meet Our Speakers:

Nikhil Vashee (They/Them) Director of Education Law and Policy, Senior Policy Counsel  at Family Equality 

Nikhil Vashee is the Senior Director of Education Law & Policy for Family Equality. In this role, they promote policy solutions at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure LGBTQ+ families’ access to quality education in a supportive environment. They also oversee litigation, amicus curiae briefs, and other legal efforts to combat discrimination against LGBTQ+ families in education.Since graduating from Georgetown Law School in 2016, Nikhil has focused their career on advocating for educational equity. They have worked for the Washington, D.C. school district to ensure quality, accessibility, and compliance in both traditional public and public charter schools.

Craig Pulsipher (He/Him) (Equality California | Equality California Institute)

Craig Pulsipher is the Legislative Director for Equality California responsible for leading the organization’s state policy, budget, and administrative advocacy work. Prior to joining Equality California, Craig served as the Associate Director of Government Affairs at APLA Health in Los Angeles where he oversaw statewide HIV and health care policy, legislation, budget, and political strategy.

 

Patience “Polly” Crozier (She/Her) GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law)

Patience “Polly” Crozier is the Director of Family Advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law).  Polly’s work focuses on youth and family issues, including parentage protections, adoption, access to fertility healthcare, transgender family law, juvenile justice, and child welfare, and work at the intersection of LGBTQ and reproductive rights.  Polly serves on the UPA National Enactment Committee and has been a national leader on expanding protections for LGBTQ families and children.  Most recently, she has successfully worked to draft and pass statutory family law reforms in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as health care provider shield laws in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen (He/Him), Senior Vice President of Public Engagement Campaigns at the Trevor Project

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen is a nationally recognized LGBTQ rights advocate and expert on public messaging and persuasion, community organizing, and policy. He is Senior Vice President of Public Engagement Campaigns at the Trevor Project, where he works to change hearts and minds. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the founding Executive Director of Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE). He is also the first openly trans child of a Member of Congress and works with his mother, who represented a Miami district for nearly 30 years, to advocate for family acceptance. 

When:

Thursday, March 5th, 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Where:

Taking place virtually via secure Zoom -- Participants will receive the Zoom meeting information via email following registration.

For More Information:

We are committed to ensuring our programs are accessible to all families. When you're registering, please let us know of any accommodations that would help your family participate to the fullest (e.g. ASL interpreter, translated materials, childcare providers experienced with kids with disabilities, large print materials, gluten-free food options, etc.). If registering within 48 hours of the event, please call 415-981-1960 to ensure our receipt of your request. This event – including refreshments and childcare, as applicable – is offered free for all attendees. As you are able, please help us continue offering these resources to all who need them, by making a financial donation to OFC.