PFLAG Skagit is very proud of their Speakers Bureau.
For nearly a decade, the PFLAG Skagit Speakers Bureau presenters have spoken to hundreds of people at community centers, local theaters, local churches, health care settings, and more. Their audiences have included law enforcement, medical organizations, judges and their staff, teachers, school board members, and other school employees, social service agencies, and a myriad of others willing to listen.
If you want to learn more about issues related to the LGBTQIA+ community, please peruse the bios below to find the person you think will be the best fit. Then, reach out to us at info@pflagskagit.org, and we will be happy to accommodate your needs. There is no fee for speaking services (within same-day traveling distance); however, we do ask for donations so that we can continue doing what we love to do: Educate others about our amazing LGBTQ+ community.
Linden Jordan, MA, JD (He/Him)
Linden has a story to tell and a passion about telling it! Using charm, facts, heart, and wit, he opens eyes, hearts, and minds wherever he goes with his engaging presentation style.
Linden’s career has included a unique & needful mix of work as an attorney, mental health counselor and Psychology Professor. He is presently retired and serves as the Chair of the Advocacy & Education Action Group of PFLAG Skagit. His passion is helping people understand others and to encourage openness and acceptance of those whom we might least understand.
When not traipsing around the speaker’s circuit, you’ll find Linden playing frisbee with his dog, feeding his chickens, or chatting with his partner as they walk on their beautiful property.
His work is also available online on the PFLAGSkagit YouTube Channel (Including Spanish Captions)
Topics: The ABCs of LGBT; The Science of Gender
Presentation Format: In-person, Online, Hybrid (if organized by the site)
Sage Wilkirk, M.Ed. (They/Them)
Sage is an educator in everything they do, from teaching high school math to leading equity-driven professional training. They believe that curiosity is the only requirement for learning and use a combination of storytelling, facts, humor, practice, and conversation to open dialog and educate. As a nonbinary teacher, their passion for equity has driven them into supporting queer youth and the people who love them so kids aren’t the ones with the burden of educating.
Their presentations are ever-evolving and can be created to suit the audience and learning target, but their favorite is Nonbinary 101, a crash course in gender identity, gender expression, chromosomes, and pronouns. When they have a rare bit of free time, Sage can be found at home with a video game and their three cats or searching for dairy free milkshakes and waffle shops with their spouse.
Topics: Nonbinary 101; Other Topics as Requested
Presentation Format: In-person Preferred; Open to Other Formats as Needed
Hannah Smith, MA LMHC CGP (She/Her)
Hannah describes herself as an “Ever-aspiring ally” to the LGBTQIA+ Community, which she has come to love with great admiration. Step-mother to a beloved, gay son, and wife to a genderqueer, budding Drag Queen, she knows all too well the sometimes steep learning curve. She also knows she will be a forever learner – and she wants to help de-stigmatize this for friends, family members, other allies, and the public in general.
Hannah is the President of PFLAG Skagit and works as a therapist and national educator specializing in neurodivergence and trauma. For over a decade, she has taught medical and mental health professionals and others neuroscience-informed, whole-person approaches to addressing common mental health and life issues. She knows the importance of separating character from biology and how understanding the brain and body in conjunction with identifying social pressure reduces shame, improves relationships, and facilitates lasting change! She approaches all her public speaking and training with this insight and with humor, an engaging presentation style, and an emphasis on practical applications.
When not teaching, Hannah engages in activism, writing, taking walks, watching Drag Race or talking makeup with her spouse, or trying out new things – the latest being rock painting!
Topics: The Science of Gender & Resistance; How to Have Hard Conversations While Keeping Your Cool; What Is an Ally?; Other Topics on Request
Presentation Format: In-person Preferred, Open to All Formats; Can Provide a Hybrid Location in Mt. Vernon, WA
