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LGBT Parenting Network
April 2006, E-News

This month:

QUEER PARENTING EXCHANGE: Wed. April 26 – Panel of Teens with LGBT Parents

  • Are you parenting and looking to connect with other LGBTQ parents to talk about common issues?
  • Are you lesbian/gay/bi/trans and considering parenthood? Trying to figure out how to bring kids into your life?


Each month we host a discussion forum on an issue related to LGBTQ parenting, as well as offer an opportunity to informally meet other parents and prospective parents. Snacks provided.  

COME TO:

The 519 Church Street Community Centre
4th Wednesday of each month, 8:00 to 10:00 PM

Upcoming Topics:

April 26:Hearing from Our Kids: A Panel of Teenagers with LGBT parents
May 24:LGBT Parenting Research Round-Up

For more information, contact:

Chris Veldhoven, Queer Parenting Programmes: 416-392-6878, x 109; queerparenting@the519.org

Rachel Epstein, LGBT Parenting Network: 416-595-0307 x 301; parentingnetwork@fsatoronto.com

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CHARTER CHALLENGE RE LESBIAN SECOND PARENT ADOPTION

(Below is a summary of a legal case that, if successful, could result in the elimination of the need for lesbian second parent adoption in Ontario.  The judge’s decision is expected in the next couple of months.)

From March 27-29, the Honourable Justice Rivard of the Superior Court of Justice (Family Division) heard the application of four lesbian families seeking immediate recognition of both mothers' particulars on their children's Statements of Live Birth under the Vital Statistics Act.  This would eliminate the need for a family adoption order.  The families are also seeking declarations of parentage under the Children's Law Reform Act in favour of both mothers. 

The Ontario government consents to the declarations of parentage but says that the Vital Statistics Act birth registry is meant to collect the information of biological parents only.  Accordingly, the government says, only the birth mother can include her particulars on the child's Statement of Live Birth unless the mothers provide sworn evidence that they used inter-spousal egg donation so that both have a biological connection to the child. 

The lesbian families have challenged the government's interpretation of the legislation and the constitutionality of the Vital Statistics Act.  They say it infringes their right to security of the person and discriminates that both mothers cannot be immediately shown on their child's Statement of Live Birth.  The evidence is overwhelming that straight couples using donor sperm show the intended non-biological father on their child's Statement of Live Birth. 

At the conclusion of the hearing, Justice Rivard granted declarations of parentage in favour of all the mothers who did not already have legal recognition.  This result is contrary to that reached by the Honourable Justice Aston in the London, Ontario case of AA v BB v CC, who said that he could not grant declarations of parentage in favour of two mothers.  If other judges follow Justice Rivard, or if he grounds the orders in the Charter and amends the Children's Law Reform Act to permit such recognition, lesbian couples will be able to obtain declarations of parentage, rather than rely on adoption orders to secure parental recognition for the non-birth mother.  This would allow recognition of parentage in circumstances of separation, death, incapacity or non-consent of the birth mother.  It would also mean that lesbian parents could avoid the very lengthy delays associated with adoption orders because a declaration could be obtained much sooner after the birth.  In practice, already, declarations of parentage are being granted in favour of same-sex parents in Toronto.

If the relief requested by the families under the Vital Statistics Act is granted, no court application would be necessary at all where the parents wish to immediately show both mothers on the Statement of Live Birth.  There would be no delay and no expense, but immediate protection of the child's actual parentage.  

Justice Rivard said he would release his decision as soon as possible; we expect it in the next couple of months.

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QUEER HEALTH MATTERS: A HEALTH FAIR FOR LGBTTQ COMMUNITIES: Sat. April 29

Sherbourne Health Centre is excited to present our third annual community health fair, Queer Health Matters: A Health Fair for the LGBTTQ Communities. Queer Health Matters is designed to appeal to all members of our diverse and vibrant community.  We encourage our communities to think about health in its social context, to examine the impact of different types of discrimination on our well-being, and to imagine a healthier community.

This FREE event will feature a range of stimulating activities:

  • Toronto queer and trans health services and community groups will be available to chat and share information
  • Community based researchers engaged in LGBTTQ related projects will describe their work
  • Workshops will profile new and emerging health issues in our communities
  • Alternative health services will offer hands-on demonstrations of different therapies

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE:

12.00 - 1.00 pm: Same-Sex Partner Abuse: Preliminary Results from a Toronto-based Study with LGBT Women; Intersex 101: A Sense of Community and Health Needs

1.00 - 2.00 pm: I'm in Transition Too: Results from an Interview Study with LGBQ women partners of FTMs; A Basic Understanding of Depression & Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

2.00 - 3.00 pm: HIV and Mind-Body Medicine: Improving Immunity Through Stress Reduction; Queer Parenting Research Updates; Taking Care of Business Community Launch (self-injection video screening and panel discussion for FTMs )

3.00 - 4.00 pm: Warped Mirrors: Body Image Issues from a Transwoman's Perspective; Building Healthier Relationships for Queer Youth

4.00 - 5.00 pm: Top Ten Bisexual Health Issues; SelfHarm or Safe Ritual? A Discussion on Body Modification and Why We Do It

There will be refreshments and lots of free information.

Saturday April 29th, 2006
519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, Toronto, Ontario
11.00 am – 5.00 pm

For more information, call 416-324-4177, email mclarke@sherbourne.on.ca or log onto www.sherbourne.on.ca .

Sponsors:
Rainbow Health Network
Canadian Cancer Society
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto Public Health
University of Toronto

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RACIAL AWARENESS IN INTER-RACIAL ADOPTION: Sat. June 10

A workshop for parents, prospective parents and extended family members

of children adopted inter-racially

Presented by the Adoption Council of Ontario.

This workshop will support participants to move towards racial awareness in inter-racial adoption – the ability to recognize how race, ethnicity, culture and related power status operate in our own lives and the lives of our children.  The day will include group discussion, exercises and a panel presentation aimed at answering questions such as How have race, ethnicity and culture impacted our attitudes, values and approaches to parenting and caregiving?  Participants will gain new insights and ideas to assist with parenting and caregiving children of another race.

The workshop will be facilitated by Maira McKenna, MSW of 2imagine Ventures Inc. and a consultatnt from the company Visable Diversity Solutions.  The facilitators have extensive experience conducting diversity workshops, and have worked with children, youth and families.  Maira has personal and professional experience with inter-racial adoption.

Date: Saturday, June 10, 2006, 9 am – 5 pm
Location: International Student Centre, University of Toronto, 33 St. George St.
Cost: $90 per person (by May 14, 2006)
$100 per person (May 15 – June 4, 2006)

Includes lunch and morning and afternoon refreshments.

More info: Pat Fenton (416) 482-0021 or Carole Neron (416) 531-0789.

(The LGBT Parenting Network has registration forms for this workshop that we can email at your request.  Email parentingnetwork@fsatoronto.com if you would like us to send you a form.)

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FAMILY PRIDE 2006: Mark Your Calendars! June 24 / 25

Family Pride– an oasis and a destination for families during Pride Toronto – returns this June with some of the fun stuff from previous years in addition to new and exciting activities.  A little peak at what you can expect:

  • The annual picnic of the LGBT Parenting Picnic on Saturday
  • Sunday brunch hosted by the Queer Parenting Programs of the 519
  • Enhanced arts and crafts projects
  • Exciting performances

There is more, but you’ll have to be patient... just a little bit longer.  More details will be available as the activities are confirmed.  A full program of events will be posted to the Pride Toronto website by early June (http://www.pridetoronto.com/familypride/)

Mark your calendars – June 24th and 25th – and come celebrate your pride with your family. 

And, if you are interested in getting involved in some way, please contact the Family Pride Committee, options:

  • Getting your family-related event recognized as an Official Event of Pride Toronto
  • Becoming a Community Supporter of Family Pride
  • Volunteering with Family Pride

Please direct any questions or ideas to family-pride@pridetoronto.com

Looking forward to seeing you as part of Family Pride 2006!

Skye, Ron, and the rest of the 2006 Family Pride Committee

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DYKE MOM IN THORNHILL SEEKS KID CONNECTIONS

My girls are very interested in meeting other kids their ages who have a lesbian mom (or two). We live in Thornhill where it's not exactly the norm, so as cool as they are about the whole thing, they'd really like to connect with some peers in similar situations. (My partner, Livia, and I wouldn't mind meeting the moms, either!) The girls are 8, 10 & 12, in grades 2, 5 & 7. We'd appreciate it if you'd send anyone who's interested our way!

Emily Baird
ebaird@rogers.com
905-886-2833

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“MOM SHOW” SEEKS MOMS, PARTICULARLY LESBIAN ADOPTIVE MOMS

 

Life Network is looking for fun, outgoing, well-spoken moms to be ‘guest moms’ on “The Mom Show”, a one-hour daily talk show on motherhood that airs on the Life Network.

Each episode of the show features 3 moms from all walks of life who talk candidly with our hosts about their own personal experiences of motherhood. The show also features chats and tips about parenting, relationships, fashion, food and decorating. You can check out more on our show at our website: http://www.lifenetwork.ca/microsites/themomshow/

So this is a shout out to all lesbian moms in the GTA interested in being part of a talk show on moms. You can even bring your kids to the show, as they appear on-camera during the nanny portion of the show in our playroom area.

We welcome lesbian moms who’d like to appear on ANY episode of the show, and we are doing a special show this season devoted entirely to moms who have adopted. I’m really trying to have as much diversity on this episode as possible, which is why I’m searching for a lesbian adoptive mom. I think it will be great if we can have a lesbian mom who can give us her own unique perspective on what specific issues may be involved when you adopt and raise children as a lesbian woman or couple vs adopting as a straight couple.

We are taping this episode here in Toronto on the morning of Tues, June 6.

NOTE: we are looking for a lesbian woman whose adopted child is NOT biologically related to her or her partner (ie: we are not looking for a woman who legally adopted the biological child that her partner already had).  

So if you know of any lesbian adoptive moms who’d love the opportunity to share their adoption stories with a national TV audience, please give them my contact info.

Thanks so much for this opportunity to help us find the right mom for our show. Let me know if you have any questions whatsoever.

Christine Wong
Producer, "The Mom Show"
Life Network
ph: 416-406-7294

christine.wong@allianceatlantis.com

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Past LGBT Parenting E-News issues:

Disclaimer: News from the Parenting Network, as with our Pride & Joy newsletter may include reprints, excerpts or summaries from other sources. We cannot take responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions. We are also happy to publish information about research projects and other community initiatives. We do so in the spirit of sharing information, but do not have sufficient knowledge to actively endorse or advocate participation in particular projects.

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