Programs & Services > LGBT Parenting Network > LGBT E-news


LGBT Parenting Network
February 2008, E-News

February update (Feb. 21)

February 8:


FATHER'S DAY FOR GAY/BI/TRANS/QUEER MEN

It’s the 5th anniversary of the family planning course Daddies and Papas 2B. We are creating an event celebrating all gay/bi/trans/queer dads, grand-dads, prospective dads, care-givers and our children.

Help us plan a great event!

Come to the planning meeting on:
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
1:30pm to 3:30 pm
at The 519 Community Centre

Contact: Chris Veldhoven, Queer Parenting Programmes Coordinator,
416·392·6878 x109, queerparenting@the519.org.

Back to top

MY FAMILY MATTERS SCHOOLS PROJECT:  FAMILY DAY EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS

Big thank you to all who participated in the first My Family Matters! Schools Project Family Day Extravaganza.  Approximately 200 kids and adults came down to City Hall, did art, got made up and dressed up, ate, danced and chanted to the Samba Squad, and paraded to Nathan Phillips square with a loud message of: My Family Matters!  Thank you to particpating organizations: LGBTQ Parenting Network, Sherbourne Health Centre; The 519 Church St. Community Centre - Queer Parenting Programmes; Lorraine Kimsa Theatre For Young People, EGALE and all the dedicated and spirited volunteers and staff who made the day happen.  And a huge thank you to project coordinator, Shira Spector, who pulled it all off with infectious enthusiasm, and who also designed the LGBT-positive Valentines which were such a big hit!

The My Family Matters Schools Project will continue to work to made schools more inclusive of LGBT families.  If you'd like to join in, please contact: schools_project@yahoo.com.

Back to top


PLEASE SEND BIRTH/ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS

We noticed at the Family Day event that there are a lot of new babies and children who have joined your families. If you haven't already done so, please send us a birth/adoption announcement so we can include it in the next issue of Pride & Joy.   Please send an electronic photo and a few sentences announcing the new addition to your family to: parentingnetwork@sherbourne.on.ca.  Thanks!

Back to top

NEW FERTILITY SUPPORT GROUP

Looking for support as an LGBTQ person dealing with fertility issues?  The LGBTQ Parenting Network is starting an LGBTQ Fertility Support Group.  The group will be facilitated by an experienced fertility counsellor, and will offer information, education and support.  The first meeting will be Thursday, April 3, 2008.  For more info:  parentingnetwork@sherbourne.on.ca.

Back to top


JOURNALIST SEEKS WOMEN WHO HAVE DONATED EGGS TO PARTNER

I am a freelance journalist writing a story for the Globe's Life section on a new trend in lesbian motherhood that involves a woman  donating her egg to her partner, who, after IVF, carries the baby. I  am interested in exploring why women are choosing to do this and how   this changes the dynamic in the family.. I'm also interested in what  the experience has been like (physically, emotionally, financially),  how you explain this to friends and family (and how they react) and whether it is a growing trend. If you are in the process of  conceiving this way, or already have a child this way, I would be very interested in speaking with you sometime the week of Feb 19-22.  Thank you for your help.  

Alison Motluk, 416-465-0497,  
motluk@twohacks.com.

Ligia Hendry
Web Specialist
Marketing & Communications Department
Family Service Association of Toronto
www.fsatoronto.com
416. 595 . 9230  Ext. 287
Disclaimer
The information contained in this e-mail communication (and any attachments) is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email communication (and any attachments) please delete the e-mail immediately and notify me at the telephone number shown above or by return e-mail. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Family Service Association of Toronto. Neither the sender nor Family Service Association of Toronto accepts liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this message that arise as a result of e-mail transmission. This message and any attachments have been scanned for viruses, however Family Service Association of Toronto does not accept liability for any virus that may have been transmitted.

Back to top

MY FAMILY MATTERS! SCHOOLS PROJECT

My Family Matters! Schools Project is a new initiative to make schools LGBTQ family-friendly.  We're bursting onto the scene with our first event, a FREE kid-powered art extravaganza and parade on Family Day, Monday, February 18, 2008 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at City Hall, 100 Queen St. West.  

Indoor family-friendly activities (art, music, costumes, food) from 10:00 - 12:00, followed by a parade into Nathan Phillips Square at 12:30.   We are inviting media to be present onlyat the parade.  Please come join us and let's make sure Family Day is for everyone!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  Due to popular demand, we have reprinted 1,000 more sheets of FREE queer-positive Valentines for children.  Come pick them up, pass them on, spread the love!!   To arrange Valentines pick up on the weekend, call 416 898 3549. Otherwise, Valentines can be picked up at:  

Sherbourne Health Centre (see Geoff or Rachel)
333 Sherbourne St.

519 Church St. Community Centre (see Chris or Claire)
519 Church St.  

For more info about the My Family Matters! Schools Project, contact Shira Spector at schools_project@yahoo.com.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  We need volunteers to help out on the day (Monday, Feb. 18)  If you are interested, please contact Jill Ward at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People - jward@lktyp.ca; 416 363 5131, ext. 254.  Thank you!

Back to top

MONTHLY LGBTQ FAMILY RESOURCE DROP-INS AT THE 519

Daddy Papa & Me: Saturday, February 9th, 10 am to 1 pm
Mum's The World!: Saturday, February 23rd, 10 am to 1 pm.

Back to top

OPRAH - FEB 8 /08: THE ULTIMATE REUNION: WHEN DAD IS A SPERM DONOR

Six feet tall, medical student, brown hair, blue eyes and number X23PJ...What if that was all you knew about your biological father? For an estimated 30,000 children every year who are born from sperm donors [in the USA], many will grow up struggling with the fact that half their genes are a mystery to them. Two sperm donors -- one involved with the children and one who does not know them -- share their side of the story. Plus, adult children of donors weigh in on the confusion, frustration and questions that may never be answered. Friday, Feb 8, 2008. Oprah
http://www2.oprah.com/tows/coming/tows_come_main.jhtml

Back to top

SEEKING LGBTQ MOMS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED POST PARTUM DEPRESSION

I am temporarily doing some work with St. Joseph's Women's Health Centre, a feminist counselling and support agency inside St. Joseph's Health Centre.  Their services include a program for women who experience post partum depression.  They have information nights, support groups, counselling and videos on the subject.  They also have first person accounts, and these can be very helpful to share with mothers who are newly experiencing depression. 

I'm trying to collect more first person accounts from queer/lesbian/trans/2 spirited moms who experienced PPD to share with other queer moms.  Post partum depression is defined broadly and can include the experiences of non-biological mothers, adoptive mothers, as well as birth mothers.  If you experienced PPD, would you consider sharing your experience?  You can remain as confidential as you choose.  Or, if you would like to share your experiences as a partner of a woman experiencing this, that would be great too.  

You can reach me at the Women's Health Centre until mid-March. If you are experiencing PPD now, the number below is also the number you can call to connect with support.   Thanks!  
Lorraine Munro
munrol@stjoe.on.ca
or (416) 530-6850

Back to top

CONFERENCE: Father Involvement Research 2008: Diversity, Visibility, Community

TORONTO: October 22-24, 2008
This conference program will offer a wealth of information and opportunities for focused conversation featuring keynote addresses, presentations, workshops and discussions led by some of the top father involvement scholars and practitioners from Canada and abroad.  If you are a researcher, student, practitioner or policy maker interested in father involvement, plan to join us in October. CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Bringing together national and international fatherhood scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplines, this conference offers opportunities to present and discuss emerging research findings and engage in public debate about future policy, practice and research directions for fathers and father involvement.

Visit http://fira.ca/page.php?id=103 for more information about the conference.

The conference has three themes: Diversity, Visibility, and Community. We invite submissions for papers and workshops on these themes. Research, evaluation and policy work will be showcased in several concurrent sessions, with potential formats being workshops, paper presentations, roundtable discussions or theme sessions on specific issues, and posters.

Visit https://secure.barkingdogstudios.com/fira/proposals_form.php  for information about proposal submission.

This conference is presented by: Father Involvement Research Alliance, Dr. Kerry Daly-Conference Chair, Centre for Families, Work and Well-being, (University of Guelph) and others.

 

Back to top

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.

Back to previous page

About FSA | Programs & Services | What's New | Media | Get Involved | Policy Research | Contact us