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LGBT Parenting Network
January 2007, E-News
This month:
- Happy New Year from the LGBT Parenting Network and Queer Parenting Programmes at the 519
- AA/BB/CC: Recognition of three legal parents
- Birth Registration Forms Changed
- Upcoming Family Planning Courses: Dykes Planning Tykes, Daddies & Papas 2B, TransFathers 2B
- Queer Parenting Exchange: New Spring Season!
- Be on “Birth Days”
- New Series from Life Network about Couples and their In-laws
Happy New Year from the LGBT Parenting Network (FSA/Sherbourne Health Centre) and the Queer Parenting Programmes at the 519!
We started the year off with the news of a Supreme Court (partial ) victory in the AA/BB/CC case . This means the court chose to legally recognize three parents. Below is a brief summary of the case from lawyer Joanna Radbord at the law firm Epstein-Cole.
The new year also began with a change to the birth registration forms to allow two women to put their names on the Statement of Live Birth. Below is a link to the new form.
We are in the final stages of producing an information sheet on the implications of both the Birth Registration changes and AA/BB/CC for LGBT parents (women, men and trans) in Ontario. This will be available on our website in about two weeks. Stay tuned.
We’re also happy to provide information about LGBTQ Family Planning courses starting in February. Dykes Planning Tykes and Daddies & Papas 2B will be running as usual, and we are very excited to announce the first run of the TransFathers 2B course. All three courses will now run for 11 weeks, starting February 6. See below for more info.
Below too is the Spring, 2007 schedule for the Queer Parenting Exchange. For those who attended, or wanted to attend the Nov. 8 event “Negotiating Non-Queer Spaces: LGBTQ Parents & Their Kids in School and Child Care,” we’re holding a follow-up gathering as the first Queer Parenting Exchange on Wednesday, January 24. Here we hope to continue to strategize about how to organize ourselves as LGBTQ parents to create change in our children’s schools. We will also have notes from the Nov. 8 meeting available on the website shortly.
And finally, there are a few media opportunities for those who are interested!
Wishing you and your families and loved ones a wonderful, safe and happy year!
AA/BB/CC: THREE PARENTS LEGALLY RECOGNIZED
On January 3, 2007, the three judges of the Ontario Court of Appeal who were deliberating on the multi-parent case announced their judgment in favour of the appellant, a non-biological lesbian mother who is parenting with her partner and the biological father of the child. The woman appealed to the court to recognize her legally as the child’s parent along with her partner, the child’s biological mother, and the child’s biological father.
Below is a brief summary of the implications of this case, from lawyer Joanna Radbord of the law firm Epstein-Cole:
All of DD's three parents - AA BB and CC - are recognized as parents for the purposes of all laws. The Court granted an individual remedy to the family using its overriding discretion to protect children and other vulnerable people [parens patriae]. This is wonderful news for DD and his parents.
The Court did not change the legislation, and specifically found that the statute assumes that parentage involves only one mother and one father. The Court held that it could not consider Charter arguments that the statute discriminated because the parties should have raised the issue before the first judge who heard the case, not left it to the appeal, and because the Court was willing to give them an individual remedy anyway.
The good news is that since the Ontario Court of Appeal found it appropriate to recognize the parentage of a non-birth mother in this case, it is likely that lower courts will be willing to use their parens patriae power in other cases, in appropriate circumstances, to recognize non-biological parentage and the parentage of multiple parents. This will be up to the individual judge, exercising her discretion in considering whether an order would be in the child's best interests.
Unfortunately, though, the statute remains out-of-step with the realities of queer family life and discriminates on its face against non-nuclear families. Rather than including non-nuclear families in legislation, it leaves non-dominant families with the legal uncertainty of asking the court to exercise its discretion to protect their children's best interests and fails to recognize their realities at law.
The government claims it is considering the decision and its implications.
BIRTH REGISTRATION FORMS CHANGED
Following on last year’s legal victory in favour of birth registration for same-sex parents, the Ontario forms have now been changed, allowing two women to register as parents on the Statement of Live Birth. Below is a link to the new Statement of Live Birth form. You may have to copy and paste it into your computer.
UPCOMING FAMILY PLANNING COURSES
Queer Parenting Programmes at The 519 and the LGBT Parenting Network (FSA/Sherbourne Health Centre) present:
TransFathers 2B (New!)
A 11-week pilot course for trans men considering parenting. Topics include insemination, co-parenting, adoption, self-advocacy, and more.
Dykes Planning Tykes: Spring 2007
An 11-week course for lesbian, bisexual and queer women considering parenting. Topics include insemination, co-parenting, adoption, birth options and more.
Daddies & Papas 2B: Spring 2007
A 11-week course for gay, bisexual and queer men considering parenting. Topics include co-parenting, adoption, surrogacy and more.
The above three courses will be held at the Central YMCA's Family Development Centre, Tuesdays, 7 pm to 9:30 pm, February 6 to April 17. Suggested donation of $60 per person plus cost of manual.
The Queer Positive Pre-Natal Class: (Now 4 times a year!)
A weekend course for women and men of diverse family structures and identities who are expecting a newborn, whether through birth, adoption or surrogacy. Come find out about the stages of labour, creating a birth plan, life after giving birth, understanding newborns and much more.
Dates for 2007:
February 3-5, April 14-15, July 21-22, October 27-28.
Suggested donation of $60.
Pre-registration is required for all of the above four courses. To register, please contact the Front Desk at The 519: 416 392 6874.
For more information about the courses contact:
Chris
Veldhoven, Queer Parenting Programmes Coordinator at The 519, 416 392
6878 x109, queerparenting@the519.org
QUEER PARENTING EXCHANGE: NEW SPRING SEASON!
LGBT Parenting Network (FSA Toronto/Sherbourne Health Centre) and the Queer Parenting Programmes at the 519 Church St. Community Centre present the
QUEER PARENTING EXCHANGE
- 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
Spring 2007 Topics:
January 24: LGBTQ Families and Schools: Continue the discussion about how we want to organize ourselves to create change in our children’s schools.
February 28: Kink, Polyamory and Parenting: Joys, challenges, dilemmas of being all of who we are.
March 28: Creating Local Parenting Groups: Hear from local LGBT parents and prospective parents who are creating their own networks and groups (in neighbhourhoods, for single parents, HIV+ parents, etc.)
April 25: LGBTQ Family-Friendly Books & Stories: Find out about the latest books for all ages…and bring your own to share.
May (TBA): Nancy
Nichol’s film “Politics of the Heart” with guest
panel.
In collaboration with the Inside/Out Film Festival
we’ll show this film that documents the struggles for LGBTQ
family rights in Quebec, with special guest panelists.
For more information, contact:
Chris
Veldhoven: 416-392-6878 x 109; queerparenting@the519.org
Rachel
Epstein: 416-595-0307 x 301; parentingnetwork@fsatoronto.com
BE ON “BIRTH DAYS”
Are you having a baby between now and mid-May 2007?
Let us tell the story of those first weeks when you bring your baby home. Share your hopes and dreams and your experience of life with your new family. You'll receive a top-of-the-line broadcast quality documentary about those first few weeks of your family's new life. You'll also receive expert advice from Canada's top parenting and family experts.
“Birth Days”, the successful successor to Life's “Birth Stories” is looking for expectant parents to be on TV and star in the show. We are looking for families from Toronto and surrounding areas.
For more information contact 416-531-2500 x153 or x137 or e-mail birthdays@nextfilm.ca
Birth Days airs Thursday nights at 9:30pm EST on Life.
THANK YOU!
Andreea Denes
Researcher, Birth Days
416-531-2500 ext. 153
NEW SERIES FROM LIFE NETWORK ABOUT COUPLES AND THEIR IN-LAWS
This show is a new family series coming out this March exploring the possible challenges that can arise between couples and their in-laws.
The show is currently in the casting process and I am interested in finding specific story lines one of them revolving around a gay couple that have in-laws issues. I am passionate about representing real family dynamics with real issues reflecting the diverse city we live in.
The host of our show Ellie Tesher, is an advice columnist for the Toronto Star as well being a relationship expert for over two decades specializing in particular to the family dynamic. Ellie delivers solid solutions to couples and in-laws who are willing to share their stories.
We have so far shot with four families and the results have proven beyond our expectations.
FAMILIES WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR TIME
Thank you,
Sandra Kim
Story Developer
Media Headquarters
Film & Television
760 Bathurst Street #2, Toronto ON M5S 2R6
Phone:
(416)537-8384 Ext. 41; Fax: (416)537-8602
E-mail: sandra@mediahqs.net
Past LGBT Parenting E-News issues:
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- November 2005
- September 2005
- July 2005
- June, 2005
- May, 2005
- April, 2005
- March, 2005
- February, 2005
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.
