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LGBT Parenting Network
July 2006, E-News

This month:

Thank you to Family Pride
Send in Birth/Adoption Announcements
Queer Parenting Exchange – Planning Upcoming Season
Celebration of Birth Registration Victory
Trans Men’s Parenting Course Facilitator – Employment Opportunity – August 4 Deadline
Signing Class for LGBTT Parents and Their Babies
Take Action! Academy for Young People 10 – 18
TV Screenings of “No Dumb Questions”

FROM THE LGBT PARENTING NETWORK

Thank you to Family Pride

On behalf of the LGBT Parenting Network and the Queer Parenting Programmes at the 519, we want to extend an enormous thank you and appreciation to Ron Ophir, Skye Gross (co-coordinators), and all the many volunteers who made Family Pride such an amazing event this year. The space at the Church St. Public School seemed to be filled with an ongoing stream of parents and children who enjoyed activities, entertainment, and a place to hang out and chill. The space was beautifully-decorated and practically organized, the entertainment was high quality, engaging and fun, the VIA train was a delight, the change area was well-used, food and drink were healthy and plentiful and people, young and old, seemed to be having a great time! We know how much effort goes into pulling off an event like this (over two days) and we want to say how much it was appreciated. The Parenting Network picnic on Saturday was never more well-attended, and the Queer Parenting Programmes Brunch on Sunday was a big success. Thank you again, Ron, Skye and all those who volunteered their time!

Send in Birth/Adoption Announcements

We are currently collecting birth/adoption announcements for the next issue of the LGBT Parenting Network Newsletter, Pride & Joy. Please send a two or three sentence announcement and a digital photo to: parentingnetwork@fsatoronto.com. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the special Pride issue of Pride & Joy, please email James Robb, jamesro@fsatoronto.com.

Queer Parenting Exchange – Planning Upcoming Season

We are currently in the process of planning the Fall and Winter sessions of the Queer Parenting Exchange, an informal gathering and discussion forum held the 4 th Wednesday of each month (8 – 10 pm) at the 519 Community Centre . If you have ideas for topics related to LGBT parenting, please send them in ( parentingnetwork@fsatoronto.com). Thanks!

Celebration of Birth Registration Victory!

We are also planning a community event and party to celebrate the recent Charter Challenge victory with regards to the rights of lesbian non-bio moms to be included on their children’s birth registrations. Stay tuned for details!

TRANS MEN’S PARENTING COURSE FACILITATOR – EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Church Street Community Centre: Employment Opportunity
Trans Men’s Parenting Course Facilitator (Aug to Dec 2006)

Queer Parenting Programmes at The 519 Church Street Community Centre and the LGBT Parenting Network are providing a course for Trans Men Considering Parenting in the Fall of 2006. To accomplish this, we are offering a contract position to research, design and facilitate a course and accompanying manual. This contract position will commence at the end of August and be completed by early December.

This pilot project aims to create accessible tools on pregnancy and other methods of becoming parents for trans men and service providers. The course and manual are intended to empower trans men considering parenting through building their knowledge and confidence. They will do so by identifying the unique experiences of trans men becoming parents through pregnancy, adoption and other means; survey relevant resources; and provide information and access to resource people. In particular, the project will:

Outline methods and resources by which trans men are becoming parents including conceiving children
Interview key individuals and service providers regarding their knowledge of trans men, pregnancy and parenting
Gather relevant information on the issues and barriers encountered by trans men considering pregnancy, adoption, co-parenting, surrogacy and being parents; give voice to and learn from the journeys of trans men who are parents
Reflect the diversity of trans men
Identify systemic and interpersonal forms of discrimination trans men face when becoming parents
Create accessible educational tools on pregnancy, adoption, co-parenting, surrogacy and being parents for trans men and service providers.

Job Responsibilities

Work with the TransParentcy Working Group to develop course curricula and an accompanying course manual to meet the project’s goals listed above
Facilitate a course for trans men considering parenthood that would include trans-specific information, including guest speakers, about practical, legal and emotional issues around pregnancy, adoption, co-parenting, and surrogacy
Create a non-judgemental environment and a safe space for all participants in the course
Participate in course publicity as needed
Assist with assessing this pilot project

Requirements

Excellent facilitation/group skills
Ability to engage people and create a non-judgemental environment
Familiarity with options for trans men interested in becoming parents, i.e. pregnancy, adoption, surrogacy and co-parenting
Knowledge and experience working in an anti-oppression framework, including work addressing power and privilege around transphobia, racism, homo/lesbo/biphobia, sexism and other forms of oppression
Knowledge of how to access community resources around trans parenting
Experience working in trans communities
Comfortable with own gender identity to be out as a member of trans communities or as an ally of these communities
Communication skills: written, public speaking, working with media
Applicants who have experience parenting are encouraged to apply

Payment for this contract position is $2500.
Application deadline: Friday, August 4, 2006 by 5 pm.

Please send a cover letter and resume to:
The TransParentcy Working Group
The 519 Church Street Community Centre, 519 Church Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 2C9.
queerparenting@the519.org

No phone calls or faxes please. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

This project is generously supported by the Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal.

The 519 Church Street Community Centre actively encourages applications from all equity seeking groups.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Signing class for LGBTT parents and their babies

I am organizing a signing class for LGBTT parents and their babies in the leslieville/ east end area. So far, there are 6 moms ready to go with babies ranging from age 6 months to 1 year. Some have already participated in some signing and some haven't. This will be a beginner's class. The cost for the class is $90 for 5 weeks - but because the classes will be held at one of our homes we will likely get one participant free, so by sharing that we will all get it a little bit cheaper. The teacher for the course will be Elyza from www.signsandsmiles.ca

If you are interested in joining that would be great. The more the merrier! I think it could be a lot of fun. And ideally it would lead to more ongoing signing get-togethers for queer parents. If you can email me within the next week then we can secure the teacher. I can be reached at lmunro@ryerson.ca. We haven't finalized times yet but the teacher's availability is Mondays or Wednesday afternoons, and we are leaning towards Wednesday afternoons.

Lorraine Munro

Tale Action Academy for Young People 10 -18

Kids from the ages of 10-18 are invited to participate in Leaders Today 7 th Annual Take Action! Academy in Toronto from Aug 6 – 13, 2006 where they will learn skills on social issues and community involvement. Sign up with a friend and you can still get the ‘early bird special’ listed in the flyer. Applications should be received before Friday, July 28 th, 2006. Check out the flyer below!

All are welcome as we work to take action in changing the world!

To find out more about the Academy, visit www.leaderstoday.com/academy, or download the application.
To register, send an application form with a $250 deposit by May 1, 2006 to the Leaders Today and Free The Children office in Toronto. Please make cheques payable to Leaders Today and send completed applications to: 233 Carlton St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 2L2.

The cost of the 2006 Take Action! Academy is $750 and includes:

accommodation for 7 nights
delicious food (vegetarian options)
a full-day outing in Toronto
top-notch leadership training
a Take Action! book
a life-changing, fun-filled week!

Any Questions? Contact Gillian Ream, Leadership Programming Coordinator: academy@leaderstoday.com
(416) 964-8942 x103

TV screenings of “NO DUMB QUESTIONS’

"Maybe he'll do some girl stuff with me like play Barbies"
- Abby, 6 years old, from the film NO DUMB QUESTIONS

Dear Friends,

Hello again. Still haven't seen NO DUMB QUESTIONS? If you missed last month's PBS broadcasts of this Sundance Film Festival award winning film, here comes another chance: MTV's gay channel, Logo, is airing No Dumb Questions starting this weekend!

This candid and touching documentary profiles three children, ages 6, 9, and 11, and their struggle to understand their uncle's transition to becoming their aunt. Please spread the word and help us in our quest to help children and adults broaden their understanding of issues around sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression.

First Logo airing is tomorrow: Sat 7/22 @ 9pm. You can find the complete schedule here (click "see all airtimes"):

http://www.logoonline.com/shows/dyn/no_dumb_questions/series.jhtml
Visit the NO DUMB QUESTIONS web site to watch the opening scene and for information about ordering your own copy (Available on DVD starting Fall, 2006):

http://www.nodumbquestions.com

Best wishes to all,

Melissa Regan

Filmmaker, NO DUMB QUESTIONS
http://www.nodumbquestions.com

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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LGBT Parenting Network July 2006, E-News