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LGBT Parenting Network
June 2006, E-News

This month:

Special Issue of Pride & Joy: Send Birth/Adoption Announcements: Monday, June 12
Mommie Queerest: Thursday, June 15
LGBTTQ Pride in Parkdale: Friday, June 16
Fearless Family Pride Weekend: Sat / Sun, June 24 / 25
LGBTTT Adoptive Parents and Parents-To-Be: Research Project
Queer Parenting Info Brochure Series - Reprinted
Struggle Over Books Continues in Surrey, B.C.

Celebrating our Families with Pride!

SPECIAL ISSUE OF PRIDE & JOY: SEND BIRTH/ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are planning a special Pride issue of the hard copy newsletter Pride & Joy, focusing particularly on birth/adoption announcements. If you have had a child join your family since fall, 2004 (when the last Pride & Joy came out), and you would like to be included in this special issue, please send a photo and wording for an announcement to parentingnetwork@fsatoronto.com. Deadline: June 12, 2006.

MOMMIE QUEREST*

Thursday, June 15, 7 p.m., Palmerston Library Theatre
560 Palmerston Avenue, West of Bathurst Subway Station

A unique, entertaining and informative evening covering varied aspects of lesbian/bi/queer parenting. Performers include Christina Starr, Clare Nobbs, Julia Gonsalves, Lois Fine, Susan G. Cole, Susan McLachlin. The show includes Q & A with Rachel Epstein, Coordinator, LGBT Parenting Network, followed by a reception.

Presented by: WRIB (Women for Recreation, Information, and Business) and the
LGBT Parenting Network – FSA Toronto. Free event.

LGBTTQ PRIDE IN PARKDALE!!!!

Come on out to the 7^th annual (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, 2-Spirited, Queer) LGBTTQ PRIDE celebration in Parkdale. It will be held on Friday, June 16 th, from 4-8 pm at the Health Centre, 1229 Queen St. West. The focus will be on queer families and on LGBTQ seniors.

Rachel Epstein from the LGBT Parenting Network, Family Service Association of Toronto will speak about her research with children of LGBT parents. The film All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise will be screened.

Carol Baker from the Sherbourne Health Centre will introduce Pink Sunset Villa, a film that focuses on LGBT seniors.

Refreshments will be provided. There will be a clown performance for children (ages 3 and up). Childcare will be provided from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Please call to reserve childcare by June 13 th.

This event is a partnership between Parkdale Community Health Centre, West Toronto Support Services and St. Joseph's Women's Health Centre.

This year we welcome once again The Parkdale Rehab Film and Video Festival to the Health Centre on Saturday, June 17. From 12 noon to 2 pm a number of films by Parkdalian filmmakers, including Classroom Queers will be screened.

These are both free events. See you there!! For more information and/or to reserve child care, please contact: Kathleen or Connie at 416 537-2455.
PRIDE Committee 2006

FEARLESS FAMILY PRIDE WEEKEND*

Saturday/Sunday, June 24-25
Saturday Parenting Network Picnic starts at 11 a.m.; Sunday Family Brunch starts at 11 a.m.

More than a Saturday Picnic! Family Pride 2006 fearlessly returns with fourteen hours of fun-packed activities spread over the weekend! The rich and exciting line-up includes the annual Saturday Parenting Network picnic, the new Sunday Parenting Programmes Family Brunch, musical performances, train rides, professional face painting, story time, water play, and more...

See schedule and more details at www.pridetoronto.com

LGBTTT ADOPTIVE PARENTS / PARENTS-TO-BE

We are looking for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, and queer individuals and couples who are either in the process of adopting or have recently adopted a child through public, private, or international adoption.

The goal of the research study is to learn about the experiences of LGBTTT adoptive parents and parents-to-be across Ontario. Participation will include completing short questionnaires and taking part in a 1.5-hour interview. The interviewer will come to you anywhere in Ontario, or you can participate at our office in downtown Toronto. Compensation will be provided.

We encourage individuals and couples from diverse communities, including: people of colour, transgender, transsexual and two-spirit individuals, and individuals and couples from remote or rural communities to respond.

For more information please contact us at 1-866-371-6667 or (416)-260-4138 or e-mail: moms_project@camh.net

This project has been sponsored by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

QUEER PARENTING INFO BROCHURE SERIES – REPRINTED

The LGBT Parenting Network (FSA Toronto) and the Sherbourne Health Centre have reprinted the Queer Parenting Info Brochure Series. Brochures available are:

LGB Parenting for Family and Friends
Transsexual/Transgender (ts/tg) Parenting: Basic Information for our Friends and Families
Co-Parenting
Parenting Options for Gay Men
Choosing a Sperm Donor: Known or Unknown
Insemination Procedures

We did not reprint "Information for New Lesbian Parents in Ontario" as we are awaiting the decision on a Charter Challenge which could significantly change the information in this brochure.

Brochures can be viewed at: http://www.fsatoronto.com/programs/dks/res_LGBTbrochures.html

Brochures can be ordered by contacting James Robb at 416 595 0307, ext. 268 or jamesro@fsatoronto.com

If you would like the brochures to be mailed to you, we are asking that you cover postage costs.

STRUGGLE OVER BOOKS CONTINUES IN SURREY, B.C. SCHOOL BOARD

Surrey Leader Newspaper

By Paula Carlson, Staff Reporter, May 12 2006

One out of four storybooks featuring gay couples and a divorced family has been approved by a Surrey school district committee – but the book is out of print.

123: A Family Counting Book was among four titles being considered by the District Standing Advisory Committee for Learning Resources, established to evaluate teaching materials not approved by the province. The books were submitted for use as learning material in Kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms.

The illustrated 123: A Family Counting Book – submitted by Dr. F.D. Sinclair Elementary School teacher James Chamberlain – depicts families headed by gay men and lesbians. One scene shows two dads reading a bedtime story to their kids; another has two moms sharing popsicles with their children. However, the book is currently not available for purchase.

The committee voted Tuesday not to approve Saturday is Patty Day (about two lesbian women getting a divorce) or Jennifer Has Two Daddies (about a heterosexual divorce and a stepfather) as classroom resources, and came to a tie vote on Mom and Mum Are Getting Married! (about a lesbian couple's wedding).

Earlier this year, the committee also rejected Chamberlain's submission of King & King, a primary book with a prince and a prince getting married and living happily ever after. King & King was rejected as being too sophisticated for young children. Chamberlain was told he could re-submit the book for older students.

This week's decision came as a disappointment to Surrey Teachers' Association president John Wadge.
"Clearly the Surrey school district hasn't learned its lesson," said Wadge, adding the advisory committee process is flawed.

Eight of the 15 committee members are parents, with trustees, administrators and teachers – including Chamberlain – making up the rest. (One member was absent for the vote, creating a split decision on the one book). Citing vocal Sikh, Muslim and Christian members, Wadge said the panel went against what the Supreme Court of Canada ruled three years ago.

Overturning the Surrey School Board's decision to ban three same-sex books (Asha's Mums, Belinda's Bouquet, and One Dad Two Dads, Brown Dad Blue Dads) from primary classrooms, the court ordered trustees to reconsider using the books – leaving religious beliefs out of the picture. Wadge said the committee has ignored that message.
"They believe their religion factors in. 'Homosexuality is perverse,' we're hearing the same old stuff," Wadge said.

But Trustee Heather Stilwell, who is a member of the committee, calls that "a blatantly false charge." She said members used several criteria for assessing the books, including whether the topic was presented clearly and sensitively, and if it promoted inclusion and tolerance. "Everyone acted very professionally," Stilwell said, adding books were rejected because they were confusing or simply not very good.

Surrey school district spokesperson Doug Strachan said it is unclear how the tie vote on Mom and Mum Are Getting Married! will be decided. He also said the concept of the committee will be re-visited, as members found it challenging to schedule meeting times for so many participants.

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 June 2006, E-News