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LGBT Parenting Network
March 2006, E-News
This month:
- LGBT Parenting Network Contact Info
- Queer Parenting Exchange: March 22 – LGBT Step-Parenting
- Charter Challenge to Eliminate Lesbian Second Parent Adoption: March 27/28
- Aware Parenting Instruction Workshops – April 2 or May 7
- New Zealand to Lift Gay Sperm Ban
LGBT PARENTING NETWORK CONTACT INFO
By now you should have received an email inviting you to celebrate the continuation of the LGBT Parenting Network at a party on Monday, April 3, 2006 , 5 – 7 pm at the 519 Community Centre. Hope to see you there!
The email address for the LGBT Parenting Network is now: parentingnetwork@fsatoronto.com. Please use this address to contact the Parenting Network. This address will go directly to Rachel Epstein, coordinator of the program. Phone number is: 416 595 0307, ext. 301.
QUEER PARENTING EXCHANGE: WED MARCH 22 – LGBT STEP-PARENTING
- 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:
March 22: LGBT
Step-Parenting
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
CHARTER CHALLENGE TO ELIMINATE LESBIAN SECOND PARENT ADOPTION
The hearing for the case that could eliminate the need for lesbian second parent adoption, and allow both parents to be registered as legal parents from birth, is scheduled to take place on March 27 and 28 at 9:30 a.m. on the 9th floor of 393 University Ave. This is the same building that the firm (Epstein Cole) that is handling the case is located in. For directions and parking information you can go to their web site at www.epsteincole.com. The lawyers who are handling the case feel it would be good to have people in the court room (particularly women with children and babies). If you plan to attend please email or call Krystal Mackay (kmackay@epsteincole.com; 416 862 8180) and let her know. If enough people are planning to come they may have to move it to a bigger room.
AWARE PARENTING INSTRUCTION WORKSHOPS BY GWEN DUNLOP
For people of diverse family structures & adults and other professionals who parent and/or work with children of all ages.
Aware Parenting: General Overview
Sunday, April 2, 2006 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
St. Alban’s
Boys’ & Girls Club - Library
843 Palmerston Avenue , Toronto
(West of Bathurst & South of
Dupont)
Aware Parenting: General Overview
Sunday, May 7, 2006 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Presented by Toronto
Women’s Bookstore
73 Harbord St. , Toronto
Cost and information: 416 922 8744 or events@womensbookstore.com
Cost:
per person $50, per couple $75
Pre-registration and information: Gwen Dunlop : phone : 416-5315267 ; e-mail : gwen_dunlop@yahoo.ca
Website : www.gwendunlop.com
Basic principles (attachment style parenting, respect for children’s & babies’ emotional life and non-punitive discipline).
Application of such principles (learning how to recognize, minimize & heal from the effects of stress and trauma in babies & young children)..
Projected outcomes (babies & children who are healthy psychologically and therefore healthier physically through a child/parent-care-giver relationship based on deep understanding & respect). There will be ample time for questions during the workshop.
Private Consultations are also available.
NEW ZEALAND TO LIFT GAY SPERM BAN
08-March-2006 . http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-726.html
A ban on gay sperm donors may soon be lifted in New Zealand according to health authorities in the country. The controversial issue has been widely covered in the media due to a shortage of sperm donors in New Zealand and Australia . However, when a gay man in Wellington offered to help, he was turned away.
Dr Richard Fisher, of Fertility Associates, said: "We're working through a process that ensures every donor who comes here will have the same testing, and providing they are not HIV+ at the end of six months quarantine, they'll be tested, we'll collect the sperm, it'll wait six months in quarantine, we'll test the donor again, and providing the person's not HIV+ they'll go into the bank."
The medical director was unsure at what affect lifting the ban will have on the sperm donor shortage. "I don't know how much our previous restriction made a difference. We're keen to get donors who want to be donors. We've had a number of gay men approach us after the very recent publicity about excluding gay men, but previously we didn't notice any significant increase in people approaching us."
Fertility Associates operate under safety guidelines set out by an Australian committee, the Reproductive Technologies Accreditation Authority. "We had been acting under the verbal advice of the previous chairman that we shouldn't use gay men, because he was associated with a clinic that some years ago had some pregnancies affected with HIV," said Dr Fisher. "Our verbal advice has been that one of the risk limitations was that we should exclude groups who were perceived as being high risk, and amongst those were gay men."
"The donor is giving a gift, and may be as discriminatory as he wishes. There is nothing in the Human Rights Act that says if you donate, it can go to anybody," Dr Fisher added.
A spokesperson from the National Gamete Donation Trust in the UK told PinkNews.co.uk that there are no legal reasons against gay sperm donors in the UK . "They are seen as a high risk group so some clinics may interpret this differently. Every sperm donor must go through the same screening process."
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.
