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LGBT Parenting Network
April 2008, E-News

NEW LGBTQ FERTILITY/INFERTILITY SUPPORT GROUP: THURS. APRIL 3

Looking for support as an LGBTQ person dealing with fertility issues?  The LGBTQ Parenting Network is starting a free, drop-in LGBTQ Fertility/Infertility Support Group.  The group will be led by an experienced fertility counsellor and will offer information, education and support.  Snacks provided.

The first meeting is on:

Thursday, April 3, 2008
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Sherbourne Health Centre
333 Sherbourne St.

For more info:  parentingnetwork@sherbourne.on.ca.  

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GBTQ FATHERS' DAY EVENT PLANNING COMMITTEE: SAT. APRIL 5

It's the 5th anniversary of our family planning course Daddies & Papas 2B, and the 30th anniversary of Gay Fathers of Toronto.   As part of our Father Visibility Project, we are organizing an event to celebrate gay/bi/trans/queer fathers, grandfathers, prospective fathers, our kids. Come join us in making this an event you and your kids would want to attend. Contact Chris Veldhoven, Queer Parenting Programmes Coordinator for more information at queerparenting@the519.org.

Next Meeting: Saturday, April 5th, 12 pm to 2 pm, at The 519.

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DISCUSSION ON LGBTQ STEP-PARENTING: WED. APRIL 9

Have you joined a family where there were kids already present?  Come join us for a discussion on LGBTQ Step-Parenting.  Hear from others who are step-parenting and have an opportunity to share the dilemmas, challenges and joys of being in a step-parent role.  

Wednesday, April 9, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Sherbourne Health Centre
333 Sherbourne St.

Part of LGBTQ Health Matters Week.

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COLAGE 11TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY / OPEN HOUSE: THURS. APRIL 10

COLAGE Toronto (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) is a social/support group for kids with lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans parents, guardians and caregivers.  For 11 years COLAGE Toronto has been meeting twice a month at the 519 Church Street Community Centre.  We’ve been offering a space and place for kids with LGBT parents to meet, socialize and talk confidentially about all things important to kids with queer parents.  Join us for our celebration and meet COLAGE families past, present, and future and find out more about us.  COLAGE welcomes children Grade 3 and up and their families to come out and enjoy some good company, music, light refreshments and resources.  

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Sherbourne Health Centre who will host our event on:

Thursday April 10, 2008
5:30 to 8 pm
Sherbourne Health Centre, 2nd floor
333 Sherbourne St.

For more information, please contact Steven Solomon, School Social Worker, TDSB tel: 416-985-3749, email: steven.solomon@tdsb.on.ca
 
Part of LGBTQ Health Matters Week

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LGBTQ HEALTH MATTERS WEEK: APRIL 7 - 13, 2008

April 7 - 13, 2008 is LGBTQ Health Matters Week. Join us for a week of celebrating the health and wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, 2-spirited, genderqueer, intersex, queer and questioning communities in Toronto. To find out more, please visit www.lgbtqhealthmatters.com.

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FAMILY RESOURCE PROGRAMMES at THE 519: DADDY, PAPA & ME / MUM'S THE WORLD!

Daddy, Papa & Me
Saturday, April 12th: Come to our monthly queer-positive gathering for fathers & their children (age 0 to 6).  Meet other families from far and wide and find: support, snacks, activities, music, toys, discussions & queer parenting resources.  The 2nd Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at The 519's Family Resource Centre.

Mum's the World!  This month is our bi-annual mixer where Mum's The World! hosts Daddy, Papa & Me!
Saturday, April 26th:  Come to our monthly gathering for Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Mothers/Parents and their children (age 0 to 6).  Meet other families from far and wide and find: support, snacks, activities, music, toys, discussions & queer parenting resources.  The last Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at The 519's Family Resource Centre.

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GATHERINGS FOR LGBTQ SINGLE MOMS: NEXT GATHERING - SAT. APRIL 12

Come meet, talk and snack with other LGBTQ single moms.  Open event, free qualified childcare provided.  Please join us!  
We meet at the YMCA Family Development Centre, 15 Breadalbane (one block south of Wellesley, just west of Yonge), third floor.  

Upcoming dates:

Saturday April 12, 10 am - 1 pm
Saturday May 10, 10 am - 1 pm
Sunday June 8, 4 pm - 7 pm

For more info:  carlyle@goodforher.com

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TORONTO LIFE JOURNALIST SEEKS LGBTQ PARENTS

Hello,
My name is Denise Balkissoon and I am a freelance journalist working on a piece about GLBT co-parenting for Toronto Life magazine. What I would like to do is put together a piece that integrates recent social and legal changes (same-sex marriage, three parent birth certificates) with stories about how modern queer families live their lives. I am interested in talking to people who have organized a family structure that is different than the two-parent nuclear norm: that could include same-sex couples who want the other biological parent to play a part in their child's life, lesbians and gay men who have chosen to co-parent together, people who have step-parented their partner's children from previous relationships, and so on. I would be interested to contrast a family who has been doing this for a decade or more with a family that has toddlers or newborns, to examine whether legal changes seem to affect attitudes towards parenting over time. I would also be interested to speak with people who have put together these types of co-parenting arrangements after the initial romantic or spousal relationships have ended--i.e. breakups, whether legal divorce or otherwise.

Please contact me directly if you are interested--I am happy to discuss privacy, answer any questions, and let you read my past work. Thank you very much for your interest.

Denise Balkissoon
balkissoon@gmail.com
416-878-0961

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STUDENTS EDUCATE TEACHERS: FEDERATION DAY 2008

February 15th, Federation Day, was a day off for most students - an opportunity to sleep in. Still, four TDSB secondary students volunteered to go into school that day and provide knowledge and insight to teachers attending an equity and social justice workshop. The dynamic student panel encouraged participants to think critically about homophobia and heterosexism and about the issues these students face as children of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer (LGBTQ) parents. Sharing personal stories, the students aimed to educate teachers on creating safe and respectful school communities. Teachers were challenged to ensure that their classrooms use the many lessons,  resources and materials that reflect diversity in family types. The student panel implored teachers to model respect and intervene when they become aware of homophobic language and actions.

The TDSB has one of the most  comprehensive equity policies, some extensive related support documents and yet children from LGBTQ families continue to struggle to have their families acknowledged on forms, in lesson content and in conversations. The student panel did a great job of creating awareness and providing leadership on the importance of recognizing diverse forms of families. Aisha Has Two What??!! Creating Safe and Caring Learning Environments for Students from LGBTQ Families was a joint effort of ETT, the LGBTQ Parenting Network at the Sherbourne Health Centre and the Queer Parenting Programmes at 519 Church St. Community Centre. Ongoing efforts such as these are a beginning in addressing the fears many students and families feel about possible rejection or discrimination. Opportunities such as these create safe places for staff who are worried about inadvertently saying or doing something offensive when addressing LGBTQ issues. The student panel was an inspiration to us all to ask honest questions, listen to our students and welcome all families into our schools. Nicci Cohnstaedt (SW) (Excerpt from TDSB Equity Bulletin, March, 2008)

 

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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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