Programs & Services > LGBT Parenting > Research Projects
LGBT Parenting Network
Research and Special Projects
Celebrating Our Families: Black
African/Caribbean LGBITQ people raising children/youth
LGBTTTQ adoptive parents and parents-to-be
The Father Visibility Project
Celebrating Our Families: Black African/Caribbean LGBITQ people raising children/youth
Are YOU a same-sex loving person of Black African/Caribbean heritage and a parent or raising children/youth?
Participate in a project exploring the experiences of Black African/Caribbean
LGBITQ* people raising children/youth.
*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Intersexed, Trans or Queer (LGBITQ)
- What are the joys and challenges you experience as an African or Caribbean LGBITQ person raising children/youth?
- What are your opinions?
- What specific needs do/did you have?
- What social programs do/did you need access to?
- What attitudes needs to change toward LGBITQ people of African heritage both inside and outside our communities?
Confidentiality and Privacy assured.
If you think you might be interested in participating in this project, please call 416 827 4997 or email celebratingourfamilies@gmail.com.
Supported by the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto.
LGBTTTQ adoptive parents and 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.
We want to learn about your experiences of the adoption process across Ontario. If you are eligible to participate we will invite you to:
- Complete a short questionnaire
- Take part in a 1.5 hour interview. The interviewer will come to you anywhere in Ontario, or you can visit our office in downtown Toronto. Compensation will be provided.
We encourage responses from people of colour, transgender, transsexual and Two-Spirit people, people living in rural and remote areas, and people living with disabilities.
For more information please contact us at
1-866-371-6667 or 416-260-4138
adoption_research@camh.net
The Father Visibility Project
Calling all Canadian Gay/Bi/Queer/Trans
Dads, Granddads or Dads-to-be:
People need your stories!
The Father Visibility Working Group, an ad hoc group of gay/bi/queer/trans men established in May 2007, has come together to create a web-based Father Visibility Project designed to increase visibility and a sense of entitlement to parent amongst gay/bi/queer/trans (GBQT) fathers and prospective fathers. The group and project spring from the research done by the Gay Father’s Research Cluster of FIRA (Father Involvement Research Alliance – www.fira.ca). Participants in the research from around Canada noted the extreme invisibility of GBQT fathers and support services, as well as a deeply felt lack of entitlement to father.
We believe that you as a gay/bi/queer/trans (GBQT) father, grandfather, or prospective father:
- Have unique experiences, insights and wisdom to share that will be valued by others who are, are contemplating, or in process of becoming fathers
- Can decrease a sense of isolation and reinforce insights, pride and possibilities for yourself and for other fathers and potential fathers and their families.
To this end, the Father Visibility Project is collecting 10 stories and photos from fathers, grandfathers and fathers-to-be that reflect the ethno-cultural and geographic diversity of Canadian gay/bi/queer/trans fathers, and explore the many ways we become fathers. The most convincing and reaffirming stories are those from men "who've been there," or are “going through the process.” Whether you became a father before coming out, after coming out, are on your way or thinking about it, consider sharing your insights with those who could benefit from your journey. All selected submissions will be used in whole or in part, subject to editing. No one's writing will be changed or used without their permission.
If you are willing to write a brief story (300 -1000 words) about your
experiences, challenges, discoveries, and joys of being or - thinking
about being - a gay/bi/queer/trans father, please send your
story and photo submission, including your name and contact information
to:
Chris Veldhoven, queerparenting@the519.org,
416 392-6878 x109.
Submission Deadline: September 30th, 2007.
If you are looking for ideas on how to focus your story, please check out: www.the519.org/programs/Queer_Parenting/father_visibility.shtml.
This web project is supported by the LGBTQ Parenting Network – Sherbourne Health Centre (www.fsatoronto.com) and Queer Parenting Programmes at The 519 (www.the519.org).
All of your stories are important. Even if not selected, we thank you for your generosity in sharing.
Writing Ideas
If you are looking for ideas on how to focus your story, here are a few to consider.
We are looking for stories that cover a range of experiences from differing viewpoints. Dads, granddads and prospective dads come from many different backgrounds, circumstances, identities, and experiences. Consider sharing your insights, challenges and joys based on any of these. Readers may be isolated and thankful to connect with a story about someone like them.
For this project, we are gay, bisexual, queer, transsexual, and/or transgendered (GBQT).
We come from different ethno/cultural backgrounds, spiritualities, economic or employment backgrounds, ages, regions of Canada, or are a newcomer to Canada…
We become parents and grandparents in different ways, through opposite-sex partnerships/marriages, step-parenting relationships, adoption, foster parenting, co-parenting, and surrogacy…
We have different family configurations, whether we are still with the person with whom we had our children, are separated or divorced, are on good terms with our ex’s or not, are lone/single parents, are parenting with a romantic partner or partners, or are creating families and sharing parenting with non-romantic partners…
We also have children and grandchildren with a variety of abilities, talents, challenges and needs.
Different readers of our stories may be looking for answers to specific questions that are relevant to their particular journey. See if there are any questions below that inspire you.
How would you answer the questions below for readers who are GBQT fathers contemplating coming out to their partners and family?
- What motivated you to become a parent?
- What motivated you to come out?
- How did you deal with your fear of losing your family, friends, children, job, or community?
- How did you take care of your own stress and/or ambivalence?
- How did coming out affect your feelings about yourself?
- How did you come out to important people in your life (e.g. children, partner…) and how did it work out?
- What resources helped you in your personal journey of contemplating coming out?
- From your experience, what recommendations for contemplating coming out do you have? What would you have done differently (if anything)?
How would you answer the questions below for readers who are GBQT fathers who have come out to their partners and family?
- What motivated you to become a parent?
- What motivated you to come out?
- How did you choose when to come out?
- If you are still co-habiting with the other parent of your child/children, what is your arrangement and how did you come to it?
- How “out” were you to others at this time? In what order did you come out to people? To what degree did you come out?
- Did you affirm your sexual desires or gender identity along with your identity as a father? If so, how?
- Describe the lasting impact of your coming out on your relationship with your children. Which people supported your parenting relationship? Who did not support your parenting relationship? What did you learn from this?
- How did the legal system treat you?
- How did childcare and school staff treat you?
- What resources helped you?
- What would have been helpful?
- What recommendations do you have?
How would you answer the questions below for readers who are who are out as GBQT and contemplating becoming parents?
- What are key questions you asked yourself when considering becoming a parent?
- What motivated you to become a parent?
- How has being GBQT had an impact on your consideration of becoming a parent?
- What options for creating your family are you considering and why?
- What steps are you taking on this journey?
- What resources are helping you in making decisions about becoming a parent?
- What has not been helpful or is missing?
- What recommendations do you have?
How would you answer the questions below for readers who are GBQT fathers who became parents after coming out?
- Describe how you created your family / became a parent (e.g. became a partner with someone who had children, pursued a form of adoption/fostering/co-parenting/surrogacy).
- What motivated you to become a parent?
- How did that process go for you?
- How were/are you treated by various people (e.g. your family, health care providers, fertility clinics, childcare services, school staff, etc.)?
- What has becoming and being a parent who is GBQT meant to you? What has been the impact on your primary relationships? What has been the impact on your relationships with children?
- What resources have helped or are helping you in your journey?
- What has not been helpful or is missing?
- What recommendations do you have?
How would you answer the questions below for readers who are children of GBQT men?
- Based on your experience, what do you feel kids of GBQT fathers need to know?
- From your experience, what helped your kids feel loved, supported, and not isolated?
- What helped your kids to sort out what they were experiencing?
- What resources would you recommend for kids?
How would you answer the questions below for readers who are family members, friends, neighbours, or co-workers?
- Have family members, friends, neighbours and co-workers supported you and your kids? Describe your experience.
- Based on your fears, concerns and experiences, what do you want family members, friends, neighbours and co-workers to know to support you and your kids?
- What resources do you recommend for family members, friends, neighbours and co-workers to build their understanding of your family, life, and choices?
How would you answer the questions below for readers who work in related services, agencies, professions, (e.g. healthcare providers, fertility service providers, adoption agencies/workers, school/daycare staff, lawyers, politicians, judges, clergy, etc.)?
- Describe how key people in these positions have made an impact on your family or family creation journey?
- What do any of these providers need to know to respect, support and celebrate you and your kids?
- What resources would help these providers become better educated?
How would you answer the questions below for fathers who
are not GBQT and people advocating for fathers’ issues?
- What common ground and differences do you see between GBQT fathers and prospective fathers, and non-GBQT fathers?
- What do gay/bi/queer/trans dads have to offer other fathers?
- What do gay/bi/queer/trans dads have to offer groups and services advocating for fathers’ issues?
- What do non-GBQT fathers and fathering advocates have to offer dads and prospective dads who are gay, bisexual, queer, and/or trans?
- What else do fathers who are not GBTQ and fathering advocates need to know to be supportive of GBQT fathers and prospective fathers?
Be as creative as you like when writing about your experiences. And thank you for taking the time to contribute to making our realities visible!
