Family Building Project a “Best Practice”
The Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project was cited as a “best practice” in the recent publication, Family Life Education with Diverse Populations, Sharon M. Ballard and Alan C. Taylor, editors, SAGE Publications (2012). Lis Maurer, Program Director for Ithaca College’s Center for LGBT Education, Outreach and Services, authored the chapter on “Family Life Education with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Families,” and identified our Project as one of nine programs around the country that offers “best practices and successful programming for LGBT families.” Thank you, Lis, for taking notice, and for your contribution of this important chapter to the family life education literature!
http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book235331
Join Us at Our Upcoming Events
Wednesday Webinars on LGBTQ Family Topics Continue:
Please join Pride and Joy Families for the second of two webinars on LGBTQ family topics, which will take place on March 7, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. This live online program will describe how to talk with children about their origins and their inclusion in LGBTQ families as they mature through various stages of childhood. Arlene (Ari) Istar Lev, Albany-based family therapist, educator, writer, and long-time Pride and Joy mom, is the presenter for our webinar series. The program is free but registration is required. Register now at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/525099678.
In case you missed it, you can still catch webinar no. 1 in the series...
Webinar: Gender in LGBTQ Families
Recorded January 18, 2012
In this 1 ½ hour webinar, Arlene (Ari) Istar Lev, Albany-area family therapist, educator and writer, discusses gender in LGBTQ families, including roles within same-sex couples, gender identity, trans parenting, and raising gender-variant children. Ari also address questions such as, ‘How do we assist our children in developing healthy gender identities, whether they are “normative” or variant?’ and ‘How do we, as parents, manage our own angst about our children’s developing sex and gender identities?’” The webinar was recorded in January 2012 with 41 attendees. The Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project is the sponsor.
Listen to/view the webinar now.
Pride and Joy Families Valentine’s Dance held on February 12th in Binghamton
Fifty-eight adults and children, representing 16 families, chatted, danced, played, did karaoke, at heart-shaped cookies, made crafts, and generally had fun at the first-ever Pride and Joy Valentine Dance at Merlin’s Dance Bar in Binghamton. The event drew some long-time Pride and Joy families, as well as a good number of new folks. Welcome, new families! And thank you, Lauren Hering, for hosting us and for spinning great tunes (with Caleb!). Thanks also to Anne McCarthy, for donating your professional photography services and taking beautiful pictures of our families at the dance! Here's a sampling:
Click here to view the slideshow
Pride and Joy LGBTQ Families Gathered in Syracuse
Old friends and new spent two happy hours playing games, talking, and enjoying cookies and cocoa on Saturday, February 4th at the Q Center, in Syracuse. Tyler, Q Center Volunteer, welcomed us warmly and spent time during the gathering with the children ages 8 and up. Younger kids and their parents met in a separate room for their own games, crafts, and conversations. In all, 49 adults and children from 15 families attended. We extend our sincere thanks to the Q Center for sharing their beautiful space with us once again, and to Tyler for spending his afternoon with us! We plan to hold another gathering at the Q Center at the end of March for LGBTQ families with kids of all ages. Click here to view the slideshow.
Foster Care/Adoption Information Sessions for LGBTQ People Continue around New York State:
-Come learn more about the foster care and adoption process in an LGBTQ-affirming setting
-Network with other LGBTQ prospective parents
-Several local agencies will be represented and you will hear from parents who have gone through the process
-You will be encouraged to pick up free information, ask questions, and enjoy complimentary refreshments
NEW Dates and Cities!
Albany, Wednesday, March 28th
Ithaca, Thursday, April 12th
Binghamton, Wednesday, May 16th
For additional information and to register, please contact Claudia Stallman at cstallman@prideandjoyfamilies.org or 607.724.4308.
Click on Past Events to read the article and see photos from the Foster Care/Adoption Session held in Syracuse in November 2011.
Congratulations, New York!
The Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project knows that relationship security matters to LGBTQ*-headed families, and we celebrate the fact that we New York State residents now have the opportunity to participate equally in the institution of marriage. We honor and offer our thanks to the hard-working advocates for our civil rights, the courageous decision-makers, family members, friends, and other outspoken allies who helped achieve this exhilarating moment in our history.
*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer
www.lgbthealthinitiative.com
LGBT families are created in many unique ways. Our identified families share history, traditions and values, and common medical back grounds. This website was created to help LGBT families to understand how health, family history, health beliefs, healthy living and genetic background are an important part of future health.