METRO DC LGBT PARENTING CONFERENCE SET FOR APRIL 30

[Ian David]

METRO DC LGBT PARENTING CONFERENCE SET FOR APRIL 30
On Sat., April 30, the Family Pride Coalition, COLAGE, Whitman-Walker Clinic and Rainbow Families/DC will sponsor our first Metro DC LGBT Parenting Conference. There will be over a dozen workshops for parents; on-site child care and activities for children eight years and under, and workshop tracks for children ages nine and older provided by COLAGE. We need volunteers to help with a variety of tasks, ranging from morning set-up and registration to child care. If you would like to help out, contact Ellen Kahn at [phone] or [e-mail]. Volunteers can be eligible to have their registration fees reduced or waived.

Rainbow Families/DC will soon have a new home at Whitman-Walker Clinic. In order to help expand the reach, membership and range of programs provided by Rainbow Families/DC, we plan to establish a steering committee to help create mission/purpose statement for RFDC, develop by-laws/operating procedures for RFDC, engage in strategic planning to determine priorities for next three years and more. If you can commit some time to help shape the future of our local parenting group, contact Kahn at the number listed above.

RECENTLY-BANNED “POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER” EPISODE NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH THE FAMILY PRIDE COALITION
Don’t Forget to Take Action on Thurs., March 10th as Part of Family Pride’s ‘Virtual Rally on Washington’

The Family Pride Coalition -- the only national non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families -- has announced it will broadcast online the “controversial” episode of PBS’ popular children’s program “Postcards from Buster.”

The program features Buster, an animated character who visits real-life families, exploring the diversity of America. But in the episode entitled “Sugartime!,” a storm of controversy ignited after U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings denounced the program because it featured children whose parents are lesbians. The Family Pride Coalition will make “Sugartime!” available to all families for one week from March 7-13 at http://buster.familypride.org. The Family Pride Coalition also hopes to raise awareness of the subject matter surrounding the program, while also generating support from the public in defending the dignity and integrity of all families.

In conjunction with the online broadcast, Family Pride will launch a “Virtual Rally” on Thurs., March 10 to defend family diversity around the country. Those interested in participating are asked to contact the Department of Education by phone, e-mail or fax, voicing their disapproval of Secretary Spellings’ actions against “Postcards from Buster” and demand she recant her incendiary remarks against LGBT-headed families. To participate in the rally, users can get more information by logging onto http://buster.familypride.org.

The controversy began late January when Spellings issued a strongly-worded letter denouncing PBS and the producers of “Postcards from Buster” for featuring a family with two moms, declaring, “Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in the episode.”

FAMILY PRIDE HOSTS ONLINE FORUM FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
In conversations with our families, both online and at Family Pride Coalition events, the issue of meeting the challenges of our children with special needs emerges regularly. To address this specific need within our national parenting community, the Family Pride Coalition has launched a Special Needs Online Community to further support and enhance dialogue around these issues. Many parents have already joined and found support and additional resources through this unique list-serv. If you, or anyone you know, would like to join this list, please click on the link below and register for this online community. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FamilyPride_Special_Needs_Chat
The Family Pride Coalition is the only national non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families.

By becoming a member of the Family Pride Coalition you have the opportunity to dramatically affect the lives of LGBT parents and their families. Please join the Family Pride Coalition today by filling out our online membership form by clicking http://www.familypride.org/joinus.htm.