GREETINGS FROM THE FAMILY PRIDE COALITION!

[Ian David]

GREETINGS FROM THE FAMILY PRIDE COALITION!

REGISTER NOW FOR THE FAMILY PRIDE COALITION’S TENTH ANNUAL FAMILY WEEK IN PROVINCETOWN!
The Family Pride Coalition is happy and proud to invite you and yours to the tenth annual Family Week in Provincetown July 30-Aug. 5!

Family Week provides an idyllic opportunity for our children to meet other children with LGBT parents, and for parents to meet other parents and share experiences. Because every family has different needs, several activities are planned for each day – your family’s schedule can be as full of activities or as relaxed as you choose.

The Family Pride Coalition has invited COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) back for another year of exciting programming for youth nine years and older. Together, we provide a large array of family activities appropriate and fun for every age. Registration for Family Week in Provincetown is available at http://www.familypride.org/events/familyweek2005.php




JOIN OTHER LGBT-HEADED FAMILIES FOR LOBBY DAY IN MINNESOTA
On Thurs., April 7, LGBT parents and their families are invited to participate in OutFront Minnesota’s justFair Lobby Day at the State Capitol. Minnesota legislators are facing immense pressure from those who wish to write discrimination into their state constitution. It is critical that our families are seen and heard by state legislators.

To register for the justFair Lobby Day, go to www.outfront.org. Those who register will be notified via e-mail of their appointments with their legislators. A Rally for Fairness will take place at 1pm on the front lawn of the Capitol.

Prior to Lobby Day, Rainbow Families of Minnesota will be meeting on the East side of the Capitol lawn at noon. Talking points will be provided. For more information about joining Rainbow Families for Lobby Day, contact Bridgette at [phone] or [e-mail].


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.


JOIN US FOR FAMILY PRIDE’S FOURTH ANNUAL FAMILY CAMP IN NEW JERSEY
The Family Pride Coalition is proud to host its fourth annual Family Camp on Memorial Day Weekend, May 27–29 in Newton, New Jersey (just 70 miles from New York City and 90 miles from Philadelphia).

This gathering of LGBT parents and their children will take place at the Fairview Lake YMCA Camp and Conference Center, 1035 Fairview Lake Road in Newton, NJ. The phone at the campground is [phone].

The weekend-long event will include many activities appropriate for all ages, including tie-dying, candle-making, bug hunting, archery, hiking, boating, swimming and more. Also featured in the weekend’s events are a camp fire, an ice cream social and a family dance.

Families will dine together in the community dining room reserved specially for our families. Families will also be sharing rustic or modern cabins. These cabins go fast, so please register your family as soon as possible. To register or for more information on cabin rates, please visit: http://familypride.org/events/familycamp2005.php


FAMILY PRIDE COALITION IN THE NEWS
“New Family Snapshot”
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/11301655.htm

“The Kids Are Alright: Growing Up with Gay Parents”
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/webzine/sexualityhealth/feas-050314-gay-parents.xml

“Chrisler, Jacques reshape roles to accommodate career changes: Jennifer Chrisler was the primary care giver for the pair’s twin sons, but she gave up that role to become the Family Pride Coalition’s new leader”
http://www.dallasvoice.com/articles/dispArticle.cfm?Article_ID=5846

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.