The LGBTQ Parenting Network staff will be returning to the office on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.

In the meantime, feel free to drop us an e-mail and we will get back to you.

Keep in mind, online registration for the Winter/Spring 2013 Family Planning courses continues to be available.

(more information)

Registration details for Winter and Spring 2013 offerings of the family planning courses that we offer in partnership with Queer Parenting Programs at The 519 Church Street Community Centre.

(more information)

We’re back from our first Queer Family Camp. About a hundred lesbian, gay, bi, queer and trans parents and their kids spent two days and nights at beautiful Camp Tapawingo, near Parry Sound. (more information)

I'd like to introduce Andy Inkster, the new full-time staff person at the LGBTQ Parenting Network. Andy has a long history of queer and trans community activism and advocacy work, both in Canada and the U.S. He was a founding member and participant in the first Toronto course for transmasculine people considering pregnancy, and now is the single parent of a delightful almost-two-year-old. He comes to us with tons of experience and lots of ideas. As the program's health promoter, Andy will be focussing on communications (including this Blog!) and event organizing.

We are thrilled to have him and he is eager to get to know all the people and organizations who make up the LGBTQ Parenting Network. Please feel free to introduce yourselves to him, electronically (parentingresources@sherbourne.on.ca) or in person, and watch for his blog posts here! And remember you can follow us on Twitter: @lgbtqpn Like us on Facebook: LGBTQ Parenting Network and +1 us on G+ or check out our boards on Pinterest. (more information)

The LGBTQ Parenting Network at the Sherbourne Health Centre shares the community’s sadness at the sudden death of Kyle Scanlon, Research and Education Coordinator at the 519, community activist, mentor and friend to so many.

Kyle had a profound influence on the development of services at Sherbourne, always showing the thoughtfulness and quiet, principled leadership that was his trademark.

In 2002, before the Health Centre had even opened for service, Kyle was a member of our Trans Working Group. Comprised of Sherbourne staff and physicians and members of the trans community, the Group met frequently to develop principles for dignified, responsive services for trans people, to review hormone protocols, and to shape our model of care. It was the first time that trans communities had played a major role in developing their own health services and Kyle was a key player, insisting that trans people’s voices be heard and that desperately needed services were developed quickly.

Over the past ten years Kyle provided training to our Infirmary staff, and was involved in numerous other projects and consultations to strengthen our services and improve the well-being of our LGBTQ communities.

In 2005, Kyle joined a small committee formed by Sherbourne to seek funding for research on trans people’s health in Ontario. Over time, this project grew into the Trans PULSE Project, a large and reliable CIHR-funded study that is now producing journal articles, fact sheets and presentations on a range of trans health-related issues. Kyle was one of the speakers on the Plenary Panel that shared the findings of Trans PULSE Study at the Rainbow Health Ontario Conference in March 2012.

We are very proud to have known Kyle, and to have benefited from his gentle wisdom and clear vision. He was loved and admired by many of us here at Sherbourne Health Centre and he will always be remembered. (more information)

Hello social networkers, parents and prospective parents!

The new LGBTQ Parenting Connection site is socially networked.

We'd love it if you could follow us on Twitter and "Like" the pages and resources you find useful (see buttons over there to the left).

We look forward to talking with you about the events, resources and news you're excited about!

Talk to us online on Facebook and Twitter!

Tell us what you want to see on the site!

Thanks all! (more information)

Yes it is up and running – the new LGBTQ Parenting Connection website! Check it out, explore. New features include this blog which will keep you up-to-date on LGBTQ parenting goings on, you can follow us on Twitter @lgbtqpn, and you can search the site for service providers. (more information)