Greetings LGBTQ Parenting Network e-news subscribers! We hope you are surviving winter and we look forward to queering and celebrating Family Day with you on Monday, February 20.  

News on our end: the dynamic and creative Mariko Tamaki has left her job as program assistant to the Network in order to write full-time. We wish her all the best, and will let you know asap who will be filling in. In the meantime you can direct enquiries about events and support groups to: parentingresources@sherbourne.on.ca. 
 
And, if you’re looking for something to do on February 14, those of you who are GLEE fans will be intrigued to know that Rachel’s gay dads are finally making an appearance. Details below.
 
Stay warm! 
  
1.         LOVE=FAMILY at the 519: Sat. Feb 11
2.         Dykes Planning Tykes Drop-In: Wed. Feb 15
3.         Family Day 2012: Queering Our Bookshelves: Mon. Feb 20
4.         Message to LGBTQ Parents from EGALE / MyGSA.ca
5.         Call for Proposals: National Workshop on Gender Creative Kids
6.         GLEE: Rachel’s Dads Have Arrived on Set
 
 
 
1. Queer Parenting Programs at The 519 Presents:
LOVE=FAMILY
In partnership with The Ten Oaks Project!
 
Calling:
·         All LGBTQ parents, their children and extended families
·         All families with gender independent children and queer or trans
identified youth
·         All Ten Oaks families and friends
 
Join us at The 519 for our annual Valentine’s/Family Day mixer as we bring Ten Oaks to Downtown Toronto.
 
Gather around the campfire in our Queer and Trans Family Forest as we celebrate our love, make Ontario’s Family Day our own, tell stories and build community for our children and youth.
 
In The LOVE=FAMILY Forest you will find:
Family Oak Tree crafts; Summer Camp activities, Campfire Story and Music Time, Ten Oaks Toronto Camper Reunion, LOVE=FAMILY Photos, Camp Snacks.
 
Learn more about special summer programs for kids in LGBTQ communities!
·      Camp Ten Oaks – a sleep-away camp for kids and youth aged 8 to 17
·      Project Acorn – a leadership retreat for youth aged 16 to 24
 
Come share your Ten Oaks Project experiences with old and new friends!
 When:
Saturday, February 11, 2012
10:30am until 1:30pm
 
Where:
The 519 Family Resource Centre –first floor
The 519 Church Street Community Centre
519 Church Street Toronto
 
For more information contact:
 
Chris Veldhoven, Queer Parenting Programs Coordinator at The 519
416 355 6780, cveldhoven@the519.org
 
Chris Persaud, Vice-President, Ten Oaks Project Board of Directors
 
 
2. Dykes Planning Tykes Drop-In Info Sessions - 2012
 
Upcoming Dates: Feb. 15, March 13, April 10
6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Sherbourne Health Centre
(333 Sherbourne - 2nd floor).
 
The Dykes Planning Tykes Drop-In Sessions run once a month. Come with your questions about family planning, including fertility, home and clinic insemination, sperm banks, adoption, co-parenting, family configurations and family recognition. No registration required. For more info: parentingnetwork@sherbourne.on.ca
 
* TRANS WOMEN/TRANS MEN WELCOME * 
 
3. Family Day 2012:
Queering Our Bookshelves: A Celebration of LGBTQ Families
Monday, February 20, 2012
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sherbourne Health Centre
333 Sherbourne St., 2nd floor

Join the LGBTQ Parenting Network for a day of family fun, featuring Arts & Crafts (Make Ur Own Book), Face-Painting, Readings and Performances by recent Canadian authors about LGBTQ parenting, Food.
 
Plus local bookstores with lots of books to queer-up your bookshelves.

Come join us!

For more info: parentingresources@sherbourne.on.ca or go to www.lgbtqparentingconnection.ca/programs
 
4. Message to LGBTQ Parents from EGALE / MyGSA.ca:
 
Here at MyGSA.ca we’re developing a national safer schools web resource for parents, and hoped to have your assistance in connecting with all parents, be they LGBTQ, parents of LGBTQ youth, or allies!
This endeavour will require a lot of help and so we’re reaching out to communities across the country. We ask that all parents interested in safer schools, LGBTQ and otherwise, take 5 minutes to share their thoughts with us in this questionnaire.
 
As well, if you’re interested in assisting in the development of this site (as either a local or national contributor) please reach out to us at mygsa@egale.ca.
 
 
5. Call for Proposals: National Workshop on Gender Creative Kids
 
On October 25 and 26, 2012 Concordia University will host a two-day workshop on the subject of gender creative/gender non-conforming/gender independent children. Despite the fact that a wave of national and international media reports are highlighting an increasing number of young children who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth, there are very few resources that support these children and their families in Canada. Further, there is very little research to draw on to inform the development of resources. The “National Workshop on Gender Creative Kids” will be the first national forum to bring together a variety of stakeholders to begin to address this gap.
 
Please send your 200-word proposal to: gender.creative@gmail.com by February 1, 2012. Your proposal should include your name, contact information, a 200 word abstract describing the presentation you intend to make, and requests for AV support and accommodations for disabilities. Please note that while different kinds of presentations are welcome, individual presentations will be limited to 15 minutes in order to leave as much time for discussion as possible.
 
6. GLEE: Rachel’s Gay Dads Have Arrived on Set
Jeff Goldblum and  Brian Stokes Mitchell have been cast as Rachel's gay dads on "Glee." They will make their "Glee" debut on the show's Valentine's Day episode, titled "Heart." Goldblum was nominated for an Emmy in 2005 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - for his work on "Will & Grace." Brian Stokes Mitchell won a 2000 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for a revival of Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate." He has been Tony-nominated three other times. And yes, they will be singing. The episode will air on Feb. 14. Catch "Glee" Tuesdays at 8PM on Fox.