Greetings LGBTQ Parenting Network eNews Subscribers!
 
Last chance to register for childcare for this Thursday’s Up For Discussion event, “Border Crossings” on December 8, 2011. 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at Sherbourne Health Centre. We’re looking forward to an evening with lawyers Michael Battista, Kelly Jordan, and Omo Akintan to talk about legal issues and personal experiences related to LGBTQ family travel outside the Canadian border. Hope to see you there!
 
 
To register for childcare, and for any other questions, please contact Mariko Tamaki at mtamaki@sherbourne.on.ca.
 
Also, due to unforeseen scheduling issues we are having to cancel this month’s Dykes Planning Tykes Drop-In (Dec. 14).   Apologies for any inconvenience and please join us in January when the Drop-In resumes. Dates for 2012 are:
Tuesday Jan. 10, Wed. Feb. 15, Tuesday, March 13, and Tuesday, April 10.
 
And finally, here are links to the LGBTQ Parenting Network Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/LGBTQ-Parenting-Network/271873977334, and information about actions to take if you are concerned about:
 
a. City cuts to childcare services: https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=255184031201370
 
b. The inequity in EI benefits to adoptive parents:     http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/15wks/
 
 
  1. (Still) Trying to Get Pregnant – Next Meeting – Tuesday December 20, 2011
  2. New resource – LGBT Fertility Journeys
  3. Got your hands full? Support group for parents of multiple-birth children or     LGBTQ multiple-birth children, teens or adults
  4. Research Call for Participants - Needs Assessment of Canadian Youth with LGBTQ Parents
1. (Still) Trying to Get Pregnant – Next Meeting – Tuesday December 20, 2011
 
Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Sherbourne Health Centre, 2nd floor
Room 2008
(snacks provided)
This group is for lesbian/bisexual/queer women and trans-masculine people who are in the process of trying to get pregnant. This group is intended as a place to share stories, information and to create a supportive space for those of us on the rollercoaster ride of trying to conceive. Meetings will take place every 3rd Tuesday of the month.
If you are interested or want more information, please contact Annemarie Shrouder at ashrouder@gmail.com or 416 910 8653.
 
2. New resource – LGBT Fertility Journeys
 
Getting pregnant is a journey. Trying to get pregnant as a lesbian or bisexual woman or as a trans-identified person adds another layer of complexity.
I know. I'm in the process.
 
As a lesbian trying to conceive, I have craved a place to connect with others going through this process. In addition to the support group that meets at Sherbourne "(Still) Trying to get Pregnant" I have created www.lgbtfertilityjournies.com.
 
www.lgbtfertilityjourneys.com has a resources page, a blog, and a link to the BlogTalk radio show (LGBT Fertility Journeys) that will start in January 2012, on the first Saturday of every month at 12pm EST.
Downloadable archives will be posted on this website as well.
Rachel Epstein will be my first guest on January 7th!
 
www.lgbtfertilityjourneys.com is a place to come for information, to share resources and to get/give support for the incredible (and often frustrating and lonely) journey of trying to conceive as members of LGBTQ communities.
 
I hope you can join us.
annemarie
 
3. Got your hands full? Support group for parents of multiple-birth children or LGBTQ multiple-birth children, teens or adults
 
Multiple Births Canada (www.multiplebirthscanada.org) is pleased to announce the addition of a new support network for LGBTQ parent(s) of multiple-birth children or LGBTQ multiple-birth children, teens or adults. Please contact Tania for more information at lgbtq@multiplebirthscanada.org. You can also call toll free: 1-866-228-8824
 
4. Research Call for Participants - Needs Assessment of Canadian Youth with LGBTQ Parents
 
Ken McNeilly, a doctoral candidate at OISE at the University of Toronto, has asked for our help in finding research participants. His study, "A Needs Assessment of Canadian Youth with LGBTQ Parents", simply asks questions in an effort to have youth identify potential issues that could lead all of us to better responses, improved services, new programs, and overall education for anyone who works with kids (schools, community organizations, parents, etc.). If your child, or anyone that you know, is willing to participate in a 90 minute interview, that would be fantastic. Participants would need to meet the following criteria:
 
-          The child of at least one parent who currently identifies as LGBTQ;
-          Able to converse comfortably in English;
-          Currently or recently a student in an Ontario secondary school (graduating year sometime between 2009-2015);
-          Lived in Canada for at least 5 years.
 
Interviews will be conducted this August or September at the University of Toronto (or at any location convenient for the participant). Questions will pertain to the experiences of Canadian youth with LGBTQ parents. If you have any questions, please let Ken know.
 
Ken McNeilly    (Doctoral Candidate)                            
Dr. Michel Ferrari (Thesis Supervisor)
kenneth.mcneilly@utoronto.ca 905.617.0369                michel.ferrari@utoronto.ca 416.978.0925