Happy New Years from the LGBTQ Parenting Network! Below is information about upcoming events, and remember to hold the date for our Family Day event (Monday, February 20, 2012).  This year we are planning a Queer Family Literary Festival!

 

Don’t forget to check the website: lgbtqparentingconnection.ca for up-to-date info on

programs, courses, events, as well as research and advocacy projects.

 

 

LGBT Fertility Journeys is a monthly radio show with the objective to explore the

options and share information for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people who

are trying to conceive.

 

On the inaugural show (Saturday January 7th at 12pm EST), Annemarie Shrouder will

interview Rachel Epstein. Rachel is the founder of the Dykes Planning Tykes course

that has been running in Toronto and helping LBQ women to have babies for over 13

years (and was the subject of a movie that showed at the Inside Out LGBT film festival in

2011)! She is also the Coordinator of the LGBTQ Parenting Network at the Sherbourne

Health Centre in Toronto - http://www.lgbtqparentingconnection.ca/contact.cfm

 

Listen online at www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtfertility

or over the phone by calling: 347 308 8745

 

If you want to call in and ask a question, call 347 308 8745 and press 1.

 

 

Next Drop-In:

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

2nd Floor – Sherbourne Health Centre

Room 2008

 

To address the growing demand for the Dykes Planning Tykes course, we are offering

a once a month Dykes Planning Tykes drop-in session. Rachel Epstein, coordinator of

the LGBTQ Parenting Network (Sherbourne Health Centre) and facilitator of the Dykes

Planning Tykes course, will be available to provide information, resources and support to

lesbian/bi/queer women who are considering parenthood. Content of each session will be

 

determined by participants. No registration required.

 

* TRANS WOMEN/TRANS MEN WELCOME *

 

To see the new schedule for DPT Drop-In dates, visit: http://

www.lgbtqparentingconnection.ca/programs.cfm?

fuseaction=events.PublicProgramDetails&eventID=a6500e44-3048-8bc6-e801-

ee0bf7395381

 

 

Calling:

• All LGBTQ parents, their children and extended families

• All families with gender independent children and queer or trans identified youth

 

Join our guest, DJ Nik Red, as he spins a few of his and your favorite tunes.

Bounce a beach ball and shake it with others as we kick off the winter blahs.

 

When:

Saturday, January 14, 2012

3 pm to 5 pm

 

For more information contact:

Chris Veldhoven, Queer Parenting Programs Coordinator at The 519

416 355 6780, cveldhoven@the519.org

 

3. Queer Parents Who Have Adopted – Support Group for Adoptive Parents and

Their Kids starts up (again) in 2012 – First meeting: Sat. Jan. 21 (at the Sherbourne

Health Centre – 333 Sherbourne St.)

 

Queers who have adopted are meeting monthly to give support and info share with each

other. There is childcare provided so the adults can have time for discussions on relevant

topics of interest. Children can connect around their common issues in a playful manner

- so, games, stories and drawing/puzzles are available at the meetings with qualified

childcare staff.

 

As a mutual support group we hope to have a chance to socialize and play, getting a sense

of community with each other, to bond and help each other out as we get to know each

other as adults and kids as well. The group is open to those that are anti-racist/sexist/

genderist/ableist/classist as well as being queer positive and open to all the differences we

embrace.

 

Meetings are the third Saturday of the month from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m, at the Sherbourne

Health Centre (333 Sherbourne St, 2nd floor). A pizza lunch is provided at the meeting's end for all ages to socialize.

 

For more information contact: Laura Coramai or Ana dos Santos (parents/group members): lcoramai@rogers.com or (416) 531-7977.

 

To register for childcare, please contact parentingnetwork@sherbourne.on.ca or 416-324-

4100 ext 5219.

 

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

 

Join us for our annual Valentine’s/Family Day mixer.

 

Celebrate our love, make Ontario’s Family Day our own, and build community for our

children.

 

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

 

For more information contact:

 

Chris Veldhoven, Queer Parenting Programs Coordinator at The 519

416 355 6780, cveldhoven@the519.org

 

Chris Persaud, Board Member at the Ten Oaks Project

chrispdownunder@gmail.com

 

Ottawa Marriott Hotel, Ottawa

Tuesday, March 20 – Friday, March 23, 2012

 

Rainbow Health Ontario, a program of Sherbourne Health Centre, is proud to present

the only conference in Canada focused on the health and wellness of our diverse and

vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities. Our theme, "Supporting

LGBT Health Through Every Stage of Life"explores the experiences, strengths and

needs of LGBT people and communities across the life cycle from family formation, to

adolescence, to adulthood and old age. A rich choice of workshops, research soundbytes

and plenary sessions will highlight new knowledge, vital issues and best practices from

leaders in research, clinical practice, health promotion, equity and policy fields.

 

This year our conference will include workshops and research presentations in French

and all plenary sessions will feature simultaneous translation in both official languages.

We invite health and social service providers, community members, researchers and

policy makers to learn and share, to broaden your networks, and to find inspiration for

your ongoing work.

 

Review the preliminary conference program and register online at http://

www.RainbowHealthOntario.ca

Early bird rates apply until February 3rd, 2012.