The Family Pride Coalition -- the only national non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families -- has announced it will broadcast online the controversial episode of PBS' popular children's program Postcards from Buster.
The program features Buster, an animated character who visits real-life families, exploring the diversity of America. But in the episode entitled Sugartime!, a storm of controversy ignited after U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings denounced the program because it featured children whose parents are lesbians. The Family Pride Coalition will make Sugartime! available to all families for one week from March 7-13 at http://buster.familypride.org . The Family Pride Coalition also hopes to raise awareness of the subject matter surrounding the program, while also generating support from the public in defending the dignity and integrity of all families.
In conjunction with the online broadcast, Family Pride will launch a Virtual Rally on Thurs., March 10 to defend family diversity around the country. Those interested in participating are asked to contact the Department of Education by phone, e-mail or fax, voicing their disapproval of Secretary Spellings' actions against Postcards from Buster and demand she recant her incendiary remarks against LGBT-headed families. To participate in the rally, users can get more information by logging onto http://buster.familypride.org .
The controversy began late January when Spellings issued a strongly-worded letter denouncing PBS and the producers of Postcards from Buster for featuring a family with two moms, declaring, Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in the episode.
JOIN WITH GEORGIA EQUALITY TO MAKE OUR FAMILY VALUES' KNOWN DURING FAMILY DAY AT THE CAPITOL
The Georgia General Assembly has named Sat., March 12 Family Day at the Capitol. LGBT-headed families and our allies from the across the state will be in attendance to make our family values known.
Georgia Equality is hosting a rallying point at Central Presbyterian Church directly across from the front of the State Capitol on Washington Street in Atlanta. The General Assembly will convene at 10am (both the Senate and the House of Representatives). Several rooms in the Capitol will be available for gathering and will be pointed out during the rally. A barbecue will be held at noon at a location yet to be named.
Parking is available in lots around the capitol including Underground Atlanta and 2 lots behind the Sloppy Floyd Office Building. MARTA also has a stop across the street the Georgia State Station.
The Family Pride Coalition is proud to partner with Georgia Equality. If you wish to receive e-mail updates from Georgia Equality, please click here http://georgiaequality.org/cms/component/option,com_akoforms/func,showform/formid,3/
To read the press release about this event, click here http://georgiaequality.org/cms/content/view/113/43/
TEXAS FAMILIES NEEDED IN AUSTIN FOR LGRL'S RALLY, LOBBY DAY MARCH 13-14, FAMILY PRIDE TO SPONSOR FREE FAMILY DANCE FOLLOWING THE RALLY
Join other LGBT Texans and our allies on Sun., March 13 for the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby (LGRL) of Texas' march and rally in Austin. Line-up will take place from 11am-noon in the TXDOT parking lot at the corner of Riverside and Congress Avenues. There you can meet up with Cris Fahrenthold, the Family Pride Coalition's manager of advocacy and support, to be a part of the Family Pride contingent! Bring your signs and your families and friends!
The march will begin at noon and will proceed down Congress Avenue to the Texas State Capital. Following the march, a rally will take place on the south steps of the Capital to show lawmakers that real Texans support equality!
Join with other LGBT-headed Texas families for a Family Dance, sponsored by the Family Pride Coalition, in partnership with LGRL and MCC-Austin. The dance will take place on Sunday from 3-5pm at MCC Austin at Freedom Oaks. For directions, go to http://www.mccaustin.com/map.htm
This free event is a wonderful opportunity to meet other families, dance with your partner and your kids. Snacks will be provided.
Then, stick around for LGRL's Lobby Day on Mon., March 14. During the last session, LGBT parents and our allies made a significant impact by making in-person visits with their legislators. Check-in for Lobby Day will begin at 8am, followed by a training session at 8:30am, with visits beginning at 10am. For more information, contact LGRL at (512) 474-5475.
SUNSERVE, FAMILY PRIDE COALITION PRESENT SECOND ANNUAL VALUING OUR FAMILIES' CONFERENCE IN FLORIDA APRIL 8-10
Once again, the Family Pride Coalition joins forces with SunServe, Fort Lauderdale's gay and lesbian social services agency to present the second annual "Valuing Our Families" conference April 8-10, 2005. This gathering of families and allies will take place at the Metropolitan Community Church's Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The weekend conference will include more than 20 workshops and panels on a range of family issues, and will include activities for children, educational panels on marriage and parenting laws in Florida and a family picnic. In addition, participants are invited to a special evening gala event to honor LGBT family advocates. Actress Sharon Gless (Queer as Folk") was the recipient of the inaugural Valuing Our Families" award, and this year will present that honor to Rosie and Kelli O'Donnell.
In addition to the host organization, the Sunshine Cathedral MCC, other co-sponsors of the conference include the National Conference for Community and Justice; Seniors Active in a Gay Environment (SAGE); Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)/Florida, South Florida Family Pride; and the National Organization for Women (NOW)/Broward. For more information, go to www.sunserve.org .
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 (202) 797-3522 or ekahn@wwc.org . 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.
FAMILY PRIDE HOSTS ONLINE FORUM FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
In conversations with our families, both online and at Family Pride Coalition events, the issue of meeting the challenges of our children with special needs emerges regularly. To address this specific need within our national parenting community, the Family Pride Coalition has launched a Special Needs Online Community to further support and enhance dialogue around these issues. Many parents have already joined and found support and additional resources through this unique list-serv. If you, or anyone you know, would like to join this list, please click on the link below and register for this online community. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FamilyPride_Special_Needs_Chat