Dear Family Pride Members and Supporters,

Can you believe that 2005 is almost over? It’s hard to imagine that in two short weeks we will ring in 2006. But during this incredibly busy season of holidays and good cheer, all of us at Family Pride are focused on what keeps us inspired everyday -- family.

Like the amazing growth and changes we see in our own families in the space of a year, Family Pride has grown and changed in new and exciting ways in 2005.

Since the start of my tenure as your executive director this past April, Family Pride has accomplished several significant milestones on our journey to equality for all families: 

• We launched our new aggressive campaign “Real Families, Real Facts” which will help educate our community and the public about our families
• We raised over $500,000 to support the work of “Real Families, Real Facts”
• We launched one of our cornerstone programs -- OUTSpoken Families -- and in two short weeks we have registered over 125 families from 29 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia
• We were mentioned in the press and media more than 250 times
• I have spoken to more than 5,000 LGBT parents about our cause of equality in speeches and appearances
• We responded to more than 150 member inquiries for help with adoption issues, custody battles, school inclusiveness concerns and the myriad other issues that face our families daily
• We sent out over 455,000 action alerts to our members and launched our online Family Pride Action Center
• We are leading a broad coalition of local, state and national partners to block any and all anti-LGBT family legislation that may be filed in 2006
• We played an important role in a statewide action to urge California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger not to veto an historic bill passed by the state legislature
• We honored openly gay actor, author and father B.D. Wong and Capital One Financial at our National Awards Dinner

As you can see it has been a busy and successful year. But like all families, we didn’t do this alone. We did it with the tireless support and energy of our members, corporate sponsors, foundation sponsors, major donors and the Family Pride Board of Directors. Without each of you, this would not have been the amazing and incredible year it was. 

And, I am especially grateful for the close-knit family that is the Family Pride staff. Corri Planck, Cris Fahrenthold, Justin Whitehead, Ken Mosesian, Travis Stevens and Trina Olson work harder than any people I know to achieve our mission and vision of equality for LGBT families, and I know we are all truly grateful to them for these efforts.

Whatever holiday you celebrate in this season of joy and giving -- please know that from our family to yours -- we will never stop fighting for equal justice for LGBT parents and their children.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Executive Director
Family Pride