The list below is an addendum to the “Queer Parenting 101” session facilitated by Philly Family Pride at the Creating Change 2018 Conference in Washington, DC. For suggestions, please comment below or email Stephanie Haynes at [email protected].
Click this link to download a PDF of the transcribed questions/discussion topics from the session:
Queer Parenting 101 Butcher Block Post-It Note Questions
PERSONAL STORIES
18 Lesbian Moms We Love on Instagram
A Womb of Their Own
Biff and Trystan
Building Blocks – Interactive Conversations with LGBTQ families
Dad, Daddy & Kids
Darrow Brown and Juan Calvo – Story Corps
The F-Word: A Foster-to-Adopt Story
Family Focus: Jem, Michael and Tia
Fostering Hopes
Gay Parent Magazine
Gayby Maybe Epic Queer Parenting Round Table
Gays with Kids
Julie Chu and Caroline Ouellette welcome baby to family
Kordale & Kaleb
Love Comes First YouTube Channel
My Coming-Out Story: Out and Proud as a Bisexual Mother
New Film Shows Lesbian Families’ Struggles and Resilience in the South
Sandy & Denise
This Amazing Trans Couple Defied The Odds—And Their Doctor—To Conceive A Child
Tess and Nikina’s Story
BOOKS
9 New LGBT Children’s Books Every Kid Should Read Jan. 2018
A Holiday Guide to 2017’s LGBTQ Family Books
Yes, There Are Queer-Positive Children’s Books That Are Actually Good and Not Horribly Depressing
Corey Silverberg’s Books
Flamingo Rampant
The Book Nook – Family Equality Council
FINDING YOUR PEOPLE
Camp Highlight
COLAGE
Family Equality Council
Gay Parent Magazine List of Support Groups
Gay Fathers Facebook Group
Queer Mamas* Facebook Group
Transgender Parenting Facebook Group
FINANCIAL HELP
Financial Assistance for LGBT Parents to Be
The Ultimate Gay Men’s Guide to Crowdfunding for Surrogacy or Adoption
LEGAL RESOURCES
ACLU – LGBT Parenting
Legal Recognition of LGBT Families  – National Center for Lesbian Rights
State LGBT Family Law Guides – National Center for Lesbian Rights
Families – National Center for Transgender Equality
Protecting Your Children – Lambda Legal
Know Your Rights – Transgender Parenting 
OTHER RESOURCES
How Can Midwives Help Queer and Trans Families Feel Safe?
What Do Kids Call Their LGBTQ Parents?
Welcoming Schools

Philadelphia Family Pride will hold our 7th Annual Family Matters Conference for LGBTQ parents, prospective parents and our kids of all ages on Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in the McNeil Science and Technology Center at the University of the Sciences in West Philadelphia near Clark Park.
Thank you to those who have already registered. If you haven’t already but plan to attend, please register now!
The deadline to register kids is Friday, October 21.
What’s going on for kids that day? Let’s start with the little kids.
For those 0-6 years old, we just confirmed that St. Mary’s Nursery School in West Philly will be providing their staff to play with those age groups on site at the conference.
In addition to crafts, games, blocks and some outside time, there will also be a music class appropriate for all – babies to school kids – from 12-12:45pm courtesy of the folks from Rhythm Babies.
For kids, tweens and teens 7-18 years old, we are very excited to welcome staff from COLAGE, well known for their programming during Family Week in Provincetown.
The day of programs provides opportunities for creativity, recreation and deep discussion while providing a safe environment to connect with other youth about challenges and joys they experience being part of an LGBTQ family.
COLAGE has found in over 20 years of providing youth programming, that regardless of a youth’s interests, personality, or experiences, they will have a positive and powerful experience connecting with each other through their programming.
Read more about what COLAGE has planned for the day here.
The end of the day, from 3-4pm, we will hold the COLAGE Panel: Voices of People in LGBTQ Families. This is an opportunity to hear and learn from our COLAGEr panel about their experiences growing up in an LGBTQ+ family or with a parent coming out.
Everyone is welcome and will have an opportunity to ask questions,and create dialogue around the topics that are discussed during the day’s workshops. This is always a powerful COLAGE program so we encourage you to stay, ask questions, and listen.
Thank you and don’t forget to register by October 21!

You know PFP’s Family Matters Conference is coming up on Saturday, October 29 at the University of the Sciences in West Philly, but you might not know about these seven exciting things about this year’s event. (Seven since it’s our seventh annual…)
1. Staceyann Chin is our keynote speaker! Haven’t heard of her? She’s a lesbian activist and poet, Jamaican immigrant, single mom and author who’s been featured in the New York Times, on Oprah and is currently starring in her one-woman show in DC “Motherstruck!”
Along with her daughter, she started a series of “Living Room Protests” on YouTube addressing social issues of the day.
2. A staffperson from COLAGE will be there to runprogramming for kids, tweens and teens from 7 to 18 years old. They run the popular programming at Family Week in Provincetown.
(We also will have child care and activities for babies, toddlers and little kids 0-6.)
3. Workshops on everything from Queer Parenting 101 to Connecting with Your Kids toHow to be a Trans Ally to Social Justice and the Family. See the full list.
4. Info for prospective parents on your journey to parenthood, wherever you are in the process. Experts and professionals also will be on hand to talk about babymaking and adoption options.
5. The Treat Yourself space will be an option for adults again this year, with an added bonus of Yogibo bean bags for relaxing.
6. Mealtime this year will be in the USciences dining hall and is an all-you-can-eat brunch with options for vegan and gluten-free diets. This is included in the price of registration.
7. The event is very affordable, especially if you sign up by October 1 for our early registration fee. Adults who are PFP members are $20 each. Non-members are just $30. After Oct. 1, it’s $30/adult for PFP members and $40 for non-members. All kids 18 and under are free. Child care and brunch are included.
Register now at this link and please help us spread the word by sharing this blog post.

by Sandra Telep

Each year for the past five years, Philadelphia Family Pride has hosted the Family Matters Conference for LGBT parents and prospective parents who are looking to learn, connect and share. It’s one of our most popular events and has become a valuable community resource. If you haven’t registered yet, here is why you should:1. Topic: This year’s conference theme is “Our Families and the Future” and workshops will span subjects like social media, family planning and marriage. There’s something for everyone! Read more about the day’s schedule and programming.
2. Childcare: Participating in conferences can be challenging when you have young kids – that’s why PFP includes childcare in the cost of registration! Now you can focus on the discussion and your kids can have fun.
3. Location: This year the conference is at The Philadelphia School in Center City – this central location ensures no one has to travel too far to attend.
4. Sponsors: We’ve got a great list of sponsors that are helping make all this available to the community at a low price! ($20/adult for PFP members and $30/adult for non-members) If this is out of your reach, scholarships are available. Be sure to stop by the sponsor tables to thank them for making this event possible!
5. Community: Meet and connect with other parents and prospective parents that have gone/are going through a similar journey to yours.
This year’s conference is shaping up to be fantastic and we look forward to seeing you there! Register now!

1. Cory Silverberg – Cory’s book “What Makes a Baby” has touched families of all kinds and we are excited to welcome him.  His keynote address is titled: All in the Telling: Making Space for Stories We Can’t Even Imagine Who wouldn’t want to hear that?
2. William Way Center – We’ve teamed up with with the William Way LGBT Community Center to bring this conference to the heart of Philadelphia and the Gayborhood.  Easily accessible by public transportation and near many LGBT owned small businesses like Woody’s, Tavern on Camac and Giovanni’s Room!
3. Camp Highlight  – Once again PFP will be offering childcare for children 3-11 yrs. old, but this year it will be run by the good folks from Camp Highlight, an overnight camp for kids with LGBT parents.
4. Food – Your registration includes breakfast and lunch! Vegan and gluten-free options available.
5. Workshops – There is something for everyone in the wide range of workshop topics.  Prospective parents, trans* parents, new parents and seasoned parents will all find helpful resources!
6. Lip Balm – Maybe this is a silly thing to be excited about, but there will be PFP-labeled lip balm in the conference bags.  How neat is that?Can you guess what flavor we chose?
7. Sponsors – We’ve got a great list of sponsors that are helping make all this available to the community at a low price! ($25/person for PFP members and $35/person for non-members) If this is out of your reach, scholarships are available. Please register!
8. Experts – There will be reproductive, legal, and mental health experts sharing their knowledge and advice.  Hear directly from leaders in the field and challenge them with your excellent questions.
9. Peer-to-Peer Networking – There will be parents who have/are going/gone through a similar journey to yours.  Swap stories and create community! (Same is true for the kids in the kids zone, too!)
10. Socialize! – After all that learning and making new friends there will be an informal gathering at a nearby restaurant (Westbury Bar & Restaurant).  Exchange information with other families and keep these new relationships going!