Author: Karen Armstrong

Pride and Joy Families
Helping LGBT people in New York State build and strengthen their families.
Volume 4 Issue 2 Conference Edition Spring 2009

A Publication of the Lesbian and gay Family Building Project

Spend the
weekend learning and socializing with other
families like yours…
Register Now!
Spaces are
Limited.

“LGBT* Families: Still Moving
Forward” address by Jennifer Chrisler, Family Equality Council
Special Guest Speakers
Interesting Workshops for Adults
Innovative Programs for Kids of All Ages
Resource and Vendor Fair
Family Entertainment and Activities

Who Are We?

The Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project is funded by a grant from the New York State Health Department and works to help Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in New York State build and strengthen their families. Our network of Pride and Joy Families provides social and educational activities and a sense of community to LGBT parents and their children.
The Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project
124 Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
607.724.4308
www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org

Claudia Stallman, Project Director
Karen Armstrong, Health Educator
Loren Couch, Program Development
Heather Hauer, Outreach Consultant
Jeffrey Sterling, Outreach Consultant

Register for this great weekend at www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org

Volume 4 issue 2

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2009 Pride and Joy Families
Weekend Conference
April 24-26

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) parents, would-be parents, and their children of all ages will gather in Utica, NY for a weekend of learning, sharing and playing, April 24-26. The 2009 Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conference will feature well-known speakers on the subject of LGBT parenting, educational workshops for adults, creative children’s programs (for ages 6 mos. to 7 years), special
COLAGE programs for children in grades 3 through 12, family activities and entertainment and a Resource/Vendor Fair. Like our previous conferences, held in Ithaca in 2001 and Binghamton in 2005, families are expected to gather from all over upstate New York and beyond.

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Our Keynote Speaker
Jennifer Chrisler

Outspoken Families Training

This special speakers’ bureau training opportunity will be provided by staff from Family
Equality Council. OUTSpoken trains parents and allies to speak about LGBT family equality to their co-workers, school officials, faith leaders, legislators and the media in their own
communities not only with passion, but with
authority and credible, indisputable information. Participants make a commitment to speak about the need for full family equality in their community; this could be to their extended family over Thanksgiving dinner, their faith community on the weekend, on a “play date,” or at a town hall meeting.

The Keynote Address “LGBTQ Families: Still Moving Forward,” will be given by Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director, Family Equality Council. Jennifer is a seasoned advocate for LGBTQ rights. Family Equality Council, formerly Family Pride Coalition, is dedicated to working at the national level for equality for families headed by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer parents. It connects LGBTQ families nationwide to assist parents in dealing with discrimination so they may better support and advocate for their children at all phases of life. Jennifer earned her BA degree in
Elementary Education from Smith College in 1992. She was honored for her work in the LGBT community in 2002 by the Massachusetts Freedom to Marry Coalition and in 2001 by the Human Rights Campaign. In May, Jennifer was named 2008 Fellow by the prestigious Rockwood Leadership Program. She and her spouse, Cheryl Jacques, reside in Newton, MA with their twin sons.

Special Guest Speaker
Dr. Charlotte Patterson

Charlotte Patterson is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where much of her work has focused on child development in lesbian- and gay-parented families. In addition to her work with children and families, she has authored a child development textbook and co-edited three books on the psychology of sexual orientation. Patterson is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (APS) as well as of the American Psychological Association (APA), and a past-President of the Society for Psychological Research on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues (APA, Division 44). She has won a number of awards, including APA Division 44's award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions, and APA Division 43's Carolyn Attneave Diversity Award, for contributions that advance understanding and integration of diversity into Family Psychology. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her partner and three children.

Adult Workshops

Session A (10:45 am-12 noon)
1) Parenting Gender-Variant Children
2) Myths and Facts about LGBT-Led Families
3) Legal and Policy Protections for LGBT Families
4) I Am What I Say I Am! Raising Healthy Transracially Adopted Children in a (Not-Yet) Post Racial World
5) Who’s in Your Family and Why Does it Matter? Promoting an Awareness of Family Health History and Future Health in LGBT Families
Session B (1:15-2:30 pm)
6) OUTSpoken Families Speakers Bureau Training (Part I of II)
7) Boys Will Be Boys and Girls Just Love Pink: How Our Families “Do” Gender
8) Considering Parenthood
9) Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll: How to talk to your Tween or Teen
10) Talking to Your Children about Being in an LGBT Family
Session C (2:45-4:00 pm)
11) OUTSpoken Families Speakers Bureau Training (Part II of II)
12) Schools: How to talk to schools, teachers, administrators
13) Child Welfare Agencies and Our Families: Working with public and private agencies to foster and adopt children
14) Are We Men or Moms, and Who Cares? Panel of Gay Dads
15) Being an Ally to Your COLAGEr, COLAGE Staff

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Family Portraits/Photography
Cheryl A. Moore, of C.A. Moore Photography, Albany, will donate her professional services to document the Conference. A slideshow of the images will be shown at the concert and family dance on Saturday evening. Cheryl will also offer families the opportunity to have their portraits taken at the Conference. For more information, contact Cheryl at 518-482-8757 or visit her website: www.camoorephoto.com

Just for Kids

COLAGE will offer fun community building, youth empowerment and leadership development programming for youth in two grade-based groups, each led by an outstanding team of adults who share the experience of having one or more LGBTQ parents: Camp COLAGE for grades 3-5; and
COLAGE Crew for grades 6-12.
Childcare will be provided for children ages 6 months to grade 2: Play time, music, arts and crafts.
Infants younger than 6 months: No care provided but
infants may accompany adults.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Registration for children and youth programs must be postmarked by March 24th.

Pride and Joy Families News

Photo Opportunities

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Erin Lee and Marci

Erin Lee and Marci write and sing songs both funny and thoughtful that reflect a child's everyday life. They have recorded two CDs, Someone's Gotta Wanna Play and Snowdance. The women are also both educators and will do two workshops for young children during the Conference. Erin Lee and Marci’s performances have been well-received on Rosie’s R-Family Vacations Cruises. The New York Times has called the duo “fun and hip.” “Sweet harmonies and silly stories that preschoolers go bananas for.” --Time Out New York Kids. “Erin Lee & Marci know how to get an auditorium of kids rockin’. "--Mombian Magazine. Visit their website: www.gottaplay.org.

“Erin Lee & Marci are truly the
Indigo Girls of early childhood music.” --Susan Salidor, WLUW-FM, “Kids Play” co-host

Advocacy opportunities

Throughout the conference, there will be opportunities to participate in advance in Empire State Pride Agenda’s Equality and Justice Day, to be held on Tuesday, April 28, in Albany.
Equality & Justice Day is the one day of the year when hundreds of LGBT New Yorkers and our allies go to Albany to demonstrate the power of our community and lobby our elected officials.
There will materials and information displayed at various locations around the conference and you will have the opportunity to make a change for LGBT families in New York State, without even traveling to Albany!

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Get Involved
Your financial support of the Conference permits us to keep registration fees affordable, provide scholarships to families and individuals who need them, and allows you to reach out to LGBT families with news of your programs and services. Please contact Conference Coordinator, Loren Couch, for further information (contact information below). He will be glad to assist!
Advertise in the Conference program book. The full-sized program book will include a detailed schedule of conference activities. It will be distributed to all conference participants upon their arrival and registration. Ad prices begin at $20 (1/8 page). Ad deadline is Friday, March 27, 2009.
Become a Conference supporter. Make a donation in the categories of Platinum ($5,000+), Gold ($1,000-4,999), Silver ($500-$999), Bronze ($100-$499), or Friend ($25-$99). Your donation will be acknowledged in the Conference program book.
Rent display space. The Vendor/Resource Fair will be centrally-located and open from 8:30 am until 9:30 pm on Saturday, April 25th. Space is limited. Vendor space is $500, with special rates for non-profit organizations ($25/table) and small businesses ($50/table).
In-kind donations. Donations of goods and services to benefit the Conference and its participants will be accepted gratefully and acknowledged appropriately.
Registration Information
Please visit our website www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org or contact Loren Couch, Conference Coordinator, for registration information and the latest on Conference programs.
Contact Us
Loren Couch, Conference Coordinator
Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project
c/o Ferre Institute, Inc.
124 Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
607.724.4308, option 3
lcouch@prideandjoyfamilies.org

to Register
visit www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org

Pride and Joy Families News

Registration Information

Registration Fees
Full conference registration includes Friday evening welcome reception/dinner buffet, Saturday breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner, Sunday breakfast, all adult, children’s and family programs and entertainment, childcare, and vendor/ resource fair. Saturday-only registration rates also available. Register early for reduced registration fees (March 16th deadline for postmark).
Full Conference registration:
$75 per adult ($60 early bird)
$55 per child ages 8-12 ($40 early bird)
$45 per child ages 6 mos.-7 years ($30 early bird)
Saturday-only registration:
$55 per adult ($40 early bird)
$40 per child ages 8-12 ($25 early bird)
$30 per child ages 6 mos.-7 years ($15 early bird)
Financial Assistance
A limited number of scholarships will be made available to families in need. You may request financial assistance when you register for the Conference.

Accommodations

Hotel accommodations are not included in the Conference registration fee. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre (the Conference hotel). You must make reservations directly with them. Mention “Pride and Joy Families” when you call and receive the Conference room rate of $89.00/night dbl. occupancy (note reduction from original $109 rate!). March 24th deadline.
Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre
200 Genesee Street
Utica, NY 13502
Reservations: 888.201.1718
Telephone: 315.797.8010
Email: rhi_utic@radisson.com

Pride and Joy Families News

Pride and Joy Families News

Volume 4 issue 1

Vince’s View
”...When Mona was an infant she choked and momentarily stopped breathing. ...Miraculously I had the wherewithal to remain calm, hold her tiny ten day old chest in the palm of my hand….”
Read more at www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org
Vince Sgambati’s writing will appear in two forthcoming
anthologies to be published by Haworth Press – Donors and Dads: True Stories of Gay Men and Fatherhood and Queer and Catholic. He lives with his partner of 30 years, Jack; their 10-year-old daughter, Mona; and several furry friends.

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Pride and Joy Families News

Fall Family Dance

Pride and Joy Families
Apple Picking
Sunday October 5
2-4 pm
Apple Hills
131 Brooks Rd, Johnson City
(meet at the u-pick area)

“The kids I’ve interviewed are enormously thoughtful-
They are not only sensitive to the discrimination of their group but to other groups as well,”
“This is something that LGBT families have to offer the world.”
-Judith Snow
How it Feels to Have a Gay Parent,

Vendor Tables and Resource Fair
Resource Fair

Family Dance and Folk Dance

to register
visit www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org

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Pride and Joy Families News

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Volume 4 issue 4

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Local LGBT welcoming organizations and businesses including:
Children Awaiting Parents
COLAGE
Cortland LGBT Resource Center
Empire State Pride Agenda
Family Equality Council
Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network
New Life Adoption Agency
Caren Price Stained Glass
St. James Mission, Westernville, NY
Visit Rochester

Depending on what day it is, Allan Troxler teaches dance, makes art, writes, plays violin, tends a garden and looks after old folks. He lives in North Carolina, where for years he and his friends have fine-tuned dancing that includes everyone – no “Gents and Ladies.” Allan and his late partner Carl Wittman were pioneers in the gender-neutral folk dance movement. On Sunday morning, under Allan’s instruction, we will be striding, jigging, waltzing, marching, sashaying and skipping. In circles and lines; in 2s, 3s and altogether. In various languages. No experience required: this session is suitable for all abilities and aimed primarily at adults and children ages 7 and up.