(Dallas, TX) - Family Pride will host Act OUT: the National LGBT Family Conference, in Dallas, Texas, this October 27-29, 2006. The conference will be a dynamic three-day event focused on advocacy, education, and community building for LGBT-headed families and their allies. Hundreds of families are expected to attend from across the country.
"The need to advocate for LGBT families has never been greater: there were 15 anti-family bills during the last legislative session," said
Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of Family Pride. "Our goal for this conference is to pass along tools and information that will help LGBT-headed families secure equality. Our families will return home inspired and equipped with all they need to stand up for their families with confidence and pride."
Highlights of the conference include the presentation of research and information about LGBT-headed families gathered since Family Pride's Academic Symposium this past Spring; special workshops and leadership training for youth and adults with one or more LGBT parents led by COLAGE (Children of Lesbians & Gays Everywhere); plus regional breakout sessions that include training in Family Pride's innovative "OUTspoken Families" Speaker's Bureau initiative.
"We're looking forward to gathering in Dallas, which boasts the sixth-largest gay population in the United States but also has a long history of marginalizing and discriminating against our families," said
Trina Olson, Family Pride's Program and Education Manager. "The South and Midwest are home to tens of thousands of LGBT-headed families, and these families are consistently harmed by current laws and legal precedents regarding adoption, marriage, custody and foster care."
"The issue of family equality is bigger than just those children being raised by LGBT parents," continued Chrisler. "Fundamentalists think nothing of filing legislation that harms single parents, non-biological parents, and even grandparents, in their zeal to stop gays from being parents. The truth is that according to the 2000 US Census 77% of the children in this country are being raised by someone other than their married mother and father. It's time we started protecting all families and all children."
The Act OUT: the National LGBT Family Conference will take place at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, TX October 27th - 29th, 2006 For more information on Act Out: go to www.familypride.org or call (202) 331-5015.
Space is limited and time is running out, so interested families should register at
www.familypride.org.
Family Pride is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families.
