Podcasts about Family Equality Council

Hey everyone! In this episode, I'm excited to introduce two amazing storytellers and writers to the show, Jodie Anders and Eric Rosswood. This week we are discussing their collaboration writing Queer Cheer and why it was so important to them to represent the queer teen community. We discuss identity, book bans, and the difference that teens are making in the queer community. Jodie shares a “News Announcement” from their book Queer Cheer, about two teens who are on a mission to remove a book ban. Tune in for a great episode!  IN THIS EPISODE: [2:02] Eric and Jodie introduce themselves and describe their work.  [3:18] Eric describes how he and Jodie came together on their project Queer Cheer.    [5:37] Why is representing queer teens important?  [8:32] What is causing book bans to be on an all time high? [12:08] Does the uncertainty around being queer and identity change as they get older vs. being a teen?  [16:08] Jodie shares what the excerpt is that she will be reading. [18:08] We hear a fictional piece from the book, Queer Cheer.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: There is nothing wrong with who you are as a person. You are loved, you are valuable, you are important.  By demonstrating differences in race, sexuality, gender identity and sexism, those who are working through their identity can find similarities with others, and realize that they are not alone.  It can be eye opening to look at your identity and how you behave around different types of people, from work to school to spending time with friends, seeing who you show up as can help determine who you truly are.  Subscribe to Reenita's Storytelling Den on Substack for free or become a paid subscriber to watch the video version of this episode, to receive the ‘News Announcement' from the book Queer Cheer, referred to in the fiction section of the podcast, and be eligible to receive other extras such as exclusive content from podcast guests, short stories, exclusive fiction and more! https://substack.com/@reenitahora   Fiction Credits: Written by Jodie Anders & Eric Rosswood Read by Jodie Anders  GUEST RESOURCES: Jodie Anders' Twitter  Jodie Ander's Website  Jodie Anders' LinkedIn   Jodie Ander's Instagram  Eric Rosswood's Facebook  Eric Rosswood's Instagram   Eric Rosswood's Website  Queer Cheer Book Website  Students Protecting Education HOST RESOURCES Website LinkedIn  Tiktok  Instagram  Facebook  Twitter (X)  Substack  Threads  LinkTree  BIO: Jodie is a multi-talented artist whose work spans the mediums of acting, writing, videography, editing, and graphic design. As a Jewish bisexual creator who struggled as a teen, Jodie focuses on celebrating diversity and promoting youth empowerment. She currently serves as the Publicity and Communications Director for the youth non-profit California Rainbow Girls, where she's spent over two decades mentoring and guiding teens in confidence and leadership skills. She is the co-author of Queer Cheer: Activities, Advice, and Affirmations for LGBTQ+ Teens and the producer of "Let's Talk about Leadership, Service and Sisterhood," a podcast by and for teens. Eric Rosswood is an author and commentator on LGBTQ+ issues including civil rights, parenting, marriage, and politics. He has led panels on LGBTQ+ parenting issues for organizations such as the Family Equality Council and the Modern Family Alliance. His bestselling book, Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood, won numerous awards including the best Parenting/Family/Relationships book in the IAN Book of the Year Awards, the best Parenting book in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards, and the best LGBTQ Non-Fiction book in the International Best Book Awards. His picture book, Strong, won the Stonewall Honor from the American Library Association. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/true-fiction-project/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Dr. Dekker's joined by Gena Jaffe, an LGBTQ+ activist, attorney, and founder of Connecting Rainbows©️. Gena shares her personal story of embarking on reciprocal IVF with her wife and the legal hurdles they faced as a lesbian couple. From navigating complex parental rights to accessing inclusive healthcare, Gena sheds light on the challenges faced by some LGBTQ+ individuals and families on their path to parenthood.  Gena's experience led her to creating Connecting Rainbows©️, a groundbreaking organization offering free legal and fertility resources tailored to the LGBTQ+ community. Tune in for an empowering conversation celebrating diversity, resilience, and the journey of building loving, inclusive families.   Resources: Learn more about Connecting Rainbows©️ here! Follow Connecting Rainbows©️ on Instagram. Find support from Fertility Out Loud here. Learn more about the Family Equality Council here. EBB 227 – Amplifying the Need for Intersectional Birth Support for QTBIPOC Birthing People with Xian Brooks of the Dandy Doula EBB 182 – Black-led Queer and Trans Birth Work with Mystique Hargrove, Kortney Lapeyrolerie, and Nadine Ashby EBB 180 – Trauma-Informed Care and Consent with Feminist Midwife, Stephanie Tillman EBB 179 – An Empowering and Transformative Home Birth Experience with Trish and Mimi Ang EBB 160 – Introducing Mystique Hargrove: EBB Featured Instructor   For more information about Evidence Based Birth and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.

To get involved or offer support for our LGBTQIA+ friends, family, and community members, try one of these organizations: The Trevor Project (www.thetrevorproject.org) Human Rights Campaign Foundation (www.thehrcfoundation.org) The Point Foundation (www.pointfoundation.org) Family Equality Council (www.familyequality.org) National Center for Transgender Equality (www.transequality.org) GLSEN (www.glsen.org)

www.rrup.orghttps://www.facebook.com/rainbowroundupinstagram: @fallingoutlgbtqpodtwitter: @fallinglgbtqwww.fallingoutlgbtq.com

Rob Kearney is an American Professional Strongman as well as the first and only openly gay professional strongman in the world. Rob decided to compete in the Heavyweight class where he took 1st place in the 2016 Log Lift World Championships and has gone on to compete at World's Strongest Man. Rob is a Giants Live Champion (North American Open 2017) as well as an Arnold International World Series Champion (Australia 2019). Along with Strongman, Rob and his Husband Joey have become advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. Together, they hope to break the Stereotype of how the LGBTQ+ community is perceived and show the world that regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity you can be strong and follow your passions.Eric Rosswood is an author and commentator on LGBTQ issues including civil rights, parenting, marriage, and politics. He has led panels on LGBTQ parenting issues for organizations such as the Family Equality Council and the Modern Family Alliance.His bestselling book, Journey to Same-Sex Parenthood, won numerous awards including the best Parenting/Family/Relationships book in the IAN Book of the Year Awards, the best Parenting book in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards, and the best LGBTQ Non-Fiction book in the International Best Book Awards. Eric is represented for his children's books by Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.Books mentioned in this episode:Purchase Strong here.Purchase I Color Myself Different here. Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:Blog: http://hereweeread.comPersonal Website: charnaiegordon.comPodcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.comFind Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username @hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word to others. Thanks for listening!

Today I'm joined by Joey Gonzalez, the CEO of Barry's — a premium boutique fitness brand.    In this episode, Joey shares his experience with the company, from customer and instructor to chief executive. We talk about Barry's X, the company's new digital platform, as well as Joey's vision for an omnichannel offering that includes partnering with connected fitness brands. Plus, we discuss the importance of building a values- and mission-driven company culture.    More from Joey    Joey Gonzalez is the CEO of Barry's, the original cardio and strength interval workout that began a global boutique fitness movement.        His Barry's journey started in 2003, as a client in the iconic Red Room. He became an instructor soon after working his way up the ranks before finally taking the helm of the business as CEO in 2015.   Since then, Gonzalez has dedicated his life to expanding the Barry's brand across the country and around the world, fostering diverse communities across 4 continents. Barry's now has 80 studios in 30 cities and 14 countries across the US, UK, France, Italy, Scandinavia, Mexico, Australia and South East Asia, and welcomes 150,000 people globally through its doors each week.    In 2020, Gonzalez oversaw the creation of Barry's At-Home, an innovative virtual concept that allowed Barry's members to experience a digital workout with Barry's instructors from around the world, from the comfort of their own homes. Since launching, Barry's At-Home has held over 20,000 digitally streamed classes and seen over 800,000 faces on the screen. He also oversaw the opening of 18 outdoors studios in select markets across the country including New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, DC, Mexico City, and Miami.    Under Gonzalez's stewardship, the brand has become known for its values of diversity and inclusivity, celebrating every member of Barry's global community through weekly diversity, inclusion and belonging workshops and initiatives such as United We Sprint, an annual celebration of World Pride month.    In 2018, Gonzalez was named to Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business list and received CEO Award of the Year from North Castle Partners. He sits on the board of the Family Equality Council and is currently studying at Harvard Business School to earn his OPM degree. In 2020, Gonzalez was named EY Of The Year Greater Los Angeles' Entrepreneur of the Year.    He currently resides in Miami, FL with his husband, daughter and son.    More from Fitt Insider   Fitt Insider is a platform for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors redefining the business of fitness and wellness.   From our newsletter and podcast to our industry-specific jobs board, we create content and resources to drive the industry forward. We also invest in early-stage health and fitness companies.   For more, visit: https://insider.fitt.co/

In this episode of Nonprofit Architect, Travis talks with Bethany Snyder, founded Snyder Strategies to share and leverage my deep understanding of the advocacy world with non-profits and social justice organizations. She is a seasoned professional and an expert in managing strategic communications, leading successful advocacy initiatives, designing innovative outreach and engagement programs, and running high-profile campaigns. Starting from their own experience, they end up by giving some powerful tips to make your Nonprofit stand out. Listen in now and be informed. Conversation Highlights: Takeaway #1 : Struggling to move your Non-profit forward? Join the Nonprofit Alliance, a mastermind group launched by Travis, where we talked with nonprofit leaders and branding experts on how to stand out among the crowd! [00:40] What is Snyder strategies?(A roadmap to Success…) [06:39] Building the foundation of a legislative business. [12:11] The lower you get into government, the more concentrated your efforts are! [16:53] Does statistics matter? [19:01] Engaging legislative advocacy…… [22:39] A message to those who are scared to get engaged. [28:24] What is the easiest way to get a policy's priorities met? [30:49] Is there any special thing that you need to consider if your organization is funded by government?  Remarkable quotes:  "I want to help the world." "You need to know who to call." "Collective Will of the community is required to make it done." Special Reminder: Want to power up your advocacy efforts? Book a free 45-minute consultation call with Bethany Snyder.  Resources: Bethany's Website Snyder strategies on Facebook Bethany on LinkedIn Bio Bethany is an advocacy strategist, enthusiast, and optimist. She works with nonprofit organizations to help them realize their people power and pass good policy.  With over 15 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and public affairs, Bethany is an expert in managing strategic communications, leading successful advocacy initiatives, designing innovative outreach and engagement programs, and running high-profile campaigns. Having worked for various non-profit organizations, she has a passion for ensuring non-profits and social justice organizations use their voices and expertise to influence policies that impact those most in need.  Before she founded Snyder Strategies, Bethany served as the Director of Communications and Outreach for Harbage Consulting where she advised health care clients on strategic communications and outreach strategies.  Before joining Harbage Consulting, Bethany managed communications for Health Access California, a health care advocacy organization. Bethany also led the statewide outreach efforts for MNsure, Minnesota's state-based health insurance  marketplace, on behalf of the consulting firm Grassroots Solutions.  From 2009 to 2014, Bethany served as the Health Care Representative/Field Director for Senator Al Franken (D-MN) in his state office. In this capacity, she managed the Senator's health care and LGBTQ stakeholder relations in Minnesota, advancing the Senator's priorities by soliciting feedback and support from stakeholders for key legislative proposals and leveraging and highlighting Minnesota's best practices in health care. Bethany received her bachelor of arts in sociology and women's studies from the University of Iowa and has a master in public policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.  In her spare time, Bethany leads Central Iowa Rainbow Families which provides support, social, and advocacy opportunities for LGBTQ-identified parents in central Iowa. She and her partner are also donors and active volunteers for the Family Equality Council. After spending a few years in Northern California, Bethany and her family recently moved back to the Midwest. 

In this episode of Nonprofit Architect, Travis talks with Bethany Snyder, founded Snyder Strategies to share and leverage my deep understanding of the advocacy world with non-profits and social justice organizations. She is a seasoned professional and an expert in managing strategic communications, leading successful advocacy initiatives, designing innovative outreach and engagement programs, and running high-profile campaigns. Starting from their own experience, they end up by giving some powerful tips to make your Nonprofit stand out. Listen in now and be informed. Conversation Highlights: Takeaway #1 : Struggling to move your Non-profit forward? Join the Nonprofit Alliance, a mastermind group launched by Travis, where we talked with nonprofit leaders and branding experts on how to stand out among the crowd! [00:40] What is Snyder strategies?(A roadmap to Success…) [06:39] Building the foundation of a legislative business. [12:11] The lower you get into government, the more concentrated your efforts are! [16:53] Does statistics matter? [19:01] Engaging legislative advocacy…… [22:39] A message to those who are scared to get engaged. [28:24] What is the easiest way to get a policy's priorities met? [30:49] Is there any special thing that you need to consider if your organization is funded by government?  Remarkable quotes:  "I want to help the world." "You need to know who to call." "Collective Will of the community is required to make it done." Special Reminder: Want to power up your advocacy efforts? Book a free 45-minute consultation call with Bethany Snyder.  Resources: Bethany's Website Snyder strategies on Facebook Bethany on LinkedIn Bio Bethany is an advocacy strategist, enthusiast, and optimist. She works with nonprofit organizations to help them realize their people power and pass good policy.  With over 15 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and public affairs, Bethany is an expert in managing strategic communications, leading successful advocacy initiatives, designing innovative outreach and engagement programs, and running high-profile campaigns. Having worked for various non-profit organizations, she has a passion for ensuring non-profits and social justice organizations use their voices and expertise to influence policies that impact those most in need.  Before she founded Snyder Strategies, Bethany served as the Director of Communications and Outreach for Harbage Consulting where she advised health care clients on strategic communications and outreach strategies.  Before joining Harbage Consulting, Bethany managed communications for Health Access California, a health care advocacy organization. Bethany also led the statewide outreach efforts for MNsure, Minnesota’s state-based health insurance  marketplace, on behalf of the consulting firm Grassroots Solutions.  From 2009 to 2014, Bethany served as the Health Care Representative/Field Director for Senator Al Franken (D-MN) in his state office. In this capacity, she managed the Senator’s health care and LGBTQ stakeholder relations in Minnesota, advancing the Senator’s priorities by soliciting feedback and support from stakeholders for key legislative proposals and leveraging and highlighting Minnesota’s best practices in health care. Bethany received her bachelor of arts in sociology and women’s studies from the University of Iowa and has a master in public policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.  In her spare time, Bethany leads Central Iowa Rainbow Families which provides support, social, and advocacy opportunities for LGBTQ-identified parents in central Iowa. She and her partner are also donors and active volunteers for the Family Equality Council. After spending a few years in Northern California, Bethany and her family recently moved back to the Midwest. 

EPISODE 134: Interview with Trystan Reese. Trystan Reese sprang into the public consciousness in 2017 when he and his partner, Biff, told their non-traditional pregnancy story in the mainstream media. He and Biff are also the adoptive parents of Biff’s biological niece and nephew. They are proud to have expanded the public conversation about trans reproductive justice, queer families, and what it means to be a father. He regularly tells the unique story of his family’s creation to audiences across the country. He is also the Director of Family Formation at Family Equality Council, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them. Follow his work and adventures at his website at www.biffandi.com and on Facebook and Instagram @biffandi. If you get value out of the Loving Without Boundaries podcast, then consider becoming one of our patrons! Not only will you enjoy exclusive content made just for you, your support will also help us continue creating educational content while helping more people have a deeper understanding of consensual non-monogamy and healthy, sex positive relationships in general. https://www.patreon.com/lovingwithoutboundaries

After years of on-the-ground advocacy work, Trystan Reese burst into the public consciousness on a global scale in 2017 when he and his partner told their non-traditional transgender pregnancy story. As the Director of Family Formation at Family Equality Council, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them, Reese regularly tells the unique story of his family's creation to audiences across the country on a mission to open a constructive dialogue, expand the public conversation about trans reproductive justice, queer families, and what it means to be a father and inspire understanding and change.You can find Trystan Reese at: Website | InstagramCheck out our offerings & partners: ZipRecruiter: The smartest way to hire. See why ZipRecruiter is effective for businesses of all sizes. Try ZipRecruiter for free at our web address: ZipRecruiter.com/goodCoaches, Counselors, HR pros, Advisors, Leaders, & helping professionals - Become “Sparketype® Certified!” Learn how to tap the power of the Sparektypes to help others come alive in work and life.

We can go beyond acceptance.One of the things we all know to be true about camp is how much better of the world would be if EVERY child spent at least one week at camp.With that in mind, it’s important that we are consistently looking at how we are best serving campers and families that may be under-represented in our camp communities.Newsflash! Even though in the last 10 years we’ve begun to really talk about inclusion, there have been campers and families who have identified as LGTBQ+ for as long as the camp industry has been around! Furthermore, we can see that the world has begun to be intentional about welcoming and celebrating inclusion, and so has the camp industry.That being said, it would be the understatement of the year to say that the world, and even camp, has a long way to go towards being a completely welcoming, safe and celebrating place for LGTBQ+ campers and families to truly be themselves.We, as an industry have the chance to be an example of what it looks like to bring LGTBQ+ families and campers to the table and make our communities the type of place where they feel safe and welcome to call home. This is not necessarily an easy conversation. Some camps may be new to being outspokenly inclusive or maybe have never been made aware that they have a queer camper, staff or family and it can be hard to realize when we haven’t been doing well enough. Even still it’s a worthwhile conversation.As a start to that conversation, we welcome a fantastic panel to the CampHacker Podcast to help Camp Directors begin to think about how they can best serve their campers, staff and families who may identify as LGTBQ+. Joe, Travis and Gab are joined by Emily McGranachan from Family Equality Council, Ross Murray from The Naming Project, Chris Hudson from Camp Highlight and Nick Teich from Camp Aranu'tiq and Harbor Camps.We hope you find this show useful and thought-provoking.We know this is just the beginning of this kind of conversation. How would you like to see us continue it? Let us know in the comments!Tool of the Week – Make Yourself a Better Camp DirectorGab: Desk Standing Balanceboard - FluidStanceChris: McDonalds to thank staff for their hard workJoe: 20v Max Cordless Tool Set + Lots of batteries for them!Emily: Made Good BarsNick: Amazon WishlistRoss: Prayer Squares (3x3 crochet squares! - Tune into this ep. to hear about this!)Your Hosts:Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - CampHacker.TV, Founder at Go Camp ProJoe Richards, Executive Director - Pearce Williams Summer Camp & Retreat FacilityGabrielle Raill, Camp Director - Camp OuareauEmily McGranachan, Director of Family Engagement - Family Equality Council - Family Week - Family Equality PodcastRoss Murray, Founder and Director - The Naming ProjectChris Hudson, Camp Director - Camp HighlightNick Teich, Founder and Director - Camp Aranu'tiq and Harbor CampsRate and Review the CampHacker Show in iTunes(Thank you!)Rate and Review the CampHacker Show in iTunes(Thank you!)Thanks to our sponsor!Radtagz - Be and Be Known

We're back to exploring family in its many with this episode, where we're joined by Emily McGranachan, who tells us about growing up with two moms. Emily's professional life has also been shaped by her upbringing. She's director of family engagement for the Family Equality Council, the national organization in the U.S. dedicated to the equality of LGBTQ people and their families, as well as those who wish to form families. And she's the host of the Council's great podcast, Outspoken Voices. Show Notes Love our work? Please check out our Patreon Campaign! Become a patron of the show for as little as $1 per month

Perhaps best known as “the pregnant man” of 2017, Trystan Reese will be sharing his unique parenting journey to the UU community on October 6th. You’ll hear about how he and his partner became the “accidental gay parents” by adopting their niece and nephew, then how they went on to have their own biological child a few years later. He’ll share the story of deciding to have a baby as a transgender man, and how that decision ripples across the globe, creating change in more ways than he could have ever imagined. Speaker Bio Trystan Reese sprang into the public consciousness in 2017 when he and his partner, Biff, told their non-traditional pregnancy story in the mainstream media. He and Biff are also the adoptive parents of Biff’s biological niece and nephew. They are proud to have expanded the public conversation about trans reproductive justice, queer families, and what it means to be a father. He regularly tells the unique story of his family’s creation to audiences across the country. He is also the Director of Family Formation at Family Equality Council, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them.

Join Kelli and Anne for their 90th NEW episode! They are doing this show a little differently because their guest has a very tight schedule so they will do the interview first and then chat about their topics later! Their Special Guest today is Nick Scandalios.  A good friend of theirs who also happens to be the Executive Vice President of the Nederlander Organization, one of the largest owners of theatres in the world. He is also a relentless advocate for LGBTQ families with his work with Family Equality Council. Hear all about his career, what's happening in the new Broadway season and how to get involved with Family Equality. www.familyequality.org Today they chat about The Fall and everything that comes with it including crockpots, fireplaces, hot toddy's, backyard cleanup and all those amazing fall clothes! As always, they end with a cocktail from Equality Vodka.  This week, in honor of Nick, they are serving The Center Stage!

Nancy Lyons is the founder and CEO of Clockwork, a Minneapolis-based experience design and technology agency that works with clients across industries. She’s a leader with a personal mission to “think strategically, act thoughtfully, be a good human.” As such, she spends much of her time speaking, writing, and thinking about the intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and people. “I don’t love tech,” Lyons says. “I love people and how tech supports and empowers people.” In this episode, Lyons walks us through her path into the tech industry—back when the Internet was in its infancy. She talks about learning how to code, learning project management, getting to a place where she feels comfortable being herself at work and speaking her truth. “What Clockwork is doing that I’m proud of is creating the space for uncomfortable conversations that ultimately lead to change,” Lyons says. “We have this idea that success looks a certain way—especially for women. We need opportunities to see ourselves. Success comes in a wide variety. People have to see themselves in the work to believe they belong there.” Lyons serves as the chair emeritus of the National Board of Directors of the Family Equality Council. She sits on the Minnesota Governor’s Blue Ribbon Council on Information Technology. She is on the Open Twin Cities Advisory Board, as well as the Amplified Voices Board, and is a member of the advisory board for the innovative entrepreneurial conference, Giant Steps. She co-authored the book “Interactive Project Management: Pixels, People, and Process.” After our conversation with Lyons we go Back to the Classroom with the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business. Marketing professor Gino Giovannelli talks about why Lyon’s outspokenness works for her in business. “She is who she is. She’s putting it all out there. In order to establish relationships, you need to be authentic.”

For our Family Equality Day special we brought on Stan J. Sloan, CEO of Family Equality Council, to speak about the work of the organization and about gay men who don't have kids and would like to connect with LGBTQ families. International Family Equality Day celebrates the diversity of LGBTQ families around the world, and takes place every year on the first Sunday in May. By celebrating International Family Equality Day, Family Equality Council raises awareness among politicians and the general public about the need for equal treatment and recognition for all families, regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity of their family's members. To mark this important day of visibility that kicks off Family Equality Week, we turned to Stan Sloan, Chief Executive Officer of Family Equality Council, to talk about the organization's work and how each of us can contribute for the sake of a better future for our kids' generation. “Our research has shown that 77% of millennial LGBTQ people are contemplating having children and 63% of them are actually planning on it, which represents a huge explosion in the decade ahead for LGBTQ families,” Stan says. “The goal of Family Equality Council is that every one of those millennials who wants to plan a family is able to do so. Our goal is to help people no matter where they are geographically, no matter what their income level, live their dream of becoming a parent.” Family Equality Council now has over a hundred chapters spread out across the United States that are doing synchronized activities to raise the visibility of LGBTQ families. "Every time we raise our visibility, discrimination that people are still facing in red states and rural areas gets easier.” - Stan J. Sloan An issue that we wanted to tackle on this family-oriented episode is gay men who don't have kids and want them, somehow, in their lives. “Those of us who are in our fifties and sixties and seventies, when we were young we never imagined that we would be able to get married, let alone the idea of forming our own families,” Sloan says. “There's a small fraction of us who pressed for it and they did make it happen but for the vast majority of us it just wasn't an option, it was not something that we thought about. “For folks around my age there was a pain in feeling we didn't have that option and ‘excuses' like ‘I'm too old now' or ‘I'm too selfish' were things that we kind of told ourselves to ease our pain a little bit. If I was younger Jan and I would be having a baby, I feel certain of it. And I'm not. No criticism, of course, of younger people who are not having kids, but I'm pretty sure we'd have kids if we were a generation younger.” Family Equality Council's mission is to advance legal and lived equality for LGBTQ families, and for those who wish to form them, through building community, changing hearts and minds, and driving policy change. One of the most prominent activities of Family Equality Council is Family Week in Provincetown. This is the largest annual gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified families in the world, and will be held this year between July 27th -August 3rd. Registration for Family Week in Provincetown now open Our Guest: Stan J. Sloan A leader in the homeless, LGBTQ and AIDS service communities for over two decades, Stan J. Sloan was named CEO of Family Equality Council in June 2016. Previously, he served as the CEO of Chicago House, a social service agency that provides services to individuals and families disenfranchised by HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ poverty and/or gender nonconformity. Ordained in 1991, Stan is an Episcopal priest. He has a Master's in Divinity from the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and a Master's in Theology/Theological Studies from Weston School of Theology. A native of Amarillo, Texas (and a mean cook and margarita-maker), Stan lives with his husband, cardiologist Jan Lopes, and their dog,

For our Family Equality Day special we brought on Stan J. Sloan, CEO of Family Equality Council, to speak about the work of the organization and about gay men who don't have kids and would like to connect with LGBTQ families. International Family Equality Day celebrates the diversity of LGBTQ families around the world, and takes place every year on the first Sunday in May. By celebrating International Family Equality Day, Family Equality Council raises awareness among politicians and the general public about the need for equal treatment and recognition for all families, regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity of their family’s members. To mark this important day of visibility that kicks off Family Equality Week, we turned to Stan Sloan, Chief Executive Officer of Family Equality Council, to talk about the organization's work and how each of us can contribute for the sake of a better future for our kids' generation. “Our research has shown that 77% of millennial LGBTQ people are contemplating having children and 63% of them are actually planning on it, which represents a huge explosion in the decade ahead for LGBTQ families,” Stan says. “The goal of Family Equality Council is that every one of those millennials who wants to plan a family is able to do so. Our goal is to help people no matter where they are geographically, no matter what their income level, live their dream of becoming a parent.” Family Equality Council now has over a hundred chapters spread out across the United States that are doing synchronized activities to raise the visibility of LGBTQ families. "Every time we raise our visibility, discrimination that people are still facing in red states and rural areas gets easier.” - Stan J. Sloan An issue that we wanted to tackle on this family-oriented episode is gay men who don’t have kids and want them, somehow, in their lives. “Those of us who are in our fifties and sixties and seventies, when we were young we never imagined that we would be able to get married, let alone the idea of forming our own families,” Sloan says. “There’s a small fraction of us who pressed for it and they did make it happen but for the vast majority of us it just wasn’t an option, it was not something that we thought about. “For folks around my age there was a pain in feeling we didn’t have that option and ‘excuses’ like ‘I’m too old now’ or ‘I’m too selfish’ were things that we kind of told ourselves to ease our pain a little bit. If I was younger Jan and I would be having a baby, I feel certain of it. And I’m not. No criticism, of course, of younger people who are not having kids, but I’m pretty sure we’d have kids if we were a generation younger.” Family Equality Council’s mission is to advance legal and lived equality for LGBTQ families, and for those who wish to form them, through building community, changing hearts and minds, and driving policy change. One of the most prominent activities of Family Equality Council is Family Week in Provincetown. This is the largest annual gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified families in the world, and will be held this year between July 27th -August 3rd. Registration for Family Week in Provincetown now open Our Guest: Stan J. Sloan A leader in the homeless, LGBTQ and AIDS service communities for over two decades, Stan J. Sloan was named CEO of Family Equality Council in June 2016. Previously, he served as the CEO of Chicago House, a social service agency that provides services to individuals and families disenfranchised by HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ poverty and/or gender nonconformity. Ordained in 1991, Stan is an Episcopal priest. He has a Master’s in Divinity from the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and a Master’s in Theology/Theological Studies from Weston School of Theology. A native of Amarillo, Texas (and a mean cook and margarita-maker), Stan lives with his husband, cardiologist Jan Lopes, and their dog,

Trystan is the Director of Family Formation with the Family Equity Council. He and his spouse, Biff, grew their family in two different and incredible ways. Listen as Trystan talks about: -His transition journey. -The journey from not wanting children, to finding a partner and becoming a parent. -Their decision to grow their family further. -His desire to carry their child and how they made it happen. -The research and statistics around men having babies. -The myths around testosterone and infertility. -His experience through miscarriage and pregnancy. -His social and emotional experience as a man being pregnant. -His current position at the Family Equality Council and how he’s supporting other LGBTQ+ families. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: iwanttoputababyinyou.com
 Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: brightfuturesfamilies.com
Learn more about the Family Equality Council: familyequality.org

According to the Family Equality Council, approximately, 2-3.7 million children are being raised by a LGBTQ parent, a combination of couples and single parents. Today, we chat with Darren Paul-Vance. Darren is the CEO of Rainbow Families, a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to support and connect LGBTQI and nonbinary parents and prospective parents by providing educational programs, advocacy, social events, and discussion forums. ***Full transcription queermeducation.com***

“There’s a big difference between lived equality and legal equality.” Nancy has been locally and nationally recognized for her role as owner and CEO of Clockwork. She is co-author of “Interactive Project Management: Pixels, People, and Process” (New Riders, 2012) and author of the upcoming book, “How to Win at Business by Being Nice to Humans.” She serves as the Chair Emeritus of the National Board of Directors of the Family Equality Council, is on the Board of Trustees at Minnesota Public Radio, is on the Open Twin Cities Advisory Board, is on the Amplified Voices Board, and is a member of the advisory board for the innovative entrepreneurial conference, Giant Steps. She is also a member of the Women’s Presidents Organization and was the Emcee for the Women’s March MN in 2017. https://www.nancylyons.com/

In the third episode of IVFML Becoming Family, Shea and Sienna Gilliam tell the story of how they met, fell in love and decided to start building a family. When Shea comes out as transgender, Sienna has difficult choices to make about whether she should stay with her and whether to continue pursuing parenthood. Trystan Reese, Director of Family Formation at the Family Equality Council, joins the episode to talk about the barriers that LGBTQ people face when it comes to infertility treatments and acceptance of their families. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Any fertility journey can be complex, but for same-sex couples there are additional legal and political challenges that vary state by state. We hear from Trystan Reese, a transgender activist who works to ensure that every LGBTQ person has the right and ability to start their own family at Family Equality Council, and Theresa Witherspoon who, with her wife, found their family through reciprocal IVF. Today’s host is Parawana Yasmin, Patient Care Advocate, Progyny. Guests include, Trystan Reese, Director of Family Formation at Family Equality Council, and Theresa Witherspoon. For more information visit: www.progyny.com/podcast and www.familyequality.org Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com

This month’s episode of Outspoken Voices is dedicated to National Adoption Month. We’re joined by Jamie and Bo Nabozny, and Katie Mitchell, who shared their adoption stories with Emily McGranachan. Read more LGBTQ adoption stories at www.familyequality.org/adoption. Outspoken Voices is brought to you by Family Equality Council, the nation's leading advocate for LGBTQ families and those who wish to form them. Thank you to our National Adoption Month sponsor, Johnson's Baby, for supporting this month's Outspoken Voices podcast.

Family Week in Provincetown, MA is the largest annual gathering of LGBTQ parents and their children in the world. Before Family Week 2017, Family Equality Council and COLAGE got together to talk about what the week is all about, why we love it, and why it matters to hundreds of families.

February's Outspoken Voices podcast is a celebration of Black History Month and parenting. We are joined by two amazing guests highlighting how our multiple identities impact our daily lives. Both guests and their families are longtime supporters of Family Equality Council. In the podcast we hear our guests share their story of family creation, highlighting major identity markers and talking about the triumphs, joys and challenges of being a single parent, as well as how race has helped shape their family.

In January's Outspoken Voices Podcast, Family Equality Council hosts guests Johnny Cole and Nicole LaFlamme for a discussion of ways LGBTQ parents can help children navigate the changing climate in schools as we enter 2017. Learn more about Family Equality Council at www.familyequality.org

Laura Leigh Abby & Crystal-Lee Quibell discuss Writing Out Of the Closet, how to write with authenticity and handle rejection. Laura Leigh’s work has appeared in such publications as Cosmopolitan, Vice, Salon, BuzzFeed, Refinery29, Dame Magazine, The Huffington post, The Billfold, Xo Jane, Modern Loss and others. She is the creator of 2Brides2Be, an online wedding resource providing planning tools and inspiration for the modern lesbian bride. Her book of the same name is forthcoming with Rarebird and Archer Lit in early 2017. Laura Leigh and her wife Samantha appeared on the second season of Bravo TV’s Newlyweds: The First Year and are both active in the LGBT community, most recently teaming up with the Family Equality Council, The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps, and the NYC LGBT Community Center.  Crystal-Lee Quibell is the host of Literary Speaking, a weekly podcast dedicated to helping writers learn from best-selling authors, literary agents, and publishers. Founder of The Magical Writers Group, a private teaching forum for writers specifically focused on memoir. She is a champion for the written word, student of publishing and an obsessive book collector with a serious case of wanderlust. A self-described mermaid and witchy woman for life, she believes that life is better with books, chocolate, and the occasional cheese board. Her upcoming essay is to be featured in the forthcoming book, The Magic Of Memoir: Inspiration for the Writer's Journey.   

This week, the Supreme Court will hear two cases on same-sex marriage: Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case will determine the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, and United States v. Windsor, the case that will decide the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, also known as DOMA. Over the last decade, in the midst of public legislative and court battles over same-sex marriage, many gay and lesbian couples have privately decided to start families. According to the 2010 census, the number of same-sex couples raising children more than doubled over the past ten years, from eight percent in 2000 to 19 percent in 2010. Sarah Gogin is a 24-year-old senior staff associate in San Francisco. Sarah's fathers adopted her in 1988, one of the first gay adoptions in California. As a trailblazer, Sarah recalls some hardship growing up with gay parents. "As I got into grammar school, I didn't understand why people would be treating us differently," she says. "You hear things on the playground," she continues, "they throw out these words...sometime without even knowing what it means." Sixteen-year-old Malina Simhard-Halm also experienced bullying when she moved with her fathers from Los Angeles to Santa Fe in the fourth grade. "I was just different," she says, "but it felt like I was the subject of a lot of bullying and my parents were also being discriminated against." "On a school level," she says, "yes, I was a different kid. I had two gay dads. But, on a political level, too, my parents were still…unable to do certain things and to obtain certain rights." Unlike Sarah and Malina, Kevin Gibson Weinberger, a 13-year-old who lives with his fathers in Los Angeles, has grown up as one of many kids with same-sex parents. "More kids in my school have two dads or two moms," Kevin says. "Families are more diverse nowadays, so I don't really feel left out." "I don't really get bullied at school at all; I don't recall being bullied at all," Kevin says. "But I feel like…the government is bullying my parents by not letting them have rights that they should have." Kevin continues. "I get all these rights — well, not as many as adults, but I get rights, and when I'm older, I get rights to marry, and I feel like they should have rights to marry also." Sarah is amazed by the school environment Kevin describes. "Times have changed," she says, "and it's incredible to hear." "It's crazy and great to see kids so young, starting so young, really standing up for their beliefs and standing up for their families." As for the cases before the court, Malina feels that her generation is part of a civil rights movement for LGBT rights. "I definitely want to be a part of the huge wave…that has picked up in the past few years." Malina and Sarah are members of Outspoken Generation, a group for children with LGBT parents, and Malina is proud that the organization wrote testimony for an amicus brief filed by the Family Equality Council.   If Proposition 8 and DOMA are upheld, Malina, Kevin and Sarah note that while they would be disappointed, they'd nevertheless remain confident in their families. "If we lose," Kevin says, "my family is no less of a family than we were before. If gay marriage is approved, and my parents do get married, we're no less of a family and no more of a family."

In episode 7 of Thoughts from a Lezzymom I discuss the latest LGBT news stories including an interview with a couple told they can't fly a rainbow flag in their neighborhood. I also play a song from the Pod Safe Music Network by artist Adrina Thorpe called "Midnight". The song can be found at music.podshow.com. Featured interview is with Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of the Family Equality Council. I wrap things up with a final thought about the attack on the Human Rights Campaign and how it potentially could have been avoided. More info about the show found on lezzymom.com. Email your comments and show ideas to lezzymom@gmail.com.

Episode 31 - Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of the Family Equality Council. My commentary is titled "An Outsider's View of Our Inner City Schools."