2009 Programs
Our programs are aimed at strengthening our families and mobilizing increasing numbers of sexual minority parents and youth to speak out publicly and organizes support within their communities in Portland, OR, rural Oregon and Washington, and beyond. We believe that organizing and supporting sexual minority youth, parents, and their children in schools is critical to building public understanding of discrimination against LGBT people.
- Marriage Resources
- Fair at the Fairs
- Family Support Groups
- Referral Services
- Opening Hearts and Minds (LARA)
- Public Speaking
Fair at the Fairs
Family Equality outreach booths at County Fairs in Clackamas and Yamhill Counties. Funds will be used to pay booth rental fees, purchase supplies, and pay staff salary for organizing and training volunteers to staff the booths. The goal of the project is to shift cultural attitudes toward LGBT people and families so that voters will cease supporting anti-gay ballot measures, and will support social and legal equality. The objectives of the booths are to create person-to-person connections that will move positive people to action, negative people toward neutrality, and undecided people toward a more positive feeling about LGBT people and families while raising our visibility in an unexpected setting.
Family Support
Since 1993 Love Makes A Family has been building a community that is supportive of LGBT parents and their children. The Metro group and Clark County Group stopped meeting monthly as the kids got older and more involved in school and community activities and parents found support networks within their schools and neighborhoods. We still meet occasionally for special activities, and help parents who are just coming out or who are new to the area connect with other families.
We are also affiliated with The Dad's Group which meets twice a month.* The Dad's Group (a support group for gay, bi, trans & questioning Dads) meets the first Tuesday and the third Wednesday.
For more information or to find a network for your family, contact info@LMFamily.org.
We also provide speakers about sexual minority families and sexual minority family issues at schools, congregations, organizations, business, or public events. We also offer a speaker training workshop, Opening Hearts and Minds, that teaches participants to use non-violent speech techniques to create community dialogues about sexual orientation. We also have available the Love Makes A Family photo-text exhibit, a beautiful display of sexual minority families. For more information, call Bonnie at 503-228-3892 or email Info@LMfamily.org.
Referral Services
We can provide professional referrals for a range of needs. Call us for tips about marriage, adoption (legal ref's and agencies), counseling, crisis support, non-violent parenting, friendly churches, or school advocacy. For more information, call Love Makes a family at 503-228-3892 or email Info@LMfamily.org.