Gay Dad's Group Started
The Men's Wellness Program has initiated a support and social group for gay fathers. This effort is part of our ongoing work in Gay Men's Community Development.
The group will held an initial meeting to discuss how it would like to operate and laying the ground work for providing a safe and effective support and social network for gay fathers and married gay men.
If you are interested in checking it out send an email gay.dads@avi.org or call 250-284-2366.
Tell us what you think or need by replying to this online forum or emailing gay.dads@avi.org
Check out the information below. We will be adding more resources as this community development program grows.
Gay Fathers of Toronto is a non profit organization offering a supportive environment for fathers who are gay.
I found this internet resource on Gay Married Men and find it useful.
You can find many links addressing issues facing Gay Married Men
coming out to your children
How and when does a father come out to his child? Amity Pierce Buxton, Ph.D. is the chair of Straight Spouse Network, an educator, researcher, and author well worth reading. Her essay THOUGHTS ON A FATHER's COMING OUT TO HIS CHILDREN gives a sensible and well researched approach to this issue.
support for your spouse
When husbands come out wives go into their own closet. A safe place to go for information and help is the STRAIGHT SPOUSE NETWORK. A network for those formerly or currently partnered with gay mates SSN provides confidential support and information across the United States and abroad. http://www.ssnetwk.org/index.shtml
support for the kids
Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere, COLAGE, is a support and advocacy group run by and for daughters and sons of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents. They have newsletters, local groups, email lists, national conferences, pen pals and more.
http://www.colage.org/
you can also check out these links
PFLAG Canada and in Victoria
PFLAG Victoria BC
PO Box 5474, Station B, Victoria BC V8R 6S4
Shirley Fyles 250-477-8771
pflag_victoria@yahoo.ca
Meets the 3rd Sunday, September to June, 2 pm
OutProud for Parents of gay Children
One more good site ...
This internet guide is designed first and foremost to be a resource for any married gaydad who is contemplating coming out or who is in the process of doing so. It includes a rather detailed description (Website owner's story) of what led him to marry and what prompted him to come out; a list of resources(paper, electronic, and in real life) that he has found useful in his journey; and a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Seattle Gay Fathers Group
I found this group in Seattle and have contacted them to see if they have some advice on getting our group up and running in Victoria.
Gay Fathers Association of Seattle
The Gay Fathers Association of Seattle is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for all gay and/or bisexual men who have children. The Association seeks to promote community awareness, act as a referral and resource network, and provide peer support for the entire family.
Activities include:
Facilitating regular support group meetings
Holding social gatherings for members and for member's families
Publishing an email newsletter to inform members about upcoming events and to disseminate information relative to gay parenting
Collecting informational materials on pertinent issues
Acting as a clearinghouse and resource center
Organizing workshops to promote healthy families in the context of gay parenting
Forging ties with local and national gay parenting groups
Organizing mentoring programs for people interested in becoming parents and for young families
Creating a forum for political activism
Agathap
Hey, I was surfin' for local sites and found my way here. Great looking site.
GALE BC helps Gay Fathers Through Education System
This is another group that works to assist GLBTQ Parents.
The primary focus of GALE BC (Gay and Lesbian Educators) is to advocate for change in the educational system which will result in a positive environment for lesbians, gays and bisexuals in education, whether they are students, parents, teachers, or administrators.
Postal Address:
GALE BC
Box 93678
Nelson Park PO
Vancouver
British Columbia, V6E 4L7
gale_bc@canada.com
Info Line:
(604) 688 9378 Extension 2004
Phone Contacts:
(604) 987 4897 Noble
(604) 688 0924 Steve
Two Gay Dad's (From Capital XTRA)
MOVING ON in Capital XTRA
Gay fathers
Fearing isolation, finding support
by Glenn Crawford
NOT ALONE. Ross and Cliff have come to grips with being gay fathers. Photo by COLIN SEAMAN.
What happens when "Father Knows Best" is gay? Some men are either slow to recognize their orientation or can be attracted enough to a woman that they fall in love, get married and have children. Living with the pressure of conforming to the norm, life can get a bit confusing.
For whatever reason, some men begin to question their choices and suddenly face the fact that what was chosen is not making them happy. The last thing they want to do is hurt anyone, especially their families. So how do they get advice and support and deal with the difficult decisions they're now facing? Turning to Gay Fathers of Ottawa is likely a great place to begin.
Click here for the rest of the article in Capital XTRA
youth
It's strange the priorities at AVI, now married men. Why not do something for youth! The community knows you've had funding in the past for youth worker and there is nothing to show for it. Maybe the director of AVI should familiarize himself with HIV infection demographics and give some direction to the education department.
Dear ChipdipThanks for th
Dear Chipdip
Thanks for this.
I have been waiting to get the web site team together prior to saying anything.
We are working with some young people to get a youth website up and to start a youth group. Currently we have most the material for the site and are looking for a website development team to create a site that will be interesting to young people.
Would love to hear from you, you can reach me at men@avi.org or by calling me. The number is 250 384-2366.
Rick
Youth
No, AVI isn't geared to young people at all, why? I think that is the point, not just setting up a group. Maybe get someone dynamic and engaging (not invisible) to run the show there people.
youth services
You're quite right when you say a lot more needs to be done for youth around HIV. We know from a very recent national survey that many youth are missing the prevention message, that many youth think there is now a "cure" for HIV, and even that about half think vaseline is ok to use with condoms! There is lots more to do, no question. Let me just point out though that our two education workers (one in Nanaimo, one in Victoria) provided over 400 school-based prevention workshops last year alone to junior-high and senior-high students on the central and south island. But no, it's not enough ... we need to be doing a better job of reaching youth at the highest risk; those young males having sex with men, young sexually active women, youth using drugs by injection and Aboriginal youth. Thanks jp for your comment, I appreciate any others you have, to my email or posted... jim.oliver@avi.org
LGBTQ Website
I would like to help. I like the idea of a website for youth. What ages are we talking about when you say youth? Highschool, adults? Send me a an instant message and will give you my contact info.
LGBTQ Website
The site will be aimed from High school aged youth and those 25 years old.
youth site
Why high school? Those boys are out exploring sex a lot earlier than that! like 13...
youth site
Thanks for that. 13 is usually the age most youth enter High School so will fit our profile of user. Even though the site will be geared toward High School and older youth, there will be slip over for those younger and older. For a project like this to be successful, you need to focus on a target group.
If you make the target group too large you will run the risk of delivering the same stuff you would for a general site and missing the needs of a sector you were trying to inform.
I believe society should be educating youth younger than 13, that is another discussion and could be something we will attempt after we have succeeded with this project for High School and older youth.
Gay Dad's Support Group Starts
The Men's Wellness Program at AIDS Vancouver Island has begun a support group for Gay Dad's.
This group is for those that have children or step-children, sharing custody or not, adult children or still at home.
If you are a step-father, father and gay, this group is for you.
The group will discuss ways and means of supporting each other and to provide social opportunities for themselves and with their children to enjoy.
For information call Rick Barnes, Coordinator, Gay Men's Community Development, Men's Wellness Program, AIDS Vancouver Island. 250 384-2366 or email gay.dads@avi.org
www.avi.org/men/men
The Men's Wellness program also supplies one with one peer meetings for those that are coming out or trying to come out.
Any More Interested Gay Dad's, Meeting tonight!
Meeting tonight for Gay Dad's. Hope to see some of you come out. Send an email to men@avi.org (or leave a message on my phone, 250 384-2366 local 110)if you are interested in coming. If you can leave your phone number, I will call you late this afternoon! Otherwise send an email to gay.dads@avi.org
Salut and In Pride
Rick
Gay Dad's in Victoria Success
WOW. Gay Dad's met tonight! We had a good time this evening. It went very well. We will meet again in one month. Watch the website for notice. If you are on Rick's elist, you will receive an email.
Salut
PaPa Rick (I think I was the only Grandfather there.) They are welcome too!
Community perception
Are you guys doing any AIDS education work there? Instead of running social groups and parties? And you're getting government money! Maybe not for long. Hey what's the latest?
look before you leap
Maybe you should look into the history of what AVI has done, and what the good people at AVI really do, before being so quick to criticize. And, if you did, you would not ask if they are doing any AIDS education work.
By the way, gaydads are part of the community. All that AVI has done is provide a focus for gaydads to organise their own meetings.
maurice
Hello
Excellent!!! !
Greetings
Excellent!!! !
Hello
Excellent!!! !