COLAGE is the only national youth-driven network for people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. For over 20 years, we’ve built a community and movement toward social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development, education, and advocacy. Join us to help strengthen the unique voice of youth and adults of LGBTQ families across the country!

COLAGE is currently seeking candidates for the Board of Directors.  We are a multi-racial, multi-cultural, and multi-talented group of dedicated volunteers that include youth and adults with LGBTQ parents, LGBTQ parents, and allies from around the nation.  Well-qualified candidates will have an opportunity to help guide and cultivate COLAGE through a new era.

While we welcome any interested applicants, we are particularly seeking:

• Experience with nonprofit/corporate fundraising
• Experience with financial oversight and accounting
• Experience with law/legal practice (LGBTQ, human rights, non-profit, or family law preferred)
• Energetic, talented, self-starter youth (currently enrolled in high school)

To apply: Please send a current resume and a concise Letter of intent to the Membership Committee at: membership@colage.org Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or would like additional information.

Young people are encouraged to apply.

We look forward to reviewing your application!

If you have a friend or co-worker that may seem like a good fit for the board please pass their name on to us, and have them apply!

Although some people like OMM found the ad offensive, many people applauded J.C. Penney for it.  Because of people like you, J.C. Penney received enormous support from its more progressive clientele.  This advertisement didn’t just say, look at our great clothing line.  It also said, We support ALL families.

We, at COLAGE, were thrilled.  Many of us felt visible and validated to see families similar to our own being advertised in mainstream media.  Still, we were also worried that the OMM’s hate wave would keep J.C. Penney in check for fear of losing much of their customer-base.  We at COLAGE are now beyond thrilled to say that J.C. Penney continues to take a stand.  For Father’s Day,
J.C. Penney posted this advertisement, picturing two doting dads, aiming to celebrate ALL fathers.

There is, however, an important word to point out in the above paragraph.  That word is “aiming.”  And though we are grateful for J.C. Penney’s support of families with same-sex parents, we find ourselves concerned about a different representational shortcoming.

In addition to common ad issues like lack of size diversity and the exclusivity of commercialized beauty – issues that deserve [and have] their own respective (and often intersecting) discourse – the photos are not as inclusive (and therefore not as empowering) as we think they should be.

One of the main selling points of the advertisements is that they showcase real, loving families.  We can see from the photos that these are real families full of very real love.  However, both sets of parents in the advertisements appear to be white.  If real families are being modeled, that realness needs to include all kinds of families; families of different races/ethnicities, classes, sizes, etc.  When J.C. Penney creates ads that are able to do that, we will truly have something to celebrate.  J.C. Penney normally does a tremendous job of showcasing many different kinds of people.  We want to encourage that kind of inclusion to continue.

It is important to note that the COLAGErs in the second advertisement appear to be youth of color (and possibly mixed identities).  This is certainly a step in the direction we hope J.C. Penney continues to go.  We understand the difficulty of representational advertising and the bravery that the folks in charge of advertisement at J.C. Penney MUST have.  We applaud that bravery and that gumption.  Way to go, J.C. Penney.  COLAGE loves you for this.  And we encourage you to keep working to make real families visible.

We would love to hear what you think about this post and encourage you to get in touch with us through email.