COLAGE: People with a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Parent » videos

Watch: Families at San Francisco Pride

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:12:17 +0000

On Sunday, June 26, 2011 famlies marched with COLAGE and Our Family Coalition in the San Francisco Pride Parade. Afterwards they enjoyed a “family garden” with activities such as face painting, a play ground, and more!

Beginners Video Stories

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:27:22 +0000

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Beginners

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 06:50:46 +0000

COLAGE Features:

Preview & Synopsis:

“Beginners imaginatively explores the hilarity, confusion, and surprises of love through the evolving consciousness of Oliver (Golden Globe Award nominee Ewan McGregor). Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna (Mélanie Laurent of Inglourious Basterds) only months after his father Hal Fields (Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer) has passed away.

This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father, who, following the death of his wife of 45 years, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life – which included a younger boyfriend, Andy (Goran Visnjic of ER). The upheavals of Hal’s new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son closer than they’d ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor, and hope that his father taught him.”

Watch: Delaware Families Celebrate Civil Unions!

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:34:08 +0000

Contribute to COLAGE to help us continue to amplify the voices of people with LGBTQ parents!

COLAGE families featured on Delaware Online:

“I love my father — even more since he’s been able to be more true to himself,” Brian said. “Our relationship got far more honest.”

“For many children of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) parents, having a family that’s treated differently and discriminated against can be isolating or challenging,” said Tipping, who now leads the group with Patty Irwin. “But when they meet others who can appreciate that experience because they’ve been there, they feel seen, heard and understood — often for the first time.”That’s how Daryl Cramer felt, and so did three of his buddies — Dakota, Jeffrey and Kyle, the 11-year-old triplet sons of Eve Davis and her former partner, Ingrid. The triplets were among the first to join COLAGE. Read the full story>

Casey Lyn Goold Testifies in Delaware:

“It sickens me to think that my mother and I may be refused the right to have a final goodbye if something should happen to my mom Debbie because their relationship is not legally bound.” Read her full testimony>

Watch: Ellen Kahn Defends Virginia’s LGBTQ Families

markdanielsnyder — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:02:44 +0000

This week Virginia’s State Board of Social Services voted 7 to 2 to uphold a ban on unmarried couples adopting children. In the video below, shared by ThinkProgress, our friend Ellen Kahn stands up to VA Delegate Bob Marshall who calls gay couples “disordered.”

Should Gay Couples Have The Right To Adopt Children in Virginia?: MyFoxDC.com

COLAGE needs your support to empower a new generation of leaders with the skills to advocate for equality for all families. Please donate today.

Oscar Nominated – The Kids Are All Right: Real Life Stories!

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:49:51 +0000

The stories of three COLAGE leaders are featured on the website for the new hit film The Kids Are All Right – nominated for 4 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actress (Annette Bening), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), and Best Original Screenplay (Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg).

The Focus Features film stars Mia Wasikowska and Jose Hutcherson as 2 kids born through donor insemination to their moms, played by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. The film is a sensational presentation about a Hollywood donor inseminated family and touches on some of the experiences faced by our families, living in a world that treats us differently.

The Kids Are All Right’s release coincides with the coming of age of a generation of people born to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer people who chose to have children while being out about their sexuality. The film gives COLAGErs a chance to speak out, be heard and share their real-life experiences as donor-conceived people born to LGBTQ parents. What did you think of the film? Was it realistic? Problematic? Validating? Submit your comments below!

COLAGE DI GUIDE!

For more resources, stories, and information check out the COLAGE DI GUIDE! This groundbreaking publication captures the perspectives of donor-conceived youth and young adults who were raised by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) parent. The DI Guide offers testimonials in order to answer the questions and address the concerns of current and future generations of donor-conceived children. It is also an invaluable handbook for current and future LGBTQ parents, as well as teachers and medical professionals.

Watch: Zach Wahls on Ellen!

admin — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 22:14:31 +0000

COLAGE extends our huge congrats and thank you to Zach and the Ellen Show for once again amplifying the voices of people with LGBTQ parents on a national… global level. Sharing our stories is how we are going to create a world that treats families with LGBTQ parents with the same respect and dignity that all families deserve. “You’re a hero for what you did,” Ellen said, and we agree! We also recognize that there are millions of heroes like Zach sharing your stories at school and in your communities each and everyday!

Watch: Gay Parents in the South

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:27:38 +0000

The media is catching on to something we at COLAGE have known for a long time – people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) parents live everywhere, and many of us live in the South!

COLAGE has recently hired a Field and Chapter Coordinator who will be based in Atlanta. Later this year we’ll be hosting a Southern Regional Retreat for people with LGBTQ parents! Sign up for our e-mail updates to be alerted when we have more details about upcoming events.

Watch: Child of Lesbian Parents Speaks Out in Iowa!

admin — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:53:00 +0000

Zach Wahls is 19 year old Iowan who spoke out at public forum about House Joint Resolution 6, an amendment that would repeal the state’s marriage equality law, and all legal recognition for gay couples.

COLAGE applauds him and his family for taking a courageous, public stand amplifying the voices of people with LGBTQ parents. Zach is helping to reduce the isolation and challenges many people with LGBTQ parents and their families face during heated, highly publicized political struggles for full equality.

Transgender Day of Remembrance: Lots of video & resources!

admin — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:06:17 +0000

Story by Stephanie Herwig (with resources provided by COLAGE)
My dad is a Male to Female transsexual, happily married lesbian, devout Christian, and fascinating human.
Watch this preview of the film featuring my family:

She came out to me 14 years ago when I was 16, and it’s been a wild ride ever since. We’ve gone through periods of awkwardness, anger, resentment, and frustration. I’ve struggled with acceptance, and have had to face some very difficult questions – not least of all: “Who is this person who used to be my father…and is now a woman…but is not my mother….?” and “How in the world do I relate to this person?”
But would I trade any of that for simplicity? No.
To me, as a child of a transsexual woman, this is an issue of honesty. We cannot have real and vibrant relationships with each other if we are not first honest with ourselves about who we are, and then honest with those around us. People who have to deal with issues of transgender/transsexuality must be able to fully manifest who they are in all authenticity. How else can they have meaningful relationships with those of us who love them?
Have a transgender parent? Click here to join the Kids of Trans e-mail list to connect with other people who have a transgender parent.
My dad – now Sara, or “Saree” to me – and I have not had an easy time. I still feel a sense of loss for my ‘father’ – the one man in my life that was always supposed to be there for me. But when Saree made the move to fully manifest who she is as a woman, our relationship became much deeper. The authenticity that she shows in herself reflects in the way we relate to each other and gives me courage to trust her with the difficult things that I have to be honest about. If we have issues to deal with between us, we talk about it, and I know I can tell her anything. It’s amazing how freeing that kind of honesty can be.
It is my hope that as more and more people like my Saree decide to come out and say “This is who I am. Let’s get to know each other for real” so that our society will stop being afraid of being honest about who we all are in all our complexity. Complexity is what makes humanity interesting and beautiful. We just need the courage to open our eyes and take in all the intricacies of the people around us.
Check out the I AM project by the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition:

The National Transgender Day of Remembrance – to me – is about honoring those who have suffered for their authenticity, and about supporting those who are standing strong for who they are in the face of a world that is terrified of honesty – and treats our families differently. Lets just all be who we are: no lies, no fear.
Monica Canfield-Lenfest, author of the Kids of Trans Resource Guide, shares her story in this video:

And here is the guide!
KOT Resource Guide