PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Here you’ll find general information on some of Rainbow Families’ regularly scheduled LGBTQ+ family community resources, programs and events. Visit our calendar for a current list of all opportunities.

Many programs are held virtually, thus available to participants nationwide. Membership is not required to participate in most programs, however, active members receive discounted (or no-cost) admission to most programs. Plus, thanks to the generosity of loyal donors, financial support is almost always available.

View Current Programs & Events:    Calendar 

MAYBE BABY COURSE

Considering Parenthood? We Can Help!

Rainbow Families’ Maybe Baby was created over 30 years ago for prospective LGBTQ+ parents (single, married or partnered) thinking about parenthood and interested in learning more about the options and considerations in building a family.

The coursework covers a broad range of topics including readiness to be a parent, decision making, overview of creating family through adoption, assisted reproduction and foster care/older child, financial and legal issues, building a support network, considerations for single parenting, interracial and intercultural families, and the joys and challenges of being an LGBTQ+ headed family.  The class is designed to provide a balance of active discussion and sharing, as well as to gain practical, accurate information that helps set the foundation for moving forward.

Like all Rainbow Families programs, this is a safe and welcoming space for all in the LGBTQ+ community.

SUPPORT PROGRAMS

For LGBTQ+ parents, prospective parents and families, Rainbow Families offers a variety of virtual support groups, most of which are facilitated by trained mental health professionals or therapists.   Many programs are free of charge or have a modest registration fee – which is reduced for Rainbow Families members.

If financial constraints prohibit you from registering for any Rainbow Families program, please email our Executive Director in confidence.

Support Group programs include:

  • Adoption Support Group
  • Conception Support Group
  • New Parent Support Group
  • Divorced & Separated Rainbow Families (DSRF)
  • LGBTQ+ Parenthood Grief & Loss
  • Single Parent by Choice
  • RF TransParenting
  • RF Sober Parenting

LEGAL TALK: PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Helping make sense of mounting changes, and offering useful takeaways

Since Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe, we have witnessed further-reaching implications for the LGBTQ+ community.  Marriage, parentage, privacy, and other rights are on the radar at both the federal and state level.  In 2022 there were over 300 anti-LGBTQ articles of legislation proposed.

We have a lot to navigate – fear, anger, frustration – especially as we determine what’s real (or not) when doomscrolling on social media.

There’s no crystal ball. No one has all the answers.  However, Rainbow Families’ Legal Talk Series is designed to empower, inform and connect.

Our periodic virtual discussions seek to provide an opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics such as marriage, estate planning, surrogacy and other ART pathways, adoption, birth certificates, wills and powers of attorney, unpacking the emotions of all this, and more.   Each session will focus on a different topic.    Please note – these are not to be taken as legal advice; consult with your own legal professional for actions/decisions best suited to your unique situation.  The opinions expressed by our presenters are their own.

Go to our calendar to find dates of upcoming sessions, and to register.

RAINBOW FAMILIES QPOCX

Queer Parents of Color Connection

In Rainbow Families’ continued work towards supporting and engaging all members of the LGBTQ+ family community, we have committed to supporting a space specifically and intentionally created for BIPOC (Black and Indigenous People of Color) who are parents (or hopeful parents!) to connect, recharge, and network with other queer parents of color (QPOC).    This means you have lived experiences as an adult Black or Brown person, and desire the opportunity to come together as a community to discuss and share resources, laugh and learn about commonalities and differences, as well as dig deeper into the BIPOC experiences that unite us.

Started in May of 2022, the group picks up at our 2023 Annual Family Conference with meetings and gatherings throughout the year.  For information, email SUPPORT@RAINBOWFAMILIES.ORG

FAMILY CONFERENCE & GATHERING

The Rainbow Familes Annual Conference & Gathering provides a full day to focus on our families in a safe, supportive, celebratory environment – and more significantly, the opportunity to gather, network, share and learn together after two years of separation, stress, and loss.

Why is our Conference unique?  It’s the only event of its kind in our region and beyond.   It’s created by our community, for our community.  It brings together people linked by special bonds.  It provides us opportunities to learn from experts and each other, to engage in rich conversation & personal exploration, and to develop deeper connections across those common bonds.

Our Conference is a full day of workshops on a variety of tracks (such as parenting, prospective/future parents, diversity/education), fascinating guest speakers, our Annual Hero of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards and more.

We include a Resource Fair presented  –  a gathering of LGBTQ+ owned and/or inclusive businesses and service providers who work with our community every day.

This is a special space for the LGBTQ+ family community to not only learn more about the topics that matter to them, but also to build on their own community of support.

FAMILY CAMP WEEKEND

Since the 1990s, Rainbow Families has organized a popular annual camp/retreat weekend specifically for LGBTQ+ families, primarily attended by LGBTQ+ parents with children under 15, as well as prospective LGBTQ+ parents.   Most events we offer include and celebrate our allies –  however our camping weekend is designed solely for our LGBTQ+ families.

The value of gathering our families together in a celebratory, safe, affirming space is immense.  Having our children be around other families like theirs is empowering.  And providing parents an opportunity to make life-long connections is fantastic as well.

In recent years we’ve added numerous programs and activities, such as SWIMMING, an incredible TODDLER ZONE  and the most fun FAMILY DANCE PARTY  –  all organized by incredible volunteers.

OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT

Providing opportunities for our families to connect with other families like theirs, in an affirming and celebratory way, is vital for all – our children, as well as parents.

Each year, Rainbow Families creates opportunities for our families to celebrate, connect, and feel empowered.   We have long-standing annual programs such as our Camping Weekend, numerous Family Picnics and Family Dances, the Rainbow Families Annual Family Conference, outings to the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles games, weekend excursions to Great Wolf Lodge and much more.

Rainbow Families also coordinates, along with our members and volunteers, regional and neighborhood playgroups, cooking classes, pizza parties, library story times, arts & crafts, etc.   Members usually volunteer to help organize playgroups; if interested please email us HERE

Through in-person and virtual programming, providing spaces for our children (and our parents) to be around other families like theirs is an important part of helping them feel a part of a community, included, safe, and celebrated – regardless of how they or their families identify.   No explaining, no code-shifting.

(c) 2020-2022 Rainbow Families, Maybe Baby, and the "Tree" logo are trademarks of Rainbow Families DC. Use of the Rainbow Families name, logo, images/products requires written authorization.