COLAGE

People with Trans Parents Youth Chat
2023-12-03 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join COLAGE’s People with Trans Parents Youth Chat! This month, the PTP chat is specifically for youth ages 8-18 who have one or more trans or nonbinary parent/caregiver. People with a trans or non-binary parent or caregiver are one of the fastest growing groups of queerspawn — you are not alone! Join our PTP facilitators and meet with other people with similar experiences and discuss your family in a safe space.

Jewish COLAGErs
2023-12-03 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Do you have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver? Do you identify as Jewish or does at least one of your parents identify as Jewish? If so, come join our second Jewish COLAGErs affinity chat. This space is for Jewish COLAGErs who are 16 or older. We will discuss the challenges and joys of being a COLAGEr and being Jewish and all of it’s intersections. Our goal is to build connections and talk about this current world moment.
Note: This event was conceived by community members who wanted this space. If you are interested in starting an affinity space for any identities you hold, or if you have questions about this event, please email info@colage.org.

An Interactive Workshop for Interracial Adoptive LGBTQ+ Parents
2023-11-30 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Hosted by COLAGEr, Tony Hynes, Training Specialist, Center for Adoption Support and Education. This seminar will provide a space where perspective and current interracial adoptive LGBTQ+ parents can share their questions, experiences and concerns about parenting children who are of a different race from their own. In addition, during this event, parents will learn about best practices in interracial adoptive families related but not limited to: best practices in creating diverse environments, how parents can help their children in fostering healthy racial identity development, how to talk about race and racism in interracial adoptive families, and the importance of birth family connections. Join us!
Tony was adopted by his parents, Mary and Janet, in the mid-1990s. He writes about his experiences growing up as both an interracial adoptee and as a child growing up in an LGBTQ-headed household in his memoir “The Son With Two Moms,” a text that has been cited in the family court system to highlight best practices. Today, Tony is an advocate for families like his, having served on the Board of Directors for organizations that help to highlight adoptive families from diverse upbringings. He has been invited to be a speaker at conferences on adoption and foster care throughout the nation and has a passion for speaking up for children and families touched by challenges in the adoption and foster care system. Tony completed his master’s thesis in Sociology on the psychology of children within the same-sex headed household and is now completing his Ph.D. studies in Language, Literacy, and Culture at the Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County, where he has begun work on his dissertation, which focuses on social connectedness among adult, interracial adoptees. As the Training Specialist at the Center for Adoption Support and Education, Tony Hynes has designed innovative training curriculums that help families and professionals respond to evaluation and assessment tools that encapsulate holistic pictures of adoptees and foster youth.

Queerspawn Writer's Workshop with Kerry Cullen
2023-11-20 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Do you have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver? Do you like to write? Come join our third Queerspawn Writer’s Workshop in a four-part series with queerspawn author, Kerry Cullen. This workshop is open to queerspawn who write as a hobby, who are professional writers and anything in-between.
When writing, many of us feel a mandate to excavate difficult, complicated feelings and lay them out on the page. In this workshop, we will practice using our real feelings but changing the facts around them, and we’ll reflect on how we can make the stories of our own lives new through fictionalization. There will be two loosely guided writing exercises, and discussions after both.
Kerry Cullen’s writing has been published in The Indiana Review, Prairie Schooner, Catapult, and more. She earned her MFA at Columbia University, then entered the publishing world as an intern at One Story Magazine, where she is still a volunteer reader. After that, she became an agent’s assistant at Curtis Brown, Ltd, then spent five years assisting and editing at Henry Holt. Currently, she is a literary scout with JMH Scouting. She is writing a novel, and she lives in New York.

Adult COLAGErs
2023-11-15 20:00 - 21:30, 2023-09-27 20:00 - 21:00, 2023-07-12 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Are you 18 or older and have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver? Come join the Adult COLAGErs group as we share our experiences, listen to each other’s stories, and hang out with each other! Our event will take place on Zoom!

Queerspawn Book & Media Club with Author Q&A
2023-11-12 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
If you are 16 or older and have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver, join our Queerspawn Book & Media Club, co-hosted by the Queerspawn Resource Project. The Queerspawn Book & Media Club will read, watch, and consume literature and media that is by or about queerspawn! We assign a new work and meet on a bi-monthly basis (every other month). All you have to do to join the Club is read the assigned book below and register for the Zoom meeting. If you can’t join this time around, check back after November 12 for the next assignment and meeting date. This month, for the second half of the meeting we will get to do a Q&A with the author!
The piece of work for November is This Terrible True Thing by Jenny Laden. The publishers graciously offered a 25% discount to any queerspawn reading this book for the Book Club. Visit this site and use the code Terrible25.
About the Book: While high school senior Danielle Silver is applying to RISD to fulfill her long-time dream of becoming an artist, she finds that AIDS has struck her father’s friends. Balancing mourning and physics homework, first crushes and paralyzing fear, Danielle must struggle to find the positive in the dark days of the early 90s. The visual style of the work allows us to see Danielle’s drawings, read her journal entries, and experience her poetry as she tries to capture all the feelings of her adolescence and hard realities collide. It is in turns touching, insightful, funny, and devastating as we watch a girl realize the relationship between the personal and political, art and activism. While set in the 90s at the height of the AIDS crisis, the themes of pandemic fear and activism through art ring true to today. . The work includes 59 b/w illustrations, and each chapter of the book is titled for a relevant “vintage” song to help set the mood.Here is a full playlist.
About the Author: Jenny Laden was born in Philadelphia and began painting at the age of nine. She studied art and art history at Barnard College and received her master’s degree in fine art from New York University. She has exhibited in New York; Chicago; Washington, DC; McClean; Richmond; Miami; Philadelphia; San Francisco; and Berlin, and had work in multiple publications. After her father’s death in 1996, she became a HIV/AIDS educator in New York City and worked with C.O.L.A.G.E. (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) leading staff at Family week for four summers. She works at the Institute of Contemporary Art at UPenn, and lives in Philadelphia with her family. More info can be found at www.jennyladen.com

Jewish COLAGErs
2023-11-12 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Do you have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver? Do you identify as Jewish or does at least one of your parents identify as Jewish? If so, come join our first Jewish COLAGErs affinity chat. This space is for Jewish COLAGErs who are 16 or older. We will discuss the challenges and joys of being a COLAGEr and being Jewish and all of it’s intersections. Our goal is to build connections and talk about this current world moment.
Note: This event was conceived by community members who wanted this space. If you are interested in starting an affinity space for any identities you hold, or if you have questions about this event, please email info@colage.org.

Alternative Relationship Structures: A Workshop with Asha Leong
2023-11-06 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Do you have one or more LGBTQ+ parents? Are you interested in non-monogamy, polyamory or relationship anarchy but don’t know how to approach it quite yet? Are you practicing polyamory, but still need some questions answered? During this discussion, we will go over various relationship structures and give strategies about how to map out your relationship constellation that reflects your needs and desires. Register here!
This workshop is facilitated by 2nd Gen Queerspawn, Asha Leong. Asha is healer, coach and trainer focused on helping queer, trans, people of color thrive. Asha has a deep passion for helping people heal, understand, create, and manifest their personal vision of sexual liberation. Asha is an ordained earth based healer with over a decade of training in her craft. Asha specializes in horoscope readings, spiritual coaching, and chakra energy healings. Asha founded the Sexual Liberation Collective which is an intentional collective of people who are passionate about healing and sexual liberation in 2012. Through her practice DreamingDesires.com Asha help’s queer, trans, people of color heal from trauma, create relationships, name their desires, build queer family and manifest their personal vision of sexual liberation into the world. This year Asha is excited to have her short story “The Chase” included in Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year. When at home Asha’s enjoys organic gardening, vegetarian cooking and writing.

People with Trans Parents
2023-11-05 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join COLAGE’s People with Trans Parents chat! People with a trans or non-binary parent or caregiver are one of the fastest growing groups of queerspawn — you are not alone! Join facilitators Annastasia, Maria, and Olivia to meet with other people with similar experiences and discuss your family in a safe space.
This month we will be celebrating Trans Parents Day! There will be break out groups for youth and adults!

Queerspawn Writer's Workshop with Susan Raffo
2023-10-18 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York)
Do you have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver? Do you like to write? Come join our second Queerspawn Writer’s Workshop in a four-part series with queerspawn author, Susan Raffo. This workshop is open to queerspawn who write as a hobby, who are professional writers and anything in-between.
Susan Raffo (she/her) is a writer, cultural worker and bodyworker with a personal practice who does much of her work through the Healing Histories Project, a network of abolitionist healers/health practitioners, community organizers, researchers/historians & cultural workers building solidarity to interrupt the medical industrial complex and harmful systems of care, as well as locally as a core group member of REP, a Black-led network showing up to support others in moments of crisis or urgency, with care and respect for the full dignity and autonomy of those in crisis. Raffo is the author of Queerly Classed (1997), Restricted Access (1999), and Liberated to the Bone (AK Press: 2022). You can find her writing and other work at www.susanraffo.com.
Listening to ancestors: a writing workshop. In this workshop, participants will be supported to listen to many different lines of ancestors – blood and bone ancestors, queer ancestors, and other kinds of kin. Using a mix of somatic practice and inward listening, this practice will support a kind of emergent writing. You can use the space for new work or bring work that is already in process and where you would like ancestral guidance to deepen your words.

Queerspawn Writer’s Workshop with Heather Bryant
2023-09-30 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Do you have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver? Do you like to write? Come join our first Queerspawn Writer’s Workshop in a four-part series with queerspawn author, Heather Bryant. This workshop is open to queerspawn who write as a hobby, who are professional writers and anything in-between.
Heather Bryant is a writer based in Sunnyside, NY, and the author of My Trans Parent. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in The Massachusetts Review, The Southeast Review, and anthologies including Trans-Kin: A Guide for Family and Friends of Transgender People. My Trans Parent developed out of her work as an ambassador for the People with Transgender Parents (PTP) community with COLAGE. She was an Emerging Writer in Residence at Randolph College and has taught writing at Pace University and in workshops in New York City.
We need more stories about our families! In this safe space, we’ll explore and celebrate queerspawn authors who have broken silences to share their truths as a source of inspiration for your own stories. Come ready to play and have fun with storytelling and truth telling, to question our versions of the truth, and to meet other fabulous queerspawn who care about stories, too.

Queerspawn Book & Media Club
2023-09-10 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
If you are 16 or older and have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver, join our Queerspawn Book & Media Club, co-hosted by the Queerspawn Resource Project. The Queerspawn Book & Media Club will read, watch, and consume literature and media that is by or about queerspawn! We assign a new work and meet on a bi-monthly basis (every other month). All you have to do to join the Club is read the assigned book below and register for the Zoom meeting. If you can’t join this time around, check back after September 11 for the next assignment and meeting date.
The piece of work for September is the “The Other Mother” by Rachel M. Harper. You can read more about her book and ways to access it on her website.
We are so excited to see you and discuss this thought-provoking and compelling work!

People with Trans Parents
2023-08-27 16:00 - 17:00, 2023-06-11 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join COLAGE’s People with Trans Parents chat! People with a trans or non-binary parent or caregiver are one of the fastest growing groups of queerspawn — you are not alone! Join facilitators Annastasia, Maria, and Olivia to meet with other people with similar experiences and discuss your family in a safe space.

Retro COLAGErs: Queerspawn Born Pre-1980
2023-07-31 21:00 - 22:00, 2023-05-08 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
If you have one or more LGBTQ+ parent and were born pre-1980, then this space is for you! Come join us in discussion as we build a community of Retro COLAGErs!

Queerspawn Book & Media Club
2023-07-16 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
If you are 16 or older and have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver, join our Queerspawn Book & Media Club, co-hosted by the Queerspawn Resource Project. The Queerspawn Book & Media Club will read, watch, and consume literature and media that is by or about queerspawn! After our first meeting on July 16, we will assign a new work and meet on a bi-monthly basis (every other month). All you have to do to join the Club is read the assigned book below and register for the Zoom meeting. If you can’t join this time around, check back after July 16 for the next assignment and meeting date.
The first piece of work we will be delving into is the “The Family Outing: A Memoir” by Jessi Hempel. You can read more about her book and ways to access it on her website.
We are so excited to see you and discuss this thought-provoking and compelling queerspawn work!

"Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story" Screening & Discussion
2023-06-28 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a Pride Month exclusive screening of documentary, “Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story”. This film follows Ric Weiland, an influential queer pioneer, activist and philanthropist, the co-founder of Microsoft. Come learn about and discuss LGBTQ+ history with your community!

Everyone is welcome; parental advisory for discussion of suicide and brief nudity.

Learn more about the film here. Register below.

Narrated by Zachary Quinto and featuring Bill Gates, Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story chronicles the life story of a queer pioneer and one of the founders of Microsoft. Ric helped to organize Microsoft’s early successes, which made him a significantly wealthy and influential individual at an early age. However, Weiland never felt comfortable with his wealth because he felt he didn’t deserve it. To quiet the nagging doubt in his mind, he turned to philanthropy. Out and proud since the 70s, Ric was also a champion of gay rights. During his life, he donated more than 200 million dollars to fund more than 60 non-profit organizations. He also lived through the AIDS epidemic. Painful losses tempered his social life, and focused his resolve to give back to his community during a time when they desperately needed hope. Like so many of his friends, he was diagnosed with HIV. As his wealth and influence grew, Ric seemed to slip further into self-doubt, depression, and a kind of impostor syndrome that seemingly no one could talk him out of.
It’s difficult to overestimate the impact that Ric Weiland had. Between his contributions to technology, the gay rights movement, his struggle during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and his immense research funding, he was one of the greatest philanthropists and influencers in American history. Near the end of his life, he wrote, “I’ve lost interest in fighting my depression and other emotions. I can’t see how it would end given my circumstances.” It’s a chilling reminder that no matter how much success one finds, everyone needs help – including geniuses. Watch the trailer for Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story.
COLAGE is proud to partner with the director of Yes I Am: The Ric Weiland Story to offer this event to our community!

Madison, WI Dine to Donate
2023-06-20 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Ollie’s, 2951 Triverton Pike Dr., Fitchburg, WI, 53711, United States
Happy Pride! COLAGEr, Miranda Wise and her friend Sharon Meilahn Bartlett have graciously organized a meetup for adult queerspawn and queer parented families at Ollie’s (2951 Triverton Pike Dr., Fitchburg, WI). The restaurant will donate 15% of everybody’s tabs to COLAGE when you pick up a COLAGE2023 coupon at the host stand and present it when you pay.
If you are interested in going please RSVP at the link below.

If you’d like to donate to our Pride Policy Campaign or create your own fundraiser visit our Give Out Day page. We’re rooting for equitable policies in Wisconsin.
If you would like to record a story with StoryCorps they will be on their mobile tour in Green Bay, WI Aug 10-Sept 8 in collaboration with Wisconsin Public Radio. To record a timeslot ahead of time email katyc@colage.org who will be in touch with their staff.

Family Game Night
2023-06-14 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Hey COLAGErs, parents, and supporters! Join us for a family game night! We will be playing Jackbox games – feel free to bring snacks and your witty minds! we hope to make this a series, so don’t fret if you can’t make this one!

Adult COLAGEr Meet Up in Toronto
2023-06-10 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | UBUNTU Wellness Window, 2560 Gerrard St E, Scarborough, ON, M1N 1W8, Canada
If you are 18 or older and have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver and in the Toronto area, come hang out with us! We will have snacks, music, games, and discussions! Come for the whole two hours or just stop by! We will be meeting at UBUNTU Wellness Window (2560 Gerrard St E, Scarborough, ON M1N 1W8, Canada). Please RSVP by sending an email to: ubuntuwellnesswindow@gmail.com

History of COLAGE Panel
2023-06-04 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a panel about the history of COLAGE with original founder and early members who helped bolster COLAGE as a new organization in the 1990s. You’ll get to hear what it was like for our panelists to grow up with LGBTQ+ parents in the 80s and 90s and learn bout COLAGE’s dynamic and humble beginnings. We will discuss the legacy of the early days as well as how the organization has changed and grown.

Pictured above, a logo from the 90s when we just wanted a piece of the pie.

Stefan Lynch (he/him) is a father of 3 children and Director of Nursing at Philadelphia FIGHT. Stefan did his first interviews as the child of gay parents in the late 1970’s. He coined the term COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) in 1992 – the first year he got involved with “just for us” and later coined the term “queerspawn”. Stefan was the first Director of COLAGE from 1993-1997. He is a “bothie” – his mom and dad both came out when he was too young to remember, and was raised in Toronto and the Bay Area. His step-dad and dad and many of his aunties died of AIDS.

Felicia Park-Rogers (she/her) lives in Brooklyn, NY with her two college-aged sons. She grew up in San Francisco’s queer/pre-HIV heyday with her gay dad and lesbian mom. Her dad has been HIV+ since 1984. Felicia is bi and worked in queer youth/youth empowerment spaces before becoming COLAGE’s executive director from 1996 through 2002. She is a forever fan of COLAGE.

Kyle Ranson-Walsh (he/him) served on the COLAGE steering committee/board from 1996-2003. He first became involved when his gay dad brought him to the 1990 GLPCI (now Family Equality) conference in Washington D.C. Kyle has saved decades of COLAGE paraphernalia and is now channeling his curator tendencies into the RAB archival committee. He lives in Brooklyn with his seven-year-old daughter.

Mike Beebe (he/him) is a facilitator, coach, trainer and consultant for individuals, groups, and community organizations working to create a more just world. Mike joined COLAGE in 1993 in the wake of Amendment 2, an anti-gay bill, in Colorado when he had his ‘personal is political’ moment and was excited to connect with other kids of gay parents. Mike’s dad came out when he was 11 and growing up in Cleveland, Ohio. Mike now lives with his family in Seattle. Mike was the Board Chair of COLAGE from 1994-1995 and now serves on the RAB.

Beth Teper (all pronouns welcome), raised part city mouse, part country mouse in and around San Francisco, was 10 years old when hir mom came out as a lesbian. After a few years on the east coast for college, Beth moved back to the SF bay area to live in/on unceded Huichin Lisjan territory (aka Oakland CA) and still lives there now with their wife. Beth held several different roles/positions in COLAGE from 1994 – 2012.

Ali Dubin (she/her) is a psychotherapist raised by a gay dad and a straight mom who chose to stay together until he died in 1995. Ali’s Dad ran the Gay Father’s (which became Gay & Lesbian Parents) group in LA and in 1987, Ali founded the LA group for kids with LGBT parents. In 1990, in Washington DC at a GLPCI conference in a room full of kids with LGBTQIA++ parents facilitated by a sweet gay dad, Ed Lamanno – the kids all decided this group should be a safe space without parents in the room with us. Ed lovingly turned it over to “the kids” and Just For Us (lovingly coined by sisters and original steering committee members, Molly and Anna Heller) was born. Ali was one of COLAGE’s original co-directors and is now proudly part of the Retro Advisory Board. When she’s not seeing clients, she’s walking the beach where she now lives in Oregon.

Wigging Out Sing-A-Long with Queerella DeVille
2023-05-21 16:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
All ages and parents are welcome to join Queerella DeVille for the Wigging Out Sing-A-Long. Come SING and DANCE to classic kid songs! Feel free to wear you favorite Pride outfit and a colorful wig or hat if you have one!
Register below!

In Our Own Words: Donor Conceived People with LGBTQ+ Parents Discuss COLAGE's New Resource Guide
2023-05-11 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
This LGBTQ+ community webinar will highlight stories from people who were born into LGBTQ+ families through donor conception. As policy recommendations about donor conception are in the news, it’s important that the experiences of donor-conceived people in LGBTQ+ families are uplifted and understood. This free online event will also include an overview of current and proposed practices and laws impacting donor-conceived people, LGBTQ+ parents, and gamete donors.
This event is co-hosted by COLAGE, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), and The Sperm Bank of California (TSBC).
Automatic captions will be provided. Read about our panelists below.
Jean Azar-Tanguay (she/her) is the daughter of two gay men. She was born in Boston, MA in 2001 through IVF and egg donation, carried by a gestational surrogate. She is a graduate of the University of Richmond, where she majored in biochemistry and molecular biology and Arabic studies. Jean currently lives in Boston and is looking forward to pursuing a career in clinical medicine.

Madison Rose (she, her) was born via donor conception to lesbian moms. She works for a science advocacy organization working to abolish nuclear weapons. She lives in College Park, Maryland with her two rabbits and loving husband.

Abby Bergman (she/her) grew up in Los Angeles, CA with two lesbian moms and a younger sister. She was born through sperm donation and shares a donor with her sister. Abby is a PhD student in Behavioral Marketing at Stanford University and received her master’s degree in Social Science Research from the University of Chicago and her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience at Smith College. When she is not working on research projects, she can usually be found swimming, prepping for her next pool race or open-water swim.

Katherine L. Kraschel is the Executive Director of the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy as well as a Clinical Lecturer in Law and Research Scholar in Law at Yale Law School. She co-teaches the Reproductive Justice Clinic and the Medical-Legal Partnership Seminar. Kraschel’s interests are in assisted reproductive technologies, health policy & gender, reproductive rights, and clinical research ethics. In 2016, the National LGBT Bar Association named Kraschel one of the Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40.

Adult COLAGErs
2023-05-10 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Are you 18 or older and have one or more LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver? Come join the Adult COLAGErs group as we share our experiences, listen to each other’s stories, and hang out with each other! This month, our event will take place on Zoom!

Adult COLAGEr Meet Up in Central Park
2023-05-06 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Central Park, Thomas Moore Statue, East Dr, New York, NY, 10019, United States
If you are 18 or older and in the New York City area, come hang out with us! We will have snacks, music, games, and discussions! Come for the whole two hours or just stop by! We will be meeting at the Thomas Moore Statue at the southwest corner of Central Park (see image below). If it rains on May 6, we will meet on May 7 from 2-4pm. If you have questions or concerns, please email Angel at angelm@colage.org.

If you don’t live in New York City and you are interested in hosting your own Adult COLAGErs in-person meet up in your city, please fill out this form.

Uniting Kids with LGBTQ+ Parents
2023-04-30 18:30 - 19:30 UTC
Are you 8-13 years old and have one or more LGBTQ+ parent? Come meet other kids with LGBTQ+ parents and learn about COLAGE! This workshop is facilitated by our Youth Action Board, high schoolers who also have LGBTQ+ parents. We will play games, talk about our lives, and learn about what makes our families and us special! There will also be information about how you can attend regular virtual meet-ups year round!

People with Trans Parents
2023-04-16 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join COLAGE’s People with Trans Parents peer support group! People with a trans or non-binary parent or caregiver are one of the fastest growing groups of queerspawn — you are not alone! Join facilitators Annastasia, Maria, and Olivia to meet with other people with similar experiences and discuss your family in a safe space.
