Rainbow Families

Happy Juneteenth; Happy Freedom Day! On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas after the Civil War freeing enslaved Black Americans.

On June 15, 2020, the US Supreme Court issued it's landmark decision in Bostock v Clayton County, GA in which the Cour held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Today (June 12th) we remember the 49 lives lost and the 58 people wounded in the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL.

Happy Loving Day! On June 12, 1967 the US Supreme Court decided the case of Mildred & Richard Loving vs. the Commonwealth of Virginia legalizing in*******al marriage across the country.

Don't forget about the Q***r Parent Summer School from our friends at Lavender Therapy. If you're interested, please email Sarah Beth (she/they) at [email protected].

Here are the details:
- What: A 6-week Virtual "Summer School" for Q***r Parents, a research-based parenting program in an affirming space.
- The Program: Circle of Security
- Who: Q***r-identified Parents and caregivers of children of any age; q***r, poly and non-traditional families centered and encouraged!
- When: Tuesdays and Fridays 10:30-11:45am starting 6/12/26-7/17/26. 10 sessions total (No session on 6/19 or 7/3)
- Where: Sessions will be held virtually on Zoom
- Facilitators: Jessica Rotem, LCSW-C and Sarah Beth Alcabes, LICSW

Participants will get:
- A clinician-facilitated space
- An enhanced relationship with their child
- A road map for understanding their child's emotional needs
- Decades of research distilled and shared in a cohort of peers

Cost:
- $90 per session ($900 total) initial caregiver
- $65 per session ($650 total) for additional caregivers in the same family

COSP was developed with parents in mind, and specifically those parents experiencing stress in their caregiving relationships. The program particularly serves parents who want to connect more deeply with their children but aren't sure how to break through the barriers they're experiencing. COSP provides a framework for understanding and responding to children's attachment needs.

Love makes a family, but the law helps protect it. LGBTQ+ families often need additional legal help to ensure our legal connections, especially to our children. Catelyn Slattery at Foster + Bloom is a proud sponsor of Rainbow Families, but more importantly, she has worked with countless of our families to enshrine their legal connections and protect them. Learn more about how Catelyn can help your family here - https://fosterbloomlaw.com/attorney/catelyn-slattery.

Deciding when to have a child does not always align with our biological clocks. If you have been thinking of having a child, but worried you will run out of time, you might consider egg freezing. Columbia Fertility Associates offers this service and many other fertility services and they have a strong track record of supporting LGBTQ+ families. We are proud to have them as a partner and sponsor. Learn more about how they can help your family here https://www.columbiafertility.com/donor/lgbtq/

We at Rainbow Families are grateful for the support of Williams & Connolly, LLP. Not only do they support the LGBTQ+ community, they also work to ensure a parent-friendly work environment that allows parents to work and have a family. Thank you Williams & Connolly for your support of our Conference this year. Learn more at https://www.wc.com/

Happy Pride Month from Rainbow Families! This month we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and our history of resilience and resistance. We wish all our Rainbow Families a June filled with love, joy, and PRIDE!

Happy Caribbean American Heritage Month! There is a lot to celebrate in June including Caribbean American Heritage Month - celebrating the many contributions made by Americans who immigrated or whose family immigrated from the Caribbean.