See upcoming family events at Center Calendar: Family

Center Families is the Center's family program for LGBT parents and their children, for those considering parenthood, and for all LGBT people in the context of their families - of origin or of affinity. Founded in 1989, Center Families gives children ongoing opportunities to befriend others from similar families, while their parents have a chance to meet, socialize and build their own support network. Center Families, which advocates at state and local levels for the rights of alternative families, has become a national and regional model for LGBT family organizing. In its almost 20-plus year history, many thousands of families in the tri-state area have utilized Center Families program offerings.

Center Families programs include support groups for LGBT parents and prospective parents; cutting edge individual/couples & family counseling, information and referrals as well as play dates, monthly free legal clinics and other networking opportunities for LGBTQ families in the Tri-State area. Advocacy groups for LGBT parents with children in public schools; support and education around alternative insemination, adoption, surrogacy and cooperative parenting arrangements; forums on issues such as custody when LGBT parents separate or financial planning for alternative families; and recreational programs for children (Halloween Parties, Holiday Parties, Play Days, etc.).

NOTE: Center Families does not provide programming for children 9 and older. For children over 9, contact COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere, www.colage.org – national office), or the NYC chapter of COLAGE c/o Danielle Silber at nyc@colage.org.

 

next steps CONTACT: For more about Center Families, call 212.620.7310 or email centerfamilies@gaycenter.org. VISIT our new Ask the Experts forum to ask your own questions about LGBTQ family and parenting issues!