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Category: Blog

What OFC means to my family

I serve as Family Programs Director here at Our Family Coalition. I’m a lesbian mom, an immigrant, and have been a proud Bay Area resident for

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December 5, 2018

Families Belong Together

On June 20th the Trump Administration signed an executive order apparently stopping their policy of separating families at the border. This is a false victory, with severe repercussions.

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June 26, 2018

Oh, What a Night Out!

Dear beloved community: What a night! Thanks to all who made this year’s Night Out gala an unprecedented success. Hundreds of community leaders, sponsors, and donors

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May 16, 2018

We made history!

Beloved community, we did it! The California State Board of Education (SBE) just voted to adopt only those textbooks which reflect LGBT roles and contributions

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November 11, 2017

Thank you for joining us in celebrating and supporting LGBTQ families.

Every contribution, whether one-time or monthly, helps us honor the extraordinary LGBTQ families in our community. Our Family Coalition is the only organization in California dedicated to advancing equity and advocating on behalf of our families, and one of the few nationwide. By giving, you stand with us in pride and solidarity, ensuring that every family feels seen, valued, and celebrated. Your support has been crucial and with your help we can continue this legacy for generations.

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Ask About Alternatives

You’re entitled to know if there are other options that might work for you. If a provider presents a single course of action, ask, “Are there other ways to approach this?” or “What other treatments might be possible?” or “Why are you recommending this treatment plan compared to alternative options?”

Pause and Reflect

If you’re unsure about a treatment recommendation, it’s okay to take a pause. Say something like, “I’d like to take some time to consider this before making a decision.” This gives you the space to process without feeling pressured. You can discuss a timeline with your provider that works for you. It is okay to want more time.

Right to Informed Consent

You have the right to understand all aspects of your care, including the risks, benefits, and alternatives. Never feel pressured into any procedure without clear information.

Confidentiality Protections

HIPAA laws safeguard your privacy and health information. Healthcare providers must keep all your personal health information confidential.

Anti-Discrimination Protections

Federal laws like Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibit discrimination in healthcare on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), age, or disability.

Advocate for Comprehensive Explanations

You have the right to fully understand any diagnosis, treatment, or procedure. Don’t hesitate to ask for explanations that make sense to you. For instance, say, “Can you walk me through how this treatment will work?” or “What are some possible side effects?” “What should I look out for?” 

Trust Your Own Knowledge

 

While healthcare providers bring expertise in medicine, you are the expert on your own body, experiences, and needs. If something doesn’t feel right, trust yourself and communicate your concerns. Phrases to lean on: “This is not normal for my body” “I have never experienced these symptoms before now” … 

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Teacher Trainings and Professional Development

Each of OFC’s outstanding and practical workshops include:

  • Content learning, lesson plans and book lists​ that support teachers to have effective
    and developmentally supportive dialogue when teaching LGBTQ History
  • Reflective activities​ that allow participants to connect with their intersectional identities,
    gender stories and explore the dynamics of implicit bias to better challenge gender stereotypes
  • Current language and techniques​ to support families and teachers to talk more fluently
    and comfortably about all types of difference
  • Frameworks and models for effectively organizing coalitions​ interested in accountability
    and policy change in schools and organizations

Workshop topics:

  • LGBTQ History​: Teaching the New California History and Social Science Framework
  • LGBTQ-Focused Education Law and Policy​:​ Understanding Obligations and Protections
  • Implementing LGBTQ History:​ From Policy to Practice in your Region
  • Family Diversity:​ ​ The Early Childhood Classroom and Making All Families Visible
  • Gender Inclusion:​ ​ What is a Gender Spectrum and How Do I Reduce Gender Bias?
  • Transgender and Non-Binary Students​:​ How to Create Inclusive Spaces for All Genders
  • Anti-Bullying & Social Emotional Learning​:​ A Welcoming Schools Approach
  • Family and School Advocacy:​ Building Coalitions for Sustainable Change

For more information or to schedule a workshop, please contact the OFC Education Team: ​education@ourfamily.org

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Community Annoucements

Share your event or opportunity

Announcements will appear:

  • in a blog post on our blog (published and archived on our website, which is viewed by over 2,500 unique visitors each month)
  • highlighted in our monthly e-newsletter (distributed to over 7,500 email addresses)

Listings must be:

  • Designed for or of particular value to LGBTQ families and children and/or prospective LGBTQ parents
  • Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, if in person, or available online/ virtually, if outside Northern California

Deadline:

  • Content submitted by the third Tuesday of the month will appear in in the following month’s newsletter.

We love lifting up the good work that members of our community and other social change organizations are doing in the Bay Area and beyond! Let us know if you wish to share a community event or opportunity with our families.

Community Announcements
Title of event or opportunity, including host organization if applicable. For example: "LGBTQ Parents & Parents-to-Be Support Circle" or "Seeking Gay Dads for Study"
Location and address in one line, if applicable. For example: "Natural Resources, 1367 Valencia St., San Francisco"; "Link to the Study or Info Page”
Up to 300 characters (with spaces; about 50 words), describing the event or listing. For example: "This group is offered for LGBTQ-parents and parents-to-be who are awaiting adoption, the birth of their child(ren) through surrogacy, or who are pregnant. Share newborn care tips and learn simple mindfulness practices to increase ease during this time of so many unknowns and exciting transitions.”
Upload a logo or an image you'd like to accompany your listing. (optional)
Accepted file types: jpg, png, gif. Maximum file size: 256 Mb.

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Events can be distributed up to 3 times. For events far in advance, please specify which months you would like the event to run in our e-newsletter.

Share your story

We’re looking for stories by or about LGBTQ+ parents/caregivers or prospective parents, as well as the grandparents or adult children of LGBTQ+ headed families.

Generally, we hope your story will not only inform other families on LGBTQ+ family topics, but also let others know that they are not alone in the journey of advocating for our families.

Whether you feel like you’ve arrived, or your story is not yet complete, know that we can keep one another company all along the way. And it always helps to feel a little less alone.

  • How is your family structured?
  • What is your family formation story?
  • Have you faced challenges in forming your family or parenting because of your identity?
  • How were you able to navigate these challenges?
  • What has been the impact on you/your spouse/children?
  • What systems/people helped guide you?
  • What advice would you have for other LGBTQ-headed families – or perhaps just your younger self?
  • How have you or your family dealt with challenges at schools, medical providers, or elsewhere?
  • Were there times when you expected resistance and instead were welcomed?
  • Do you have opinions you’d like to share about current events, or perhaps movies, TV shows, music, or more?
  • Do you have a story about how Our Family Coalition has had an impact on your or your family that you’d like to share?
Share your story

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By checking this box, I consent to the content I've uploaded here, both written and photographic, to be published on Our Family Coalition's blog.

I understand that the content will be freely available on the internet and may be seen by the general public. I further understand that Our Family Coalition cannot be held liable for the theft and re-publication of this content.

I further understand that I will be given an opportunity to review (or revoke) the piece before it is published.

This consent will be treated confidentially.

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