Launch of LGBTQ+ Parents and Families Group

The LGBTQ+ Parents and Families group was started by IOE LGBTQ+ Advisory Group (ILAG) members Christopher Bewsher-Wilkinson and Sofia Gradoni, with the support of ILAG Chair and Faculty LGBTQ+ lead Simon Liu. This is currently a Teams sub-channel and a part of UCL's PACT (Parents and Carers Together Network). 

Being a LGBTQ+ parent can sometimes be a solitary place and having a central space for everyone to come together, connect, and see a reflection of their own family structure, can be a great source of comfort. 

The group would like to welcome all UCL colleagues and students who are part of LGBTQ+ families and are hoping to create a welcoming environment of shared experiences, support, information, and general discussions on what life is like as a part of a LGBTQ+ family. All LGBTQ+ parents, prospective parents, children of LGBTQ+ parents and parents of LGBTQ+ children are all welcome. We will be developing our community through a mix of online and in-person events. 

If you would like to attend our first online meeting at 10am on 6 June, please get in touch with the Co-Chairs Sofia Gradoni, s.gradoni@ucl.ac.uk, and Christopher Bewsher-Wilkinson, c.wilkinson@ucl.ac.uk, to be included and added to the Teams group. It would be helpful if you could share the following information: 

• Your preferred name (shortened/nickname, etc, and pronouns) 
• Your LGBTQ+ parental/child status e.g. child of LGBTQ+ parents, prospective LGBTQ+ parent, etc; 
• What you'd like out of the group (to serve as suggestions for the Co-Chairs for events planning).