It’s an exciting time when your family grows, and I’m proud to share the news that our family has expanded with the recent addition of Family Matters as an official program of The Center.

Family Matters, the local group for LGBT parents and their families and those considering parenthood, joined us on May 1, after years of collaboration and partnership. Becoming part of The Center will allow Family Matters to grow even more, and not duplicate all of the overhead and infrastructure necessary to support a thriving and expanding organization. The continued growth of Family Matters over the years is a true testament to the strength and importance of this work, and our San Diego LGBT parenting community.

The Center frequently partnered with Family Matters to present specialized workshops and events for LGBT parents and those considering parenthood. Marci Bair, Ryland Madison and the Family Matters board of directors bring to The Center a program that is financially sound, programmatically creative and absolutely relevant to a growing segment of our community. Throughout this process of transition, the focus has remained on ensuring the highest levels of service and programming for the growing number of families who count on Family Matters.

Longtime director Marci Bair will continue to be involved with Family Matters, and the group’s signature events will be offered, including its annual parenting conference, monthly parenting groups, its annual family barbecue and Considering Parenthood meetings. In addition, this year will be the first year that Family Matters will officially produce the Children’s Garden at the San Diego LGBT Pride Festival.

This expansion of our programming mirrors the increasing number of LGBT people who are becoming parents. According to a recent study by the Williams Institute and the Urban Institute, an estimated 65,000 adopted children are living with a lesbian or gay parent (including 16,000 in California, the largest number in the nation), and an estimated 14,100 foster children are living with lesbian or gay parents. The research also stated, and we know from our local parenting community, that these numbers are only going to get larger.

Parenting is a serious responsibility, and all of the research indicates that LGBT families do it exceedingly well. So it makes perfect sense for Family Matters to become part of The Center and strengthen the family-focused programming available to the families who want and need it now, and for all those who will in the future.

Our movement is a multi-generational one, and in some ways that’s most clear where families are involved.

In years past, it would have been unheard of to have three generations of a family together at one of our LGBT community events. Today, we see it happening. Our parents, who may have found the support and strength they needed as we came out through PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), have often come even further than we would have ever expected once their grandchildren arrive.

Three generations of any family will have stories to tell. When our parents, and increasingly our children, take a stand for equality, it makes a tremendous difference in the way the dialogue is conducted; in the ways in which our stories are heard.

Parents are making an important impact on our work toward full human rights, from the moms who are part of Family Matters to the moms who are part of PFLAG. I remain in awe of some of the mothers – both LGBT and heterosexual – who are part of our movement.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Family Matters can be reached at 619-692-2077, ext. 121, or mbair@thecentersd.org.

PFLAG-San Diego can be reached at 619-579-7640 or info@pflag.com.