Rainbow Families' Playdate Program is Back!

This past Sunday, October 12th saw the happy return of our Playdate Program. Playdates are member-led events that are little to no cost for families. These programs often are as simple as meeting up at a local playground or park and we are always looking for member leaders to pull one of these opportunities together. This past Sunday we had about 10 families come out to our Playdate at Big Chimneys Park in Falls Church and we hope to have regular Playdate programs throughout the DMV area. If you are interested in learning more about the program or possibly leading a Playdate, please reach out to Ali D (she/her) at ali@rainbowfamilies.org. 

October is LGBTQ+ history month and this month we are honoring our wonderful Heroes of the Year:

Rainbow Families is hosting a special Town Hall on Saturday, November 15th 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM at the Human Rights Campaign's Headquarters in NW DC. The event will focus on legal protections for LGBTQ+ marriages and parental rights, advocating for pro-LGBTQ+ policies in our schools, and how to maintain our mental health well-being during this difficult time for many of us. So, why are we hosting this event?

Since 2022, there has been a concentrated effort to roll back rights and freedoms for LGBTQ+ people with a specific focus on stopping LGBTQ+ inclusion in our schools and transgender people's rights and health care. This fight started on the state level with book bans and curriculum censorship such as Florida's "Don't Say Gay/Trans" bill that made it illegal for teachers to discuss LGBTQ+ people, families, or topics in public schools. The attacks increased with bans on life saving, age-appropriate gender affirming medical care for transgender minors and even some transgender adults. Over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state houses across the country in the last three years alone.

This year has seen more attacks on LGBTQ+ people including the ban on transgender people serving in the US military and cuts to HIV-related programs. And now we are seeing the first challenge to the historic Obergefell Supreme Court Decision that legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

Many of our Rainbow Families are scared and unsure how to protect themselves and their families. Many of our Rainbow Families are disheartened to see the roll back of LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum and books in our public schools. And many of our Rainbow Families are dealing with mental health distress navigating the current polarized political climate. This is why we are bringing our community together for an in-person event in November. It's time we had a serious conversation about how to protect our families, our schools, and our mental health.

We hope you will join us for the Rainbow Families' Town Hall: Conversations about Our Families, Our Schools, & Our Mental Health on Saturday, November 15th 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM in-person at HRC's Headquarters in NW DC. Visit https://rainbowfamilies.org/events/ to register today.

Last month, a petition was filed for the US Supreme Court to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges, opening the door for the possible reversal on the legalization of same-sex marriage across the US. Rainbow Families is working to provide resources and information to our members to protect our marriages and our families.

Join us this Wednesday, September 24th at 6:00 PM for a special Legal Talk Webinar on Protecting Your Rainbow Family. Hear from local legal expert, Catelyn Slattery from Modern Family Formation Law Offices and get your questions answered. Visit our events page to register for free today.

Check out these additional blogs from our friends at Offit Kurman:

• Marriage Equality & the Supreme Court: Preparing for the Unexpected by Summer Able 8/13/2025
• Obergefell in Question: Estate Planning Risks for Same-Sex Spouses by Candace Dellacona 8/14/2025
• Marriage in the Balance: Safeguarding Rights for Same-Sex Couples by Lee Carpenter 9/11/2025

 Rainbow Families' Trans Parenting Support Group is Back!

This closed group is peer-facilitated and provides support to Rainbow Families' transgender and non-binary parents. The group will meet once a month for a three-session series this winter. Register today at https://rainbowfamilies.org/events/.

Dates: Sunday, October 19th | Sunday, November 16th | Sunday, December 21st
Time: 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $40 per family for non-members | Free for Rainbow Families Members
(If you are not a Rainbow Families' member and would like to be considered for a fee waiver, please reach out to us at info@rainbowfamilies.org.) 

Additional Terms & Conditions:

• This support group is a closed group, so registration for this three-series of sessions closes at 5:00 PM on Friday, October 17th.
• All sessions are virtual and open to participants nationwide.
• Space is limited to help maintain a sense of privacy, intimacy, and safety for participants.
• No refunds will be issued after the start of the first session.
• Dates and times may be subject to change; any changes will be communicated immediately. 
• Please see Rainbow Families' full Terms & Conditions located on our website (https://rainbowfamilies.org/rules-and-terms/).

Just last week, Rainbow Families launched our School Board Advocacy webpage to assist our members in navigating our local public school systems. The past several years has seen a decline in LGBTQ+ inclusive efforts in public schools across the country and now on a federal level. Luckily, the DMV area is home to some of the most inclusive public school districts in the country and many are fighting to continue being a welcoming, affirming, and safe school for all families. We hope our Rainbow Families will engage in their local school districts and fight for inclusive schools for all. Check out our webpage to learn more - https://rainbowfamilies.org/school-board-advocacy/. 

This past Labor Day weekend, Rainbow Families welcomed over 200 campers for our Annual Family Camp Weekend! We are so grateful for all the families who joined us for a weekend filled with family-fun. This annual event is one of many opportunities for Rainbow Families to connect with other families just like theirs, build community, and have some fun. 

We hope you'll join us for Family Camp Weekend 2026!

Rainbow Families' Annual Family Picnic at Hillwood Estates is coming up next month! This annual event is a great opportunity for Rainbow Families' members to enjoy a beautiful family picnic with other LGBTQ+ parents and families. Come out for one of our most popular and loved events! Just $5 per adult and kids under 18 are free!

Register today - https://hillwoodmuseum.org/events/family-picnic-partnership-rainbow-families-4

We are excited to bring back the Maybe Baby program this Fall starting on Sunday, September 14th!

Maybe Baby is a proven, multi-week course designed for prospective LGBTQ+ parents interested in learning more about the options for building a family. The program dates back to 1982 and has helped hundreds of LGBTQ+ families welcome children into their homes. The program was designed BY LGBTQ+ parents for LGBTQ+ parents and provides community-specific information that has proven helpful to those starting a new family.

Registration is now open for the Fall 2025 session. Visit our https://rainbowfamilies.org/events/Calendar of Events to register and click here if you'd like to learn more about the Maybe Baby program.

There is a significant lack of research on LGBTQ+ people and families. This is why we regularly share out research opportunities to our network in hopes of increasing knowledge of our communities' needs and experiences. Check out these two opportunities we recently received:

The Lavender Lab, an LGBTQ+ and BIPOC research lab at the University of Maryland, is inviting LGBTQ+ teens of color (ages 13-17) to join our paid confidential study, and we need your voice!

In the study, you'll have a chance to read an online comic and fill out several surveys on your lived experiences, stress, health, and overall well-being. The results from this study will help inform future interventions for our LGBTQ+ teens of color.

You must be a) LGBTQ+, b) 13-17 years old, and c) Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color. Complete this brief confidential eligibility form (https://tinyurl.com/comicxrbfamilies) to find out more.

If you’re eligible and interested, you will have the chance to enroll in our paid comic study!

If you have any questions or want further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us: Email - lavenderlab@umd.edu, Text: ‪(301) 364-4986.

Researchers at NYU Langone Health are looking for feedback from parents regarding breast milk. It is always important for LGBTQ+ parents to be included in parent research! If you are interested in participating in the 30-minute survey, you'll receive a $20 Gift Card. Visit https://redcap.link/5spt7b3k for details or call or text 646-581-6167.