Community :: Community Guide
52 ways to make your family visible by being active and present by Courtesy of The Family Equality Council
Bay Windows ContributorWednesday Oct 7, 2009 January 4 - 10: Tell your family’s story to a complete stranger. When someone makes assumptions about your family, correct them. Show family pictures if you have them in your wallet!
January 11 - 17: Talk to your faith leader about how they can make your faith community more welcoming.
January 18 - 24: Learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by visiting www.thekingcenter.org. Commemorate this holiday by volunteering in your community. Visit www.mlkday.gov.
January 25 - 31: Sign up to lead or assist with one of your children’s activities at school and be open about your family.
February 1 - 7: Commemorate Black History Month this February. Visit the National Black Justice Coalition’s Web site (www.nbjcoalition.org) to learn about black LGBT people in history.
February 8 - 14: Make valentines with your family portrait for your friends, family, and even your legislators!
February 15 - 21: For Presidents’ Day, write an open letter to President Obama, to remind him of his responsibility to work towards equality for all.
February 22 - 28: Create a calendar of local events for LGBT families and publicize it to help build community.
March 1 - 7: Celebrate Youth Art Month this March. Host an art party for your kids and their friends!
March 8 - 14: Invite other LGBT families and allies to your home, and throw an LGBT movie night. Have everyone wear pajamas, make popcorn, and screen LGBT family-friendly movies.
March 15 - 21: Write an op-ed to a mainstream parenting magazine. Tell them about your family’s life! Write about the ways they can make their magazine more inclusive for our community.
March 22 - 28: Host an LGBT family gathering at your home or a local park and invite your mayor.
March 29 - April 4: Commemorate the birthday of César Chávez on March 31st. Investigate LGBT organizations that work to support LGBT labor: www.prideatwork.org.
April 5 - 11: Invite friends and family to plant a rainbow garden at your home or in a community garden.
April 12 - 18: Participate in the Day of Silence on April 17th at work or school. If you are unable to participate, educate friends and family about the effort, started by GLSEN.
April 19 - 25: Investigate the child-friendly activities at your local Pride celebration (usually held in June). If there are not currently plans in place, ask your Pride committee to make it a priority.
April 26 - May 2: To commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, educate yourself about the LGBT Asian American community: www.thetaskforce.org/reports_and_research/apa_portrait.
May 3 - 9: To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, thank a teacher who has been welcoming and affirming toward your family. Write a letter or card, and send a copy to the principal.
May 10 - 16: In honor of National Children’s Book Week, donate an LGBT-inclusive book to your local school or library, or volunteer to read one at your local public library’s story hour (www.familyequality.org/eStore.html).
May 17 - 23: Become a transgender ally! Visit the National Center for Transgender Equality’s Web site at www.nctequality.org/52things.html to find out how.
May 24 - 30: For Memorial Day, educate your friends and co-workers about the military’s discriminatory "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy.
May 31 - June 6: Join an LGBT family or parents group. Check www.familyequality.org for one near you.
June 7 - 13: Attend your local Pride festivities with your family. Invite allies to come and show support while learning more about the community.
June 14 - 20: Fill out the Rainbow Report Card and see how your child’s school measures up. Visit www.familyequality.org/reportcard.
June 21 - 27: Make a restroom safer and more accessible for transgender people. Talk to a business you frequent, and encourage them to create gender-neutral or family bathrooms.
June 28 - July 4: Make a flier about the need for pro-family policy changes in the U.S. Hand these out to friends and family at any Independence Day BBQs or parties you attend!
July 5 - July 11: Educate yourself about domestic violence in the LGBT community and what you can do to help combat it. Visit the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs online: www.ncavp.org.
July 12 - 18: Connect with a local group of PFLAG. Attend a meeting, volunteer, and thank staff and volunteers for their commitment to making the world more welcoming for LGBT people.
July 19 - 25: Round up a group of LGBT families to tackle a community service project. Make signs and shirts for the group, and consider making this a regular event!
July 26 - August 1: The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted into law on July 26, 1990, but there is still a long way to go in terms of eliminating disparities for people with disabilities. Work with your employer or a business you frequent to increase access for patrons with disabilities.
August 2 - 8: Plan a camping trip or vacation with another LGBT family.
August 9 - 15: Help coordinate a training session for schools focused on becoming more inclusive of LGBT families.
August 16 - 22: Prepare for back to school time by checking out our Safe Schools resources (www.familyequality.org).
August 23 - 29: Make "Best Ally Awards" to hand out to the most supportive people in your circle.
August 30 - September 5: Research the local elections and ballot initiatives in your area, and choose one that is important to you. Sign up this week to volunteer for a campaign.
September 6 - 12: Check out the paperwork coming home from your child’s school. Does it ask for the name of the mother and father? Work with your school to make sure forms are inclusive.
September 13 - 19: Volunteer in your child’s classroom. Get to know the other children in the classroom and be visible as a family.
September 20 - 26: Commemorate Latino Heritage Month and visit your local library to make sure that their display is inclusive of LGBT Latino people.
September 27 - October 3: October is Gay & Lesbian History Month. This week, educate yourself, your friends, and your family about the history of the LGBT movement and your place in it.
October 4 - 10: Sign up to help out at a local Gay-Straight Alliance or other LGBT youth organization.
October 11 - 17: On National Coming Out Day, make a point of coming out as a proud LGBT parent or ally!
October 18 - 24: Attend a PTA or school board meeting to celebrate Freedom from Bullies Week. Brainstorm ways to eliminate bullying and teasing for all children at your local school.
October 25 - 31: Research and be sure to patronize businesses who are supportive of the LGBT community.
November 1 - 7: Get out the vote! Encourage friends and families to get to the polls.
November 8 - 14: Celebrate Family Stories Month by sharing the story of your family.
November 15 - 21: In honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance, check with your local LGBT group to find an event in your area, and attend to remember and honor those killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
November 22 - 28: This week, educate yourself about Two-Spirit people and their place in different Native American cultures: www.baaits.org.
November 29 - December 5: Volunteer at a local nursing home with your family.
December 6 - 12: Work with Human Resources to identify ways to make your office more inclusive.
December 13 - 19: Make a 2011 Wishlist for Equality and share it with your friends and family.
December 20 - 26: Give the gift of family equality by making a donation to the Family Equality Council. Visit www.familyequality.org.
December 27 - January 2: Write and share a New Year’s update letter about your family. Think about the victories and challenges of the past year -- personal, local, and national.
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