Workshop #1: Whose Child Is It Anyway?
October 21 at 7PM

The decision to become a parent can be complex for individuals in the LBGTQ community. Until recently, coming out has often been associated with a relinquishing of the capacity to parent. Members of the LGBTQ community often need to rethink the identities forged during those coming out years when becoming parents. These individuals are then required to make complex and intra-psychically complicated decisions about how to have children.  Does a couple adopt together? Is one a biological parent from pregnancy or surrogacy while the other is the adoptive parent? Is a known donor or unknown donor used in biological parenting? How these decisions are made can often affect the individuals in terms of their identity as a parent. 

Without traditionally organized gender roles of parenting, how do the parenting tasks and responsibilities get divided, and how do all individuals involved have satisfying experiences of parenting free from excess conflict or competition?  In situations of biological parenting, how do both parents feel equally adequate and valid? In stay-at- home situations, how do parents deal with possible envy about the benefits of the other’s role? This workshop will explore the special issues brought up by sharing parenting in LGBTQ relationships, as well as how individuals and couples can work together to form families and to comfortably define parenting roles that are inclusive and loving.

Suzanne Johnson, Ph.D. is the co-author of For Lesbian Parents: Your Guide to Helping Your Family Grow Up Happy, Healthy, and The Gay Baby Boom: Psychology of Gay Parenthood. Proud Gay and Lesbian Parenting.   

To make a reservation for any workshop, contact:
ihi Family Q @ 212-243-2830 or ihicenter@juno.com