Family Equality

For Black History Month, Dejon Campbell, Senior Manager of Program Events, writes our last love letter to all Black queer humans, titled: ?????? ?????? ?????????? Dear Black queer human, First, can we just take a moment to breathe? Whew… there is so much happening, but in the midst of the chaos, I want to remind you that we’re still here. Through all the chaos and confusion, the drama and division, the cries of outrage and tears of sorrow, damn it, we are still here. So much has tried to take us down, keep us from rising, and push us back, but we are still here. And hold on, we aren’t JUST still here — we are fearfully and wonderfully made while we’re here. We are breaking barriers, making history, and as history makers, trendsetters, leaders around the world, and culture shifters, we are creating community and uplifting each other, even during the toughest times. We are beautiful, talented, liberated, and incredibly special. No matter what happens around us, please never forget the power that resides within you. Nothing will ever diminish our beauty. Not division, not racism, not homophobia, not transphobia, not sexism, not bigotry, not headlines, or even executive orders. We’re here, and trust me, we’ve been here and we’re not going anywhere. But again, we are here, and we are beautiful. On this day or any day of the year, remember that you are loved, and our beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. Our blackness is not silenced by our sexuality; it is strengthened by it—by our ability to see, accept, and fully embrace who we are. So, on this day of love, I love you, I see you, and I’m rooting for you. Signed, A Black queer man — Dejon Campbell Thank you Dejon, for this outstanding letter! Mic drop ??. As we come to the end of Black History Month, remember to spread love and uplift families and friends, all year long. Share this letter and leave ??’s in the comments!

THIS SUNDAY: There’s still time to join us at our third annual LGBTQ+ Families are Incredibowl! Grab your tickets ASAP! ??Sunday, March 2 ??Bowlero at Pier Sixty ??? Tickets available with link below

For Black History Month, Rahsaan DeLain, Family Equality Board Member, husband, and dad of four writes our fourth love letter to Black Fathers, titled: ?????????? ??????, ?????????????? Thank you to Black Fathers. I see you. Out here with your families passing down traditions. Out here being actively involved in your children’s lives. Out here braiding your child’s hair. Out here in the parent-teacher conferences. Out here working and going to school. Out here building coalitions with other men, queer folk, and communities on the margins. Out here pushing through the pain you feel from a world that tells you you aren’t enough. Out here rewriting your own stories. We see your love. We see your wisdom. We see your presence. We see you wishing and dreaming for a better tomorrow. We see you getting up every time the world tries to knock you down. Your worth is immeasurable. We see you. Thank you. — Rahsaan DeLain Thank you Rahsaan, for the lovely tribute to Black fathers. As we continue to celebrate and recognize Black History Month, remember to spread love and uplift families. You can do so by sharing this letter and leaving ??’s in the comments! Want to write a love letter? DM us!

For Black History Month, Jha and Kellie Amazi, moms of one, write our third love letter to their village, titled: ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? Our love letter is to our Village - the people who consistently chose to show up for our family and speak abundance onto the life of our wonderful son, Ezra. We’re familiar with the phrase “it takes a village”, but neither of us could’ve fully appreciated exactly what that means until Ezra came into our lives. It is impossible to appreciate how much your life changes with the arrival of a child, no matter how much you attempt to anticipate it, and we are therefore profoundly blessed to be surrounded by so many people who are along for the ride with us! It’s beautiful to witness people pouring culture, experience and love into our son. In the past three years, our family hasn’t had a need or an emergency that was met and supported by folx who want nothing more to see our family thrive. We’ve had situations when we needed last minute, early morning and late night childcare, and our friends were in place within minutes. There have been instances where we show up to the movies or dinners without Ezra and our friends are genuinely offended that we didn’t bring him, lol. Every event and trip is planned with Ezra in mind. There’s not been a question we’ve had as first-time parents that hasn’t been met with love, patience and understanding. What’s even more beautiful are the elders that Ezra has in his life; as a child conceived of with a known-donor, Ezra has three sets of grandparents as well as an additional bonus “Mimi” and these intergenerational relationships will be critical to his development. People often reflect on how great we are as parents, and the truth is a significant portion of that is a result of how lifted we are by the extended family surrounding us. — Jha and Kellie Amazi Thank you, Jha and Kellie, for the lovely message reminding us that community is everything. As we continue to celebrate and recognize Black History Month, remember to spread love and uplift families. You can do so by sharing this letter and leaving ??’s in the comments! Want to write a love letter? Send us an email at [email protected]

Join Family Equality LIVE on Monday, March 3 at 3pm ET/12pm PT to meet our new CEO, Darra Gordon! If you’re not already, follow us on social media for more details — then, tune into our Facebook and Youtube for a special Q&A and the chance to get to know our new leader. Facebook: https://lnkd.in/gtY26RzC Youtube: https://lnkd.in/gzgpqyzS

For Black History Month, Luce Remy, Vice President of Public Policy, writes our second love letter to her parents and all Black parents, titled: ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? I don’t remember when I learned to use a fork, but I remember my mother placing chopsticks in my five-year-old hands at a Chinese restaurant, adjusting my fingers, and encouraging me to use them as long as I could. Each time I wanted to stop, she’d ask, “Are you sure?” By the end of the night, I was eating like an expert. I also don’t remember when I first realized I was a Black female. But I will never forget the day my papa sat 17-year-old me in the driver’s seat of our 1981 Toyota Corolla and said, “You a Black woman in America. I never want you to be in a situation you don’t know how to get yourself out of.” He then spent hours teaching me how to drive a stick shift, change a tire, and jump a car battery. I owe my ability to thrive to my Black parents — parents who practiced intentional parenting before it was a trend. My mother showed me that femininity did not limit my ability to do hard things. My papa, a WWII veteran and immigrant, became the original “girl dad,” teaching me that intelligence has no gender and perseverance doesn’t care if you have cramps. They wove the American Dream, Black culture, and the realities of racism, faced by my family, as slaves and immigrant in this country, into a compelling obstacle course of opportunities and self-knowledge for me to pursue. They prepared me to make space for myself in a world that wouldn’t always welcome me — as a Black woman, and eventually, as a lesbian. Years later, when I asked my mom about those chopsticks, she barely remembered. “That sounds like something I would do. But weren’t you glad you could use them in Beijing?” In that moment, I understood the depth of my parents' love. They had no set plan for my life, only the desire to give me every skill and opportunity they could. They trusted me to find my own way. I rely on that trust now more than ever. And as I prepare for my own journey into parenthood, I am endlessly grateful for the love, intention, and wisdom of my Black parents. — Luce Remy Thank you, Luce, for such a heartfelt letter. It's truly insightful to hear about the gift of intentional parenting. As we continue to celebrate and recognize Black History Month, remember to spread love and uplift families. You can do so by sharing this letter and leaving ??’s in the comments! If you would like to share a love letter for Black History Month or later in the year, please send us a message so we can connect! Or email us at [email protected]

??Schedule is Live! ?? Click on the link below to view the full schedule of amazing events we have lined up for Family Weekend in the South! LGBTQ+ families, join us on May 2-4 in Atlanta for a weekend of community, connection, and a whole lot of love by registering at the link below. P.S. Partners and friends can help make this amazing event a reality with the support of a corporate sponsorship! https://lnkd.in/gtYwXC5X

We are thrilled to announce Darra Gordon (she/her) as our new Chief Executive Officer! With more than two decades of experience in LGBTQ+ nonprofit leadership, Darra is ready to lead us into a stronger, more sustainable future. “Stepping in to lead Family Equality wasn’t a choice for me. It’s a calling. Together with our dedicated team, families, and allies, I know we can build a world where everyone can experience the unconditional love, safety, and belonging that only family can provide.”?? We can’t wait to officially welcome Darra to the Family Equality team on March 3! https://lnkd.in/eG7HwXr7

For Black History Month, we are sharing love letters from families. Our first love letter is from Alvin McCray, Board Member of Family Equality, husband and dad of two. He writes this letter to his two beautiful kids, titled: ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? When I was a child growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, I was taught to love everyone, from my neighbors to my church family, and especially my God. My faith in God became the foundation that empowered me to cultivate a deep love for myself. This love for who I am—my black eyes, black hair, and brown skin—was rooted in the belief that God has wonderfully made each of us. On my father’s dresser, there was a small wax figurine of a brown boy and his dog with the words “Black is Beautiful” inscribed on the front. I’ve carried that figure with me from my hometown to college, from New York City to the Midwest, from Texas to my current home in LA. It serves as a constant reminder that, no matter where I am or who I’m with, my Blackness will always be beautiful. Today, as I raise my two multiethnic children, I pass on the same lessons of love and faith that were instilled in me. It’s important for my children to practice kindness and compassion, but above all, they must learn to love themselves—eyes, hair, and beautiful skin. That little wax figure still sits on my dresser, reminding both my children and me that Black is Beautiful. — Alvin McCray Thank you, Alvin, for writing such a beautiful and touching letter. As we continue to celebrate and recognize Black History Month, remember to spread love and uplift families. You can do so by sharing this letter and leaving ??’s in the comments! If you would like to share a love letter for Black History Month or later in the year, please send us a message so we can connect! Or email us at [email protected]

Policies like Title IX, which exist to safeguard our rights and protect our children, are suddenly up for debate, leaving many parents and educators alike scrambling to understand how to protect the people we love. Nikhil Vashee, Family Equality’s Director of Education Law and Policy, Senior Policy Counsel, details the current state of protections for LGBTQ+ families in schools, and how you can continue to advocate for safer, more inclusive schools for your children. https://lnkd.in/gJ5ur-r5