Grown-Ups: Family Diversity has information about a range of different types of families and parenting: blended families & stepfamilies; co-parenting; single parents; successful single parenting; divorce & the law; rainbow & same-sex families. Raisingchildren.net.au (the Australian parenting network)
Resources for Embracing Family Diversity All children and their families are welcomed in a school that embraces family diversity. Welcoming diverse families means children can see their world reflected in their school, while also learning about the diversity of the community around them. Welcoming Schools (the Human Rights Campaign Foundation), 2018.
Family Diversity Projects We can move beyond our stereotypes and prejudices when we meet and learn about the lives of real people. Family Diversity Projects creates traveling photo-text exhibits, books, and curriculum to help eliminate prejudice, stereotyping, bullying, and harassment of people who are discriminated against due to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, national origin, religion, and disabilities of all kinds.
The Japanese Family Faces 21st-Century Challenges by Anne E. Imamura Family-related issues are at the forefront of social challenges facing Japan: women are postponing marriage, the birth rate is falling, the divorce rate rising, teenage girls are dating middle-aged men to earn money to buy luxury goods, young men are finding it difficult to attract wives, and the percentage of the elderly is growing rapidly and their care is a major social problem. Japanese leaders are lamenting the breakdown of the Japanese family system or seeking to develop policies to shore up that system. Stanford Program on International and Cross-cultural education. September 2004.
NELFA – Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations With 32 associations (September 2018) representing 26 European countries and thousands of LGBTIQ* families, NELFA promotes the exchange of information between its members and assists in creating and developing LGBTIQ* families associations in Europe.
Rainbow Families Australia Building a community which fosters resiliency by connecting, supporting, and empowering LGBTQI families.
New link added 11 Oct 2018 International Foster Care Alliance. They are based in both the US and Japan. Here there is a bit of background information about foster care in Japan: Current Status of Japanese Foster Youth and Alumni This is list of links to organisations in this area. And this is a list of the Directors including: Hiroyasu Hayashi, Ph.D., a teacher at Japan Women's College and Megumi Fujii, President of Rainbow Foster Care. There also is a section on My Voice Our Story section which is a blog by youth who have been in foster care in Japan and the US - includes a short section on LGBTQ and Fostercare
Rainbow Families (Nijiro Kazoku)
LGBT Family & Friends Group (LGBT no Kazoku to Yuujin o Tsunagukai LGBTの家族と友人を繋ぐ会)
Osaka the first city in Japan to certify gay couple as foster parents "Traditionally, only married couples or individuals are allowed to become foster parents. Members of the LGBT community have been eligible to foster children, but only as individuals." Japan Times, 6 Apr 2017.
Family debate: same-sex parents? A long articles that looks at the stories of same-sex couples that have or want children, at the legal obstacles for same-sex couples to use reproductive technology and adopt children because they cannot legally marry in Japan, and other issues including public attitudes to same-sex parents. The article notes it is rare for same-sex couples in Japan to raise children but that ore and more are doing so or want to. Japan Times, Japan Times, 16 Nov 2016.Making LGBT Families a Possibility in Japan An article by a fertility doctor from the United States about growing interest among same-sex couples about having children in japan and also some of the legal issues related to this. Advocate, 7 Mar 2016.
レインボーフォスターケア / Rainbow Foster Care
The promotional film for an Australian documentary called Gayby Baby about four children growing up with same -sex parents in Australia, 17 Mar, 2015. See the Gayby Baby website here.
An interview with the director and producer of the film Gayby Baby which looks at the experiences of four children growing up in Australia with same-sex parents, Daily Xtra
John Guthrie and Dennis Cash have fostered more than 10 children. ABC New, 18 Sep 2017.
‘What about the children?’ Why marriage equality is good for kids and Outcomes for children of same-sex couples Two fact sheets from Australian Marriage Equality
LGBT adoption and parenting in Australia Wikipedia
Children raised by same-sex couples healthier and happier, research suggests Children of same-sex parents enjoy better levels of health and well being than their peers from traditional family units, new Australian research suggests. July 2014, ABC News.
Children of same sex couples enjoy same health and wellbeing These children scored particularly well in the areas of general health and family cohesion. But Christian groups like Family Voice Australia dispute the findings, saying they're skewed (biased). Listen to this report and click on transcript to read it. SBS, 5 Jul 2014.
Exploring Gay Adoption This article looks at the issues gay and lesbian couples face when adopting a child in Australia and gives on overview of laws on same-sex adoption in different parts of Australia. Gay News Network, 27 November 2012.
Making gay marriage legal will not resolve inequality for gay couples This articles discusses whether legalising same-sex marriage will make it easier for same-sex couples to adopt children or have surrogate children. Sydney Morning Herald, 29 Jul, 2015.
Same-sex parented families in Australia "This research paper reviews and synthesises Australian and international literature on same-sex parented families. It includes discussion of the different modes of conception or family formation, different family structures, and the small number of studies on bisexual and transgender parents. Particular attention is paid to research on the emotional, social and educational outcomes for children raised by lesbian and gay parents, and the methodological strengths and weaknesses of this body of work." Read full report here , Australian Government, Australian Institute of Family Studies. Includes these sections:
In South Australia, It’s Bloody Hard To Start A Gay Family This state was the first to decriminalise homosexuality, but now has the most restrictive same-sex parenting laws in the country.26 November, 2015, BuzzFEED News.
Guidelines for healthcare providers working with same-sex parented families August 2012, The Bouverie Centre.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Parented Families August 2007, The Australian Psychological Society Ltd.
Gay couples in Victoria fighting for the right to adopt their own children, 6 Sep, 2015 and Victorian Labor to introduce same-sex adoption laws, 6 Oct, 2015. Two stories form the The Age newspaper in Melbourne about moves to change the laws in the State of Vicotoria to allow same-sex couples to adopt children.
Julie Bishop [Australian Foreign Minister] makes stand for same-sex families "Australia has refused to support a UN Human Rights Commission resolution protecting family rights because it did not include consideration of same-sex families." The Australian, 18 Jul 2015.
Information for gay and lesbian families from Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
Data on Same Sex Couples including How many same sex couples have children form the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Jul 2013.
Gay parents - the child's view The Australian, 9 Mar 2013
Major New Study Finds Kids Raised By Same-Sex Couples Are ‘Healthier And Happier’ Think Positive, 5 Jul 2014
Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays "We are a non-profit voluntary organisation whose members have a common goal of keeping families together. PFLAG is here to give help, support and information to families, friends of all gay people."
For parents with LGBT children Information from Rainbow Bridge, an organisation in Queensland that supports lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds
QLife Australia provide free telephone and web based counselling, referrals and support groups for LGBTI people and their families on matters of sexuality and life issues. The phone line is open 3pm-Midnight 7 days a week.
Growing Up Queer: Issues Facing Young Australians Who Are Gender Variant and Sexuality Diverse A report by a University of Western Sydney research team that inlcudes information about children coming out to their families. Read a summary of the report Homophobia and Transphobia Linked to Mental Health Issues For Many ‘Growing Up Queer’ from Young and Well Co-operative Research Centre
Information for Friends and Family of GLBTI People from Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, a group in the state of Victoria
Parents, family and friends of Transgender Australia Facebook page "Supporting parents with trans and intersex sons and daughters. This is an extension of the support group called Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays which is very supportive of parents of trans and intersex sons and daughters." Has quite a lot of links to articles and videos on this issue.
Transcend - Advocacy, Fundraising and Speaking in Support of Young Transgender Australians Go down to the bottom of the page for information for parents and children - the blog also has lots of articles and videos. This is a website by people in Melbourne, Victoria so has a Victoria focus but has lots of good information.
Gender Help for Parents Australia "This website has been created by Australian parents who have struggled to find information about services and support for issues around their children’s gender identity." Click on the green, orange and blue boxes for links to interesting information form Australia and other countries.
The Gender Centre Inc An organisation based in Sydney that provides services for the transgender and gender diverse community. They have a Transtopia workshop and Parents of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth Support Group.
“Who is in your family?” A resource kit by Rainbow Families Council This resource kit aims to help children, families and early childhood educators start discussions about the diversity of families – including same-sex parented families – who are part of their communities.
Transgender kids' parents are seeking a law change to speed up treatment process Australia's fast-growing number of transgender children are facing an alarming risk of suicide, self-harm and depression, due to a costly legal obstacle to treatment. The Sydney Morning Herald, May 23, 2015.
Pflag is very proactive in promoting acceptance and understanding of people who disclose their sexual diversity to family and loved ones. Parents often feel isolated, confused or angry when their loved one “comes out” and this is an important area where PFLAG can offer assistance.The organization is based in Brisbane but they also have branches in NSW. Contact links in NSW are here.
What family and friends need to know about transgender children, an article of Lifestyle YOU.
I didn't choose to be transgender any more than I choose to be right handed, an article of same same, 3rd Sep, 2014.
Mother's fight for transgender child who was born a boy to live as a girl, an article of the Courier Mail 12th May, 2013.
Jacob's Journey: Life as a Transgender 5-Year-Old, an experience of a family with transgender kid, NBC NEWS, 23th April 2015.
Being Me A 45-minute TV documentary about three transgender people especially eleven-year old Isabelle, who was born a boy but told her family she felt like a girl a year ago, and her family. There is a transcript (click button at top) you can read to help you understand. ABC Four Corners, 17 Sep 2014. - It includes information about she found information about being transgender and coming out in the media.
Families like mine is a multimedia guide that offers practical advice to families of young gender diverse people, same-sex attracted and bisexual people, and those who are questioning their sexuality or gender identity. Includes information on children coming out in families on page 11 and next few pages. From Being Blue - a support service with people with stress, anxiety and depression.
Parents, family and friends of Transgender Australia Facebook page "Supporting parents with trans and intersex sons and daughters. This is an extension of the support group called Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays which is very supportive of parents of trans and intersex sons and daughters." Has quite a lot of links to articles and videos on this issue.
Transcend - Advocacy, Fundraising and Speaking in Support of Young Transgender Australians Go down to the bottom of the page for information for parents and children - the blog also has lots of articles and videos. This is a website by people in Melbourne, Victoria so has a Victoria focus but has lots of good information.
Gender Help for Parents Australia "This website has been created by Australian parents who have struggled to find information about services and support for issues around their children’s gender identity." Click on the green, orange and blue boxes for links to interesting information form Australia and other countries.