“FAMILIES WITHOUT BORDERS”!

1 May 2016 is International Family Equality Day (IFED)

This year’s motto: “FAMILIES WITHOUT BORDERS”

On May 1, 2016, LGBTQ family organizations from around the world will join together for the fifth time to increase the international visibility of LGBTQ families.

All over the world, more and more children grow up in families where one or both of their parents are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or queer (LGBTQ). Yet, these “rainbow families” face very different situations. In some countries rainbow families enjoy equal rights and social recognition. In others, for instance some Eastern European, Latin American and most African and Asian countries as well as Russia, children and parents face direct discrimination and have to live under the threat of violence. 

By highlighting “FAMILIES WITHOUT BORDES”, NELFA and its partner organizations aim to raise awareness about the urgent need for recognition of rainbow families moving from one country to another.

«People move, as do families.» 
Yet a legally recognized rainbow family will not necessarily be treated as such when crossing borders. A married Spanish couple with two children might be transformed into two single mothers with no legal ties when moving to Italy. Legally non recognized parents might not get residence and working permits.

We urge states worldwide to respect existing family laws and protect the recognized rainbow families.

We also invite all countries that already recognize rainbow families to join us to celebrate IFED, as a sign of solidarity and visibility of all families, as well as a sign of support for those families who still face discrimination.

The International Family Equality Day (IFED) not only raises awareness of sexual orientation and gender diversity within families, it provides an opportunity for LGBTQ parents and their children to celebrate our families and communities. The IFED is also a sign of solidarity between all families: “Together we are strong!”

Families all over the world are invited to join us in celebrating 
the International Family Equality Day on 1 May 2016!

IFED Annual Report 2015
In 2015, the IFED was celebrated in 32 countries and 67 cities worldwide. Our annual report introduces the organizations involved in IFED as well as the work done by the IFED Committee, and highlights the activities that were held in the different countries to celebrate this day. 
http://internationalfamilyequalityday.org/index.php/annual-report/annual-report-2015-a

Get Involved
We are happy to announce that this year for the first time, Norway and Sweden will join us. You, too, can hold a local event as part of the International Family Equality Day! Community organizations who wish to participate please contact the IFED Network by email: info@internationalfamilyequalityday.org, or join our IFED Creative Network on Facebook. 
Interested? Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/500398236747224/

Network of International Family Equality Day (IFED)
As a sign of solidarity and strength and to promote equality for all types of families, the LGBTQ family organizations LGBTQ Parenting Network (Toronto, Canada), Family Equality Council (USA), NELFA (Europe), Coalition des familles homoparentales (Montreal, Canada), Keshetfamilies (Israel) and Rainbow Families Japan (Japan) have taken the opportunity to establish ongoing international cooperation in areas such as research, visibility and advocacy and the development of resources and programmes for LGBTQ families worldwide. 

The IFED Committee is composed of representatives from the various LGBTQ family organizations (Family Equality Council, LGBTQ Parenting Network, Coalition des familles homoparentales, NELFA, Keshetfamilies and Rainbow Families Japan). Communication takes place via a mailing list (listserv) and quarterly video conferences, during which cooperation and joint projects are discussed. A website serves as a common platform. It introduces the involved organizations as well as ongoing and completed projects in connection with IFED and provides opportunities for networking.

IFED Website: http://www.internationalfamilyequalityday.org/
IFED Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFamilyEqualityDay?ref=hl
IFED Facebook Creative Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/500398236747224/
IFED International Mailing List: E-Mail queries to info@internationalfamilyequalityday.org

Yours cordially,
The International Family Equality Day (IFED) Network

Media contact: 
Maria von Känel, +41 79 611 06 71 (German/Spanish/English)
President, NELFA
www.nelfa.org

Luís Amorim, + 32 473 76 50 70 (Portuguese/English/French/Spanish)
Board Member, NELFA
https://www.facebook.com/nelfa.aisbl

Participating Countries/Organizations: Organization: FAmOs, Familien Andersrum Österreich
Country: Austria 
Media contact: Barbara Schlachter, info@regenbogenfamilien.at, tel: +4369918184153
www.regenbogenfamilien.at

Organization: Het Roze Huis (The Pink House) and 't Kwadraat 
Country: Belgium 
Media contact: Thomas Jans, thomas.jans@hetrozehuis.be, tel: +32 3288.00.84, Handy +32 486 98 88 35 
www.hetrozehuis.be / www.tkwadraat.be

Organization: Coalition des familles homoparentales
Country: Canada
Media contact: Mona Greenbaum, info@familleshomoparentales.org, tel: 514-878-7600
www.familleshomoparentales.org

Organization: LGBTQ Parenting Network
Country: Canada
Media contact: Andy Inkster, parentingresources@sherbourne.on.ca, tel: (416) 324-4100 ext. 5276
www.lgbtqparentingconnection.ca

Organization: Dugine obitelji (Rainbow Families)
Country: Croatia
Media contact: Boris Vrdoljak, info.dugineobitelji@gmail.com

Organization: Finnish Rainbow Families Association (Sateenkaariperheet)
Country: Finland
Media contact: Juha Jämsä (CEO), juha.jamsa@sateenkaariperheet.fi, tel: +358-44-9971956
www.sateenkaariperheet.fi

Organization: Association des parents et futurs parents gays et lesbiens, APGL
Country: France
Media contact: Doan Luu, presse@apgl.fr, tel: +33.6 16 66 56 91
www.apgl.fr

Organization: LSVD/ILSE
Country: Germany
Media contact: Dr. Lisa Green, NELFA Board Member, lisa.green@uni-konstanz.de, tel: +4915787657184
www.lsvd.de


Organization: Oikogeneies Ouranio Tokso  
Country: Greece 
Media-Contact: Irene Petropoulou, ouraniotoksofamilies@gmail.com, Tel: +30 6948257008 
www.ouraniotoksofamilies.blogspot.gr

Organization: Keshetfamilies (Rainbow Families)
Country: Israel
Media contact: Vicky Schul, keshetfamilies@gmail.com, tel: +972-3-6778237; Handy +972-523-556497
www.keshetfamilies.org.il

Organisation: The Association of Israeli Gay Fathers
Country: Israel
Medienkontakt: Amit Rov-Shaanan, amit_shaanan@bezeqint.net, Tel: +972 54 4907279
www.gaydads.org.il

Organization: Famiglie Arcobaleno
Country: Italy
Media contact: Valeria Balzarini, FamiglieArcobaleno@yahoogroups.com, tel: +39 3492689556
www.famigliearcobaleno.org

Organization: Rete Genitori Rainbow
Country: Italy
Media contact: Fabrizio Paoletti, stampa@genitorirainbow.it, tel: +39 392 7063590 
www.genitorirainbow.it

Organization: Rainbow Families Japan (Nijiiro-Kazoku)
Country: Japan
Media contact: Haru Ono, rainbowfamilyjp@gmail.com 
www.queerfamily.jimdo.com

Organization: House of Diversity and Education
Country: Lithuania
Media contact: Vilma Gabrieliūtė, ivairovesnamai@gmail.com, tel: +37060117906
www.ivairiseima.lt

Organization: FLG, Associació de Famílies Lesbianes i Gais
Country: Spain (Barcelona)
Media contact: Katy Pallàs (president), familieslg@familieslg.org, +34 645 318 860
www.familieslg.org

Organization: Galesh, Associació de Famílies Homoparentals
Country: Spain (Valencia)
Media contact: Marc Brell i López (president), info@galesh.org, tel: +34 686146244
www.galesh.org

Organization: Dachverband Regenbogenfamilien
Country: Switzerland 
Media contact: Maria von Känel, info@regenbogenfamilien.ch, tel: +41796110671 
www.regenbogenfamilien.ch 

Organization: LGBT Parents
Country: UK
Media contact: Claire Woold, LGBTparents@hotmail.com
www.LGBTparents.net

Organization: Family Equality Council
Country: USA
Media contact: Bradley Jacobs, bjacobs@familyequality.org, tel: 917.324.8771
www.familyequality.org

Η ετήσια έκθεση για τη γιορτή των οικογενειών είναι έτοιμη! Το 2015 είχαμε εκδηλώσεις σε 67 πόλεις 32 χωρών. Ξεφυλλίζοντας το βιβλιαράκι θα δείτε και φωτογραφίες από τη δική μας γιορτή στην Ελλάδα. Είμαστε περήφαν@ που καταφέραμε γίνει και να περάσουν όμορφα όσ@ ήταν εκεί! Σε μια χώρα χωρίς νόμους, σε μια χώρα μέσα στην οικονομική κρίση, η γιορτή μας δεν είχε τίποτα να ζηλέψει από εκείνες των άλλων 66 πόλεων των 31 χωρών. Συνεχίζουμε....

http://issuu.com/mariavonkanel/docs/ifed2015_finalweb?e=2701252%2F15269353