My Nonprofit Reviews

The LA Gay and Lesbian Center's Family Services Program has done so much for our family. After my partner and I had our daughter, we found that we were the minority in all parent and me groups (MOMS Club, Gymboree, Music Together) or the only lesbian family. It was a matter of "coming out" again and again, sometimes with positive results and sometimes with negative ones. The Center's Family Services Program provided the Baby Bonanza group, a free weekly group for GLBT parents and their 0-2 year old babies and toddlers. The group was incredibly supporitve and well run. The facilitators of the group were an excellent example of young professionals dedicated to helping GLBT families feel included and empowered. They provided a safe and clean environment, wonderful toys, a fabulous "banana and water bar" for the young ones to learn how to socialize, eat, and begin to follow rules, a song participation time, and birthday celebrations. The Family Services Program also provides monthly family events in the community with games, food, guest speakers and entertainers, and multiple events throughout the year which are either low cost or free! The Kid Bonanza group was created for parents and their 2-5 year olds, and many other communities have copied these programs in order to create similar groups for local GLBT families, something that did not exist in the past. We always had a place to go in order to meet other GLBT families and feel supported and rewarded for creating unique families of love. The Gay and Lesbian Center has many programs for the community, and we were very grateful to be able to participate in and be served by the Family Services Program. I can't imagine how much more isolated and alone we would have felt without this service, and without the care of the wonderful staff people. We have made friendships that will last throughout our children's childhoods and hopefully even longer. I highly recommend this agency for the Pride Choice Contest.

More Feedback