FEATURE One Day Seminar The Rainbow Family — Same-Sex Parenting Seminar August 03, 2007 OUT LGBT Well-being and Baby-ventures are jointly hosting, for the first time in Gauteng, a same-sex parenting seminar. The day will focus on the needs of same-sex parents and couples wanting to embark on this journey and unravel the many challenges faced by the LGBT communities in this area. The Objectives of the seminar are to: Provide same-sex parents and parents-to-be with safe, supportive and valuable information on the available options for conceiving, parenting and nurturing a family. Provide social workers and health care practitioners with information in order to assist LGBT parents to be. Who will benefit from this seminar? Parents and prospective parents from the LGBT communities, social workers, psychologists, counsellors, fertility and medical practitioners, legal entities and human rights groups. Speakers and Topics Gill Berkowitz, Consulting Psychologist in private practise: "Is my relationship ready for a child?"; "How a child affects your relationship?"; "Sharing kids with an ex-spouse"; "The gay step parent"; "Coming out as a parent to your children"; "Dealing with prejudices as a parent/s"; "Child development in the gay household" and "Intergrating your gay family into the educational sector/ schools". Joan Nathanson, Social Worker in private practise: "Adoption in South Africa"; "Telling it Straight: Your various options as a same-sex couple"; "Transracial/cultural adoptions: Challenges"; "The Social Workers Dilemma: The screening procedure" and "Adoption: When things go wrong". Pam Duffield, RN, Medfem Clinic: "ARP (Artificial Reproductive Procedures)"; 'The ins and outs of IVF (In-vitro Fertilization) and artificial insemination (egg donation and matching/ Sperm donor selection and matching)" and "Ethical Issues: The Role of your Medical Professional". Bev Edwards, legal expert, Surro-Moms SA: "The New Child Act and Surrogacy" and "Gay marriage and your Parental Rights: Legal Interpretation". Marna Hanekom, Social Worker in private practise: "Emotional Intelligent Parenting"; "Prejudices as Gay/Lesbian parents"; "psychological Issue of Gay/Lesbian parents" and "EQ in parenting". Chris Steyn, Dutch Reformed Church Minister: "Intergrating your gay family into the Church". Date of Seminar Saturday, 8 September 2007, from 09h30 – 15h30 Venue Voortrekker Hall, 264 Glover Avenue, Lyttleton, Centurion Cost of Seminar Cost is R100.00 per participant or R150.00 per couple. Only pre-registrations will be accepted. Your registration fee includes refreshments, a free magazine, note pad and pen, access to exhibitions of various service providers. Please note the deadline for submission of your registration and proof of payment is 31 August 2007. The first 50 registrations will receive a complimentary copy of Martin's Coming Home. It is the first book of the series, Bedtime Stories: My Family. This series of childrens' books, with fun-filled stories focusing on the gay and lesbian family structure, will be launched at the seminar. For more information and registration details please contact Delene at OUT or Lisa at Baby-ventures. – Issued by Baby-ventures and Out (LGBT) Well-Being Related features Gay marriage and parental rights in South Africa