The Advocate reported last week that the US Supreme Court will decide on November 7th if they will take up a case that challenges same-sex marriage being legal across the United States. Many in our community are rightfully nervous about what the US Supreme Court will do and how we can protect our marriages and our families. Rainbow Families is closely following the case and will provide updates to our members as they come.

This is also why our Town Hall: Conversations about Our Families, Our Schools, and Our Mental Health on November 15th. We want to provide our members with up-to-date information on how to protect our marriages and our parental rights. This is why we are so honored to have Summer Abel, a lawyer who specializes in LGBTQ+ family law, join us to share steps families can take to safeguard our rights. While we are fortunate that most of the school districts in DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia have had LGBTQ+ inclusive policies that recognize our families, they are being attacked and undermined by the federal Department of Education. This is why we are collaborating with the Human Rights Campaign's Welcoming Schools program to share how parents can fight for inclusive policies in their schools. All of this has taken a toll on many of our mental health and we need to build up our resiliency. This is why we will have a panel of mental health experts to share strategies to keep us sane through this trying time. We can do this together!

We hope you'll join us for our Town Hall on Saturday, November 15th. Click here to learn more and register (free for members) - https://rainbowfamiliesdc.org/event-6361794.

Rainbow Families' Town Hall is Sponsored by Toler Financial Group

Why is Rainbow Families prioritizing school advocacy at our Town Hall?

The answer is simple; we need to. The DMV area has been fortunate to have so many LGBTQ+ inclusive public school districts in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. We are grateful for the inclusive policies and practices that many of the public school districts have put in place. However, those inclusive policies are under threat and our hope is to equip our Rainbow Families' members with resources and tools to fight for our families to be represented in our schools' curriculum, in library books, and with inclusive policies for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and parents. 

We are grateful to have Cheryl Greene, who leads HRC's Welcoming Schools program attend our Town Hall on November 15th. Cheryl has been leading on LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools across the country for years and brings a wealth of experience and tactics we can use right here in our communities. Cheryl will be presenting new resources from HRC that outline what inclusive policies we should be fighting for, how to gauge the inclusiveness of your school, and how to make a difference with your school board.

Don't miss this important Town Hall discussion on November 15th! Which is now free for all Rainbow Families' members.  Click here to register today!

Rainbow Families' Playdate Program is Back!

This past Sunday, October 12th saw the happy return of our Playdate Program. Playdates are member-led events that are little to no cost for families. These programs often are as simple as meeting up at a local playground or park and we are always looking for member leaders to pull one of these opportunities together. This past Sunday we had about 10 families come out to our Playdate at Big Chimneys Park in Falls Church and we hope to have regular Playdate programs throughout the DMV area. If you are interested in learning more about the program or possibly leading a Playdate, please reach out to Ali D (she/her) at ali@rainbowfamilies.org. 

October is LGBTQ+ history month and this month we are honoring our wonderful Heroes of the Year:

Rainbow Families is hosting a special Town Hall on Saturday, November 15th 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM at the Human Rights Campaign's Headquarters in NW DC. The event will focus on legal protections for LGBTQ+ marriages and parental rights, advocating for pro-LGBTQ+ policies in our schools, and how to maintain our mental health well-being during this difficult time for many of us. So, why are we hosting this event?

Since 2022, there has been a concentrated effort to roll back rights and freedoms for LGBTQ+ people with a specific focus on stopping LGBTQ+ inclusion in our schools and transgender people's rights and health care. This fight started on the state level with book bans and curriculum censorship such as Florida's "Don't Say Gay/Trans" bill that made it illegal for teachers to discuss LGBTQ+ people, families, or topics in public schools. The attacks increased with bans on life saving, age-appropriate gender affirming medical care for transgender minors and even some transgender adults. Over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state houses across the country in the last three years alone.

This year has seen more attacks on LGBTQ+ people including the ban on transgender people serving in the US military and cuts to HIV-related programs. And now we are seeing the first challenge to the historic Obergefell Supreme Court Decision that legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

Many of our Rainbow Families are scared and unsure how to protect themselves and their families. Many of our Rainbow Families are disheartened to see the roll back of LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum and books in our public schools. And many of our Rainbow Families are dealing with mental health distress navigating the current polarized political climate. This is why we are bringing our community together for an in-person event in November. It's time we had a serious conversation about how to protect our families, our schools, and our mental health.

We hope you will join us for the Rainbow Families' Town Hall: Conversations about Our Families, Our Schools, & Our Mental Health on Saturday, November 15th 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM in-person at HRC's Headquarters in NW DC. Visit https://rainbowfamilies.org/events/ to register today.

Last month, a petition was filed for the US Supreme Court to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges, opening the door for the possible reversal on the legalization of same-sex marriage across the US. Rainbow Families is working to provide resources and information to our members to protect our marriages and our families.

Join us this Wednesday, September 24th at 6:00 PM for a special Legal Talk Webinar on Protecting Your Rainbow Family. Hear from local legal expert, Catelyn Slattery from Modern Family Formation Law Offices and get your questions answered. Visit our events page to register for free today.

Check out these additional blogs from our friends at Offit Kurman:

• Marriage Equality & the Supreme Court: Preparing for the Unexpected by Summer Able 8/13/2025
• Obergefell in Question: Estate Planning Risks for Same-Sex Spouses by Candace Dellacona 8/14/2025
• Marriage in the Balance: Safeguarding Rights for Same-Sex Couples by Lee Carpenter 9/11/2025

 Rainbow Families' Trans Parenting Support Group is Back!

This closed group is peer-facilitated and provides support to Rainbow Families' transgender and non-binary parents. The group will meet once a month for a three-session series this winter. Register today at https://rainbowfamilies.org/events/.

Dates: Sunday, October 19th | Sunday, November 16th | Sunday, December 21st
Time: 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $40 per family for non-members | Free for Rainbow Families Members
(If you are not a Rainbow Families' member and would like to be considered for a fee waiver, please reach out to us at info@rainbowfamilies.org.) 

Additional Terms & Conditions:

• This support group is a closed group, so registration for this three-series of sessions closes at 5:00 PM on Friday, October 17th.
• All sessions are virtual and open to participants nationwide.
• Space is limited to help maintain a sense of privacy, intimacy, and safety for participants.
• No refunds will be issued after the start of the first session.
• Dates and times may be subject to change; any changes will be communicated immediately. 
• Please see Rainbow Families' full Terms & Conditions located on our website (https://rainbowfamilies.org/rules-and-terms/).

Just last week, Rainbow Families launched our School Board Advocacy webpage to assist our members in navigating our local public school systems. The past several years has seen a decline in LGBTQ+ inclusive efforts in public schools across the country and now on a federal level. Luckily, the DMV area is home to some of the most inclusive public school districts in the country and many are fighting to continue being a welcoming, affirming, and safe school for all families. We hope our Rainbow Families will engage in their local school districts and fight for inclusive schools for all. Check out our webpage to learn more - https://rainbowfamilies.org/school-board-advocacy/. 

This past Labor Day weekend, Rainbow Families welcomed over 200 campers for our Annual Family Camp Weekend! We are so grateful for all the families who joined us for a weekend filled with family-fun. This annual event is one of many opportunities for Rainbow Families to connect with other families just like theirs, build community, and have some fun. 

We hope you'll join us for Family Camp Weekend 2026!

Rainbow Families' Annual Family Picnic at Hillwood Estates is coming up next month! This annual event is a great opportunity for Rainbow Families' members to enjoy a beautiful family picnic with other LGBTQ+ parents and families. Come out for one of our most popular and loved events! Just $5 per adult and kids under 18 are free!

Register today - https://hillwoodmuseum.org/events/family-picnic-partnership-rainbow-families-4