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

We are excited to bring back the Maybe Baby program this Fall starting on Sunday, September 14th!

Maybe Baby is a proven, multi-week course designed for prospective LGBTQ+ parents interested in learning more about the options for building a family. The program dates back to 1982 and has helped hundreds of LGBTQ+ families welcome children into their homes. The program was designed BY LGBTQ+ parents for LGBTQ+ parents and provides community-specific information that has proven helpful to those starting a new family.

Registration is now open for the Fall 2025 session. Visit our https://rainbowfamilies.org/events/Calendar of Events to register and click here if you'd like to learn more about the Maybe Baby program.

There is a significant lack of research on LGBTQ+ people and families. This is why we regularly share out research opportunities to our network in hopes of increasing knowledge of our communities' needs and experiences. Check out these two opportunities we recently received:

The Lavender Lab, an LGBTQ+ and BIPOC research lab at the University of Maryland, is inviting LGBTQ+ teens of color (ages 13-17) to join our paid confidential study, and we need your voice!

In the study, you'll have a chance to read an online comic and fill out several surveys on your lived experiences, stress, health, and overall well-being. The results from this study will help inform future interventions for our LGBTQ+ teens of color.

You must be a) LGBTQ+, b) 13-17 years old, and c) Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color. Complete this brief confidential eligibility form (https://tinyurl.com/comicxrbfamilies) to find out more.

If you’re eligible and interested, you will have the chance to enroll in our paid comic study!

If you have any questions or want further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us: Email - lavenderlab@umd.edu, Text: ‪(301) 364-4986.

Researchers at NYU Langone Health are looking for feedback from parents regarding breast milk. It is always important for LGBTQ+ parents to be included in parent research! If you are interested in participating in the 30-minute survey, you'll receive a $20 Gift Card. Visit https://redcap.link/5spt7b3k for details or call or text 646-581-6167.

Registration is open for the following Rainbow Families Support Groups:

• Divorced & Separated Support Group - open group meets the first Monday of each month at 8:00 - 9:00 PM. 
• New & Expecting Parents Support Group - registration open until Friday, September 5th. Three-session series meeting the first Sunday of each month 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM starting Sunday, September 7th.
• Pre-Conception Support Group - registration open until Friday, September 5th. Three-session series meetings the first Sunday of each month 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM starting Sunday, September 7th.

Click here to register for support groups and events.
Click here to learn more about Rainbow Families' Support Groups. 

Questions? Contact us at info@rainbowfamilies.org. 

Hello Rainbow Families Members & Supporters,

My name is Ted Lewis (they/them) and I have the honor of joining the team and serving as your Executive Director. I have big shoes to fill with the passing of Darren Vance, who passed away last year. Darren was a force for good in our community who led Rainbow Families with pride, dedication, and a love for LGBTQ+ families. He will be missed and I will do my best to live into his legacy by carrying on the important work of this organization.

I want to thank you, our members and supporters, for your patience and grace as the Board of Directors and I get our footing after some months of uncertainty. We plan to bring you great events, playgroups, and activities for the whole family as well as provide you with advice, guidance, and support navigating the current political reality our families face. 

I promise you will hear more from us moving forward including monthly emails outlining upcoming events, support groups, and educational information for your families. I hope to meet many of you at some of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,

Ted Lewis
Executive Director, Rainbow Families
ted@rainbowfamilies.org

PS: If you are interested in learning more about my background, check out this great profile from our partners at The Washington Blade - https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/07/18/ted-lewis-rainbow-families/ 

As a small, grassroots nonprofit, we are able to provide the myriad of services we do, thanks to loyal, incredible volunteers.

One such volunteer is Ben Royer (he/him).  Ben has been the facilitator of our virtual DSRF (Divorced/Separated Rainbow Families) support group since early 2023.

Born and raised in Olathe, Kansas (a Midwestern boy at heart), Ben is now in the DC region and is with Mindful One, a clinical psychological services organization based in the DMV. 

He is also the proud dad to his furry little girl, Willow.

We're grateful for our volunteers like Ben, who have such dedication to our community and to Rainbow Families.

Last month, the Secret Servicers DC, a long-standing kickball team with Stonewall Sports, hosted a drag brunch fundraiser for Rainbow Families at El Rey restaurant in DC. The Secret Servicers DC have been a very generous supporter of Rainbow Families DC.

Team member and Drag Brunch host Julian Esain says, “We selected Rainbow Families as our charity given the hostile current climate in the US regarding the LGBTQIA+ community and the increase in limiting their representation in familial/childhood settings. We reject and combat the idea that members of the community are incapable of developing a safe and supportive home for children, seeing as we have been doing it for ourselves for generations. We are excited to partner with Rainbow Families as they continue to provide resources, support and build communities for all kinds of families in all colors of the rainbow.”

The October Drag Brunch raised over $4,000 to support Rainbow Families and we are truly grateful.