Upcoming events

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• Non Gestational Parent Support Group

  • Start
    10/01/2023
  •  
  • End
    12/03/2023
  •  
  • Schedule
    3 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  
  

  Rainbow Families proudly continues our Support Group for LGBTQ+ parents (and about-to-be parents) who are non-gestational carriers, regardless of gender or path to parenthood, to discuss concerns, roadblocks, triumphs and experiences related to being a non-gestational parent.
  

  2023 Winter Dates:  Oct 1    |  Nov 5   |  Dec 3 

  
  

  Sessions are Virtual - Available Nationwide - Rainbow Families Membership Not Required
  Free for Rainbow Families Members

  During each session, the group will discuss topics related to experiences as a non-gestational parent ranging from pre-conception through parenting children up to age 5.   Topics may include legal concerns, medical concerns, social concerns, parenting concerns and experiences/concerns of being "othered."

   It is hoped registrants will attend all sessions to receive the most benefit from this type of support group.   Space is limited to help maintain a sense of privacy, intimacy and safety to interact.
  

  If you would like a fee waiver, reach out in confidence at support@rainbowfamilies.org
  No refunds. Dates/times may be subject to change; any changes will be communicated immediately.

  
  

  
   

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• DSRF: Divorced & Separated Rainbow Families

  • Start
    10/02/2023
  •  
  • End
    12/04/2023
  •  
  • Schedule
    3 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual
  • Spaces left
    13

  Register

  

  
  

  Note: New Dates & Times

  LGTQ+ Divorced & Separated Rainbow Families Parents

    DSRF is a peer-based, informal support group for divorced or separated LGBTQ+ parents going through divorce or separation (or who already are divorced).    Non-parents are welcome to participate, with the understanding that discussions will include topics of parenthood & divorce/separation.

  This is an excellent  opportunity to come together as a community to discuss and share resources, laugh and learn about commonalities and differences, as well as dig deeper into the experiences that unite us.    Meetings held virtually.

  Available to participants nationally.  Rainbow Families membership not required
  first Monday of every month, 7:00pm ET
  
  NO COST for Rainbow Familes members

   

  
  

  
  

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• Great Wolf Lodge Weekend 2023

  • Start
    10/06/2023
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • End
    10/08/2023
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • Location
    Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg VA
  • Spaces left
    21

  
  Rainbow Families' Annual Great Wolf Lodge Weekend 

  

  LAST DAY TO REGISTER:  TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
  Registration now closed - we have over 100 people registered!

  Another fantastic discounted rate JUST FOR US:  $229 per room, per night 

  • PLUS -  $30 daily resort fee?   WAIVED!     
  • PLUS -  Free WiFi 
  • PLUS - 10% off on all Food & Beverage purchases
  • Limited availability -  First-come, first- served.  Minimum participation is required to qualify for this rate
  • Check in 4 pm Friday.  Check out 11 am Sunday.  You can arrive earlier to pre-check in and receive passes to enjoy the waterpark until check in time
  • We plan to gather together for dinner Saturday as a group
  • Upgraded room categories are available at additional cost

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Great Wolf Lodge has been extremely supportive of Rainbow Families. 
  It feels good to support businesses who support us

   

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• Saturday Breakfast Gathering - Great Wolf Lodge Weekend

  • When
    10/07/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg VA
  • Spaces left
    22

  Register

  
  Rainbow Families' Annual Great Wolf Lodge Weekend 

  

  Something NEW for our registered attendees this year!

  A Saturday morning breakfast gathering

  What's Included  -   Dedicated meeting room just for us

  Breakfast buffet - see below

  Opportunity to connect with one another, make friends

  
  

  Price  (RFDC makes no profit on this):

  Each Adult:  $30   |   Kids 4-12:    $15  |  Kids 3 and Under:  FREE

  Must sign up no later than 9/25/2023  |   No Refunds  |  30 registrations (4 and older) are required, if not met, the hotel will cancel and we will refund your breakfast fee.

  

  Buffet Menu (subject to change):  Seasonal Fresh Fruit & Berries, Assorted Breakfast Pastries, Low-Fat Fruit & Non-Fat Plain Yogurts Lodge-made gluten free granola, Biscuits & Country Sausage Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Applewood Bacon, Breakfast Sausage, Roasted Breakfast Potatoes rosemary, sea salt 

   

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• Free: Family Fun Day at Norwood School

  • When
    10/14/2023
  •  
    12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Norwood School, 8821 River Road, Bethesda MD

  Register

  
  

  
  

  JOIN US!  FREE!  Rainbow Families DC is excited to hold a fun, new event -  a fall family fun day at Bethesda's Norwood School, on their beautiful 40 acre campus.

  We will have corn hole, hula hoops, ring toss, coloring activities and more -  including their super fun playground.   Let's get in the last of the great weather while we can!

  BONUS: Norwood School is providing lunch for all attendees, through "TRIPPY TACOS"

  Special thanks to our friends at GenOUT Youth Chorus for providing some volunteer assistance.

  
  

     

      

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• Free: Howard County Pride 2023

  • When
    10/15/2023
  •  
    11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Symphony Woods, Merriweather Park, Columbia, MD.

  Register

  Rainbow Families DC is proud to be a sponsoring exhibitor at family-friendly Howard County Pride -  our first ever and we couldn't be more excited.

  There will be food and activities, meet LGBTQ+ affirming businesses and non profits, and RFDC raffle items. 

  Come visit us our booth!  

  
  

  
  

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• Maybe Baby Fall 2023

  • Start
    10/15/2023
  •  
  • End
    11/12/2023
  •  
  • Schedule
    5 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual
  • Spaces left
    23

  Register

  

  Fall 2023 Series  

  
  

  This series will be run virtually

  
  

  Rainbow Families' Maybe Baby was designed over 30 years ago for prospective LGBTQ+ parents (single, married or partnered) thinking about parenthood and interested in learning more about the many options and considerations in building a family.   The safety and value of programs like this, created BY our community FOR our community, are tremendous.

  
  

  We cover a broad range of topics including readiness for parenthood, overview of creating family through adoption, assisted reproduction and foster care/older child, financial and legal issues, building a support network, interracial and intercultural families, the joys and challenges of being an LGBTQ+ headed family and more.  The class is designed to provide a balance of active discussion and sharing, as well as to gain practical information that helps set the foundation for moving forward.  Like all Rainbow Families programs, this is a safe and welcoming space.

  
  

  
  

  Click  HERE for full agenda.  Note:  Agenda reflects an end time of 4pm.  Each session will end between 4 and 4:30.

  
  

  Assistance:   If the registration fee presents a hardship for you, please email our Executive Director in confidence.
  
  

  Cancellation note:   Cancellations received 15 or more days prior to the course start will receive a 50% refund.  Cancellations received 14 days or less are not eligible for refund.
  

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• Rainbow Families' Adoption Support Group

  • Start
    10/28/2023
  •  
  • End
    11/18/2023
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual
  • Spaces left
    14

  Register

  
  

   
  Rainbow Families is pleased to continue one of our longest-running and most popular groups - for prospective LGBTQ+ parents going through the adoption process.  Participants should be about to start their home study, up to waiting for your child...and all steps in-between.  .   Here, you can share and learn from one another with your shared experiences, fears, frustrations and joys, from other future LGBTQ+ parents.

   

            Fall 2023 Series Dates:       Oct 28  | Nov 18 

            Sessions are Virtual - Available Nationwide - Rainbow Families Membership Not Required
            No charge for Rainbow Families members

  The group is facilitated by an expert in the field of therapy, family counseling, mental health, youth, and families.  Space is limited to help maintain a sense of privacy, intimacy and safety to interact.

  Dates/times may be subject to change; any changes will be communicated immediately.

   These are not to be considered a replacement for therapy or counseling.

  NON MEMBER fee has been reduced by 20%.  If you would like a fee waiver, reach out to us in confidence at support@rainbowfamilies.org.    No refunds.

  
  

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• Rainbow Families Halloween Dance

  • When
    10/28/2023
  •  
    4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    McLean School 8224 Lochinver Ln, Potomac, MD 20854
  • Spaces left
    60

  Register

  

  Happy Halloween!

  Join us as we celebrate Halloween Weekend!  

  Everyone is encouraged to come in costume - not just kiddos!  Parents, guardians, caregivers, chosen family, siblings etc.  Let's get together, dressed up in our Halloweeniest Spooktaculariest Best! We'll DANCE to fun music - WITH A RETURN FROM DJ MYRA (who did such a great job for us, pre covid).  We'll show off our fun costumes, laugh, and have a little joy which we all need.

  What's planned? Snacks, Family Photo Booth, Little(r) Kidz Coloring Station in the library (if some quiet time is needed, w/ a parent), Costume Showcase, DJ and dancing and some extra suprises

  
  Each year we try to alternate geographic areas for this event.  After last year's in Alexandria, we're excited to return to McLean School. 

  RF Members:      $10 per Adult

  Non-Members:    $20 per Adult (become a member for reduced/free pricing on our programs - Click HERE)

  Children Under 18 - FREE 

  Please - join us.  Our kids need to see other families like theirs, and to feel safe & celebrated.  
  

     

  If registration fees pose a financial barrier for your family's participation, please reach out in confidence for a waiver.  No refunds after 10/1/23.  In the case of any sickness, cough, fever, please do not attend.
  

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• Annual Fall Gathering at Cox Farms

  • When
    11/05/2023
  •  
    10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Cox Farms, 15621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA 20120
  • Spaces left
    41

  Register

  
  

  A super fun Rainbow Families tradition for all ages, our Rainbow Families Annual Outing at Cox Farm's Fall Fest includes Giant Slides, Hayrides, Farm Animals & their Babies, Cornundrum Cornfield Adventure, Imaginature Trail, Rope Swings, Kiddie Zone, Goat Village, Straw Tunnels, Themed Play Areas, Live Entertainment, Local Apples & Fresh Cider and more.

  
  

  *First time? Learn more about the Cox Farms Fall Festival attractions HERE.  There is truly so much to enjoy here.

  *Safety is vital!  See Cox Farm's Covid guidelines HERE

  *Food options HERE (hint:  the donuts are so good)

  

  IMPORTANT:   If registration costs are prohibitive for your family,  email us in confidence.

  Please read the "Click for details" link above for important information.  Advance reservations are required through this event page. Cox Farms and their team are incredible allies and very supportive of Rainbow Families.  Thank you!  See you there!

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• Rainbow Families Trans Parents Group

  • Start
    01/03/2024
  •  
  • End
    04/03/2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual
  • Spaces left
    28

  Register

  
  

  Our community asked, and Rainbow Families delivered!  Our newest group is designed to allow participants to share concerns, triumphs, experiences and more, related to being a Trans/GNC parent (or prospective parent).  

  New Year 2024 Series:     Jan 3,  Feb 7, Mar 6, Apr 3  (1st Wed of Each Month)

  
  

  • Sessions are Virtual - Available Nationwide - Rainbow Families Membership Not Required
  • No registration fee for Rainbow Families Members
  • For participants in the greater Washington DC region, we may also consider outings or other in-person gatherings for our families.  Details will not be shared publicly.

  
  

  It is hoped registrants will attend all  sessions to receive the most benefit and engagement from this type of group.   Space is limited to help maintain a sense of privacy, intimacy and safety to interact.
  

  If you would like a fee waiver, reach out in confidence at support@rainbowfamilies.org
  No refunds. Dates/times may be subject to change; any changes will be communicated immediately.

  
  

  
   

  Show details
• Grief & Loss in Family Building Support Group

  • Start
    01/03/2024
  •  
  • End
    04/03/2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual
  • Spaces left
    16

  Register

  
  

  Rainbow Families DC proudly continues our Support Group for those in the LGBTQ+ community who have experienced grief and loss as part of their family building journey.  The aim of the group is to create a safe and comfortable space to share stories, resources and healing, specifically for our community. These are peer-based groups and not to be considered a replacement for therapy or counseling.  

  
  

  2024 Spring Dates:    Jan 3, Feb 7, Mar 6, April 3   (First Wed of Each Month)

  
  

  Sessions are Virtual - Available Nationwide - Rainbow Families Membership Not Required

  No charge for RFDC Members

  
  

  Experiences of grief and loss can include, but are not limited to:
  

  • Pregnancy losses (including: miscarriage/stillbirth/infant loss/termination for medical reasons)
  • Failure of eggs to fertilize/embryo(s) to make to it to blastocyst stage (day 5)
  • Failure of transferred embryo to implant
  • Interrupted GC cycles or GC involving loss
  • Interrupted/failed donor cycle (egg, sperm or embryo)
  • Adoption falling through
  • Birth mother changing her mind
  • Foster child returned to their family of origin

  
  Space is limited to help maintain a sense of privacy, intimacy and safety to interact.  We ask that participants join all sessions.

  Dates subject to change

  
  

  Show details
• Rainbow Families Trans Parents Group

  • Start
    06/05/2024
  •  
  • End
    10/02/2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    5 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual
  • Spaces left
    30

  Register

  
  

  Our community asked, and Rainbow Families delivered!  Our newest group is designed to allow participants to share concerns, triumphs, experiences and more, related to being a Trans/GNC parent (or prospective parent).  

  2024 Jun-Nov Series:     Jun 5, July 3*, Aug 7, Sept 4, Oct 2
  1st Wed of Each Month

  *July 3 may be rescheduled 

  
  

  • Sessions are Virtual - Available Nationwide - Rainbow Families Membership Not Required
  • No registration fee for Rainbow Families Members
  • For participants in the greater Washington DC region, we may also consider outings or other in-person gatherings for our families.  Details will not be shared publicly.

  
  

  It is hoped registrants will attend all  sessions to receive the most benefit and engagement from this type of group.   Space is limited to help maintain a sense of privacy, intimacy and safety to interact.
  

  If you would like a fee waiver, reach out in confidence at support@rainbowfamilies.org
  No refunds. Dates/times may be subject to change; any changes will be communicated immediately.

  
  

  
   

  Show details