This Saturday is the start of the 25th Annual Family Week in Provincetown, the world’s largest gathering of LGBTQ+ families. At a time when LGBTQ families are still fighting to be recognized as families, the event offers not only vacation, but also encouragement and inspiration.
Family Week, hosted by Family Equality and COLAGE, runs Saturday, July 27, to Saturday, August 3, 2019. Over the past 25 years, it has grown from an informal, community-based gathering to an annual destination event for thousands of members of LGBTQ+ families from all over the U.S. (and beyond). This year, more than 550 families have pre-registered, and even more will attend after onsite registration.
Activities during the week include the ever-popular ice cream social; a clambake; a 5K “Run the Trails for Whales” road race; drag storytime; PJ movie night; a variety of arts, crafts, theater, and nature programs geared for different ages; and much more. There are also special gatherings just for the kids of LGBTQ parents; just for the parents; for transgender and gender nonconforming parents, youth, and those with trans and gender nonconforming parents; and for Jewish and Muslim families, among others. The week ends with the traditional Family Pride Parade—a jubilant celebration that’s bound to inspire. (I’m also thrilled to see that one of my favorite kids’ magazines, Kazoo (about which more here), will be there helping folks make kazoos for the parade.)
Those who cast aspersions at LGBTQ families sometimes say we’re a newfangled and unproven social experiment. I say we have a long history, which includes, among other things, a quarter century of gathering together each year in P’town to celebrate and re-energize.
Family Equality CEO The Rev. Stan J. Sloan released the following statement to launch Family Week 2019:
Family Equality and COLAGE are delighted to be back in Provincetown for our 25th Annual Family Week event, and this year we’re welcoming a record number of LGBTQ+ families! Our time together at Family Week is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the strength and resilience of our community when we come together, and to build momentum for the work we have ahead of us. Year-round, Family Equality works hard to support LGBTQ+ families nationwide in the face of threats from the Trump Administration, by supporting legislation like the Every Child Deserves a Family Act that would make it illegal to discriminate against our community, and fighting state laws allowing adoption and foster care agencies the ability to discriminate against our youth and prospective LGBTQ+ parents. We’re excited to see so many LGBTQ+ families joining us in Provincetown, and Family Equality is proud to support you all, both here at Family Week, and when you return to your homes across the country.
Don’t take his or my word for it; watch the video and see the smiles:
Are you going or have you gone in previous years? Leave a comment to share your experience!
This will be my 7th Family Week. There is no experience quite like it. Positively amazing!
Seven! Wow. Hope you and your family have a great time!