Today marks the 11th annual International Family Equality Day, an event created to celebrate the diversity of families globally! Wishing a happy day to all the families celebrating around the world!
The day originated as an idea of Swiss LGBTQ advocate Maria von Känel in 2010. The first International Symposium of LGBTQ parenting organizations in 2011 established International Family Equality Day (IFED) as the first Sunday in May, and celebrated the first one in 2012. Additionally, in 2018, IFED became an NGO (non-governmental organization) recognized by the United Nations, as a way to sustain and grow its work.
This year’s theme is “Family Equality is Everybody’s Business,” which “highlights the fact that family equality concerns everyone,” the organization says on its website.
And if you just can’t get enough of celebrating LGBTQ families (because really, who can?): I also invite you to take part in the 17th annual #LGBTQFamiliesDay on June 1, 2022. This is an event that I created in 2006 (originally as Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day) not only to kick off Pride Month, but also because it is halfway between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, in recognition that not all families fit into the structure of one mother and one father. This year, we’ll be stressing the bonds of all families with LGBTQ people in them, both families with LGBTQ parents and those with LGBTQ children or other family members. Details to follow shortly!
