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25+ Incredible LGBTQ Charities to Support this Pride Month (and beyond!)

Charity work is vital when it comes to raising awareness on any topic. With a regular issue in government funding and attitudes, charities are often the main bodies to push ...

LGBT

25+ Incredible LGBTQ Charities to Support this Pride Month (and beyond!)

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Making Fertility treatment more affordable by The Fertility Medication Centre [AD]

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Our Top LGBTQ Documentaries

Our Trip to Chessington World of Adventure [AD – Press Trip]

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Toys

Creatto Soaring Dragon & Friends by Thames & Kosmos [AD – Review]

Our Favourite National Trust Walks in Sussex

Days Out: One Garden, Brighton (Review)

Review

Detective Agency by Osmo #OsmoSocialClub [AD – Review]

A Parent’s Guide to Supporting LGBTQ+ Kids

[AD] Before T was even conceived, we were very awa

[AD] Before T was even conceived, we were very aware that the way we would navigate Perinatal services would be very different to those not from the #LGBTQ community. From the forms we would complete to the questions we would get asked time and time again.

Back then, we would have loved a place to ask questions and meet more parents like us, but in a more secure and safe space.

This Wednesday (16th) at 11am BST / 6am EST myself and AJ from @thequeerbirthclub are teaming up again, but this time in the comfort of one of @peanut new 'Pods', to talk about how #LGBT people can comfortably navigate Perinatal services as a new parent / parent-to-be, as well as offering ways professionals within this care industry can be more inclusive.

@Peanut new Pods feature - found exclusively on their app - is a private and safe space to talk about the ups and downs of trying to grow a family, and beyond.

🎙️The Pods are live audio conversations that allow you to talk and share stories. Like podcasts, but in real-time! You can ask us questions, share your stories, have a conversation and most importantly, find the support we all need! Everyone is welcome!

🏳️‍🌈 This is part of a special #Pride event happening all day on 16th June, which means we're part of several Pods that are happening throughout the day! Please do check out the schedule to see what's happening. What's more is that for every person who joins our pod, Peanut will donate $1 to Family Equality! 🏳️‍🌈

➡️ All you need to do to join us is download the Peanut app for FREE and sign up. You're then ready to not only join us, but meet new parents!

This weekend I had the absolute PRIVILEGE of going

This weekend I had the absolute PRIVILEGE of going live with @thequeerbirthclub to talk about same-sex parenting and ways workers in the birthing world; from Doulas to Midwives, can be more inclusive towards same sex parents. This included updating forms and documents, expanding and improving language, and generally not making assumptions about people.

I left the 45+ minute live (that was only meant to be 30 minutes but what the heck) BUZZING and utterly motivated. What AJ doesn't know isn't worth knowing and they're doing some incredible work to make Perinatal services more inclusive. I was in awe and could have talked for hours.

After the live I then got lots of lovely messages, some of which included questions - which is always welcome as long as they're polite and (relatively) sensible. It shows that people are willing to do the work and I always have time for people like that. One thing I always want to make clear, though, is that I'm just one Lesbian with one lived experience. I'm not an educator and I'm not an "official" activist. I'm just an impassioned loud mouth with an opinion.

Therefore, it's so vitally important that for the work to be done you need to listen and take note from a variety of experiences. For example, we conceived via at-home AI, which means we have a very basic understanding of IVF / IUI. With this in mind, if you truly want to understand our community better and continually work on your allyship, follow a variety of voices. Not just the ones that are more palatable or easy on the senses. You need to listen to the lows as well as the highs, and be there during the rough, not just the smooth.

Our live is now up over at @thequeerbirthclub, please do check it out. We had so much fun and, for once, I was able to stay on track most of the time!

ID: A close up picture of Kate, who is a 34 year old white woman with olive skin and short dark hair. She is wearing a black and white "Baseball" top and black rimmed glasses. She is leaning on her right hand, which is cupped around her face. In the background is her lounge, and shows a variety of plants and white furniture. In two corners of the picture are lines drawn in a rainbow sequence.

I've read so many lovely coming out stories, both

I've read so many lovely coming out stories, both privately and publicly, this #PrideMonth. I always feel such privilege being allowed into what can be a very personal and private affair.

My (formal) coming out wasn't anything spectacular, I told a few friends and family members and the rest is history. Perhaps that was because I was in a safe environment to do it that way. If I lived with different people or in a different country, I may have had a different coming out story. If at all! See, #ComingOut is unique to each person, but what we don't often talk about is that it can sometimes happens more than once for #LGBTQ people, and sometimes unintentionally.

Yesterday, Amber from @meetthewildes wrote an important post about coming out. I'd love you all to go read it. She talks (much better than I!) about how coming out isn't a one time thing and how even if you're "out" to yourself and friends, you often find yourself coming out on a daily basis to complete strangers. This is often because society makes huge assumptions based in the way people look or how they dress or whether people have children. I've lost count how many times people have automatically referred to my imaginary husband because of the ring on my finger or T's "dad" when I'm alone with T.

T himself has even corrected people at the park or in school.

It can be awkward, especially if people then feel entitled to ask questions, but it's important - for me anyway - to feel comfortable around the people I'm with, and to usualise different families, so I will often correct people. That being said, we need to remember that not everyone wants to "come out" or is "out". I'd love one day just to say "my wife" without hearing that "oh!".

I do believe that the majority of people are wonderfully accepting, but coming out can be so tiring. So how about we stop making assumptions or prematurely applying labels to people - it can be as easy as referring to someone as 'They', 'Parent', or 'Person' if you don't know their pronouns (or if your child asks whether that person is a girl or a boy! 🙈). This way, people are more comfortable and can choose whether they want to come out. If at all.

ID in comments.

Happy Tuesday, folks! It's back to the grind today

Happy Tuesday, folks! It's back to the grind today. T has been dropped off at school smelling of lotion, with a book bag full of supplies; from icy water to sunglasses.

I don't know whether I work better in chaos, but I am on it this morning. The kid was in on time without a rush, the plants have been misted, I've already downed a pint of water and plastered myself (and the kid) with SPF. I've even made my lunch for the day.
🔥🔥🔥

It's also week two of #PrideMonth so I'm going to be sharing a few more stories this week on ways you can better support and amplify #LGBTQ voices and businesses. If there's a way you can do this as well this week - do it - and don't forget those intersections within our community, not to mention the rough with the smooth. Share those petitions and crowdfunders (donate if you can) and generally be more productive allies.

On Friday I'm going to be sharing a few of our favourite #LGBT Businesses, as well as start a new directory on our blog, so if you can recommend any in the comments below PLEASE DO! The more the merrier. Let's get this directory built!

ID: A photo of Sharon and Kate whilst queueing at Chessington. Sharon is on the left and is shorter than Kate who has her arm around Sharon and is stood on the right. Sharon is a 39 year old white woman with brown hair. She is wearing a blue t-shirt in the photo and purple sunglasses on her head. Kate is a 34 year old white woman with olive skin. She is wearing a black 'Saltrock' T-Shirt in the photo and sunglasses, with a purple backpack that has rainbow straps. The weather is bright and sunny.

We got an extra day of half term today, so we popp

We got an extra day of half term today, so we popped to @wwtarundel with T's buddy for the day.

It was part "lets make the most out of this weather before inevitable British storms next week" and part "this way, they won't be as ecstatic to see one other by the time they see each other in class and thus not as energetic for the poor teachers tomorrow".

The Wetland Centre is such a lovely place to visit, no matter the weather. There's lots of wide, open spaces to explore and play areas to run around in, and over lockdown @wwtworldwide added lots of new exhibits and walkthroughs for guests to enjoy! The Geese are a law unto themselves, though, but the ducklings and goslings make up for their attitude.

It was such a nice way to finish the holidays - only six and a bit weeks to go until the next one! 😂😭
.
ID: A series if photos from our trip the Arundel Wetland Centre.
Image 1: A distant picture of T climbing a rope "chimney" with his friend.
Image 2: A landscape of the wetland reeds and surrounding river. In the distance are some straw huts.
Image 3: A close-up picture of T and his friend taken from behind. Blurred in the background is further riverbanks and wetlands.
Image 4: A landscape photo of one of the rivers taken from one of the viewing points
Image 5: A picture of one of the enclosures. This one features the new pelicans at the centre.
Image 6: A picture of T and his friend running to one of the new walkthrough enclosures. T is on the left and is wearing sandy coloured combats and a grey hoody. His friend is on the right and is wearing red shorts, a red t-shirt and a black hoody. His friend is a 6 year old white boy with blonde hair.

How gorgeous was it today? Even with a mysterious

How gorgeous was it today? Even with a mysterious sea mist over parts of #Brighton it was absolutely lovely.

After a relaxed morning, we took T back to #Saltdean, timing it nicely for low tide when the rock pools would be out in all their glory.

We always forget to visit the rock pools as we're often in tow of a dog and a scooter, but this time we made the effort; armed with a bucket and net instead. I highly recommend it if you're in the area, we found lots of sea creatures - from crabs to shrimp - although bring sensible shoes! Crocs are not the greatest for a kid with a brain that works faster than his legs. He's already at one pool exploring before his legs have made it over the seaweed and moss. Thankfully, the big kid that is my wife had already raced over, prepping the next search. I never really know who enjoys it more.

Although T has one more day off tomorrow thanks to an inset day, today was a cracking way to finish #HalfTerm as a family.

Have you had a nice day?
.
ID: A carousel of images from our day out at the rock pools. The pools are deep and covered in thick, green moss and seaweed, the sea can be seen in the distance. There is also a light sea fog in the background. T is wearing a blue t-shirt and green cargo shorts, with a Pokémon baseball hat and red snoopy Crocs. He's also holding a net in most of the pictures. Sharon is also exploring and is often seen knee-deep in the water, carrying a bucket.

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