To commemorate International Family Equality Day ( IFED ) the Chicago Children's Museum will be holding an all day event for LGBT families and their allies on Sunday, May 3, at the Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier.
"In 2011, a group of eight staff at Chicago Children's Museum founded an initiative called 'All Families Matter' to ensure the museum is actively welcoming and engaging the LGBT community," said Katie Slivovsky, Chicago Children's Museum exhibit development director and co-founder of All Families Matter. "We are deeply committed to welcoming all families to our family-friendly museum and believe all families have the right to play and learn in a safe, family friendly environment. This is the third year we will host IFED and we have a day of fun planned for everyone."
The Chicago Children's Museum hosts IFED in partnership with the Family Equality Council.
This event is one of many events and commemorations that will be held on May 3. The genesis of these events began in July 2011, when, according to IFED's website, "LGBTQ family activists from around the world gathered for the first ever international symposium of LGBTQ parenting organizations. The symposium provided an opportunity to establish ongoing international cooperation in areas such as research, visibility and advocacy, and the development of resources and programs for LGBTQ families worldwide. One of the key outcomes was the establishment of International Family Equality Day, which takes place every year on the first Sunday in May."
Some of the activities planned for the day include making a family flag, writing on the "What Makes a Family?" chalk wall, story time reading of LGBT family friendly books and for the first time ever creating a rainbow of ribbons on the three-story central staircase. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to take a group photo at the rainbow staircase.
Musician Stacy Buehler and two middle-school singers will perform "Celebrate Who You Love" and other kid-friendly songs.
A hospitality and resource room will also be open throughout the day with representatives from the Family Equality Council, the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance and Lurie's Hospital's Gender Identity Program on hand to answer any questions that attendees might have.
The event will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults and free for kids 15 and under. No RSVPs are required.
The museum will also be holding special events during Pride Month in June.
See www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/index.php/about/all-families-matter and www.internationalfamilyequalityday.org for more information.
