History of Rainbow Families Council
The Rainbow Families Council was established at the inaugural meeting at the Rainbow Families 3 conference held in Melbourne on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September 2006. Thirty-five interested people attended the meeting and unanimously voted to establish the Council.
The Council replaces and builds on the original work of the Fertility Access Rights Lobby, or FAR. The Fertility Access Rights Lobby was founded in 1999 by Dr Ruth McNair and in 2001 became a working group of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. FAR lobbied for the rights of lesbian and gay parented families and prospective parents, responded to relevant enquiries, participated in community consultations and coordinated conferences.
Rainbow families started to become more visible. There are increasing numbers of gay dads, increasing numbers of gay and lesbian foster carers, and more calls to respond to family diversity in our childcare services and schools, among many other emerging issues. New community groups formed, including MaybeBaby, Gay Dads Victoria, a gay foster carers group and many playgroups.
FAR's name and purpose could no longer represent the diversity of rainbow families, and so a new umbrella organisation, the Rainbow Families Council, was born.
Where to now?
In March 2007 the Council working group lodged the Constitution and Incorporation applications with Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Once the paperwork is completed the inaugural Annual General Meeting will be called. Everyone will be welcome to become members and to make nominations for the elected committee.
The Council will continue to have a close working relationship with the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, and aims to collaborate on projects together in the future.
FIND OUT MORE
Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
