Need Help/Suggestions for GLBT family

I'm a mature bi woman, recently committed to a younger (lucky me) L. We have a son from her former marriage. I really want to find some support for alternative families, especially since we face so many discrimination issues (age, disability, race - he is from another country) and want to teach him by good example as well as expose him to others facing similar challenges. In-person would be best, but online resources great too
any help will be appreciated.
Thanks everyone.

Thanks for your topic and welcome to PC!!!!

I'm sure there are members here who will be able to lend some experience and support.

Just wanted to shout out a welcome!!

~Rayna

Also welcome! I don't have direct experience with your situation, but one thing I can offer is with regard to community. I now live in a city which is more open and accepting to GLBT and their families than other places I have lived. If you are facing undue discrimination and are in a position to move to another city, I would really recommend Portland Oregon. We have a very progressive community here and I think you'll find more acceptance than most places in the US.

And of course, welcome to PC

I should add that the community vibe and openness here is what drew me to Portland in the first place. Our mental health care is not perfect, but it does receive attention from our state and local governments. Regarding race, I originally found it a little off-putting about how few people of color live here (I am originally from Philadelphia, and Portland seems very "white" in comparison), but now that I am paying more attention, we do have a lot of ethnic diversity, but it's a different kind of mix - more Asian, First Nation, Mexican. And it seems to be more integrated than back east. I am involved with a national nonprofit organization that promotes understanding and acceptance of all forms of multiculturalism, so I'm aware of the amount of outreach that takes place here as opposed to other parts of the country.

hey there. welcome to PC. im afraid i dont have any experience with racial differences or children but i am very willing to listen any time. i do have experience as a lesbian and would be interested in hearing of the challenges you ve faced and how you ve over come them (if you have managed that!).
any time you need support feel free to contact me.
take care
biiv

Welcome Andell, see if there is a PFLAG group in your area... they should have a list of resources. I had male friends who adopted two children from China, they joined a support group for adopted children from that country so they could understand their cultrue. Then they formed a group for other GLBT parents who had adopted. I know how difficult it is to raise children being a lesbian. I have raised 5 children all adults38- 18. I have been a lesbian all of my life, you can ask me anything and I will try to answer.
Altheia

Hi andell,
i wish i knew of some resources for you. I'm the younger (lucky her! just kidding) in an age gap gay relationship. Where you live, is there a large gay community? If so, there might be a GLBT resource center...anyway I did a little research into what resources are available in your state. You may have found these but try these below. Not sure where you are exactly (city) but there are resources by city lisetd once you navigate around the pages a bit.

http://dv-8.com/resources/us/local/mn.html

http://www.outfront.org/

http://www.rainbowfamilies.org/

We are wanting to start a family, so no kids yet and I don't have advice for you with that, but do understand the equality issues we face as lesbians, I'm scared to add a child to the mix, but we're gonna maybe give it a go. PM me if you need to.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions and the warm welcomes. I have indeed heard of some of these mentioned - in fact I used to live in Portland Oregon (fine place) and also recommend it. In Minnesota (whiter than white! as the commercial goes), once you leave the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, you're pretty much on your own. There are a number of support systems up there, but down in the boonies, people look sideways at each other to scope out who has a pierced ear (male) or three (female). We're here, but Very much a closet situation for those who hold "ordinary" jobs. Most "gay" activity in our small towns seems to be the annual gay pride picnic in Rochester and the occasional diversity talk at the bigger companies. Rainbow Families hasn't answered my inquiries, nor has Gay/Lesbian SE Minnesota (I gather their main activity is to support a highway sign and lend a hand to the pride festivities). Well, this is the life I chose. I was raised in Los Angeles and have migrated to smaller and smaller locales, and this is, I guess, part of that scene. So it's nice to hear some welcoming voices here. Will it be ok if i pm some of you sometime?
Thanks again,
Andell.

i am certainly happy to help you on the racial issues. i'm bi-racial and have had years of flak about it..........PM me if you'd like. xoxox pat

You may just want to google GLBT type organizations in your city or suburb.

I live in Houston, and we have tons here. My suggestion is to live whereever you want and don't let others make that choice for you.

I know what gay people go through and I can sympathize, I see it all the time with one of my friends and its stupid.

Hang in there!

Hey, you. you are welcome anytime to PM me. I wished I had more resources for you. It can be frustrating (and scary) to live in a community without support. You are brave! I wished there was more there for you. It is a shame. we are everywhere and will always be, whether they like it or not.......

of course - PM me anytime