Rainbow Families DC  is pleased to announce renowned LGBTQ artist and activist Staceyann Chin will deliver the keynote address at the 2016 Family Conference & Gathering. The biennial conference, presented by Pink & Blue Surrogacy and Fertility, will take place on Saturday, April 30 from 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. at Georgetown Day School (4200 Davenport St NW high school campus) in Washington, D.C.

Staceyann Chin is a fulltime artist who was born in Jamaica and now lives in Brooklyn. She has appeared on television and radio, including The Oprah Winfrey Show , CNN, and PBS, discussing issues of race and sexuality. Staceyann Chin has been an "out poet and political activist" since 1998. From the Nuyorican Poets' Cafe to one-woman shows Off-Broadway to acting in Julie Taymor's Across the Universe and performing in both the stage and film versions of Howard Zinn's Voices of a People's History of the United States, to starring in the Tony nominated, Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, Chin credits the long list of "things she has done" to her grandmother's hard-working history and the pain of her mother's absence.  In her book, "The Other Side of Paradise: A Memoir", published in 2009, she shares her unforgettable story of triumph against all odds.

In 2011, she announced that she was pregnant by means of in-vitro fertilization with her first child, giving birth to a daughter in January 2012.

Staceyann Chin recently wrapped up her one-woman off Broadway show "MotherStruck", which was directed by Cynthia Nixon. "MotherStruck" sets forth Staceyann's personal journey to motherhood as a single woman, lesbian and activist who does not have health insurance or a "serious, stable financial set up," but wants to have a child. Told through Chin's uniquely personal and poetic lens, this solo show explores how the process changed her life and how she makes peace with what she learns from this profound experience.

Family Conference Overview

Held every two years, the RFDC Family Conference provides an opportunity for LGBTQ parents, family members and their children, as well as prospective parents, to gather for a day of learning, networking and fellowship.

The 2016 Family Conference will bring together hundreds of parents and families, expert panelists, service providers, businesses, schools and others interested in connecting with the Rainbow Families DC community. The event will include a full day of diverse workshops, as well as discussion groups, social events, and a resource fair featuring information and tools for LGBTQ families and prospective parents.

The conference also includes a Kids' Camp for children 2.5 years old through elementary school age. Kids Camp is a full-day of fun, engaging and nurturing activities led by energetic volunteers and a group of outstanding activity providers from some of the best programs in the DC Metro area.  Older children are invited to volunteer to assist, engage and interact with the younger children at the conference.

Early Registeration Ends April 15. 

Early online registration is available through April 15 by CLICKING HERE. Registration fees are $40 per adult for Rainbow Families DC members and $50 per adult for non-members. Kids' Camp registration fees are $25 per child for members and $30 per child for non-members and must be made online. A family registration cap for those with four or more children is available-registration fees will apply to the first three children and the remaining children will be free.

After April 15, no registrations for Kids' Camp will be allowed.

Late online registration will available through April 27 for adults only and fees will increase to $45 per adult for Rainbow Families DC members and $55 per adult for non-members.

Onsite registration will be available beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 for adults only; no onsite registration will be available for Kids' Camp.  Onsite registration fees will increase to $50 per adult for Rainbow Families DC members and $60 per adult for non-members.

Rainbow Families DC wants to ensure both the 2016 Family Conference and Kids' Camp are financially accessible to everyone. If the cost poses a barrier to your family's participation, please email Rainbow Families DC to discuss alternative pricing at info@rainbowfamiliesdc.org.

Learn more about the 2016 Family Conference and Rainbow Families DC at www.rainbowfamiliesdc.org/conference.