Word for Word

24 Jan 2016

The Future of LGBTI Families

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GSA It’s clear that Gay men and Lesbian couples have worked out how to have a family – they’re everywhere. What has changed socially, politically and medically to make LGBTI families possible? What needs to change to make it easier for loving couples to have or expand their family? What lays ahead for LGBTI Families?

These and many other questions will be dealt with when The Sunday Age’s political reporter Farrah Tomazin hosts the Melbourne University Graduate Student Association’s panel conversation titled “The Future of LGBTI Families” as part of the 2016 Midsumma Festival. Book your FREE TICKETS here.

The panel will feature Penny Wong, Dr Ruth McNair, Rodney Chiang-Cruise and Jacqui Tomlins.

Word For Word caught up with Rodney and Jacqui ahead of the Midsumma event.

About Jacqui

Jacqui Tomlins is an accomplished author and professional writer who has published two books of non-fiction, as well as multiple feature articles in the mainstream and gay press. Last year, Jacqui crowd-funded, researched and wrote a resource kit for rainbow families which was launched in February 2015 by Martin Foley, Minister for Equality. Jacqui has a lifelong commitment to human rights and social justice and is the Deputy Leader of the Australian Equality Party, a newly formed political party aimed at promoting fairness, human rights and equality for the LGBTIQ and broader community. She is married with three children and lives in Melbourne.

About Rodney

Rodney Chiang-Cruise is a long time passionate activist and campaigner for LGBTI parenting. He is a partner at the legal firm, Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick, and the father to 3 children with his husband Jeff. Rodney was one of the co-founders of the Gay Dads Australia group in 2006 and is currently the co-moderator of the group. He and his husband have a 9 year old son (Ethan) via surrogacy in the USA. They also co-parent 2 younger boys (Justin, 8 and Aki, 6) with a lesbian couple.