Note - Registration is now CLOSED.

Date: May 17- May 19, 2012.

Family Weekend in Washington will bring families from across the country to the District of Columbia for a real life civics lesson on how laws and policies that affect our families are made.  Parents and children will meet and talk with members of Congress about the issues that are important to our families and have an opportunity to sightsee and visit points of interest in our nation’s capital.

Zach Wahls, whose impassioned speech before the Iowa Legislature in 2011 propelled him from Youtube sensation into a national LGBT family advocate will serve as honorary family ambassador on Thursday, May 17^th and join Family Equality Council and our families for Families on the Hill- the Congressional lobbying visits that are part of the weekend events.

Families on the Hill lobbying visits will focus on three core issues important to LGBT families:

Adoption and Foster Care:   Family Equality Council is working  at the federal level  to remove existing barriers to adoption and foster care by passing the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (ECDF). ECDF is a federal bill that opens up more homes for foster youth by restricting federal funding for states employing discriminatory practices in adoption and foster care placements based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status

Repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act: Family Equality Council is working to repeal the “so-called” Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which prohibits the federal government from recognizing marriages between same-sex couples.  The Respect for Marriage Act would repeal DOMA and require the US government to treat all legally married couples equally under the law.

Safe Schools:  Family Equality Council is working to pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act, two federal bills that would protect our children from bullying, harassment and discrimination at school.

Family Weekend in Washington also includes a weekend full of family activities allowing children and their parents to enjoy the cultural and historic offerings of our nation’s capital.