About the community

Out For Our Children is a group of same sex parents and their children who together aim to overcome prejudice and exclusion.  Based in Brixton they came together to challenge assumptions about what a family unit can mean and to help teachers and parents in particular understand the challenges that children with same sex parents can face particularly at school.  Problems can include a lack of understanding or difficulties explaining their circumstances without fear, through to homophobic bullying.

The Community Voices project

Through the development and screening of an animated film, this project aimed to create an environment among children, parents and teachers in schools where different family forms, including differences relating to sexuality, are understood and accepted.  The resulting film called “We Are Family” would be used in schools as a training and educational resource for teachers.

What the community did
Attendance at a series of animation workshops was canvassed among the wider LGBT community and their family networks.  Thirty-five community members attended the workshops over 3 months, including 19 children.  By working with a professional animation company the community learnt new skills which were engaging to adults and children alike.  It was an ideal process to enable children to explore and express what it’s like to live in an LGBT-parented household.  One adult said: “We took this opportunity to involve a number of new families in producing the film and this has been important for both them and us”.  One  seven year old participant said: “I liked it because I got to draw and I never get a chance to draw by myself.  I’m looking forward to seeing the finished film”.

How it changed the community
It changed the community in a number of ways:

• The collective nature of the project helped to bring new and existing members of the community together and strengthened the group.
• It gave parents and children a voice in an innovative and impactful way, which can be used as a ‘trigger’ as part of structured diversity training for school staff.
• Through animation the community was able to create authentic messages for the wider community, and also it gave the children more confidence in talking to their peers at school about their family.
• They gained confidence and a sense of achievement in producing a valuable resource that raises awareness and can change perceptions among teachers, school children, and beyond.

Who’s Involved? 
Out For Our Children is a group of same sex parents in London who produce resources that reflect their children's lives and family experiences.  Find out more.