2nd Major Gathering of Queer, Feminist, and Supportive Parents

In the spring of 2025, the Pôle Sud sociocultural center will host the 2nd Grand Gathering of Queer, Feminist, and Allied Parents: a festive and activist weekend to collectively invent new ways of building community.

This event is aimed at the broadest possible audience: adults—whether parents or not—and children. However, it is specifically aimed at: Parents, particularly those who do not identify with the nuclear family model: single parents, gay or trans parents, and chosen or blended families. Children, who will be full participants in the gathering. They will be able to take part in the entire event, and some activities will be specifically designed for them. Arrangements will be made to accommodate them: games, a library corner, and adapted furniture. To the support network, as many adults surround and help raise children: co-parents, grandparents, friends, and all other types of family constellations.

CONTEXT On April 27 and 28, 2024, Pôle Sud hosted the 1st Grand Gathering of Queer, Feminist, and Supportive Parenting Communities. This inaugural edition was a resounding success, with: · Nearly 300 people on Saturday and more than 60 on Sunday · 50 volunteers throughout the weekend · 11 workshops for adults, teens, and children · 2 talks · 3 performances · 4 discussion circles · 2 beautifully designed children’s areas · 200 vegan meals with pay-what-you-can pricing · 1 dance party and 1 brunch open to all Encouraged by this wonderful first edition, the organizing team has decided to repeat the event in 2025. DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES With talks, discussions, workshops, performances, and even a kids’ disco, the 2nd Grand Gathering of Queer, Feminist, and Supportive Parenting will once again be a major festive event taking over the entire sociocultural center for two days. This gathering has several goals: • To create a space for meeting, sharing, and socializing around parenting; • To allow children to meet others who share family structures outside the heteronormative and nuclear family framework; • To inform, assist, and support queer families and their allies; • To create a ripple effect beyond our families and raise their visibility among the general public.

Pôle Sud, 3 Av. Jean-Jacques Mercier, 1003 Lausanne

October–December 2024: Fundraising January–March 2025: Participatory planning process March–April 2025: Finalization of the program and outreach May 2025: 2nd Major Gathering

3,000

• Vogay - Vaud Association for Sexual and Gender Diversity. • Bibliomedia - A foundation active in library development, the promotion of reading, and cultural mediation • Famille Arc-en-Ciel – An umbrella organization that defends the social and legal interests of same-sex parent families in Switzerland • Fem Do Chi - Self-defense for women and teenage girls • AFEEDA - Association for teacher training and decolonial and anti-racist education • Les Médusales - Community-run bookstore: queer, feminist, and decolonial • Loose Antenna – A Lausanne-based community radio station promoting radical inclusivity and diversity • Je pense donc c’est chouette – An organization offering philosophy workshops for children • Via – Association supporting victims of violence, isolation, and harassment at school • Les éditions 7/7 - Children’s literature and social justice.