COLAGE is an organization of children, youth, and adults with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) parents. We build community and work toward social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development, education, and advocacy.
COLAGE Vision
We envision a world in which those of us with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parents or families are connected to a broad community of peers and mentors, are recognized as the authority of our experiences, belong to respected and valued family structures, and have the tools and support to create and maintain a just society.
We envision a world in which all families are valued, protected, reflected, and embraced by society and all of its institutions; in which all children grow up loved and nurtured by kinship networks and communities that teach them about, connect them to, and honor their unique heritage; and in which every human being has the freedom to express sexual orientation, gender identity, and self.
We envision being part of large movements to transform school systems, social services, mental and physical health systems, media, legislatures, legal systems, and all religious institutions to heal from and end all forms of oppression, discrimination, bigotry and hatred.
Our Core Values
Throughout our organization and in all of our work with individuals, families, communities, and the world, COLAGE seeks to embody these values. We value the basic principle that love makes a family.
We value a pluralistic definition of family and parent(s) encompassing a variety of kinship structures including:
immediate families, extended families, partners, straight spouses, and family structures which are marginalized in our society including single parent families, multiracial families, international families, and families with disabilities.
We value the family as a powerful agent of social and cultural change.
We value the experiences of our youth and families, acknowledging and honoring the struggle that many families face from externally imposed barriers, limitations, obstacles, and oppressions.
We value the idea that as COLAGErs, we are the authorities of our own experience.
We value our ability to express all parts of our lives and families freely and in all places.
We value our allies, who include a broad array of progressive organizations and individuals, all of whom support the rights of all youth, and every family, to thrive and grow.
We value coalition building with our allies, who recognize the value of organizing across differences and who are committed to creating the world we envision through positive action.
We value youth-driven, consensus-oriented governance within our organization.
We value seeking creative, fun ways to meet our ends.
February 11
6pm-8:30pm
Enid Public Library
March 12
7pm-8:30pm
Enid Public Library
