Rainbow Families DC

In the 1970s in Washington DC, a group known as Gay Fathers was created for previously married gay dads to connect and share resources. The group was loosely connected with other gay fathers groups in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and after several years, the organization became the Gay Fathers Coalition.

Over time, Rainbow Families added education and support programs to the social get-togethers. One of the most significant was the creation of Maybe Baby, originally a volunteer program for prospective lesbian parents. Maybe Baby continues to be a cornerstone of the service we provide to the community - educating prospective LGBTQ+ parents on the pathways to parenthood.

Later, for a period, Rainbow Families was an arm of the Whitman-Walker Clinic. As the Rainbow Families community grew, a Board was established, and they worked to become an independent non-profit organization. In 2008 Rainbow Families became a 501c3 and continued to expand the support, advocacy, connection, and education programs for members, prospective members, and the LGBTQ+ family community.

Known as Rainbow Families DC (which is the organization’s legal name), in 2016 the organization eliminated the “DC” reference to be more inclusive to people in Virginia, Maryland, and as we go, beyond.

At the end of 2023, Rainbow Families has nearly 700 families/individuals in membership; we connect with up to 10,000 people through social media and our subscribed mailing list as well.