Family Reunion Dinner

SPACES' first project for 2004 was a Family Reunion Dinner which we helped organize for a community group on 10 January 2004 at a local restaurant.

One of SPACES' concerns even as we meet up with individuals in counseling settings, is the sense of alienation their parents and family members often face when they first find out about the sexual orientation of their child or sibling. Often such family members go through a period of distress as they do not know of any other people who may have similar challenges.

The objective of the Family Reunion Dinner was to provide an opportunity for parents and siblings to come together informally over a meal so that they could celebrate together openly as family members their bonds of kinship that go beyond any issue of sexuality or difference. It also provided a way for a number of sons and daughters to demonstrate that they could be filial even as gay people to their families.

SPACES became involved in this project because the project focused on bridging gaps between people - this is a core passion of SPACES. The dinner provided an opportunity for a small group of family members comprising of three parents, three siblings, four partners and an ex-wife and child to have a reunion meal with their gay family members. SPACES's objective was to provide a non-threatening setting which could help alleviate the sense of aloneness some of these family members may be facing.

A short talk was given by a senior religious community leader who has been happily married for over forty years, on learning to love one another.