GayFatherhood

Hi Guys,

Well it's been five years here in GayFatherhood and a lot has changed in the world and for many of the men that have joined this community over that time. We want to continue to grow, broaden our horizons and make 2007 a year of new initiatives and developments in GF.com.

So here is an idea the management have been considering for a while, and now we are going to throw it open to see what interest there is in it.

We would like to gather stories from men about the issue of fatherhood...having a father, being a father, gay or straight. We want to compile your experiences and understanding of what it is/was to have a dad, observations on other kids/friends/family members father's and how that affected you,the impression it created for you of what being a Dad was about. Sure we want to hear about gay men and your role, but also the times when another father/father figures life and behaviour taught you something tangible, positive or otherwise about this much misunderstood role in today's society.

I hope we will have enough interest and variety of experiences and anecdotes to consider (with permission of the contributors) publishing something, online and/or in manuscript form, that demonstrates to others the rich and diverse role and lives that we have shared and observed.

Ofourse as part of this process there will be some editorial role on the part of those compiling it, but we want the truth, the reality, the joys and trials that we as men have experienced as fathers, as children ourselves, as observers of the lives of others.

INTERESTED? Well if so, let us know here in this discussion and when we get a healthy number committed to writing a piece for this endeavor, we will supply and email address where you can email your story. We will begin a new chapter (uuggh sorry for that one!) in GF which at the end will result in a journal/book/ resource ...whatever, for ourselves and others to learn from one another and share with the those that want to know, the experience of gay men, and others,as fathers.

So let us know, are you interested have you any different ideas on this project?

Cheerio for now....Vincent..xx

I'm definitely interested in this. So count me in.....


Cheers,


jim

Keep me posted.

Jeff

So just three guys want to write a gayfatherhood book...get published...provide a valuble resource....raise some money towards the gayfatherhood.com family vacation fund in the future?!!!

Any other takers for this creative venture.

Cheerio for now ..Vincent..xx

Nah, there's gotta be more than three. Listen, folks, stop hanging around the wall in the darkness and come out and dance with us.

Okay, okay... you pulled me from the shadows...

I am interested in more information. If not writing, then at least as a potential consumer.

We're discussing how to get some of the first discussions about this going.

Any thoughts on what topics regarding fathers and sons you'd like to talk about? Or maybe there's a piece of your story that stands out in your memory?

Tell us, we're all ears.

This is a great idea. I'm not a father - yet. But when I am, which is looking to be soon (within the next year to two years), I'd be happy to contribute.

And actually, it wouldn't be a bad slant on the story; how does an aspiring dad feel about his own father? How does the way he was raised, the relationship with his own dad, inpire him to be similar or different as a parent?

Keep in mind, we are looking for your experiences not only as a father, but as a son. How did your own experience with your father affect you, your life and ultimately your outlook as a dad?

That's the kind of thing we are looking for. Okay, guys, don't stop there. Who's going to take the mic next?

Alrighty, five guys so far....I have canvassed 3-4 fathers on Journal Space who might like to contribute, all bar one are gay, and one isn't a father but thinks about it and has something to say about how having a father in his life affects his attitude to being one.

I know some guys here at home who might also contribute...BUT...this is a Gf.com project and I would trust out of the nearly 150 members, atleast 10-15% would be interested in this project from one aspect or another. I deally I would like around 50 ( 30 min)compositions where guys are talking about their expeiences, attitude to, thoughts on the role of a father.

So come on guys, add your name to the list, ask some of your buddies who might be interested.

Cheerio for now ..Vincent..xx

If I could add something......

perhaps something that might be keeping some guys from stepping forward is the issue of confidentiality.

While it wasn't mentioned in the initial invitation, I will presume that full member confidentiality will be honored and protected so that anyone participating can know that their identities would not be made public.

Perhaps with that knowledge, maybe more of you would step forward?

Just a thought....

Jim

Son of Walt,
I love the idea of prospective fathers talking about their experiences with their fathers, and how that has influenced in how they would see themselves as fathers. For me, my relationship with both my stepfather and father has been hugely influential. I'd be happy to contribute in this way. And when I AM a daddy, I would love to contribute even more. Thanks for the opportunity,
Doug

If I start now, I can have a paragraph or two ready by the end of the year.
Seriously though, as one who had a physically abusive step-father and a no-show father, I'm sure I have something to add. What time frame are you looking at?

I'd be willing to submit something as well.

Paul

Hi Guys,

Jim is right ofcourse, anyone who contributes to this project and wishes for gauranteed anonymity will ofcourse find no arguement with that from us here in GF.com.

As for the kind of things; well I want it to be something of a record of being a gay father over the past few decades, how the ideas around what being a father is,have modelled us, formed our attitude to our own parents and how we behave in that role ourselves. I want tales of wonderful experiences we had with parental figures, moments that we recall and cherish of our own children...I want others who read it, to get a sense of what men....gay men think and feel and have experienced.

I hope we will demonstrate that parenting isn't a hetercentric experience, help others get a sense of the very positive role models gay man can be....I want gay men in paticular to realize that they can be a Dad and shouldn't feel that being gay excludes them from that privilige and challenge.

So anymore volunteers?

cheerio for now...Vincent..x