Who can you turn to when you’re queer and thinking about becoming a parent? Once you’re raising a child, what do you wish your community, healthcare providers or public institutions understood about your family?
We invite you to Queer Parenthood, a peer-to-peer conversation for EL*C members on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, from 18:30 to 20:00 CET. We’ll meet on Zoom for 90 minutes. Registration is required.
Viktoria Kostova is a queer mother raising a child with her wife in Bulgaria and the co-founder and Director of WomanUp Foundation (a feminist organisation based in Bulgaria working on reproductive justice, gender equality, LGBTQI+ rights and respectful maternity care). She’ll speak about her path to motherhood, from accessing reproductive healthcare to navigating questions of legal recognition in everyday family life. Viki will also share findings and anonymised stories from WomanUp’s 20 interviews with queer parents about pregnancy, childbirth, healthcare, discrimination and family life.
Aida Marukyan, a researcher and queer-feminist activist, and Rim Sardaryan, a non-binary lesbian activist and community organiser, are beginning their own journey towards parenthood in Armenia. In conversations with other queer people, they found a shared desire for somewhere to talk about wanting children, feeling uncertain, and imagining what family life could look like. They’ll share how those conversations led them to co-found the Queer Parenthood Initiative in Armenia.
We’ll leave plenty of time for members to exchange experiences. What has surprised you? How do the laws and attitudes where you live shape everyday decisions? What support has made a difference, and what do you still wish you had? Whether you’re raising a child, considering parenthood or joining to listen, you’re welcome.
