New research by Gay Parents Australia has revealed that gay and lesbian parents want a stronger sense of community and better access to relevant information.

Gay Parents Australia, a new national online network for LGBTQI parents and parents-to-be, conducted its first members’ survey earlier this year to pinpoint precisely what motivated their 350 members to join in the first place.

Seventy per cent of survey respondents said they joined Gay Parents Australia because they wanted to feel like part of a community. Seventy-four per cent joined because they wanted to find information relevant to their unique family structures (members could give more than one reason for joining).

Gay Parents Australia CEO Rebecca Madsen said, ‘LGBTQI-headed families already face

institutionalised marginalisation as a result of Australia’s discriminatory marriage act, so the mental health benefits to be had from connecting with like-minded people and supporting each other is of even greater importance for this group than it is for other parents.’

‘Many LGBTQI parents already participate on mainstream parenting forums and networks, but what they want is to connect with individuals who are experiencing the same highs and lows that conceiving and parenting in a same-sex headed family can present. As far as we know, Gay Parents Australia is the only destination that allows Australia’s growing community of LGBTQI parents to all connect in one place from anywhere, anytime – online.’

Gay Parents Australia members will be able to connect and chat with each other online as well as participate in exclusive members’ forums. Memberships are available now at www.gayparentsaustralia.com.au.