Social events and other activities provide Gay Fathers Association of Seattle (GFAS) members and non-member friends alike many opportunities to enjoy the company of other members and their friends in a safe, non-judgmental environment and promote networking with others in the larger community. While these events are primarily for men, some are planned specifically to include families. They take place in various locations in and around Seattle and are always very informal, complementing the more structured and focused support group meetings. First Friday Social These are light-hearted potluck gatherings, wine tastings, and so forth that take place year-round on the first Friday or Saturday of the month at GFAS members’ private homes. They sometimes include movie watching and party games. Support Group Social Hour Following each GFAS support group meeting, there is a social hour at a local gay bar or restaurant selected by that meetings attendees. This provides an opportunity for men attending a meeting to continue conversations afterwards in a casual, friendly environment. Making friends There is almost universal agreement among GFAS members and support group meeting attendees that attending GFAS meetings and social events has resulted in their making new friends. The combination of the support meetings and the social activities allows men to meet in a safe environment. Meeting with others in a safe environment and finding others who have similar backgrounds helps to foster the development of friendships. Pride Pride is an annual community event that happens in June in Seattle. GFAS has regularly participated in the Pride parade. Members who are comfortable being in public will sometimes march as a group; in recent years GFAS members have created award-winning parade floats and GFAS has been designated the organizational Grand Master of the parade. |