by AMY BARRATT

“I believe in family values.”

David Lefneski realizes this may not be something people expect to hear from a gay, single dad.

“But,” he is quick to add, “my interpretation of that phrase is more elastic, more inclusive than the right wing’s.”

Lefneski is one of three founding members of PapaDaddy, a bilingual group for gay, bi and trans men who are actively parenting, as well as those who are looking to become parents. PapaDaddy, which will officially launch next month, is also about the kids. There will be regular outings and events for families (some of these, like last month’s holiday party, will be joint activities with the Lesbian Mothers Association). There will also be regular discussion groups for men focusing on the challenges of parenting in general and the particular prejudices faced by gay dads. Although political activism is not a raison d’être of the group, Lefneski suspects that may become a component in response to the obstacles gay men face in their quest to become fathers. Most importantly, it will be a support group for this minority within a minority.

Members of PapaDaddy may be single or in couples, and may have come to fatherhood in a variety of ways. They may have adopted or be fostering children, they may have biological children from a previous heterosexual relationship, they may be involved in co-parenting, often with a single lesbian or lesbian couple, they may even have a child born of a surrogate mother.

Putting themselves out there as an organization will almost certainly make these dads media darlings. It could also make them a target for the right wing.

Getting back to those family values, Lefneski, a father of three, explains, “I want to model healthy relationships for my kids. I want them exposed to loving, committed relationships, and to people of all ages, genders, orientations.”

Sounds like a dangerous character, all right.

Anyone wanting more information about PapaDaddy can e-mail them at lespapadaddy@yahoo.ca. A Web site should be up and running early in the new year at www.papadaddy.ca.