Seattle gay dads. Local group offers support from other men raising kids.

According to The Seattle Times, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 19 percent of male couples in Washington are raising children younger than 18. That’s about 1,423 families with gay dads.

Feather Boa Fathers is a support group made of gay dads or men who are thinking about it.

In the true spirit of “it takes a village”, it’s a way, dads say, for their children to get to know others growing up in families like their own. They meet regularly and have experience with adoption, foster care and surrogacy.

Larry Nicholas, a psychotherapist from Capitol Hill who formed the idea for the group eight months ago, before his 4-month-old daughter, Orly, was born, said, “There’s room in the Puget Sound for groups like this — and there’s a need.”

Photo: Eric Kayne – The Seattle Times