No Kidding! International is an international non-profit social club created for singles and couples who have never had children regardless of the reason. Such people are generally described as "childless" by society at large, but some of their members who are childless by choice prefer the term "
childfree
Voluntary childlessness, also called being childfree, describes the voluntary choice to not have children.
In most societies and for most of human history, choosing not to have children was both difficult and undesirable. The availability of rel ...
" in order to highlight the voluntary nature of their circumstance. The first chapter of this organization was begun by
Jerry Steinberg (the "Founding Non-Father" of No Kidding!) in
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
, British Columbia, in 1984. There are numerous chapters in Canada, the United States and several other countries.
The stated purpose of No Kidding! is to give childless and childfree adults a place to share common interests not involving children, as well as to provide the opportunity to make new like-minded friends.
[Zeveloff, Naomi (June 21, 2007)]
"No kidding"
''Colorado Springs Independent''. Anyone who has never been a parent, regardless of the reason, is permitted to join. The club organizes a wide range of activities, including biking, hiking, wine and cheese parties, dinners, Sunday brunches, community theater, and concerts.
The organization has annual conventions where people from all over the U.S. and Canada gather. Conventions were held annually between 2002 and 2006. So far, conventions have been held in
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
,
,
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
,
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
and
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
. In 2010, the convention was in
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
.
The group's founder, as well as representatives of various No Kidding! chapters, have made numerous appearances in international media, as well as in local newspapers, radio shows and TV programs.
See also
*
Kidding Aside, a British childfree movement
References
External links
Official website
Antinatalism
Organizations established in 1984
Organizations based in Vancouver
1984 establishments in British Columbia
Childfree
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