Lest you think I’ve become entirely obsessed with the Olympics (almost, but not quite), here’s a roundup of what’s happening in LGBT parenting news:
- The California Supreme Court ruled today that a group of doctors cannot use their religion as a legal excuse for denying a lesbian patient infertility treatment. Lambda Legal reports, “In a unanimous decision, the justices ruled that Guadalupe ‘Lupita’ Benitez was entitled to be treated like other patients with her same health problem, and that constitutional protections for religious liberty do not excuse unlawful discrimination.”
- Conservative activists gathered outside a California high school to rally support for Proposition 8, which would ban marriage of same-sex couples. They are apparently upset that the state’s Teachers Association donated $250,000 to fight the ban.
- Canada.com has a good interview with the mother of a trans son, in which she says, “I haven’t lost a daughter. I have gained a confident, strong level-headed son of whom I am immensely proud.” The article also mentions Families In TRANSition: A Resource Guide for Parents of Trans Youth (PDF link), which seems similar in spirit to The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals
, which I reviewed last month, albeit with a Canadian bent.
- The U.K’s Guardian looks at some of the different approaches to transgender children who want to transition.
- A lesbian couple in New Zealand responds to a statement from their country’s Catholic bishops urging voters not to support parties that approve of same-sex parenting. The bishops say children need both a mother and father, because “each contributes differently to their development.” The women, among other good points, make the obvious one that any two parents will contribute differently to their children.
- Two adult children of same-sex parents tried to meet with Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley to explain what marriage equality would mean to their families. The governor, who has a mixed record on LGBT rights, declined.
- To Form a More Perfect Union points out an interesting article from the Corvallis Gazette Times on whether it is legal for an Oregon employer to ask an employee to present a copy of her marriage license before granting parental leave under the Oregon Family Leave Act, if she is otherwise eligible.
- In Wisconsin, billboards in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties are featuring same-sex couples with toddlers and teens, gay seniors, and gay singles. The “Gay Neighbors” campaign is funded by Cream City Foundation and aims “to break down stereotypes, share family stories and bring attention to important issues.”
