Who were the LGBT parents who made headlines this year in mainstream or LGBT news? Here are my top individuals or couples, in alphabetic (not rank) order. Please make your own additions in the comments—I realize I’m heavy on lesbian moms and light in other parts of the community (and on non-U.S. names).
Thomas Beatie, a transgender man, caused a stir when he announced his first pregnancy in 2008. He was not the first transgender man to give birth, but the publicity he generated made him the first transgender parent many people had seen. Despite the tabloid headlines, he may have opened some eyes about what it means both to be a parent and to be trans. He and his wife Nancy welcomed their second child into the world this past June.
Jane Castor, a 25-year veteran of the Tampa Police Department, out lesbian, and mother of two, was named the department’s new chief. She will be the first woman to serve as chief of that city, and the first lesbian police chief statewide.
Mary Cheney and her partner Heather Poe are probably not most readers’ favorite lesbian couple. Say what you will about their politics, they did make the news this year when Cheney gave birth to their second child.
Cat Cora, in her seventh season as one of the Food Network’s Iron Chefs, welcomed a third child in April (carried by Cat’s spouse Jennifer) followed by a fourth (carried by Cat) in July. Cat also launched a new restaurant, Kouzzina, at Disney World in Florida.
Jenny Durkan was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two sons.
Frank Martin Gill and his partner’s struggle for Gill to adopt the two boys they have been fostering for four years led to a 2008 Florida court ruling that the state ban on adoption by lesbian and gay people was unconstitutional. The state appealed, and a hearing on the case was held in August.
Janet Jenkins and her former partner (and “ex-lesbian”) Lisa Miller made headlines in Newsweek for their interstate custody battle, just days before the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a ruling that Virginia must enforce a Vermont court order awarding visitation rights to Jenkins. Most recently, a Vermont court granted sole custody of 7-year-old Isabella to Jenkins, her non-biological mother, because of Miller’s continued refusal to obey court orders and allow Isabella to visit Jenkins. As of this writing, however, Miller’s whereabouts is unknown and she has ceased contact with her attorneys. It remains to be seen if she will turn over Isabella to Jenkins on January 1 as ordered.
Janice Langbehn’s lawsuit against a Florida hospital was rejected by a U.S. District Court in Florida. Langbehn had been kept apart from her partner who lay dying in a Florida hospital. The couple’s three children were kept from her as well.
Rosie and Kelli O’Donnell: Unfortunately, they make the list this year because of the news of their breakup. They win points, however, by doing so with stated concern for their children’s well being. “They’re adorable and wonderful and they are by far a priority,” O’Donnell told USA Today. “We will both continue to parent them and we’re friendly and everything’s all right.” No Jenkins-Miller-like custody disputes here.
Annise Parker won election as mayor of Houston, making her the first openly gay or lesbian mayor of a major U.S. city.
Johanna Sigurdardottir became prime minister of Iceland, the first out lesbian (and lesbian mom) to be a head of state. She was also named to Forbes annual list of the world’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
E. Denise Simmons, the mother of four and grandmother of three, took office last January as mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, making her the nation’s first openly lesbian, African-American mayor. This year, she made headlines not only for her work as mayor, but also for her marriage to Mattie Hayes.
Wanda Sykes came out as a lesbian in 2008. This year, she and her spouse Alex welcomed their first children, twins Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude. Sykes also made headlines this year for being the featured entertainer at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the first African American woman and first openly LGBT person to get the role. In November, she premiered The Wanda Sykes Show.
These aren’t the only LGBT parents who had an impact, of course, just the ones who got the most coverage for their actions. Is that meaningful? Considering they are the public face of LGBT parenting, for better or worse, I’d say yes. Anyone else you’d add?
