Jonathan Kemmerer-Scovner has a spot-on essay at Critical Masses Media about same-sex parents in children’s books. “Children’s literature,” he observes, “acts as a testing ground for the social mores of a society. You may think we’re all progressing along at a fine rate, but if you really want to see where we’re at, stick it in a children’s book and see what that gets you.”
The Human Rights Campaign has launched a revamped version of its Welcoming Schools site, and it’s packed with information for parents/caregivers and educators about how to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, including LGBT ones and those with LGBT parents. The new site breaks down much of the information in HRC’s Welcoming Schools
Civilly unionized? United civilly? Yet another reason civil unions don’t work: there’s no verb form. Regardless of the linguistic hurdles, however, I’d like to send best wishes to actor Kelly McGillis and her partner, sales executive Melanie Leis, who had a civil union ceremony last week. McGillis, who came out last year, has two children from
Not too many stories, but some potentially very significant ones: Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell. Do Call. The end of ENDA (along with tired ENDA-related puns)? Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Health Data Collection Improvement Act to allow Health and Human Services to collect voluntary data on sexual orientation and gender identity in federal health
The next few days could be critical for the outcome of a Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said he will schedule a vote for next week on the defense authorization bill that contains provisions for repeal. He has also filed for “cloture”—a move to limit debate on the
I’ve been writing about non-parenting topics in a few other places. For those who might be interested: Census count on same-sex couples: How far off? Seeing Red: Target’s Partnership with The Salvation Army Court Overturns “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” — But We Still Need to Act Immigration Laws Tearing Couples Apart Playing Red Light, Green
A family includes same-sex couples with children, as well as married gay and lesbian couples. That’s the belief of “a majority of Americans” who now include the above in their definition of family, according to a study by Brian Powell, a sociology professor at Indiana University, Bloomington. The New York Times has a piece this
Yes, that’s right. Just days after lesbian moms Vanessa Alenier and Melanie Leon spoke before the Florida Third District Court of Appeal to try and preserve Alenier’s adoption of her young nephew, comes news that a Broward County judged has approved Robert Lamarche’s adoption of a teenaged boy Lamarche—who is gay—has fostered for about two years.
It’s Monday, so let’s do something light and fun. Which fictional parent do you most resemble (in character or appearance)? Alternatively, which fictional parent would you most like to resemble? I’m afraid that reading Harry Potter with our son of late—and now starting the movies—has made me unable to think of anyone other than Mrs. Weasley. I’m
I posted this last year, but it seems appropriate to do so again. In honor of all the victims of the tragedy of September 11 and its aftermath, their families, and their friends. I will always remember, as will many of us, where I was the morning of September 11, 2001. A lucky change in
