U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and his partner Marlon Reis are expecting a baby in September, reports the Denver Post. That will make him the first out LGBT parent in Congress.
Polis has refused to tell the press how he and Reis will be creating their family—and I give him a lot of credit for that. Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with discussing how we create our families, should we choose to do so—and it can even be an educational opportunity. At the same time, much mainstream media coverage of LGBT parents seems to focus too much on the mechanics of family creation. Unless a journalist is making a point related to how the family was created—say, to discuss the particular concerns of families with children adopted from another country, or the role of a surrogate or donor in the child’s life—there’s really no need. It’s like mentioning a person’s race or religion when it has no bearing on the story.
If Polis and Reis choose to keep it a personal matter, to protect their child’s privacy or for any other reason, I admire their resolve. Let’s hope they continue to find a good balance between privacy for their child and the visibility that LGBT families need to move closer to acceptance and equality.