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Quick: Name all of the Latin American regions that allow same-sex couples to adopt. Can’t do it? Neither could I, before I read this Washington Post article. (Answer: Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, plus Mexico City.) WaPo centers the article around the story of Columbian lesbian moms Ana Leiderman and Veronica Botero, who have brought a lawsuit arguing for Botero’s rights as a nonbiological mother.
While the outcome of the case has yet to be determined, Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the U.S.-based Family Equality Council, told WaPo, “It is fascinating to watch the evolution in Latin America because in many respects, there are countries that are eclipsing, quite quickly, the United States.”
Fascinating indeed, especially because of the strong Catholic (and typically anti-gay) tradition in Latin America. Witness the quote from Jose Galat, rector of Gran Colombia University, who asked WaPo, “Who is the child going to call, ‘Mommy?’” and “In a union between two lesbians, who is going to be the father?”
Talk about missing the point.
Make sure you not only read the WaPo piece, but also browse the photo gallery of Leiderman and Botero, living their wild lesbian life of grocery shopping, playgrounds, nap time, bath time, making dinner, and good night hugs. Some parts of being a lesbian mom are universal, it seems.