Post of the Week: “Boi Life: Motherhood”
In “Boi Life: Motherhood,” Lyric of Bklyn Boihood writes of being a “masculine female” who wants to have a child through pregnancy.
August 2012
Mommy, Mama, Mutti, MaPa: What Do Your Kids Call You?
I first posted this anonymous survey about parenting names a year ago, and over 130 of you responded. Many of you use the classic “Mommy” and “Mama,” but some use “Baba,” “Eema,” “Lala,” “Maman,” “MaPa,” “Mutti,” “Big Mommy,” “Mimo,” “Cita,” “Anya,” and others. I wanted to post the survey again to encourage others to contribute, and to urge those of you who already have to take a look at all the glorious ways we structure and name our families.
Parenting Beyond Our Genders
One of the most common arguments against same-sex parents is that “all children need a mother and a father.” But some LGBT parents are making the argument that being a mother or a father is not necessarily correlated to being female or male—regardless of one’s gender identity.
Same-Sex Parenting Rights in Latin America
Quick: Name all of the Latin American countries that allow same-sex couples to adopt. Can’t do it? Neither could I, before I read this Washington Post article (Answer: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay.) 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.
The Sikh Temple Shooting and Learning to Listen
I was sickened by the news of the shooting this past weekend at a Sikh temple, or gurdwara, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Few things scare me more than random shootings that occur in what are supposed to be places of safety, such as schools and houses of worship. There is little that can help us make sense of what are senseless acts—but one article that has helped me think about how to move forward is “Today, we are all American Sikhs” by Valarie Kaur at CNN.
Post of the Week: “Lessons from Infertility”
Aleia Mims’ “Lessons from Infertility,” part of her “Authentically Me” series at her blog l.i.b.e.r.a.t.i.o.n. theory, is this week’s Post of the Week. She writes about her journey from comfort with not being a bio mom, to wanting to conceive with her wife, to her disappointment at not being able to do so.
Beautiful LGBT Families — and S’Mores
For your viewing pleasure today, please enjoy this slideshow of beautiful LGBT families (and tasty s’mores) at the Family Equality Council’s annual Family Week in Provincetown. (And by “beautiful,” I mean “beautiful because they’re having fun and being themselves.”)
LGBT Parenting Roundup
A few articles for your reading pleasure this week, including two at the end that remind us how not to behave as lesbian moms.
The New Amtrak Ads Through a Racial Lens
In my post yesterday about the new Amtrak ads, I mentioned that it was good to see same-sex parents of color in the media. In discussing the ads with a friend and educator who is Black and a lesbian, however, I came to realize my White perspective was only giving me part of the story.
Amtrak On the Right Track with Lesbian and Gay Family Ads
Amtrak has just launched a lovely new advertising campaign featuring lesbian moms and gay dads. The company has marketed to the LGBT community for several years, but chugs into new territory with its latest two ads that focus on same-sex parents.
