Mombian is 16 today! A special Sweet 16 thanks to all of you who have read, commented, shared, and otherwise engaged with this site, other readers, and me over the years.
My son, who was two when he inspired me to launch Mombian in June 2005, is now 18 and just graduated from high school. A lot of other things have changed in the past 16 years, too, including the spread of marriage equality, the growth of adoption rights for LGBTQ parents; expanded legal recognition of nonbiological/nongestational parents; increased media representation of LGBTQ families, including in children’s books and television; and the flourishing of many, many LGBTQ families.
That’s not to say all is good now; in addition to our individual challenges, we still face the threat of discrimination in the name of religious exemptions, a rising hostility to transgender youth and trans people generally, and much more. We still need to pass bills like the Equality Act and the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act to ensure that protections against anti-LGBTQ discrimination extend equally across the country.
I am, however, inspired every day by the LGBTQ families I meet in person and online, and by those LGBTQ people who still dream of becoming parents. I see us persevering through adversity, celebrating in joy, and bringing a little more love into the world.
Thank you again for joining me on this journey.