“Why don’t we see LGBT parents portrayed in children’s films?” asks Guardian writer Joanna Benecke. Good question — an extension of the question I’ve been asking about children’s television for some time now. Benecke offers us a glimpse of hope, though, and the news that an upcoming feature film for young adults will likely feature a boy with gay dads.
The Fosters, ABC Family’s acclaimed drama about lesbian moms Stef and Lena and their growing multi-ethnic family, ended its first season last night with a joyous adoption and some unexpected plot twists (which I won’t mention in case any of you haven’t seen it yet). The episode was full of both the teen and lesbian mom drama we’ve come to expect — my only criticism is that we have to wait till June 16 for more. The show’s marketing team, however, let a little bit slip about what to expect in 84 days when Season Two begins.
I can’t help posting this photo of Stef and Lena from ABC Family’s The Fosters. They look like they’re having one of those days we’ve all had as parents. Please join me tonight at 9 p.m. ET on Twitter to live tweet with the hashtags #TheFosters and #gaydybunch, and rejoice in the fact that we have these two as role models, through the ups and the downs of parenting.
Two more stars of the entertainment industry can now (or soon) be counted among those of us women parenting with another woman.
Transparent, a new half-hour drama from Jill Soloway (United States of Tara, Six Feet Under), centers around a transgender parent who is just beginning to transition and come out to family members. But an even more impressive portrayal of a trans character right now may be that of trans teen Cole on The Fosters.
Being in a marriage means dealing with the hard times as well as the good. Watch Stef and Lena of The Fosters (Teri Polo and Sherri Saum) prepare for Stef’s father’s funeral and discuss what to do about foster daughter Callie’s relationship with their son Brandon. Leaving aside the specifics of their problems, can you relate to their overall struggles with family and parenting?
Never underestimate the importance of role models. I had the pleasure yesterday of hearing Mayor (and lesbian mom) Annise Parker of Houston, Texas, and Laverne Cox, one of the stars of Orange is the New Black, speak at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change conference. It’s Friday, so put your feet up and watch. You’ll be glad you did.
It was a good news-bad news week for LGBT parent visibility on television. Ellen DeGeneres got the greenlight to produce a pilot for an NBC comedy about a lesbian mom, while on the same network, Sean Hayes’ Sean Saves the World, about a single gay dad, was told to halt production.
Last night’s episode of the Disney Channel’s children’s series Good Luck Charlie featured a family with two moms—a first for the channel, and a small but significant step forward.
Sez Me is a new Web video series for kids that aims to “[celebrate] differences and diversity with a focus on the GLBTQ community” and ” the involvement of adults who represent non-traditional gender expressions (self-identified drag queens, masculine women, feminine men, gender queers, and trans people).” Sounds like a great idea — but is it any good?
