My son is turning nine soon, and it frightens me. Nine is perilously close to ten, first of the double digits, rubbing shoulders with that phantasm of every parent’s nightmares, puberty. Nine seems like the last hurrah of young childhood before it gradually starts to give way to the moods, interests, and concerns of an older phase of life.
The common media image of lesbian and gay parents leaves one with the impression that we’re all white and middle class—even though the data tell us otherwise. And while a few media channels (like the New York Times) have tried to correct that, there is definitely a lack of representation of LGBT parents of color in the media. EBONY magazine is helping to change that, however.
Last week, after I posted the short documentary “Listen from the Heart,” several of you said you said you were touched by the story of lesbian moms Laura Fitch and Jaime Jenett, and their son, Simon Lev Fitch-Jenett, who is battling cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition. Turns out they have a blog, and so my Post of the Week comes from them.
Got 10 minutes? You’d be hard pressed to find a better way to spend it right now than to watch “Listen from the Heart” (after the jump), a short documentary film that profiles lesbian moms Laura Fitch and Jaime Jenett, and their son, Simon Lev Fitch-Jenett. The moms talk about dealing with their son’s serious heart condition, being a stay-at-home mom and an employed mom, respectively, being pregnant and butch, managing their relationship to each other, and more. The film is part of The Devotion Project, a series of six films showing “LGBTQ couples and the love they share.”
The White House photostream now includes a photo of First Lady Michelle Obama with Andrea and Logan Smith (10 months). Andrea is the executive director of Green Florida and wife of Equality Florida executive director Nadine Smith—and their son is absolutely adorable. (It’s all about the cheeks. Or maybe the eyes. Total cuteness either way.)
Sometimes a story about an LGBT family comes along that really stands out for its warmth, understanding, and optimism. Today, NPR’s StoryCorps ran “A Mom Becomes A Man, And A Family Sticks Together,”about Les GrantSmith, a transgender man, his husband Scott, and their two daughters. It’s a wonderful account that stays consistently positive without hiding the challenges the family faced. Here’s the lovely beginning:
Black LGBT families are an unfortunate rarity in the media, but the Washington Post this week showcased not one, but two, black lesbian couples with kids. Taken together, the stories show that just maybe, we are moving towards several different types of acceptance in this country.
These two dads react with surprise and elation when they find out they’re going to be grandpas. Some things are universal. (Thanks, Family Equality Council!)
Family Profiles Tigger, a lesbian mom, writes at Moms Rising about why “Without Unemployment Insurance, My Family Would Have To Choose Which Bills to Pay.” CBS Minnesota’s WCCO This Morning each week “[rewards] a hard-working, dedicated parent who loves what they do.” Last week, they chose lesbian moms Tara and Becky Lien—but the notable thing
At first, I ignored it when I saw a few people posting the Zach Wahls video again over the past few days. The Iowa college student with two moms had shot to viral fame last February when he spoke at an Iowa House hearing about a bill to ban marriage for same-sex couples. I’d posted
