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.
In “Boi Life: Motherhood,” Lyric of Bklyn Boihood writes of being a “masculine female” who wants to have a child through pregnancy.
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.
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.
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.
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.”)
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 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.
Please welcome to the blogosphere Charlotte and Betsy, who recently launched one of the best-titled blogs I’ve seen in a while: Turkey Baster and Bottle of Wine. Their subtitle clarifies: “On being a queer, non-gestational parent.”
(The following is a guest post from Meg, who works on the Children’s TYLENOL® brand team at McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. In this post, she writes about her thoughts on the brand’s support of LGBT families and what it means to her as a lesbian.)
My wife and I just bought our first home together, nestled in Cherry Hill, NJ. It’s been a lengthy process moving in, with its ups and downs, a ton of boxes, and weeks of unpacking, but every moment has been worth it. For both of us, it is such a monumental point in our lives. And now we’ve reached the stage in our journey where we’re considering starting a family.
(The following is a guest post from Brent Wright, father of two and Director of Programs at Family Equality Council, a nonprofit organization that connects, supports, and represents the one million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in this country and the two million children they are raising.)
I truly believe that we are all the sum part of all our childhood experiences. Every backyard BBQ and schoolyard tussle—every campout under the stars and timeout in the principal’s office—every childhood friendship and teenaged broken heart.