Raising

Cherry blossoms

Have a Happy Day, However Punctuated

Most of us have seen the New Yorker cartoon from 2011 that always seems to recirculate this time of year: A teacher leans over the desk of a child making a card that reads, “Happy Mothers’ Day.” The child looks up at the teacher and says, “I have two mommies. I know where the apostrophe goes.” It’s funny, of course, as it reminds the audience that yes, there are families with two moms (and kids who are really good at grammar). At the same time, though, I sometimes worry that the cartoon may reinforce the incorrect assumption which conflates all LGBTQ moms into two-mom units.

International Family Equality Day

Happy International Family Equality Day!

Today marks the 9th annual International Family Equality Day—and while this usually means in-person events across the globe, there are ways to take part this year even while isolating at home!

Artisan Bread Loaf

Mombian Cooks: Crusty Artisan Loaf

I’ve been delighted to see so many people baking bread while isolated at home during the pandemic. I’ve baked my family’s bread for years, and am particularly fond of this artisan loaf—it’s not a sourdough, but it’s crusty and full of flavor. Here’s the recipe.

Coronavirus - rainbow overlay

Coping and Caring: LGBTQ Families in the Time of COVID-19

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic that is shaking our world, I spoke with several different LGBTQ families recently to see how they’re handling the crisis, what their challenges are, and where they’re finding strength.

In Memoriam: Phyllis Lyon, LGBTQ Civil Rights Pioneer

LGBTQ civil rights icon Phyllis Lyon died yesterday from natural causes at her home in San Francisco. She was 95. She and her spouse Del Martin were the first same-sex couple to marry legally in San Francisco in 2008—but her contribution to LGBTQ equality goes far beyond that.

Happy Isolated Anniversary to Us

Isolating from a pandemic isn’t how I wanted my spouse Helen and me to spend our 27th anniversary. We usually go out to dinner and enjoy having someone else do the dishes. This year, we’re stuck at home, properly distancing ourselves from the rest of the world. Still, our weathering the pandemic together says more about our relationship than a fancy meal.

Egg and sperm

COVID-19 Pauses Family Building for Many LGBTQ People

Nina Willbach and her wife, a Philadelphia couple, have been trying to get pregnant since last June via assisted insemination. On March 13th, they were told that their most recent attempt didn’t work—and they couldn’t try again because COVID-19 had put a stop to “elective procedures” in Pennsylvania. “I know a lot of folks are going through much worse right now, but it feels like a big blow when every month counts and we’ve had this many no’s,” Willbach told me in an online message. They’re not the only ones to have family-making plans halted during the pandemic.

Scroll to Top
Mombian
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.