New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) yesterday signed a bill expanding the state’s paid family leave law in a number of ways—notably, by expanding the definition of “family” under the law to include chosen families and by expanding the definition of “parent” to include foster parents and those who become parents via gestational surrogacy.
France’s National Assembly has passed legislation that will require schools to use “Parent 1” and “Parent 2” on all school forms, instead of “Mother” and “Father,” in order to recognize the variety of families today.
Sharon Mattes, known as Sharon Bottoms when she fought to overcome anti-LGBTQ bias in a legal battle for custody of her son in the 1990s—a headline case for queer parents—has died at age 48.
Valentine’s Day may not be a specifically LGBTQ holiday like Pride or National Coming Out Day, but it has long felt to me like a very queer time of year. And while it has become somewhat clichéd to say that “love makes a family,” the sentiment remains absolutely true. Love does more than that, however.
Here’s a thoughtful read to end your week: Aren Aizura’s piece at Mutha Magazine: “Chestfeeding,” about parenting as a trans, queer dad with another trans, queer dad.
“Children raised by same-sex couples do better in school, new study finds,” said yesterday’s headline in the Washington Post. Much as I would like to believe in our kids’ general awesomeness, though, there’s more going on here than first meets the eye. Let’s take a closer look.
A new online training program for healthcare providers and staff, family law practitioners, and other family-building professionals aims to increase their ability to welcome and meet the needs of LGBTQ prospective parents.
In addition to being Martin Luther King Jr. Day, today marks the beginning of GLSEN’s annual No Name-Calling Week, when schools across the country will be having activities and events to encourage kindness and end name-calling and bullying. Did you know the event was started because of a book written by a gay dad?
Parents magazine has put an LGBTQ family on its cover for the first time—and here’s what Entertainment Editor Jessica Hartshorn has to say about it.
Lots of moving family stories in this roundup, including a family living full time in their RV; a couple who induced lactation so they could both nurse; a trans dad and his spouse who started their family with two known donors, also spouses; stories of infertility and miscarriage, and more–including penguins!
