Selves and Identities

Catching up with “Pregnant Butch”

Back in December, I wrote about A. K. Summers new online graphic memoir, Pregnant Butch. She’s recently finished posting the last pages of Chapter One and the first few pages of Chapter Two—which cover the beginning of her second trimester—so I thought this would be a good time to remind readers of her work and encourage you to take a look. (Some pages are NSFW; we’re talking about human biology here.)

Also, I realized I’d never posted the full interview of Summers I did for my newspaper column, so here it is.

“It Gets Better” Video Features Parents of Transgender Children

In the Life Media has posted an “It Gets Better” video featuring parents of transgender children. In the video, the parents, members of PFLAG’s support group for families of transgender children, “share their personal struggles to understand their child’s needs and find support for both themselves and their families.”

NPR Nails Story on Transgender Parent

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:

New Report Examines Lives of Children in LGBT Families of Color

A new report out today from the Movement Advancement Project and a coalition of partners details the lives of children living in LGBT families of color. Among the findings of the report: LGBT families are more racially and ethnically diverse than families headed by married heterosexual couples. LGBT families of color face greater poverty.

The Matrilineal Principle, Jewish Identity, and Non-bio Moms — Plus a Giveaway

Susan Goldberg, aka Mama Non Grata, has just published a terrific article, “Que(e)rying the matrilineal principle,” in Lilith magazine, the Jewish feminist powerhouse. Susan questions what it means to be “born Jewish” when Jewish identity is traditionally passed on through the mother–and her sons are only biologically connected to her non-Jewish spouse.

Showtime’s “House of Lies” Off on the Right Foot with Gender Variant Child

A few days ago, I asked if Showtime’s new House of Lies series, premiering tonight at 10p.m. ET, would give a positive and unoffensive portrayal of the gender variant child of the lead character. Early indications are that they have done so. Diane Anderson-Minshall at the Advocate says, “For all the reasons other shows fail

National Association of Mothers’ Centers Hosts Webinar on LGBT Children and Youth

The National Association of Mothers’ Centers (NAMC), “a collective voice for mothers and parents in the United States,” is hosting a Webinar on “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Navigating the Challenges for Parents, Teachers and Others,” January 24, from 1-2 p.m. ET. Pete Carney, LMSW Director of the Pride for Youth program at the Long

Will Showtime’s “House of Lies” Tell the Truth About Gender Variant Kids?

There’s a new LGBTQ character coming to television that I haven’t seen much coverage of yet—and because the character is a gender-variant child, I’ll take up the cause of spreading some awareness here at this parenting blog. Showtime’s new comedy series, House of Lies, which starts this Sunday, stars Don Cheadle as a “charming, fast

“Girls” Toys and “Boys” Toys: Some Progress and Some Cautions

The winter holidays always seem to highlight that the world tends to divide toys into “girls” and “boys” varieties. Most of us here, I think, would agree that  no one should be forced into particular types of play based on real or perceived gender. Over at Skepchick, Natalie Reed has a great article on “Guyliner, Murses,

How a First-Grade Teacher Addresses Gender Stereotypes and Variance

Here’s today’s must-read article: Melissa Bollow Tempel, a first-grade teacher in Jackson, Wisconsin, has written at Together For Jackson County Kids about how she approaches issues of gender stereotypes, gender variance, and gender-based bullying. It’s full of insight and actionable ideas. Good stuff, and worth sharing. (For more on the topic, you might also want to

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