Advocating

Songs for Peace and Justice

Yesterday, I wrote about Julie Silver, a well-known Jewish singer-songwriter and lesbian mom. As we approach the start of Yom Kippur this evening, it seems only appropriate to post a clip of her singing. The first song, “This Train,” is a beautiful metaphor about social justice that people of all traditions should appreciate. And for extra-special lesbian goodness, it’s the song of hers that Ellen DeGeneres said was her favorite, according to a blurb on Silver’s Web site.

Julie Silver: A Journey of Faith, Family, and Song

It’s the season of the High Holidays for Jews around the world—and that means that Julie Silver, one of the most popular singers and songwriters of Jewish contemporary music — and a lesbian mom — is very busy. She took time, however, to speak with me about being a mom, balancing family and work, coming out, living as an interfaith family, and doing good in the world.

Russian Bill Would Take Children from LGBT Parents

It’s happened. A Russian lawmaker introduced a bill in the lower house of the Duma that would deny LGBT parents the right to be parents. It adds sexual orientation to alcoholism, drug use, and abuse as reasons for taking away custody of children. The bill cites a widely discredited study of LGBT parents by University of Texas sociology professor Mark Regnerus as support for its position.

For a Sweet New Year: Meet Some Jewish Lesbian Moms

Today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, so I’m honoring the occasion not only by baking (and eating) ridiculous amounts of challah and honey cake (a low-carb people we are not), but also by rounding up a few recent stories about Jewish lesbian moms.

Effects of DOMA Ruling for Same-Sex Parents in All States

Several announcements last week made it clear that same-sex couples who are legally married will be recognized as married by the U.S. government — even if they do not reside in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages. That’s generally good news for same-sex parents — although there are still a few things to keep in mind.

Lesbian Mom and Gay Dad Speak at March on Washington 50th Anniversary

Yesterday’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington included many amazing speeches, including President Obama’s — but for the purpose of this blog, I want to highlight two speeches by LGBT parents: Eliza Byard and Alan Van Capelle.

Learn More About Two of the Gay Dads Challenging Nebraska Foster Parent Ban

Three same-sex couples yesterday challenged Nebraska’s ban on gay men and lesbians becoming foster parents. One of the couples — and the five children they adopted out of foster care in California, where they previously lived — were the subject of a documentary a few years ago. Read my interview with the filmmaker and see a trailer after the jump, and learn more about the dads who are clearly continuing to do good for their family and others.

Racial Justice and LGBT Parenting

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, the seminal civil rights rally and site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, organized in large part by Bayard Rustin, a gay Black man. The fight for racial justice is far from over in this country, even as the fight for LGBT equality picks up steam — and the two movements, while not identical, are nevertheless interwoven. Here are a few items of late that touch on the intersection of race and LGBT parenting.

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