LGBT Parenting Roundup
This week’s roundup is chock-full of superheroes and moms who rock (literally).
Advocating
More Opinions On Obama, Marriage, and Same-Sex Parents
When President Obama announced his support for marriage equality, I was only one of numerous writers who pointed out that he stressed the influence of same-sex parents and their children on his decision. Here are two worthwhile articles that explain why Obama’s positioning of his statement in this way is especially significant.
Australian Minister and Lesbian Mom Defends Her Family in “A Watershed Moment”
Penny Wong, an Australian senator and the Commonwealth Minister for Finance and Deregulation, and also a lesbian mom, gave a dignified and heartfelt answer to Representative Joe Hockey when he was asked on talk show Q & A about marriage equality. LGBT advocates are calling it “a watershed moment” in public awareness and understanding of the issue on a personal level.
Obama Campaign Updates Site to Show Lesbian Moms Are Married
Looks like President Obama’s statement in support of marriage equality is already having an effect. His campaign has updated an earlier blog post and now refers to two lesbian moms as “married.”
Support Access to Fertility Services for Lesbian Moms
MeiBeck “Chino” and Maya Scott-Chung are lesbian moms raising a seven-year-old daughter. When they wanted to add another child to their family, but had trouble conceiving, they discovered that the only way they could get access to assisted reproductive services was to pretend that one of them was in a heterosexual relationship with their known donor (whom they had used to conceive their daughter).
1st “Best Practices” Resource on Suicide Prevention for LGBT Youth
I don’t need to tell most readers that LGBT youth are at a higher risk than their non-LGBT peers for attempting suicide. Until today, however, no “Best Practices” have been identified or designated to help reduce vulnerability and risk among LGBT children, youth or adults. That has now changed.
LGBT Parenting Roundup — Mothers’ Day Edition
A very happy Mothers’ Day or Mother’s Day to you, no matter how many moms you are celebrating! Here are some mom-related stories of note this week:
Children of Same-Sex Parents Influenced Obama’s Evolution on Marriage
When President Obama first announced his support for marriage equality yesterday, he mentioned that his new view was motivated in part by same-sex couples who are raising kids together. In a campaign e-mail later yesterday evening, he said again that he was influenced by the children same-sex parents. His daughters have friends with same-sex parents, he added, and the girls assume that their families should be treated equally:
Obama Evolves: Supports Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
BREAKING NEWS: President Barack Obama, in an interview with ABC News this afternoon, announced, “I’ve just concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.”
North Carolina Votes to Ban Same-Sex Relationship Recognition Under State Constitution
North Carolina voters have approved a state constitutional amendment that bans not only marriage for same-sex couples, but also any form of relationship recognition. The state already banned marriage for same-sex couples by statute; putting it into the state constitution makes it harder to challenge.