Two of the three commissioners in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, have asked a local library to remove from the children’s wing a Pride Month display featuring several LGBTQ-inclusive picture books. Many others in the community are rallying in support of the books.
Yesterday, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D) signed the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA), which better protects all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents, and gives nonbiological/nongestational parents a simpler, faster way to establish legal parentage.
A federal bill has just been reintroduced that would prohibit discrimination in foster care and adoption on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or religion. The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act (ECDF) is named for the civil rights leader and congressman who was an original co-sponsor the previous six times the bill was introduced. Might it pass this seventh time through Congress?
The Connecticut Senate last night unanimously passed the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA), landmark legislation to update the state’s laws and better protect all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents. Among other things, it gives nonbiological/nongestational parents a simpler way to establish a legal parent-child relationship, without a home study or court hearing. The bill passed the House last month and now goes to Governor Ned Lamont (D) for signing.
In a significant victory for equality this week, the U.S. State Department has ended a policy that had denied birthright citizenship to children born abroad to married same-sex parents born abroad if the U.S. citizen parent was not biologically related. This also ends years of uncertainty for at least one two-mom couple who have been fighting for their child’s citizenship.
Today, May 17, is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). Why this date? And what two other key events in the history of civil rights also happened on this day?
A Croatian court has ruled that same-sex couples in civil partnerships may apply to become adoptive parents, and must be treated the same as different-sex married couples during the assessment process. The country’s LGBTQ family group calls it an “historic verdict.”
Doritos Mexico has launched a surprisingly touching ad for Mothers’ Day that features real kids from two-mom families reading letters of thanks to their mothers.
Kierra Johnson, executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, is also the mother of three. She spoke with me for Mother’s Day about her experiences as a parent in “a big fat queer blended family,” her advice for other queer parents, and how being a parent has impacted her work.
Let’s start the month with a roundup of some stories I haven’t covered elsewhere!
