Abigail Garner brought my attention to a New York Times article today about a Chinese adoptee celebrating her bat mitzvah. Garner writes: Cecelia Nealon-Shapiro came to the U.S. in 1994 when she was adopted by a lesbian couple. What’s especially notable about this media coverage is that the questions of identity are centered around being […]
I didn’t write my Bay Windows column for this week with International Women’s Day in mind, but it seems appropriate nonetheless. It explores the need for “Mothers’ Rights” and “LGBT Rights” groups to come together in support of all families. “Mothers’ rights,” defined as better workplace policies, childcare options, and children’s health insurance, touch fathers
Two articles elsewhere caught my eye today: Mnartists.org has an interview with Abigail Garner, author of Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is. Garner has been a strong voice for children of LGBT parents, reminding us, for example, that our children, of any sexual orientation, can be the victims of
Is Mary Cheney the best thing to happen to the LGBT-rights movement since Stonewall? The LA Chronicle reported last week that at least two LGBT-rights measures are expected to win approval in Congress this year: a hate-crimes bill that covers anti-LGBT crimes, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would outlaw workplace discrimination based on
Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) re-introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on LGBT personnel. The Huffington Post has a good article by Eric Alva, the first Marine wounded in Iraq, about why he came out and is supporting this legislation. In Largo, Florida, City Manager Steve Stanton
The Family Pride Coalition, the national non-profit working to secure equality for all families, has taken on a challenge from actor Kevin Bacon. Bacon’s Six Degrees organization (in conjunction with Network for Good) will give a matching grant of $10,000 to the six non-profits with the highest number of unique donors before March 31st at
Soccer superstars Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy have been selected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and will be inducted this August. Hamm was selected on 137 of the 141 ballots cast, a new high in votes received. What on earth were the other four thinking?
In early March, the House and Senate Budget Committees will decide on funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP provides health insurance to more than six million people, mostly children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Many analysts are saying that President Bush’s budget will not meet the needs
A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit of two couples in Lexington, Massachusetts, who claimed the local public school district violated their constitutional rights by teaching their children about families headed by same-sex parents. The judge said in his decision (PDF link): Public schools are entitled to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals
A California state senator introduced a bill to bring property-tax relief to surviving domestic partners who inherited real estate from a partner who died before 2006. An openly gay Illinois state representative introduced a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill is titled the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” to address concerns that clergy
