First Lady Jill Biden told the crowd gathered for the White House Pride Month Celebration yesterday that “Kids with two moms or two dads at the playground” were among the many triumphs of the LGBTQ community. I was honored to be at the event with my own family; here’s what I saw.
I started my family more than two decades ago via in vitro fertilization (IVF), and I’ve watched with growing alarm as the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned federal abortion rights two years ago has also endangered access to this common fertility technique. Jennifer Klein, director of the White House Gender Policy Council, spoke with me about the threat and the Biden administration’s response.
This edition of the roundup is particularly full of family profiles, plus a few other bits and pieces about queer doulas, book bans, and more that I haven’t covered elsewhere—including a reminder from actor Tig Notaro not to assume that what’s obvious to us is obvious to our kids!
The Massachusetts House unanimously passed critical legislation yesterday that would update the state’s parentage laws to better protect the children of LGBTQ parents and others regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Representatives spoke of how current laws shockingly fall short and urged passage of the bill for both personal and societal reasons.
WNBA great Candace Parker and wife Anna Petrakova, a former Olympic basketball player for Russia, have announced the birth of their third child with customary flair—and his name includes an homage to legendary college basketball coach Pat Summitt.
As we head into Pride Month, I am moved once again to ponder all that I am proud of. My son tops the list, as always—but I am also proud of how we LGBTQ families and our allies have been able to keep pushing towards equality, despite an unprecedented amount of anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric right now.
Here are some stories from round and about that I haven’t yet covered, including family profiles and musings on parenthood, legal happenings, a WNBA star and queer mom making a big move, and some tidbits of media and entertainment.
Twenty years ago today, two moms received the first marriage license deliberately issued to a same-sex couple in the United States. They were accompanied by their daughter and by the attorney (another another queer mom) who had led the landmark case for marriage equality. Let’s take a further look at how parents and the welfare of children helped accomplish this milestone.
All children gain security and benefits from legal ties to their parents. Yet children with LGBTQ parents, and those born through assisted reproduction, lack clear and simple ways to establish legal parentage in many states. Two key advocates in Michigan’s successful recent effort to make parentage laws more equitable and inclusive shared advice with me that they hope will help other states do the same.
Today is the start of the WNBA season and the midst of the inaugural PWHL playoffs. (Go Boston!) Let’s celebrate with a some awesome family photos from queer parents in both leagues—plus a look at a great new middle grade book about a basketball-loving girl with two moms!
