May 17: A Triple Day of Social Justice
May 17 marks three key events in the history of civil rights. Can you name them?
Advocating
In Memoriam: Aimee Stephens, Transgender Hero and Parent
Aimee Stephens, whose civil rights lawsuit was the first case involving transgender civil rights to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, died yesterday from kidney disease.
New Edition of LGBTQ Picture Book “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding” Is Brighter, Bolder, and More Human
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, the 2008 picture book about a girl worried that her favorite uncle will no longer have time for her after he marries his boyfriend, is coming out today in a bright new edition. The anthropomorphic guinea pigs are gone, replaced by human characters—and author Sarah Brannen was kind enough to answer some questions for Mombian readers about the changes.
HHS Eliminates Data Collection on Sexual Orientation of Foster Youth and Foster Parents
The Trump Administration has a cruel sense of timing. This month, National Foster Care Month, they have stopped collecting data on the sexual orientation of youth in foster care and of foster and adoptive parents. The data is needed to make the right decisions and track outcomes for youth in care, advocates say. This comes after the administration issued a new rule on the first day of National Adoption Month last November, which allows taxpayer-funded foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ people and others.
LGBTQ Parenting Roundup: Quarantine Edition 2
This roundup happens to have a particularly international flavor. We may not be able to travel in real life right now, but we can take a virtual trip with LGBTQ families around the world. Join in!
LGBTQ Parenting Roundup: Quarantine Edition
This is perhaps the first of many quarantine editions of my roundup—because we could all use some interesting and informative reading while we’re hunkered down in our homes. Here are some of the stories about LGBTQ parents and our children that I haven’t covered elsewhere—including some additional kids’ virtual story times.
In Memoriam: Phyllis Lyon, LGBTQ Civil Rights Pioneer
LGBTQ civil rights icon Phyllis Lyon died yesterday from natural causes at her home in San Francisco. She was 95. She and her spouse Del Martin were the first same-sex couple to marry legally in San Francisco in 2008—but her contribution to LGBTQ equality goes far beyond that.
New York Approves Gestational Surrogacy and Simplifies Legal Recognition for Nonbiological Parents
After a long effort by LGBTQ parents, prospective parents, and other advocates, the State of New York will finally legalize gestational surrogacy—and simplify and strengthen the laws around recognizing nonbiological parents and single parents in all families formed through reproductive technologies.
Not All Queer Families May Fit the Census, But I’m Completing It Anyway
It’s Census time here in the U.S. and we’ll all be getting Census mailings over the next few weeks. While the questions have expanded since 2010 to be more inclusive of same-sex couples, though, they still don’t fully reflect LGBTQ identities or families. I’m forcing myself to complete it to the best of my ability, however. Here’s why you should do the same.
Federal Court Says South Carolina Anti-LGBTQ Curriculum Law Is Unconstitutional
A South Carolina law banning any discussion of same-sex relationships in public school health classes (except in the context of sexually transmitted diseases) is unconstitutional, a federal court said yesterday.