I wrote this piece just after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized marriage equality nationwide on June 26, 2015. I want to reshare it as we approach the 10-year anniversary, as a reminder of why so many of us queer parents and our children fought for marriage—and why marriage equality alone isn’t enough.
A new Nevada law will make it easier for nongestational LGBTQ parents to confirm their legal parentage via adoption, without burdensome and unnecessary requirements. Nevada becomes the 11th state to enact such legislation, less than two weeks after Vermont became the 10th.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. It’s an awful outcome that reveals the hypocrisy of conservatives’ talk about “parental rights”—but trans rights advocates are vowing to keep fighting.
Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls (D), whose 2011 speech to the Iowa legislature about growing up with two moms went viral (twice!) during the state’s marriage equality battles, has announced he is running for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Joni Ernst (R).
It’s a Pride Month baby for Canadian Olympic gold medalist and Boston Fleet forward Jamie Lee Rattray and her spouse Whitney, who welcomed their first child on June 7.
U.S. Space Force Colonel Bree Fram, a decorated officer with more than 20 years of service, is being kicked out of the military simply for being trans. She’s also a parent, and has spoken about the negative impact of the administration’s anti-trans policy on her family.
It’s been a minute since I’ve rounded things up, so here are some stories that I haven’t covered separately, including a positive ruling for queer parents in India, queer parent politicians making moves in the U.S., resources on queer parenting and family formation, and how Pete Buttigieg’s daughter counsels anger management.
How do queer moms parent their sons? The question isn’t just “Are our kids okay?” explained Gail Marlene Schwartz, co-editor of a new book on the topic. “We feel like that’s been established.” Instead, the book asks whether queer moms have “something particular to offer in terms of nurturing healthy masculinity,” Schwartz said.
The Republican governor of Vermont, Phil Scott, signed a bill May 22 that will make it easier for nongestational LGBTQ parents to confirm their legal parentage via adoption, without burdensome and unnecessary requirements.
Italy’s Constitutional Court has ruled that both mothers in same-sex couples must be allowed on their children’s birth certificates and be recognized as legal parents. The landmark ruling comes after the far-right government had forbidden nongestational mothers from being on their children’s birth certificates and even removed ones who were there.
